D2 001

[Corwin]

[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> Meanwhile Alicia turns to Latha. "Can you start casting Holy Aura on me again so I can use spellfire to heal myself and Honeydip?" she asks the deva while Marie curtseys to the helpful planetar.
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > The planetar smiles before he and his group plunge in! At this the holy auras are given without hesitation.
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> roll 16d4+16 for Honeydip
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 16d4+16 for Honeydip and gets 54." [16d4=4, 2, 2, 1, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3]
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> roll 16d4+16 for myself
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 16d4+16 for myself and gets 58." [16d4=3, 4, 2, 2, 1, 4, 4, 4, 1, 2, 1, 2, 4, 3, 1, 4]
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> roll 8d4+8 for Honeydip
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 8d4+8 for Honeydip and gets 25." [8d4=2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 1, 1, 1]
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> roll 8d4+8 for myself
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 8d4+8 for myself and gets 31." [8d4=2, 1, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 1]
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> Less than forty seconds later, Alicia declares herself ready to re-enter the fortress! "We can follow this group, or we can make another hole to take advantage of the distraction. What do you think?" she looks between Seira and Honeydip.
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> > "We should consider falling back and regrouping on one hand, but if we have the strength to go on, penetrating deeper is a good chance." Honeydip considers, "How are your resources, wizards?"
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> "I have plenty of spells left," Alicia nods.
[18:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> <Alicia> "I have a few," Marie seconds.
03[18:08] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
03[18:08] * Corwin is now known as Seira
06[18:09] * Seira takes a moment longer to decypher the conversation, before she responds, "I'm still in the game. Let's breach the walls at another spot and proceed."
[18:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Let's go then," Honeydip agrees, "While the iron is hot!"
[18:10] <Alicia> "Right, lets fly up and around and we'll make an entrance from above," Alicia suggests, getting Latha to put two more holy auras into her to be absorbed as they fly over the nearby breach and to a likely looking spot on the top-side of Bleak Rendor.
[18:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus you fly up! From above, Bleak Rendor is towers and deep well of flatness! Eladrin and glowing angels assail storm engines of terrible darkness and skeletal warriors below. There are several gaps below to aim at, including a few with scorched remains of foes and counters.
06[18:13] * Seira hangs slightly back, ready to storm the new entrance Alicia is about to make in the fortress.
[18:14] <Alicia> "There," Alicia points at a spot between two large towers that thankfully lacks any six-headed skeletons in the way. "Remember, stay seventy feet back and get ready to cover me if anything comes rushing out." With that warning she flies over, positioning herself on top of the roof of the main fortress before spellfire blasts out, ruining the roof and surrounding towers, and whatever lies within!
[18:14] <Alicia> roll 18d8 DC 27 for anything in the way
06[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 18d8 DC 27 for anything in the way and gets 89." [18d8=3, 8, 2, 3, 1, 6, 6, 2, 1, 8, 7, 4, 5, 8, 5, 5, 8, 7]
[18:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Around Alicia destruction rains! Towers and buildings collapse, a buffet of pure spellfire doing it's work! Below you see an inky darkness! Millions of eyes stare up at you from it before retreating back! Below you can see some sort of grand hall, decorated with some sort of tanned leathers on the floor.
[18:17] <Alicia> "It's clear - move in," Alicia calls, waving and waiting for the others to catch up before descending into the hall, eyes glowing blue as she scans for magical defences before touching down.
06[18:18] * Seira doesn't need further incentives to follow!
[18:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> As you touch down, the party sees that this is a pillared hall. Ahead lies a gaping face of a giant succubus. It's mouth is stretches so far as for a titan to be able to walk through into it's black depths. Frescos of rotted babies hugging and resting against the face can be noted.  The darkness radiates overwhelming magic. As the party looks at it...OOC: Will saves, all. Bonuses against fear apply.
01[18:20] <Seira> OOC: Immune right now
[18:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 spellcraftin' this
06[18:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 spellcraftin' this and gets 42." [1d20=14]
[18:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+32 Alicia will
06[18:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 Alicia will and gets 45." [1d20=13]
[18:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 Latha will
06[18:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 Latha will and gets 26." [1d20=3]
[18:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Marie will
06[18:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Marie will and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[18:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+21
06[18:21] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+21 and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[18:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The party resists the feeling of terror! Your soul, your mind, your body all recoil! Your hearts throb painfully, beating so fast as to bruise your inner chest.
[18:24] <Alicia> Latha immediately casts remove fear to bolster the party against such attacks in the future!
[18:26] <Alicia> "Something powerful ahead, but I'm not quite sure what," Alicia gestures in the direction of the succubus mouth, checking the hall for any other paths.
06[18:27] * Seira decides to breathe fire in said direction, in case something there is waiting.
[18:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Behind you the path goes backwards. It leads to an arched double door, held closed by statues of headless titans.
01[18:27] <Seira> roll 10d10+2d8 burn~
06[18:27] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10d10+2d8 burn~ and gets 55." [10d10=2, 8, 1, 3, 9, 3, 9, 6, 3, 1][2d8=4, 6]
[18:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The fire flickers into the mouth! The succubus face is charred now, burnt.
[18:28] <Alicia> Are said statues magical?
06[18:29] * Alicia decides to head into the disturbing breach, leading the way down the succubus's throat.
06[18:29] * Seira is just a step behind.
[18:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus you enter in! You stand in bleak nothingness. Your bodies begin to rot, the life leaving them! Amid this there is a gentle serenade, soft cries interspersed with, "Mother...Father...Mother...Father..."  Each one of the four appears sixty feet ahead of you. The tiny babies float in the air, sobbing, lamenting. Behind them two eyes stare at you. A dead hand reaches out, as if to grasp you from far away. A face...Gods, far too big. Too
[18:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> A face...Gods, far too big. Too big. A face with tears running down it's face. "Sylian...you made Sylian leave me!" (More. All of you suffer a negative level, this bypasses your protections.)
[18:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Everything...He said he'd let me be born! You've ruined everything! Father and Mother abandoned me, and now you made him do it too!" It's voice twists with choking anger, "Everyone leaves me! Everyone leaves me to go live! Why? Why do you hate me wanting to be alive!?"
[18:38] <Alicia> "Impudent," Alicia glares at the thing, refusing to be cowed. "You seek your own life at the cost of how many others?" she demands, thinking of all the tormented eladrin children on Androlynne, the thousands killed on cities across the Prime by the Dark Six's unprovoked attacks.
[18:38] <Alicia> "I may not agree with what was done to you in the beginning, but I'll be damned if I let you continue to exist! Submit to oblivion and an end to your torment!"
01[18:38] <Seira> "I would sympathize," Seira says curtly, "but you're also an undead abomination that's killed countless people out of selfishness, so I'm low on said sympathy. Are you ready to die a final death?"
[18:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You'll get the peace of oblivion!" Lady Honeydip growls, "I've seen an entire generation nearly wiped out all for you! If you'd had any capacity to look past your own sorrow, maybe someone besides an unholy abomination would have saved you!"
[18:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Everyone hates me..." The Neverborn shrinks back in the darkness. "Then I'll make everyone die! If I'm not going to get to live, no one can! You...the eladrin...Pale Night...MOTHER...FATHER...SYLIAN...!!! I'LL KILL YOU ALL! IF CAN'T HAVE IT, NONE OF YOU WILL! IF THAT'S AO'S CHOICE, HE'LL WATCH A DEAD EXISTANCE WHERE I LORD OVER EVERYTHING!"
[18:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> A crash of lightning sounds far away, the face seen clearly in a flash of light. It's face is beautiful but rotted, beautiful as a succubus on the hunt. "EVERYONE WILL BE AS COLD AND LONELY AS I AM! IF CAN'T BE BORN, THEN NO ONE WILL BE HAPPY!"
01[18:43] <Seira> "Or you'll die," Seira responds succinctly, pointing the Resort at it. "I'm thinking, right about now."
[18:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Go to sleep then, child."Latha glows with the fury of the sun, "All we can do is at least end your suffering!"
[18:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Go ahead and roll init.
[18:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 Alicia
06[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 Alicia and gets 24." [1d20=5]
[18:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+26 Honeydip
06[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+26 Honeydip and gets 44." [1d20=18]
[18:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Latha
06[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Latha and gets 36." [1d20=16]
[18:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Marie
06[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Marie and gets 38." [1d20=18]
03[18:45] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Alicia(24)'
03[18:46] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Marie(38)>Latha(36)>Alicia(24)'
01[18:46] <Seira> roll 1d20+6+12-4
06[18:46] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+6+12-4 and gets 22." [1d20=8]
03[18:46] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Marie(38)>Latha(36)>Alicia(24)>Seira(22)'
[18:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9 scion 1
[18:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9 scion 2
[18:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9 scion 3
06[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 scion 1 and gets 21." [1d20=12]
06[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 scion 2 and gets 16." [1d20=7]
[18:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9 scion 4
06[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 scion 3 and gets 26." [1d20=17]
06[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 scion 4 and gets 25." [1d20=16]
[18:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+14 Neverborn
06[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+14 Neverborn and gets 19." [1d20=5]
03[18:47] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Marie(38)>Latha(36)>Scion 3(26)>Alicia(24)>Seira(22)>Scion 1(21)>Scion 2(16)'
03[18:47] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Marie(38)>Latha(36)>Scion 3(26)>Scion 4(25)>Alicia(24)>Seira(22)>Scion 1(21)>Scion 2(16)'
03[18:48] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Marie(38)>Latha(36)>Scion 3(26)>Scion 4(25)>Alicia(24)>Seira(22)>Scion 1(21)>Neverborn(19)>Scion 2(16)'
[18:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Like a dart of fury, Lady Honeydip charges ahead! She goes right for the abomination, spear going for it's chest!
[18:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+37 (+6 bonuses, -6 PA)
06[18:49] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+37 (+6 bonuses, -6 PA) and gets 44." [1d20=7]
[18:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d6+27
06[18:49] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d6+27 and gets 31." [1d6=4]
[18:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> But her spear barely has any impact at all! It hits it's body, point nearly splitting in two against it's flesh! OOC: Marie.
[18:51] <Alicia> Marie hesitates a moment, preparing to unleash a storm of arrows on any of the undead infants that tries to cast a spell.
[18:51] <Alicia> OOC: or an SLA
[18:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Okay. Latha.
[18:52] <Alicia> OOC: how far apart are the scions?
[18:52] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Fairly close together.
[18:53] <Alicia> Latha unleashes a holy smite atop all of the scions, perhaps catching the big baby if it's close enough, and then flies forward to shelter Honeydip with her protective aura, shining like the sun!
[18:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 SR if applicable
06[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 SR if applicable and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[18:53] <Alicia> roll 5d8 DC 20 will
06[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d8 DC 20 will and gets 27." [5d8=6, 8, 2, 8, 3]
[18:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+27
06[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+27 and gets 30." [1d20=3]
[18:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+27
[18:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+27
06[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+27 and gets 35." [1d20=8]
06[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+27 and gets 30." [1d20=3]
[18:54] <Alicia> OOC: sorry, DC 19, not that it matters
[18:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+27
06[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+27 and gets 42." [1d20=15]
[18:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The holy light burns bright, bursting around the unborn children! They are battered by it, slightly purified by holy energies! OOC:  Scion 3 is up.
[18:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Marie, you wanted to interrupt a casting?
[18:55] <Alicia> Seeing one of them focusing on its innate magic, Marie tries to interrupt it with some pointy bits of metal!
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+30
06[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+30 and gets 33." [1d20=3]
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25
06[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 and gets 35." [1d20=10]
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
06[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 40." [1d20=20]
[18:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Hits.
[18:56] <Alicia> roll 3d4+3+3d6+3d4
06[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 3d4+3+3d6+3d4 and gets 26." [3d4=2, 3, 1][3d6=1, 3, 6][3d4=1, 3, 3]
03[18:56] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Latha(36)>Marie=Scion 3(26)>Scion 4(25)>Alicia(24)>Seira(22)>Scion 1(21)>Neverborn(19)>Scion 2(16)'
[18:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+25 concentration DC 36
06[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+25 concentration DC 36 and gets 35." [1d20=10]
[18:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The arrows fly true, thudding into the rotting child! It cries in pain as it's magics are disrupted, black beams of ice fizzling away! The 4th one isn't so deterred, a black beam of ice arching out for Honeydip!
[18:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+15 ranged touch
06[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+15 ranged touch and gets 27." [1d20=12]
[18:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20 SR
06[18:59] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 SR and gets 24." [1d20=4]
[19:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The magic wraps around Honeydip, but fizzles away around her form! It then swiftly speaks a word of utter blasphemy!
[19:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> But nothing happens! OOC: Alicia.
[19:02] <Alicia> Now it's time to pull out all the stops, so Alicia calls upon the power of her boots to speed her up such that everything and everyone seems frozen around her! Taking advantage of this brief respite, she first infuses herself with the power of a planetar, skin tinting green and vibrant despite the draining aura all around, while she flies towards the Neverborn.
[19:02] <Alicia> Next she activates Elle's gift to provide some help should anyone find their Death Ward dispelled, while taking a position to flank the Neverborn with Honeydip.
[19:05] <Alicia> As time's flow slips back to normal, she immediately lays into the undead god/demonbaby with all the fury she can muster, Hell Striker doing its part by summoning a wall of raging flame around her that bisects it from the side even as her blade cuts in again and again!
[19:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 knowledge
06[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 knowledge and gets 32." [1d20=15]
[19:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+47 -6pa divine might raging flanking 6th and 2 4th level arcane strike
06[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+47 -6pa divine might raging flanking 6th and 2 4th level arcane strike and gets 61." [1d20=14]
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+42 -6pa divine might raging flanking 6th and 2 4th level arcane strike
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+42 -6pa divine might raging flanking 6th and 2 4th level arcane strike and gets 54." [1d20=12]
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+37 -6pa divine might raging flanking 6th and 2 4th level arcane strike
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+37 -6pa divine might raging flanking 6th and 2 4th level arcane strike and gets 42." [1d20=5]
[19:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+21 SR for Wall of Fire
06[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+21 SR for Wall of Fire and gets 23." [1d20=2]
[19:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Two hits.
[19:08] <Alicia> roll 4d4+52+4d6+4d6+2d6+4d6+2d8+28d4
06[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+52+4d6+4d6+2d6+4d6+2d8+28d4 and gets 188." [4d4=4, 3, 1, 1][4d6=5, 6, 1, 5][4d6=4, 2, 3, 4][2d6=1, 4][4d6=1, 4, 3, 4][2d8=2, 7][28d4=4, 3, 3, 2, 1, 4, 1, 3, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2, 2, 4, 4, 2]
[19:09] <Alicia> OOC: +52, forgot to double static damage
[19:09] <Alicia> OOC: so 240
[19:09] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The Neverborn is hacked from behind! It's body is bloodless, it's back ripped open! IT whirls to face Alicia, oblivion in it's eyes! "Everyone hates me! Even you! WHY?" OOC: Seira.
06[19:10] * Seira calls upon Waukeen's aid, taking flight and speeding towards the Neverborn! Her weapon is unlikely to do much to damage the unnatural thing, she is fully aware, but it can still maim the undead monstrosity and weaken it!
[19:10] <Alicia> "Because you hurt others without even caring!" Alicia replies fiercely over her gleaming blade as it slices the atrocity!
01[19:10] <Seira> roll 1d20+33+4+4+2+1 charge, maim
06[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+33+4+4+2+1 charge, maim and gets 47." [1d20=3]
[19:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Hit.
01[19:11] <Seira> roll 2d4+2 charisma and 1 damage, then
06[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d4+2 charisma and 1 damage, then and gets 9." [2d4=3, 4]
[19:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The blow barely touches the Neverborn, yet it's entire form writhes! It screams at the top of it's non-existant lungs! OOC: Scion 1 is up.
[19:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With everone close, the first scion emits a pair of cones of cold, freezing everything around them! OOC: Two ref saves, Seira/Alicia/Honeydip.
[19:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20
[19:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 and gets 26." [1d20=6]
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 and gets 38." [1d20=18]
01[19:13] <Seira> roll 1d20+29
01[19:13] <Seira> roll 1d20+29
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 and gets 30." [1d20=1]
06[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 and gets 40." [1d20=11]
[19:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 32." [1d20=6]
[19:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 30." [1d20=4]
[19:14] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 half Honeydip and Alicia, full Seira.
06[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 half Honeydip and Alicia, full Seira. and gets 51." [15d6=5, 1, 4, 1, 3, 2, 6, 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 6, 2, 5]
[19:14] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 half honeydip and Alicia, none Seira.
06[19:14] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 half honeydip and Alicia, none Seira. and gets 62." [15d6=2, 6, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 2, 5, 6, 5, 5, 6, 5, 4]
[19:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The blistering bursts of brutal chill leave everyone iced over! Your bodies numb from this breath of cold air! The Neverborn continues to scream, all while reaching out with it's rotted hands!
01[19:16] <Seira> "How does it feel to be the one attacked all of a sudden in your home?!" Seira screams back at the Neverborn.
[19:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+30 CL on True Seeing
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+30 CL on True Seeing and gets 32." [1d20=2]
[19:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+24 touch Alicia
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+24 touch Alicia and gets 36." [1d20=12]
[19:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+24 touch Seira
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+24 touch Seira and gets 33." [1d20=9]
[19:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+24 touch Honeydip
06[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+24 touch Honeydip and gets 27." [1d20=3]
[19:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d8 Alicia got lucky today
06[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d8 Alicia got lucky today and gets 5." [1d8=5]
[19:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 2d6 con damage Seira
06[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 2d6 con damage Seira and gets 7." [2d6=5, 2]
[19:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 2d6 con damage Honeydip
06[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 2d6 con damage Honeydip and gets 3." [2d6=1, 2]
[19:19] <Alicia> roll 1d4 forgot my radiant damage
06[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 forgot my radiant damage and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[19:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The touch of the Neverborn leaves Seira and Honeydip feeling as if Death has come for them! It's body glows with radiant life-energies, repairing itself! A split moment later, it's eyes glow black! Three black beams fly out, striking at Alicia!
[19:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+24 touch Alicia 1
[19:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+24 touch Alicia 2
06[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+24 touch Alicia 1 and gets 34." [1d20=10]
06[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+24 touch Alicia 2 and gets 35." [1d20=11]
[19:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+24 touch Alicia 3
06[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+24 touch Alicia 3 and gets 27." [1d20=3]
[19:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d7
06[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d7 and gets 7." [1d7=7]
[19:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d6
06[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d6 and gets 6." [1d6=6]
[19:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d5
06[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d5 and gets 2." [1d5=2]
[19:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With a rasping voice, "DIE!" it howls at Alicia, an intense wave of cold buffeting around her! OOC: Ref.
[19:21] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 45." [1d20=19]
[19:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15*6
06[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15*6 and gets 90."
[19:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 90*1.5
06[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 90*1.5 and gets 135."
[19:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 135/2
06[19:21] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 135/2 and gets 67.5."
[19:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: 67 damage Alicia.
[19:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The cold leaves her devastated, numb all over and barely able to move! OOC:  Scion 2.
[19:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The second scion turns as well, sending blasts of cold to buffet everyone around the Neverborn! OOC: Two ref saves you two.
[19:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Three, I mean. Dur.
[19:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20
[19:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20  and gets 40." [1d20=20]
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20  and gets 27." [1d20=7]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 35." [1d20=9]
[19:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 35." [1d20=9]
01[19:24] <Seira> roll 1d20+29
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 and gets 33." [1d20=4]
01[19:24] <Seira> roll 1d20+29
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 and gets 44." [1d20=15]
[19:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 half honeydip and Alicia, none Seira.
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 half honeydip and Alicia, none Seira. and gets 60." [15d6=3, 5, 3, 5, 3, 6, 6, 2, 2, 4, 1, 4, 6, 6, 4]
[19:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 half honeydip and Alicia, none Seira.
06[19:24] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 half honeydip and Alicia, none Seira. and gets 53." [15d6=5, 3, 3, 1, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6, 5, 2, 1, 5, 1]
[19:25] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The cold leaves Alicia even worse off, while Honeydip flutters down int he air, "Getting massacred..." she says between chattering teeth! OOC: Honeydip.
01[19:25] <Seira> OOC: Moment
03[19:26] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Latha(36)>Marie=Scion 3(26)>Scion 4(25)>Alicia(24)>Seira(22)>Scion 1(21)>Neverborn(19)>Scion 2(16)>Lagann(1)'
[19:26] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Lagann then.
01[19:27] <Seira> Lagann liberates Seira's Flash and prepares to stab one of the abominations in the hope of preempting them.
[19:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Okay. Honeydip.
[19:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Honeydip withdraws back safely, barely able to keep herself flying! "We need...regroup..." she grinds out as she coughs up frozen blood! OOC: Latha.
[19:28] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 4#1d20+20
06[19:28] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 4#1d20+20 and gets 122." [4#1d20+20 = 34, 34, 28, 26]
[19:28] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Strike.
[19:29] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Honeydip stays where she is, all the chill around her falling away! "We need a better plan!" she calls, holding her action for the moment! OOC: Latha.
[19:29] <Alicia> "Latha, put a wall of blades around the little ones! I can keep them out of the fight!" Marie cries desperately, glad Alicia had the foresight to give her this particular spell. Latha nods in agreement and conjures a wall of whirling blades of force in a sphere surrounding the scions without actually touching any of them!
[19:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Okay. Scion 3 and Marie are up.
[19:31] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The third scion continues it's assault on the three...OOC: Lagann, you have a held action.
[19:31] <Alicia> Marie immediately follows up with a yell of "You like ice? Play all you want in my blizzard then!" as a massive snowstorm erupts all around the smaller dead babies, hopefully cutting them out of the fight unless they brave the blades hidden amidst the snowflakes to escape!
01[19:31] <Seira> Lagann doesn't miss his chance to manipulate sharp, pointy objects!
01[19:32] <Seira> roll 1d20+33+4+2-1
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+33+4+2-1 and gets 44." [1d20=6]
[19:32] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Hit.
03[19:32] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(44)>Latha(36)>Lagann=Marie=Scion 3(26)>Scion 4(25)>Alicia(24)>Seira(22)>Scion 1(21)>Neverborn(19)>Scion 2(16)'
01[19:32] <Seira> roll 1d6+1
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d6+1 and gets 6." [1d6=5]
[19:32] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+25 concentration check
06[19:32] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+25 concentration check and gets 27." [1d20=2]
[19:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Even as the blades come out and a snowstorm erupts, the scion is able to keep it's concentration! A pair of cones of cold erupt out! OOC: 2 ref saves you three, +2 bonus due to cover from blade barrier.
[19:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20 Honeydip
[19:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20 Honeydip
06[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 Honeydip and gets 38." [1d20=18]
06[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 Honeydip and gets 25." [1d20=5]
[19:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 does wall of fire have any effect on this, btw?
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 does wall of fire have any effect on this, btw? and gets 42." [1d20=16]
[19:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 does wall of fire have any effect on this, btw?
01[19:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+31
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 does wall of fire have any effect on this, btw? and gets 31." [1d20=3]
01[19:35] <Seira> roll 1d20+31
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+31 and gets 38." [1d20=7]
06[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+31 and gets 33." [1d20=2]
[19:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Walls of fire go down to cold damage, and further, they don't stop things that go through it, just deal damage. AS it's an effect the damage isn't really relevant.
[19:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 half Alicia none Seira
[19:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 half Alicia none Seira
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 half Alicia none Seira and gets 52." [15d6=2, 4, 5, 2, 4, 2, 1, 6, 6, 4, 6, 1, 3, 3, 3]
06[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 half Alicia none Seira and gets 54." [15d6=2, 2, 2, 6, 4, 6, 5, 1, 6, 3, 1, 5, 4, 5, 2]
[19:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The cold devastates Alicia even further! As her eyes glaze over with black frost, SEira again and again dives past each one! She avoids the very smallest bits of ice, utterly untouched bythe barrage! The fourth scion begins to move out, braving the blades! OOC: CL check for Blade Barrier, Latha.
[19:37] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[19:37] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 30." [1d20=13]
[19:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Success. Damage.
[19:38] <Alicia> roll 15d6 DC 21
06[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 15d6 DC 21 and gets 44." [15d6=1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 2, 5, 4, 6, 1, 4, 5, 4, 2, 2]
[19:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+11 ref
06[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+11 ref and gets 15." [1d20=4]
[19:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The baby comes out, hacked and shredded! Yet it still flies, as it directs a cone of cold to envelop the heroes again!
[19:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 and gets 26." [1d20=6]
[19:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Ref you two.
01[19:39] <Seira> roll 1d20+29
06[19:39] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 and gets 45." [1d20=16]
[19:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28
06[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 and gets 48." [1d20=20]
[19:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28
06[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 and gets 46." [1d20=18]
[19:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 None Seira and half Alicia.
06[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 None Seira and half Alicia. and gets 55." [15d6=6, 2, 3, 6, 1, 3, 6, 3, 2, 5, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4]
[19:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> A moment later, the magic of the sleet storm is assailed!
[19:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20 GDM
06[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 GDM and gets 35." [1d20=15]
[19:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The sleet storm vanishes away, as if it never was! OOC: Alicia.
[19:45] <Alicia> "Everyone on Honeydip! We're retreating!" Alicia calls, seeing no point in continuing as things stand - even if she manages to take down the Neverborn, they'll be killed in short order by its minions. Flying around the giant baby as Marie and Latha quickly fly over, she teleports the group back to Gwynharwyf's tent!
[19:45] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[19:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 52." [1d100=52]
[19:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Woosh! In an instant you are bathed in light. Your wounds linger deep and painful, yet the radiance around you soothes them. OOC: The negative level is gone.
[19:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Latha exhales, "That strategy won't work. We'll be massacred by the cold. I could withstand it, until the Neverborn gets to me."
[19:47] <Alicia> "Latha, can you try healing me?" Alicia asks, knowing only magic and rage sustains her right now, and quickly casting a spell to resist said cold on herself. Hopefully heal spells work properly here.
01[19:48] <Seira> "What if we destroyed his minions, first?" Seira suggests, her hearing returning.
[19:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Latha goes to Alicia! Her wounds heal! OOC: Her heal for the day.
[19:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The light speaks to you, a voice of righteous fury. "The battle is going well. Another of the Dark Six has been encountered and forced back, though not slain. Your allies are fighting well, though Antenora and Eudard are greviously wounded."
01[19:50] <Seira> "Can you heal their wounds?" Seira cuts straight to the chase.
[19:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "They are being tended to." Gwynharwyf's light envelopes you! Your wounds are soothed, your body restored! OOC: HP restored, con damage undone.
[19:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Maybe we should quickly grab one or two of them?" Honeydip considers, "We'll need more power if we're to defeat that abomination."
01[19:53] <Seira> "To be practical at the risk of sounding callous, Eudard's weapon is one of few capable of harming that abomination. If I could carry it into battle, we might fare better. If Amaryl wants to help bring it down, I'd also gladly welcome her help."
06[20:08] * Alicia casts resist cold on Honeydip as well. "Are they nearby? I'd like to return quickly while my spells remain and before it can regroup."
[20:09] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "They are a tent away," The voice of raging light speaks. "Regrouping."
[20:10] <Alicia> "Lets find them, then?" Alicia asks, determinedly setting out. Retreating as an unfortunate necessity, but she'd like to return to the fray as quickly as possible.
06[20:13] * Seira fully agrees with this sentiment!
[20:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Hurrying out, you head to the next tent. Here your friends rest! Antenora's stomach is gone, a vast hole in the middle. She cries out in agony, a Planetar tends to her wounds. Each invocation of magic slightly repairs the injury, but only slightly. Jessica sits next to her, holding her hands in her own. Eudard sits up, bloodied all over. Amaryl is next to him, as Saul works on his wounds with magic.
06[20:14] * Seira winces, making her way towards Antenora.
06[20:14] * Alicia wonders if it's a vile wound and quickly makes her way over to Antenora in the hopes that her presence will aid in healing. That she's alive at all with such a wound...
[20:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The wound doesn't heal any faster. Antenora looks up at Alicia, "What...are yo udoing here..." she hacks, "I'll...live. Is the Neverborn still alive?"
[20:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Seira!" Amary looks over as Eudards wounds slowly mend as well, "Are yo ualright?"
01[20:16] <Seira> "In a fashion. We're going back after it," Seira responds, looking down at her. "Just focus on getting better." She smiles at Amaryl, then. "Another close call, but that's it."
[20:16] <Alicia> "We had to make a retreat, but we're about to return," Alicia replies gently, taking out one of the regeneration potions Taldeer made. "Don't worry about that - drink this, it'll help," she soothes, uncorking the bottle and presenting it to her friend's lips, being careful not to choke her.
[20:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Abomination of Fate. That was the name of it," Eudard looks up to them, "It's wounds aren't healing right."
[20:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "How goes the battle? Did you find another of the Dark Six? We found one of their more powerful minions," Amaryl says, "But we kept the line from collapsing."
01[20:18] <Seira> "We killed Oblivion. He was all talk, although his minions had to be seen to be believed."
[20:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Antenora drinks down! The wound heals very slightly and very slowly, as bits of the elixir splash out of her wound, as if going to her stomach that's obliterated. "Good," Antenora's lips are wet with red blood, "Not going to die...won't let myself die here. Go on, go back. I'm safe here."
06[20:20] * Seira gravitates towards Amaryl. "We're going to face the most horrible of abominations in existence. It would be extremely dangerous. Want to come?"
[20:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "If youre going back," Eudard slowly rises, "I can still fight."
[20:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "If you n-needme," Amaryl clasps her hands to her chest, "You found the way to the Neverborn?"
06[20:21] * Alicia squeezes Antenora's shoulder. "Rest, we'll be back after we've won," she reassures, before going to first ward Eudard against the cold, and then Amaryl. "You'll need this, trust me," she tells them.
01[20:22] <Seira> "Luck, destiny, take your pick." Seira shrugs. "I'm sure that if it dies for good, we won't need to be troubled by the undead for a good long time."
[20:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Let's go," Honeydip calls now, "While there's still time! Surely it won't sit in it's throne room forever, will it?"
06[20:24] * Seira snorts, and lights herself on blue fire, before calling for Haste to envelop them. "Time for round two?"
[20:25] <Alicia> "I'm teleporting us back - there weren't any wardings against it that I saw. Be ready, we're about to land right in combat - keep those little ones busy unless you've got a special weapon or magic that can hurt the big one," she gives last minute instructions before teleporting the expanded group back into the fray!
[20:25] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 86." [1d100=86]
[20:25] <Alicia> OOC: off target
[20:25] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d10
[20:25] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d10
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d10 and gets 3." [1d10=3]
06[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d10 and gets 2." [1d10=2]
[20:26] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Woosh! You appear in oblivion, Bleak Rendor and the battle in the distance! This is notably not the Neverborn's room!
06[20:26] * Alicia makes a face at wasting one of her more powerful spells. "Sorry, I was preoccupied when I was there," she explains away her lack of a clear mental image, trying once more.
[20:26] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[20:29] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus you appear! Ahead of you, a Planetar collapses! "For...Ab..." she tries to raise her greatsword, but collapses into icy ruin! About you angels and celestials lie obliterated, the Neverborn with a pair of white wings in it's hands!  The four babies fly around it, battered but intact. "KILL THEM! KILL EVERYTHING!" He howls! OOC: roll init.
01[20:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[20:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 Alicia
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 Alicia and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[20:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Marie
01[20:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 A
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Marie and gets 25." [1d20=5]
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 A and gets 29." [1d20=9]
[20:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Latha
[20:29] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+26 honeydip
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Latha and gets 35." [1d20=15]
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+26 honeydip and gets 45." [1d20=19]
01[20:29] <Seira> roll 1d20+12 L
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 L and gets 16." [1d20=4]
[20:29] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+18 Eudard
06[20:29] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+18 Eudard and gets 25." [1d20=7]
03[20:30] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Latha=Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Marie(25)'
03[20:30] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Latha=Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Marie(25)'
03[20:30] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Latha=Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Eudard=Marie(25)>Lagann(16)'
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9
[20:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+9
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 and gets 20." [1d20=11]
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 and gets 12." [1d20=3]
06[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+9 and gets 21." [1d20=12]
03[20:31] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Latha=Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Eudard=Marie(25)>Scion 4(21)Scion 1=Scion 2(20)Lagann(16)>Scion 3(12)'
[20:31] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+14
06[20:31] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+14 and gets 28." [1d20=14]
03[20:31] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Latha=Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Neverborn(28)>Eudard=Marie(25)>Scion 4(21)Scion 1=Scion 2(20)Lagann(16)>Scion 3(12)'
[20:32] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Honeydip holds her action for now! OOC: Latha'n'Alicia.
[20:33] <Alicia> Latha waits for the first sign of spellcasting from any of the smaller ones before she will attack and take revenge for the celestials who were just slain here!
06[20:34] * Alicia meanwhile waits for Marie, relying on her familiar to get her into melee with the Neverborn itself so she can start attacking properly.
[20:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Seira, go, Sec.
06[20:35] * Seira calls upon the energy of life to bolster her, drawing forward to use an assortment of ghostly unicorns to tear one of the scions apart, before drawing ten feet back into Latha's protective envelope!
01[20:36] <Seira> roll 5#1d20+32 ranged touch, maximized unicorns~
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5#1d20+32 ranged touch, maximized unicorns~ and gets 232." [5#1d20+32 = 41, 45, 48, 48, 50]
[20:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: All hit.
01[20:37] <Seira> roll 5#16+5d8
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5#16+5d8 and gets Error: Numeric values only." [5d8=2, 8, 1, 6, 1]
01[20:37] <Seira> roll 20d8+80
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 20d8+80 and gets 168." [20d8=4, 7, 7, 1, 8, 1, 3, 6, 6, 3, 4, 1, 1, 2, 8, 8, 7, 8, 2, 1]
01[20:37] <Seira> roll 5d8
06[20:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5d8 and gets 14." [5d8=2, 5, 3, 2, 2]
01[20:38] <Seira> OOC: If it survives, I hope to knock it into one of its pals with bullrush
03[20:38] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Latha=Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Neverborn(28)>Eudard=Marie(25)>Scion 4(21)Scion 2(20)Lagann(16)>Scion 3(12)'
[20:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The scion is speared from all directions, bursting into a mist of bloodless flesh and rot! OOC: Amaryl.
01[20:40] <Seira> Amaryl gets a similar idea, staying right where she is and releasing a hasted swarm of arrows at another scion with all the fury she can muster!
01[20:42] <Seira> roll 6#1d20+30
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 6#1d20+30 and gets 247." [6#1d20+30 = 33, 47, 50, 39, 47, 31]
01[20:42] <Seira> roll 2#1d20+25
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d20+25 and gets 64." [2#1d20+25 = 30, 34]
01[20:42] <Seira> roll 2#1d20+20
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d20+20 and gets 49." [2#1d20+20 = 26, 23]
[20:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: All hit but the last two.
01[20:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+30 crit?
06[20:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+30 crit? and gets 43." [1d20=13]
01[20:44] <Seira> roll 8#1d8+12+1d6
06[20:44] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 8#1d8+12+1d6 and gets 157." [8#1d8+12+1d6 = 15, 21, 22, 20, 18, 21, 19, 21]
03[20:45] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Latha=Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Neverborn(28)>Eudard=Marie(25)>Scion 4(21)Scion 2(20)Lagann(16)'
[20:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Wounded already, the baby is perforated with arrows! It falls to the ground, unnatural form mauled to a second true death by Amaryl's arrows! OOC: Neverborn is up.
[20:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With it's gorgeous face locked in a stare of hate, "I'll watch all of you die!" it screams, "IT'S NOT FAIR! NONE OF IT'S EVER FAIR FOR ME!" Oblivion quakes around you, a white, static energy cascading from it's body! A vast storm of lightning races out, bursting around the party! OOC: Ref saves all.
01[20:48] <Seira> roll 1d20+29 me
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 me and gets 38." [1d20=9]
[20:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+20 Honeydip
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+20 Honeydip and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[20:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 Alicia
06[20:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 Alicia and gets 31." [1d20=6]
[20:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 Marie
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 Marie and gets 24." [1d20=6]
[20:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+14 Eudard hates ref saves
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+14 Eudard hates ref saves and gets 26." [1d20=12]
01[20:49] <Seira> roll 1d20+23 A
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+23 A and gets 41." [1d20=18]
[20:49] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 Latha. SR?
06[20:49] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 Latha. SR? and gets 28." [1d20=6]
[20:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Su.
[20:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 12d12 damage all of you made the ref except Marie. Lightning damage, which I think she's immune to anyway.
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 12d12 damage all of you made the ref except Marie. Lightning damage, which I think she's immune to anyway. and gets 60." [12d12=12, 1, 1, 5, 12, 6, 6, 2, 2, 10, 1, 2]
[20:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The lightning storm crashes around the party, bursts of pure eletricity leaving ozone trails and burns all over you! A moment later, the beauty of the abomination' face grows too much to look away from! In particular, Alicia...OOC: Will Alicia.
[20:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+32
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+32 and gets 34." [1d20=2]
[20:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Eudard and Marie. Go mArie
[20:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> .
[20:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 spellcraft, I want to know for sure
06[20:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 spellcraft, I want to know for sure and gets 42." [1d20=14]
[20:55] <Alicia> Relieved that she didn't fall for it, Alicia reminds Hell Striker to take control from her if she does anything stupid like trying to protect the Neverborn as Marie flies forward to position herself behind the Neverborn, before the duo switch places and Alicia lashes out with her blade once more to hopefully finish the job!
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+48 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+48 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike and gets 51." [1d20=3]
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+48 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+48 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike and gets 50." [1d20=2]
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+43 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+43 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike and gets 54." [1d20=11]
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike and gets 57." [1d20=19]
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike crit check
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+38 -4pa divine might raging 7th and 2 4th level arcane strike crit check and gets 54." [1d20=16]
[20:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: One hit and one crit.
[20:58] <Alicia> OOC: +2 on all, forgot undead bane
[20:58] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Doesn't change any.
[20:58] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: yes, yo ugot the crit on the number. Your lucky dya.
[20:59] <Alicia> roll 6d4+162+4d6+4d6+2d6+4d6+2d8+30d4
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 6d4+162+4d6+4d6+2d6+4d6+2d8+30d4 and gets 332." [6d4=1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 4][4d6=5, 6, 4, 6][4d6=6, 2, 5, 1][2d6=4, 4][4d6=3, 1, 6, 6][2d8=7, 6][30d4=3, 1, 1, 4, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2, 2, 4, 1, 2, 4, 1, 2, 4, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 4, 3, 3]
[20:59] <Alicia> roll 1d4 radiance
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 radiance and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[21:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The Neverborn's side and back are nearly destroyed! It screams but endures even this, "I WON'T GO AWAY! NOT UNTIL EVERYTHING IS DEAD TOO! EVERYONE WILL LOVE ME WHEN THEY'RE ALL DEAD!" OOC:  Eudard's up.
[21:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Eudard rushes ahead, blade crackling with the fury of Talos! "By all that's ever been, begone!" he cries, as his body surges with strength, "Back to the Abyss of nothingness with you!"
[21:02] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+37 (+2 charge, +2 bull's strength, +4 honeydip, +4 smite)
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+37 (+2 charge, +2 bull's strength, +4 honeydip, +4 smite) and gets 52." [1d20=15]
01[21:02] <Seira> OOC: He can totally flank with Alicia!
[21:02] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Oh yeah, good point.
[21:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d8+15+3d6
06[21:03] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d8+15+3d6 and gets 30." [1d8=4][3d6=3, 5, 3]
[21:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Eudard plunges his blade into the chest of the abomination! Lightning runs up and down it's body, the Neverborn's head peering up, "FATHER! WHY?!" OOC: Scion 4 is up. Anyone have a held action?
[21:04] <Alicia> OOC: Latha
[21:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Shec an take it if she wishes to interrupt it.
[21:04] <Alicia> Latha charges over to club this scion with her mace as it marshalls its unholy energies!
03[21:04] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Neverborn(28)>Eudard=Marie(25)>Latha=Scion 4(21)Scion 2(20)Lagann(16)'
[21:05] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27 -8pa charge sun devotion
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 -8pa charge sun devotion and gets 45." [1d20=18]
[21:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Hit.
[21:05] <Alicia> roll 1d8+36
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+36 and gets 41." [1d8=5]
[21:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Can't make the check, no point in rolling.
[21:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The scion is clubbed hard, it's fragile body and the magic around it disrupted! It cries out as it's magic faulters! OOC: Scion 2.
[21:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The second scion emits a cone of cold at Eudard and Alicia, looking to freeze them! OOC: ref.
[21:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+13
06[21:06] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+13 and gets 14." [1d20=1]
[21:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 32." [1d20=6]
[21:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 15d6 full Eudard half Alicia
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 15d6 full Eudard half Alicia and gets 40." [15d6=2, 2, 2, 6, 1, 4, 6, 3, 1, 4, 1, 2, 1, 1, 4]
[21:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The freezing is far less devastating this time, only doing some pain instead of an utter obliteration!  OOC: Lagann.
01[21:08] <Seira> Lagann is in range, if barely, and decides to strike with the Resort at the wounded scion in an attempt to finish it off!
01[21:09] <Seira> roll 1d20+36 charge, smite
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+36 charge, smite and gets 39." [1d20=3]
[21:09] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Hit.
01[21:09] <Seira> roll 3d8+4+6d8
06[21:09] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+4+6d8 and gets 46." [3d8=2, 6, 5][6d8=1, 3, 7, 6, 5, 7]
03[21:09] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Alicia(35)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Neverborn(28)>Eudard=Marie(25)>Latha>Scion 2(20)Lagann(16)'
[21:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The scion is impaled through the center, falling apart around the blade! OOC: Honeydip's up.
[21:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Lady Honeydip takes this chance, charging the last scion and looking to end it!
[21:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+37 (-6 PA)
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+37 (-6 PA) and gets 56." [1d20=19]
[21:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d6+27
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d6+27 and gets 30." [1d6=3]
03[21:11] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Honeydip(45)>Seira(32)>Amaryl(29)>Neverborn(28)>Eudard=Marie=Alicia(25)>Latha>Scion 2(20)Lagann(16)'
[21:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> She spears it directly, dealing a deep wound into it! OOC: Seira, forgot to adjust Alicia in init.
06[21:13] * Seira returns those ten feet she retreated previously, charging up the most powerful of her orb spells!
01[21:14] <Seira> roll 1d20+30 impromptu SA, maximized empowered orb of acid on the Neverborn
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+30 impromptu SA, maximized empowered orb of acid on the Neverborn and gets 38." [1d20=8]
[21:14] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Hit.
01[21:14] <Seira> roll 5d8+135 acid
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5d8+135 acid and gets 158." [5d8=5, 4, 6, 4, 4]
[21:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The acid flies true! The Neverborn's body is covered in it, dissolving away! Sparks of light erupt from it's hissing, melting body, the abomination falling to it's knees! "No...NO! WHY!? WHY!? WHY WAS I BORN JUST TO SUFFER?!" It's body hisses away, it's head falling to the ground! A rush of energy surges past all of you, "WHY?!...why....mother...father...momma...I'm ...scared...don't let me die..." (More)
[21:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> I'm ...scared...don't let me die..." (More)
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Ao...please....let me dream...about how warm momma was...inside..." The head cries in a voice choking with despair, the head crackling apart into light! The light whirls about, before fading away into the Oblivion all around you! The surviving scion screams, body crackling and apart and fading away, pulled towards the whirling, fading light!
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Free act.
01[21:20] <Seira> "So... damn... creepy."
06[21:20] * Alicia relaxes, dropping to the ground and letting her swordarm lower. "In the end, oblivion is kinder than anything Ao offered. But we still have two liches to kill."
01[21:21] <Seira> "One is even wounded!" Seira agrees, perking up.
01[21:22] <Seira> But first, she tries to heal Eudard's many wounds.
01[21:22] <Seira> roll 3d8+15
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 3d8+15 and gets 28." [3d8=1, 8, 4]
[21:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It's almost over," Lady Honeydip looks about, "Are we fit to continue? The victory is ours...we can fight slower now if we need to recover."
01[21:22] <Seira> "They are so going down," Seira declares. "We won't give them a chance to escape!"
[21:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Eudard's wounds heal. He looks down at where it was, sword still crackling with vicious lightning. He doesn't say anything for a little time, "There's two more to slay. In the name of Helm, let them meet judgment as well."
06[21:23] * Alicia nods in agreement, also healing Eudard some as she looks to see if this chamber has any other exits.
[21:23] <Alicia> OOC: 20hp lay onhands
01[21:23] <Seira> roll 1d20+30
06[21:23] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+30 and gets 43." [1d20=13]
[21:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Both heals go through.
06[21:25] * Seira restores some of Amaryl's vitality, in turn, before looking around to for anything of interest as Waukeen commands her to!
01[21:25] <Seira> roll 2d8+10
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2d8+10 and gets 20." [2d8=8, 2]
01[21:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+30
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+30 and gets 48." [1d20=18]
01[21:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+34 search
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+34 search and gets 35." [1d20=1]
[21:26] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Farther back in the darkness is a throne. It is a throne of incredible craftsmanship, forged of adamantine and cold iron, studded with black opals. It weights tens of tons, but is surely valuable.
06[21:26] * Alicia hardly cares about that. With only one exit to use, she starts jogging back the way they came.
06[21:27] * Seira isn't about to break furniture apart, and follows Alicia out in search of more liches to take down!
[21:28] <Tiny_Ko_Army> As the party heads out, you find a glowing Tulani and six Courre Eladrin. With hands full of light, "The disturbance we heard and felt - was it the end of the Neverborn?" He asks, beautifully elven and muscled, wearing golden armor and carrying only light in his hands. "The forces outside wailed as one, many scattering to the four winds."
[21:28] <Alicia> "It's dead," Alicia confirms, her green skin flowing away and reverting her to her normal colouring and muscle tone. "There are still two liches left, unless others have had success elsewhere?"
01[21:29] <Seira> "Even some news of lich sightings would help!" Seira pitches in.
[21:29] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I heard one was encountered, but it fell back. We're going to secure the way you came - we're supposed to occupy as much of Bleak Rendor as we can." With a slight msile to that, "Reinforcements are coming. The battle has turned decisively in our favor."
[21:30] <Alicia> "We need to find the other two liches, as well as the central phylactery to ensure none of the ones already defeated can regenerate themselves - likely as not that could be where the last two have fell back to, anyway. Has anyone encountered any fixed orbs like the ones the liches carry?"
[21:31] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "No, but we're still exploring Bleak Rendor. I am in contact with Lady Gywnharwyf. She is advancing now, she is no longer barred from approaching." Reporting this, "IT is only a matter of time until Androlynne is avenged."
01[21:32] <Seira> "So it is, but we can't just leave it to everyone else, sit back and relax," Seira says. "Alicia, how about those double doors we saw earlier? Let's see if we can break them down?"
06[21:33] * Alicia looks towards the titan-covered doors. She'd assumed that was where those unfortunate celestials they saw with the Neverborn came from, but they might have come in the breach in the ceiling.
[21:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The doors are ajar now. No light comes from the cracked doors.
[21:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Let's use restraint now. With Lady Gwynharwyf on the way, we can afford to retreat if we find resistance. There's no sense dying in the last moments of war," Honeydip floats towards the ajar doors.
06[21:34] * Alicia heads towards the doors as well - there might still be areas past there that are still being fought over, or remain unexplored.
01[21:34] <Seira> "I think we've demonstrated a capacity for that when we withdrew earlier," Seira voices, following.
[21:35] <Alicia> "Good luck, guys!" Marie gives her fellow courre a jaunty wave as she flies off.
[21:35] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Ahead, you find a narrow hall. Doors are on eithe rside twenty feet ahead, then a heavier door twenty more feet straight ahead.
[21:35] <Alicia> "Don't get turned into ghosts!" she adds.
[21:35] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Huh?" One female courre turns with a puzzled look.
[21:36] <Alicia> "One of the liches had a spell that did that," Marie explains, flying backwards. "Wasn't much different than being a ball except I had hands, but the creepy voices were annoying. Heal spell fixes it right up, though!"
[21:36] <Alicia> Are any of the doors in sight unopened?
[21:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The back door is ajar. Side doors aren't.
06[21:37] * Alicia goes to open the sinister door!
[21:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Which one?
06[21:37] * Seira checks one of the closed doors, glowing with blue flames, while Alicia does that.
[21:37] <Alicia> OOC: left
01[21:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+34 search
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+34 search and gets 40." [1d20=6]
06[21:38] * Seira opens it, suppressing the desire to just kick it in.
[21:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The door leads to an open hall. Statues of undead stand about at attention. It leads ahead sixty feet, coming to an end at some sort of black colored pool of liquid.
[21:39] <Alicia> OOC: any magic?
[21:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 spellcraft
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 spellcraft and gets 37." [1d20=9]
[21:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Seira opens the right door! She finds a narrow hall, leading to six doors on a wide back wall.
[21:41] <Alicia> "Don't drink the water," Alicia deadpans, doubting anyone would be stupid enough to do so as she turns to see what's behind Seira's door.
01[21:42] <Seira> "Is it horribly transformative?" Seira asks, checking and then opening the first door in a clockwise pattern.
01[21:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+34
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+34 and gets 39." [1d20=5]
[21:43] <Alicia> "It'll kill you and make your body keep moving," Alicia confirms, letting Seira open the next set of doors.
01[21:44] <Seira> "I don't think we need to worry, since Donald's kicking back in Lathander's realm," Seira says happily, not seeing any traps and opening the first door.
[21:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> All six doors lead to one vast room. Here a great sphere of bone and metal whirls in the air, glowing with a black radiance! A skeleton is marvelously complex robes of blue and black looks up at it, an Orb in his hands. He turns to look at Seira, unexpressive. "Marching ahead, the victors come to claim what is theirs?"
01[21:45] <Seira> "There's that, too," Seira agrees. "But mostly we just want you all to die horribly."
[21:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We were doomed from the beginning. Sylian...all his plan, it seems." Behind him, you see a face in the sphere - a ghostly image of Glaciante, howling in fury! "What I always feared, yet could do nothing to stop."
01[21:47] <Seira> "How about not attacking innocent people or teaming up with abominations? I bet that would've been conductive to longevity."
[21:48] <Alicia> "Maybe you should have tried harder, then," Alicia tells him, raising her sword. "Now you will die as you should have long ago, and be damned to whatever Hell will take you."
[21:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It matters not now." Holding the Orb out, "A simple agreement - we do no matter, I leave this place and the Orb behind with you. Do what you will to the fools within. Otherwise...oh, you may defeat me. But I know I'll take at least one of ou down to the Abyss with me."
[21:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> *we do no battle. Wow.
01[21:49] <Seira> "Wouldn't you die when we destroy your phylactery, anyhow?"
[21:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With a grim, grim smile, "It's why I was here instead of in the battle, child. I am safe. Come then if you wish to try and kill me. It matters little, ultimately. Sylian used all of us."
01[21:51] <Seira> "I think you're probably lying. Plus I hate the lot of you, so killing you sounds like a really great idea."
[21:53] <Alicia> "I think you overestimate your chances," Alicia replies. "If you wish to surrender I'd accept it, but you would not go free to commit further atrocities. Instead you would be given over to Kelemvor's judgement - which may be harsh, but perhaps better than your other fate. Choose."
01[21:53] <Seira> Neverending torture in death, or in undeath. Seira finds herself approving.
[21:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> With a chuckle, dark energies flare around the lich! "I am Mayna. Rue this as your soul is violated in the endless madness!" OOC: Roll init.
[21:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 Alicia
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 Alicia and gets 34." [1d20=15]
[21:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Marie
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Marie and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[21:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 Latha
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 Latha and gets 28." [1d20=8]
[21:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+26 honeydip
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+26 honeydip and gets 32." [1d20=6]
[21:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+18 Eudard
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+18 Eudard and gets 31." [1d20=13]
01[21:54] <Seira> "I've heard it all before!" Seira exclaims, the fire about her spiking.
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 34." [1d20=16]
01[21:54] <Seira> roll 1d20+20 A
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 A and gets 39." [1d20=19]
01[21:55] <Seira> roll 1d20+12 L
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+12 L and gets 23." [1d20=11]
[21:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+18 Mayna.
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+18 Mayna. and gets 23." [1d20=5]
03[21:55] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Seira=Alicia(34)>Honeydip(32)>Eudard(31)>Marie(30)>Latha(28)'
03[21:56] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Amaryl(39)>Seira=Alicia(34)>Honeydip(32)>Eudard(31)>Marie(30)>Latha(28)>Lagann(23)'
[21:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Go Amaryl.
01[21:56] <Seira> Amaryl decides to follow the same pattern as before, holding her position and assaulting the lich with a storm of arrows it would be hard-pressed to weather!
[21:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Wait, forgot to add him.
03[21:57] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Amaryl(39)>Seira=Alicia(34)>Honeydip(32)>Eudard(31)>Marie(30)>Latha(28)>Mayna=Lagann(23)'
[21:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Carry on.
01[21:57] <Seira> roll 6#1d20+31 she's so smiting him
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 6#1d20+31 she's so smiting him and gets 219." [6#1d20+31 = 32, 41, 33, 38, 32, 43]
01[21:58] <Seira> roll 2#1d20+26
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d20+26 and gets 71." [2#1d20+26 = 38, 33]
01[21:58] <Seira> roll 2#1d20+21
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d20+21 and gets 64." [2#1d20+21 = 31, 33]
[21:58] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Two hits, d100 on both.
01[21:58] <Seira> roll 2#1d100
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d100 and gets 131." [2#1d100 = 80, 51]
[21:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Two hits.
01[22:00] <Seira> roll 2#1d8+20+1d6
06[22:00] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 2#1d8+20+1d6 and gets 59." [2#1d8+20+1d6 = 28, 31]
[22:00] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The arrows slam into Mayna, hitting his bony body and ripping his robes with twin holes! OOC: Seira'n'Alicia power hour.
[22:01] <Alicia> "By Mystra's will, unbind the dweomer that protects the unworthy!" Alicia calls, stripping away Mayna's magical defences before she flies overhead, landing behind the lich with sword at the ready!
[22:01] <Alicia> OOC: how many checks to dispel?
[22:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: 10.
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 10#1d20+21
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10#1d20+21 and gets 292." [10#1d20+21 = 25, 24, 27, 27, 39, 31, 35, 26, 22, 36]
[22:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Some of the magic around Mayna cracks apart, falling away! Yet mighty magics still cloak and protect him! OOC: Seira.
06[22:02] * Seira grimly steps closer to her enemy until she is just over fifteen feet away from Alicia, boosting her magical might against the lich, before exploding into a brilliant, all-consuming fire!
01[22:02] <Seira> OOC: Assay spell resistance, empowered greater fireburst
[22:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Go for it.
01[22:03] <Seira> roll 1d20+29 SR
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 SR and gets 45." [1d20=16]
01[22:03] <Seira> roll 1.5*15d10 flames~
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1.5*15d10 flames~ and gets 129." [15d10=7, 10, 5, 9, 2, 9, 6, 10, 6, 5, 4, 1, 4, 1, 7]
[22:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Devastating fires erupt around Mayna! His bones burn, robes scorched away! He holds onto the Orb of the Dark Six, even as he is charred! OOC: Honeydip.
[22:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Lady Honeydip takes this chance, charging with all she has!
[22:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+30 (-13 PA)
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+30 (-13 PA) and gets 32." [1d20=2]
[22:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> But she manages to miss the easy target, flatfooted as he is! OOC: Eudard.
[22:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Eudard draws in his breath, sword readied, "For the crimes against existance, Helm sentences you to death!" With that, his blade seeks the lich!
[22:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+28 (+2 charge, +2 bull's strenght, +3 quickened divine favor, +4 smite, +4 honeydip, +2 flank -12 PA)
06[22:05] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+28 (+2 charge, +2 bull's strenght, +3 quickened divine favor, +4 smite, +4 honeydip, +2 flank -12 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=8]
[22:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d8+30+3d6
06[22:06] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d8+30+3d6 and gets 42." [1d8=3][3d6=6, 2, 1]
[22:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The crackle of lightning is too much! The bony wizard breaks apart, it's skeleton collapsing! All that's left is a pile of bone, the Orb, and a single metal ring gleaming on one finger. OOC: Free at.
06[22:07] * Alicia cracks a brief smile. "So much for all his talk," she comments, opening up her portable hole and kicking orb number five within.
01[22:07] <Seira> roll 1d20+39 K:A
06[22:07] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+39 K:A and gets 53." [1d20=14]
01[22:07] <Seira> "Empty boasts, that's all he was!" Seira agrees, helping Alicia kick the rest of anything salvageable in.
[22:08] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The only other thing of note is a metal ring on it's bony fingers.
01[22:08] <Seira> Then that's what gets taken home!
[22:09] <Alicia> "One last lich to find and then we can end this," Alicia remarks as she furls up the hole. "Lets keep looking for him?"
[22:09] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "What about that?" Honeydip gestures to the sphere of metal and bone. "That's our other goal too. Maybe we should keep someone here, so that the last one doesn't repeat this?"
01[22:10] <Seira> "Yeah, Mayna or however he called himself probably tried to transfer his soul elsewhere. Gimme a moment to look at this sphere, first?"
[22:10] <Alicia> "Amaryl or Seira, perhaps?" Alicia suggests. "Since you two are in constant telepathic contact?"
[22:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl blushes at this.
[22:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Eudard kicks one of the bones, "Well fought," he turns to Alicia and then Seira.
01[22:12] <Seira> roll 1d20+39 K:A
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+39 K:A and gets 46." [1d20=7]
01[22:12] <Seira> roll 1d20+30 spellcraft
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+30 spellcraft and gets 39." [1d20=9]
01[22:14] <Seira> "This is the seventh orb!" Seira exclaims. "The remaining lich's trying to break free even as we speak! Let's go and kill his sorry ass!"
[22:15] <Alicia> "He can do that remotely? Does it give any clue as to where he is?" Alicia asks.
01[22:18] <Seira> OOC: I'll reline!
01[22:19] <Seira> "This is the seventh orb!" Seira exclaims. "That loser, Mayna, is trying to break free even as we speak! But he'll be weakened if we get the last orb and destroy them while the process is taking place, so let's find the remaining lich and put him out of our misery?"
[22:21] <Alicia> "Won't that kill all of them, though?" Alicia asks, not liking how this sounds. If he can just escape and respawn elsewhere, even weakened, it rather tarnishes things.
01[22:21] <Seira> "He'll be weakened for millennia," Seira elaborates. "While I'll try to track his sorry soul down, and we'll take him out as he's all weak."
[22:22] <Alicia> "Will it still kill the others, at least?" Alicia asks hopefully.
01[22:22] <Seira> "Oh yes, definitely!"
[22:22] <Alicia> "That'll have to do, then," she nods. "Will one of you watch here for the return of the last lich while the rest of us hunt through Bleak Rendor?"
[22:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We knew Sylian was going to get away...but let's hurry so that another one doesn't!" Amaryl says, "Right?"
01[22:22] <Seira> To Amaryl, Seira whispers, "You can stay here to guard the orb, if you'd like. Lagann could even turn you invisible."
[22:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Okay," Amaryl agrees, "I won't let anything happen."
01[22:23] <Seira> "Call me at the first sign of... anything, really. I'll teleport right back!" Seira promises, as Lagann casts greater invisibility upon Amaryl.
[22:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> As you talk, a faint light glows in the room. A warming light, a light that stirs change and hope within you. It's distant and dim, but felt nonetheless.
01[22:25] <Seira> "And there's the cavalry!" Seira says happily, proceeding out of the room and towards the remaining door they are yet to check.
[22:25] <Alicia> "Gwynharwyf must approach," Alicia surmises at the presence of the light, jogging back out to the main corridor and heading down the untravelled doorway.
[22:26] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The light grows warmer as you head out! As you do, "Seira!" Amaryl calls out, "Come back!"
06[22:26] * Seira returns in an instant!
06[22:26] * Alicia does an about turn and runs back!
[22:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Within the sphere, a face whirls! A skeletal face unknown to you, howling in fury before fading into it.
06[22:28] * Seira instantly checks to see whether there is now one more essence residing within the sphere!
[22:28] <Alicia> "Someone just killed the last lich?" Alicia guesses. "In that case we should find them to retrieve the last orb and end this."
[22:28] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Good! Glad tos ee the rest of them caught up a bit," Lady Honeydip goes to rest on the floor, "The fastest few of us should go?"
01[22:28] <Seira> "Oh yes!" Seira agrees. "That's definitely the last lich biting it."
[22:30] <Alicia> "Latha and Marie, then?" Alicia suggests.
[22:30] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yes,"Latha starts flying out of the room immediately.
01[22:30] <Seira> "I'll use the time to try and track down Mayna, then," Seira proposes, getting to it.
[22:30] <Alicia> Marie is right there with her!
06[22:31] * Alicia opens up the portable hole and starts setting the five orbs they've collected thus far in a circle around the big sphere.
[22:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The light grows stronger! Shortly, Marie andLatha return! Walking with them is utter radiance. A furious warrior approaches the sphere, the last Orb in her hands. Gwynharwyf looks to it, "Justice has come for the forgotten children. Alicia and Seira - you two above all others are responsible for this. Take this orb and end those who have done so much evil."
06[22:33] * Alicia is already handling the consecration, so she nods to Seira for her to do the honours with the last orb.
06[22:34] * Seira accepts the orb, and turns towards Alicia. "Do you think you could try a Divination, first? It should be the best way to track down Mayna."
[22:34] <Alicia> "You mean you want me to scry on him?" Alicia clarifies.
01[22:36] <Seira> "I thought of the actual spell, but this might work even better," Seira agrees. "And if this fails, well, we'll track him down yet."
06[22:36] * Seira places the last orb to complete the circle, in the meantime.
06[22:38] * Alicia conescrates the area to Mystra by her very presence, so no special action is required to end things in the manner Sylian said would occur. She picks up one of Mayna's bones and some ash from his fancy robes to use as a focus, employing her last seventh circle spell to mimic the effects of a scrying spell on the lich.
[22:38] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The last orb is put in place! At this, Alicia glows with pure white light! It shines throughout the room, the six orbs rising! They spin around and around, shattering apart! As they do, cracks run up and down the seventh orb! Four tormented faces are seen within! "No...Noooo!" Glaciante's voice calls, "This isn't possible!" Dralen's laughter can be heard, "Play...I'll play with yo uagain...even if I have to crawl up from being a dretch!"
[22:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army>  "Play...I'll play with yo uagain...even if I have to crawl up from being a dretch!" Oblivion's raspy howling echos about as well, and another voice calling, "This isn't possible...Ogremoch...give me your pow-" Then it all ends. The last orb shatters into shards, exploding out! The souls vanish away, gone!
[22:39] <Alicia> OOC: DC 25 on my scrying, -14 from possession/body part
[22:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+11
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+11 and gets 18." [1d20=7]
01[22:39] <Seira> "Good luck with that," Seira tells the insane lich as it disappears. "Have fun with all the torture."
[22:40] <Alicia> "So it was one of those guys that sent the black rock triskithing!" Marie points accusingly.
[22:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> You can see ahead. A ruined, blasted room. A fire reds ky burns above, the ground foul. In these ruins, a skeletal form appears! It is half transparent and flickering, an arm and both legs missing! Mayna lies there, groaning!
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 planes, can I tell what plane he's on?
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 planes, can I tell what plane he's on? and gets 41." [1d20=13]
01[22:42] <Seira> "You know, I do still have the teleport ring," Seira says in a conversational tone of voice. "If we need to get to Mayna after plane shifting, say."
[22:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Gwynharwyf peers at Mayna, "Dispatch him," she commands, "Will you need magic to take you to him?"
[22:43] <Alicia> "He's in the Abyss," Alicia gestures to the illusory image generated by her scrying. "He should be weak and we can surely kill him quickly and depart."
01[22:43] <Seira> "Let's go," Seira says, taking Amaryl's hand and offering the other to Alicia. "No time to waste, right?"
06[22:43] * Alicia takes the offered hand and takes her familiars in the other. "Latha, if you'd do the honours?"
[22:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Latha does so! You appear below a fire-red sky, nothing but endless ruin as far as you can see. In the distance, a swarm of babau lurk, climbing up and over a ruined pile of rubble.
06[22:45] * Seira calls upon the power of her ring as soon as they arrive, seeking out the lich's whereabouts!
01[22:45] <Seira> roll 1d100
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d100 and gets 86." [1d100=86]
[22:46] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus you appear around Mayna! He struggles to rise, but cannot. His body flickers between real and ghostly, a gemmed vial held tightly in one hand.
06[22:47] * Seira announces her arrival with as many ghostly unicorns as she can summon!
06[22:47] * Alicia doesn't hesitate in bringing Hell Striker down to sunder him in twain!
[22:47] <Alicia> OOC: init?
[22:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Go ahead, he's helpless right now.
01[22:47] <Seira> roll 10#1d8+8+5d8 glee~
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 10#1d8+8+5d8 glee~ and gets 362." [10#1d8+8+5d8 = 45, 43, 46, 37, 23, 38, 26, 32, 30, 42]
[22:48] <Alicia> roll 4d4+100+2d6+2d6+1d6+2d6+1d8 coup de grace
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 4d4+100+2d6+2d6+1d6+2d6+1d8 coup de grace and gets 144." [4d4=4, 1, 4, 1][2d6=3, 5][2d6=5, 5][1d6=4][2d6=4, 1][1d8=7]
[22:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Between unicorns and sword, the body and placytery are obliterated! Mayna screams as the ground reaches up, taking his fading body in! It rumbles deeply, a swelling lump appearing where his broken body and broken plyactery were.
06[22:49] * Alicia looks around briefly for any magic. If this was his backup place to respawn he might have left useful supplies here, or a spellbook.
01[22:49] <Seira> "Seems like you'll be starting from the bottom of the food chain, too," Seira mutters as the lich is destroyed, joining Alicia in her search.
01[22:50] <Seira> roll 1d20+34 plus normal search, why not?
06[22:50] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+34 plus normal search, why not? and gets 44." [1d20=10]
[22:50] <Alicia> "Nothing here. It must have been a last minute thing," Alicia remarks. "Latha, take us back to the negative energy plane and I'll return us to Bleak Rendor?"
[22:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> As Seira searches, she finds the swollen lump breaks apart. Crying in pain, a mane claws out, wet and bloody!
06[22:51] * Seira destroys it with yet more unicorns, in case it's the lich, reborn.
06[22:51] * Alicia recoils briefly at the sudden arrival of a new mane. A more graphic example of the Abyssal rebirthing process she could not have asked for.
01[22:51] <Seira> roll 5#1d8+8+5d8 die a final death please
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 5#1d8+8+5d8 die a final death please and gets 174." [5#1d8+8+5d8 = 33, 41, 33, 29, 38]
[22:52] <Tiny_Ko_Army> It is torn apart by the unicorns, ripped in shreds in a moment! LAdy Honeydip looks away, "I've had enough of the Abyss for eternity. Let's go...let's go back to Arborea? You're heroes there...let me take you to the Court of the Stars."
[22:53] <Alicia> "If you don't think we're needed to clean up at Bleak Rendor," Alicia looks uncertain. "I'd rather see to Antenora and the others we left at the camp, too."
01[22:53] <Seira> "There's also the matter of Donald. Let's go wherever we can regroup the easiest?"
[22:54] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We can go there if you wish, but Lady Gwynharwyf is there and at full power now. Bleak Rendor is surely taken care of." Lady Honeydip relents. "Let's return to Antenora and the others then?"
06[22:54] * Alicia nods. "We can return to Arborea with everyone else," she agrees, taking Latha's and Marie's hands.
[22:55] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus Latha returns you to the Negative Energy Plane! You appear in the nothingness, utter chill and emptiness all around you.
01[22:56] <Seira> "I can only muster a short-term teleport," Seira tells Alicia, relying on her to get them to their destination.
[22:57] <Alicia> "I've got two chances... should've left Marie there for better accuracy," Alicia admits, eliciting an apologetic shrug from her familiar as she attempts to teleport to where they left Antenora, Jessica, and Saul.
[22:57] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[22:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[23:01] <Alicia> OOC: lets call that my magic failure roll
[23:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[23:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 61." [1d100=61]
[23:02] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus you appear in the tent! Jessica is holding Antenora's hands, Antenora's head resting in her lap. Her side is bandaged, somewhat better looking at a glance. Saul is resting near them, eyes half closed. The light here is dimmer, but still radiant.
06[23:02] * Alicia goes to take a seat next to her sister, not waking Antenora. "It's over. We won," she announces in quiet satisfaction.
[23:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "We felt it." Jessica says with open happiness and relief, "Antenora rested easily once she did."
01[23:03] <Seira> "The last of the innocent souls have been released, and all the liches here destroyed," Seira agrees, just as satisfied.
[23:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Saul sighs, "Good. There was far too much powerful magic being thrown around for anyone's good." Pushing his hood back, "I think Mystra is almost onto something, talking about using magic only when you need to. This was excessive."
[23:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Amaryl sinks down to her knees, lying down. "Let's take a long rest. Ever since this started...the attacks...the Abyss...this..."
01[23:05] <Seira> "Hmph. It's not the magic but how you use it," Seira insists, before asking Honeydeep, "There was a priest of Lathander abducted from our land. Did any of the other teams manage to find out what happened to him?"
[23:05] <Alicia> "I've never been very good about that part myself," Alicia admits, fidgeting. "But having so many irresponsible wielders of magic vastly more powerful than my own rankles something fierce."
[23:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I'll go find out," Honeydip flies off.
[23:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "....mmm..." Antenora's eyes open, "Jealous?" A light grin shows on her face, "Good work, Alicia."
01[23:06] <Seira> "Five less of them, now, and another gone off beyond the rim or wherever it is the crazy people go."
[23:06] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You go back to sleep," Jessica leans over, thwapping Antenora's forehead, "You came within a few drops of blood to dying."
[23:06] <Alicia> "Hush you, you're supposed to be resting," Alicia gently chides her friend.
[23:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Good." Saul closes his eyes, "Yes, yes I know. I'm getting too old for this."
01[23:07] <Seira> "That's what you always say. It only manages to make you sound old."
[23:07] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You're right by me...of course I can rest safe..." Antenora lets her eyes close back, "I feel better already, the potion helped some. Jovaiel thinks the only think that will heal the wound entirely is time, but the worst of it's gone."
[23:08] <Alicia> "And you're practically a baby compared to some of those here!" Marie tells Saul as she settles on Antenora's pillow.
01[23:08] <Seira> "Yes," Seira finds herself agreeing. "Listen to the nice person and go out and find a sexy angel to comfort you."
[23:09] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Soon Lady Honeydip returns, "There's freed prisoners. One of them is Claris Brightsun," she says, "Gwynharwyf has sent him along to Lathander's realm. There is...need of him for spiritual healing."
[23:09] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Saul just glares at Seira, but settles back.
[23:10] <Alicia> "When you say he went to Lathander's realm, is he whole or is it the passing of his soul?" Alicia asks delicately.
01[23:10] <Seira> "Prisoners mean live people, right? That's how it normally goes?"
[23:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "He's alive." Honeydip goes to sit on the ground, shifting to human sized. "Yes. AS well as myriad souls freed."
06[23:11] * Seira nods. "Whatever he needs and we can provide, just let us know. Please."
[23:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> After another moment, "They've found the laboratories, too. They're dealing with those, destroying the profane and harvesting knowledge we may need or may be useful and untainted."
[23:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Honeydip sharply nods to Seira, "Yeah. He's a cleric of Lathander, I'm sure Lathander will make sure he'll recover."
[23:12] <Alicia> "He must have suffered terribly... it's hard to believe it's been barely over a week since they revealed themselves so brutally upon our world," Alicia shakes her head.
[23:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Longest week of my life," Amaryl rests her head on one hand, "Wasn't it?"
01[23:12] <Seira> "There is another of their prisoners, back in Balmuria," Seira continues. "He is slowly healing, but would it be better for him to heal elsewhere, you think?"
06[23:13] * Seira nods slowly at Amaryl's words. "Can't think of a longer one, try as I might."
[23:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Millenias of preparations and it all ends in 9 or so days," Jessica murmurs, "We stand changed for it, but unbowed."
[23:13] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I can't say from here," Honeydip admits, "I can ask about it."
01[23:14] <Seira> "While you do ask, do you have that moment now?" Seira inquires. "I've been meaning to check something with you."
[23:14] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Dragging us..." Antenora yawns but opens her eyes, "Making sure all of us smite evil with you, Alicia?" Cocking a smile as she sits up slightly, "Jessica's going to be with us now after we're done in the Prime."
[23:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yes, this way," Lady Honeydip starts to fly outside of the tent, "Let's go talk then."
01[23:15] <Seira> "I'll try to keep it brief," Seira promises, flashing Amaryl a smile and following Lady Honeydip.
[23:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You're supposed to be asleep, but you've never been gooda t that," Jessica thwaps Antenora's nose.
[23:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Evil Seira.
[23:15] <Alicia> "Well, she has a bakery and soon to be husband in Dweomerheart to look after," Marie points out as Alicia watches Seira and Honeydip leaving curiously.
[23:16] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Mmm-hmm..." Antenora smiles up at Marie, "You're thrilled I bet. Free bread and another place to have funa nd make pranks, hm?"
[23:18] <Alicia> "Well, it does give us an excuse to visit Dweomerheart more often, so I can't complain about that," Marie smiles sweetly. "While you two were tromping up that mountain, I was showing Jessica and Roald all the sights!"
[23:18] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Eudard has been quiet this time, going to sit with his sword across his lap. He watches everything without comment, until, "Alicia."
[23:18] <Alicia> "Yes?" Alicia turns to regard the recently converted paladin of Helm.
[23:18] <Alicia> *three
[23:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You'd just love to show me all around Dweomermerheart, wouldn't you?" Antenora's own laugh is a strong one, but shallow as she idly rests a hand on her wound. "Ride atop my head while directing me this way or that."
[23:20] <Alicia> "Oh, you say that like you wouldn't have fun yourself," Marie pouts, giving the side of Antenora's head a little shove.
[23:20] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It was good to fight with you. I still owe the Crimson Guard a debt...and a personal one to you, for my curlish actions to you and your ward." With a slight bow of his head, "You've improved greatly."
[23:21] <Alicia> "For lending us your strength here, I consider the debt settled," Alicia inclines her head with the same formality. "Well fought, Eudard."
[23:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Antenora turns and looks at Marie, "I can see you calling me Golem Antenora and pretending you're a mighty wizard directing me down Dweomerheart's streets. I know you'd have fun, at least.
[23:21] <Tiny_Ko_Army> ""
[23:22] <Alicia> "And a very well-formed golem you'd be, too!" Marie laughs. "If a little bit weak around the stomach," she adds more worriedly. "Be more careful next time, okay? I want to show you Dweomerheart as you are now, not as a new petitioner."
[23:23] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "You too." Eudard softens his words, then comes to offer a hand out to Alicia. "I came to you the first time in friendship. I'd like to try and rekindle that. You're a worthy warrior and person."
[23:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Don't worry. I won't die. I can't leave Alicia alone, and you'd just be heartbroken if I died," With a slight smirk, "I wouldn't do that to either of you."
[23:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Saul watches everything and shakes his head, murmuring something under his breath
[23:24] <Tiny_Ko_Army> .
06[23:26] * Alicia stands up to shakes Eudard's hand back. "Our initial rancor was spurred by forces beyond our control. I'd be proud to call you friend," she affirms graciously, ignoring the antics of her familiar.
[23:26] <Alicia> "Good!" Marie crosses her arms. "Because if you die I'll make sure you're dressed in something really embarrassing for the funeral!"
[23:28] <Tiny_Ko_Army> His grip is firm, "I feel like I've found a calling here. The truth has been given to me, as well as a chance to be part of something greater."
[23:28] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Antenora smirks even more, "Like a maid costume? You like those, don't you?"
[23:30] <Alicia> "Or a jester's outfit," Marie considers mischeviously.
[23:30] <Alicia> "For all the horrors we've seen, at least it provides something unambiguous to wield our blades against," Alicia nods thoughtfully at Eudard's words.
[23:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "To that, I thank Helm." Eudard smiles.
[23:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Hmph," Antenora glowers at Marie, "How about a tavern singer? I can at least carry a note now."
[23:34] <Alicia> "They don't really have a unique form of dress, though," Marie tells Antenora. "Anyway, the point is you're not supposed to die, so I won't have to pick anything out!"
[23:35] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Mmm." Antenora rests back now, "Shades of gray...all of this was pitch black. It makes for good enemies and clear cut choices."
[23:35] <Alicia> "I wouldn't go thanking anyone for this," Alicia gestures vaguely in the direction of Bleak Rendor as she sits down again. "But if the blame is to lie at anyone's feet, it would be Ao."
[23:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Hm?" Antenora sits right back up, "Thinking about that again, Alicia?"
[23:36] <Alicia> "Lie down," Alicia briefly glares at Antenora, not relenting until she resumes resting like a good girl.
[23:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Antenora sits up instead, holding her side but looking Alicia rightin the eyes. "I'm fine. Go on. What's bothering you about that?"
[23:39] <Alicia> "I'm not brooding if that's what you mean," Alicia replies exasparation at Antenora's wilful disobedience. "But it was Ao who created the Neverborn, and his edict that supposedly cut our world off from beings as powerful as the Dark Six, which conveniently failed around now. The facts speak for themselves."
[23:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Hm?" Jessica stares at Alicia, "I don't follow."
[23:40] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It's complicated." Antenora slides over, resting against Jessica's side, her head on JEssica's shoulder. "It's just a theory we have going around now."
06[23:41] * Alicia looks at Jessica in surprise, since that was pretty clear cut in her head when she said it. "Ao created the Neverborn," she repeats. "He didn't want it to be born, so instead of just killing it outright, he turned it into an undead abomination of monstrous power and set it loose on the cosmos."
[23:42] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Oh." Jessica said, "Why do you think it conviently failed now, then? Do you think Ao meant for all of this to happen? That's what I don't get."
[23:44] <Alicia> "It's either that or the Dark Six had some way of getting around Ao's power where Gods and Archfiends fail," Alicia replies. "Really, I don't even know why they attacked our world to begin with, though - it served no purpose towards their deal with Pale Night, and only served to draw our attention to them and resulted in their ultimate defeat."
[23:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Perhaps we'll find out what pieces connect together when Bleak Rendor is sacked." Antenora is thoughtful now, "There's several hanging questions."
[23:47] <Alicia> "Maybe we will," Alicia replies. "But for now would you please lie down and rest? You just had a hole put through your middle."
[23:47] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Perhaps, but...can we let this go? Can you two go back to making doe eyes at each other, while Alicia and the rest o fus chat," Jessica's voice is weary, "It has been a very long week. Why rehas...exactly, Alicia."
[23:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Antenora glowers, but rests her head back down.
[23:48] <Alicia> "So... big party in Arborea, right?" Marie chirps, eager to move onto more cheery subjects. "In fact, it'll probably be the biggest party ever."
[23:51] <Tiny_Ko_Army> A night of rest comes and passes, the party recovering. The next morning dawns, Honeydip back with you. "Okay, Bleak Rendor's been mostly sacked," she announces, "Lady Gwynharwyf will want to talk to you about it, but until after we return to Arborea." OOC: Recover spells/HP.

[Corwin]

[19:10] <Kotono> A night of rest comes and passes, the party recovering. The next morning dawns, Honeydip back with you. "Okay, Bleak Rendor's been mostly sacked," she announces, "Lady Gwynharwyf will want to talk to you about it, but until after we return to Arborea." OOC: Recover spells/HP.
01[19:14] <Seira> "There's nothing more for us to do here," Seira agrees.
06[19:14] * Alicia looks towards Antenora with some concern. "Are you fit to travel?" she asks, wondering if she feels up to a party.
[19:15] <Kotono> Antenora's wound has healed somewhat more, her steps steady. "I've fought with far worse. A party will be...nothing."
[19:16] <Kotono> Lady Honeydip bobs in the air, back to pixie size. "I'm sure you'll find the energy in the Court of the Stars, anyway."
01[19:16] <Seira> "Alicia, what if we tried to cast a Limited Wish together to assist in Antenora's recovery? There's something to be said about the brute force approach."
[19:17] <Alicia> "I couldn't use it to copy anything stronger than Heal, and that's already been tried," Alicia points out. "The experts have already said real rest is what she needs."
[19:18] <Kotono> "I'm fine. I'm not going to shatter because I'm wounded. We've all been hurt before," Antenora looks to both, waggling a finger, "Do I look that bad off?"
01[19:19] <Seira> "I might need to lie to answer that," Seira says with a smile. "But you certainly seem lively, so we can go. If you feel tired, let us know and we can try to alleviate that, at least?"
06[19:19] * Alicia resists the urge to poke Antenora's stomach to make a point. It'd be vulgar and mean-spirited, for all that it would surely work. "You know yourself best," she temporises. "But if you get tired and want to go home, just say so."
[19:20] <Kotono> "Ahem." Lady Honeydip clears her throat, "Well, if that's settled, are you ready to go?"
[19:21] <Alicia> "As we'll ever be," Alicia nods to Honeydip.
[19:23] <Kotono> "Then step forward with me. We'll leave this cursed place behind!"  Lady Honeydip hovers, before starting to fly forward!
06[19:25] * Seira wraps an arm around Amaryl's waist, and follows!
03[19:27] * Cid_Samson is now known as Ciddead
[19:30] <Kotono> With a step the realm of oblivion is left behind! You step forward into a forest. Here stately trees provide shade. Above you can see a brilliantly starry sky, unfamiliar constellations as bright as paint on an artist's canvas. The air is warm and comfortable, stirring within you. Saul looks about with one eye shut, starting to grin. Amaryl looks about and gasps, "Oh...my!"  Farther away you can hear festive music, drifting through the woods.
[19:31] <Kotono> "Oh...my!"  Farther away you can hear festive music, drifting through the woods.
[19:32] <Alicia> "Oooh!" Marie grins and settles on Alicia's head. "I like this place - I don't think I've been here before!"
[19:33] <Alicia> "Arborea's a big plane," Alicia replies, nonetheless smiling at the good vibes emanating off her familiar. "Didn't you say you normally went to Arvandor when you came here before?"
[19:34] <Kotono> Antenora gazes about with a hand on her good hip, "It's very nice." She starts to follow Honeydip.
01[19:35] <Seira> "A welcome change from all the places we've been to this week, isn't it?" Seira whispers to Amaryl, slowing down. While she's following Honeydip, there's no rush, as far as she's concerned.
[19:35] <Kotono> Eudard takes off his helmet, running a hand through his hair. He smiles and follows.
[19:37] <Kotono> As you travel ahead, you come to a clearing. Here courre are all over! Several of them play tiny instruments, flying about and carrying water, flowers, laurels and other such things. Here a few celestials linger, being annointed and tended to by the courre. As the party enters, they courre cry as one. "More heroes!" they call, "The heroes of Mother's Mountain!"
06[19:39] * Alicia waves a little at all the fuss, just a little bit embarrassed but bearing it with dignity. "A pity Xerona can't be here to receive her due as well," she remarks.
03[19:40] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
01[19:40] <Seira> "She struck me as the person who'd know and appreciate it. If humbly?"
[19:40] <Kotono> Courre flock around the party, an absolute swarm of them! "It's such an honor!" "You did it! You saved all of them!" "Can I be your apprentice?" one asks Marie, "Oh, you're so beautiful and brave," one settles onto Eudard's shoulder, wihle others flock about. "Here, here, here! Flowers and water for them too!"
[19:41] <Kotono> "She has the light. I don't think she needs anything else or wants anything." Antenora says quietly, as a courre lands atop her head and starts dabbing her ears and temple with water.
[19:42] <Alicia> "Even so, her contribution should be recognised," Alicia replies to Antenora as Marie considers the offer of apprenticeship.
[19:43] <Alicia> "I already have one back home," she admits, "But tell you what, if Alicia says its okay then I'll take you on as well!"
06[19:43] * Seira personally finds it quite boring, but doesn't question whatever makes others happy. Instead, she observes Amaryl. "Beautiful and brave, was it?" Seira murmurs. "I think that hits spot on."
[19:44] <Kotono> The party is annointed with water, the courre braiding wildflowers into their hair. As the courre work, Amaryl breaks into giggles. "Oh Seira...!" She goes to her and hugs her, a few eladrin in her hair yelping and holding on as they work.
[19:44] <Kotono> "You know, at this rate, we may as well start asking Arborea if we can have some courre spawn in Alicia's house instead of here," Antenora observes, eyeing Marie.
[19:45] <Alicia> "Spawn?" Marie repeats, wide-eyed. "You make it sound so sordid! We're not frogs!"
06[19:46] * Seira laughs at the exchange, unable to stop herself.
[19:46] <Kotono> "Aren't you? My mistake," Antenora smirks, as Saul follows suit. Laughter ripples amid everyone, spreading like ink in water.
[19:46] <Kotono> Around her own mirth, "Marie's so small she could use a frog as a mount. She may not be a frog, but maybe a frog knight?"
[19:47] <Kotono> Around her own mirth, "Marie's so small she could use a frog as a mount. She may not be a frog, but maybe a frog knight?" Jessica says.
01[19:48] <Seira> "Do you know I still can't believe it?" Seira admits quietly to Amaryl. "Being a part of something so grand. I never expected it, not in my wildest dreams."
[19:48] <Alicia> "You could use magic to enlarge a frog if you needed a mount," Marie counters. "Maybe one of those jungle ones with the hallucinogenic slime?"
[19:50] <Kotono> "It's like living a dream," Amaryl whispers back, resting against her. Amid the swarm of warmth and laughter, the courre beckon the party on now. "There's more ahead! Go on," the courre insist.
[19:51] <Kotono> "I suppose, but...Alas, I don't have Alicia's head to rest on." Antenora starts giggling again, "I suppose I have to hunt my own mount instead of having an ideal one ready and free."
[19:52] <Alicia> Now suitably anointed for the party (although hardly dressed for one) Alicia proceeds in the beckoned direction. "You can fly anyway, so it's not like you really need one unless you're being lazy," she comments, giving Marie a nudge but not quite managing to remove her.
01[19:54] <Seira> "Or a legend," Seira returns. "One for the ages! I can't think of anything more inspiring for future generations at the top of my head."
[19:56] <Kotono> Thus the party heads along! You walk through more forest, coming to another clearing. Here you find ghaele, perfect celestials of radiant beauty.  They wear courtly gowns and garb, each one bowing to the heroes. "We welcome you. For the children, we thank you," they speak. One each comes to Saul and Eudard, whispering to them and leading them away into the woods.
01[19:57] <Seira> "Thank you for keeping them safe all this time," Seira responds earnestly. "Thank you for holding the line against Pale Night so bravely and for so long!"
[19:59] <Kotono> Female ghaele step forward, the male ones fading back into the woods. They carry cloth of black, glittering with dots of white light. "Let us put aside your instruments of war for the gown of festival and celebration."
06[20:00] * Alicia briefly glances in the direction of the two men being led off with a raised eyebrow before responding to the thanks. "We were only able to succeed due to the Dark Six revealing themselves. It was circumstances more than anything special on our part."
[20:00] <Alicia> At the invitation to get changed, she pats the hilt of her blade, "You don't mind missing the party, do you Hell Striker?" she asks the laconic blade.
01[20:02] <Seira> "Lagann can come, right?" Seira asks pleasantly. "He's like a sentient ball of light. Just... tangible, and not very glowy. Usually."
06[20:02] * Alicia nods in agreement with her sword, opening up her portable hole for easy storage of her belongings as she starts to remove her armour, Marie taking off from her head.
[20:06] <Kotono> The party disarms and disrobes. As they do, "He is welcome to come then." Once the requisite undressing is done, the women are wrapped in the black cloth! It shifts to them, forming magnificent gowns! Alicia's glows with dots of silver and purple against black, while Seira's is black tinted with a fiery red. Antenora's is white and black, while Jessica's is a soft blue and black and white. Amaryl's is a forest green and black, while Latha's is
[20:06] <Kotono> Amaryl's is a forest green and black, while Latha's is pure white. "These are a gift from the Lady of the Stars."
01[20:08] <Seira> "They're lovely, thank you," Seira murmurs, doing a twirl in her new gown. "How does it look?"
[20:09] <Alicia> Marie makes do with her lovely red silk dress in the style of Empress Sulia. "She has very good taste then," Alicia remarks, smoothing out the fabric of her fetching off-the shoulder gown.
[20:10] <Kotono> "I like yours," Antenora looks to Alicia. "It's very evocative."
[20:10] <Kotono> "It's lovely," Amaryl gushes, her gown like the forest wrapped around her.
[20:10] <Alicia> "It's as black as your soul!" Marie agrees  brightly, before clapping her hands over her mouth, "Er, I mean, it brings out your eyes!"
[20:12] <Kotono> "Thank you," Latha makes a slight bow, otherwise returning to her quiet. At this, the two men return from the forest. They wear clothes of light and night-black, shining on them.
01[20:12] <Seira> "We would both stand out," Seira tells Amaryl, running a hand down the forest-green adornment of her gown. "In different ways, maybe, but I think we compliment each other nicely!"
[20:12] <Alicia> "You both look rather dashing," Alicia smiles at the two men, ignoring her familiar who pouts and goes to land on Antenora's head.
[20:13] <Kotono> "I like Seira's a lot too. It's very suiting. Very fiery." Antenora chuckles, going to pat Marie very gently atop her head.
01[20:13] <Seira> "It's lively, with a hint of fire!"
[20:16] <Kotono> "Go on now," The ghaele bid, stepping aside. "The Court of the Stars awaits ahead."
[20:18] <Alicia> Alicia sets off as requested while Marie takes off and falls in line with Honeydip. "No fancy new clothes for you, either?" she commiserates.
[20:19] <Alicia> OOC: strike
06[20:19] * Seira takes Amaryl's hand, walking alongside her father.
[20:20] <Alicia> Alicia sets off as requested, looking towards the fairy general of Androlynne. "Will your gown change size to match your other form?" she wonders curiously.
[20:22] <Kotono> "I'm sure it will." Honeydip gushes, turning back to look at the party as they walk. "Do you know what an honor this is? Tulani allure pieces of the starry sky down to make this cloth! We're wearing the sky of the Court!"
[20:22] <Alicia> Marie abruptly giggles at that but foregoes further comment.
01[20:22] <Seira> "So we're skyclad?" Seira asks, unable to resist.
[20:23] <Alicia> Marie's laughter gets louder and she nods her head up and down at Seira's comment.
[20:23] <Kotono> Antenora starts to laugh, "That sounds amazing and not the slightest bit naughty."
[20:23] <Kotono> "From my studies of Tulani, I could believe it. Romancing the very sky?" Saul shakes his head back and forth, "Absurd, but yet here we are."
[20:24] <Alicia> "It is very comfortable to wear," Alicia allows, smoothing the fabric over her stomach. "And everyone looks so good in it."
01[20:24] <Seira> "You need to expand your horizons," Seira states sagely to Antenora. She glances sideways at her father. "I've been wondering when you'd say something. How's being a hero treating you? It's been a while, right?"
[20:24] <Kotono> "They use bardic music!" Honeydip laughs as well, "Beautiful music!"
[20:25] <Kotono> "It suits me fine. You look like you don't know how to appreciate it." Saul slowly walks ahead, breathing in the air.
[20:25] <Alicia> "I'm sure we'll hear lots of beautiful music at the festivities here, too," Alicia adds. "I remember going to a wedding party in Arvandor a few months ago. It was lots of fun, but this will probably be on a whole new level."
[20:26] <Kotono> Antenora turns red at that, kicking at the ground. "That party was...enjoyable."
01[20:26] <Seira> "I'm a fast study, I'll be fine," Seira says dismissively.
06[20:27] * Seira then swerves to stare at Antenora. "What did you do? I smell an embarrassing story!"
[20:27] <Alicia> "Don't scuff your feet," Alicia chides the blushing angel as they walk.
[20:27] <Kotono> Antenora turns redder, "None of your business!"
01[20:28] <Seira> "Come on, tell me!" Seira pleads. "Now I just know it'll be a good one!"
[20:29] <Alicia> "All she did was dance and be sociable," Marie huffs. "You'd think she seduced the best man and the bridesmaids the way she carries on."
06[20:30] * Seira nods her head rapidly at Marie's words. "Yes, you would think just that!"
[20:30] <Kotono> "AND the bridesmaids?" Antenora looks up to glare atMarie, "What sort of perverted mind do you have in there?"
01[20:31] <Seira> "You mustn't discriminate against the pretty bridesmaids!" Seira chides Antenora.
[20:31] <Alicia> "Well if it was just the best man it would hardly deserve the sort of mortification you're showing," Marie replies reasonably.
[20:32] <Kotono> "I don't disc...I mean...just..." Antenora settles for hurrying along, not answers.
06[20:32] * Seira holds her laughter in to not embarrass Antenora past a critical point where it ceases to be fun.
[20:33] <Alicia> Marie takes off to give Antenora a chance to compose herself, going to bless Jessica's head with her bottom for a little while.
[20:35] <Kotono> Thus you walk ahead. Through the forest you go, coming to an end to the trees! Ahead is a great horde - eladrin small and large, a great host of celestials. They are garbed in beautiful clothes, one and all clapping and cheering. A path through them leads ahead to a great palace. It sit sbeneath the starry black sky, the starlight making the palace glimmering and glow! (More)
[20:37] <Kotono> The palace is of tall, impossibly slender and beautiful towers rising above a vast palace. Spires of marble meet with rises of gingerbread, with vines of sugar and light growing on them. Music of unearthly beauty can be heard in snatches and bits.
[20:38] <Alicia> "Gingerbread?" Alicia eyes one of the spires as they walk. "Is this a normal feature or is it here in recognition of your work on Androlynne?" she turns to Honeydip, recalling her house.
01[20:38] <Seira> "You know, this reminds me," Seira voices, her eyes lighting up like a child's. "Is it really difficult to make your own replenishing gingerbread house? Purely hypothetically speaking, here."
[20:39] <Kotono> "This realm was my inspiration, not the other way around," Lady Honeydip laughs as she walks along.
01[20:40] <Seira> "Then the design can be copied!" Seira exclaims happily.
[20:40] <Alicia> "What happens when it rains, though?" Alicia wonders curiously. "Doesn't it get all soggy?"
01[20:41] <Seira> "Magic!"
[20:42] <Alicia> "There's a tavern in Dweomerheart where everything's made of flavoured ice, that always stays cold even when it's warm out," Marie agrees with the marvelous powers of magic.
06[20:44] * Seira gives Marie a thumbs up, proclaiming grandly, "You'll always be welcome at my magical gingerbread house!"
02[20:50] * Ciddead (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-103-55.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[20:50] <Alicia> "So, male wizards build huge towers, female wizards build nice little gingerbread houses. There's something in there but I just can't quite grasp it..." Alicia muses philosphically.
01[20:51] <Seira> "I already have a tower," Seira says somewhat cluelessly. "It's not really huge, but it's really nice and the kids like living there."
[20:51] <Alicia> "Yes, but you're exceptional that way," Marie replies with a grin and a glance at Amaryl.
[20:51] <Kotono> "Maybe if you wanted to build a nice, deep cave it would make more sense?" Antenora eyes Alicia.
[20:52] <Kotono> Amaryl turns very red at this. She coughs, "Um...shouldn't we get going....instead of talking about this?"
06[20:52] * Seira huffs in annoyance. "Fine, mock the wizard who can hear you."
[20:52] <Alicia> "Now you're just being lewd," Alicia chastises Antenora.
[20:52] <Kotono> "Like you weren't." Antenora grins right back, "Marie's rubbed off on you, Alicia."
[20:53] <Alicia> "I was more subtle about it, though," Alicia shighs, shaking her head as they walk through the cheering throngs.
[20:53] <Alicia> *sighs
[20:54] <Kotono> "Mock away," Saul says lightly, as you head along! You are lead through grand gates inside! A vast hall goes on and on and on! On either side are doors, of carved vines, leaves, trees and wood. Some are open, showing glimpses of forests, caverns, glades, balconies and more.
01[20:54] <Seira> "A house really is just a house, sometimes," Seira reassures Amaryl, ignoring her father altogether. "In fact, a house is a house most of the time!"
[20:56] <Kotono> "You don't need to be subtle with me, Alicia." Antenora follows in step with her, looking about. Her attention strays, looking this way and that. Ahead of you lines of  ghaele and tulani are assembled, bowing in respect as you pass.
[20:57] <Alicia> "Wit is a dagger, not a club, Antenora," Alicia explains pleasantly, smiling to the various eladrin as they continue along the clearly delineated path.
06[20:57] * Seira smiles at the nice locals, quickly putting everything else out of her mind, waving happily at them.
[20:59] <Kotono> "I know, but sometimes meaning is best said clear." As Antenora says this, Eudard matches pace with Seira. "I can feel the nightmarish black infinity fading from my mind here. Is it the same with you?"
03[21:00] * Cid_Samson (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-103-55.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[21:01] <Kotono> As the party walks, a beautiful elf comes forward. He wears noble's clothes, a rich green cloak and tunic. He bows deeply, "Hail, heroes of Mother's Mountain."
01[21:01] <Seira> "I'm very good at compartmentalizing under most situations," Seira returns, continuing to smile and wave. "I try not to think about the horrible, unnatural things I come across too much. If you start, you might never stop." She pauses. "But you're right, it's pretty pleasant here."
[21:01] <Kotono> "I know." Eudard murmurs back, but stops as the elf approaches.
[21:02] <Alicia> "Hello," Alicia smiles at the elf, responding with a little bow of her own.
06[21:03] * Seira curtseys, smiling pleasantly.
[21:05] <Kotono> The rest of the party follows suit. "I am Malinaal." With his own bow again, "The Lady of the Lake offers her greetings to the Court of the Stars. Come with me."
[21:08] <Alicia> "Lead on, Malinnaal," Alicia allows, offering introductions along the way.
01[21:08] <Seira> "It's an honor to be here," Seira voices, once she is introduced.
[21:14] <Kotono> Thus you are lead farther in! You pass cheering eladrin and elves and fey, deeper and deeper in! You come to  a door, carved with fish and stars. Here several elves in armor loiter about, singing and laughing.  Malinaal goes to the door, "Ahead lies the Lake of Morwel."
[21:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 planes, help me out here if explanations aren't forthcoming
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 planes, help me out here if explanations aren't forthcoming and gets 36." [1d20=10]
[21:17] <Alicia> "Is this where we'll meet Queen Morwell?" Alicia asks in faint surprise. It doesn't sound like a place for a party, although perhaps it's just a private audience prior to the festivities.
06[21:18] * Seira is properly confused, since even after titles such as Lady of the Lake, she didn't expect there to be an actual lake to meet the lady at. But she hides it really well!
[21:20] <Kotono> Thus the gates ahead are opened! What lies beyond is a vast cavern, stretching farther than your eyes can see. Globes of courre light fly above, like stars radiating light down. Pacing about are tulani and ghaele deep in conversation, while firre sing and make merry. Elves lie about in discussion and contemplation. Ahead, far ahead, is a lake. It's waters are utterly serene, yet ripple without moving. In them you can see flashes of images, spl
[21:20] <Kotono> yet ripple without moving. In them you can see flashes of images, split second glimpses.
01[21:21] <Seira> If the consort didn't have a set shape, and was almost beyond comprehension, Seira supposes she should've expected the same to apply to the Queen as well. She decides to react rather than act, until she gets a proper bearing for this.
[21:21] <Alicia> Marie glances up at the floating coure and wonders how they felt when they suddenly lost the ability to keep their clothes on in that form last year. Alicia glances curiously at the water, having heard of its strange flow through time.
06[21:23] * Seira decides to follow Alicia's lead here, looking at the waters with equal curiousity.
[21:24] <Kotono> Malinaal leads the party to the lake as they watch. The conversation begins to go quiet, a peace gripping the cavern. As you reach the shores of the lake, "My beloved lady..." he whispers.  To this, the waters ripple all over! She stands atop the lake, walking across it's surface. She wears a gown of diphanous white, held together by the stars of the sky. She is elven, hair chestnut brown and long.  As you look at her...(More)
[21:24] <Kotono> hair chestnut brown and long.  As you look at her...(More)
[21:26] <Kotono> Saul stares and gasps, before sinking down to one knee.
[21:26] <Kotono> Antenora watches her with utterly transfixed eyes, her jaw going slack.
[21:27] <Kotono> "My lady...!" Eudard kneels as well, his head bowed low.
[21:27] <Alicia> "Your majesty... it's an honour," Alicia averts her eyes, wanting desperately to stare but feeling that to do so would be deeply improper and disrespectful.
[21:28] <Alicia> Marie has no compunctions about ogling freely from atop Jessica's head, however.
01[21:28] <Seira> Seira's eyes widen, and she flushes darkly. Her head begins to turn away, but she can't quite avert her gaze from her object of admiration.
[21:28] <Kotono> Jessica abruptly bows down, while Amaryl is frozen, lost in her view.
[21:30] <Kotono> Closer and closer she steps, the lady of the lake approaching it's edge. With a single step she puts a bare foot onto the ground! The air and ground sing of her beauty, yet are irrelevant to her voice. "Heroes of Mother's Mountain. I thank each of you for your heroic deeds in defeating the Dark Six and freeing the lost children of Androlynne."
[21:31] <Alicia> "It..." Alicia swallows around her suddenly dry throat, "It was only the right thing to do," she manages modestly, studying Morwel's foot now that she's drawn close.
06[21:31] * Seira desperately tries to focus on the conversation, but all that really matters is that the impossibly beautiful queen is showing some leg.
[21:32] <Kotono> Morwel kneels next to Seira, "My blessing on you," she whispers, kissing Seira's forehead. The love within Seira swells into a tidal wave of emotion, even as the Queen rises.
06[21:32] * Seira swoons, clasping her hands before her chest girlishly!
[21:33] <Kotono> She then goes to Alicia, kneeling down in front of her. "My blessing on you,' she whispers, kissing Alicia's forehead. The love with Alicia explodes into a nova, dazing her as the magnificent beauty rises.
06[21:34] * Alicia sways unsteadily, struggling to keep her composure before this wondrous being. It's like the Truth of Celestia in how overwhelming it is, but hitting an entirely different part of her soul. "Thank you," she whispers raptly, unable to keep from grinning.
[21:35] <Kotono> Then she goes to Antenora, doing the same. Antenora's cheeks wet with tears, "...thank you..." she manages, then to Jessica. Jessica says nothing, her eyes overflowing. Then to Marie, "My blessings on you," she whispers, kissing thet op of Marie's head, as the feelings of love overwhelm the little eladrin.
[21:37] <Alicia> Marie giggles and clasps her hands to her suddenly red cheeks, for one joyous moment feeling as if she's the only eladrin in the world for Queen Morwel, despite all evidence to the contrary.
03[21:37] * Cid_Samson is now known as Ciddead
[21:39] <Kotono> Latha silently takes the blessing, then to Amaryl. Amaryl smiles back ot Morwel, trying to speak but unable. Saul takes it with a wide smile, while Eudard bows his head thankfully. "Lady Honeydip, welcome home," Queen Morwel says instead, and then she retreats back to the edge of the lake. "Now, let us celebrate!" In a flash, you stand in an festival hall! The table stretches farther than you can see, crystal and silver formalware laying on it
[21:39] <Kotono> The table stretches farther than you can see, crystal and silver formalware laying on it. Music lays, tulani and beings of glorious light sitting and feasting. Near where you stand, one familiar figure has a goblet and drinks from it. Donald turns, "Finally!" he calls, "What took you so long?"
06[21:40] * Alicia wants to just take a moment and savour the still pure feelings of love coursing through her... so of course Donald has to interrupt and ruin it. "We were somewhat preoccupied," she tells him dryly. "But I'm glad you've found your way here - I'd worried you might miss all the fun by the time I'd be able to pick you up."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Things worked out!" With a wide grin, "Come on, sit and drink! This is the best food I've ever had!"
06[21:42] * Seira still can't quite regain her composure, whispering to Amaryl while fidgeting, "If Queen Morwel wants to take us as consorts, it's only proper that she asks first, isn't it?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "The honor...oh Seira...it would be as if Waukeen herself took us!" With a girlish giggle, "If she would only ask!"
[21:44] <Kotono> Antenora smiles stupidly for quite awhile, settling for sitting down.
06[21:44] * Seira can't help but giggle at the happy thoughts as well!
06[21:44] * Alicia goes to grab a drink before seating herself next to Donald, her mood still buoyant. "Sorry I had Latha send you away in the thick of things, but you looked in really bad shape at the time and I didn't think we'd be able to heal you quickly enough," she explains.
[21:44] <Kotono> "It's fine!" Donald grins from ear to ear, "I'm having more fun than Seira in Tiamat's horde here!"
[21:44] <Alicia> "That was kinda like when we went to Evergold, wasn't it?" Marie asks Jessica, remaining on her head. "Maybe even better!"
[21:45] <Kotono> "So much better..." Jessica sighs wistfully, "Were she to ask... Mystra help me, I would bow to her."
[21:45] <Kotono> Saul sits as well, "It's magic...but damned if it's not incredible magic. I think this calls for enough food and drink to be full and drunk."
[21:46] <Alicia> "A pity she already has two consorts," Marie muses. "But I'm sure Roald will be relieved!"
06[21:46] * Seira notices enough going on around her to give Donald a friendly wave, before finding a spot at the table.
[21:47] <Kotono> "Three's a special number. Perhaps she can consider three consorts," Donald says around a deepd rink, "I know what you mean! I met her already."
[21:49] <Alicia> "She is very admirable," Alicia emits a loving sigh of her own as she swishes her drink around before taking a sip.
[21:50] <Kotono> The meal passes. It is a dream - as you eat and drink, everything becomes bright and hazy. Emotion burns in you like tidal waves, everything super-real.  Yet everything outside of your immediate view settles into a pleasant blurriness. Song and food and drink and talk and and and and and...time slips by like a thief in the night. Amid this, "Seira..." Amaryl sing-songs, "See that over there?" she turns and points.
06[21:50] * Seira turns to look, of course!
[21:51] <Kotono> You can see an archway to a marble balcony outside. The starry sky can be seen, as well as the forest below. Amaryl rises, "It's so romantic...let's go out there, Seira!"
06[21:55] * Seira glances at the others, before nodding lightly. "I don't think we'll be missed, and there's no one else I'd rather sneak out with!"
[21:55] <Kotono> OOC: #evil, Seira.
[21:56] <Kotono> Thus Seira and Amaryl head off. Once they do, Saul glances behind. "...huh..." he murmurs, getting up. Lady Honeydip turns as well, "You see that..." she whispers, the two rising up and going.
06[21:57] * Alicia glances curiously after Saul and Lady Honeydip. That's a pairing she never expected, and she comments on such when they're out of earshot. "I've barely heard them say two words to each other..."
[21:58] <Kotono> Antenora tries not to giggle and fails, "So? It's a place of maaagiiic!" She drinks down from a golden goblet. "Besides, wouldn't Seira love Honeydip as a stepmother?"
[21:59] <Alicia> "She could do far worse," Alicia agrees, taking another sip of her drink before casting a speculative eye towards the dance floor. "It's just surprising."
[21:59] <Kotono> Jessica starts to laugh at that, but stops. She peers to the side, "Say..."
[22:00] <Alicia> "Hm?" Alicia turns to her sister and then follows her gaze.
[22:00] <Kotono> Eudard turns as well, "I see...Lord Helm...?" Eudard gets up, as Jessica goes to follow. One can see an open archway, leading to what looks to be an underground waterfall, cascading down into a cavern.
[22:01] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia now looks somewhat weirded out as they get up and run off together without any explanation. "Where are you two going?"
[22:01] <Kotono> "It's lovely, isn't it?" Jessica calls back as her and Eudard go off. Antenora blinks and shakes he rhead, "It is odd...but I doubt it anything harmful, Alicia."
[22:03] <Alicia> Just looks like a cave to her... "It looks like everyone's pairing off..." she slowly sweeps her gaze across Antenora, Marie, and Donald as the only ones left here with her.
[22:03] <Alicia> "Jessica wouldn't do that to Roald!" Marie insists quickly. "She barely even knows Eudard!"
[22:04] <Kotono> "I don't think she would, either," Donald drains another goblet, "There's probably some reason for it, right?"
[22:07] <Alicia> "Well, they're all grown ups," Alicia relents, still a little bit dubious. "Anyway, I'm getting bored sitting around. Who's up for some dancing?"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Want to?" Donald asks, as Antenora also looks at Alicia.
[22:10] <Alicia> "I'll take that as a yes," Alicia stands up and takes Donald's hand, "No one ever invites me to dance at these things, so it seems like I've got to use my own initiative."
[22:11] <Alicia> "Want to go with them?" Marie invites Antenora.
[22:12] <Kotono> Donald takes Alicia's hand, "You're so beautiful and intimidating. It's like you're a fearsome warrior princess. Plus you have Antenora there, and she's the same way." The dance floor is full of eladrin and elves, parting way to allow the two in.
[22:13] <Kotono> Antenora considers, smiling, "Who am I to ruin a romantic dance between the two," she drinks from her glass, "Let's just watch them, Marie?"
[22:15] <Alicia> "Maybe someone will come and pick up the two nice unescorted ladies now that we're alone, anyway?" Marie suggests impishly.
[22:15] <Alicia> "It's a carefully cultivated image," Alicia tells Donald seriously as they make their way onto the dance floor, guiding one of his hands to her hip before resting hers on his shoulder and taking the other as they slot in to the flow of dancers. "In a perfect world it would attract a brave and confident man, but it never works so I'll settle for you," she grins.
[22:16] <Kotono> "Perhaps." Antenora swishes a golden wine about, "On Celestia, I dreamed of the children I may bear some day. It makes you think about things like that."
[22:17] <Alicia> "Yes... Hans, Beth, and Celeste?" Marie repeats the names she heard, eyeing the former erinyes. "I'd say you're not very good with names, but you came up with Antenora all on your own so that counts for something."
[22:17] <Kotono> Donald takes the lead at this, grinning right back as you settle in. "Y'know, I've asked guards and soldiers about that. There's a bunch that think you or Seira are gorgeous beyond words, but..." with a pfft sound, "They say it would be like asking out an angel. Figuratively speaking. Of course, I'm brave and confident, so I'm immune. As you've demonstrated on me before."
[22:18] <Kotono> Antenora flicks a bit of wine at Marie, her laughter like a steady stream of mirth. "The first two are homages. The last...well, I can't dispute that one. At least I didn't choose Marie?"
[22:20] <Alicia> "The problem with the guards is that they had no respect for me at first, so I had to cow them into the right state of mind," Alicia laughs. "Once I might have been a pretty poster-girl for the Crimson Guard, but I quashed that image with some healthy fear instead."
[22:20] <Alicia> "There's nothing worse than naming someone after someone else who's still around - parents who name children after themselves are the worst!" Marie affirms vociferously.
[22:21] <Kotono> "They're a lot better now," Donald dances along the floor with Alicia, "You can be very fearsome, too."
[22:22] <Kotono> "What's wrong with that? No Marie the second in your future," Antenora has a lopsided smile on, "Too static and unchaotic for you?"
06[22:24] * Alicia nods agreeably. "It's what I am, so there's no sense hiding it - I'd only be interested in someone who isn't bothered. What about you?" she cocks her head curiously after completing a little spin in time to the music under Donald's arm. "What do you look for in a woman?"
[22:24] <Alicia> "It's confusing is what it is!" Marie shakes her head as she wipes wine off her nose. "Someone comes to the door and asks to see Marie, and you're all 'Duh, I dunno. Which one?'"
[22:25] <Kotono> Spinning Alicia and then gazing into her eyes, "Someone beautiful, who appreciates me for who I am. I admit...sometimes that makes it a hard, hard search." Donald sighs slightly, though with a smiling face. "That's what I wish for. One day...I have a lot of time I guess, and Amaryl keeps trying to drill into me that I have plenty of time."
[22:26] <Kotono> "So?" Antenora sips wine before breaking to a laugh. "You're precious Marie. You really are. Who else but you thinks of those things?"
[22:28] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia smiles. "Someone who's happy to have you around at any time, who's driven and strong but with a warm and caring side underneath... and has red hair?" she surmises.
[22:28] <Alicia> "Someone has to," Marie huffs, before reaching for her own proportionate sized drink. "Still, you'd probably have cute kids no matter what you called them. What were they like in the dream?"
[22:30] <Kotono> "Do you have someone in mind," Donald raises an eyebrow, "It sounds like you do!"
[22:30] <Kotono> "They were...perfect. They were my children..." Antenora smiles into her glass, "Say Marie. You don't have a brother that' sabout 6 feet taller than you, do you?"
[22:32] <Alicia> "Oh, don't play coy with me," Alicia banters easily as they dance. "I've seen how you look at Elle, and you certainly spend enough time at her shop when I know you're not looking to buy."
[22:32] <Alicia> "I might, but he's probably really ancient and grey and could keel over any day now!" Marie replies. "Or maybe he's already dead and is out there somewhere as an outsider or petitioner," she waves her hand vaguely.
[22:33] <Kotono> Donald doesn't even blush, "Ahem." Donald clear shis throat, "...is it that obvious...?"
[22:34] <Kotono> "Pfft." Antenora considers, "Ah well." After a pause, "Marie, what do you want from the future now?"
[22:34] <Alicia> "I'm not one to gossip, but I haven't heard anyone else mention it," Alicia replies, lowering her voice tactfully for all that no one around them would care. "Have you said anything to her?"
[22:35] <Kotono> Looking down a bit now, "I haven't. I...I think she has an idea recently, but with all that's happened, it's been put aside. It's hard to try and ask someone for a courtship when you're off killing skeletons and demons."
[22:37] <Alicia> "I dunno, I mostly just live in the moment," Marie shrugs. "I'll tell you what, though!" she perks up, "I can see about swapping my gender when I get promoted to deva or ghaele when the time comes, if you don't mind waiting!"
[22:37] <Alicia> "Oh, definitely," Alicia nods sympathetically. "Still, things are a lot quieter now - I was thinking some of us could perhaps go somewhere peaceful for a short break now that we have the chance. I already invited Elle, and you're welcome as well of course."
[22:38] <Kotono> "Sorry," Antenora bats her eyelid,s "I doubt I'll be available THAT long."
[22:39] <Kotono> "That's...that's a good chance. And..." Donald's quiet, "You never really talk about yourself, Alicia. What do you want? It's always about what I should do, or what the guard should do or what have you."
[22:39] <Alicia> "Maybe I'll do it anyway, just to see if I can seduce you," Marie replies with a grin.
[22:40] <Kotono> "Tsk-tsk," Waggling a finger in front of Marie, "What celestial encourages infidelity?"
[22:42] <Alicia> "Hmmm," Alicia gives the question the consideration it deserves. "I'd like to say I want a peaceful life, but I'm not sure that's wholly accurate."
[22:42] <Alicia> "Certainly I'd like some respite - perhaps after the matter with Daa-vid is resolved I can take some time to teach others instead of fighting myself. But I'm not sure I'd want to do that forever - eventually I'd need to take action myself. But a rest would be nice," she concludes wistfully.
[22:43] <Alicia> "Maybe I'll just sabotage all your relationships so that when the time comes you'll be available and desperate?" Marie laughs before drawing up short. "And wow, that sounds really creepy. Lets talk about something else! What was your favourite level of Celestia?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "I can dance to that," Donald murmurs, holding Alicia closer.
[22:44] <Kotono> "You're a creepy eladrin." Antenora grins, "It's part of your charm."
[22:46] <Alicia> "I suppose if anyone can appreciate creepiness it would be you," Marie agrees seriously.
06[22:46] * Alicia lets things lapse into companionable silence, dancing a few more loops around the dancefloor before breaking off. "Now, I've monopolised enough of your time and I'm sure there's no end of lovely maidens here who'd love to do a twirl or two with one of the heroes of Mother's Mountain," she suggests pleasantly.
[22:49] <Kotono> "Mmm." Antenora goes quiet for a bit. Meanwhile, Donald parts away from Alicia on the arms of another...OOC: Are you staying on the floor, Alicia?
[22:50] <Alicia> OOC: I'll linger for a moment in case there are any takers, if not I'll go back to join Anty and Marie and we can all moan about no one inviting us to dance
[22:51] <Kotono> Coming to Alicia is an elven man, clad in a regal finery and jewelry. He bows to Alicia, "May I take this dance, M'lady?"
[22:51] <Kotono> "Can you guess what I want, Marie?" Antenora asks after a bit of silence.
06[22:53] * Alicia isn't particularly discriminating, since a dance is just a dance, so it's first come first served! "Happily," she gives the man her hand and a smile. "I'm Alicia," she introduces herself, moving back onto the floor.
[22:53] <Alicia> "You want to serve Alicia, see her happy, find love and a family of your own, and smite evil," Marie lists off, extending a finger each time. "I miss anything?"
[22:57] <Kotono> "Paenal, Count of the Seelie Court." He leads Alicia along into a slow dance, "It is my great honor to dance with a pure maiden as you."
[22:58] <Kotono> "You make me sound like a one note bore," Antenora now glares at Marie, "Can't you think of anything else?"
[22:59] <Alicia> "I prefer to see you as someone with strong priorities," Marie counters easily. "Come on, Antenora, everyone has lots of little wants and urges, but you can't deny those are the driving motivations in your life."
[22:59] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 planes, have I heard of him?
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 planes, have I heard of him? and gets 42." [1d20=16]
02[23:00] * Ciddead (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-103-55.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[23:03] <Kotono> "Yes, well..." Antenora looks away with a humph, "At least you didn't say something inapproriate!"
[23:03] <Alicia> "You perhaps flatter me, but the compliment is well taken," Alicia demurs as she waltzes with him, not being a maiden by any means. Well, she was close enough to befriend a unicorn, so that counts for something.
[23:05] <Kotono> As he leads the dance with easy grace and dexterity, "I've heard of the Crimson Guard's deeds. Brave mortals that are proving themselves worthy champions of righteous causes. I'm very impressed."
[23:07] <Alicia> "As an organisation the Crimson Guard is devoted primarily to the safety of the United Baronies. It's just fortunate we're given a lot of leeway to pursue our own goals," Alicia explains easily, before adding with a waggle of her wings, "And not as many of us are mortal as were in the beginning."
[23:07] <Alicia> "Why would I do that?" Marie asks, wounded. "We were having a serious and heartfelt discussion!"
[23:08] <Kotono> "Beautiful wings," He says appreciatively, "Your feathers are well kept, m'lady. I must say I am not surprised that such a champion of good is so blessed."
[23:09] <Alicia> "They can sometimes get in the way, but on the whole they aren't too hard to look after." Alicia nods. "Mystra has honoured me."
[23:09] <Kotono> "Being inappropriate is in your blood and soul," Antenora counters right back, "You see scandal in innocence and humor in all."
[23:10] <Kotono> "It is not a bad thing. Your back is marvelous to see as well," Paenal confesses, looking deep into Alicia's eyes. His eyes are a sea-blue, meeting Alicia's. "You serve the Lady of Mysteries?"
[23:10] <Alicia> "Well yes, but sometimes I like to defy expectations by not acting on it," Marie replies unperturbed. "Mostly it's just funny to see people's reactions, and it's all harmless fun."
06[23:12] * Alicia nods to Paenal. "Seeing the perversion of Mystra's gifts by the Dark Six troubled me greatly. It gave me great satisfaction to deliver Her judgement to them."
[23:12] <Kotono> "I know. I like the same, though the Code limits me." Antenora thoughtfully watches Alicia dance with a new partner, "Perhaps just as well. Sometimes..."
[23:13] <Alicia> "A little mischief lies in all of us," Marie grins, briefly turning to follow Antenora's gaze. "I wonder if he asked her or if she asked him?"
[23:13] <Kotono> "I'd consider it even odds either way," Antenora watches them, "He's cute."
[23:14] <Kotono> "A righteous thing. Magic used wrong is wasteful." Takin ga pause to twirl Alicia out, drawing her close after, "I have never had the chance to study Mystra's doctrine deeply."
[23:17] <Alicia> "He is, but Alicia prefers sturdier types... he probably asked her," Marie concludes, nodding.
[23:17] <Alicia> "I'm not the best person to ask," Alicia confesses, drawing close without any qualms and appreciating Paenal's skill. "I'm more comfortable acting as Mystra's sword than Her voice. And this isn't the venue for a sermon."
[23:18] <Kotono> "Probably so. For all Alicia seems comfortable around elves, she never seems to like them that way." Antenora gets another goblet, drinking and watching. "I wonder if she likes him at all?"
[23:18] <Kotono> "It isn't. But perhaps...we could discuss these matters and other points of interest in a more intimate setting?" With a smile as he holds Alicia close, "You captivate me."
06[23:23] * Alicia knows a seduction when she's the target of one, but for all that Paenal's a good dancer and a handsome man, she has no interest in seeking a romantic encounter tonight (unless Queen Morwel asks). "Perhaps at some time in the future," she demurs gracefully, "But I'm looking to enjoy the festivities without any deeper entanglements... you do dance very well, though, Count Paenal."
[23:23] <Alicia> "Mmm..." Marie studies them a moment longer. "Nahh. It's just a shallow encounter I bet."
[23:23] <Kotono> "Then again, if eladrin are any consideration... a shallow encounter can be quite...penetrating, hm?" Antenora raises an eyebrow.
[23:24] <Alicia> "Ugh..." Marie makes a face. "Way too obvious!" she protests, waving her hands at Antenora.
[23:24] <Kotono> "Of course, m'lady," With another twirl of Alicia back, "It is my honor to respect your wishes."
[23:25] <Kotono> "Really? I've been trying to be more obvious lately. So many comments go unnoticed." With a slight sigh as she blows air out, "It's not working, is it?"
[23:28] <Alicia> "When you're too obvious it makes people just feel awkward and try to pretend they didn't hear anything," Marie lectures Antenora.
[23:28] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia smiles. "Now, if you'll excuse me I'm a little bit parched - thank you for the dance," she curtsies as she backs away.
[23:28] <Kotono> "Hmph." Antenora mutters, "It's so hard to walk the line between subtle and obvious."
[23:29] <Alicia> "You're a clever girl, I'm sure you'll figure it out," Marie reassures.
[23:31] <Kotono> Thus the night passes in a blur. The dream continues on, on and on and on and on. Alicia blinks as the morning sunshine comes in through her window. The dream...she remembers...the dream. Dancing and laughing, of a beautiful queen and her realm. Marie lies next to her, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
06[23:32] * Alicia can't help but yawn upon seeing her familiar do the same, sitting up and rubbing her eyes as she tries to figure out where she is and how she got there.
[23:33] <Kotono> She...can't remember. Dancing and dancing and laughing and laughing and...hm? Her gown...she's still wearing the gown! The gown of black and purple and white, while Marie wears hers as well.
[23:35] <Alicia> Oh, she slept in it? That's no way to treat such a fine garment! Marie agrees, and after a mumbled good morning to each other they proceed to disrobe, Alicia using a cantrip to clean them both up and then smooth out the rumples in their lovely new clothes before they get dressed in more mundane attire. Then it's time to see to everyone else in the house and make breakfast!
[23:36] <Kotono> You find Antenora sitting out there, wearing her gown yet. She is radiant, Latha besides her. Latha is quiet, having changed out. Jessica's out there as well, making breakfast. "Good morning, Alicia!" she calls.
[23:37] <Alicia> "How do you always get up first..." Alicia eyes her sister before letting it slide. "Did everyone have a good time last night?"
[23:39] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Jessica turns, a face full of serene calm. "It was wonderful! Alicia, do you feel it?"
[23:40] <Alicia> "Depends what 'it' is," Alicia admits. "But I did have a lovely evening, that's for sure."
[23:40] <Kotono> "The blessing." With a vague smile, "I feel the magic inside of me. A calming magic."
[23:43] <Alicia> "Hmm?" Alicia tries to think if she feels anything like that, concentrating on the welspring of magic that courses through her veins as a fundamental part of her, trying to percieve anything different about it.
03[23:44] * Cid_Samson (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-103-55.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[23:45] <Kotono> Alicia feels nothing different about her. Antenora smiles, "I feel it inside of me as well. A warmth, like positive energy magic mending wounds."
06[23:47] * Alicia shrugs apologetically. "I don't feel anything particularly different," she admits. "Anyway, where did you run off to with Eudard? We never saw you all night after you left."
[23:48] <Kotono> "We went to a waterfall. It was beautiful...we talked. I talked about how I wanted all of us to be happy and safe, while Eudard talked about how he needed the strength to serve Helm's will."
[23:49] <Alicia> "Well, I suppose it's nice if you made a new friend," Alicia smiles. "How about you, Latha?"
[23:50] <Kotono> "I couldn't focus on any of it," Latha admits in a low voice. "I kept thinking of the light of Chronias. The night feels like a pale specter compared to that."
[23:52] <Alicia> "Ah," Alicia winces inwardly, still unsure whether she should feel guilty for pulling Latha away from that or not. "Well, in any case," she moves briskly along, "The Dark Six and the Neverborn are no more. Hopefully things will be quiet around here for a little while and we can take some time to recover from the past week."
[23:52] <Kotono> "I think it will be." Jessica says, her voice banishing worry and bringing a deep serenity ot the room. "Marielle, did you find anything different about yourself, either?"
[23:53] <Alicia> Marie looks up from where she'd been doing some introspection and answers Jessica...
[23:55] <Alicia> "Yes! I'm even closer to meeting Antenora's criteria!" she announces gaily.
[23:55] <Kotono> "Huh?" Antenora blink=blinks at that, "What do you mean?"
[23:56] <Alicia> "A ball of light isn't my only other form, now," Marie replies smugly, parking herself on the kitchen table.
[23:57] <Kotono> "...oh." Antenora shakes her head, "Oh yes...THAT conversation. Are you serious?"
Session Time: Mon Dec 21 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> "Definitely," Marie nods. "I'll even demonstrate!" she flies off the table and positions herself over an empty spot of floor, rapidly expanding as her feet descend to touch the floor and her wings vanish, leaving her looking just like the aasimar-form Alicia occassionally grants her, except with this change her clothes have enlarged to fit instead of simply falling off and leaving her nude.
[00:00] <Alicia> "I can take on other forms too, but this one's familiar," she adds, looking down at herself.
[00:01] <Kotono> "...I'm not sure if this is a blessing or if the Court has a sense of humor, or both and more." Antenora stares.
[00:02] <Alicia> "Well, that'll save me a few spells here and there," Alicia replies, utterly unperturbed even as Marie makes a kissy-face at Antenora before reverting to her standard form and flying over to land on Antenora's head.
[00:02] <Kotono> Antenora sinks her face into her hands, "Mystra help me..."
[00:04] <Alicia> "Anyway!" Alicia briskly moves the conversation on. "I was thinking that now we've cleared away our current set of problems, we should enjoy a nice holiday while there's a chance. I have a few ideas of my own, but do any of you have recommendations for places we could visit? The whole cosmos lies open to us!" she encourages.
[00:08] <Kotono> "Hmmm." Jessic aturns, a ladle in hand. "Arborea again, or Brightwater or Dweomerheart? Alternately, somewhere secluded on the Prime?"
[00:09] <Kotono> Antenora considers, "The Prime sounds better. We've been out on the planes so much lately."
[00:10] <Alicia> "There was this lovely deserted island I found completely by mistake while we were exploring those gnome ruins in the jungle," Alicia offers. "I don't know what else is there, but the weather was nice and the beach was lovely. No civilisation to speak of, though, but it would be nice for getting away from things entirely."
[00:11] <Alicia> "What about those endless plains?" Marie volunteers. "No one knows us there, so we could relax more and still enjoy the benefits of civilisation. The people are all very friendly, and we could find out if Mizin had any luck?"
[00:12] <Kotono> "Mmm." Antenora hums, "We could do both. Get a tan for a few days then go visit? I'd like to do something completely relaxing and free first, I think."
[00:13] <Alicia> "What do you think, Latha?" Alicia essays a hopeful look to the deva, somewhat worried by how insular she's been of late.
[00:16] <Kotono> Latha smiles, "I'll go where yo ugo. Alicia...just give me some time. That's all."
[00:17] <Alicia> "Okay, but if there's anywhere you want to go, anything you want to do... just say the word, okay?" Alicia asks earnestly. "It might not be Chronias, but there's still meaning to be found out there."
[00:18] <Kotono> "I know." Latha says with her own smile.
[00:18] <Kotono> "What sort of clothing should we bring to a beach or the endless plains, Alicia," Jessica turns back to look to her.
[00:22] <Alicia> "Something light and airy for both - it's quite warm in both places," Alicia replies, smiling as she gets into this idea. "So, that's us five. We should bring Hugo and Dawnhope as well, and ask Seira and Amaryl. I already invited Elle, and Donald last night. Anyone I'm missing?"
[00:23] <Kotono> "That sounds good. Too many people spoil things," Antenora points out, "We could also look up Ysgard at some point, now that I think about it."
[00:24] <Kotono> "A tan would be nice...can we tan?" Jessica frowns then, "Do angels tan, I mean?"
[00:24] <Alicia> "I want to ask Syala how she does that trick with her aura of light," Alicia nods, now that her own aura has gotten brighter it might be something she can learn. At Jessica's question she defers to Latha's superior angeling experience.
[00:25] <Kotono> "We can." Latha says absently, "You can get as much or as little a tan as you like. We don't sunburn, the sun's light isn't enough to burn us."
[00:27] <Kotono> "Lava doesn't burn me. The sun's nothing," Antenora says dismissively, "The warmth of the sun sounds good after the Negative energy plane."
[00:28] <Alicia> "The inner planes are generally unpleasant all around," Alicia concludes. "Air and Water are the only ones I'd honestly consider nice places."

[Corwin]

[20:58] <Kotono> ---
[20:59] <Kotono> The morning passes. After lunch, Antenora, Marie and Alicia take a long break, sitting down and falling into idle conversation. The simple lulls of life are like an enchantment all their own. Antenora leans back, closing her eyes. "Alicia...?"
[21:00] <Alicia> "Yes, Antenora?" Alicia asks genially, enjoying the chance to simply relax and switch off for a while.
[21:01] <Kotono> Queen Morwel's voice makes your heart surge with love, coming from Alicia's voice. "Dearest Heroes of Mother's Mountain. I communicate through Antenora to contact you directly."
06[21:04] * Alicia sits up straighter at that, wondering why Morwel needs to resort to such an opaque means of communication. "I'm listening," she responds quickly, looking at Antenora as she fights the urge to blush at the sudden surge of affection.
[21:05] <Alicia> Marie swoons a little but likewise pays attention.
[21:07] <Kotono> "By right of combat and bravery you won these. By virtue of knowledge and learning, they should be yours." Antenora's hands sparkle with light as she draws scrolls on the table! Thus they appear, sitting there, dusty and sealed with black wax. "Magic the Dark Six called on, taken from Bleak Rendor."
[21:09] <Alicia> "We already claimed two artifacts of the liches while we were there," Alicia explains, feeling guilty at accepting a gift from one she loves so dearly. But to refuse would be far more rude, "But if it is your will, Lady of the Lake, we will accept and put them to better use than their former owners ever could."
[21:11] <Kotono> "In this knowledge I am proud of all of you," Antenora reaches out, touching Alicia's cheek. "Be valiant and brave, as the heroes you are."
06[21:12] * Alicia shivers a little at the contact - although the fact that it's Antenora's body makes things rather awkward. "We'll always strive to live up to your faith in us," she promises earnestly.
[21:13] <Kotono> "Be well, heroes." With that Antenora blinks and turns as red as magma, "Oh my..." she sits back, hand dropping away. "She...she has a way with things...doesn't she?"
[21:14] <Alicia> "That she does," Alicia nods with a blush of her own.
[21:14] <Alicia> "She was inside of you!" Marie accuses with a jealous point at Antenora, before her voice drops to a desperately curious tone, "What did it feel like?"
[21:15] <Kotono> "I...I..." Antenora tries to speak but it's a hopeless battle. She sighs dreamily, "Her hand was on my shoulder and she was all around me. She asked if she could use me a moment...and of course I agreed!"
[21:18] <Alicia> "Who wouldn't?" Alicia sighs. "It's... I don't think it's magic or anything, she's just so... incredible!" she struggles for words to articulate the marvels of Morwel.
[21:19] <Kotono> "I know!" Antenora sighs as well, "She's absolutely incredible. Were law not so perfect and immutable, I would join the Court of the Stars with all my vigor. To think she can almost compare to the purity and perfection of order!"
[21:23] <Alicia> "Mystra was almost as overwhelming the first time I saw Her, but She did something to make it easier on me," Alicia muses at the comparison. "It's different, though - Queen Morwel's so unrestrained. Pistis Sophia was just like any other angel when we met her, but I think she was deliberately occluding her true splendour. Queen Morwel just... is."
[21:24] <Kotono> "She wasn't hiding herself at all." Antenora gushes out, "Pistis Sophia was humble. Queen Morwel...that's what she is." Closing her eyes, "I can see her face when I think about it, vivid as the sunshine. Like us to the common folk, perhaps?"
[21:25] <Alicia> "She's a Queen. She's entitled," Marie nods sagely. "Anyway, you going to take a look at those scrolls?" she asks, prompting Alicia to reach over and pick them up to take a quick look through and identify them.
[21:26] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 36 on spellcraft throughout
[21:28] <Kotono> The spells are as follows: True Meteor Swarm, Miracle of Health, Summon Black Rock Triskelion, Alabaster Perfection, Glaciante's Spiteful Ward, Enviolate Spell. Alicia can learn more about them if she cares to read them.
03[21:28] * Knight (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #dunes
[21:29] <Alicia> OOC: Since I don't recognise any, I guess I will!
[21:29] <Kotono> As Alicia skims through them, "Anything interesting," Antenora comes to sit right next to her.
[21:30] <Alicia> "They're all beyond the ninth circle," Alicia replies flatly as she skims them. "I'm not even impressed anymore. Not after being on the receiving end so many times - it's no different than the gulf between third and fourth circle."
06[21:31] * Alicia starts with Glaciante's Spiteful Ward, since she's almost certain she was on the receiving end of that one/
[21:37] <Kotono> Thus Alicia reads! (PM)
[21:38] <Kotono> "What's it do," Antenora continuesto watch, "Perhaps so, but the skill involved is immense. I tried the basic magics and cantrips at the temple once - I couldn't even get those right."
[21:42] <Alicia> "Well, at least I know it cost him three thousand gold to temporarily keep me from dispelling anything," Alicia hands the spiteful ward to Antenora. "You probably could learn - considering what you are, magic is in your blood as much as mine. But you'd start out as a novice and it would take years of focus to get where I am. Your other skills would probably atrophy."
[21:42] <Alicia> "Just focus on your personal development," Marie reassures Antenora. "Lots of the higher celestials in Dweomerheart attain significant arcane power that way."
[21:44] <Kotono> "True." A burst of white energy explodes around Antenora's hand. "Some of it's already there."
[21:45] <Alicia> "That's the spirit," Alicia smiles as she looks up Miracle of Health - it doesn't sound like the spell a lich would use but she suspects it has something to do with those monstrously overgrown remorhaz sent against Malmuth.
[21:46] <Kotono> "I almost would prefer divine power, like a Planetar or Solar." Antenora rests back, "Calling on the wrath of Mystra to heal and strike down the wicked." Starting to smile, "Surely you've dreamed of that before, Marie?"
[21:47] <Alicia> "There are a few like that in Dweomerheart," Marie confirms, "But the arcane wielding ones are a specialty of Mystra, which makes them all the more exotic and exciting!"
[21:48] <Alicia> "This one could stop a plague in its tracks, and... can only be used by priests," Alicia blinks as she hands Miracle of Health over, starting to frown. "They must have taken it as spoils after slaying a very powerful cleric..." She lingers on that thought for a moment before sighing and looking up True Meteor Swarm.
[21:49] <Kotono> "Booty, yes." Antenora crosses her arms, "A useful scroll to have if the plague breaks out again."
[21:50] <Kotono> "That makes me thankful that we're the ones here. That it isn't others that are looking at Hell-Striker in the future and wondering who carried that before they fell to them," Antenora half smiles, half frowns, shifting back and forth. "A chilling thought."
[21:51] <Alicia> "He doesn't talk about his previous owners at all," Alicia notes sombrely. "Well, what will be will be. We're here now," she resolves. "This is an improvement of the meteor swarm pit fiends are fond of. Nothing truly imaginative," she concludes, moving on to Alabaster Perfection.
[21:53] <Kotono> "What will be will be, because of us. No more heroes forgotten in the mists of time." Antenora's face settles on a smile, "Even when you're being like that, you're inspiring to watch, Alicia. The way you command and draw yourself..."
06[21:55] * Alicia raises an eyebrow at Antenora's compliment. "I wasn't even trying," she admits, "Because believe me, when I do try it takes a lot of effort. Anyway, this one I think was what was on the invisible axe-maiden who gave us so much trouble," she waves it in the air before passing it over. "Nice protective benefits but very unsettling side-effects."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Like?" Antenora raises an eyebrow back at Alicia. "That's just how you are. You're magnetic, alluring, radiant. A casual motion by you can be more powerful than a stormy rant from a common human."
[21:59] <Alicia> "Well I suppose I am a rather uncommon woman," Alicia smiles amusedly. "Anyway, it makes your skin like porcelain. Cold and very hard - and also very unsettling. It lasts forever once cast, too."
[21:59] <Alicia> "I'll pass," Marie makes a face as she leans over to look at the scroll. "People confuse me for a doll often enough."
[22:00] <Kotono> "Maybe so..." Looking right ot Marie, "I think you'd make an adorable doll."
[22:01] <Alicia> "I'm adorable already!" Marie insists, flying up over glomp onto Antenora's upper arm. "And don't you prefer me with a soft and warm body?" she croons.
[22:02] <Kotono> Antenora's expression is amused as she reaches up to pluck Marie off her arm, "Caina was freezing cold. One can learn to appreciate cold things there."
[22:03] <Alicia> "And yet still you left," Marie points out as she allows herself to be plucked as Alicia coughs and moves on to read up on Enviolate Spell - she suspects this one will go in the bin based on the name.
[22:07] <Kotono> Antenora places Marie in her arms, cradling her close. "What's that one do, Alicia?"
[22:09] <Alicia> "Converts all the wounds inflicted by a spell into vile injuries," Alicia replies, making a face. She promptly scrunches it up and tosses it into the fireplace. Nothing good can come of such knowledge.
[22:11] <Kotono> From the scroll plumes of acrid black smoke gush out! The stench of death and fire fill the air, like a smog trying to choke every drop of air out of your lungs.
[22:17] <Kotono> Antenora coughs, "Smells like Hell. Fitting."
[22:17] <Alicia> So much for consecrated ground preventing any nasty side effects. "Who makes such shoddy scrolls?" Alicia coughs and grimaces, standing up and flapping her wings to beat back the vile smoke, casting a cantrip to help her in cleansing the air.
[22:17] <Kotono> The air is so cleansed! Antenora rises and does the same, the air soon clean and clear once more.
[22:20] <Alicia> Once the living room is back to its previous homey smell and bereft of cloying smoke, Alicia sits back down and looks up the last scroll, the rather obvious 'summon black rock triskelion'.
[22:23] <Kotono> Antenora sits, holding Marie close. "So is that what summoned that abomination of Ogremoch to fight us?"
[22:23] <Alicia> "Wow..." Alicia's eyes widen. "Remember those two Black Rock Triskelions that were sent after us while we were fixing that gate to the Plane of Earth? It cost two hundred thousand gold for the liches."
[22:23] <Alicia> "That's stupid!" Marie blurts out. "You could bind a ton of pit fiends for that!"
06[22:24] * Alicia turns to stare at her familiar, who shrinks back. "Or, y'know, other comparatively powerful outsiders. The going rate's the same, I guess."
[22:25] <Kotono> Antenora holds Marie closer. 'I think the value is in summoning such an obvious avatar of evil. We didn't choose to go down that route, but Ogremoch would have been a distraction for little gain, I think."
[22:26] <Kotono> After a moment, "I think I'm also redundant today, I think." With a grimace, "I think."
[22:27] <Alicia> "I do that too, sometines," Alicia replies supportively, patting Antenora's leg before she crumples up the scroll and tosses it into the fire, already magically controlling the air around the fireplace to keep smoke from suddenly billowing out and removing any incipient foul odours.
[22:28] <Kotono> The scroll burns away! "That's all of them. Fascinating to see what the Weave can do with such a level of power."
[22:31] <Alicia> "It's mostly uncharted territory. While I've made a few innovations, most of my spells are modelled on existing ones that are fairly common across sorcerers and wizards everywhere - it's far easier to learn that way," Alicia explains. "When I reach that level of understanding I'll have to make my own way, but I doubt I'll look to any of these for inspiration."
[22:31] <Alicia> "Seira should get more use out of them, at least - assuming she doesn't want to use any in the short term. She'd probably like Alabaster Perfection."
[22:43] <Kotono> "Yes." Looking down atMarie thoughtfully, "I wonder...not Amaryl, but I wonder if she might try it on Donald."
[22:45] <Alicia> "I thought she might use it herself. If Donald or Amaryl want to use it that's their choice," Alicia shrugs. "I'll let everyone know about these scrolls and we'll hold onto them unless anyone wants to use one immediately."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Sounds right." Antenora sits back now, letting her eyes close. "You know...let's just let those scrolls sit here a time. Sitting here, talking and letting the day drift by is real happiness to me right now."
[22:49] <Alicia> "There's no great rush," Alicia agrees, opening up her portable hole and dropping the scrolls inside lest Hugo accidentally read one, before furling it up again and settling back on the couch to relax.
[22:50] <Kotono> "Now if only Marie was a cat...." Antenora sighs, "A purring cat would complete this, wouldn't it?"
[22:52] <Alicia> Marie grows up all of a sudden, Antenora finding a fully grown and well-formed elf draped across her lap with her arms around the deva's neck. "I can purr if you stroke me just right," she carols, batting her eye-lashes coquettishly.
[22:59] <Kotono> Antenora turns faintly red, "Marie!" she manages to sputter out. "Alicia, control your familiar!"
06[23:01] * Alicia sighs and turns a lazy gaze on her familiar. "Down girl," she commands without much heat. Marie pouts but nonetheless shrinks back to her normal form, remaining on Antenora's lap nonetheless.
[23:02] <Alicia> "Ironically if I'd known I'd have my wish granted I would've asked for awesome sexy hair like Honeydip has," she comments, entirely unaffected by the brazen display she just put on.
[23:03] <Kotono> Antenora exhales out, her breathing slowing down. "Honeydip's larger than life. Someone you could wnat to grow up into, Marie?"
[23:04] <Alicia> Marie nods brightly. "She's really impressive. People like to write us fairies off because we're so small and easy to overlook, but no way she'd let anyone overlook her!"
[23:06] <Kotono> "I wonder how she got to be a general at Androlynne?" Antenora looks to Alicia now, "She seemed to know the Lady of the Stars. Maybe she guided her along?"
06[23:06] * Alicia furrows her brow and tries to think back on what she's learned of Androlynne's history before answering Antenora...
[23:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26 planes
06[23:06] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 planes and gets 43." [1d20=17]
[23:12] <Alicia> "From what I've heard about her she earned a place of honour in the Court for her skill at arms before she was given her position in Androlynne," Alicia replies after a moment.
[23:12] <Alicia> "She told me that she used to have a human-sized form that retained her pixie traits, but lost it from lack of use while fighting in Androlynne. Queen Morwel let her regain the ability after she left the Abyss, so might have granted it in the first place."
[23:12] <Alicia> "She knows her stuff, though, no doubt about it. You didn't get the chance to fight alongside her, Antenora, but she easily kept up with us in skill at arms, and her leadership had us fighting together better than we've ever done before. She's a force to be reckoned with, no doubt about it."
[23:13] <Alicia> "Hah, you did it too!" Marie points. "You weren't kidding about being redundant!"
06[23:14] * Alicia makes a face but doesn't contest the point.
[23:14] <Kotono> "An inspiration...though with the Queen helping her  of course..." Antenora sighs wistfully. "And...yes, you did." Starting to laugh, "We seem to have gotten in a habit of repeating ourselves."
[23:16] <Alicia> "Not very inspiring, is it?" Alicia asks, before shrugging. "Anyway, Honeydip got where she is on merit. Queen Morwel wasn't there in the Abyss while Honeydip spent centuries battling against endless hordes of demons. Many who'd try what she did would either die or succumb to the evil of the Abyss themselves. Anyone who can't see past her small stature is a fool."
[23:18] <Kotono> "Doubtless." Antenora then emits another sigh, "Alicia, the charisma those beings radiate, the statue and skill...am I like them? You fit in with them so well, as does Seira."
[23:20] <Alicia> "What brought this on?" Alicia asks in faint surprise. "You've always pulled your weight in battle - Jessica and I would have certainly been lost to Pale Night if it wasn't for your actions on the mountain. And you're no slouch yourself in terms of the presence you convey."
[23:23] <Kotono> Smiling now, "Nothing. It's just that you've grown even more powerful in the crucible of trial. I have to make sure I stay worthy to serve you."
06[23:27] * Alicia just shakes her head. "Don't worry so much about things like that, Antenora."
[23:27] <Alicia> "Besides, you're not the one that got left at home to miss out on all the adventures over the past few months," Marie points out, looking up from Antenora's lap. "I'm just lucky that crown thing worked for me and Hell Striker both!"
[23:28] <Kotono> "I'll be at Alicia's side for eternity," Antenora vows, "I can make up for you when you're playing homemaker, Marie." With a gentle smile and stroking the top of her tiny head, "I know I shouldn't worry about those things. I do anyway."
[23:32] <Alicia> "Oh... speaking of helping you out, Marie," Alicia glances at her familiar, "I made an arrangement with a slaad we met in Greenrot to bestow the power of chaos upon you, but I think I lost since we got sidetracked by the Dark Six before I could meet my conditions for the wager. I should probably contact him to pay up..."
[23:32] <Kotono> "It's a slaad. It'll be along when it pleases it," Antenora shrugs, "Not that we should evade our debt, of course, but a paragon slaad like that is going to do what it will."
[23:34] <Alicia> "Awww. What did you wager?" Marie asks curiously.
[23:34] <Alicia> "The template ingot - not like I had a real use for it," Alicia shrugs. "But he has no real way to contact us, so I should probably make the first contact myself. Although perhaps I should find out what happened in Jova first, since he might have failed on his end, too."
[23:37] <Kotono> "A sending?" Antenora rests back, "That's the most direct means I can think of."
03[23:44] * Sierra_Workhell (~Melanchth@pool-71-178-103-55.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[23:45] <Alicia> "He could lie... but if he does I'll eventually find out and and express my displeasure at being tricked," Alicia muses, sitting up straight and calling upon her magic to whisk her voice across the planes and to the ears of Snnjssi! "We were sidetracked by events on Androlynne, and Gurlan still lives. If you believe the bet is won, name the place to receive your due."
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 1d100 since he's probably not on the prime
06[23:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 since he's probably not on the prime and gets 43." [1d100=43]
[23:54] <Kotono> "Nunnan's Rock." That's the answer Alicia gets back.
[23:56] <Alicia> OOC: any relevant knowledge to help me figure that cryptic response out?
[23:56] <Kotono> OOC: Planes.
[23:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+26
06[23:56] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+26 and gets 28." [1d20=2]
[23:57] <Alicia> "Either of you ever heard of Nunnan's Rock?" Alicia asks Marie and Antenora, frowning at receiving such a terse reply. She remembers him being a lot more gregarious when they first met.
[23:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+23 Marie
06[23:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+23 Marie and gets 33." [1d20=10]
[23:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20=22
06[23:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20=22 and gets Error: Numeric values only." [1d20=18]
[23:59] <Kotono> "I have. Distasteful, nothing but chaos. It's a hunk of chaos that fell into a portal from Limbo. Slaad are seen there sometimes." Antenora makes a deep gagging sound, "Not a place I care to spend much time at, butsuch is duty."
Session Time: Tue Dec 22 00:00:00 2009
03[00:00] * Sierra_Workhell is now known as Cid_Samson
[00:00] <Alicia> "Do you know the way to it well?" Alicia asks. "It being the astral we could end up there for weeks if we're not careful."
[00:08] <Kotono> "I do," Antenora agrees, "Want to go today?
[00:08] <Kotono> "
[00:10] <Alicia> "Lets give it a try - I'll cast a greater magic weapon spell on your spear before we leave and if it's worn off before we get there we'll come home and figure something else out," Alicia nods. "I don't want another repeat of our first trip to Greenrot."
[00:11] <Kotono> "Oh yes." Antenora rises, "Ah well. Peace and quiet dull the senses of battle."
[00:12] <Alicia> "I just want to get this out of the way so it's not hanging over us while we're trying to decompress," Alicia replies, giving Antenora the plane-shift ring since she has the best idea of where they're going. "Lets tell everyone where we're off to and then go?"

[Corwin]

[16:57] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Do you know the way to it well?" Alicia asks. "It being the astral we could end up there for weeks if we're not careful."
[16:57] <Kotono> > "I do," Antenora agrees, "Want to go today?
[16:57] <Kotono> > "
[16:57] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Lets give it a try - I'll cast a greater magic weapon spell on your spear before we leave and if it's worn off before we get there we'll come home and figure something else out," Alicia nods. "I don't want another repeat of our first trip to Greenrot."
[16:57] <Kotono> > "Oh yes." Antenora rises, "Ah well. Peace and quiet dull the senses of battle."
[16:57] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I just want to get this out of the way so it's not hanging over us while we're trying to decompress," Alicia replies, giving Antenora the plane-shift ring since she has the best idea of where they're going. "Lets tell everyone where we're off to and then go?"
[16:57] <Kotono> OOC: Basically going to give Oberuth and company a heads up then shift over?
[16:58] <Alicia> OOC: Sure. I'll invite Latha as well if she wants to keep busy and do something, but if she's not interested I won't push her.
[17:00] <Kotono> OOC: Latha'll pass. She still has a lot of stuff she's working through.
[17:01] <Alicia> OOC: just the three of us, then
[17:01] <Kotono> Antenora, Alicia and Marie make the required notifications, then gather back. "Ready?" Antenora asks.
[17:01] <Alicia> "Just a moment," Alicia reaches over to cast a spell on Marie's longbow, the duration of which will let her keep time in the astral.
[17:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100 spell failure
06[17:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 spell failure and gets 4." [1d100=4]
06[17:02] * Alicia frowns as the spell fizzles. "Hate when that happens," she mutters, trying again.
[17:02] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[17:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 47." [1d100=47]
06[17:02] * Alicia keeps trying until it sticks.
[17:02] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[17:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 18." [1d100=18]
[17:02] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[17:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 69." [1d100=69]
[17:03] <Kotono> After several tries, Marie's bow is enchanted.
[17:03] <Alicia> "That was entirely too much effort," Alicia complains, wringing out her fingers. "Now, keep an eye on that spell - it'll last nineteen hours. If we haven't found the rock by then we'll just come home and arrange another meeting. I've no desire to spend another few weeks wasting away in the astral."
[17:05] <Kotono> "Agreed." Antenora stretches back, before using the ring! For a moment every around you shifts, before you stand in the Silver Sea! It's endless depths stretch before you, farther than you could ever hope to see. Antenora hovers in the air, pointing in a direction and beginning to fly.
06[17:06] * Alicia follows right after Antenora, while Marie sits on her head since for once she's the slowest one here.
[17:07] <Kotono> Thus, timeless time passes! On and on and on you fly! As you make more distance, "It's galling that circumstances cost us against this damned slaad so much." Antenora says out of the blue.
[17:09] <Alicia> "I'm trying not to be bitter about it," Alicia replies magmanimously. "Just look on it as paying him for killing the ruler of an Abyssal city."
[17:13] <Kotono> "I suppose." Antenora looks back to Marie as they fly, "If you need power, there's always order to turn to."
[17:16] <Alicia> "Is that a bribe?" Marie asks curiously. "Seems rather underhanded... besides, Alicia's a representative of order and I get loads of power from being her familiar, anyway."
[17:17] <Kotono> "Just that order would be happy to have you," Antenora says with a warm smile, half flying backwards to turn to MArie.
[17:19] <Alicia> "You can have me any time you like, Antenora," Marie banters back cheekily. "In fact, how about you help me try out my new shapechanging abilities when we get home? I bet we could have lots of fun!"
[17:21] <Kotono> "Well, with order, you don't just rush into things like that!" Antenora shakes her head, "You get to know the person, there's a long formal courtship, you visit parents - not that we can here -, you sign contracts and have a wedding...then you get to what you're talking about. IT's all very well controlled."
[17:23] <Alicia> "We've known each other nearly two years, now," Marie points out as Alicia resists the urge to sigh. "And given what you've said about baatezu cuisine, it's probably best I don't meet your parents. And isn't it silly to wait until after everything's formalised before even finding out just what you're getting into? Seems pretty reckless, to me," the courre chides.
[17:24] <Kotono> "The point is that you don't rush into these things!" Antenora retorts right back with a smile. "Haste makes waste. Doing things properly makes the best results."
[17:26] <Alicia> "I guess you must have a different definition of what constitutes a rush when you've seen six centuries," Marie pouts.
[17:27] <Kotono> "The wisdom of time," Antenora nods along, "Alicia, don't you agree with me?"
[17:29] <Alicia> "I got married when I was twenty to a man I'd known for a little over a season," Alicia replies almost too brightly.
[17:29] <Kotono> Antenora crosses her arms and gives Alicia a long, long, long look.
06[17:32] * Alicia shrugs unapologetically. "I was young and in love. I don't think either applies to you and Marie, though."
[17:32] <Alicia> "Ouch," Marie cries laughingly. "My delicate maiden's heart has been maligned!"
[17:33] <Kotono> "I'd have thought you would have had more of a courtship." Antenora's looming frown fades, "Your family's faux-nobility, wouldn't they have insisted on it?"
06[17:35] * Alicia laughs a little at the faux-nobility phrase. It's far too accurate. "It had little to do with my family. Why do you think we went to live in a village on the outskirts far away from them?"
[17:37] <Kotono> "A good point." Antenora flies along in the timeless sea, "Your life before I met you fascinates me. Did the events of your life forge you what you're into today, or were you born with this talent?"
[17:43] <Alicia> "Well, obviously I was born with magic in my blood - not like I'd ever so much looked at a spellbook before it first manifested in me. I was far more interested in swordplay, but was never particularly religious for all that I've held strong morals since I was a child," Alicia explains, content to elaborate on her origins to kill the time as they travel through the void.
[17:43] <Alicia> "My parents mostly venerated Lathander and Chauntea, and I paid some lip service. The temples of Kelemvor and Mystra in Kelara held little appeal for me when I was growing into womanhood. It almost makes you wonder where I'd have ended up if Kelara had any organised devotion to Torm or Tempus..."
[17:44] <Alicia> "Scary," Marie shivers at that possibility.
[17:46] <Kotono> Antenora frowns at that as well, "Thankfully Mystra was there. You would make a powerful champion of evil or destruction." Looking down a bit, "I could tell that when I first saw you. ..say, Marie, what did you think when you first saw Alicia?"
[17:50] <Alicia> "I got a pretty good briefing on what I was going to be in for, so it's not like I was surprised," Marie admits. "Still, it did surprise me that she always wears so much black. I mean, that's got bad connotations for paladins!"
06[17:50] * Alicia sighs. "Alright, Marie. Next time we go into battle, I'll wear a pristine white dress. I think the superiority of black clothing will be readily apparent by the end of things."
[17:51] <Kotono> Antenora giggles at that, "Alicia the Bloodflier..." she murmurs, "Alicia looks good in black sa well. Practicality and appeal rolled well into one."
[17:52] <Alicia> "It's a colour that goes with anything. Besides, my armour is shiny enough," Alicia raps her gleaming and form-fitting mithral breastplate.
[17:54] <Kotono> In the distance, Alicia can begin to see something. It looks like something brown and gray, hovering in the Silver Sea. "At least for Marie now color's not important. She can change to match her clothes.  You can alter yourself if it's important. I suddenly feel so...limited." Antenora starts to pout, a smile cracking it. "Regulated to one hair color and body shape."
[17:56] <Alicia> "You might eventually get a similar ability as you become more and more like an astral deva," Alicia reassures, before pointing ahead, "Is that the rock, by the way?"
[17:57] <Kotono> "Oh!" Antenora turns back, "I think so. Let's go find him."
[17:58] <Alicia> "We made good time," Alicia smiles in relief. "I don't want this errand to cut into our relaxation any more than necessary, so hopefully he's around to accept his winnings and then we can go home."
[17:59] <Kotono> Thus you fly closer! It's a vast, jagged rock! Atop it lies all sorts of vegetation. As you fly, you see a vast tree has been felled. Atop it's point sits a white slaad, waiting.
[18:01] <Alicia> "Snnjssi!" Alicia waves, her translation magic helping her pronounce the tongue-twisting slaad name without too much impediment as she flies up to the top of the tree. "I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long."
[18:01] <Kotono> The slaadi waits, "Time means nothing here, except when it means everything. I had thought you died, for Gurlan stayed untoppled!"
[18:04] <Alicia> "It was unfortunate but a few hours after we met you our world was suddenly attacked by a cabal of liches called the Dark Six. We've spent the past week fighting them across the Prime, Androlynne, and the Negative Energy Plane. Gurlan sadly dropped down our list of priorities," Alicia explains regretfully.
[18:04] <Alicia> "Given the time that's passed, I've little doubt you'll have accomplished your side of the bet, so I might as well pay up."
[18:06] <Kotono> "The mummy lord fell, but it was really a vampire lord reincarnated into a death knight demon lord," With a smile, "The hordes suffered and perished, and I was pleased." His gaze travels to Antenora and then Marie, "One is not like the other. You chose companions well."
[18:07] <Alicia> Marie gives a little wave while Alicia smiles at the compliment. "They're both good friends and true allies," she agrees, taking off her backpack and reaching inside for the template ingot, which she holds up towards Snnjssi. "To the victor goes the spoils, though."
[18:34] <Kotono> The template ingot is taken, shifting like wildfire in the slaadi's hands! "A fine contest." With that the slaad ripples into the silver sea, gone!
[18:36] <Alicia> "Right, we're done. Lets go home?" Alicia turns to Antenora and Marie.
[18:36] <Kotono> With that, the ring is activated!
[18:36] <Kotono> roll 5d100
06[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 5d100 and gets 179." [5d100=5, 14, 59, 68, 33]
[18:36] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 2." [1d9=2]
[18:37] <Kotono> You stand in a forest. The scent of salt and air tinges your nose, a faraway but steady lapping of waves heard.
[18:38] <Alicia> "We didn't land in the sea for once, but we're close!" Marie remarks, craning her head towards the sound of waves.
06[18:39] * Alicia looks up at the sky to try and gauge what time it is.
[18:39] <Kotono> "The beach?" Antenora sniffs her nose, "A small miracle. The beach, the waves, the sand...the sandcastles...We do seem drawn to the sea muchly."
[18:39] <Kotono> It's daytime. Alicia can't quite tell from here - too many trees. She could tell with a better view of the sky.
[18:41] <Alicia> Well, it didn't take too long regardless, so they can be home for lunch or dinner. "I don't really understand it, but almost every time we plane shift to Balmuria we arrive at sea. Anyway, lets go home and see about getting something to eat," she suggests, teleporting the trio to their house.
[18:41] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[18:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[18:46] <Kotono> Thus you arrive home for an early dinner. As the three settle in, odds and ends since JEssica isn't around, "I didn't think of it before, but," Antenora asks aloud, "What are we going to do on that island?"
[18:48] <Alicia> "Swim, play games, talk, laze around, maybe explore a little," Alicia lists off easily, "The main point is just to be somewhere quiet and peaceful where we can relax."
[18:50] <Kotono> "Mmmhmm." Antenora sips water, "Since there's so many of us, I imagine we'll tend to splinter off into groups?"
[18:52] <Alicia> "Probably be unavoidable," Alicia admits. "Still, everyone knows everyone, so we should all be able to get along."
[18:55] <Kotono> "Oh yes. I'm not saying it's bad," Taking a bit of meat and starting to chew on it, swalloing before she goes on, "I'm sure Seira and Amaryl will slip away at least a few times, for example. I'm just thinking of how to have the most fun with this. Shush Marie," With a lazy gaze at the eladrin, "Think it, don't say it."
[18:56] <Alicia> Marie looks up from where she's sitting at the table like a normal person, enjoying a full-sized portion the same as Alicia and Antenora. "We should have a sandcastle building competition with everyone," she suggests breezily, ignoring the implication.
[18:57] <Kotono> Antenora twitches, "Which means I'll naturally win, right Alicia? A well planned sandcastle will triumph over all."
[18:59] <Alicia> "Latha might give you some competition in that regard," Alicia replies cooly, a faint smile teasing her lips. "But I think Hugo's the one to watch out for, at least once he gets the hang of it."
[19:00] <Kotono> Starting to rub her chin, "A very good point. I should talk to Hugo now and instruct him on how to properly plan this out."
[19:03] <Alicia> "At least wait until we get there," Alicia chides.
[19:06] <Kotono> "Maybe." Antenora looks up, "Hmph." Stopping to look down at her food, "Should we bring special food and drink? Perhaps we could get some of the fermented ambrosia Strength of Light had? Oh, and speaking of...how is that venture of yours in Wetwind Harbor doing?"
[19:10] <Alicia> "Ambrosia isn't safe for most people to drink, remember," Alicia points out. "As for Wetwind... I normally check in on it and go on buying trips every other week, but we're now looking at over a month because of all that time we wasted trying to get to Greenrot. Considering how the books looked, I'm actually pretty worried that it's been able to stay solvent."
[19:10] <Alicia> "Why don't we go look in on it after dinner?" Marie suggests. "Right now they'd be in the mid-afternoon lull, so it'd be a good time to see how things are going."
[19:12] <Kotono> "Yes, but some of us can have some one evening as the sun sets and get drunk on happiness. A fine way to end a day," Antenora points out in return. "That's a fine idea. There should still be plenty of sunlight there...though..." Starting to frown, "That is something I've been wondering about. You notice how day and night vary as you travel very far very fast with magic?"
06[19:13] * Alicia nods to Antenora. "Since the sun rises in the East then dawn happens earlier the further East you go."
[19:14] <Kotono> "Ah, that makes sense. I wonder if you go far enough East...could you find the Sun or Lathander's Realm? Perhaps a portal to it?" Thoughtfully pausing, "Past those mountains is a cursed land, as Seira told it then...?"
[19:16] <Alicia> "You'd eventually end up where you started," Marie chimes in, pushing her plate away and patting her belly in satisfaction at the objectively biggest meal she's ever eaten. "The Prime's just a big ball when you get right down to it."
[19:18] <Kotono> "Really?" Antenora pushes her plate away, food mostly nibbled on. "I heard a story once about a man from the Prime, who sailed so far he fell off the edge of the world and landed in Baator."
[19:19] <Alicia> "He probably just had the bad luck of sailing over a portal into the Styx," Alicia surmises, gathering the plates and going to wash them. "Although I do wonder just what it looks like from Selune's vantage in the sky."
[19:20] <Kotono> "You know..." Antenora stops there, "With the proper magic...perhaps a vacation on Selune herself?"
[19:22] <Alicia> "That sounds rather presumptuous - I doubt She'd approve," Marie comments. "But you could always visit the Gates of the Moon - didn't you have fun there the last time?"
[19:25] <Kotono> "Perhaps it is, but the idea is strangely appealing." Standing up as she does, "We did. Frolicking an dplaying like children. That reminds me of the beach as much as anything."
03[19:26] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
[19:27] <Alicia> "We were on the beach when we did that, too," Alicia adds as she puts away the now clean dishes and utensils. "Anyway, if we're going to go to Wetwind I'll need to get changed into my usual disguise. Want me to just disguise your wings, Antenora?"
[19:28] <Kotono> "Make my disguise a little more interesting this time," Antenora says. "I know, that's why I think of the beach."
[19:32] <Alicia> "Interesting like exotic but still humanoid, or do you want to be a mephit or something?" Alicia clarifies.
[19:33] <Kotono> "Surprise me," Antenora says, "Something new, something different." Then with a slight pause, "Perhaps the Queen's touch is making me a bit impulsive, but why not?"
[19:37] <Alicia> Marie remains as she is, quite smug in her apparent elf-iness while Alicia goes upstairs to get changed. When she returns she's a severe and frumpy looking middle-aged human woman with greying hair, dressed in shapeless black robes and carrying a quarterstaff.
[19:37] <Alicia> Tapping Antenora with it, the former erinyes is transformed into a water genasi, keeping most of her proportions but turning her skin aqua blue while her hair looks more like strands of green kelp. She even has small vestigial wings, diaphonous and bringing to mind the flaps of jellyfish.
[19:38] <Alicia> "Oooh," Marie marvels at the transformation. "Better than when you turned me into a zombie pixie!"
[19:38] <Kotono> Antenora looks at herself, checking over her arms. "Well enough. This will fit in there?"
[19:40] <Alicia> "I don't care what anyone says, I was proud of that one," Alicia tells Marie, before shrugging in response to Antenora. "Not really. It's by the sea, but genasi are rare wherever you go. Although I think we'll see a lot more of them around the bay here in coming decades if Oolu has his way..."
[19:41] <Kotono> Snickering a tthat, "Oh yes. Perhaps a few more aasimar as well, doubly so with the eladrin passing through."
[19:43] <Alicia> "Anyway, it should be fine for where we're going - the Reveller's Oasis has built its reputation on its connection with the planes, given all the exotic cuisine I acquire for it. Are you both ready to go?"
[19:43] <Alicia> "Ready!" Marie springs to her feet.
[19:44] <Kotono> "On your mark," Antenora stands besides Alicia.
06[19:44] * Alicia then proceeds to teleport the three of them to the back office at Marie's establishment.
[19:44] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 94." [1d100=94]
[19:47] <Kotono> Woosh! The teleport is without incident, appearing in the plain but well kept office.
06[19:48] * Alicia now defers to Marie, who opens the door to head out of the office in search of her staff!
[19:49] <Kotono> Heading out, Marie finds the place reasonably busy. Marie knwos that they're preparing for the evening rush, girls scurrying back and forth. Gathering them could be done if she wishes.
[19:51] <Alicia> Marie looks for any sign of her assistant manager as the one who's left to handle all the day to day running. If she's not in sight she settles for grabbing the nearest girl and asking for her!
[19:53] <Kotono> The assistant manager is found, stopping to take a breath. "Ma'am," she smiles, "It's been a time! How are you?"
[19:58] <Alicia> "Good," Marie smiles brightly, taking the girl's shoulders to steady her as she catches her breath. "I don't know if you heard about all the troubles to the East but we were caught up in that for a while," she gestures to the aging witch she normally drags around as well as the never before seen aquatic woman lingering nearby.
[19:58] <Alicia> "Only just got out of it - I can tell you girls all about it since it might be something interesting to share with customers, spread a bit of news from the wide world, that sort of thing," she rattles off breezily before cocking her head, "And now I'm just rambling. Of course, I came to see how all of you were doing! Everything still running smoothly, Nasira?"
[20:00] <Kotono> The girl nods briskly to that, "Things are running good! We're getting more business, and one of the Pasha's servants has begun to patrionize us!"
[20:01] <Alicia> "Oh, excellent!" Marie claps her hands together gaily, every bit the eager businesswoman. "How are stocks holding up then?"
[20:02] <Kotono> "We're running low." With an agreeable smile right back, "We can last another week and a few days if we stretch things."
[20:04] <Alicia> "I never thought they'd last that long to begin with," Marie admits as Alicia busies herself watching the stage being set up. "Have you gotten local suppliers to supplant things?"
[20:05] <Kotono> The girls work on the stage, hurrying about. A few others prepare tables and do general cleaning. Antenora watches as well, and in a whisper, "They seem to be doing alright." 
[20:06] <Kotono> "We've stretched it like that," Nasira agrees. "We're learning how to survive on less."
[20:09] <Alicia> "Better than I'd hoped," Alicia agrees quietly. "I'll want to check over the books, but it's reassuring so far."
[20:09] <Alicia> "That's good to hear," Marie nods. "I'll get my two friends to go pick up some new stock... I'm thinking Arborean sounds like a good theme. While they're gone, I can tell everyone what's been happening in the rest of the world."
[20:12] <Kotono> "That's what you want, ma'am," Antenora says with humble respect, "We'll go do that."
[20:15] <Alicia> "And today was meant to be relaxing," Alicia grumbles. "I suppose a quick trip to Brightwater or the Quarter of the Great Wheel wouldn't be too hard on us."
[20:18] <Kotono> "It'll be fun. What part of Brightwater do you want to go do? Any preference?" Antenora asks back, "They're all various types of fun."
[20:19] <Alicia> "The great market - I've been there a few times for things like this, and we passed through it on our way to Evergold," Alicia replies quietly.
[20:20] <Alicia> "Great!" Marie grins. "Lets just step into my office before you go, then I'll get everyone caught up here while you two go shopping." Heading back into the back office, Marie reverts to eladrin form so she can retrieve her Star dress, shimmying into it before she goes back to elven form, the dress shifting with her.
[20:20] <Alicia> "I'll want to dress to impress if I'm gonna be sticking around here all night while you two shop," she explains. "Since I haven't been around much."
[20:21] <Alicia> "You'll probably have nobles begging to buy that thing off of you," Alicia warns Marie. "Anyway, we'll be at least two hours, probably longer, since I need to use Limited Wish to plane shift, now."
[20:29] <Kotono> "Let's go then," Antenora whispers back. "Walk back and then shift?
[20:29] <Kotono> "
[20:33] <Alicia> "We can go from here - everyone's used to me teleporting around," Alicia replies easily as Marie gives them a little wave and flounces out with all the dramatic presence she can muster to go regale everyone with exciting tales of armies of the dead and brave heroes. Maybe she can even convince the girls to put on a play to show what really happened! Alicia would love that!
[20:33] <Alicia> Blissfully ignorant of such plans, Alicia plane shifts herself and Antenora to the great market bordering Tymora and Sune's realms. Or as close as she can get.
[20:33] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 263." [5d100=96, 49, 98, 4, 16]
[20:34] <Kotono> roll 1d2
06[20:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d2 and gets 2." [1d2=2]
[20:35] <Kotono> You stand in rich, verdant hills. A passion red sunset sky flares above you, the air sweet and warm. The grass is a vibrant, throbbing green, soft beneath your feet.
[20:36] <Kotono> Antenora sniffs the air and stretches, "Missed a bit?"
[20:37] <Alicia> Picking at random, Alicia just starts walking towards the direction opposite the sunset. "You always do with Plane Shift. I can teleport us to the marketplace in an hour - for now we might as well just enjoy the walk," she replies easily, not in any particular hurry.
[20:39] <Kotono> Antenora begins to walk as well. For a little time it's peaceful, simple, restful. But as you crest another hill, "You know Amaryl and Seira, Alicia? They're as close as a man and a woman? Will they have some sort of marraige or something akin to it?"
[20:41] <Alicia> "I don't know," Alicia admits. "Since Amaryl... and actually, Seira as well, are both nobles, it's not the usual thing. They need to keep the bloodline going, after all. But Seira's hardly one to be bound by convention."
[20:43] <Kotono> "Yes. What are they going to do, tell the archwizardress she can't do it? Especially when she can probably appeal to Waukeen, or at worst, change one of them to the right gender?" With a slight chuckle of amusement, "The rules are important, but power changes the rules and clarifies them for your own use. Turned on the wrong side and it's a baatezu saying: Power clarifies and absolute power clarifies absolutely."
06[20:47] * Alicia snorts. "I'm more familiar with a different version of that saying, but it sounds appropriately diabolical. They're both very young, anyway. There's no telling what the future holds for either."
[20:49] <Kotono> "A week for us was lifechanging events and battling what should have never been. How are we going to be in a century?" Antenora stops atop the hill, going down to sit. "Now that we have time to think and reflect...what we fought for was a future that wasn't dominated by a reborn abomination demon-god."
[20:51] <Alicia> "I rather like that, the Dark Six spent many thousands of years plotting and scheming, and then everything they worked for came crashing down in just a week once they attacked us," Alicia admits as she sits down as well, waiting out the hour for her magic to return. "It should serve as a very pointed object lesson to others in the future with similar plans."
[20:52] <Kotono> "It should. There's more to that than meets the eye, I'm certain of it. But..." Antenora smiles, turning to Alicia. "Do you remember the offer Pistis Sophia made to us?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "I did," Alicia nods. "I considered it - such a simple life, it does appeal on a primal level. But I think it's too simplistic to reject all possessions - there are many beautiful and wondrous things in this world, and the fact that they can be ascribed monetary worth does not diminish them."
[20:57] <Kotono> "I know. A simple life...forsake everything and live by deed." Antenora looks down, "Yet here we are, spending piles of gold so we can fight better and supply our interests. Pistis Sophia was so free, so unburdened."
[21:00] <Alicia> "I sometimes thought about what I'd be like as an old woman, once I'd gotten too old to actively fight," Alicia admits. "I'd probably end up giving away all of my equipment to up and coming young heroes."
[21:02] <Kotono> Antenora smiles at that, "That wasn't your destiny, but...a charming image. Sometimes though..." Antenora pauses as she laughs. "Old Alicia. Mystra would grant you a long life to teach the new generation. But...to give it all away. To simply be as you are. Being nude is so often sexual, especially to mortals. But to her, it's the ultimate sign of her freedom. She needs nothing, not even false modesty."
[21:06] <Alicia> "Well, she's a pure exemplar of a dimension of Celestia. For her it's the simplest and most natural thing in the world," Alicia replies. "But I think it's worth bearing in mind that the levels above and below hers are quite happy with all of their possessions. She teaches an important lesson about avoiding excess, but there's room for moderation."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Excess can lead to damnation." Antenora agrees. She leans back on her elbows staring up at the sunset sky. "I'm contrasting something I did before with her, if you didn't gather. Even if I eschewed material possessions as an erinyes, there was nothing holy about it. My body was to allure, distract and tempt. Giving away money was only to draw souls closer to my grasp. Being ascetic only hid the greed that burned within my cold heart."
[21:08] <Kotono> Being ascetic only hid the greed that burned within my cold heart."
[21:11] <Alicia> "You mentioned something like that before about Mephistopheles," Alicia nods thoughtfully. "Are you thinking about retaking the ascetic path in Pistis Sophia's example?"
[21:14] <Kotono> "That old legend about him? IT came to mind." Antenora looks to Alicia, "Right now...no. As much as it appeals, I need my spear, my armor, my belt." Tapping the breastplate she wears, "If Mystra ever remade me into a form more suited to it - one who controls the arcane as you mentioned, perhaps? - I would strongly consider it."
[21:15] <Kotono> "As to Mephistopheles, I know not. The most obvious answer is that he continues to change himself to try and oppose Asmodeus. The truth of it is beyond my ken. Perhaps...we can find out one day, should we lay him low?"
[21:16] <Alicia> "It's possible," Alicia considers, focusing more on the first part than talk of archfiends. "Most of Mystra's tenets emphasise the joy of creating magical artifacts, which tend to naturally be very valuable. But there might be room for an exemplar of pure self-willed magic in Her service."
[21:18] <Kotono> "What the future may hold. Perhaps it will be you instead?" Crooking her position to eye Alicia a little bit more, "We're alike. Neither of us has much deep use for wealth and are more devoted to doing good. You seem not to mind going with little or even nothing when the circumstances beg for it. You were the most capable of us when Glaciante's magic robbed us of everything we had."
[21:21] <Alicia> "To be honest, I enjoy the challenge," Alicia smiles. "You remember when we had to go face the spawn of Jormungandr in Ysgard? I had lots of fun with that, relying purely on my own power, crafting improvised weapons with whatever we could find... it was very satisfying. But it's a gamble I'm more hesitant about taking when lives are on the line."
[21:23] <Kotono> "Another reason to go to Ysgard? Strength of Light could arrainge something like that for us." With a poke at Alicia's side, "Running around like that might have different connontations if he's around, though, hm?" Antenora's smile is like a cat's, pouncing.
06[21:27] * Alicia blushes, which looks altogether unfitting of her current frumpy appearance. "He's handsome, strong, and kind. But it was just a one time thing - we have our own lives and he isn't the type to settle down," she explains embarrassedly. "Besides, didn't he offer to let you bear his children when we first met him?"
[21:28] <Kotono> Antenora blushes right back, "Yet he planted his seed into you." Poking Alicia's side again, "Were the tides and moon slightly different, you would be growing his child within now."
06[21:34] * Alicia doubts a child would have survived long in her belly through her recent battles with the Dark Six, but that's far too depressing a thing to say. "Well I'm not. Anyway, speaking of relationships, did you meet anyone at the party in Arborea?" she offers to move the subject along.
[21:34] <Kotono> "One..." Antenora blushes all the way and then smiles, "But you met her, too."
[21:36] <Alicia> "A pity I don't think any of us match up to Queen Morwel's standards," Alicia smiles a little herself. "Nevermind, I'm sure there's an eladrin out there for you somewhere," she adds with a poke back.
[21:38] <Kotono> With a smirk and poking back, "Marie could just as well fit into you now, you know. Or we could be torn, wondering who should love the wonderful shape changing courre who has captured our hearts. In fact...Seira and Amaryl have a mindlink, just like you and Marie. You're like twins!"
[21:39] <Alicia> "That's different - we can just pick up on moods when we're nearby. Seira and Amaryl are in constant telepathic contact no matter how many leagues or planes seperate them," Alicia points out. "To be honest I don't know how they do it. I'd go insane with that, no matter how much I liked the other person."
[21:41] <Kotono> "I know." Antenora chuckles, her mirth dying down. She leans close, looking into Alicia's eyes. "Sometimes I even get a bit sick of you. A rare occurance, but it happens...and sometimes I feel like I want to join spirits with you, to merge into you and become one. I truly don't understand how Seira and Amaryl do it."
[21:44] <Alicia> "Yes, just imagine how much I could have tortured you if we'd made such a link while we were at the 'sanctimonious preaching' stage of our relationship," Alicia smirks, picking up her quarterstaff and standing up. "Anyway, my legs are getting stiff. Why don't we walk a bit more for the next quarter of an hour until my magic returns to normal?"
[21:45] <Kotono> Antenora laughs at that, standing up as well. Dusting herself off, "It's fun talking to you now. I can say outrageous things like that and not get mortified looks or a bevy of sardonic jokes."
06[21:49] * Alicia starts down the rolling green hill, idly swinging her staff besides her as she walks. "I've gotten used to your little quirks. Besides, I don't get half as much trouble as you and Marie give each other. She's a good distraction."
[21:51] <Kotono> "To a human, this level of devotion must seem to be...many things, some of them not complimentary." Following along, "Never tell her this, but about Marie...I really, really like teasing her. The way we argue just flows so naturally. The spark of rivalry I feel with her..."
[21:53] <Alicia> Sighing in a put upon manner, "As always I'll keep your hidden love for my familiar a secret," she affirms. "And quite frankly our current relationship is far less disturbing than having a hateful but utterly obedient baatezu at my beck and call."
[21:56] <Kotono> "You know, I might even consider if I though Marie was capable of forming an eternal relationship and if she matures a few ranks?" Antenora trots along, keeping just behind Alicia. "It's just...were our biologies or tastes different, this joking would acquire a far more meaningful subtext. I...feel filthy for saying it, but I wonder if my mate will end up being..." In a tiny, weak little voice, "Unordered."
[21:56] <Kotono> weak little voice, "Unordered."
06[21:58] * Alicia laughs at how Antenora puts it. And weren't you earlier gushing over Queen Morwel?" she asks.
[21:59] <Kotono> "Queen Morwel is special! I don't normally swoon over women that aren't beautiful, charismatic paladins!" Antenora turns red and then redder, sputtering. "Besides, you were ready to leap into her arms, too! I felt how warm your skin was when she touched you!"
[22:01] <Alicia> "I won't deny it," Alicia agrees. "But it's not just that she's unbelievably beautiful, is it? There's far more to her than that. And she's emblematic of the eladrin race, the ultimate expression of everything it is to *be* an eladrin, just as Asmodeus represents devils. So is there any shame in respecting, or even loving, someone who takes after her?"
[22:03] <Kotono> "But she's chaotic..." Antenora blushes and shivers, "That's so degenerate...but yes, I love her just seeing her." Now taking a breath out, "I really do wonder if Pistis Sophia has it right. Stop worrying about everything, forsake possessions and live in the light of goodness for it's own sake."
[22:06] <Alicia> "That came out of nowhere," Alicia remarks blandly. "Anyway, if Marie were here she'd probably give you a lecture on the wonders of tolerance and how chaotic it is. But I'm not sure if it's strictly that, rather, I think it's in the middle."
[22:06] <Alicia> "Mystra has no particular attachment to Law or Chaos, and if she can love someone like me and someone like Marie equally, I can do no less. People like Marie, Honeydip, Syala, Strength of Light, even Donald - they're all admirable and worthy of respect."
[22:07] <Kotono> "I know, I know. It's just...chaos..." Antenora shivers. "You don't understand, Alicia. Truly, you don't grasp it at all. Perhaps if Mystra chooses to infuse law into you you will."
[22:09] <Alicia> "She hasn't even infused me with good, yet," Alicia shrugs, before reaching over to take Antenora's wrist. "Anyway, we're about to go to a chaotic marketplace, so are you ready to face that?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "With great fortitude!" Antenora smiles back, "Shall we?"
[22:12] <Alicia> "Be strong," Alicia smiles, teleporting them to the memorable looking raised plaza set up to give easy teleport recognition for incoming travellers - the merchants do all the can to make life easy on their customers, at least.
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 68." [1d100=68]
[22:18] <Kotono> ---
[22:18] <Kotono> Who all is going, by th eway?
[22:20] <Alicia> Alicia, Seira, Anty, Latha, Jessica, Hugo, Dawnhope, Marie, Donald, Elle, Amaryl, Abagail... I miss anyone? Jessica can bring Roald if he's allowed to leave heaven.
01[22:20] <Seira> You didn't miss anyone I wanted to bring, no
[22:24] <Alicia> Lagann!
01[22:24] <Seira> He autocomes
[22:24] <Kotono> ...
01[22:25] <Seira> What?
[22:25] <Kotono> ---
[22:26] <Kotono> In a flash of light and magic, everyone vanishes on the wings of teleportation. You appear on a soft, warm beach. The sun is high in the sky, waters lapping against thes andy beach. Ahead of you lies an unspoiled beach. Abagail takes a step ahead, wearing a soft red dress. "I've read of beaches, but never one so well developed."
[22:27] <Kotono> Donald steps forward, sword on a leather sheath strapped to his back. He wears an old tunic and frayed worker's pants. "Teleportation accidents can take you to amazing places. Just ask Seira about efreet!"
01[22:28] <Seira> "That was actually a pretty terrible accident all around," Seira voices, clad in her red-highlighted gown and not much else.
[22:28] <Kotono> Latha steps forward, "It reminds me of the bottom of Celestia. Have you ever read of it, Abagail?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "Yes, the resemblence is there." Abagail sets a pack down, "Aaah, the sun is so warm here! I declare, it's like spring and summer here."
[22:30] <Kotono> "Yeah, yeah." Donald shrugs, "Horrible accident, heroic battle, I can barely tell the difference any more." Donald hurries to the edge of the water. "The water's warm too!"
[22:30] <Alicia> "It wasn't specifically a teleportation accident, even if I wasn't really in my right mind when I first brought us here," Alicia admits with a trace of embarassment, wearing a gauzy blue wrap that barely covers her torso and little else. "There's no beaches like this anywhere near Kelara, and not even the ones near Balmuria can compare."
[22:32] <Kotono> Antenora wears a white tunic cut off to her lower chest and a short skirt of white. "There's not many real beaches in this area. The shorelines don't favor it."
[22:32] <Kotono> Saul steps forward, wearing only a single layer of robes, "So shall we do something to start this?"
[22:33] <Alicia> "Well, we could start off by making our shelter for tonight so it's done and we can relax the rest of the day," Alicia suggests. "There's plenty of wood past the beach," she points to the tree-line, a volcano seen in the distance past it, "If we want to do it the old fashioned way, or we could make something with magic."
[22:34] <Kotono> "Magic!" Hugo cries, going to run towards the water.
[22:35] <Kotono> "I'm going to go rest in the sun," Antenora says, starting to wander off, "I'll be a ways down this way if anyone needs me," Gesturing ahead, she flies off, staying low to the ground.
[22:35] <Alicia> Marie flies along with Hugo to look after him, maintaining her usual form because it's still the best. "Or we could run around and lie down and relax and not worry about it until later," Alicia smiles gamely.
[22:36] <Kotono> "We could!" Elle steps forward, wearing a scarlet red dress, her hair loose. "Magic can take care of it when we want to sleep."
[22:37] <Kotono> "Hey Seira!" Donald calls, "Let's go swimming!"
01[22:38] <Seira> "Between us all, I'm sure we'll manage," Seira agrees with a snort. "I think I'm going for a swim, myself-- great minds think alike. And so do we, Donald!"
[22:38] <Kotono> Elle starts to smile, "I'll go with you," she falls in step with Seira. Saul lingers back instead, "Ah, Alicia."
[22:39] <Alicia> "I'm going to set up a court for a game we can play if anyone's interested," Alicia offers, going to find a piece of driftwood to mark the boundaries before pausing as shehears her name. "Yes, L- Saul?" she keeps herself from using her title since the setting is informal.
[22:40] <Alicia> *his title, even
[22:40] <Kotono> Saul joins along, helping Alicia. Dawnhope stays close in the meantime, as Jessica goes to follow Antenora. "How well do you know Mystra's scriptures?"
[22:41] <Kotono> OOC: #evil, Seira?
[22:42] <Alicia> "I had to learn a lot of them by heart before I was allowed to take my vows," Alicia replies, smiling breezily. "Any in particular you're curious about?"
[22:43] <Kotono> "Just thinking about something - a bit of a debate SEira and I had not long ago. I don't intend to have it right now, these sort of discussions are best whent he moon has risen and revelry is in full swing." Instead he helps Alicia along, "Seira never changes, does she?"
[22:45] <Alicia> "She's changed a lot in the short time I've known her, and I don't just mean the dragon thing," Alicia replies curiously as she marks out a large rectangular boundary with a line down the middle. "I would have thought the change even more pronounced from an elven standpoint."
[22:46] <Kotono> "Perhaps the more things change, the more they stay the same." Saul says as he turns to watch Seira and company run ou tinto the water. "Her attitude hasn't changed much. She's more impulsive now, but she's always been like that."
[22:49] <Alicia> "She's always been impulsive, but I think that's been tempered with experience over the years," Alicia replies, looking over at the group frolicking in the water, then down at her simplistic but neglected volleyball court. Alas, no one besides her cares about a good fun structured team game... "What was she like as a child?" she then asks curiously.
[22:56] <Kotono> "Very curious. A prodigy who hated repeating things. She got it done once and that was it. She liked to be a leader." Saul thinks back, "She grew up so quickly, but in some ways...she's always been very headstrong and stubborn."
[22:56] <Kotono> Dawnhope giggles, "Spilling it all about your daughter to her friends? She's going to be maaaad!"
[22:58] <Kotono> Latha lingers by herself, stepping away and watching. She sits in the shade of the trees, wearing simple peasant clothes.
[22:59] <Alicia> "He hasn't said anything embarrassing," Alicia points out to Dawnhope. "Still, that does sound like her. It must have been hard, though, growing up so quickly among elves."
[23:01] <Kotono> "She didn't make many friends. She tried and she did make a couple, but exceptions ot th erule." As the court is finished, "She'd come home upset when she ate her lunch alone, or when she was the odd one out at a party. Some of it was being a half-blood."
06[23:04] * Alicia nods. "I remember the first time I visited Pallanth, people looked at me the way a goblin might get looked at in Kelara," she admits. "Things are a lot better now, though - the last few years have helped open things up a good deal. And Seira can take a lot of the credit for that."
[23:04] <Kotono> "She's doing well." Dusting his hands off, "What sort of game is this? I'm not familiar with human games."
[23:06] <Alicia> "You have two teams on either side," Alicia explains genially, pointing to either side of the divide she made, "And you toss a ball across the middle at each other. You're only allowed to hit it with your hands and not grab it, and if it touches the ground on the opposite side that's a point for your team. We'd need at least four people to make a game of it, preferably more."
[23:07] <Kotono> "Ah. A fun enough diversion." Tapping his chin, "Some sort of wager between the teams would make it better."
[23:08] <Kotono> "Sounds fun...I guess I can't play, though," Dawnhope sags a litlte in the air, "Can I be a judge then?"
[23:09] <Alicia> "I've had bad luck with bets recently, but something fun and harmless wouldn't go amiss," Alicia nods, before turning to Dawnhope. "I'm perfectly capable of changing your shape the way I do Marie's, Dawnhope," she smiles nicely.
[23:09] <Kotono> "Oh! Great!" Dawnhope lands right on Alicia's head, "Turn me into the cutest girl here, a gaming champion!"
[23:09] <Kotono> "What would be good..." Saul begins to think, pacing, "Hmmmm...Losers make the winners dinner?"
[23:12] <Alicia> "I've brought along plenty of food for everyone, but that sounds fun - make it so they have to prepare it using only things they can find here," she suggests with a smile to Saul before giving Dawnhope her attention.
[23:13] <Alicia> Reaching into her abbreviated garment, she puls out the portable hole and unfurls it before she reaches in to retrieve her robes of the plainswalker. "You'll need clothes, of course," she tells Dawnhope as she puts the hole away. "Come on, we'll go to the trees so you can change privately?"
[23:13] <Kotono> "I'll go gather people up. Do you want me to go drag your sister and Antenora back? They went off by themselves." Saul glances back.
[23:14] <Alicia> "Get as many as you can - the more the better," Alicia grins before she heads over to the trees near where Latha is. "We're going to play a game, do you want to join in?" she hopefully asks the deva.
[23:14] <Kotono> Latha starts to speak, but then stands up. "I will."
06[23:17] * Alicia smiles with some effort, still rather uncomfortable with Latha's recent depression. "It's a simple team game, so hopefully we'll all have fun. If you have any ideas, anything people might do on Venya, please suggest them for later," she offers encouragingly.
[23:18] <Kotono> "I will." Repeating herself, Latha's smile slips a little. "I'm sorry."She steps forward, "This is a good idea."
[23:21] <Alicia> "I hope so..." Alicia wants to say more, but can't see any platitudes holding much meaning. "We'll have fun," she simply declares, nodding firmly at the resolution. That's the whole point of this, and she won't let anyone feel down or broody on her watch! "I'll just help Dawnhope get changed then we'll go sort teams with whomever's playing."
[23:22] <Kotono> "Yay!" Dawnhope flies in front of Alicia, "Do it then!"
06[23:24] * Alicia picks up a handy fallen branch to use as an impromptu club, channelling an alter self spell into it and then gently bonking Dawnhope's head to turn her into an aasimar version of herself, fanning out her wings to provide something of a privacy screen against the rest of the beach while she hands over the abbreviated red robes to wear.

[Corwin]

[19:49] <Kotono> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[19:50] <Kotono> Thus everyone gathers together! Sandy and soaked, salty and sunned. Shaking her head clear of sea water with a hand on her hip, "So this game...two teams of six, say?"
[19:51] <Kotono> Abagail is dusting her knees off, sand falling away. "That requires team leaders, doesn't it?"
01[19:53] <Seira> "Want to be one?" Seira suggests, taking in the game's grounds.
[19:53] <Kotono> "Ah, of course. Leading is child's play," Abagail agrees, "Who would be the other one then?"
06[19:55] * Alicia idly tosses the coconut sized leather ball in her arms. "Dawnhope, you can be the other team leader," she suggests to the freshly transformed courre. "Just take turns picking until everyone's on a team - you can toss a coin to see who gets first pick."
[19:55] <Kotono> "I can do it," Dawnhope raises her hand up, "Pick me-Yay!" Hopping over, Abagail and Dawnhope stand in front of the others. "Anyone got a coin?"
[19:55] <Kotono> "Several!" Saul calls, "Copper, silver, gold or platinum?"
[19:56] <Kotono> "Coins? Why?" Donald looks at Saul sidelong, "Looking to buy the island?"
06[19:56] * Seira is glad someone volunteered, because she certainly isn't hiding her purse on her.
[19:57] <Kotono> "Not yet." Saul tosses over a copper, caught by Abagail. "Heads, heads"! Dawnhope calls, "I have heads!" Abagail starts to speak then settles for simply tossing the coin.
[19:57] <Kotono> roll 1d2
03[19:57] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@95.146.1.230) has joined #dunes
03[19:58] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[19:58] <Kotono> roll 1d2
[19:58] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d2 --> [ 1d2=1 ]{1}
[19:58] <Kotono> With a soft plop, the coin lands heads up! A shining image of King Lorthan can be seen on the copper coin, as Dawnhope cries out. "Yay, got it! So this game's about hitting the ball and moving...oh, Jessica!" She points at the new angel, "I'll take her first!"
06[19:59] * Alicia and Marie, currently in her elf form, congregate around Hugo to explain the rules again to him to ensure he knows them. It's a simple game, at least!
[19:59] <Kotono> Abagail sniffs, "Seira's my first choice." She looks over the others, as Hugo smiles and nods along. Antenora stands a little back, sand coated on her knees and elbows and back and wings. Donald's grinning.
06[20:00] * Seira waves back at Abagail with a grin. "You're too kind!"
[20:00] <Kotono> Dawnhope starts pacing around, looking at everyone, before snapping her fingers. "Amaryl, of course!" she points at her.
[20:00] <Kotono> "...me?" Amaryl looks at Seira despite saying that.
[20:01] <Kotono> Saul chuckles to that, hiding a smile with his hand.
01[20:01] <Seira> "I won't hold back, no matter the opponent!" Seira promises.
[20:01] <Alicia> "Oh, you've broken up the dream team!" Marie laments, laughing.
[20:02] <Kotono> "Well then," Abagail sends a steely, even look to the polymorphed eladrin. "Elle. Do you think you can beat three of the best wizards in the Baronies, pixie? Absurd!"
[20:02] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes and scuffs at the sand, "Okay..." she murmurs, reddening all over. "It'll be fun!"
[20:03] <Kotono> Dawnhope rubs her chin, eyeing who's left. "Alicia," she points right at her, "Definintely Alicia!"
[20:03] <Alicia> "Your spellbooks won't help you in this contest," Alicia tells Abagail, grinning as she goes to join her sister.
[20:04] <Kotono> "Really?" Antenora raises an eyebrow, "So you won't transform into a Planetar here, Alicia?"
[20:04] <Kotono> "That would be boring," Jessica chides, a serene smile, "We don't want to be boring here, do we?"
[20:04] <Alicia> "Of course not!" Alicia looks offended at the suggestion. "It's just a fun game... except the loser cooks dinner."
[20:05] <Kotono> Abagail paces about, eyeing the remander. "You'll do. You thinking good," With a curt gesture at Antenora, "She's my fourth."
[20:05] <Kotono> As Antenora trots over, Dawnhope goes over to Marie, "You'll be my fifth, won't you," she asks.
01[20:06] <Seira> "Oh, just pick Donald," Seira suggests to Abagail, sliding over to her.
[20:06] <Kotono> "Ah, the mighty warrior. Capable of facing a marilith head on and winning...and going near last." Donald sighs dramatically, throwing his hands up. "Unappreciated by all."
01[20:07] <Seira> "Talk back when it's a balor."
[20:07] <Kotono> As Seira gets a rude look, Abagail nods. "Fine. Donald."
06[20:07] * Seira gives Donald a thumbs up as he gets picked on the same team as she and Elle.
[20:07] <Alicia> Marie skips over as she's picked.
[20:08] <Kotono> "WAit..." Dawnhope looks about at Hugo, Latha and Saul. "I think we miscounted. There's three left and teams are even...Um, can we have uneven teams?"
[20:08] <Kotono> "I'll excuse myself," Saul steps back, "It wouldn't be fair for me to compete."
01[20:08] <Seira> "Dad is old and frail," Seira instantly agrees.
[20:09] <Alicia> "You just want to get out of cooking," Alicia tells Saul with a gleam in her eye. "You can be the umpire, then. Be fair in Waukeen's name!"
[20:09] <Kotono> "I can be fair," Saul chuckles right back, "Fine, I'll umpire. You won't get any special treatment, Seira. Back in my day, we showed respect to our elders."
[20:09] <Kotono> "Right," Dawnhope skips along, "Latha, I'll take you! That means Hugo's with Abagail's team!"
[20:10] <Kotono> As Latha and Hugo join the sides, Antenora gazes at the other team, "Ready to lose?"
01[20:11] <Seira> "That implies I either need it or to bribe you!" Seira tells her father with a roll of her eyes. "Just sit tight and watch how it's done~"
[20:11] <Alicia> "Good luck, Hugo! Make us pay for underestimating you!" Alicia cheers supportively, feeling bad since he was picked last. Trotting over to the far corner, she hefts the ball in her hand. "I can't wait to see what you'll cook tonight, Antenora," she tells the deva with a sweet smile.
[20:11] <Kotono> "No, ready to win..." Amaryl murmurs, but it carries. "I'm going to win...Seira's good at cooking, too!"
[20:11] <Kotono> "I'll settle for eating what you give me!" Antenora grins back, as people trot over! OOC: Do any of you have ranks in anything remotely relevant ot this, by the by?
[20:12] <Alicia> OOC: tumble, maybe?
[20:18] <Kotono> Thus the game begins! The first few sets are simple, with Seira leaping high and blocking the sun as she spikes the ball down! Antenora dives a little later, jiggling and sending sand everywhere as she saves a point! Back and forth it goes, point after point! Elle falls over with the ball once, but Donald is right behind her, saving it even as he gets a faceful of sand! Alicia uses her wing to block the next point! (More)
[20:19] <Kotono> block the next point! (More)
[20:21] <Kotono> Amaryl sends the next play right into the sand, spiking the ball at Seira's feet to win the point, leaping up high with a battle cry! Latha glows with the light of the sun as she makes the next play, diving to edge the ball over the net! Thus it continues to see-saw, sweat and cries of effort becoming more and more apparent! (More)
[20:23] <Kotono> But at last, it's the final point. The score is tied! Everyone is sweaty and sandy, clothes dripping white sand and effort spread out all over. The ball is served, and...! OOC: Roll your checks.
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+38 initial showing with dex
[20:23] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+38 initial showing with dex --> [ 1d20=16 ]{54}
[20:23] <Alicia> OOC: -1 sorry
[20:23] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19 but can we keep up this pace? con
[20:23] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+19 but can we keep up this pace? con --> [ 1d20=20 ]{39}
01[20:24] <Seira> roll 1d20+22
01[20:24] <Seira> roll 1d20+21
[20:24] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+22 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{28}
[20:24] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+21 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{40}
[20:27] <Kotono> Back and forth it goes! At the final point, Alicia hits it up and back! Seira dives back to knock it back to the other side, the ball flying at the edge of the field! It lands in the sand, Saul peering at it! "Well..." he begins, as the teams turn to stare at him. "I got a good look at it! The winner is..." he pauses.
[20:28] <Kotono> "Well?" Amaryl is unwinded, sweaty and staring intently at Saul. "Tell us! It was out, wasn't it?"
[20:28] <Alicia> "Are you pausing to see which of us will bribe you?" Marie asks cheekily at his attempt to be dramatic.
01[20:28] <Seira> "If you're waiting for a donation, save your breath," Seira mutters.
[20:29] <Kotono> "Too bad," Saul snaps his fingers, "Waukeen would smile on someone so selfless as to donate to her clergy now. But..." He looks between Alicia and Seira. "It was too close to call. It's a tie."
[20:29] <Kotono> "Oh, bullSHIT!" Donald calls immediately.
06[20:29] * Seira rolls her eyes.
[20:30] <Kotono> Amaryl stares at Saul, "...that's not possible! It was either in or out!"
[20:30] <Alicia> "In that case we invoke the secret rule!" Marie declares, pointing accusingly. "In the event of a tie, the umpire makes dinner!"
[20:31] <Kotono> Elle wipes sweat from her brow, undergarments jiggling as she does so. "That is a cop out...ah, check that. I think Marie has the right idea."
01[20:31] <Seira> "I'll cook something," Seira states. "I've read cookbooks when I was bored, I should be able to reproduce something nice. Let's not subject us to harsh and unusual torture."
[20:31] <Kotono> "I'll join you then," Antenora says, "You shouldn't have to do it alone, Seira."
06[20:32] * Seira shrugs. "After a quick soak, then? We could use one."
[20:32] <Kotono> Amaryl continues to stare at Saul, who just smiles and stands up. "A soak sounds good. I think I'll go wading."
[20:32] <Alicia> "It's still early," Alicia nods, stretching her arms out until a crick comes from her back. "But it was a good game - lets take some time to relax until dinnertime."
[20:33] <Kotono> "How anti-climatic, though the game was fun," Jessica walks over to Alicia, then in a low voice, "Sandcastles?"
[20:33] <Kotono> "Aaaw, I wanted to win!" Dawnhope grumps, before going to lie down in the sand. "Oh well, a nap sounds good too!"
01[20:33] <Seira> "Likewise," Seira agrees with Jessica, offering Amaryl her hand. "Let's go? I'm conceding our contest, if not for our team at large."
06[20:33] * Alicia glances between Marie and Antenora before replying in the same low voice, "I think we've had enough competition for one day. You don't want to get her started."
[20:34] <Kotono> "She went off to practice those." With a slight note of disbelief, "I don't even want to know. I thought she was going to be alone or do something private, but on. Practicing sandcastles."
[20:35] <Kotono> Amaryl goes to Seira and then slowly smiles, "It was...it was really fun when I got into it. Like battle, but not so depressing and deadly."
[20:35] <Alicia> Unable to keep herself from laughing at that, Alicia holds her sides. "Really? Oh, you better not tell Marie. They'll never shut up about it, then."
[20:35] <Kotono> "What's so funny?" Elle turns to Alicia as she goes to sit down in the sand, murmuring a few words that make all of the sand fall off her body.
01[20:36] <Seira> "You took to it quite well. A natural, I'd say," Seira assesses. "And the challenge was nice, although I was disappointed from the very start, in a way. I hoped to be in a team with Alicia, to be perfectly honest."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Nothing," Jessica glances back quickly, "Just sister stuff."
[20:36] <Kotono> After that Jessica frowns, "...hm...it comes easily even now, but..." Jessica turns away. "Strange."
[20:36] <Kotono> "Alicia? Why?" Amaryl wipes her forehead clean of sweat and sand.
06[20:38] * Alicia calms her mirth somewhat, going over to sit by Elle. "Marie and Antenora have a little rivalry going on involving sandcastles. Remember when Antenora went off to sunbathe? She was actually practicing her skills," she whispers.
01[20:38] <Seira> "I don't like to see her on the opposing team, even if it's just a game." Seira shrugs. "It's strange, because I don't mind it if you and I enter into a contest sometimes. Your guess might be as good as mine, here."
[20:39] <Kotono> Donald lingers, "You know," he says quietly, "Maybe you have a small crush on her, Seira?"
[20:39] <Kotono> "..." Amaryl turns to Donald, pointing. "Away. Now."
[20:40] <Kotono> "...oh my." Elle just laughs, "How childish."
[20:41] <Alicia> Marie picks up the discarded ball and tries to get Latha and Hugo involved in a simple game of catch, ignoring the sensation of her ears burning.
01[20:41] <Seira> "I'm more likely to have a crush on you, Donald," Seira dismisses the claim. "If you must know, she's how I would imagine having an older sister is."
[20:41] <Kotono> "Now you sound like Antenora. 'Oh Alicia...Oh Alicia...oh big sister Aliciaaaaaaaa!" Raising his voice to a keen by the end, Donald laugh sand hurries off to the water.
01[20:42] <Seira> "Please cease such foolishness until you see me sigh as I gaze as her with misty eyes."
06[20:42] * Alicia looks over at the sound of Donald crooning her name, but just shrugs it off when he starts running. "I don't even want to know."
[20:42] <Kotono> Elle sighs a tiny bit, "I need to see about making another way to increases his hardiness and his wisdom."
01[20:42] <Seira> "His har-- wait, I misheard."
[20:42] <Kotono> "Let's...just...take a walk!" Amaryl takes Seira's hand, hurrying away.
06[20:43] * Alicia coughs delicately at Elle's phrasing. "You two do seem to be getting along very well lately," she offers tamely.
06[20:43] * Seira laughs as she is lead away by Amaryl.
[20:44] <Kotono> Thus the afternoon passes. With dinner comes sunset, the beach stained in colors of the setting sun.  Everyone sits around a campfire Alicia and Marie assembled, bowls of food all about. People lie about and chat, the mood light. "This is so pleasant," Abagail lies up, looking at the sunset, a blanket draped over her. "I may fall asleep on the ground like a peasant, but it's...nice."
[20:45] <Kotono> Antenora sits near Seira and Amaryl, playing with a stick, carving into the sand and occasionally sticking it into the fire. "More of our days should be like this and not like they have been. The upper planes are about enjoyment and happiness, as much as stopping evil. Easy to forget that in an imperfect mortal world."
[20:45] <Alicia> "The weather's so nice we hardly even need to worry about shelter," Alicia agrees, leaning back and watching the crimson sunset as she scoops out a bisected coconut, licking the milk off her fingers.
[20:46] <Kotono> Donald lies on his stomach, snacking on this and that. His gaze turns to Alicia, watching her. "It's very nice."
[20:46] <Kotono> Dawnhope sits atop Alicia's head, "This is more like Arborea than the Prime. I didn't think places this nice existed here!"
[20:47] <Kotono> "What we need," Elle giggles, "Is some wine or better. It seems like such a waste to be completely sober, no?"
03[20:48] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
[20:48] <Kotono> "Spirits are a vice and a luxury...useful on occasion, but..." Latha shakes her head, "Intoxication is largely a mortal sin. Not that the Heavens are excempt from it."
01[20:48] <Seira> "There's plenty of reality-reshaping magic, ready to be cast," Seira notes, standing up and walking the few steps towards Abagail. "Do you have the strength to move in you?"
[20:49] <Alicia> "Neither did I, really," Alicia admits to Dawnhope. "I was just teleporting randomly, and I visualised a perfect beach in my head - this is where I wound up," she smiles, licking her fingers clean before she opens up her portable hole.
[20:49] <Alicia> "I picked up more than a few drinks for the trip," she tells Elle, fishing out bottles of various celestial spirits, including a very small bottle of Ambrosia, which she tosses over to Latha.
[20:50] <Kotono> "Maybe," Jessica just smiles, "The eladrin love to drink, and I heard about fermented Ambrosia from Marie. Still, drink is only some o fit. We need something else ot have fun with while we get tipsy."
[20:50] <Kotono> Latha looks down at the bottle, "Subtle." she eyes alicia right back.
[20:51] <Kotono> Abagail sits up, tossing her blanket off. "If I must."
[20:51] <Alicia> "We enjoyed it last time we drank together," Alicia tells Latha. "But if you're not interested, that's your decision."
[20:51] <Kotono> "What can we do then?" Doanld turns, "I'm all for some drinking, but yeah, you usually talk or do something or another while you do."
[20:52] <Alicia> "I'd suggest ghost stories, but we did just live through one," Marie opines, laying back in her elf form and kicking her legs idly in the air.
[20:52] <Kotono> Latha considers, before uncapping it and swallowing the bottle down.
01[20:52] <Seira> "It's been a good day. It's hard to recall another like it in recent memory, so it made me choose to do thus now," Seira tells her, extending a hand to help her up. "Plus, this place, those here... there's a certain ambience, a symbolism that would be lacking elsewhere."
[20:53] <Kotono> "Let's see..." Elle thinks, "We're mostly girls here...we could talk about men!" She says brightly. "Okay, no. We could gossip, we could pass around dares? We could try some sort of competition or gambling?"
[20:53] <Kotono> Standing, "What do you have in mind," she says as Seira helps her up.
[20:53] <Kotono> Antenora chokes on her words as Latha chugs, "...well."
06[20:54] * Alicia winces as Latha polishes off the bottle. She'd hoped to pass it around a bit... oh, well. She shoots Antenora an apologetic glance for not bringing more. But if anyone here needs it...
[20:54] <Kotono> Antenora smiles a little, 'It's okay, Alicia. I'm not above drinking wine. Are you going to abstain or join in?'
[20:56] <Alicia> 'I'll join in. There's a few nice ones where you can't really taste the alcohol, so I'll stick to them,' Alicia replies, popping the cork off a bottle of fruity wine and taking a drink before passing it over to Jessica.
[20:56] <Kotono> As Jessica akes her own drink, "I'm fine with any of those suggestions. Once you're drunk, anything like dares is fun, though. You lack the sense to pass on the ones you'll regret, which is what makes it so fun."
06[20:58] * Seira leads Abagail slightly out of the way, giving Lagann a mental command. A moment later, the Flash of Heaven appears in her hand. "I could do this while dressed properly, if this," Seira gestures at her bathing suit, "gets in the way. But the point is that this may not be the blade to cut down a horrible abomination of beyond, but it is a symbol.
01[20:58] <Seira> It stands for many things, such as our friendship with Pallanth, or the victories it had witnessed... but most of all, it stands for our triumph against all threats, from within and without. I could think of no one else assosiated with the Guard whom I'd rather have this."
[21:00] <Kotono> Donald starts to talk, but his attention drifts to Seira instead.
[21:00] <Kotono> Abagail blinks once, "Your backup sword...the one Pallanth gave you, you're giving it to me?" Her voice cracks slightly, "Seira...I'm honored!"
[21:01] <Alicia> "Speech!" Marie catcalls.
[21:02] <Kotono> "Speech!" Donald seconds! "Speech! Get her something to drink, too!"
01[21:02] <Seira> "Backup makes it sound like it sat in its sheath all this time," Seira says with equal measure indignation and amusement. "Why, I'll have you know I used it as recently as in the assault of Bleak Rendor!"
[21:03] <Alicia> "I've never seen you without it," Alicia admits as she passes around a bottle of firewine to make its way to Abagail.
01[21:04] <Seira> "It... is very important to me," Seira admits in response to that, using the present tense.
[21:05] <Kotono> Abagail turns red as she takes the sword, holding it in shaking hands. She also takes the bottle, taking a swig before turning. "I...thank all of you!" she gushes out. "Thank you, Seira! I..." she starts to sniffle, wiping at her eyes with a free finger, "Commander Oberuth told us the stories about how the elves gave you this blade as a mark of honor and trust. He said you always carry it at your side. It's...it's mine now...I have a lot to live up to!"
[21:05] <Kotono> carry it at your side. It's...it's mine now...I have a lot to live up to!"
[21:06] <Kotono> Antenora, Donald...everyone starts clapping, a few cheers passing through. The bottles are raises up, "Cheers!" Latha calls brightly.
06[21:07] * Alicia claps at Abagail's short but heartfelt speech. "Congratulations," she seconds the overall sentiments.
06[21:09] * Seira offers Abagail a smile, having said all that she intended already.
[21:10] <Kotono> Abagail turns to Seira, bowing deep to her. "I promise you I'll honor this blade, Seira."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Um..." Elle starts blushing, standing up. "I think I have an announcement, too."
[21:11] <Alicia> It's all coming out, now! Alicia can't help but glance over at Donald before she looks up at the standing redhead.
[21:11] <Kotono> Donald is starting to blush, but stands up and walks over to Elle. "I'll do it," he says, taking her hand. "Well, the truth is...we're..."
[21:12] <Kotono> "You're what? Siblings?" Saul calls back. "Spit it out."
[21:13] <Kotono> "We're courting each other," Elle finishes, turning redder and not rising to the bait. "For a couple of days now...we may as wellm ake it official."
[21:14] <Alicia> "Good for both of you," Alicia smiles, pouring some wine into her mostly emptied coconut shell to use as an impromptu glass which she raises in toast. "May Sune bless your union!"
01[21:14] <Seira> Having heard this earlier, Seira is hardly surprised, but she joins in on Alicia's toast, seizing the opportunity.
[21:15] <Kotono> "Sharess, too!" Latha calls, raising her own cup and giggling. "Don't forget Sharess!"
[21:15] <Kotono> As the two blaze red, "T-thanks," Elle murmurs, sitting back down.
[21:15] <Kotono> Dawnhope sighs, "Ah, young love...! Anyone else have anything to announce? This is fun!"
06[21:16] * Seira looks pointedly at Antenora.
[21:17] <Kotono> Antenora turns her half lidded gaze at Seira. "Yes?" she asks quite calmly.
01[21:17] <Seira> "Would you like to confess now?" Seira asks her. "You've been holding it in all day long, haven't you?"
[21:18] <Kotono> Donald looks at Antenora, scratching his head...and then looks at Alicia. He mouths 'oh'.
06[21:19] * Alicia looks curiously between Seira and Antenora, wondering where this is going.
[21:19] <Kotono> "Confess what?" Antenora says with calm sweetness.
01[21:20] <Seira> "You can't go to sleep without building the sandcastle to end all sandcastles! I know your dirty little secret!" Seira says in triumph.
[21:21] <Kotono> "...that's a new word for it..." Donald says, staring at Seira.
[21:21] <Alicia> Marie bursts out laughing. "She can't build a sandcastle without doing a ten page plan, first!"
01[21:21] <Seira> "But you have been planning all this time, haven't you?" Seira insists, peering at Antenora.
[21:21] <Kotono> "Oh...oh...oh!" Antenora t urns red as an apple, whirling onto Marie. "Lies! My planning is simply the steps requried to show you that planning is infinitely superior to haphazardly making it up as you go along!"
[21:22] <Kotono> "Wait, Marie...how would that...and building a sandcastle..." Donald mutters, "Is that even POSSIBLE?"
[21:22] <Kotono> "Shhh," Elle puts a hand over Donald's mouth.
01[21:23] <Seira> "As the neutral party here, I am fully qualified to judge any hypothetical contest," Seira volunteers. "Or join in and beat you both, since moderation trumps extremism every time!"
[21:24] <Alicia> "You need imagination to make a thing of true beauty! You need to follow the muse of creativity!" Marie insists, sitting up and clasping her hands over her bosom. "You need heart! You need soul!" she croons dramatically. "There's no room for dry empty plans in my world!"
01[21:26] <Seira> "The best outcome is from the marriage of planning and spontaineity!" Seira argues. "A solid foundation to ensure it stands firm and supports its own weight, the artistic design atop that to make certain it attracts the eye and captivates everyone! Only then do you have the perfect sandcastle!"
[21:26] <Alicia> "Now there's three of them..." Alicia moans into her drink.
[21:29] <Kotono> Jessica takes the bottle back, drinking down deep. "Sis...maybe this'll be amusing if we're drunk? I say we can at least find out and hope."
[21:29] <Kotono> "Both of those are completely wrong, and I'll prove it!" Antenora says, "Sandcastles at twenty paces!"
[21:30] <Alicia> "That's probably the best idea," Alicia agrees, pouring more into her coconut as Marie stands up and glares at Antenora.
[21:30] <Alicia> "You're on! I beat you before and I'll beat you again!" she insists hotly.
[21:30] <Kotono> "You lost last time!" Antenora challenges right back, "And you'll lose again! You and your little Seira, too!"
[21:31] <Kotono> Throwing her hands up, "I'll show you why an ordered view is the right one!"
[21:31] <Kotono> Watching all of this, Saul starts to laugh. He goes for his own drink, "This happened before?" he asks Alicia.
01[21:32] <Seira> "And that's why you'll lose!" Seira crows. "You've already lost sight of the target!"
[21:32] <Kotono> After amoment, "You  know," Saul calls out, "If you're going to do this, you should also make a wager. It makes things mor einteresting."
[21:32] <Alicia> "It's like their own mini Blood War," Alicia nods, sighing.
[21:33] <Kotono> "It's like a microcosm of living with them. It's like they're an old married couple bickering over dinner." Jessica swigs down another drink, "Law chaos...law chas...law chaos! All day long when it gets bad!"
[21:33] <Alicia> "What should we wager, then?" Marie asks, sizing up Seira and Antenora in turn.
[21:33] <Kotono> Antenora has her hands on her hips, "Something you don't mind losing to me?"
06[21:34] * Seira looks back confidently, but Antenora's words make her laugh.
[21:34] <Alicia> "Losers have to act as maids for the winner for all of tomorrow!" Marie snaps, pointing at them both.
[21:35] <Kotono> "I think I'll second that drink," Saul says, "I can understand good and evil, but law and chaos? It's like arguing about how to arrainge a room: A pointless waste o ftime."
[21:35] <Kotono> "Fine!" Antenora snaps right back, "You still have your outfit I bought you, Marie?"
06[21:35] * Alicia just shakes her head as Antenora tells everyone about her habit of dressing up the courre.
01[21:35] <Seira> It sounds like fun, so she'll probably dress as one regardless of outcome. "You're on! Now we need an impartial judge-- ah, Dad, how about you?"
[21:36] <Kotono> "...." Saul watches them, "Alicia, you have the strangest celestial...me?" Blinking, "Very well." He stands up, taking one of the bottles with him.
[21:36] <Alicia> "As if I'll need it," Marie laughs, flouncing over to an empty part of the beach to get to work.
[21:36] <Alicia> "Why doesn't everyone judge?" Alicia suggests. "We can all give marks out of ten and total them up to see who wins?"
[21:36] <Kotono> "...." Jessica sighs again, "Alicia, sometimes I wonder what people think of our home."
01[21:36] <Seira> "But it means far more people to bribe!" Seira complains.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Exactly. If there's bribing, I'm going to be the one being bribed, thank you," Saul calls back. "Now then, why don't the three of you get started?"
[21:37] <Alicia> "It means you can't all focus your resentment on one person," Alicia counters easily.
[21:37] <Kotono> Antenora humphs, "Fine! Everyone or one person judges, it won't change how good mine is!"
[21:37] <Alicia> "But if you want to accept all their hatred for yourself, Lord Saul, by all means..."
[21:37] <Kotono> "I'm used to it," Saul calls back, "Let them do what they will."
06[21:39] * Seira picks an area with the kind of sand suitable for her plans, already going through and rejecting designs!
[21:39] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and make craft checks? All of you are untrained in sandcastle making, so it's a straight int check. Remember none of you have gear on.
[21:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Antenora hope for a 20!
[21:39] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 Antenora hope for a 20! --> [ 1d20=7 ]{9}
[21:39] <Alicia> Kneeling down, Marie starts gathering sand to form the base, her petite fingers working artistically over the sand to create intricate designs and fine detail on her stereotypical fairy-tale castle of many spires and arches.
[21:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 Marie relies on the luck of chaos
[21:39] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+1 Marie relies on the luck of chaos --> [ 1d20=19 ]{20}
[21:40] <Kotono> Antenora begins to work and plan, lining everything up just so and taking her time!
06[21:41] * Seira follows through with a fairly boring arrangement of the foundations, picking a castle she's most familiar with, but as soon as she has the basics down, she begins to draw more and more inspiration from her surroundings, as the castle begins to take on a character of its own, built solely for the friends spending this evening with her.
01[21:42] <Seira> roll 1d20+9 I actually have my circlet since losing it means losting spells, but sure, I'll roll without it
[21:42] <Rei-chan> Seira rolled : 1d20+9 I actually have my circlet since losing it means losting spells, but sure, I'll roll without it --> [ 1d20=18 ]{27}
[21:43] <Kotono> It's not Antenora's day. For all her work, nothing really shapes up well. She works frantically to recoup, but nothing quite stays in place! Marie does a fine job, this way and that! Her sandcastle is excellent, airy and well done...but yet Seira's is outstanding! A draconic themed castle, precise and yet flowing, going with it's own notions.  When it's finally over, the sun set and the fire providing light to see, Saul paces around all of them. "Alright." He
[21:43] <Kotono> When it's finally over, the sun set and the fire providing light to see, Saul paces around all of them. "Alright." He step sback, "I've decided the winner."
[21:44] <Kotono> Antenora is covered with sand all over, sweaty and frantic. She looks at her own effort and then the other two, biting he rlip.
[21:45] <Alicia> Marie seems quite confident, smirking at Antenora's sorry effort. But the sight of Seira's masterpiece works the smile from her lips in a hurry.
[21:48] <Kotono> Saul claps his hands together. "I have to say, Seira's is the best. I suppose it's because she had motivation...she does seem to like maids." Looking over Marie and Antenora, "The outfit will look smashing on both of you."
06[21:48] * Seira blushes. "Well, who doesn't?!" she exclaims.
[21:49] <Alicia> Marie sighs and glares half-heartedly at Antenora. "At least I still get to see you suffer," she looks on the bright side.
[21:49] <Kotono> Antenora looks at her effort and emits a silent sigh before returning the look to Marie. "At least you'll be doing the same thing with me."
06[21:49] * Seira pats Antenora's shoulder to gain her attention. "Maybe you can make a little compromise next time? I'm sure it'll make all the difference."
[21:50] <Alicia> "Until tomorrow, then... mistress," Marie gives Seira a wink before she flounces over to join Alicia and help herself to some wine.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Well, what are yo ugoing to make them do?" Donald calls, "I think having a pair of maid girls in really short skirts and nothing els ewould be great here! Really exotic!"
01[21:50] <Seira> "You're right, Donald. Want to be the third maid girl?"
[21:52] <Kotono> Antenora sighs, "Thanks..." Drawing herself up and with a sultry smile, "Why thank you, Mistress," she purrs, "I live to serve you." With a wink she smiles and trots off, getting a bottle and working on draining it down.
[21:52] <Kotono> "I'm good," Donald calls right back.
06[21:52] * Seira returns the winks, smiling coquettishly.
[21:54] <Kotono> Thus drink continues to flow! Laughter fills the air as more and more is consumed! Kicking her feet near the fire, Amaryl looks up, "Say...did any of you feel bad for the Neverborn?"
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02[21:54] * Alicia (WinNT@95.146.1.230) Quit (Killed (NickServ (GHOST command used by Adahn)))
03[21:55] * Adahn is now known as Alicia
03[21:55] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Alicia
02[21:56] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@95.146.1.230) Quit (Ping timeout)
[21:56] <Alicia> "Sort of," Alicia allows. "It should never have been brought into existence that way. If it was never meant to be born, fair enough, but surely its birth could have been prevented without turning it into an undead abomination." She knocks back some more wine, "Not that it excuses any of its actions."
[21:57] <Kotono> "It...I think most evil has something to pity about them," Antenora drains down more wine, a blush ot her cheeks and words a bit slurred. "I was so pathetic...trying to tempt souls...and Alicia...with emptiness. The Neverborn never had a chance to be what it should have been...but pity doesn't mean you can excuse evil."
[21:58] <Kotono> "It was not the only creature at fault. Slaying it was a mercy," Latha says with a glowing smile - literally, sunshine coming from her lips. "I pitied it's final words. A nightmare to the end, but one..."
03[21:59] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@95.146.3.111) has joined #dunes
03[21:59] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
01[21:59] <Seira> "It wasn't his fault he became what he was," Seira admits. "But I don't know if I should feel bad. He could feel sorrow and pain, yet still inflicted it on others without hesitation. Should I be sorry because Ao made an unfair, heartless decision, because his parents abandoned him?
[22:00] <Kotono> "Sometimes..." Amaryl looks down and quiet, "I wonder if the God-King was onto something," She sips at her own drink, words still mostly clear. "For all the peaks, the valleys of existance are so deep...wipe it away and make a better existance."
01[22:00] <Seira> Even if the world itself was turned against him, it doesn't excuse--" Seira pauses. "I just don't know. I'm rambling."
[22:01] <Kotono> "With enough pain, anyone will do anything. Pain Devils love that phrase." Antenora hics and takes another long drink. "I can't imagine the misery and torment that child was in. I...I just think...maybe, if someone loved it, this could have been averted."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Then it would have been born as a demonspawn at best." Latha smiles warmly, "Slaying it was the only reasonable mercy. Let oblivion be it's comfort, it's mother and it's father."
01[22:02] <Seira> "And if the God-King fought against Ao, I probably wouldn't have minded," Seira admits. "But that's not what he did, so I don't think he was onto anything in particular. He was a greedy, vicious mage who lost himself to power and cruelty. His deeds are far more terrible than the Neverborn's."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Not like Malcanthet gave a damn," Antenora spits out, "Demons. Worthless trash. She'd probably fuck it and then mock it away."
[22:03] <Alicia> "It never really had a chance," Alicia swirls her coconut around. "It just seems so arbitrary, though. The Neverborn was prevented from being born because it would have been a terrible demon god? So why is letting it exist as a terrible undead abomination any better?"
01[22:03] <Seira> "Shar's such a nice, cuddly goddess, too," Seira adds bitterly.
[22:04] <Kotono> "That's the image I'm going to drink to forget," Saul raises his glass at Antenora. "I can't comprehend the normal Gods, let alone one who stands over them. It's like a fly moaning the choices of an archmage: meaningless, because it'll never understand."
[22:04] <Kotono> "Ah, bullshit," Donald leans back against Elle, the two snuggling together. "I understand how much the children of Androlynne suffered. I understand the celestials who died to save them."
01[22:04] <Seira> "I only really need to understand it on a level it concerns me. As long as Ao's actions directly affect me and mine, I'll damn well judge him by what way I can."
[22:05] <Kotono> "It never had a chance...there wasn't one." Jessica agrees. "Yet just being with Roald makes all of this seem insignifigant. Maybe we really don't have the perspective to see this. Maybe the demonspawn would have done so much more harm that this was the good choice?"
01[22:06] <Seira> "When I'm an all-powerful archdeity," Seira proclaims, "I'll make sure the good choice really is a choice which is good."
[22:06] <Kotono> "Yeah," Antenora looks to Seira, "Mistress, you're right about that. Excuses don't mean that evil isn't evil."
[22:06] <Alicia> "It's depressing, though, isn't it? To know of the existence of such a being that enforces such whimsical judgements upon creation that not even the Gods we devote ourselves to, or the highest paragons of the planes, can oppose it. I'd be happier if I never knew of Ao's existence."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Yeah, but wouldn't it have been better to just snuff it out all in one go rather than make it into an incredibly powerful undead?" Marie asks Jessica.
06[22:07] * Seira raises a glass to toast Marie's simple yet efficient argument.
[22:07] <Kotono> "I wonder why we do know about it and the Arbiter...or both...or whatever's going on there," Antenora waves her hand, scooting over next to Alicia. "Why is such a being known to us? If it's so above us, why let us even worry about this?"
[22:08] <Kotono> "I know..." Jessica sighs, drinking down and wiping a few tears away. "There's surely some reason, but we don't know it."
[22:09] <Alicia> "This took a decidedly maudlin turn," Alicia asserts. "Lets play another game. Anyone have any ideas?"
[22:09] <Kotono> "Something fun," Antenora voices.
[22:10] <Kotono> "We're all at least halfway off our bar stools, so it's a good time for something creative and drunk!" Elle sits up, "Dares, attached to something?"
[22:10] <Kotono> "Didn't you suggest that before," Donald looks to her, a handa round her.
[22:10] <Kotono> "Well yes, but it's a good idea!" Elle retorts swiftly.
01[22:10] <Seira> "This reminds me of that matter with Esthan and Helm," Seira says suddenly. "And there can certainly be plausible reasons for having an evil counterpart, and making arrangements to deal with them. But at the end of the day, Esthan's been defeated and taken prisoner.
01[22:10] <Seira> What I'm taking from this, is that we can make an actual change, and shift the balance over to good, if only we make the attempt, and ancient agreements made by others to stay on the sidelines be damned."
[22:11] <Alicia> "I think Elle really wants to make some of us do things," Alicia eyes her suspiciously. "Still, I'm game. Why don't you get us started, Elle?"
06[22:11] * Seira looks embarrassed as the topic switches to dare, and shrinks in on herself. "Or we could embarrass ourselves with alcohol."
[22:11] <Kotono> "Marie's the one good at that," Antenora waves at the pixie-alike. "And you're right again, Mistress," Nearly purring, "I like the way you think."
[22:11] <Alicia> "It's not tomorrow yet, you suck up!" Marie cries at Antenora.
[22:12] <Kotono> Antenora sticks her tongue out at Marie.
[22:12] <Kotono> Giggling back and forth, "Seeeira," Sing-songing that. "Apperentence, I have a dare for you!"
01[22:12] <Seira> "You're allowed to call me Mistress and even dress as maids outside the agreed upon time as well," Seira says magnanimously. She then turns to give Elle her full attention. "Of course!"
[22:13] <Kotono> "I dare you to tell us all the people you've ever had crushes on!" With more giggles, "Did you have one on the brooding vampire? I bet you did!"
[22:14] <Kotono> "She's really drunk, or can't hold it," Jessica murmurs under her breath.
06[22:14] * Seira flushes, ducking her head. "No, not on him..." she admits. "I viewed him as my fated nemesis, and was really looking forward to the moment I had proof of his villainy to confront him in an epic battle for the ages."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Sorry," Alicia tells Seira, not sounding all that sincere.
[22:15] <Kotono> "I remember him...asshole," Donald grouses, "The reason I rode into Balmuria."
[22:15] <Kotono> Elle nods, "Well, he got what was coming to him at least. Well, who then?"
06[22:17] * Seira shrugs. "It happens. I got to send Irenes to a lifetime of hateful pain, so that was nice." She peers back at Elle inquisitively. "Did you have any particular reason to ask me? Some lingering feelings, perchance?"
[22:17] <Kotono> Elle turns red, "N-no! It's just a fun dare!" She holds her hands up, "I bet you get crushes on everyone!"
01[22:18] <Seira> "Not everyone!"
[22:18] <Kotono> "Just the pretty girls, Mistress?" Antenora says as she starts to grin widely.
[22:19] <Kotono> Dawnhope flie sover, perching on Seira's head. "It's okay. It's normal to feel like that for a lot of people!"
01[22:19] <Seira> "If you must know, the Commander." Seira sighs. "He never noticed, even till this day! It is so mortifying! I was oh so very obvious about it...."
[22:20] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia's eyes widen. "I had no idea!"
[22:20] <Kotono> "...really?" Donald repeats that at the same time as Alicia. "Wow."
[22:20] <Kotono> "I thought you might," Elle says, smirking as she leans into Donald. "There's a good reason, too."
01[22:21] <Seira> "He saved my life, and I joined the first class for the Guard right after," Seira then says, removing the mystery from it. "I was also, what... thirteen?"
[22:21] <Alicia> "Talk about your early starts..." Marie shakes her head in surprise at Seira's hidden past being revealed.
[22:22] <Kotono> "Entirely normal." Saul's voice is light and warm, "You could have chosen worse. He's a brute of a human, but he's stron genough to protect you. If you need protecting."
[22:23] <Kotono> "Oh, you like men too?" Dawnhope smiles, "You're like an eladrin at heart!"
[22:23] <Kotono> Amaryl starts blushing very very  much.
[22:23] <Kotono> Jessica smiles warmly, "A childhood crush! It's the stuff of stories!"
01[22:24] <Seira> "I couldn't defend myself well against groups, back then," Seira says with another shrug. "How about a similar question, only to Marie? Is there anything to all the teasing I keep on seeing from your direction... towards everyone, really?"
[22:24] <Kotono> "Sure," Elle agrees, "The person who answers gets to ask the next one."
[22:26] <Alicia> "Aww, you want me to pierce my own aura of mystery," Marie pouts. "Well, it's mostly just how I am. But most of the people I tease that way are really nice, so if it gets their attention then it's good for both of us!"
01[22:28] <Seira> "So you're fishing!" Seira exclaims, laughing. "I wish you the best of luck!"
[22:28] <Kotono> "Mostly?" Donald calls, "Hiding a real flame in there, Marie?"
[22:28] <Kotono> Hugo listens, "Flame..." He shrugs before yawning and curling up near the fire.
[22:29] <Alicia> "You won't need luck tomorrow," Marie grins back at Seira, before scanning her gaze around at everyone else, waggling a finger at Donald. "Now, now, it's not your turn to ask any questions. But just for that - Donald! Tell us about your first kiss!"
06[22:29] * Alicia scoots over and puts a hand on Hugo's back, gently rocking him as he settles down to sleep.
[22:31] <Kotono> Donald smiles, "It was back at the seminary...I was...8? 9? There was a girl who came with the milkmaid. Her name was Sylvia. She had these buck teeth...I kept staring at them." Laughing with a rueful grin, "So one day I asked her to play doctor!"
[22:32] <Kotono> "She agreed and I wanted to see her mouth, and she said grown ups do that, but they do it by getting mouths close together." Donald's smile is soft now, "What happened next was really weird. It wasn't all you'd think. Just...kind of wet and smelling like oats and porridge. But after that she cried and ran off."
01[22:33] <Seira> "Donald, making girls cry since he was nine. In a bad way."
[22:33] <Kotono> "He's a natural," Abagail says with resigned mirth, raising her glass to him.
06[22:34] * Seira leans over to touch her glass to Abagail's before settling back.
[22:34] <Alicia> "Start as you mean to go on," Marie snickers.
[22:35] <Kotono> "Thank you," Donald bows, then after a few moments, "Alicia, tell us a secret about yourself. Something juicy - don't chicken out."
06[22:36] * Alicia blinks. "Any secret? You don't want to narrow it down at all?" she clarifies.
01[22:36] <Seira> "It's Donald, so he surely means a sexy secret."
[22:36] <Kotono> "Something good! Something that'll be a bit scandalous and make us laugh! Not something stupid or smug!" Donald calls, "You know what juicy means!"
01[22:36] <Seira> "See?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "It's like he's making up for no other men being around," Amaryl mutters to Seira.
06[22:39] * Seira laughs, and eyes her father, excusing Hugo from this scrutiny.
06[22:40] * Alicia coughs, her cheeks tinting red. "I posed as a prostitute in Tash, once," she begins simply. "I didn't actually do anything!" she then hastens to add, "But I had to keep up appearances where people could see me. There was this serial killer and I was trying to catch him..." she trails off lamely, looking down between her knees and blushing.
[22:41] <Kotono> "Ah. G'renna must have sensed that," Antenora says with a smug sagacity.
[22:42] <Kotono> "Wow..." Looking Alicia over, Jessica boggles. "I can't imagine that."
[22:42] <Alicia> "Ouch, that's a dagger in the back," Marie briefly glares at Antenora, before cracking a smile. "It's a funny image, though. Did you get many would-be customers?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "Everyone does strange things when there's need," Elle murmurs, "Or not does, in this case!"
01[22:43] <Seira> "I could!" Seira exclaims. "It's easy, you just take Alicia and overlay the hooker clothes over her and I will shut up now."
[22:43] <Kotono> "I'd be more worired if she didn't," Antenora starts to laugh, "Alicia is a gorgeous, gorgeous woman."
[22:43] <Kotono> "This is why I wish I had illusion magic," Donald sighs dramatically, getting a thwap on the head from Elle.
[22:44] <Kotono> "It's true. Succubi are the paragons of prostitution. They can sense one from across a plane. Even acting like one probably gets them interested in you." Antenora says, Erinyes, if they have to deal with that, use control and taste instead."
[22:44] <Alicia> "I got enough," Alicia mutters, shaking her head. "I only had to do it for a few days, at least. Anyway! Moving on!" She looks up and looks between everyone. "Hmm... Amaryl," she settles on the elven princess, "Your family must have arranged a few suitors for you over the years. Tell us about the worst one!"
[22:45] <Alicia> "But a business transaction like that sounds far more lawful..." Marie remarks innocently as she stares at Antenora.
[22:46] <Kotono> Amaryl turns very red. "...not...not as much as yo uwould think. Because I ended up Scion to the surprise of everyone, my situation was unique."
06[22:46] * Seira is tempted to ask Antenora if she meant the control and taste literally, but this question draws her attention far more.
[22:47] <Alicia> "Worst date, then?" Alicia offers sensing this well to be dry.
01[22:47] <Seira> "Everyone was just too intimidated or too old?" Seira adds curiously.
[22:49] <Kotono> "In theory, you can't make a scion ...well, it's complicated." Amaryl says, "That one I can answer, though! Heyer Salharp. He wanted to takem e to the blossoming of the roses one year...and insisted on going, een in a torrential downpour. He was rude, terrible and I went home soaking wet! His parents m ust have hired a troll to teach him manners!"
06[22:49] * Alicia laughs at Amaryl's pique, finding this answer entertaining enough to justify the question.
[22:49] <Kotono> "See, the troll's to teach you combat, not manners. Trolls can fight!" Donald rubs the back of his head, "Not that one really keeps up with me anymore."
01[22:50] <Seira> "I'm sure a spell or two could fix that on the troll's side...."
[22:51] <Kotono> "Hmm..." Amaryl looks about, settling on Latha. "Latha, are all celestials as...well...pretty as you?" With a heavy blush, "Your body is captivating."
[22:52] <Kotono> Latha's relaxed smile crooks higher, "We are. We are born without the marring and imperfections mortals strive and overcome. We are stronger, faster, tougher...and more beautiful thana ll but a few mortals. Remember, most of us were mortal long ago."
01[22:53] <Seira> "So asking Waukeen to make us her divine servants is the same as asking her to give us a makeover?"
[22:53] <Kotono> "It's why there's half-celestials, too!" Saul observes, "That beauty isn't unappreciated."
[22:54] <Alicia> "If you're good you get to be a charming celestial, if you're bad you get to be a flabby fiend~" Marie sing-songs. "Unless you end up as an erinyes or succubus, I guess... but they just try to copy how nice we are!"
01[22:54] <Seira> "Oh! Oh! Latha, please ask Dad if that is an idle comment, or based on his admiration of a certain celestial!"
[22:55] <Kotono> "A spiritual and physical remake, yes. Alicia has begun hers at Mystra's hands." With a slight nod to the paladin, "Hmmm. Very well Saul, that."
[22:55] <Kotono> Saul just smiles, "There's nothing to it. Why, your frail and fragile old man is too old for that sort of fancy, wouldn't you say, Seira? Or do you want a brother or sister?"
[22:56] <Kotono> "Not quite, Erinyes are special," Antenora glances sideways at Marie, "You don't incarnate into one. Beth...nevermind, it's not important. Just think of the pretty celestials, Marie."
01[22:56] <Seira> "You've been evading me about Honeydip ever since that party! I don't believe you!" Seira pauses, tilting her head. "And I actually would want one, yes, but that's irrelevant to the question!"
[22:57] <Kotono> "Ah. I'll remember that." Turning to Marie, "Go ahead and take my dare, I need to get up for a few minutes." Saul rises, "I'll be back soon, go on without me."
[22:59] <Alicia> "He's awfully secretive, isn't he?" Marie remarks, thinking as she's once again given the dare to play with. She turns to Abagail who's yet to be called on, "Abagail! Put all that book learning to good use and tell us the dirtiest joke you know!"
01[23:00] <Seira> "If I might interfere, might you ask something else?" Seira requests. "I've grown to dislike such jokes."
[23:01] <Kotono> "A noble lady doesn't know dirty jokes!" Abagail retorts, "What do you think I am, a low born strumpet? But, regardless of that, let's adhere to Seira's request here."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Oh, alright," Marie relents. "Hmm... you're a summoner, aren't you? What's the most frivolous thing you've ever summoned a creature to help you with?"
01[23:02] <Seira> "Is this a way of asking Abagail whether she can summon the midtier fiends, yet?"
[23:04] <Alicia> "Well, I hope she doesn't summon fiends at all!" Marie replies quickly, "But I'm just hoping for a funny story like using a monkey to get a pot off a high shelf or something."
01[23:04] <Seira> "I thought it was just a sneaky continuation of your first request," Seira admits.
[23:05] <Kotono> "I had a summon get me a glass of water." Admitting this with a hearty blush, "It was raining and I didn't want to get my gown wet, even if a cantrip would dry it."
01[23:06] <Seira> "How about a cantrip to summon the water in the first place?" Seira wonders. "You have the ability to spontaneously call upon your spells, don't you?"
[23:06] <Alicia> "What mighty paragon of the outer planes did you call upon to aid you in this perilous quest?" Marie asks, giggling.
[23:07] <Kotono> "I had used it already." Scratching at her head, "A mephit."
[23:07] <Kotono> After a few moments, "Donald, do you like people thinking you're an uncultured boor?"
[23:09] <Alicia> "It's worked for him so far," Alicia remarks, nodding her head towards Elle.
01[23:09] <Seira> "Some people just like to tackle on grand, epic projects."
[23:09] <Kotono> "Sure, it's fine." Donald smiles a little, "It's fun to do...all of you take things so seriously!" With a look, "There's times and reasons to, but all of it..." With a shrug, "Besides, some of it is way too easy."
[23:09] <Kotono> "We all have our weaknesses," Elle curls deeper into Donald with a happy smile.
[23:11] <Kotono> "Oh?" With a look at Donald, Jessica half-mock glares. "What's too easy?
01[23:13] <Seira> "He goes out of his way to be a pain, sometimes."
06[23:13] * Seira blinks. "What, you didn't know?"
[23:13] <Kotono> "Everything." Donald points to each in turn, "Seira's so worried about this or that and can't take even a simple joke sometimes, Amaryl's so shy and easy to provoke about anything elven and me that it's like taking candy from a goblin, Antenora and Alicia...I don't know what you call it, but you two look closer than the Amaryl and Seira, Saul's a sarcastic old man without much patience, Latha...well...Latha's okay, Abagail's prissy...those are the easy ones,
[23:13] <Kotono> Abagail's prissy...those are the easy ones, I think."
06[23:14] * Seira would nod at the part about Antenora's attitude towards Alicia, but she's not that drunk yet.
[23:14] <Kotono> "I prefer grumpy," Saul returns, sitting down by himself.
[23:15] <Alicia> "That's a horrible thing to say about Seira and Amaryl," Alicia reprimands Donald. "Antenora and I are close friends, but it's an entirely different sort of relationship."
[23:16] <Kotono> Antenora turns faintly red, "I love Alicia...but not like that. You wouldn't even begin to appreciate how much I owe her!"
01[23:16] <Seira> "And here Donald demonstrates that it's not all feigned," Seira says in an attempt to calm things down. "Just pick someone to be next?"
[23:16] <Kotono> Making a pfft sound with his tongue, "Please. Oh Alicia," With a high pitched, thin voice, "I dedicate myself to you!" In a slightly deeper voice, "Oh Antenora, I'll save you from Hell!"
[23:17] <Alicia> "I do not sound like that," Alicia complains petulantly.
[23:17] <Kotono> Latha looks at Donald with a cocked head, "You would think the most powerful women in the Prime would occur more respect from you?"
[23:17] <Kotono> "Do too." With wide, starry eyes and that voice again, "You two give each other these looks and talk just like this...oh Alicia...oh Antenora...oh Alicia...Oh Antenora...OH ALICIA! OH ANTENORA!" Going back and forth, "Come on now."
[23:18] <Kotono> Amaryl scoots several feet back and away from Donald.
[23:18] <Kotono> "Dear," Elle sits up, "I think you're going a lot too far. Quiet now." With a note of sharpness in her words, "Now."
01[23:18] <Seira> "Moments like this, I wish I could teleport away," Seira mutters to Amaryl in embarrassment, among other things. "And hey, I can. Wanna come with?"
[23:19] <Alicia> "Now you're just making things up to fit your perverted worldview," Alicia scoffs.
[23:20] <Kotono> "You're just jealous," Antenora crosses her arms and grumps. "For Mystra's sake, if we were interested in that, you think we would have done that by now?"
[23:20] <Kotono> Donald starts to speak, but Elle clamps over his mouth. "Im' sorry you too. Alicia, why don't you take the next one?"
06[23:22] * Alicia sighs at the easy cameraderie they'd been enjoying moments ago being disrupted so thoroughly by Donald's shit-stirring. "Jessica," she turns to her thus far neglected sister, "What's the nicest thing Roald's ever done for you?" Yes, it's a saccharine softball question, but hopefully it'll lighten the mood.
[23:25] <Kotono> "Hmm..." Jessica starts to smile, "He...he supported me in my change. He gave up his mortal life so that I wouldn't have a divided heart and so that all I could care about is protected."
[23:26] <Alicia> "Awww," both Marie and Alicia smile sappily.
[23:26] <Kotono> Antenora smiles warmly, "That's so romantic!"
06[23:26] * Seira doesn't have the full story, there, but decides it must be properly romantic indeed.
[23:26] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes and curls up next to Seira, "That's just perfect!"
[23:28] <Kotono> "I love him." With that, Jessica considers before turning to Amaryl. "This is for Seira too, but what's it like being in constant contact wth each other?"
06[23:30] * Seira has been expecting a question like that, really, and so her answer is fairly ready. "It might mean something else to Amaryl, but to me, it means I am never, ever alone. I can't be left alone, no matter the opposition, or the trouble I get into. I always have someone there for me. It means the world, and I couldn't live without that."
[23:31] <Kotono> "I always have someone to talk to, to lean on...for confidence and support. I...I couldn't live with that, either. Seira's always just a thought away." Amaryl blushes.
06[23:33] * Seira decides to add, "For those who don't fully know how the spell works, it's not the same as not having privacy or a thought of my own. It's rather... like a door you can always open and talk through."
[23:33] <Kotono> "Mmm....this is running nice, but...what about dares of actually DOING things," Elle speaks up now, "It's all secrets, and some variety is good too."
[23:33] <Alicia> "Don't you ever get sick of it and want some privacy, though?" Alicia asks curiously. It sounds nice the way they say it, but it can't be roses all the time!
01[23:34] <Seira> "If you mean some quiet time for myself, we sometimes ask for that," Seira muses. "But no. I really don't want to be alone, ever."
[23:35] <Kotono> "It's that. We can take time, but..." Amaryl shakes her head. Then with a quizzial look to Elle, "Like what?"
01[23:36] <Seira> "How about you make Elle reenact her first meeting with me, playing both parts?" Seira suggests to Amaryl. "She seems so earnest and willing!"
[23:36] <Kotono> "Something interesting! Something...that isn't justinner feelings! Come on, something spicy! Some meat next to your potatoes!" Waving a hand, "Think up something!"
[23:38] <Kotono> Amaryl thinks for some time, "...I'm not very good at that," she admits, "Seira, you try instead?Do that one or another one?"
01[23:39] <Seira> "Okay, since it's up to me... Marie, tell us about the most outrageous person you flirted with, only act it out and use magic to illustrate the rest for us?"
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[23:45] <Alicia> "To be honest, the devil over there is probably the most outrageous person for any eladrin to be flirting with," Marie admits with a gesture over at Antenora. "But you all know her, so instead I'll tell you all about Nexumbra, the brass dragon who wants me to bear his children in a hundred year's time, instead!"
[23:45] <Alicia> She bounces to her feet and reverts to fairy size, conjuring an illusion of a massive brass dragon sitting by the shoreline and looming over the party, a playful expression on its wyrm-like features as Marie flutters besides it and roleplays both sides of their long and rambling conversation together, deepening her voice for all the dragon parts.
[23:45] <Alicia> "Do you like dragons? Half dragons with celestial blood make superb heroic champions, you know, and one with eladrin blood would have a good sense of humor while opposing all that's wrong in creation!"
[23:45] <Alicia> "IT would be so much better than some stuffy angel who's more worried about this or that, or an archon who would rather spend a few lifetimes reading a law book!"
06[23:46] * Alicia puts her head in her hands. "They just would not shut up, either of them," she mutters, recalling that conversation.
[23:46] <Kotono> "I'm hurt," Antenora sniffles, "You choose a dragon to flirt with over me?"
[23:46] <Kotono> Jessica shivers, "Mystra's throne...I...pray that the draogn never comes here!"
01[23:47] <Seira> "I'll flirt with you," Seira promises comfortingly, reaching out to Antenora.
[23:47] <Alicia> "Oh, don't be like that!" Marie dismisses the illusion and goes to rejoin the campfire. "He was a real sweetheart!"
[23:47] <Kotono> "Mistress is nicer than you," Antenora turns away.
[23:48] <Kotono> "A brass dragon...half celestial...a curious mix." Elle shakes her head, "Insane. Well, you're up, Marie, choose someone."
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[23:54] <Alicia> "Hmm," Marie considers, trying to think of a good dare. Inspiration strikes, and she steals Alicia's coconut, before pouring a bit of every single drink present into it. "I dare you to drink the witch's brew!" she cackles, presenting it to the redhead. "No sipping it, all in one go!"
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[23:54] <Kotono> "Wow..." Elle stares at the drink, "Sure, why not?" With that she drinks it right down!
[23:54] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[23:55] <Kotono> OOC: Can we get a miko up in here?
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[23:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
[23:56] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{16}
[23:56] <Kotono> Elle coughs and hacks after! He eyes widen and she starts to giggle! "..w...woaaaaah..." she breaths, wobbling as she holds onto Donald. "That's..." Gasping for air, "Intense!"
[23:57] <Alicia> Marie laughs and applauds Elle's courage! "Good job!"
[23:57] <Kotono> Antenora chuckles, "She's completely drunk now, I think."
01[23:58] <Seira> "Elle is a true champion," Seira says sagely.
[23:58] <Kotono> Elle grins, then, "Then I dare everyone to drink the s-same! Woah...let's all...get complete...drunk!"
01[23:58] <Seira> "This leads to a drunken orgy, so my offer to teleport away still stands," Seira tells Amaryl.
[23:58] <Alicia> "Challenge accepted!" Marie giggles as she starts mixing up more deadly drinks!
Session Time: Thu Dec 24 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Kotono> Amaryl just blushes hotly. Antenora looks to Alicia, "Going to partake?"
[00:00] <Kotono> Donald waves Marie over, "May as well go all the way!"
[00:00] <Kotono> Latha shakes her head, "I'll pass."
[00:01] <Alicia> "It's mean to only have Elle do it, but I'm not going to down it like that," Alicia replies as Donald is provided with his drink. "There's no point getting completely out of our heads."
[00:01] <Kotono> Donald guns it all down, falling back after! "Aaah...wow...uh..."
[00:02] <Kotono> "Thenlet's take the shots together?" Antenora offers, crawling over to Alicia.
01[00:02] <Seira> "I suppose I can ask Lagann to painfully hurt Donald if he gets out of hand," Seira muses with doubt in her voice, reaching for a drink after all. "Don't say I didn't warn you all!"
[00:02] <Kotono> As this goes on, "S-since I drunk it first," Donald calls up, "Seira! Give someone a good dare!"
06[00:03] * Alicia takes the drink provided by Marie and sips once, before pursing her lips in distaste. There's no escaping the taste of alcohol there... Yuck.
06[00:05] * Seira downs her own drink in one gulp, tilts her head and peers at Latha inquisitively. "Thoughts of you streaking come to mind...." She sways, before shaking her head, only swaying harder as a result. "I dare you to cuddle with the person you feel closest to, in whatever degree of innocence you'd like."
[00:07] <Kotono> Antenora takes her own drinks, opting to simply slam them down fast. She grimaces after the first one, less after that.
[00:08] <Kotono> "Well..." Latha considers, looking about everyone. "My body or my love?" With a faint, little smile, "It's difficult to choose between a few people. Do you care if I have to think about it? I'm very fond of Alicia, Marie, Jessica and Antenora. I spend a lot of time with them."
[00:09] <Kotono> "S-Seira..." Amaryl looks up from her own drink and MArie bringing it along, turning red, "Just because...I mentioned it...in front of everyone?"
[00:10] <Kotono> Meanwhile Hugo sleeps peacefully by the fire, at rest and unaware of what happens. Saul is quiet - in fact, if one looks, he's left his spot, out of sight. Donald nad Elle are giggling and watching, lying back. Abagail's quiet, watching for now.
01[00:11] <Seira> "You can spend your time cuddling with them all," Seira offers, before glancing at Amaryl. "What? Oh. No. A party on the beach just seems to call for it, you know? And Latha wouldn't drink...."
06[00:11] * Alicia smiles back at Latha, debating whether to use a cantrip to improve the taste of her drink, but deciding against it. Alcohol is supposed to taste bad and she shouldn't cheat that. Another gulp goes down and another curdle of her lips before she decides she just can't take any more, putting her drink aside.
[00:11] <Kotono> "W-well, if you wanted us naked, you shouldn't have invited Donald and your father!" Amaryl pouts, cutely frowning at Seira.
06[00:12] * Seira points an accusing finger vaguely in Alicia's direction.
[00:12] <Kotono> Latha goes over to Marie, curling up next to her, clinging. She rests and closes her eyes, "That means I'm up with a dare now?"
01[00:12] <Seira> "Yes, but be nice! I was!"
[00:12] <Alicia> "No one's going to get naked around Hugo," Alicia speaks up defensively, hovering over the slumbering hybrid.
[00:13] <Alicia> "Awww!" Marie hugs back, "Make it a good one, even if most people aren't paying attention anymore!"
[00:13] <Kotono> "There's nothing sinful about the body," Latha says from her position on Marie, "Only what you do with it."
01[00:14] <Seira> "Sure, I'll buy that," Seira agrees with a shrug, shuffling over to hug Amaryl. "Latha says it's okay," she stage-whispers.
[00:15] <Kotono> Latha considers for a few, "That dare was a little more...mature than the others. Do you really want to go in that direction with these?" Latha asks about. "Or drunk enough to want to?"
01[00:15] <Seira> "I tried to prevent it, but I've resigned to this cursed fate."
[00:16] <Alicia> "I don't and I'm not," Alicia shakes her head. "Besides, half of us have wandered off or passed out. I think we can call the game at this point."
[00:16] <Kotono> "That's wisest," Latha agrees, "Unless you really want to get naked?" With a half teasing smile to Seira, "Even if not...you have two maids tomorrow if you want to look at those sort of things."
03[00:17] * Cid_Samson is now known as Sierra_Comatose
01[00:17] <Seira> "Nah, I was just kidding," Seira admits. "It's really not the same if there's even a chance you're not in your right mind, you know?"
[00:17] <Alicia> "We'll do anything you say for tomorrow," Marie smiles sweetly, but it then turns predatory, "The day after, though... well, you better hope you haven't mistreated your maids too badly!" she trails off into giggles.
[00:17] <Kotono> Antenora yawns, her face splitting, "Pr'bly. Seen me naked, all of you have. I mean, you've all seen me like that. Mystery's long gone. Know how every little part looks."
[00:19] <Kotono> "Aw," Amaryl says softly, "Too bad. All of you are so pretty..."
[00:19] <Kotono> "Let's get some sleep," Jessica says, "Sis, want to take a walk before bed?"
01[00:19] <Seira> "Let's take a raincheck," Seira says sleepily. "Another time, another beach...."
[00:20] <Alicia> "Sure," Alicia nods to her sister, gently patting Hugo one last time before she gets up, assuming Jessica has something she wants to talk about in private.
[00:21] <Kotono> "..night..." Antenora waves, curling up in the sand. Jessica stands, more or less stable on her feet. She starts to giggle, walking down the shore line. "C'mon, sis."
06[00:22] * Alicia trots along after Jessica, having imbibed in moderation tonight and merely merry rather than drunk as she catches up. "Something on your mind?"
[00:23] <Kotono> Once the fire is left behind, darkvision reigns. As you travel down the long, smooth beach, "My wedding. Roald and I want to move it along...the sooner the better. I...well...we want to stay chaste in Dweomerheart until we're officially married. So..."
[00:25] <Alicia> "So you want to get married as quickly as possible," Alicia concludes with a knowing smile. "Well, it's your decision more than anyone else's. Will you have the ceremony in Dweomerheart or Balmuria?"
[00:26] <Kotono> "Naeys said we can have it in Dweomerheart...there's a spell he can cast to reduce the effects of the realm, so it's not so enthralling to Roald's family." Smiling as you continue along, "So can you be prepared by then? Dresses, transportation, everything?"
[00:28] <Alicia> "Just give me a date," Alicia nods, smiling. "Speaking of family, what about our side?"
02[00:28] * Knight (~carthrat@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Quit: )
[00:29] <Kotono> "A week." A nod there, "We need to go home...Alicia, have you told mother and father about..." she takes a pluck at her wing, a white feather let loose to whirl into the sea.
[00:30] <Alicia> "Never really been a good time for it," Alicia admits. "But I suppose now's appropriate. We'll probably spend two more days here, then we'll get started on making preparations for everything. Mother would be horrified at doing it all so quickly," she giggles, "But it can be done if you're properly motivated."
[00:31] <Kotono> "Yes. As for these..." Flapping her wings, "How do you think she'll take it?"
[00:32] <Alicia> "Once it registers that we're not actually dead, as most people have to be before getting them?" Alicia asks dryly. "Probably be something to brag about to her friends."
[00:33] <Kotono> "...far too akin to my own thoughts." Jessica laughs, filling th enight air with her amusement. "I suppose it is, in a way."
[00:35] <Alicia> "It's something to be proud of," Alicia agrees. "Mother normally thinks in more down to earth terms, but even she can't not be impressed at having two angels for daughters."
[00:36] <Kotono> "Many more allies, too." Jessica says wistfully, "There's something else, too."
[00:37] <Alicia> "Hmm?" Alicia cocks her head, inviting Jessica to go on.
[00:38] <Kotono> "I think we should set Antenora up with someone," AFter a pause to say this, "I think it's an important step for her...she's been talking about motherly things with me in recent times. She certainly has the capacity to be a wife and a mother now, don't you agree?"
[00:40] <Alicia> "She has a lot of love to give," Alicia admits, "But do you have someone in mind? I don't think it'd be doing any favours to push too hard."
[00:41] <Kotono> "Right now? Not in particular," Jessica admits, "She's a special woman, she needs someone just as special. Any ideas?"
[00:44] <Alicia> "Not really. Antenora herself would surely disapprove of me saying so, but love should be spontaneous - it needs a special spark to kick things off," Alicia considers. "Her and Marie have been flirting a lot more, but Antenora told me she doesn't think Marie's mature enough, so there's no point looking in that direction."
[00:47] <Kotono> "Mmm." After some more silent walking, "You know, I'm not sure if those two in a relationship would be a good or a bad thing. It could fall either way. Imagine those two having an intimate current to their bickering." With a chuckle, "I suppose with Marie's new gift it's actually possible now, though."
[00:48] <Kotono> "Any others that come to mind at all? Maybe we shouldn't be, but match making is fun! Antenora could use this." Taking off into the air a few feet, wings flapping, "Even just a good time."
[00:50] <Alicia> "I don't know. At the Court of Stars she spent all night just sitting and talking with Marie," Alicia notes in faint disgust. "Then again, didn't you and Eudard do the same? I think Donald and I are the only ones who did any actual mingling."
[00:51] <Kotono> "It just felt right at the time. I don't feel anything for Eudard. It was like a dream..." Playing a hand through her hair, "A beautiful dream."
[00:53] <Alicia> "It was an odd way for them to send us home," Alicia admits. "I remember Antenora did say that Eudard was handsome when we first met him, actually... of course, he hated her on account of the whole being a devil thing. Still, he's mellowed a lot. What did you think of him?"
[00:53] <Kotono> "A fanatic, what the storybooks think a paladin is many a tale." Jessica ascends a little bit, "fly with me, Sis? Anyway, he's cute and he's on our side."
06[00:56] * Alicia flaps her wings, ascending upwards. "Stereotypical? To be honest, she confessed to me that she wondered if she might end up with someone chaotic eventually. I think that might even be good for her."
[00:57] <Kotono> That gets Jessica to laugh heartily, weavingin the air like a wild woman! "Oh my MYSTRA! She actually said that? Seriously?"
[00:58] <Alicia> "She sounded so ashamed, too!" Alicia laughs herself. "I think we can mostly blame Queen Morwel for it."
[00:59] <Kotono> "I'm almost wondering if that was some sort of indirect way of trying to tell you she's fallen for your familiar," Jessica continues to laugh, struggling to get those words out. "Unreal."
[01:01] <Alicia> "Like I said, they've been flirting a lot more," Alicia shrugs. "Maybe they'll even get together in a few centuries time."
[01:04] <Kotono> "I wondered a bit if becoming an outsider would make those two make sense." Jessica slowly calms down, ascending up in a lazy spiral. "No such luck.:"
[01:07] <Alicia> "I think you have to be aligned the way they are," Alicia considers. "We've been changed somewhat, but our base natures are still the same - we're not fundamentally made of law or chaos or even good the way they are."
[01:08] <Kotono> "I''ve grown to appreciate how completely those things tinge them. I'm not sure that Antenora can't be ordered or Marie can't be chaotic...except Antenora changed once already." Below you the island is dark, the faraway campfire a dot of illumination. "Strange."
[01:11] <Alicia> "It takes a lot of effort for them to defy their inherent natures," Alicia replies. "Maybe one day they'll meet in the middle, maybe they'll just keep arguing till the end of time. There's little harm in it, really."
[01:12] <Kotono> "You know..." Jessica continues to rise and riseand rise, "Alicia. One day good will defeat evil for all time...right? What about Law and Chaos?"
[01:15] <Alicia> "I don't know that it will," Alicia admits honestly. "The planes are expressions of the souls of men. As long as there are those who yearn to forcefully dominate others, there will always be Hell. It's like a bush that you can prune, but the roots will always grow back. The only way to stop it from ever doing so would be to uproot the whole garden, destroying all the other bushes with it."
[01:17] <Kotono> Jessica hovers here, looking down. "It shouldn't be that way. One day, evil should finally stop. Man's soul should become better and leave evil behind. There shouldn't be an eternity of strife and misery."
[01:20] <Alicia> "I'd like that," Alicia smiles wanly, "But it's never happened yet. The best I can do is keep pruning the bad bushes and hope the good ones will outgrow them."
[01:21] <Kotono> "What do you think of that, sister? Is that right?"
[01:22] <Alicia> "It's how I see things from my perspective," Alicia shrugs.
[01:23] <Kotono> "That's not answering the question?" Jessica floats over to Alicia, "What do you think of it?"
06[01:24] * Alicia wears a confused frown, not understanding what was so unsatisfactory about her answer. "That's really what I think, though," she insists.
[01:26] <Kotono> "Mmmph." Jessica flies a little more, "Nevermind it then. It's also getting later and later...let's go rest, Alicia?"
[01:27] <Alicia> "Right," Alicia nods, still not sure what was wrong with her answer as she starts spiralling back down to where they left everyone else.

[Corwin]

[19:20] <Kotono> -----
05[19:21] -eraniss.tx.us.lunarnet.org:@#dunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:21] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.51.230) has joined #dunes
03[19:21] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[19:21] <Kotono> Ah, a beautiful day in paradise. Everyone is resting and comfortable - right now only Alicia, Seira, Antenora, Marie and Abagail are on the beach. The others are swimming and about, everything serene. As the morning sun warms everything, "Well then," Antenora says brightly, "Mistress, what do you have planned for us?"
01[19:24] <Seira> "I have plans for the afternoon, but for now all I will say is that a proper maid knows how to cater to her Mistress's every whim without being prodded or having her every move be controlled," Seira announces sagely.
[19:25] <Kotono> "This is true. Good servants know these things," Abagail adds in, lounging ack on the sand.
01[19:26] <Seira> "For now, I think we should just spend some time enjoying the sun," Seira muses, glancing at Abagail sideways. "It can be a pleasant way to spend an hour or two, but could the experience be made even better, I wonder...?"
[19:26] <Alicia> Marie nods sagely as she kneels by Seira's feet, lifting one of them to give her a footrub. "Old Mistress says I give very good footrubs, New Mistress," she smiles saccharinely.
[19:27] <Alicia> "Old Mistress..." Alicia snorts, shaking her head and getting up. "I'll leave you to your fun," she decides, going to join the aquatic tag game in progress.
[19:27] <Kotono> Antenora goes to Seira's side and turns around, using her wings to send gentle waves of breeze across Seira. "Footrubs, Alicia? Really?" Antenora calls.
[19:28] <Alicia> "I have very nimble hands," Marie asserts as she works the pads of Seira's feet, smiling up at the half-dragon. "Don't I?"
01[19:31] <Seira> "As nimble as I expected from seeing you during the game yesterday," Seira agrees, reclining to stare up at the sky, enjoying the warm rays of the sun. She raises one hand, brushing is slowly against Antenora's wings as they come into her range. "That talent just goes to waste normally, it seems. Why don't we ever relax like this while fighting evil?"
[19:33] <Kotono> "All the tension and focus, Mistress," Antenora's wings are softer than they should be, but hard on the edges. "We fight the good fight so that no one else has to suffer?"
[19:34] <Alicia> Of course it's relaxing when you have two maids devoting themselves to you! Marie doesn't say this, mind you, since it's not a maid's place to speak out of turn.
01[19:35] <Seira> "I'm sure it would be possible to fit in a good hour of relaxation even those times," Seira responds lazily. "Maybe a spell could be developed. A spell to summon maids...."
[19:37] <Alicia> "Isn't there an invisible servant spell, Mistress?" Marie asks as she switches to the other foot.
[19:37] <Kotono> "There have been fanciful uses of magic before, Mistress," Antenora says, and then with a sudden chuckle, "Summon Maid instead of Summon Monster?"
[19:38] <Kotono> Meanwhile Abagail dozes in the sand, and in the water, most everyone else is at aquatic play. Jessica rises out of the water, holding a coconut sized ball, as Donald leaps up after her.
01[19:38] <Seira> "It's just not the same," Seira laments. "A proper maid must wear a proper maid uniform for her Mistress, wouldn't you agree, Marie?" She nods at Antenora's direction. "Although I would really prefer it to summon more than one, yes."
[19:41] <Kotono> "Mistress, why do you like maids?" Antenora keeps flapping in the meantime, "You're so fond of them."
01[19:42] <Seira> "The reason is simple! They are beautiful girls in a pretty uniform who are all too happy to cater to your every wish, as long as it's appropriate!"
[19:43] <Kotono> "Your standards of approriate are surely different than Alicia's," Antenora continues to flap away. "What will you want to do later in the day, Mistress?"
01[19:44] <Seira> "I'm sure that even Alicia must appreciate the elegance of a maid uniform!"
[19:45] <Alicia> "Alicia likes uniforms in general, but she's just funny that way," Marie laughs. "The clothes she wears day in day out might as well be her uniform. I prefer a bit of variety, but maid outfits can be nice."
01[19:46] <Seira> "Maid uniforms can see a surprising degree of variety, too," Seira speaks animatedly, "but I find that the best part comes from the maid herself. Her motivations, her background, the subtle character quirks she brings with her. It's all oh so ever exciting!"
[19:48] <Alicia> "They're just normal people who have jobs as servants, aren't they?" Marie asks, slacking off in her footrub as the conversation progresses.
[19:48] <Kotono> "It's a shame Alicia's not here to share this with us," With an overdrawn sigh, "She would like a maid's uniform. Marie is absolutely correct." Antenora doesn't stop her wingflapping, as a gush of water explodes into a geyser, the game still going on ahead of you.
01[19:50] <Seira> "Well, if you want to analyze it, most of them clearly are," Seira admits, her face falling slightly. "But part of the enjoyment is in pretending. It's almost like an elaborate game or, perhaps, a show being put on for the Mistress's sake. This would depend on the level of closeness, I suppose. But as long as both sides play along, the mystique remains...."
[19:51] <Kotono> "Ah of course, Mistress," Antenora says softly, "I understand."
[19:51] <Alicia> "Hey, Seira," Marie asks after a wicked grin in Antenora's direction. "Does Amaryl have a maid outfit?"
01[19:53] <Seira> "She doesn't own one, but she has many maids," Seira says proudly. "They always treated her nicely, so when she left, I asked her if we could offer them all jobs at our new home! Kind maids have such a strong appeal!"
[19:54] <Kotono> "Truly? I would think Mistress would have Amaryl to have one...or even have one of her own," With a wicked smile right back at Marie, "MIstress seems fond of them."
01[19:54] <Seira> "If we're getting into the area of thinly-disguised sex jokes, I must remind all present that the two of us are not the ones who keep maid outfits for each other."
[19:56] <Alicia> "Antenora doesn't actually have one," Marie admits with a sigh. "I suggested it one time but then she got me one instead. It's fun to wear around the house, though."
01[19:56] <Seira> "Maybe I should try it, too," Seira muses. "I'll need to make arrangement to ship Donald somewhere, first, though, or he might just ruin all the fun."
[19:57] <Kotono> "Marie doesn't really get the pocket money to buy much," Antenora goes on, "She's never included in how we divide up wealth liberated from evil. Hmmm..." Looking to Marie, "Why is that?"
01[19:57] <Seira> "For a maid, pleasing her Mistress is its own reward, Antenora!" Seira exclaims. "The reason is made obvious."
[19:58] <Kotono> "Well, we could go and you could use magic to do it?" Antenora suggests brightly, "We'd be happy to humor you well away from Donald, Mistress, in finding your happiness."
[19:59] <Alicia> "It's because I'm classed with Alicia," Marie tells Antenora. "The two of us are one glorious whole! Her wealth is my wealth, and so on and so forth."
06[20:01] * Seira turns over to lay on her stomach, placing her head on her hands. "So how do the two of you normally see this?" she inquires curiously. "Most people I breach the subject with just seem to keep a dirty mind, not understanding the true, innocent appeal of a maid."
[20:02] <Alicia> "Maid uniforms tend to be pretty flattering," Marie notes, deciding to just kick back and relax since Seira isn't making her do any work. "I figure it's a way for the master to show off - 'Look at what attractive servants I have, aren't you jealous?' so there's an aspect of titillation there."
[20:03] <Kotono> "I understand completely." Antenora cocks her head to look at Seira over her shoulder. "There's glory and happiness in serving another. I've sworn my eternity to being at Alicia's side as her servant."
01[20:04] <Seira> "Literally?" Seira asks, peering at Antenora askance from her prone position.
[20:05] <Kotono> "Yes. As a baatezu, I yearned to advance by any means. I had to crawl down deeper into the Pit. Now? I understand that position isn't happiness. Being where you are and being happy is. I've vowed myself to Alicia and I've never been happier."
[20:09] <Alicia> "So you're the perfect maid. Except with a nasty pointy spear," Marie comments dryly. "And you never do any housework."
[20:10] <Kotono> "Exactly!" Antenora claps her hands together, "I'm so glad you understand and do the housework."
06[20:11] * Seira can't really find a response of any kind to that, although it doesn't seem to be a problem for Marie, who saves her the need to. She decides to just enjoy their friendly bickering and have her maids give her a full body oil massage for the nearest while, after which they can just relax together until they have the strength to go and look for some hot springs.
[20:20] <Kotono> Lunch comes and goes. After, "About those springs, Mistress," Antenora says, "What's our plan? Fly over the island and look for natural springs around the volcano?"
06[20:23] * Seira considers the appeal of winged maids demonstrating their graceful flying, and nods in approval. "An excellent suggestion!"
[20:24] <Alicia> Marie reverts to her natural form, since there are sadly no winged humanoids in this world, and flutters upwards. "Even if we can't find one, I can use my special maid magic to make one!" she promises.
01[20:25] <Seira> "I'm counting on you, then, Marie!"
[20:25] <Kotono> "At absolute worst, Seira and I can go take a lava bath," Antenora says as she ascends, "Oh yes, there's still the matter of the lava beneath Balmuria, Mistress."
01[20:25] <Seira> "I've been thinking about that," Seira responds. "And I have an idea, but it's a bit silly."
[20:27] <Kotono> As the three take to the air, leaving the sunbathers behind, "What is it, Mistress?"
01[20:28] <Seira> "We have lava to supply the heat, and we have plenty of water. Land's not much of an issue, either, so why not create our very own hot springs?"
[20:29] <Alicia> "Can you do that safely?" Marie asks. "I've always found it a bit worrying that half the city is built over a huge pit of lava."
[20:30] <Kotono> "I believe Countess Stronger has been familiarizing herslef with them," Antenora says as you ascend up. Ahead the volcano and island forest shrink as you go higher.
01[20:31] <Seira> "I hope that it would, in fact, make the city safer," Seira responds. "Elle has been working on this situation, and I've been meaning to go diving in the lava to try and see just how far it extends, and whether there's an actual gate to, say, a volcano on the plane of fire."
[20:32] <Alicia> "Well, you guys are the geniuses," Marie allows.
[20:33] <Kotono> Thus you get higher and higher! You fly to the volcano...OOC: All three of you make spot checks?
01[20:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+10
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+10 and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[20:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 12." [1d20=6]
[20:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+23
06[20:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+23 and gets 32." [1d20=9]
[20:34] <Kotono> "Hold on," Antenora starts to descend down the volcano, "This way - I think I saw a bit of steam coming from an opening in the side of the volcano."
06[20:38] * Seira starts gliding down slowly on Antenora's trail, before having a change of mind and asking out loud, "Antenora, could you check on that? We'll wait here for you."
[20:38] <Kotono> "I can, Mistress. Why just me, though?" Antenora hovers in midair.
[20:38] <Alicia> Marie starts to follow Antenora but stops at Seira's command, curious why they're being split up. Is mistress planning to seduce her while they're alone?!
01[20:39] <Seira> "You can swim in lava itself if it comes to that," Seira gives as the obviously fake yet impossible to challenge reason. "Don't worry, I'm sure Marie will serve me properly in your absense."
[20:39] <Kotono> "As you wish," With that, Antenora flies off, leaving the two alone! OOC: If you two wanna chat or do anything, go ahead.
01[20:41] <Seira> "One of the great parts about maids is that however ridiculous the excuse, it is always accepted," Seira says with a smile as they are left alone.
[20:41] <Alicia> "It's pretty obvious you wanted me alone, but a bet's a bet," Marie replies, looking curiously at Seira.
01[20:43] <Seira> "I really wanted to have a few words with you about Antenora," Seira elaborates. "I've thought about this, and you're really the best person to ask. Amaryl was thinking that it might do Antenora some good to go out on a few dates, and just enjoy herself normally. What do you think?"
[20:45] <Alicia> "Oh, but I want her all for myself!" Marie simpers immediately. With that out of the way she responds seriously, "She's been feeling pretty broody lately, but it entirely depends on her finding someone nice. You can't just set her up with some random schmuck like Donald."
06[20:48] * Seira laughs. "After just one evening she'll come demanding vengeance and wreck my inn, I bet! But that's not really what we were talking about, either. I don't think we can find Antenora her soulmate, but experiencing a normal date, and not Baator's excuse for one, could be good for her. It might even help her with her funk, or define better just what it is that she's looking for in a person.
01[20:48] <Seira> I get the feeling she really doesn't know herself, and just clinges to some textbook description she keeps on quoting out loud."
[20:51] <Alicia> "You never know who you're looking for until you find them," Marie declares sagely. "Anyway, it probably wouldn't hurt. At worst Antenora would waste an evening and her unfortunate date goes home traumatised. I don't really know anyone in Balmuria myself that's too appropriate, but I've got some old friends in Dweomerheart I could point her way at Jessica's wedding."
01[20:52] <Seira> "It could be a great start," Seira agrees. "I know some people as well, although they'll be more down to earth types."
[20:55] <Alicia> "Anyone I know?" Marie asks curiously, idly recalling the time she tried to point Rods at Antenora... pity he didn't fall for it, it would've been hilarious.
[20:56] <Kotono> As you talk, "SEIRA! MARIE!" Antenora's voice calls, the angel poking her head out of the cave.
01[20:57] <Seira> "Remember Umut?" Seira asks in turn. "I've enjoyed spending time with him, and he's a good person. It would be good for Antenora, too, if she managed to get along with him." She shakes her head, a wry smile on her lips. "If he managed to cut through my self-pity and remain my friend, he might also do something about her rigidly-set patterns." At Antenora's call, she gestures towards the cave. "Let's go?"
[20:59] <Kotono> As you reach the cave entrance, you can feel it's a bit warmer her. Occasional burps of steam leak out, dissipating. "Inside...you'll see," Antenora says.
[20:59] <Alicia> Marie doesn't remember Umut, sadly, so foregoes comment as she flies down.
06[21:00] * Seira catches Marie's eye to signal that she'd like to continue that talk at some later date, before following Antenora's voice to its source.
[21:08] <Kotono> Inside the cave it goes around a gentle curve. Ahead the walls turn to stonework! Fine stonework, untouched by the years. Smooth bricks of black volcanic rock, polished to mirror sheen. As you see dozens of reflections of yourselves in the bricks, a door lies ahead. It's decorated with celebrating efreeti. A stone slab lies embedded into the wall besides the door, held in the mouth of a great roaring dragon scuplture. There is writing on the slab. "See?"
[21:08] <Kotono> mouth of a great roaring dragon scuplture. There is writing on the slab. "See?"
06[21:09] * Seira gapes, having thought this would be a natural occurence!
[21:09] <Alicia> "Ohh... you found a dungeon!" Marie cries accusingly. "Some holiday this turned out to be!"
[21:10] <Kotono> I dunno if you can see this, my monitor may have just died.
[21:10] <Alicia> OOC: shake the cable!
01[21:11] <Seira> "No, wait!" Seira exclaims. "It might be a dungeon whose owners have long since passed on, but not before dismantling their traps and defenses, while leaving their belongings behind!"
[21:11] <Alicia> "When does that ever happen?" Marie scoffs, turning to read the writing on the slab.
01[21:12] <Seira> "Efreeti are all insane?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "Well, I did wonder why this island was warm in thew inter," Antenora considers as Marie reads the slab! It reads the following in several languages, such as Ignan, Common and others: WARNING. PROHIBITED ENTRY: DANGEROUS LEVELS OF HEAT AHEAD.
03[21:14] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
[21:14] <Alicia> "It's dangerously hot... which I guess isn't a problem for you two," Marie comments, folding her arms.
[21:15] <Kotono> "Would changing into a ball of light help you, Marie?" Antenora glances her way.
01[21:15] <Seira> "The eastern mountains of Pallanth are always freezing while the land just past them is temperate," Seira says with a shrug. "I could try to ward you from the heat... or that, I suppose."
[21:15] <Alicia> "It's worked before... okay," Marie shrugs, turning into a ball of light and causing her maid outfit to fall to the ground now that nothing is there to hold it up.
[21:16] <Kotono> "Curious," Antenora reads the slab herself, "A warning? That's not very dungeon or defense-like at all"
[21:16] <Kotono> .
06[21:16] * Seira expects Antenora to pick it up like a proper maid, and fearlessly strides through the door.
[21:17] <Alicia> "Especially since it's written in Ignan - most things that speak that like the heat," Marie agrees as she follows Seira.
[21:17] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't, instead following Seira! A blast of steam and boiling air comes out as the hot doors open! It doesn't hurt any of them, feeling rather pleasant to Seira. Ahead is more of the black mirror-bricks, a brief stairway going down before leading deeper in.
[21:18] <Kotono> "It doesn't make sense that it's hostile, unless this is a mind game. Maybe it's a relic of the past?" Antenora starts forward, "I'm detecting faint magic all over the bricks."
[21:19] <Alicia> "Maybe insulation?" Marie suggests, pausing a moment to study the magic herself.
01[21:19] <Seira> "I place warnings kindly asking intruders to reconsider on account of extreme danger at the restricted areas of my home," Seira muses. "But I'm also aware most people don't bother. We might as well proceed and see what lies past this."
[21:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 spellcraft
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 spellcraft and gets 34." [1d20=9]
[21:20] <Alicia> Bobbing in the air, Marie follows Seira. "A pity I asked Alicia for maid magic instead of adventure magic, this morning..."
01[21:20] <Seira> "Oh? What sort of wondrous maid magic do you come equipped with?"
[21:21] <Kotono> Down the stairs you go! You walk a few minutes down this mirror sheened hall, your images reflecting over and over! You come to an end - here, there is a crater in the ground, the area widening out into an open cavern of mirror brick. A rope barrier surrounds it, great belches of heat coming out. Several holes in thew all suck in the hot air, as if a force was drawing it deeper in.
[21:21] <Alicia> "Cleaning, cooking, entertainment, transport, that sort of thing," Marie replies. "So I won't be blasting anything with electricity or protecting us with walls of force, today."
[21:24] <Kotono> Antenora goes up to the barrier, peering down. "There's magma well down there, I can see the glow. It's a ways, though."
01[21:24] <Seira> "I should be enough for that, or Antenora if we need to fight off creepy pursuers, while you'll get us out if it comes to that?"
[21:25] <Alicia> "As you command, mistress!" Marie affirms lightly.
[21:25] <Kotono> "Want me to take a look down there?" Antenora offers, "Or send Marie through one of the holes, S...Mistress," Correcting herself with a smile, "What do you think?"
06[21:25] * Seira frowns cutely as she peers down after Antenora. "Is this a sauna, then? I haven't been to one in a long while...."
[21:26] <Kotono> It's a deep chasm. You can see it's smooth, melty rock below, a red glow seen deep in the deep tunnel down. "It doesn't look like it's meant to soak in the heat here. A human who went here would be melting about now."
01[21:29] <Seira> "I would be pleased if my beautiful, capable maids explored," Seira agrees brightly. "As long as they keep their safety and the safety of their uniforms paramount!"
[21:30] <Alicia> "Well, I'll just stick close and you lead the way?" Marie hovers by Antenora's head.
[21:30] <Kotono> Antenora ascends up, "I'll scream if anything bad happens," she says, before flying down the hole.
[21:32] <Alicia> Marie is right with her fellow maid!
[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: Going down with Antenora?
[21:33] <Alicia> OOC: har. Yes, she said she'd stick close while Anty leads the way
[21:34] <Kotono> OOC: ....completely unintended! Okay.
[21:35] <Kotono> Down and down and down the two go! As you descend, you see a bubbling pool of magma at the bottom, hissing and popping! About 50 feet above it, and 200 feet from where you are, a small platform has been carved into the rock. The platform radiates moderate magic.
[21:35] <Kotono> OOC: Strike the magic bit, you're outta range.
[21:37] <Kotono> "See that?" Antenora points, "Definintely more signs of intelligent hands. Any idea what to make of it?"
[21:37] <Alicia> Marie hums idly and follows along as only an intangible ball of light can. If anything needs cooking or cleaning, though, she's all over that! "What's it doing here, though? I mean, who'd want to stand on it?" she asks as they descend.
[21:38] <Kotono> "Bored efreet?" As you reach within sixty feet, you can detect stronger magic from the platform.
[21:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 spellcraft
06[21:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 spellcraft and gets 36." [1d20=11]
01[21:38] <Seira> "Found anything?" Seira calls down, sounding slightly bored.
[21:38] <Kotono> Seira's voice wildly echos down! Antenora cups her hands and calls up, "Magma and a platform! Hold on!"
[21:39] <Alicia> "Looks like a ward to keep certain creatures away," Marie comments. "Can't tell what specifically from the dweomer, though. Lets get closer and see if there's anything on the platform itself?"
[21:40] <Kotono> Thus the two advance! As they do...OOC: Make a will save, Marie?
[21:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22 Antenora
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 Antenora and gets 41." [1d20=19]
[21:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 +2 vs evil
06[21:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 +2 vs evil and gets 23." [1d20=9]
[21:41] <Kotono> Antenora flies down without problem! Marie stops cold for several seconds, only just barely able to push through an unseen force! As the two land, they see a door is set into the wall the platform connects to. Antenora glances back, "Did you feel a little something?"
[21:42] <Alicia> "Like an antipathy spell," Marie confirms. "Eudard had something like that at his temple, except way stronger and nastier. It must be set to block out celestials?" she checks for evil on that note.
[21:43] <Kotono> "Perhaps," Antenora goes to the plain door, "Hover a bit above, just in case it sends out flying death or magic?"
[21:43] <Alicia> "Sure," Marie remains five feet above the platform. "Didn't sense any other magic, though. Should we go get our beloved mistress before exploring further?"
[21:44] <Kotono> "Eh..." Antenora shrugs, "Your call. I was hoping I could talk her into being a maid instead of us doing it, but it's never quite worked out."
[21:45] <Alicia> "Just take your punishment like a woman," Marie tells her, before shouting up loudly. "Seira! We found a door! We think there's treasure behind it!" she yells, thinking that should work to summon the half-dragon in a flash.
06[21:46] * Seira glides down at those words, looking quite happy. "You know just what to say!" she compliments Marie. "Even if it turns out to be wrong, I still felt really excited!"
[21:46] <Kotono> Seira glides down tot he platform without incident. "The door's there," Antenora gestures.
06[21:47] * Seira looks it over, par for course!
01[21:47] <Seira> roll 1d20+29
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+29 and gets 48." [1d20=19]
06[21:48] * Seira opens the door to potential riches!
[21:49] <Kotono> Inside the room are a pair of switches, heavy and made of black rock. They're set into the wall, about three feet long each. A metal cabinet is set against the side wall, closed.
[21:50] <Alicia> Marie goes to have a look inside the cabinet, phasing through its doors.
06[21:50] * Seira is far too happy to examine the contents of the cabinet, even as she asks Antenora and Marie, "So if one of you were to serve the other for a day, what's the one request you simply had to ask for?"
[21:51] <Kotono> Inside you find baked clay tablets, three of them. EAch is covered with spidery, light writing.
01[21:52] <Seira> It is surely writing Seira can read!
[21:52] <Alicia> "I dunno, I'm not really shy about asking for things anyway," Marie admits distractedly as she scans the writing on the tablets. "There's no fun in sexually harassing someone who has to do what you say."
[21:52] <Kotono> It's arcane words. It looks to be three scroll-alikes, each one for Wall of Force.
01[21:53] <Seira> "So that's where you first thought goes?" Seira asks, snorting. "Figures. What about your second choice, then?"
[21:53] <Kotono> "A fascinating place your mind goes," Antenora chuckles, "Sometimes I wonder about eladrin and why a tide of eladrin and half celestial children haven't overrun Creation."
[21:54] <Alicia> "Those aren't very portable scrolls," Marie huffs. "Still, I guess it counts as treasure. But there's really nothing to ask for - I mean, we're friends and Antenora's normally happy to indulge any reasonable thing I request to start with. If I had the power to make her do unreasonable things I wouldn't want to use it."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Mmm..." Antenora considers, "I'dask Marie to be as lawful as she could for a day." With a wicked grin, "That would be amazing."
[21:55] <Alicia> "Despite what Saul says, relationships between celestials and mortals don't work out so well," Marie adds before 'turning' to Antenora. "I could be lawful for a day. That's just the sort of unpredictable thing that chaos is all about!"
01[21:56] <Seira> "That's an interesting way of looking at it," Seira admits to Marie. "What about me? If I were the one you could bid, and not Antenora?" At Antenora's words, she snorts anew. "No, didn't see it coming. Figures, times two."
[21:56] <Kotono> "Hmph." Antenora glowers cutely, "What about the giant switches," Looking to them, "Going to try our luck on them?"
06[21:57] * Seira puts her considerable knowledge of strange and unusual machinery into studying them, even as she voices, "Marie, could you take a look behind them to help me figure out how they work without taking them apart?"
[21:57] <Alicia> "I'd ask for three wishes! Or however many times you can prepare that spell, anyway," Marie replies brightly. "Actually, since you're a wizard your magic is a lot more versatile than Alicia's, so there's no end to the possibilities."
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: What knowledges do you have, Seira?
[21:57] <Alicia> "Sure," Marie agrees, floating down through the brickwork behind the switches.
[21:58] <Kotono> Beneath seems to be a series of interlocking stone plates. If they shift, they'll put pressure into the back, which is a giant press plate.
01[21:58] <Seira> OOC: UMD could totally apply, Architecture and Engineering, Dungeoneering, Arcana, search/disable device, pure int, take your pick.
[21:58] <Alicia> Marie explores past the giant plate to see what it presses!
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: AnE.
01[21:59] <Seira> roll 1d20+16
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+16 and gets 20." [1d20=4]
[21:59] <Kotono> PAst it, it leads to a tunnel full of reddish, sludgy magma. Half solidified, half not.
01[21:59] <Seira> "And you, Antenora?" Seira asks, as she waits for Marie to return.
[21:59] <Alicia> Marie returns. "It looks like they put pressure on a passage filled with magma," she reports. "Or reduce pressure, I don't know."
[22:00] <Kotono> "I'm not sure." Antenora looks sidelong at Seira, "I'd have to think about it."
01[22:00] <Seira> "Let me know by the time we get back?"
[22:00] <Kotono> "Of course, Mistress!" Antenora says brightly, voice rising.
01[22:03] <Seira> "Speaking of getting back, I'd like us to prepare dinner for Amaryl come evening," Seira relates. "Just so that you could plan, if you'd like. We can even make a competition of it, and the luckiest chef wins a special prize~"
03[22:04] * Adahn (WinNT@95.146.3.251) has joined #dunes
02[22:04] * Alicia (WinNT@95.146.3.232) Quit (Killed (NickServ (GHOST command used by Adahn)))
03[22:04] * Adahn is now known as Alicia
03[22:04] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Alicia
[22:05] <Alicia> "What's her favourite food?" Marie asks curiously.
06[22:07] * Seira tries to use the mechanism to bring the magma level down, informing Marie and Antenora of her actions, so that they could see what this leads to. If there is indeed treasure to be found, perhaps by forcing the magma to retreat, it could be found!
[22:07] <Kotono> Seira pulls the left level down! There is a rumbling, the ground lightly shaking all over.
01[22:07] <Seira> "Fruits and honey. And when they're combined, the sum is better than the parts, it seems," she responds.
[22:08] <Kotono> "Thta sounds very elven and eladrin," Antenora starts to say, but stops at the shaking. "What was that?"
[22:09] <Alicia> "I'll check the magma chamber?" Marie suggests, scooting back through the wall beyond the levers.
01[22:09] <Seira> "The magma level dropping," Seira repeats. "Please do!"
[22:09] <Kotono> Marie finds that the magma tunnel she glimpsed a few moments ago has pushed forward.
[22:10] <Alicia> Marie returns. "It's been pushed forward, so I guess it's getting compressed?" she dutifully reports.
06[22:11] * Seira checks the mechanism over once more, to ensure that its at its lowest setting at the moment.
[22:11] <Kotono> It is at it's lowest setting, Seira thinks.
01[22:11] <Seira> "Let's see if there's any difference outside?" she suggests, walking out the door and looking around.
[22:12] <Kotono> Going out, you see that the magma below has sunk away. The tunnel continues down, cherry hot, but not full of magma anymore.
01[22:13] <Seira> "Does the tunnel lead anywhere?" Seira asks Antenora, deferring to her superior vision.
[22:13] <Kotono> "I'll find out, Mistress," Antenora says, "If you don't mind me flying down to see?"
01[22:13] <Seira> "Remember, safety first!"
[22:14] <Kotono> Antenora soars down! After a little bit, "Come on down!" Antenora's voice can be heard from far away.
[22:15] <Alicia> "You'd think she could at least tell us what she's found," Marie remarks, nonetheless flying downwards.
01[22:15] <Seira> "Antenora really likes the suspense," Seira responds. "Surprisingly so."
06[22:16] * Seira follows Marie down, of course.
[22:16] <Kotono> A few puddle of still hot magma lie at the bottom, Antenora's feet kicking one of them about, sending hissing and starting to cool magma all about. At the bottom are several tunnels in the bottom, lined with black-charred iron. "Intricate, no?" Antenora kneels next to one, "It reminds me of Irenes' work...but why here?"
[22:17] <Alicia> "Must be strong metal to have not melted," Marie opines, checking for magic down the tunnels.
01[22:17] <Seira> If it's a mage's work, another mage can make sense of it! And Seira certainly tries.
[22:18] <Kotono> *Mihail
[22:18] <Kotono> Faint magic down the tunnels.
[22:18] <Kotono> OOC: K:A.
01[22:18] <Seira> roll 1d20+24
06[22:18] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 and gets 31." [1d20=7]
[22:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 spellcraft
06[22:19] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 spellcraft and gets 32." [1d20=7]
[22:21] <Alicia> "The surfaces are all warded against the heat," Marie informs the others should they care, content to follow their lead in exploring further if they want to.
01[22:22] <Seira> "I think pulling that lever down might be dangerous in the long term," Seira muses with slight worry. "While raising it all the way up all but eliminates any future risk of a volcanic eruption. Marie, can you examine one of the passages if it's filled with magma, or would it be too difficult and uncomfortable?"
[22:22] <Kotono> "Makes fine sense," Antenora looks back, "So now what? Is this it, or are there more places here to find?"
[22:24] <Alicia> "Okay, back in a sec," Marie bobs in the air before going down the middle passage.
06[22:25] * Seira spends the time she waits by examining the passages. Are they all entirely the same, or does one stand out from the rest in some way?
[22:26] <Kotono> The passage goes down a few hundred feet. It opens out into a deep, deep pool of magma! As Maire basks in this, 'Wake...me...' A deep voice sound sin her head. 'Wake me...from my dreams...'
[22:27] <Alicia> 'Uh... who are you and why can't you wake yourself up?' Marie asks in the usual telepathic manner.
[22:28] <Kotono> Marie has an image in her mind - an eye opening, a large, slitted eye of red and green. 'Wake me...' THe eye slowly closes, 'Wake me...'
[22:29] <Alicia> Marie descends a bit closer, getting within forty feet of the magma and checking for any signs of evil.
[22:30] <Kotono> No evil. The image of the eye closes in her mind, then vanishes from her mental vision.
[22:31] <Alicia> Best to discuss this with Seira and Antenora, since they'll know better what to do, so Marie flies back up. "There's a big magma chamber down there and I got a telepathic message from something wanting me to wake it," she reports breathlessly. Despite currently lacking lungs.
[22:32] <Kotono> "Oh ho. Now it gets interesting, Mistress!" With a rising smile, "Something sealed away, like other problems we've faced? Except we're early this time!"
01[22:32] <Seira> "The carvings listed efreeti and a dragon, didn't they?" Seira asks. "And it's a fact most dragons like mountain caves with lava." She looks dejected at the news. "I don't suppose we can take a raincheck on the maidly bet? I really think the seriousness of the situation calls for this."
06[22:33] * Seira thinks to Amaryl while she waits for them to respond, 'Am I interrupting anything?'
[22:34] <Alicia> "I saw an eye in my mind. It was red and green but I couldn't see what it belonged to," Marie replies, trying to recall what colour and texture the eyelid had when it closed.
[22:35] <Kotono> "Certainly," Antenora says gamely, "Red and green, hm?"
01[22:37] <Seira> roll 1d20+24 are you a dragon?
06[22:37] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+24 are you a dragon? and gets 35." [1d20=11]
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 Marie has knowledge
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 Marie has knowledge and gets 33." [1d20=19]
01[22:40] <Seira> "Maybe it's the child of the lonely green dragon and a proud red dragon?" Seira suggests uncertainly. "In any case, let's see if we can wake whatever it is. Antenora's right, and in case it's a foe, we might as well deal with it now. If it's not, we have to offer our help once someone asks for it."
[22:41] <Alicia> "I didn't sense any evil but I didn't get too close. But if someone bound it here and put up wards against celestials, that could mean it's a nice dragon," Marie guesses. "Or maybe it's a bad one who put up its own wards to keep celestials away while it was resting?"
[22:42] <Kotono> "Maybe." Antenora considers, "Marie, it contacted you below? That probably  means it's below us somewhere and you got closer to it."
01[22:42] <Seira> "We really can't tell, so let's explore some more. You mentioned transportation, right? Should anything happen, teleport over to Alicia and fill her in. Amaryl has our teleportation ring, so between us all we shouldn't be in exceeding danger."
[22:43] <Alicia> "Sure," Marie bobs in the air, happy to follow Seira and Antenora's lead for now.
06[22:43] * Seira heads down the tunnel Marie explored earlier.
[22:45] <Kotono> Thus the three go deeper in! The heat becomes explosively hot here as you descend down! Seira can see a vast pool of magma below, waiting to invite them within.
01[22:46] <Seira> "Who are you?" Seira calls down, opting to use Draconic for this purpose. "How do we wake you up?"
[22:47] <Kotono> No reply.
[22:47] <Kotono> Antenora looks on, "Want to go deeper in, Marie? You're the best suited for this."
[22:48] <Alicia> "I heard about you swimming in molten platinum," Marie replies to Antenora, nonetheless descending towards the magma, staying alert for magic and evil.
[22:49] <Kotono> "I doubt my clothes would survive, and I can't breathe lava," Antenora sallies back as Marie dives in! She goes deep within, exploring the magma pool. After several rounds of submertion, she detects strong magic ahead.
01[22:50] <Seira> "I could dive down, but you would have to stay behind to keep my lovely clothing safe, Antenora" Seira admits. "Let's see if Marie gives me cause to do that?"
[22:51] <Kotono> "Have you ever swam in magma before," Antenora turns back.
01[22:51] <Seira> "No, but I've made plans in case I ever had cause to."
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+25 spellcraft
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+25 spellcraft and gets 36." [1d20=11]
[22:52] <Kotono> "Unless it's a certain type, it's a lot harder going than water. It's like swimming through semi-solid sludge." Antenora goes to just above it, kicking it with her big toe. "Rock isn't nearly as easy to move through as water, even if it's supermelted."
01[22:53] <Seira> "I'm not as strong as you, but I should manage," Seira muses thoughtfully.
[22:54] <Kotono> "I can't imagine how hard it would be to cast magic in it without support, either," Antenora says, "If you go in, make sure you have a surefire way to get out."
01[22:54] <Seira> "Dimension Door and Teleport. That's really it, barring Marie getting Elle and Alicia to get me out with a limited wish."
[22:56] <Kotono> "Be careful then." Antenora replies, "Especially if the lava starts to cool at all. Getting trapped in newly formed rock can even kill a devil."
[22:56] <Alicia> Marie descends further, into the magical field itself to try and figure out what's what since the specific magic remains opaque to her.
01[22:57] <Seira> "That, at least, won't be a problem for as long as I draw breath," Seira states confidently.
[22:58] <Kotono> Marie descends further down!
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 82." [1d100=82]
[22:58] <Kotono> Marie descends further down! She hits a solid barrier of something, bouncing back.
[22:59] <Alicia> Well, that's about all she can do, so Marie flies back. "There's fading abjuration magic down there, but I can't tell what it does. Also some invisible barrier blocked me a bit further on."
[23:00] <Kotono> "You don't happen to have a dispel magic on you," Antenora looks to Marie.
[23:00] <Alicia> "No, but Antenora does."
[23:01] <Kotono> "Well, can you make me breathe in that?" Antenora points.
01[23:02] <Seira> "A barrier makes our options clearer," Seira admits. "This is simply ill-suited for our present level of preparation. Let's restore the lever and ensure the safety of the island, and then plot our next move." At Antenora's words, she patiently says, "Well yes, as I've said before. But only one of us two could go there right now."
[23:04] <Kotono> "Fair enough then. Shall we," Antenora starts to fly up, "By oursleves or do you want to invovle the others?"
01[23:05] <Seira> "We'll certainly share what we've stumbled upon, but the three of us are best suited for this sort of exploration," Seira muses. "Alicia or Elle might scry on one of us to keep track of our progress, though."
[23:09] <Kotono> "Let's go then? WE'll fly down and catch up with them?" OOC: Going to shut the lever then fly out for them, basically?
01[23:10] <Seira> All of Seira's knowledge and experience is telling her to pull the lever all the way up and secure it. Once that's been taken care of, they can leave with their strange scrolls in tow.
[23:13] <Kotono> With that done, the three fly out! As they return, they can see two things. Most of the party is playing on the beach, though a few are a ways away, past some large rocks. Looks like Alicia and Jessica for sure, based on the wings.
01[23:14] <Seira> "Let's go and fill them in?" Seira offers, before pausing and glancing at Marie. "Amaryl was sleeping. Do you know if Alicia is, so we don't disturb her rest needlessly?"
[23:15] <Alicia> "Pretty sure she's awake," Marie nods, back in her fairy form.
01[23:16] <Seira> "Let's go tell her about the not-dragon thing?"

[Corwin]

[20:44] <Kotono> ----
[20:44] <Kotono> Thus the three teleport, appearing at the bottom of the lava shaft! BEfore them is hot magma, hissing with steam!
01[20:48] <Seira> "I wonder if it'll add to our tan, or ruin it," Seira wonders, before gathering the clay she brought along. Water would evaporate, but she can produce enough of it as a component for the spell she wants to start the exploration with. "Antenora, can you lower the level all the way through again?" Seira requests. "I'll try to get at least the initial progress to go easier."
[20:48] <Kotono> Antenora goes and does just that, which goes without incident.
01[20:51] <Seira> The conditions don't quite fit the way this spell is normally used, Seira muses to herself, but the principle behind it is fairly simple. Even if the rocks within the magma aren't in their normal, solid state, the transmutation cast upon them should make their descent smoother.
[20:51] <Alicia> roll 1d8+7 Anty
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+7 Anty and gets 8." [1d8=1]
[20:51] <Alicia> roll 1d8+7 Marie
06[20:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+7 Marie and gets 11." [1d8=4]
01[20:51] <Seira> OOC: 1d8+7? Then just use the +15 from Greater Heroism
[20:51] <Kotono> As they head down, "So we're going to just dive in and see if we can make it all the way down?" Antenora asks.
01[20:52] <Seira> "Yep! We'll try to get past any barriers in the way or dispel them, and see if we get close enough for you to sense whoever's sleeping down there. Simple, right?"
[20:53] <Alicia> "Works for me," the incorporeal ball of light known as Marie agrees as they descend.
[20:53] <Kotono> Thus the two reach the bottom! Antenora stops just before it, "Ready to cast?"
01[20:53] <Seira> "Go for it," Seira agrees.
01[20:59] <Seira> OOC: Strike
01[20:59] <Seira> Summoning water to her as the final component, Seira lets it mix with the clay even as it evaporates furiously, willing for the magma to grant them access!
[21:00] <Kotono> The magma looses and turns redder! Soupy lava is now ahead! Antenora puts a finger in and whirls it, before kneeling down and diving in!
[21:00] <Alicia> Alert for magic and evil, Marie follows close with Antenora.
06[21:01] * Seira rolls her eyes at Antenora's antics, Seira brings up the rear!
01[21:01] <Seira> *and brings
[21:02] <Kotono> Thus the trio dive into red! Head and fluid rock surround you! Your lungs burn as youb reathe, somehow surviving breathing the stuff in and out! OOC: Make swim checks, Seira/Antenora.
01[21:02] <Seira> OOC: I'll take ten for 28
[21:03] <Kotono> OOC: Antenora'll take ten too.
[21:03] <Kotono> It's hard, long going! But with everything so fluid around you, the trio is able to swim down!  Down and down you go, until you stop! You press against something in the redness, preventing you from going any further.
01[21:04] <Seira> 'This is where you shine,' Seira thinks to Antenora.
[21:05] <Kotono> Antenora concentrates her innate magic, willing the Weave to shatter!
[21:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[21:05] <Kotono> But nothing happens! 'Trying again!' Antenora sends.
[21:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[21:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 25." [1d20=15]
01[21:05] <Seira> 'We can spend as much as a minute here,' Seira agrees.
[21:05] <Kotono> This time...'It's gone,' Antenora sends, 'Let's keep going while we can.'
06[21:06] * Seira doesn't need to be told twice, taking the lead!
[21:06] <Alicia> Marie tries to proceed downwards at that affirmation.
[21:08] <Kotono> Thus the pair goes down a little further! As you do...your minds feel a presence! A red and green eye opens in your mind's vision, 'Come...closer...closer...the barriers are breaking! I can feel them!'
06[21:08] * Seira shivers, trying to think back, 'Who are you?'
[21:11] <Kotono> 'Hurry...' As you swim forward, you reach something. A cool layer of what looks to be...ice? You press your faces against chilly ice, lava all above you.
01[21:12] <Seira> 'Can you get through, Marie?' Seira thinks curiously.
[21:12] <Alicia> Marie tries!
[21:14] <Kotono> Marie passes through the icy barrier! She comes out at the top of a deep chamber. The icy roof above her is transparent from this side, boiling magma and the faces of SEira and Antenora seen pressed into the ice. Below are piles and piles and piles of treasure! Gold, gems, art, statues, metal...endless piles of it! Amid it, a great dragon lies! It's body is red, save for it's face and neck, which are splashed with a vivid green. It's eyes are
[21:14] <Kotono> It's body is red, save for it's face and neck, which are splashed with a vivid green. It's eyes are closed, face in deep, disturbed concentration.
01[21:16] <Seira> roll 1d20+28
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+28 and gets 48." [1d20=20]
[21:16] <Alicia> "Hello?" Marie tries calling out verbally now that she's through the ice.
[21:16] <Alicia> Also! Is the dragon evil?
01[21:17] <Seira> 'Did you make it?'
[21:17] <Kotono> No evil. The dragon does not move, but in Marie's mind, 'Hurry...break the magic! I can almost move!'
[21:18] <Alicia> 'Yes, there's a red dragon here with a green face, sleeping in a pile of treasure,' Marie reports. 'It wants me to break the magic, hold on while I try and figure it out... can you two dimension door through?'
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29 spellcraft
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 spellcraft and gets 36." [1d20=7]
01[21:18] <Seira> 'I could, or I could burn through the ice. How thick is it?'
[21:19] <Alicia> 'Wouldn't that drown the dragon and its vast hoard of treasure underneath thousands of tons of magma?' Marie responds.
[21:19] <Alicia> 'Actually, the ice isn't melted by all that magma, so burning it probably won't work.'
01[21:20] <Seira> 'My breath might work, and you've got the wall of force, right? But I can use Dimension Door, I just need the thickness of the ice to target.'
[21:21] <Alicia> 'Walls don't work that way. It's less than a foot thick, anyway. I think one of you just needs to dispel the seal on the dragon and that's that.'
06[21:22] * Seira gropes for Antenora until she's certain she has a hold on her, before trying to shift the two of them into the chamber containing both treasure and dragon!
[21:22] <Kotono> roll 1d10
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 and gets 1." [1d10=1]
[21:22] <Kotono> OOC: How many feat down?
01[21:23] <Seira> OOC: One foot, since Marie said it's less than one all the way through, and we're pressed to it
[21:24] <Kotono> In the air next to Marie, Seira holds onto Antenora from the side! Antenora flaps her wings, straightening and banging her hea dinto the ice! "Ah!!" With a cry her head bounces back down, falling down a bit until she gets her bearings in the air.
06[21:25] * Seira winces for Antenora's sake, but observes the chamber and the dragon, looking for the curse placed upon it.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Hi!" Marie chirps. "So, one of you going to dispel the dragon so we can have a proper talk with him or her?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "Hmph." Antenora glares at the ice before looking down. "I can."
01[21:25] <Seira> "Wait a bit," Seira requests, still not ready.
[21:26] <Alicia> "It's not evil, if you're worried about that," Marie reports, floating down towards the wyrm, trying to guess its age based on size.
[21:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18 arcana if needed
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 arcana if needed and gets 25." [1d20=7]
01[21:27] <Seira> "No, just trying to come up with the right counter-spell. I've got several, and would rather not break something just using a dispel."
[21:30] <Alicia> "You're the archmage," Marie bobs in the air in her incorporeal equivalent to a shrug, waiting.
[21:31] <Kotono> Antenora hovers, "Well, if you wan me to try and dispel it, say the word." She says. "A dragon's horde in front of us. My, you must be excited, Seira."
06[21:31] * Seira decides to go with the flashy, tried and true Break Enchantment. "I'm actually really excited to be doing this," Seira admits. "I suppose I was looking for it to be more than just the casual Dispel Magic."
06[21:31] * Seira shrugs. "Would you believe me saying that the magical part and the meeting a unique, old dragon part trump that?"
[21:32] <Kotono> OOC: Make your roll for break enchantment?
01[21:32] <Seira> OOC: Just one? Okay
[21:32] <Kotono> "I can just see Saul now," Antenora cracks into a grin, "Seira, you're no daughter of mine! Waukeen is dissapointed!"
01[21:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+15
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+15 and gets 29." [1d20=14]
01[21:33] <Seira> "Tell that old fool I said it and I'll know it came from you two!" Seira threatens. "Waukeen actually understands, she loves the pursuit of knowledge and increasing our understanding."
[21:34] <Alicia> "Fools rarely prosper," Marie opines sagely.
[21:34] <Kotono> The dragon's body reacts! It's wings spread out, it's neck raising! It bellows a roar that fills the cavern with a din that shakes the rock! "Freedom! Freedom!" The dragon turns around, stomping! "The seal is gone!"
01[21:35] <Seira> "Hi!" Seira greets the excited dragon. "I'm Seira, are these are Antenora and Marie! How are you? Who are you?"
[21:37] <Kotono> "I am Caesin." It speaks in Common, "I am freed. That is enough."
01[21:37] <Seira> "Fair enough," Seira agrees, wrapping her arms around herself. "We are pleased to meet you, Caesin."
[21:38] <Kotono> "Well met," Antenora says politely.
[21:38] <Alicia> "It's a pleasure!" Marie adds as she bobs in the air besides Seira.
[21:38] <Kotono> "It has been so long, frozen in the midsts of time. How has my island faired?"
01[21:39] <Seira> "It's very pretty. So it's yours? We've thought it abandoned, until Marie heard your voice in her mind."
[21:40] <Kotono> "It has been that long?" The dragon leans forward to inspect the three, "An angel, a courre eladrin and a half blood dragon? So did the Heavens win the war?"
01[21:42] <Seira> "Ah, so it's been two millennia for you," Seira voices, unable to contain her surprise. It quickly turns to excitement, however, as she responds, "Sort of. You mean the war against Daa-vid, don't you?"
[21:43] <Kotono> "Yes. I had heard of it from guests. Before I investigated, great magic overtook me. Since that time, I have been sealed here. Yet no one came for my defenseless horde?"
01[21:44] <Seira> "Remember how I said 'sort of'?" Seira asks. "The world was devastated, and the gods and their servants withdrew until just a handful of years. Rebuilding took a great while, and it's still an ongoing progress."
[21:46] <Alicia> "Powerful creatures like dragons were sealed up like you were," Marie adds. "The world was reduced to a shadow of its former self in many ways."
06[21:47] * Seira nods. "Did you know Ajan? Kangap? Goldan?" she lists the friendly and potentially-friendly draconic names.
[21:47] <Kotono> "In that case...hmph." The dragon's eyes peer into SEira, crackling with red fire. "Ajan the Traitor."
01[21:48] <Seira> "What's the story behind that?" Seira asks curiously.
[21:49] <Kotono> "In short, Ajan created a group of dragons beyond the world, a spiritual sect. He tossed them aside when it was convienent."
01[21:50] <Seira> "On the Astral Plane?" Seira clarifies, leaning in closer. "They were lead by an enormous red dragon that easily dwarfed a city, but I never got his name."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Ixen. Draconic for fire. You know of them?"
01[21:53] <Seira> "We're negotiating," Seira responds. "It's an ongoing, humbling process."
[21:54] <Kotono> The dragon rears back, wings spread. "Very well. Come to me, climb into my back. I wish to see the open sky and breathe the open air once more."
01[21:55] <Seira> "Want me to teleport us, then?" Seira kindly suggests, since her magic is telling her Caesin cannot use dimensional travel on his own at this time.
[21:56] <Kotono> "I can manage. Now that the seal is broken...my lair is not even protected, my abjurations long passed."
[21:57] <Alicia> "It's remote enough to avoid casual notice, at least, and none of the people with us would try to steal from you," Marie assures the wyrm.
[21:57] <Kotono> "Good. Come to me then." Caesin says.
01[21:57] <Seira> "As long as the lava doesn't eat through the ice, your belongings should be safe," Seira agrees, flying over to land on the dragon's back.
[21:58] <Kotono> Thus the three women perch on the dragon's back! It utters a word of magic...
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 19." [1d100=19]
[21:58] <Kotono> The warm air blows against your naked skin. You fly on the dragon's back, above the island! Caesin picks up speed, soaring over above, "Air! Fresh air!"
[21:59] <Alicia> "Wheeee!" Marie cries out gleefully, this being her first dragon-ride.
[22:00] <Kotono> Antenora's hair blows behind her, "Congratulations on your freedom. Freedom can never be underestimated."
01[22:01] <Seira> It's certainly a guilty pleasure to be enjoying flying on the back of a dragon once more, and Seira does so quietly.
[22:02] <Kotono> Thus you fly over the island! "So no guests remained? How are the caves and facilities? Are they intact?" Caesin asks.
01[22:02] <Seira> "Facilities?" Seira asks back. "We just found the mechanism to control the magma flow."
[22:04] <Kotono> "You didn't find the mansions? The warming springs? The pleasure dome?" With a craning look back, "Truly?"
[22:05] <Alicia> "We must have missed them - there's a lot of the island and volcano we haven't seen," Marie replies, crawling up Antenora's back. "Pleasure dome, by the way?"
01[22:06] <Seira> "We're just here for a nice vacation," Seira admits. "Not really to explore."
[22:06] <Kotono> "That is the purpose of my island. Rather than deal with the endless battles of dragon kind, let others be entertained. For happiness, creatures far and wide will pay huge piles of gold and treasure."
01[22:07] <Seira> "It's a great purpose!" Seira says in admiration.
[22:07] <Alicia> "That's really clever!" Marie laughs. "I don't know if the markets the same in the world today, but it'd be great if you could keep it up."
01[22:08] <Seira> "We could send plenty of customers your way," Seira agrees.
[22:09] <Kotono> "It took a century to build it up properly." Caesin starts to descend slightly, casting his shadow over the island. "I will need to  see how they are myself...further, I am in your debts for freeing me.  Name your reward. My horde has treasures from across Creation."
[22:10] <Kotono> After am oment, "There is a custom many creatures follow. It is called clothing. Has it fallen out of fashion in this time?"
01[22:11] <Seira> "Antenora and I didn't want to lose it to all the lava," Seira responds, smiling mischievously. "Marie just loves flashing people."
[22:12] <Alicia> "Yeah, you know how eladrin can change their forms?" Marie asks as she hangs onto Antenora's shoulder, "Recently something changed so now everything we carry just drops off onto the floor when we do. It's really annoying!"
[22:12] <Kotono> "That's true. Why, Marie let me look at her all the time like that! You might think she likes that!" Antenora grins.
[22:12] <Kotono> "...I see." Caesin flies towards the center of the island.
01[22:15] <Seira> "We could have gotten closed once we were close enough to teleport into your sanctum, but freeing you took priority," Seira elaborates, before calling upon her most powerful magic to cloth the three of them in replicas of the clothing they brought to the island.
[22:17] <Kotono> Thus you are garbed as you head to the center of the island. Caesin flies to the volcano, descending into the crater. From far above you can see it's deep, the inside with walkways lined with old velvet ropes. Doors are carved in all about, often fine bits of artistry. Hovering in the upper center, "Fly off to the nearest walkway."
[22:18] <Alicia> Marie detaches from Antenora and flies to the closest walkway as requested. "Seems well preserved."
[22:19] <Kotono> Antenora follows. Caesin growls, "Magic to ward off the need for maintenence and repair lasts well and long. Protective magics are seldom so enduring."
06[22:21] * Seira follows suit, admiring the promises.
01[22:21] <Seira> *premises, what is WRONG with me
[22:22] <Kotono> Caesin begins to shrink! As he does he goes to the walkway! When it's over, only a man wearing a red jerkin and tights remains. His red hair is streaked with green. "This way." He goes for the nearest door.
[22:24] <Alicia> Marie flutters along right behind him, "It's funny how we came here for a relaxing vacation, and we find out that it's the home of a dragon who used to run a resort long ago. Shows we picked a good spot!"
[22:24] <Kotono> "How did you find this island?" Going past a door of carved efreet frolicing in steam, "If it's abadoned, and Is ee no ships...?"
01[22:24] <Seira> "Caesin, can we bring the others who came with us?" Seira asks. "They've never seen a dragon's recreational facilities, either!"
[22:25] <Alicia> "My mistress came here when she was randomly trying to teleport to a nice beach," Marie explains. "She didn't stay, but she remembered it and suggested it a few days ago when we had some time to spare on relaxation."
01[22:26] <Seira> "It makes sense, looking back," Seira muses. "It really must be the nicest beach, since it was guided that way with magic."
[22:28] <Kotono> "How many others are there?" As you travel ahead, you come into a carved room. Here pillars show dryads at play,f raming around an empty, large tub of sorts. Ceramic tile lines the tub.
01[22:29] <Seira> "Just our friends. A pair of teleports should cover the group?"
[22:29] <Kotono> "Let me see what shape everything is in," Caesin says, "Where are yo ustaying on the island?"
01[22:30] <Seira> "We just picked a nice section of the beach, and the weather was nice enough we didn't need to call on magic for shelter. Certainly close enough for us to fly over to the volcano to inspect it."
[22:31] <Kotono> "I'll come to the beach then. Think well on a reward - I can offer you almost a nything from across all the Planes."
01[22:32] <Seira> 'We didn't do it for the reward, but Dad really will smite me with Waukeen's might if I refuse, and he'll be right this time, too,' Seira thinks to Antenora and Marie.
[22:33] <Alicia> 'He'll feel obligated to us if he doesn't square things with some form of compensation. It's quite alright to accept anything he offers,' Marie replies. 'We should probably discuss it with the others and pick something good for the whole group, though.'
[22:33] <Kotono> Antenora laughs ever so little, 'It's your choice - I have more than enough plunder from the Dark Six. No need to take more for a common good deed, as fara s I care.'
01[22:34] <Seira> 'Get something nice for Latha, then?' Seira suggests, even as she mentally nods at Marie's reasonable suggestion.
[22:35] <Kotono> "We'll think about it. Thank you for your generosity," Antenora says.
[22:41] <Kotono> Thus the three fly back! On the beaches you catch sight of Saul and Amaryl, finishing up lunch and chatting back and forth. Mos tothers are about here and there.
01[22:41] <Seira> Seira's first thought is to get her real clothes back, and get properly dressed, so that's what she does.
[22:42] <Kotono> As this is done and the three take care of this matter, "So...Mistress, when will you be calling in the rest of your bed?"
[22:42] <Kotono> *bet
01[22:43] <Seira> "Some time after Caesin shows us around?" Seira responds. "We might've had a reason for not being clothed, but dressing up as maids after that might just give him the wrong idea."
[22:44] <Kotono> "Indeed. Let's rest and wait?"
06[22:45] * Seira gives Antenora a wave, before trying to spot Elle around.
[22:45] <Kotono> Elle's off in the shade, having a chat with Alicia. They're eating an orange and by themselves.
06[22:46] * Seira decides to make her way over, after making sure her gown sits properly on her.
[22:46] <Kotono> OOC: #evil.
[22:49] <Kotono> Thus Alicia finds Jessica by herself, looking up at the sky. "Hey Sis." Shes ays lazily, "Did you see that dragon?"
[22:50] <Alicia> "His name is Caesin," Alicia informs her sister as she takes a seat. "Apparently he ran a pleasure resort here in ancient times... never pictured a dragon doing such a thing, but there you go. Marie says she knows a dragon who owns a bar in Dweomerheart, so I suppose it takes all types."
[22:58] <Kotono> "It's a good island for a pleasure resort." Jessica agrees as she soaks in ray after ray of sunshine. "I'm going to be in Dweomerheart a lot more once we're married. I can go back to Balmuria with a thought, but you and the others will need to fend for yourselves more at home."
[23:00] <Alicia> "We'll manage," Alicia reassures her sister, "You'll need to look at starting your own family, not worrying about us."
[23:00] <Kotono> "I know, I know. I taught Antenora a bit of cooking. She's a fast learner." Jessica looks up, "Shankar said that the temple would be happy to provide hot meals whenever you need them. In more flowery words about sustaining the saint."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Jessica," Alicia begins flatly. "I'm nearly thirty one years old. I'm perfectly capable of looking after the house."
[23:02] <Kotono> Jessica smiles a bit, "Alicia, I know, I know. But what about when you run all about the world and need a hot meal when you trudge home? You don't have to be a hero and a housewife at once."
[23:05] <Alicia> "Nor do I have to rely on others to cater to me," Alicia retorts. "Really, Jessica, I'm quite capable. I know you've taken on a lot of the housework, and I appreciate it, but I can pick up the slack when you're not around."
[23:07] <Kotono> With a calm smile, "I don't mean to say that you can't, but you deserve for people to help you. You do so much for other people. Why begrudge someone cooking you a warm dinner or doing your laundry?"
06[23:08] * Alicia laughs softly. "I can hire a maid if I really need to. Or just get Marie to do it - it's not like she sleeps."
[23:09] <Kotono> "Marie loves that outfit, too." Jessica falls into her own laughter. "I can't wait for my wedding...I'm getting weak in the stomach when I think about it."
[23:11] <Alicia> "Ah yes," Alicia nods, chuckling. "You know, you might even be onto something with that whole chastity thing you mentioned - it is a brand new body, after all, so I suppose you could still be pure in it."
[23:12] <Kotono> "...I never thought of that." Jessica eyes Alicia, "Why, was yours?"
[23:13] <Alicia> "Uh," Alicia glances downwards, "I never regrew my maidenhood if that's what you mean. But that's not important, just that your old body - the one that did all those things - was burnt to ash. And now you have a new body that's never yet... experienced, things. Even if your mind has, this body," she tugs on Jessica's wing, "Is brand new."
[23:16] <Kotono> "Thanks," Jessica ruefully smiles, "This time..." She closes her eyes, "I feel th esun on me and the lapping of the waves. I feel like it's special. Like a raindrop that we only see a moment as it falls past our eyes, before it breaks apart on the ground."
[23:18] <Alicia> "Every moment that passes is gone, never to be repeated... maybe. Some of the things I've seen I wouldn't even be sure of that," Alicia muses. "Ah, well," she pats Jessica's back, "Soon it'll be your special day, and you and Roald can spend the rest of your lives making each other happy."
[23:19] <Kotono> "Very long lives." Jessica smiles now, "Naeys said we have a long time to look forward to."
[23:20] <Alicia> "As long as you need," Alicia affirms, nodding.
[23:20] <Kotono> "Still..." Jessica yawns, "I've been meaning to ask you. What's entropy? Naeys mentioned it."
[23:22] <Alicia> "Death. Decay. Oblivion," Alicia recites. "You set fire to a tree, it turns to charcoal, then to ash, then to dust. It's when things break down. What did Naeys say about it?"
[23:24] <Kotono> "I asked him what a servant of Mystra opposes. He spoke of Shar and entropy together." With a longways look to her, "That manner of thing."
[23:26] <Alicia> "Shar is the Goddess of entropy, yes," Alicia nods. "Her ultimate goal is to break everything down until there's nothing left. Just an empty, meaningless, void. What should happen, though, is that when that tree burns down its charcoal provides fertiliser for new growth, so that even as one thing breaks down, it feeds the growth of another. Shar naturally eschews that balance."
[23:27] <Kotono> "Hmmm. Naeys said that entropy was one of the greatest dangers of Creation." Yawning again as she stares up, "Shar's that bad, I remember the stories about Kesse."
[23:30] <Alicia> "Entropy is everywhere, that's why Shar is such a threat," Alicia nods. "She doesn't just watch over things running down, she actively encourages it, she works to cause hoplessness and despair in people so they stop working to make things better."
[23:30] <Kotono> "But it's okay. Entropy will lose to life and energy, won't it?" Jessica smiles to Alicia, "Shar will lose to Mystra and Selune?"
[23:32] <Alicia> "There's more forces arrayed towards creation than against it," Alicia nods. "Shar's lonely struggle is futile, in the end."
[23:33] <Kotono> "Good." Yawning a third time and curling back, "Say Sis..." Looking to Alicia, "When we were children, did we share a bed?"
[23:34] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head. "The house was big enough for us to have our own rooms. Which we jealously guarded from each other," she laughs, recalling their more innocent childhood bickering.
[23:35] <Kotono> "Mmm...Stories have children sharing beds, laughing and playing and falling asleep together. A pity we missed that."
[23:37] <Alicia> "We played, we laughed, we even fell asleep together at times," Alicia reassures. "But our rooms were our kingdoms... not that we were able to do much to keep each other out, but we'd fight about it. Really, it wasn't a bad childhood."
[23:40] <Kotono> Giggling, "Our forts? Our piillow forts and castles?"
[23:42] <Alicia> "Charles once made a fort like that and insisted no girls were allowed. He sounded so smug and sure, denying us the wonders of his little castle. So we made our own girls fort and within ten minutes he was begging to come and play with us," Alicia giggles at one particularly fond memory of sibling cooperation from their younger days.
[23:42] <Kotono> "Hahahahaa..." Jessica breaks into giggles again, "Did you smite him for being a jerk?"
[23:43] <Alicia> "No, I let him in. I was normally the peacekeeper - being a middle child is hard," Alicia sighs wistfully. "If you have more than two children, spoil the middle one for me, will you?"
[23:44] <Kotono> "Aaaaw!" Jessica starts to giggle, "You didn't give him a pillow smite! You let me down, sis!" Playfully making as if to hit her with an invisible pillow. "I will. Children..." Looking down, "I can't wait."
[23:44] <Alicia> "You'll be a fantastic mother, I'm sure of it," Alicia encourages warmly.
[23:46] <Kotono> "I hope so...I hope...I hope Antenora, Marie, latha...even you...have cihldren around the same time. Children need family and cousins to grow up with."
[23:47] <Alicia> "Who knows what those three will be doing," Alicia just shakes her head at that.
[23:47] <Kotono> "I know. That entire thing..." Throwing up her hands, "I wonder if Antneora went a bit around the bend there. She was a step away from doing something lewd with Marie in front of us. Outsiders...I'm one and all of you still make no sense."
[23:49] <Alicia> "I know, the whole thing was terribly perverse," Alicia agrees. "I just hope they don't end up having a horrible falling out when the threesome ends. What's wrong with just being friends?"
[23:50] <Kotono> "I have no idea." Jessica looks right to Alicia. "I'd say Antenora might just be repressed, but Latha was the one who started it and Marie...well, I had thought she was interested in Antenora. Still."
[23:52] <Alicia> "You were the one who was talking about getting her to date more, weren't you?" Alicia asks dryly. "At least I can count on Marie and Latha to do their best not to hurt her, but... I don't know. All three of them together?"
[23:54] <Kotono> "To be honest, I wonder if they're all just looking for lovemaking." Jessica chuckles.
[23:55] <Alicia> "Well, I'm not one to pass judgement on that," Alicia shrugs. "Still, they should remember that they have to see each other every day, unless this ends up breaking the group apart... I really hope they don't let that happen."
[23:56] <Kotono> "I hope not." Jessica says, "Keep up with it and make sure that doesn't happen?"
[23:57] <Kotono> After amoment, Jessica facepalms hard.
06[23:57] * Alicia makes a face, but then gives Jessica a funny look before replying. "What?"
[23:59] <Kotono> "I just had the thought of Antenora's voice, 'Oh Marie...make me dirty with your chaos!'" With a sigh, "I can completely see that happening, too. It's like she's an elf defying everyone by dating a goblin. In her eyes, anyway."
Session Time: Tue Dec 29 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> "Urgh..." Alicia groans at that image. "Anyway, I don't want to impose on them. Marie's my familiar, and you know Antenora would do whatever I told her to. I'd rather let them work this out for themselves."
[00:02] <Kotono> "Yes. If you need to spend the night out of the house, you can sleep at our new place in Dweomerheart...oh, you haven't been over yet, hae you?" Snapping her fingers, "Drop by when you have a bit."
[00:02] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles, heartened by the offer. "I will. I'll come by and look you up once I've finished up my own business there."
[00:03] <Kotono> "Good!" Another pause, "Sis? IS there anything else you want from this vacation?"
06[00:05] * Alicia shakes her head, turning her gaze to stare out over the surf. "I really just wanted to get away from things for a few days. Relax and forget about liches and fiends and bloodshed. It's been good for that."
[00:08] <Kotono> "Mmm-hmm..." Putting that aside, "You know...I love you, my dear sister." With a gentle, warm smile at Alicia. "I worry every time ou throw yourself into the crucible of battle."
[00:12] <Alicia> "I don't want to worry you," Alicia turns back to Jessica, "But it's not really the safest life, and you'd probably get offended by any reassurances I might give..."
[00:12] <Kotono> "I know. I wanted to tell you. Just in case."
[00:14] <Alicia> "I never doubt it," Alicia scoots closer and puts an arm around her sister. "But since we're sharing, I love you. You're my sister, Jessica Reynes, and I love you and want you to find happiness whatever you do," she affirms, planting an affectionate kiss on the side of Jessica's head.
[00:15] <Kotono> Jessica returns it, ruffling Alicia's hair with a hand. "I like to think that if there's a soul of any part of me that is still Beth, she's happy now too."
[00:18] <Alicia> "I hope so..." Alicia nods slowly. "She had a very sad life, thinking on it... at least what I know. There were many years we were seperated, and she didn't talk much about them. Or at all. I'd have probably just been cruel and judgemental, anyway..."
[00:19] <Kotono> "I think she was like the Antenora I remember at the very beginning and that I see every once in a moon now. Angry at herself and unable to control it. Guilt and unhappiness..."
[00:24] <Alicia> "I sometimes wonder where it all went wrong, if I could have done something different when we were children... but I don't know. I was a child, the little sister, what could I have done?" Alicia sighs and shakes her head. "We'll never know. But you are right about carrying Beth's soul, so whatever happiness you feel, she can have as well," she concludes, turning to smile at Jessica.
[00:26] <Kotono> "Likewise." Jessica returns that smile. Then, she giggles, "I wondered one time if she likes Roald much. Gods, wouldn't that be terrible if she didn't?"
06[00:28] * Alicia looks indecisive for a moment, wondering if she should be sharing this, but then she decides there's no harm in it. "She liked the bad boys when she was younger. She'd probably complain about Roald being boring, but I think he's exactly what she'd need."
[00:28] <Kotono> "Aha! I thought that was it!" Jessica snaps her fingers, "Someone to calm her down and bring her into line. Someone to make her feel like a woman."
[00:30] <Alicia> "Someone she can count on," Alicia concludes. "Those bad boys are never around when you really need them, and they just dump all their problems on you."
[00:32] <Kotono> As you talk, you can hear Amaryl shouting. Something about Elle, seduction and cuddling. It sounds very angry.
[00:32] <Kotono> "I know. Roald's so responsible." Jessica sighs. "it's nice."
[00:32] <Kotono> *It's.
06[00:32] * Alicia winces and quickly takes Jessica's hand before standing up to lead her away down the beach. "We don't want to get in the way of those two," she whispers.
[00:33] <Kotono> "Oh." Mouthing that as she hurries away, "Let's. I suddenly wonder if you can magic up some wine."
[00:33] <Alicia> "I could, but not right now since I used a wish on curing Elle's hangover. At this rate I'll be some alcoholic fairy godmother," Alicia mutters as they rapidly make tracks to get out of earshot of the burgeoning lovers' tiff.
[00:34] <Kotono> As the two hurry away, "In this case I think Mystra will approve. Oh Mystra..." Jessica prays, "Help Amaryl and Seira work out their problems..."
[00:34] <Kotono> roll 1d1000 since why the fuck not for once?
06[00:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d1000 since why the fuck not for once? and gets 685." [1d1000=685]
[00:34] <Alicia> "Better off sending that prayer to Sune, sister," Alicia suggests.
[00:35] <Kotono> "Shit!" Jessica whirls back around, "Where's Hugo!? We can't let him hear this entire spat!"
06[00:35] * Alicia looks for Hugo, although hopefully Dawnhope will have had the sense to do the same as they're doing right now.
[00:35] <Kotono> You can see Dawnhope leading Hugo away, towards the forest, while sending quick, panicked glances back at the shoreline.
[00:36] <Alicia> "There," Alicia points. "Lets go join them, the more the merrier I think," she adds, starting to jog after the duo to help distract Hugo.
[00:37] <Kotono> Thus the four meet int eh forest. Dawnhope is sitting atop Hugo's head, while, "Why are they fighting?" Hugo asks.
[00:37] <Kotono> "They're talkinga bout adult things. Adults argue sometimes," Dawnhope says quickly, "Hugo, let's play a game!"
06[00:39] * Alicia sits down next to Hugo and embraces him in a motherly hug. "Amaryl's sad because she's worried Seira doesn't love her," she explains, knowing he'll be curious.
[00:40] <Kotono> "Like a yugoloth?" Hugo smiles to Alicia. "Like the Red Prison? No one loves in the Red Prison."
[00:40] <Alicia> "Have you been to the Red Prison?" Alicia asks, wondering how Hugo knows this and seeing it as a nice segue into another subject.
[00:41] <Kotono> Hugo smiles, "It's in here," Tapping his head, "My new friend tells me it."
[00:42] <Alicia> "Who's your new friend?" Alicia asks pleasantly, worry starting to crawl up her spine. If some fiend's been trying to manipulate Hugo it is in for an utter world of pain.
[00:43] <Kotono> "He says he's me." With a content smile, "I know he's trying to do bad things to me. I know he's sad, angry and afraid." Hugo takes Dawnhope into his hands, patting her head. "He woke up recently...he says complicated things, so I have to try hard to understand what he's saying."
[00:44] <Alicia> "Is he inside the Red Prison? Inside of you, Hugo?" Alicia asks, wondering if this is instead a symptom of his dual heritage manifesting.
[00:46] <Kotono> "He's in here," Hugo touches his head again. "I know he's a liar. My first thought was that he lied in every word." Smiling happily as he plays with Dawnhope, "Liars burn in Hell. Liars burn in Gehenna. I can send them there." He continues to play with Dawnhope, mussing her hair up.
[00:47] <Kotono> "You aren't a liar, are you, Dawnhope," Smiling now as he holds her, "Lies are very bad things."
[00:48] <Alicia> Marie lies all the time, but this isn't the time to broadcast that. "Has he ever spoke to you before? When you were with the gnomes?" Alicia asks, delicately broaching the subject of his confinement.
[00:48] <Kotono> "Uh..." Dawnhope is eloquent, tripping over her tongue. "Um...Let's play something else, Hugo! How about Hide and Seek?"
[00:48] <Kotono> Letting Dawnhope go, as the eladrin flies away to behind Alicia's head, "No, just recently."
[00:49] <Alicia> "What sort of lies does he tell?"
[00:50] <Kotono> "How much fun it would be to pop Dawnhope between my hands, then lie and say that I haven' seen her." With a sunny look at Alicia, "He says that lying is everything and everyone lies."
[00:54] <Alicia> Alicia's expression becomes grave. "It wouldn't be fun, though, would it?" she asks. "Dawnhope would cry and hurt, and then you'd never be able to play with her again. He's telling you a very mean lie by saying that it would be fun."
[00:55] <Kotono> "I know. He's a liar. Not everyone lies." With a big smile, "I don't!"
[00:57] <Alicia> "That's right," Alicia kisses Hugo's forehead, "You're an honest and kind boy. But you know, Hugo, if he tells you those sorts of mean lies, is he really any sort of friend?"
[00:57] <Kotono> "HE's a liar." Smiling back at Alicia, "He's a very mean liar. But that's why I'm his friend. HE doesn't have anyone else to talk to."
[01:01] <Alicia> "That's how kind you are," Alicia smiles, lowering her voice and leaning close as if to confide a secret, "You know, Antenora used to be very mean as well. Maybe if you're his friend, he might realise he doesn't have to lie to you and say such horrible things. I know you're a good boy, Hugo, and if your friend is inside of you, I think he could learn a lot from you."
[01:02] <Kotono> "I know." HUgo looks in Alicia's eye, "He hates you, Jessica, everyone...and especially Antenora." His eyes burn red, furious. "He wants to poison her and watch her die."
[01:04] <Alicia> "But he can't, can he?" Alicia asks, meeting Hugo's gaze, "All he can do is tell you lies... it must be very sad. So angry and isolated. I don't think he even realises how lucky he is to have you and not someone who'd silence him forever."
[01:05] <Kotono> "I know. He's very angry." His eyes change away from that hellish fire, "Can I go play hide and seek with Dawnhope now?"
06[01:07] * Alicia nods. "If Dawnhope wants to play," she allows. "If he ever upsets you too much, Hugo, I want you to tell me, okay? I can make him go away, if he becomes too bad."
[01:08] <Kotono> "Okay!" As Dawnhope gives hugo a wary eye, she nods! Hugo runs off, Dawnhope following. Once they're gone, "...Mystra..." Jessica says in a quivering voice.
[01:09] <Alicia> "This bears watching," Alicia murmurs, standing up. "I'm half tempted to just root it out and destroy it right now. But I have to trust Hugo - it's a part of his mind, his soul. I believe he's strong enough to overcome his demons, more literal as they may be."
[01:10] <Kotono> "What's his other half? Do you know the parent?" Jessica watches him go, "Any idea what sort of fiend we're dealing with?"
06[01:11] * Alicia shakes her head. "Yugoloth, but specifically I'm not... hmmm, actually, hold on a second," Alicia pauses, fidgetting to retrieve her portable hole and take out the gnome study crystal. "Maybe there's records in here," she wonders, focusing on the gem and requesting all information on Hugo.
[01:13] <Kotono> OOC: Make an K:P check with teh bonus it provides?
[01:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+29
06[01:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 and gets 39." [1d20=10]
[01:13] <Kotono> To this, Alicia sees a beautiful angel of glorious light...and yugoloth. Alicia knows this sort of fiend, able to read the gnomish beneath - an ultroloth.
[01:14] <Alicia> What type of angel?
[01:14] <Kotono> Looks like a planetar.
06[01:17] * Alicia whistles. "A planetar and an ultroloth... I wonder if the one I fought there was actually his father?" she considers. "There's a lot of power in his blood, but I'd bet on a planetar over an ultroloth any day of the week if that means anything," she smiles while putting the gem away. "We have to trust him. He's a sweet child."
[01:18] <Kotono> "Hmm...so innocent. His proper side of his heritage must have won out," Jessica smiles as well. "I pray so."
[01:20] <Alicia> "The gnomes tried their best to unlock any evil inside him and failed, but they also wrote him off as simple when that's clearly not the case," Alicia starts ambling down the treeline, still away from Seira and Amaryl. "And we're doing our best to give him a loving home. I'm confident he'll be okay."
[01:21] <Alicia> "I do feel sorry for Dawnhope, though," she adds with a wince, "She didn't need to hear that."

[Corwin]

[18:56] <Kotono> * Alicia shakes her head. "Yugoloth, but specifically I'm not... hmmm, actually, hold on a second," Alicia pauses, fidgetting to retrieve her portable hole and take out the gnome study crystal. "Maybe there's records in here," she wonders, focusing on the gem and requesting all information on Hugo.
[18:56] <Kotono> > OOC: Make an K:P check with teh bonus it provides?
[18:56] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+29
[18:56] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+29 and gets 39." [1d20=10]
[18:56] <Kotono> > To this, Alicia sees a beautiful angel of glorious light...and yugoloth. Alicia knows this sort of fiend, able to read the gnomish beneath - an ultroloth.
[18:56] <Kotono> <Alicia> What type of angel?
[18:56] <Kotono> > Looks like a planetar.
[18:56] <Kotono> * Alicia whistles. "A planetar and an ultroloth... I wonder if the one I fought there was actually his father?" she considers. "There's a lot of power in his blood, but I'd bet on a planetar over an ultroloth any day of the week if that means anything," she smiles while putting the gem away. "We have to trust him. He's a sweet child."
[18:56] <Kotono> > "Hmm...so innocent. His proper side of his heritage must have won out," Jessica smiles as well. "I pray so."
[18:56] <Kotono> <Alicia> "The gnomes tried their best to unlock any evil inside him and failed, but they also wrote him off as simple when that's clearly not the case," Alicia starts ambling down the treeline, still away from Seira and Amaryl. "And we're doing our best to give him a loving home. I'm confident he'll be okay."
[18:56] <Kotono> <Alicia> "I do feel sorry for Dawnhope, though," she adds with a wince, "She didn't need to hear that."
03[18:56] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[18:56] <Kotono> "Certainly not," Jessica goes to sit down against the trees, "At least we aren't hearing screams or explosions."
[18:58] <Alicia> "From Dawnhope and Hugo or from Seira and Amaryl?" Alicia asks dryly.
[18:59] <Kotono> "Either." Glancing back towards the beach, "I remember Elle saying something about Seira passing at her." STopping to rub her forehead. "I hope they work it out. Drunkard mistakes are terrible."
[19:01] <Alicia> "I think everyone's just gotten a little bit crazy," Alicia concludes. "The business with the Dark Six and Neverborn was hard on all of us."
[19:02] <Kotono> "Mmm." As you lie there, resting, "Ho!" A voice calls from ahead, a  man's voice.
[19:03] <Alicia> Well, there's lots of men on the island right now. More than they started with! Thanks to Marie and Latha. Alicia turns to see who's calling, since it's not a greeting she'd expect from any of them, to be honest.
[19:05] <Kotono> Going through the forest is a vision of red. Red hair, red tunic, red tights. He blazes out, yet his eyes are a vibrant green-red. He looks quite human on a glance. "Are you friends of Seira, Antenora and Marie?"
[19:06] <Kotono> "We are. The lovely friends of Seira, Antenora and Marie. I'm squire J and that's squire A." Jessica stays sitting.
[19:07] <Alicia> "I'm Alicia Reynes and this is my sister, Jessica," Alicia elaborates, giving Jessica a funny look and shaking her head. "Are you Caesin?"
[19:07] <Kotono> "We are going crazy..." Jessica mutters back.
[19:08] <Kotono> "Ah, charming. I am Caesin." He comes forward, switching to Celestial. "I come bearing good will and gifts."
[19:11] <Alicia> "That's gracious of you," Alicia smiles. "Most of the creatures that were sealed away at the end of the great war have tended towards being hostile, so it's a refreshing change, even."
[19:12] <Kotono> "This great war, tell me more of it? I only heard remote fragments before time paused." He offers a hand out to the two, "A gnome rose up against the Heavens?"
06[19:14] * Alicia accepts the hand and shakes it with a firm grip. "We weren't around ourselves, so our story will be scant on details, but we'll tell you what we can. Lets walk and talk?" she suggests, intending to head down the beach away from Seira and Amaryl while gathering up the rest of the group.
[19:14] <Alicia> "It began with a gnome called Daa-vid, who acquired something called the Fairest Star. It was, in essence, the seed from which an entire material plane would be born. He suborned it for his own use, and gained godlike power in the process."
[19:14] <Kotono> "Oh, that's what it is?" Jessica glances sidelong at Alicia, "I never heard that part."
[19:15] <Kotono> "A grave matter of affairs," Caesin speaks gravely.
[19:17] <Alicia> "The Magus of Time told us that part," Alicia nods to Jessica. "We pick up little pieces here and there of the whole story and have to try and fit them together."
[19:17] <Alicia> "Anyway, Daa-vid consolidated all of the gnomes under his power, mostly using mind control - he was *very* good at that. And then they started making war on the rest of the world. The forces of Hell were bound into service of the gnomes, and apparently everyone else - from Ilmater to Cyric, arrayed themselves against the gnomes, such were their power."
[19:19] <Kotono> "The rest is a sad tale, which I've heard," Jessica tsks, as you walk out. Ahead of you, you see Amaryl and Antenora hurrying away to a grove a little ways away, holding hands and staying very close together. "The Gods were rebuffed, until a mortal carrying a sword of death was able to wound and seal away the God-King?"
[19:19] <Kotono> *Seira
[19:22] <Kotono> "From then, the world was left in ruin?" Caesin asks, "A tale of woe."
06[19:22] * Alicia nods. "The battles were terrible, and changed much of creation. Vast parts of the world were turned into desolated wastelands, empires fell into ruin such that I don't think you'd recognise any kingdom today from what you knew before, and the Gods themselves shifted and changed."
[19:22] <Alicia> "Torm's greatest champion, Zariel, was dominated by Daa-vid into striking the Fury, and for this was cast down into the Hells, where she rose to become ruler of Avernus. And in turn was deposed by Bel, who now rules there. Torm went from a steadfast champion of justice, to a ravening berserker lashing out in fury with no discrimination. But in the end, Daa-vid was defeated as Jessica tells it."
[19:25] <Kotono> As you walk o ut, "Look," Jessica whispers to Alicia, nudging her ribs as she glances as the two heading away. "Call them?"
[19:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+14 sense motive, do Seira and Amaryl look like they'd appreciate being called on?
06[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+14 sense motive, do Seira and Amaryl look like they'd appreciate being called on? and gets 22." [1d20=8]
[19:27] <Kotono> "I will have to study this then, to gauge clients." Looking about the beach, "How many more of you are there?"
06[19:28] * Alicia gives Jessica a 'are you mad?' look and shakes her head. "They're busy," she states flatly. "Oh, look, I think Elle's over there with Saul!" she points down the beach, picking up their pace. "On the island here? Thirteen."
[19:31] <Kotono> Thus everyone but Seira and Amaryl are gathered. "Sorry," Elle makes a little curtesy to Caesin, "I think those two will be a bit indisposed for awhile."
[19:32] <Kotono> Antenora lies back in the sun, her skin a warm bronze shade of tanned. "Caesin insisted on giving us a gift for freeing him."
[19:33] <Kotono> "Wealth is a minimal concern if you care for it, as is magical lucre." Caesin stands amid all of you, "I can offer you almost anything from across the Planes. Speak your heart's desire if you have one and I can grant it from my horde."
06[19:35] * Alicia considers that, glancing around everyone else. "Isn't it always the way, when someone says 'have whatever you like' your mind just goes blank?" she asks while wracking her brain for something they can all enjoy.
[19:35] <Kotono> "I know!" Elle throws her hands up, "When I offer material gatherers that, they say the same thing."
[19:36] <Alicia> "Oh, I know!" Alicia brightens. "Commander Obureth talked about rebuilding the garrison, do you have anything that can be used to aid construction and development on a large scale?"
[19:39] <Kotono> "Done." With a snap of his fingers, a beautiful lyre appears before you. It is made of gold and polished white stone, a carved earth elemental on the side of the harp.
[19:40] <Kotono> "Ah." Saul goes to look over the lyre, "A fine piece. This will aid labors?"
[19:40] <Alicia> "Does it play rousing music to inspire workers to act with the strength of ten men?" Alicia asks curiously.
[19:40] <Kotono> "It would be useful in Malmuth now." Latha speaks, "For they need it far more than us."
[19:41] <Kotono> Caesin goes to it, "Observe." Thus he kneels before the harp, running his fingers amid it to weave beautiful music!
[19:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[19:43] <Kotono> As you watch, the music plays! It is a tune of sublime, earthen beauty! As the time passes the sands of the beach rise up, forming into hot glass that cools as water flies to it! During this time Seira and Amaryl come back to the group, watching and holding hands. After about a half hour, a small manshion of colored glass sits on the beach.
[19:43] <Alicia> "Oh, this is perfect!" Alicia claps her hands. "In fact, I can take it to Malmuth now and let them use it until we need it."
[19:44] <Kotono> "Be warned, it can only be used once a day." Standing up now, "It also requires considerable skill with music to properly use. Come then, let's go inside."
[19:44] <Alicia> "Ah," Alicia nods. "Well, tomorrow then. Thank you, in any case, it's a generous gift."
[19:44] <Kotono> "It's...say," Antenora grins, "Could that make a house out of gingerbread and candies if those were provided?"
01[19:45] <Seira> "How do you use it properly?" Seira asks curiously. "If you want to shape stone and not glass...." And she trails off as Antenora speaks, eyes widening.
[19:45] <Kotono> "Woow..." Donald stares at it as he walks ahead, "So we can't throw any stones in here?"
[19:47] <Kotono> "Musical training. The more obscure and fantastical the design, the harder it is to play." A door of purple and rose colored glass is opened, revealing a dining hall within. On tables of wooden colored glass sits several delicacies. "This mansion is yours to do with as you please."
01[19:47] <Seira> "It even makes food? Out of sand and water?"
[19:47] <Kotono> "That was my work to do so. That is not ordinary food." Caesin walks ahead, "Let us take each dish in turn."
06[19:48] * Alicia follows after the dragon, seeing no reason to distrust any of the fare he offers.
[19:48] <Kotono> Amaryl looks on from Seira, hugging to her. She hums a wedding march to herself, smiling.
01[19:49] <Seira> "Thanks!" Seira comments, and then catches up Caesin and whispers quietly to him, leaning over, "Do you think you have a small gem you could sell me on a really short notice? Something forest green?"
[19:49] <Kotono> The first plate has four fruits on it. Each one is about the size of a pear, lava-red. They burn and crackle with smokeless fire. "This is fire fruit from the garden of the Sultan of the Efreet. To those who can withstand it's intense heat, it is a delicacy. To those who cannot, it tastes evne sweeter, but to consume it risks burning alive."
[19:50] <Alicia> "Antenora, Seira, these have your names on them," Alicia chuckles, giving them a miss.
[19:50] <Kotono> "I can," he murmurs back.
[19:50] <Alicia> Marie settles on Jessica's shoulder and quietly mimics Amaryl's humming.
[19:50] <Kotono> "I've heard they're delicious." Antenora does step forward, "The Grand Sultan gifts them to elite baatezu who visit the City of Brass."
[19:51] <Kotono> Jessica looks to Marie, "Excited for the wedding," she whispers.
06[19:51] * Seira is indeed intrigued, but her Dad would scold her yet again if she just jumped on the first deal to come knocking. "Gold is not an issue," she whispers back.
[19:51] <Kotono> "I understand," he whispers back.
[19:51] <Alicia> Marie just cocks her head towards Amaryl. "Maybe I am, but I wonder what Amaryl's excuse is?" she whispers.
[19:51] <Kotono> "Well, I kick elite baatezu ass," Donald steps forward, "So that qualifies me to have one, right?"
01[19:52] <Seira> "Well, we do know fire resistance and healing spells," Seira mutters at this.
[19:52] <Kotono> Jessica looks to Amaryl and then Seira. "...Ah, Seira." With a warm, serene smile to her, "You and Amaryl look to be in a good mood."
[19:52] <Kotono> "May I?" Antenora asks, to which Casein nods.
06[19:53] * Seira decides to follow Antenora's example after all to delay the questioning at least long enough for Caesin to arrange the gem in question.
[19:54] <Kotono> Antenora takes one of the fruits, taking a small bite. Her eyes fly open! She holds the fruit back and stares at it, before going after it! In two bites the pear is gone, Antenora licking her fingers clean!
[19:54] <Alicia> "She never eats our cooking like that, does she?" Marie sniffs in Antenora's direction from Jessica's shoulder.
[19:55] <Kotono> Saul looks at them, "Eating fire? Seira's dream come true."
[19:55] <Kotono> Jessica sniffles and wipes at her eye.
[19:56] <Kotono> Thus Seira takes a bite! Her mouth explodes in heat! It's as if she's eating heat, the taste unbelievably good! She swallows it, tasting it as it passes deeper into her body! Her entire form quakes with the taste from the single bite! Meanwhile Antenora grabs another fruit, tearing into the third one.
[19:57] <Kotono> "Imvwedible," Antenora gets out between a huge mouthful of fruit.
06[19:57] * Seira closes her eyes, eating the pear-sized fire slowly and quietly.
[19:58] <Kotono> Donald goes for the forth, tossing it hadn to hand as it's flames burn at his hands, "Hot! Hot!" he says, trying to get it to his mouth!
[19:58] <Kotono> "Oh, that's probably not such a good idea..." Amaryl whispers.
[19:58] <Alicia> "I hope Elle prepared resist energy today," Alicia muses as she watches Donald.
06[19:58] * Seira takes a look around at Amaryl's words, and snatches the fiery treat from Donald's hands.
[19:59] <Kotono> Donald take sa moment, murmuring a few arcane words! As he does, Seira snatches the fruit! "HEY!" Donald whirls, "That's mine and it's the last one!"
[20:00] <Kotono> Antenora finishes her, going to the bowl and running her fingers on the bottom, gaterhing a bit of ashy juices and sucking them down.
01[20:00] <Seira> "You will thank me later," Seira states, placing it back on the plate. "If you can pick it up now and take a bite without wincing, go ahead and finish it."
[20:00] <Kotono> Donald does just that, grabbing it and taking a big bite!
[20:00] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23." [1d20=11]
[20:01] <Kotono> roll 1d10 con damage ow
06[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10 con damage ow and gets 6." [1d10=6]
06[20:01] * Seira works on consuming her own fruit, even as she prepares to cast her healing magics as need be.
[20:01] <Kotono> Donald swallows the bite down! For several moments his face turns redder and redder, sweat coming down. "It's g-g-g-goo..." With a great burp, Donald belches out fire! Fire leaks from his eyes, his nose snorting out liquid flame!
[20:02] <Kotono> "Kyah!" Amaryl skitters back, "Donald, you really ate it?!"
01[20:02] <Seira> Seira's hand flashes, neatly severing the part where Donald bit into the fruit, before finishing the rest of it for him, as he doesn't seem to be in mortal peril.
06[20:02] * Alicia sighs at the theatrics, even if they do look tasty from how eagerly Antenora's going at them.
[20:03] <Kotono> Caesin goes further down, bringing a glass of water and splashing it in Donald's face. It bursts into steam, as Donald gives a thumbs up. "Best...things...ever eaten..." He coughs after, hacking up burping balls of fire.
[20:04] <Kotono> Elle buries her hands in her face, "Oh my poor Donald." She stands close to him after muttering a few words of magic, drawing signs of fire repellation over her body.
06[20:04] * Seira looks vaguely disgusted, but fire given tasty form quickly restores her great mood.
[20:05] <Kotono> "That's...that's food." Antenora stares down at the bowl, "Alicia, we will have to get more the next time we go shopping. We will."
[20:06] <Alicia> "I suppose it's not like you'll eat much else," Alicia muses. "Really that good?"
01[20:06] <Seira> "Best fruit I've ever tasted," Seira voices. "And naturally so, without the good feeling eating in elysium would give you, too!"
[20:07] <Kotono> "Let's move along," Caesin helps Donald walk along. Ahead are rich red cucumbers and apples. "Here is a bounty from the gardens of dedacdent Sharess, bred for pleasurable taste for all eternity."
[20:07] <Kotono> "I've never eaten anything nearly as good," Antenora answers, "Alicia, you should cast magica nd try one next time, too."
06[20:08] * Alicia helps herself to an apple. "I'll do that if we can buy some more some time," she answers before biting down.
06[20:08] * Seira gets one as well, offering it to Amaryl.
[20:09] <Kotono> The taste is like rich, smooth silk. He envelopes her mouth, spreading like a warming caress. It travels down her throat like fingers teasing at her skin. A bite of sweetness follows, an aftertrail that makes it taste all the better. OOC: roll will, Alicia.
[20:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 42." [1d20=20]
[20:10] <Alicia> Marie floats off of Jessica and enlarges to her elf form, picking up a cucumber and caressing it as she grins mischeviously in Antenora's direction. "Oh, Anty... wanna share?" she offers impishly.
[20:10] <Kotono> Amaryl takes an apple as well, biting from it. "It's...oh, it's sweet after!"
[20:10] <Alicia> "These are good," Alicia smiles warmly, continuing to munch on the apple.
[20:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[20:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 11." [1d20=2]
06[20:10] * Seira bites into it, grinning at Amaryl.
[20:11] <Kotono> OOC: Make will as well, Seira.
[20:11] <Kotono> Amaryl leans into Seira, "Oh..yes...that is very good," she says.
01[20:11] <Seira> roll 1d20+22 my food is making me roll saving throws
06[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+22 my food is making me roll saving throws and gets 37." [1d20=15]
[20:12] <Kotono> Antenora smirks at Marie, "In front of everyone? My, aren't you bold?"
[20:12] <Kotono> Elle giggles at that, but refrains from taking an apple or cucumber.
[20:12] <Alicia> Marie just smiles, taking a bite off the end with a loud crunch before she offers it to Antenora.
[20:13] <Kotono> OOC: Will, Marie.
[20:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+18
06[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+18 and gets 24." [1d20=6]
[20:13] <Kotono> Antenora takes the cucumber, taking a bite off thes ame end as Marie!
01[20:13] <Seira> "You're right," Seira agrees quietly, bringing her arm around Amaryl's waist and pulling her slightly closer.
[20:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
06[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 41." [1d20=19]
[20:15] <Kotono> Antenora passes it back, "Oh my, this is...mmm." Antenora starts to giggle, "This food is far more fun than mundane food."
[20:15] <Kotono> Jessica stands next to Alicia, "Planar food is supposed to be exotic and special, yes."
01[20:15] <Seira> "It must be worth a small fortune," Seira says in admiration.
[20:16] <Alicia> Marie shivers a little, batting her eyelashes at Antenora. "It's what I miss most about Dweomerheart. This stuff is high cuisine even there, but even so, almost every food you can get back home is something special."
[20:17] <Alicia> Marie takes another bite and then offers the cucumber to Latha.
[20:17] <Kotono> Antenora smiles at Marie, "I feel good all over after that." Antenora takes an apple, taking a bite from it. She bats her eyelashes right back.
[20:17] <Kotono> Latha smiles slightly, "The food of Sharess, does it have side effects?" she asks Caesin, even as she indulges as well.
[20:17] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15
06[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[20:17] <Alicia> "Definitely picking up on the decadence," Alicia nods as she puts down her apple core now that she's finished, not willing to gorge herself here by partaking of more.
[20:18] <Kotono> "...my word." Latha eats the rest of the cucumber, "I see."
[20:19] <Kotono> "It makes you feel good, like after a massage or other pleasurable activity. It engenders desire, though it is not overwhelming, only condusive." Caesin says.
[20:19] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes here, but keeps her mouth shut.
06[20:20] * Seira decides to try eating a cucumber as well, considering Latha's reaction.
[20:20] <Alicia> "It is nice, isn't it?" Marie sweeps her beaming gaze between Latha and Antenora.
[20:21] <Kotono> The cucumber is very good as well, Seira finds. 
06[20:22] * Seira shares half of it with Amaryl!
[20:22] <Kotono> Latha is turning fairly red, "If you excuse me," he says, turning aside and heading for outside.
[20:22] <Kotono> Amaryl nibbles at teh cucumber, blushing harder and harder.
[20:22] <Kotono> Caesin steps ahead, "Are you ready to continue on?"
01[20:22] <Seira> "Not overwhelming, right?" Seira inquires, just in case.
[20:23] <Alicia> "Please," Alicia is happy to move on, although Marie catches Antenora's eye and nods her head in Latha's direction as the deva flees.
[20:24] <Kotono> Ahead lies a plate of what looks to be mutton chops. "Meat from the wild horses of the Outlands. Eating it will give you the vigor of a wild animal, removing tiredness."
[20:25] <Kotono> "I am tired," Saul admits, going to feast on the meat.
[20:25] <Alicia> "I did just cast some draining magic recently," Alicia gives Elle a glance before she helps herself to a chop.
[20:25] <Kotono> Antenora turns away and follows Latha. "We'll be back," she calls to Alicia.
06[20:26] * Alicia doesn't question as Marie hurries along with Antenora.
[20:26] <Kotono> Eating the chop, Alicia feels energized! Her fatigue is gone, as if she slept well! OOC: You gain 5 temporary hit points. #evil, Marie?
[20:26] <Kotono> "It is quite good," Saul finishes his off, "I feel like I used magic to rest."
01[20:26] <Seira> "Want to try it as well?" Seira asks, glancing at the blushing elf by her side.
[20:27] <Kotono> Donald sweats, whimpering and taking a chop. He takes little bits, struggling to swallow, as Elle brings him water.
[20:27] <Kotono> "If you like," Amaryl smiles warmly.
[20:27] <Alicia> "Mmmm," Alicia smacks her lips. "I've never been that fond of horsemeat, but this is nice," she approves.
06[20:28] * Seira gets two at the affirmation, one for each of them.
[20:28] <Kotono> Jessica takes a chop, "It's a little too gamey for me, but I feel so much better. It feels like the last of that hangover's gone."
06[20:29] * Alicia uses a napkin to clean her fingers and dab at her lips. "You really do put on quite a spread, Caesin," she compliments the dragon. "Has all of this been preserved while you were asleep?"
[20:29] <Kotono> OOC: Everyone who eats one gains 5 temp HP.
01[20:31] <Seira> "You did mention how this sort of charms remains effective for much longer than protections," Seira muses.
[20:33] <Kotono> "Yes. I traded a Quarut information in exchange for an item that would preserve delicacies." Caesin continues on, the next plate a bowl with ice. In it is a single tall, brown glass bottle. "Limbo Brandy. It comes from a section of Limbo...it is quite good, but very intoxicating."
[20:34] <Alicia> "Liquors disagree with me," Alicia passes on this one.
[20:34] <Kotono> "I'll try some," Jessica steps forward.
[20:35] <Kotono> "Only take a sip." Caesin warns, as Jessica takes the bottle and does just that!
[20:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11
06[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 24." [1d20=13]
06[20:35] * Seira snorts. "I wish I could bring a glass back to Demedais," she says, deciding to try the brandy after Jessica. If she's such a lightweight she'll do something stupid afterwards, Amaryl really deserves to find out now rather than over five years.
[20:35] <Kotono> Jessica takes that sip, putting the bottle down! She looks about, smiling like a silly frog. "Wooow...!" OOC: Make fort, Seira.
01[20:36] <Seira> roll 1d20+18
06[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+18 and gets 33." [1d20=15]
01[20:37] <Seira> "It's certainly strong," Seira admits with a audible disappointment, returning the bottle in turn.
[20:37] <Alicia> "You half look like a slaad," Alicia chuckles at Jessica's bug-eyed look. "Good?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "Y-yes!" Jessica starts giggling, "Take some, Sis!"
01[20:39] <Seira> "I think it's safe to skip this one," Seira whispers to Amaryl.
[20:39] <Kotono> "I'll pass. That last hangover was crippling," Elle holds her hands up.
[20:39] <Kotono> "Y-yes," Amaryl whispers right back to Seira
[20:39] <Alicia> "Brandy isn't for me," Alicia shakes her head, patting Jessica's arm.
[20:44] <Kotono> Thus everyone continues ahead - Jessica wobbling about, eventually just using Alicia for support. What looks to be lettuc elies on a bowl. "Arboreal cross-lettuce. The taste is good and it leaves one feeling very relaxed."
06[20:45] * Alicia takes a leaf for herself and considers Jessica. "I'm not sure if getting any more relaxed will do you much good," she chides gently before biting down.
01[20:45] <Seira> Lettuce and relaxation sound about right after the wine, which means Seira will try it.
[20:45] <Kotono> OOC: Fort if you're trying it.
01[20:45] <Seira> OOC: I think it's safe to autofail, famous last words?
[20:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[20:46] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 34." [1d20=12]
01[20:47] <Seira> "It's... the fey... how I see the world," Seira tries to explain, starting over again. "Just more."
[20:47] <Alicia> "Mmmm..." Alicia sways, closing her eyes happily. "Feel like I could just drift away..."
[20:48] <Kotono> Elle goes for a leaf as well, nibbling on it! Her eyes go so wide as to turn to all pupil! "...it's...I see...everything...!"
01[20:50] <Seira> "Try it?" Seira suggests to Amaryl. "To see how... to taste the colors?"
03[20:50] * Merc (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
[20:52] <Kotono> Amaryl does just that!
[20:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[20:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 19." [1d20=6]
[20:53] <Kotono> Amaryl settles back, "Oh...oh...!"
[20:54] <Kotono> There is one more bowl ahead. A golden material is within. "My most elite gift. Pure ambrosia," Caesin offers, "It will strengthen the imbiber. If you split it up the effect is small, if one person takes it all, the effect is large."
[20:55] <Kotono> "Hey sis," Jessica says, "Did you see it?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "Isn't that addictive for non-celestials?" Alicia asks in a somewhat spacey tone. "What, Jessica?"
01[20:55] <Seira> "Ambrosia? What Latha drank?" Seira asks, keeping herself to short sentences.
[20:56] <Kotono> "I prepared it, as I was under the impression this was a celestial group. Non-celestials should be very wary on imbibing it." Caesin warns.
[20:56] <Kotono> Jessica holds up her hand, "Do you see it? Do you see it? The VEINS, ALICIA!"
01[20:56] <Seira> "Wary?" Seira asks, unable to really find it within her to worry.
[20:56] <Alicia> "Mmm... Three of them ran off, and..." Alicia furrows at the 'happy' thoughts coming from Marie, "Won't be back for- what? Veins?" she turns to Jessica, staring.
[20:56] <Kotono> Amaryl looks at it, "It smells like yellow," Amaryl observes.
[20:57] <Kotono> "Three what?" Jessica giggles, "Veeins...you see them?"
[20:57] <Kotono> Saul steps forward now, "If I may. If this ambrosia will hold, perhaps it would be prudent to save it until our facilities have recovered?"
06[20:57] * Alicia furrows her brow, staring a bit longer. "No..." she replies before turning away. "Anyway, lets save the ambrosia for when the other three get back, maybe?"
[20:58] <Kotono> "Oh Seira!" Amaryl gasps, "I can see it! Ic an see our wedding!"
06[20:59] * Seira looks at Caesin in helpless pleading, since she might still make it if he helps her right now!
[20:59] <Alicia> "Mmm... while we wait, I can tell you what you've missed the last two thousand years?" Alicia offers graciously to Caesin, leaning on Seira. "Ask me anything!"
06[21:00] * Seira throws Alicia a quick, questioning look, before her attention returns fully to Caesin.
06[21:03] * Alicia realises she mistook Seira for Jessica and quickly goes back to supporting her sister!
[21:07] <Kotono> Jessica is on the floor at this point, staring up. Amaryl smiles at Alicia unevenly, "What about the two thousand years?"
[21:08] <Kotono> "It is prudent," Caesin steps back, the ambrosia left. "I'll leave all fo you to your devices then with my thanks."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Oh! Good!" Hugo can be heard behind the party.
06[21:09] * Alicia helps Jessica up, throwing her sister's arm over her shoulder. "Sorry... I think the lettuce disagreed with me," she apologises embarrassedly, now realising with mounting horror she has nothing to distract her from Marie's increasingly happy feelings.
[21:09] <Kotono> "Oh yes, Seira. I'll be back to you shortly," With a nod to her, Caesin is gone.
01[21:09] <Seira> Excellent!
[21:09] <Kotono> "Stars in the sky...colors in the sky...alicia, let's sing about the colors in the sky!" Jessica sing-songs.
01[21:10] <Seira> "More apples for dessert?" Seira suggests to Amaryl with a giggle.
[21:10] <Alicia> "Red and yellow and pink and green! Orange and purple and blue!" Alicia carols agreeably.
[21:11] <Kotono> "Blue too!" Hugo says, "Lettice good! Is it okay if I eat more of it?"
[21:11] <Kotono> "All the color sof the rainbowwww!" Amaryl joins in! "I can see our wedding in the rainbow, Seira!"
[21:13] <Alicia> "I can sing a rainbow, you can sing a rainbow too!" Alicia goes on before trailing off. "Don't eat too much of that, Hugo. Come and sing with us," she gestures for him to come along and join their hug/singalong.
[21:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 25." [1d20=11]
[21:13] <Kotono> Hugo settles in next to Alicia, "Red and crimson, red and crimson rainbow. Throat rainbow..." Hugo giggles.
[21:14] <Kotono> "I can se eit too, Amaryl...but...girls don't marry other girls!" Jessica gestures and in an overdone whisper, "Girls marry guys!"
[21:15] <Kotono> "I marry a girl!" Amaryl shoots back, "I'm marrying Seira!"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Ohh... is your friend giving you those lyrics?" Alicia asks Hugo mournfully. "They're really bad."
[21:15] <Kotono> "Yep! He's so so so black right now!" Hugo laughs, "Blaaack!"
01[21:15] <Seira> "We'll start a new trend!" Seira supports her, mock-glaring at Jessica. "Angels don't marry mortals, too, so you're starting another trend!"
[21:16] <Kotono> "Oh, okay," Jessica says, "Then where to half celestials come from?"
01[21:16] <Seira> "Illicit beach affairs."
[21:16] <Kotono> Donald whimpers, "From Antenora, Mari...dammit, Seira?" Coughing out smoke as he and Elle stand a bit apart.
[21:16] <Kotono> "Ooooooh. So they'll give birth all the half-celestials ever?" Jessica drawls, "They're the mothers...and fathers and...wiat, that doesn't make sense..."
06[21:17] * Seira snaps her fingers, showering Donald with fresh water, which prestidigitation quickly removes, giving Donald's hair a wash along the way.
[21:17] <Kotono> "Thanks." Donald shakes his hair off, "Feel like I'm on fire!"
[21:17] <Kotono> "All of them...aren't there lots?" Amaryl whimpers, "How could they all get out at once?"
[21:18] <Kotono> "Maaaagiiiccccccc!" Jessica breaks into rougher giggles, "Mystra will provide everything, because I can see her! She's so many colors!"
[21:19] <Kotono> "Alicia, look, you can see Mystra too!" Jessica tugs on her shoulder, "Can't you?"
[21:19] <Kotono> Saul look sall of them over, then makes a quiet sigh.
[21:19] <Alicia> "Anyway, sing along with Alicia, Hugo," Alicia tells Hugo, ignoring the others as she picks up once more, "The sun is yellow, the grass is green! Look how the sky is blue!" She then turns to Jessica, "Shhh! I'm trying to teach Hugo some good songs. You should be helping."
[21:21] <Kotono> Some time passes. You think. It's all so awesome and colorful and...and...you're hungry. No. Alicia and Seira are both starving. Their stomachs rumble nonstop as some form of coherency returns. Saul watches them, "Are you all done acting like fools now?"
01[21:22] <Seira> "Nothing lost, happiness gained. I'd consider it a net win, Dad," Seira returns evenly.
[21:22] <Alicia> "It was the lettuce," Alicia complains. "At least some ambrosia should clear things up nicely..." she tries to figure out if Marie's done yet based on empathic feedback.
[21:23] <Kotono> "There's a few more meat chops left," Saul gestures as well. "The ambrosia should be used carefully, if I understand what it does right."
01[21:23] <Seira> "It was dangerous or something like that?" Seira asks, trying to recall what she knows about it. "How so?"
[21:24] <Alicia> "Marie, Latha, and Antenora should be back soon, at least. Then we can split it up," Alicia concludes, taking a seat. "This'll be a special treat for you, Hugo! It's the sort of thing your friend would never be able to eat, so make sure to tell him all about how tasty it is, okay?"
[21:24] <Kotono> "Alicia mentioned it was addictive." Amid you is the palace of glass, everything peaceful.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Strength of Light had some when we visited him in Ysgard, but he wouldn't give me any until after I changed," Alicia explains, gesturing to her wings.
[21:25] <Kotono> OOC: You can make a K:P check here Seira.
01[21:25] <Seira> roll 1d20+13 sure
06[21:25] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+13 sure and gets 22." [1d20=9]
[21:26] <Kotono> As they talk, Antenora, Marie and Latha return. Antenora and Latha are holding hands, while Marie idles atop Latha.
01[21:26] <Seira> Seira's first impulse is to take the risk blindly, but then she glances towards Amaryl for a second opinion.
[21:27] <Kotono> Amaryl is rubbing her head. "Starving...Seira, could you get me one of those chops...?" She stops there, "Hm?"
06[21:27] * Alicia is not going to ask, instead, "We've eaten most of the food already, but there's some ambrosia as well. I was thinking we could split it up between us celestials, since it's dangerous for anyone else," she tells the trio.
06[21:27] * Seira does so, getting one to sate her own appetite, even as she asks, "Do you think the risks outweigh the potential fun from drinking it?"
[21:27] <Alicia> Marie giggles headily. "I doubt I could feel much happier, but okay!"
[21:28] <Kotono> Antenora is blushing, but smiles slyly.
06[21:30] * Alicia sets about dividing the ambrosia up into seven equal portions for herself, Latha, Marie, Antenora, Jessica, Dawnhope, and Hugo.
[21:32] <Kotono> "Fermented ambrosia got us terribly drunk in the bets way possible," Antenora answers, "Strenght of Light did say it's best avoided by mortals, but..." she eyes Seira. "Has that ever stopped you before?
[21:32] <Kotono> "
[21:33] <Alicia> "I really don't recommend it," Alicia puts in her opinion. "It may feel fantastic when you drink it, but I suspect you'll feel absolutely terrible afterwards, with a craving that only more ambrosia would satisfy."
06[21:36] * Seira would be falling back on the lusty cucumber option, then, it seems, and shrugs so that those waiting for her response could proceed.
[21:37] <Kotono> Thus the ambrosia is feasted on! Alicia feels utter happiness explode within her! Her cares, worries and sorrows are vaporized. Joy sweeps her away in a tidal wave, bringing tears of bliss to her cheeks.
[21:37] <Kotono> Amaryl goes with Seira, and lowering her voice, "Seeeira...can we tell them? I mean, make an announcement?"
[21:38] <Alicia> Passing out the ambrosia to everyone for whom it's safe to drink, Alicia raises her glass. "Cheers," before tossing it back, smiling in joyous contentment as she looks to Amaryl for her announcement, wiping away at her tears.
[21:38] <Kotono> Thus they drink!
[21:38] <Kotono> Antenora looks all about, a smile radiant on her face. "I love all of you so much," she blurts out. "All of you...I can never thank you enough."
01[21:38] <Seira> "I know, I'm sorry!" Seira whispers back. "I'm still waiting for Caesin to come back, because it'll be better, then!"
[21:38] <Alicia> OOC: nevermind, Amaryl was whispering, I don't look at her
[21:39] <Kotono> Jessica goes to hug Alicia, "Oh sister!" she says, then goes to Antenora, Latha, Hugo and around.
06[21:39] * Alicia gleefully wraps everyone up in a satisfying group hug. "I love all of you, too!"
[21:41] <Kotono> As everyone does so, Caesin returns. He goes to Seira, pressing something hard into her palm. "My final gift," he says to her.
01[21:42] <Seira> "I'm very grateful," she responds quietly, promising, "I'll pay you back." Without wasting time, Seira then takes Amaryl's hand and covers it with her other one, asking Lagann to reshape the ring for them.
[21:43] <Kotono> Lagannd oes so, as Antenora turns to Marie and Latha. "I love both of you, too," she smiles sweetly.
01[21:43] <Seira> "It suits you, now," Seira says, bringing Amaryl's hand to her lips.
[21:44] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes, "Tell them, Seira," she whispers to her.
[21:45] <Alicia> Marie wordlessly returns Antenora's sentiments with a heartfelt glomp.
01[21:45] <Seira> "Sooo," Seira says to get everyone's attention, raising her voice. "The official elven courting period is five years, so see you all at the wedding then?"
[21:46] <Kotono> Jessica turns, "Oh, are the two of you..." she sniffles, "Are you...?"
[21:46] <Kotono> Hugo eats his ambrosia, smiling butkeeping quiet.
01[21:47] <Seira> "It might take longer if we want to avoid a scandal," Seira admits. "We haven't known each other for, oh, a century, after all."
[21:47] <Alicia> "Congratulations," Alicia goes over to give Seira and Amaryl a hug in turn, utterly unsurprised that elves allow for lesbian weddings.
01[21:47] <Seira> "Thanks!"
[21:48] <Kotono> "Oh," Antenora looks to them, "congratulations!"
[21:48] <Kotono> Latha starts to clap, "May you be happy forever!"
[21:48] <Kotono> Amaryl blushes, "Thank you...we want to spend our lives together now."
[21:50] <Kotono> "This calls for drinks..." Jessica giggles, "Or would if we weren't out of everything but that brandy."
[21:51] <Kotono> Donald comes forward to Seira. "Hey, Seira." He says, offering a hand out to her.
[21:51] <Alicia> "We are paying for yesterdays excesses," Alicia agrees with Jessica as she gives the newly betrothed couple their space.
01[21:52] <Seira> "Not everything calls for drinks," Seira says to that, smiling. "Just all of you being happy for us is enough." She takes Donald's hand, pulling him closer to her as she whispers, "It might be even sooner, to be honest. I really want to stir up the Citadel with a nice, juicy scandal!"
[21:52] <Kotono> Donald gives her a rough hug back, "I get it, you can't keep your hands off of her. Take care of her."
[21:53] <Kotono> Antenora hangs back, going to Latha and Marie. "You two...thanks," she whispers to them.
01[21:54] <Seira> "You're alright," Seira tells him. "Thanks!"
[21:54] <Alicia> "You're only allowed to thank us if we thank you," Marie whispers. "It was a team effort from what I remember."
[21:55] <Kotono> Saul steps forward then to Amaryl. He sternly looks to her, "You'd better take good care of my daughter!"
[21:56] <Kotono> "Let's talk later," Latha whispers, "Let Seira have her moment."
[21:56] <Kotono> Amaryl looks Saul in the eye, "We'll take good care of each other...father."
[21:56] <Alicia> Marie nods and flies over to join in congratulating Seira and Amaryl.
[21:56] <Kotono> Saul smirks, "You're about 100 years too old for that."
[21:57] <Kotono> Elle comes over next to Donald, "We're going to have to give you the best pre-wedding celebration of all time! It's a good thing we have plenty of time to prepare for it and rest from this one, though."
[21:58] <Kotono> Abagail joins them, "Seira, be well. Congratulations!"
06[21:59] * Seira peers doubtfully at her father. "Tell us another one, old man. There's no way you're as young as my beautiful bride!" And then she puts him out of her mind as she embraces Abagail and Elle happily.
[22:01] <Kotono> ---
[22:01] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia, do you want to RP dropping off the harp, first of all?
[22:04] <Alicia> OOC: I don't strictly need to. I'll go to the restaurant with Marie as Alicia, while Marie can retain her usual persona as owner of the place, and pick up whomever has the most ranks in perform (string instrument) to bring to Malmuth with some healthy bonus pay for the trouble, and offer the lyre as a loan to Tant to help rebuilding, with the girl to play it.
[22:05] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, that's fine. Then what?
[22:06] <Alicia> OOC: Assuming everyone who needs to has gotten home to Balmuria, I'll go with Jessica to Dweomerheart to see her new place and then I'll look up Naeys to enquire about my problem.
[22:06] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:06] <Kotono> ---
[22:07] <Kotono> Thus you appear! Dweomerheart sings around you, the realm and throne of the Mother of All Magic bringing bliss to Alicia's soul. You stand on one of the many streets here, the sky above alive with magic. A glass windowed store front shows racks of bread of all types - from mundane to bread that glows with magic, writhing as it changes shape, or made of pure light, stone, metal and other things. White lettering on the window says, "Jessica and
[22:07] <Kotono> metal and other things. White lettering on the window says, "Jessica and Roald's."
[22:08] <Kotono> Jessica inhales the air here, the scent of baking bread hanging like warm fruit. "Naeys helped us get started right away. It's so...Oh Alicia, I couldn't wait for us to have our own shop and home and onw..."
[22:09] <Kotono> Around you walks a wizard in green robes and carrying a staff in hand, murmuring a few gruff words of apology as he hurries past.
[22:09] <Alicia> "I like the name," Alicia smiles at the signboard as she moves out of the wizard's way. "It's homey. Nice and unpretentious."
[22:10] <Kotono> "It's like a dream. We don't even have to charge anything. We get the ingredients for nothing." Jessica leads Antenora to the front door, made of glassa nd with a tinkling bell as it opens. It smells so good in here, Alicia's stomach pleased by the odors. "And the bread we can make now...oh!"
[22:11] <Alicia> OOC: Antenora?
[22:11] <Kotono> *Alicia. Antenora's taking people over today, I don't get it.
06[22:12] * Alicia follows Jessica inside, not intending to stay overly long but she doesn't want to dash off abruptly. "Think I could get a pastry before I go?" she asks.
[22:13] <Kotono> Roald is inside, talking with an old man. He has a bushy white beard, wearing old, fancy robes. The two are chatting away like old friends, the man having a loaf of bread tucked under one arm. "Certainly," Roald stops to give Alicia a friendly wave, as Jessica goes behind the counter. "Our home's upstairs. I'll grab you one and we'll go see it."
06[22:14] * Alicia waves back to Roald, not interrupting his conversation as she follows along with Jessica.
[22:18] <Kotono> Jessica goes behind, coming back with a large pastry. Red jam is inside, little angelic wings made of white icing atop it. It's passed over with a napkin. "Everything's magic here so close to Mystra. Roald...he can do a sort of magic now when he bakes."
06[22:19] * Alicia reserves judgement on said magic until she's had a bite!
[22:20] <Kotono> The jam is sweet and spicy at once, the two flavors somehow smooth together. It's not so sweet as to be candy, but enough to bring the taste of sugar to your mouth. The icing is cool like mint, leaving you with a strange hot-cold taste in your mouth, all of it sweet.
06[22:21] * Alicia swallows the first mouthful and smacks her lips, nodding in approval. "That's a kind of magic I can get behind. Good work, Roald," she gives him a salute with her half-eaten treat, working on the rest in short order.
[22:22] <Kotono> Thus you go in the back, up a set of stairs. Here is a suite of rooms - a large kitchen, a few living rooms, three bedrooms and a bathroom. It's not very decorated besides a large, soft bed. "We haven't had achance to decorate." Jessica admits, "We're going to do that over our honeymoon."
[22:23] <Alicia> "It's big..." Alicia remarks as she sweeps around the dwelling, "Lots of space... won't just be the two of you for very long, will it?" she asks, looking at Jessica out of the corner of her eye.
[22:24] <Kotono> Jessica blushes, "No. I hope not. We both want children once we're married...Roald really came out in favor since he came here. Little miracles, he calls them." Going ong, "Naeys said that petitioners can't usually have children, but he told me it'll work out for us."
[22:27] <Alicia> "I should hope so," Alicia nods. "You haven't left everything behind the way petitioners have, you deserve that."
[22:28] <Kotono> "Yes." Jessica goes to sit in a plain wooden chair in the kitchen, leaning back. "Everything's so different here. Money's a lot less important and anything essential is free. Food, water, clothing...Mystra takes good care of her worshippers."
[22:30] <Alicia> "It's heaven," Alicia concludes simply. "All our earthly concerns and worries are left behind, that we might focus fully on our dreams and ideals."
[22:30] <Kotono> "Hmm-hmm." Nodding ot that, "Should I make some tea, sister? Will you be styaing long?"
[22:31] <Alicia> "No," Alicia shakes her head decisively. "I shouldn't procrastinate any further. I'll come back here once I'm done, whatever happens - we can have tea then."
[22:32] <Kotono> "Mystra with you," Jessica goes to Alicia, giving her a hug. "Good luck."
[22:34] <Alicia> "I could teleport, but is Naeys' home nearby? He said it was his job to help guide me, so I think I should go to him first and see from there," Alicia goes on as she returns the hug. How impertinent does someone have to be to demand an audience with her goddess? Maybe Naeys can take her directly to Hans and Felix... she's already starting to get cold feet about this.
[22:35] <Kotono> "Teleport, he's several miles away." Jessica answers, "We were going to be closer, but we fell in love with this street. Next door there's a fancy cheese and dairy shop, and across the street is a happy elf that sells child's trinket sof magic.
[22:36] <Alicia> "Sounds like it'd be fun to explore the neighbourhood some time," Alicia muses as she parts from Jessica, taking a deep breath. "Well, wish me luck," she asks before teleporting to the balcony of Naeys' abode. She never saw the front door and doesn't want to barge right in.
[22:36] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 63." [1d100=63]
[22:37] <Kotono> Thus Alicia appears after several seconds of nothingness. Naeys stands near her, "Good morning," he bids her, "I bid that you may be blessed by the Weave." After that, he smiles. "Congratulations on your victory over the Neverborn."
[22:39] <Alicia> "Sorry to drop in unannounced," Alicia offers, for all that she suspects she was expected. "It was a hard fought battle, but Mystra lent me the strength to prevail."
[22:41] <Kotono> "Your bravery as the sword of Mystra exemplary." Naeys leads Alicia inside, and as they walk, "What is your business here today?"
[22:41] <Kotono> *is exemplary.
06[22:44] * Alicia takes a deep breath as she walks with Naeys. "I once had a husband and a son," she explains, getting right to business. "They were murderered nearly ten years ago. While I was ascending the slopes of Mount Celestia, I was granted a vision that told me they were here," she gestures to encompass Dweomerheart, "And have not forgotten me."
[22:44] <Alicia> She rallies her courage before concluding, "I would like to see them."
[22:46] <Kotono> Naeys stops, then simply looks to Alicia. His face is without much expression at all. "Ah. Celestia has...stepped on Mystra's toes. Did anyone in particular grant the vision?"
[22:47] <Alicia> "No one claimed credit, but it was while I walked in the realm of Pistis Sophia," Alicia replies, meeting his expressionless gaze.
[22:48] <Kotono> "On occasion, even the Heavens may have some conflict. This was in poor judgment by Celestia. It was not their place to reveal this." Neays has a slight glower on his face, eyebrow bunched together. "Mystra's plans have been revealed. In this case...take my hand."
[22:49] <Alicia> More perturbed than ever, Alicia clasps her hand around Naeys's.
[22:50] <Kotono> "One can walk Mystra's palace for eternity and never find her if she wills it. Or one can take a step forward and find themselves in her light." Naeys begins to walk, "Pray to Mystra to act on your behalf, for she has dominion over the souls of Dweomerheart. She will take the action She sees fitt o."
06[22:53] * Alicia closes her eyes as she walks with Naeys, praying to Mystra to set her heart at ease, to make sense over why her family has not followed the path all others must walk upon their deaths, to understand what is expected of her.
[22:56] <Kotono> You stand in a ball room. An elegant, open air ballroom. Thes tarry sky of Dweomerheart shines, Naeys letting go of your hand. "Mystra has spoken. From here, I am not needed, for Mystra will guide your step. If you pardon me...I must go to Celestia now."
[22:58] <Alicia> "Celestia only showed me the truth, you cannot begrudge that," Alicia opens her eyes, looking to Naeys as they let go of one another. "I don't want there to be a conflict on my account."
[22:59] <Kotono> "There still must be answers for this." Naeys says, "Even if this choice does no damage, undermining Her works and plans is dangerous. But worry not of this."
06[23:00] * Alicia nods. She's expressed her wishes and it's out of her hands. "Until we next meet, then," she allows, starting to walk through the ballroom.
[23:02] <Kotono> As Alicia walks, she hears music. A stately waltz, slowing weaving around her. She finds herself admiring the music, as, "May I have this dance...Alicia?" His voice is as Alicia remembers it. He stands besides her, his presence unmistakeable.
[23:07] <Alicia> Glad she eschewed bearing arms and armour to Dweomerheart, even if she didn't put on an appropriate dress, Alicia turns and fiercely embraces her husband - for all her talk about being unsure where the marriage stands, she's hardly so cold and unfeeling as to get right into that immediately on their reunion!
[23:07] <Alicia> For that matter, she isn't sure at all *what* to say, so settles for holding him tightly, memories of how his body felt flooding back as the years melt away. "Oh, Hans..." she murmurs against his shoulder, "I've missed you."
[23:09] <Kotono> His arms keep Alicia close to him. The embrace is like iron, holding Alicia close. "It's been forever, my love." He whispers to her, "I've been able to watch you grow. My heart swells with how proud of you I am. My death was a mockery of our life together, but you've avenged it and prevented more heartbroken widows."
06[23:12] * Alicia wonders if he's been working out since he died or something, since he was never that strong. Reaching up, she caresses his cheek and chin, everything feeling as she remembers it... and then she presses her lips to his, venting nearly a decade's worth of loss into a single soul-searing kiss, expressing her feelings better than words ever could.
[23:14] <Kotono> Alicia feels herself flow into Hans, Hans flowing into her. The kiss takes her away, feeling everything. Hans returns it with a passion like the Weave aflame, holing Alicia to him! When it ends, a life time later, looking into her eyes.
06[23:16] * Alicia pulls her head back slowly, satiated as she presses her fingertips to his lips briefly while releasing a shuddering breath. "I never thought I'd see you again," she confesses. "You or Felix. You were gone, and nobody could bring you back..."
[23:18] <Kotono> "It is a story you need the answer to," Hans gazes long into her eyes, holding her hands in his. "I have been able to watch you for a long time, Alicia...let me begin with that. When you traveled to liberate the Fourth Resort from the Magus of Time, you came on a vision of Entropy?"
[23:20] <Alicia> "Entropy?" Alicia looks confused, wondering how something that happened less than a year ago relates to events of a decade ago. "He showed me a vision where you and Felix never died," she tells him what she remembers most from that.
[23:22] <Kotono> "No. A vision of how everything ends, where Entropy wins." Hans goes on. "Shar's dream."
[23:23] <Alicia> "I think I remember," Alicia manages a small nod, although it's a dim recollection, other things more prominent in her memories of that time. "But what does that have to do with this?"
[23:26] <Kotono> "Shar's works have lurked deep in the world." Going on now, very gentle, "It was by Shar's indirect hand that the bandits came to our house. Her hand brought about the chaos in Kesse, aimed to decipate the Crimson Guard. Her hand stole mothers away from daughters, parents from crying children."
06[23:29] * Alicia tenses, her grip on Hans like iron. "What?" she asks, a cold fury starting to blaze behind her eyes. Now she has a new target for her vengeance.
[23:29] <Alicia> But worse than that is confronting the utterly horrific extent of Shar's petty vileness - even in a time when the Gods were all but absent from their world, she took the time to destroy the life of someone who might as well have been an apostate from Mystra's church anyway? How could any being possibly be so perverse?
[23:31] <Kotono> "Shar is afraid of you...afraid of the Crimson Guard and Balmuria. In all of you, she sees hope. Like Baator, she cannot withstand hope. Mystra's plan for you..." Hans holds Alicia tighter, "It was not yet time, not until the God-King was settled. But you have come now."
[23:33] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia looks at her dead husband with a pleading expression as she compartmentalizes the raging need for vengeance, not wanting it to consume her right now, "It's been *ten years* Hans. Why, after all this time?"
[23:48] <Kotono> "It is a very long story." Hans says gently, "Listen to me now, my love."

[Corwin]

[18:08] <Kotono> -----------
03[18:10] * Dracos2 (~Dracos@c-76-123-2-164.hsd1.va.comcast.net) has left #dunes (Leaving)
[18:10] <Kotono> All around Demedais the rebuilding of Malmuth has progressed apace. Slowly the shattered city has begun to rebuild itself, day after day involved in caring for those who have lost everything. Day in and day at, mostlyworking with Saul and Pollyanna. It is evening, a frigid-cold night blowing in. Snow blows outside, rivulets of white  spraying amid the ruins. (More)
[18:11] <Kotono> You stay in a room in one of the restored buildings, given to you by Queen Tant. Pollyanna has already retired for the night, going abed. But Demedais can't seem to quite fall asleep. There is a restlessness to him. A faint but inexorable urging, a pull. He feels not the least bit sleepy, long thoughts lost as he stares into the fireplace.
06[18:14] * Demedais looks at the fireplace quietly, mentally gauging the pull before deciding to head outside and walk, first bundling himself in somewhat warmer clothes before doing so. Perhaps there would be some work he could aid in... little help in calming his thoughts, but perhaps it would be a distraction.
[18:16] <Kotono> The streets outside are quiet. The snow is only light, but ther eis a bitter cut to the air tonight. The buildings about are packed to over capacity, yet a vast tent city remains outside. But as Demedais walks...his footsteps take him into the ruins. Away from everyone else, away from warmth and into the heart of Malmuth. Not a pull, a need. A need to step forward, to keep going. It tickles the back of his mind.
[18:16] <Kotono>  It tickles the back of his mind.
[18:18] <Demedais> "...then guide my steps again..." Demedais mutters, turning toward the center of Malmuth, still glancing around at the reconstruction as he does so.
[18:22] <Kotono> Each step the pull strengthens. As Demedais walks he finds himself at the center of the city. In this ruined place, where Alicia, Antenora and Latha faced one of the remorhazes and a powerful magical disturbance, is silence. But it is not a silence to be heard alone. He is there. He stands within the ruins, an old, fearsome warrior. His presence is unmistakable, yet He does not look at Demedais. He instead looks out into the ruins.
[18:22] <Kotono> yet He does not look at Demedais. He instead looks out into the ruins.
06[18:25] * Demedais observes the warrior carefully, already guessing at the proper answer but not yet certain. After a few moments, refusing to break the snow's silence, he simply quietly advances toward the old man, his own attention split between the man and the devastation.
[18:27] <Kotono> In the devastation is life. In it shards of images pass - of days and nights, of people coming through and living. From an open field to a small city to a burgeoning capital to a mammoth city like none other in a split-second. Then...again things are built. The city thrives in a heartbeat...and in another, shatters into flames...in another...fades into nothingness...in another, a Lord is crowned within...in another, life merely goes on. (More)
[18:27] <Kotono> fades into nothingness...in another, a Lord is crowned within...in another, life merely goes on. (More)
[18:29] <Kotono> He takes the images into His hand, "Past, present, future. The wheels continue to turn, every moment of existence a war over which shall be." The images are gone into His hand, "The battle of eternity."
[18:31] <Demedais> Demedais is silent a moment longer, before kneeling, a few steps behind the warrior. "And no respite for those made weary by it - when the elephants clash, it is the grasses that suffer most..."
[18:33] <Kotono> "As long as the eternal battle wages, there never will be. Good and evil, law and chaos, life and death." The warrior turns to Demedais, "As long as we have Duty, we can strive so that the next day is a better one than the last. In our Duty, we will prevail." He approaches Demedais, "Rise, my servant."
06[18:34] * Demedais bows his head, before rising, maintaining a respectful silence.
[18:37] <Kotono> "Amid ourselves, we call Creation the Competition. A competition to define what Creation is and what must be." Helm begins to walk, "Walk with me, my servant. Hold your head high, for you have no shame to keep it hung."
[18:39] <Demedais> "Thank you, Ever-Vigilant One." Demedais replies, following at Helm's side.
[18:43] <Kotono> The city is silent - the snow is paused. It hangs in the air, midfall. The wind has ceased. "Our purpose is three. We guide mortal kind, shepards of souls. We belief and concepts, while mortal kind defines us and what we are to those concepts. Our third is to determine what Creation will become. The third is the truth that matters above all. In this our war, our Competition, wages for eternity. Each mortal life that is born becomes a part of t
[18:43] <Kotono> wages for eternity. Each mortal life that is born becomes a part of the Competition."
[18:44] <Kotono> *we define
[18:46] <Demedais> "... I see." Demedais says quietly, continuing to look forward. "And this Competition is between all the Gods, and I presume the outsiders as well?"
[18:49] <Kotono> "Yes. There is less difference between us and those who call themselves the lords of ethos - Asmodeus, Demogorgon, Queen Morwel, Zaphkiel - than is commonly believed. We all compete for the same goal." After that and a moment to reflect, "Free will is what drives the Competition. We cannot see the future, only possibilities. In this endless wheels turn within wheels within wheels."
[18:54] <Demedais> "...and from that source..." Demedais nods, closing his eyes a moment.
[18:56] <Kotono> "Yes." A pause here. You are not in Malmuth. You stand in Balmuria, a frozen night of snow. You stand atop the hill near Elle's shop and Seira's inn. The sea and ships can be glimpsed, the city sprawilng out. "You have been my primary instrument in this world. You have served me well...even in the direst hour, for when the Neverborn menaced, none of us could act. Through you and your wisdom a prophecy came, one that aided the Neverborn's intef
[18:56] <Kotono> Through you and your wisdom a prophecy came, one that aided the Neverborn's inteference from succeeding."
[18:57] <Demedais> "A task they were able to complete, while your call led me to stay in Malmuth and aid both in reconstruction and in diplomatic stability..." Demedais nods quietly.
[18:59] <Kotono> "Yes. A sign...for it is time for you to ascend to a higher wheel." With a look out to the sea, "The future continues to form as we pass through eternity. Uatu's survival was merest chance, but I the piece in play is one that will bring our believes strength. Through him..." Demedais feels Helm's presence looking at him, "Uatu is non-linear. He sees beyond this world, beyond the normal flow of time."
[18:59] <Kotono> beyond the normal flow of time."
[19:00] <Kotono> *beliefs
06[19:01] * Demedais is silent for a long moment, his eyes on Balmuria. "... I have but one question, for my own sake; my answer will be the same regardless."
[19:01] <Kotono> "Ask." Helm speaks.
[19:02] <Demedais> "Will I still be aiding the Crimson Guard direct through this, or will my duty then lie elsewhere?" Demedais, at this, turns to Helm calmly.
[19:04] <Kotono> "You will be aiding the world. In this you will be a compatriot to the Crimson Guard. For you see..." You stand before Uatu now, in the mists. "On one wheel of the game, Shar has been making a long play to snuff out hope amid those it matters the most to. Her machinations have touched many...her work saw the end of Alicia's family, the hopelessness and poverty that lead Shamal's parents to sell her, the death of Seira's mother...and yet far mo
[19:05] <Kotono> the hopelessness and poverty that lead Shamal's parents to sell her, the death of Seira's mother...and yet far more." (More)
03[19:05] * Merc-zzz (~k@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net) has joined #dunes
03[19:05] * Merc-zzz is now known as Merc
[19:06] <Kotono> "Many other who may have answered the call in this age died or gave into despair by her deeds. In despair she took to swallow those souls. This cannot be, not any more...and the time has come to where a remedy can be obtained.
[19:06] <Kotono> "
06[19:07] * Demedais nods at this. "Very well, then. What shall I do?"
[19:09] <Kotono> "You...my servant." Helm turns, "When you hold Uatu...Uatu controls passage beyond worlds. With your potential and vision and his power, a new method of passing souls along past death can be made. One that is safe, orderly and controlled."
[19:10] <Demedais> "One that prevents her from taking any more into her grasp?" Demedais muses.
[19:12] <Kotono> "Ones that are not hers fairly won," Helm looks to Uatu now, "I have had a long understanding with Kelemvor; this will shatter it. A war will likely come of it, but it is what needs to be done."
[19:12] <Kotono> (More)
[19:18] <Kotono> "You have seen the threat evil is to the souls of mankind. You will be a shield, able to protect those across all the vast world, helping to limit the depravities of the Realms Below and the wastes of chaos."
[19:23] <Demedais> "A shield... Very well." Demedais nods, before pausing. "I will do it. However... may I ask a question regarding Kelemvor, as well?"
[19:23] <Kotono> "Ask," Helm says. "Ask what you will, my servant. Satiate your curiosity, for you have earned it."
[19:29] <Demedais> "If this safe road, so to speak, is established, then it seems likely that Shar will attempt to break it with all she has. In her actions, she also would have gone against Kelemvor's judgment in the diversion of souls to a place undeserved. Would it, then, not make sense to request Kelemvor's aid in protecting this safe road, thusly ensuring that Shar loses this benefit permanently?" Demedais hazards.
[19:30] <Kotono> "Why yes. That is..." Helm smiles, "Exactly as planned, and how I plan to end the war between us. Shar is no friend of Kelemvor."
[19:31] <Demedais> "... ah. My apologies, then." An embarrassed grin creeps up Demedais' face. "I should have presumed you would see that, but I felt the possibility should be ventured just in case."
[19:32] <Kotono> "Your observation speaks of your wisdom, my servant." After another moment, turning back to Uatu, "When Torm fell...I knew my heart that my duty to my friend required that I take his fallen banner. I may take his cause, but I am not Torm."
[19:35] <Demedais> "I had often wondered if that is what happened." Demedais says simply, looking to Uatu himself.
[19:37] <Kotono> "In you..." You stand before Pollyanna now, "I see myself, the question of good being weighed. Your divided nature - you smite evil and see chaos - represents that. The answer to your question is one you will come to answer when the time is right."
[19:37] <Kotono> Pollyanna sleeps in her bed, hair tassled and loose.
06[19:39] * Demedais nods to this, looking now to Pollyanna. "Is... Pollyanna to accompany, or to continue aiding the Crimson Guard?"
[19:39] <Kotono> "What is your will there?" Helm asks back, as Pollyanna tosses in her sleep. "Mmm...Demedais..." she mutters, clutching a pillow and rolling back over.
[19:45] <Demedais> "... When I was in the grasp of prophecy, that was all I could see. Even if the power becomes easier to control, it will still take most of my will for a long while to continue its governance, I suspect." Demedais is silent for a long moment. "It is not that I do not wish her there with me - but I will not be there with her, wherever she is." (More)
[19:48] <Demedais> "If I can gain control and understanding over what Uatu and I can together do, then perhaps I will be able to be there. Then, perhaps, I will be ready, and she will be more so." Again, a silence. "Uatu controls the path between worlds, across worlds. When it is time, distance will be no concern; when the safe road is stabilized, perhaps then my attentions will turn, though that will be something I always guard."
[19:49] <Kotono> "So be it then." Helm looks to Pollyanna, "Demedais. I will come again at midnight tomorrow, twenty four hours from now. In this time, conclude your affairs here. The two Resorts you bear must be given to the Crimson Guard, but the rest of your possessions are yours to keep. This power will allow you to do what you wish to do in this time."
[19:51] <Demedais> "Very well. This being said, where I go... minimal possessions will be needed. Thank you, Ever-Vigilant One."
[19:52] <Kotono> In that, Helm is gone. Pollyanna sleeps on the bed, as if nothing at all has happened.
06[19:54] * Demedais is quiet for a moment, looking over at Pollyanna. "Sleep for now, dear. The day will be enough time to tell you and to explain what I do." With that, he wills himself to his room in the Temple of Helm, in Balmuria.
[19:55] <Kotono> Demedais appears there a moment later, the room dark and serene.
06[19:58] * Demedais efficiently moves to package all documents together and to place all remaining items in his haversack. A moment of quiet, before Demedais steps out to find Father Ceiar or the High Priest, at least one of whom should be helping with the nightly rounds.
[19:59] <Kotono> Father Ceiar is just coming from outsider, shaking snow out of his hair. "Ah, Demedais...when did you get in?" he asks.
[20:00] <Demedais> "Just now. Father Ceiar..." Demedais pauses for a moment, swallowing. "...Thank you."
[20:01] <Kotono> "Hm?" With a curious look, "For what?"
[20:02] <Demedais> "... Helm has requested my aid. Directly." Demedais says slowly, advancing to Father Ceiar. "...This'll be the last time I'm directly around for a while, though given where I'm going you may see more of me than I anticipate."
[20:05] <Kotono> Father Ceiar's face drops for a moment, before he smiles. It's a sad smile, "Those truly worthy never stay as long as the foolish and wicked." Father Ceiar takes Demedais by the shoulder, "Helm has called you to him. I rejoice."
06[20:07] * Demedais takes Father Ceiar's other shoulder, before hugging him. "I'll be back by sometime. I promise that. It's more a case of being gone for... well, longer than any of the rest of these trips have been."
03[20:09] * Ebiris (WinNT@95.146.4.93) has joined #dunes
[20:09] <Kotono> In the embrace, "I knew you wouldn't be here long. Helm's shown he has great designs on you. Walk with him, Demedais."
03[20:09] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Ebiris
03[20:12] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[20:12] <Demedais> "And you as well, Father." A moment longer, before Demedais breaks the hug. "I, sadly, have little time. I've cleaned my room and assembled the notes - perhaps some may be of interest... Do me one favor, however, and wait until midnight tomorrow or later before entering. I may be in and out if I need to sort through things." A pause, before he laughs. "That broke the mood, didn't it. Sorry."
[20:13] <Kotono> "I will keep your request." Father Ceiar says, laughing as well.
[20:15] <Demedais> "Thank you, Father." Demedais says, still grinning. "Take care, and I -will- be trying for visits when I can, though it may be a while. I've got to go drop off the shield and ring with Oberuth, so."
[20:17] <Kotono> "Helm walk with you," Father Ceiar bids.
[20:18] <Demedais> "And with you, Father." Demedais nods, heading out into the streets of Balmuria for the short walk to the garrison.
[20:20] <Kotono> The night is snowy. Going to the garrison, you get Commander Oberuth - eventually. He's tousled from his sleep and wearing warm winter clothes as he sits. Drinking something from a flask and shaking his head, "It has to be good if you're waking me up for it on this sort of night. Report, Demedais."
[20:22] <Demedais> "I have but two things to report, sir, but both are of interest to the Crimson Guard, I believe. The first leads to the second, and as such: I must humbly step down for now as a member of the Crimson Guard, though I would be honored to still be considered one informally, Sir." Demedais says quietly and with a slight smile.
[20:22] <Kotono> Oberuth stops and puts aside his drink, face solemn. "Then get to the second."
[20:25] <Demedais> "I am still on the first, if only in part. The reason for this is because Helm... has requested my aid directly. This will be the last time I will be directly in Balmuria - or, indeed, capable of fulfilling my duties as a member of the Crimson Guard - for a while."
[20:29] <Kotono> "Hmph." Now crossing his arms. "Dammit all." Sighing out, "...yes, I remember when you first came to the guard. We were sure that Helm sent you this way to replenish our ranks. I suppose that this is expected too."
[20:32] <Demedais> "Your ranks swell, at this point. And while I may return... it will not be for a while. I'll still be fighting, though, but it'll be a... far different battle. Which leads me to the second point." Demedais takes off the ring and unprops the shield. "The Crimson Guard still has ownership and need of these. And perhaps when they're all finally used, I'll be able to assist as well. For now, however... they belong back in the han
[20:33] <Demedais> "For now, however... they belong back in the hands of the Crimson Guard." (More)
[20:34] <Demedais> A slight pause. "This isn't how I expected things to go, but if this works I think we'll be one step solidly closer to something resembling a true peace. I can't not move toward this."
[20:37] <Kotono> "Alright. I can't keep you," Oberuth grumbles, offering his hand out. "Take good care of yourself doing Helm's work. You're welcome back here or in the Guard whenever you come here."
[20:39] <Demedais> "Thank you. Helm watch over you, and I'll see about stopping by sometime." Demedais takes his hand and shakes it, nodding after a moment. "It has been a great honor, ... Commander." Demedais grins awkwardly, before beginning to lope back out to visit his father.
[20:40] <Kotono> Croger is found in a room at the Temple of Helm, having been put up there. As befitting the late hour, it takes a few minutes of knocking to get him awake. He opens the door, "Who...what...oh, Demedais," Rubbing his eyes clean, "You're back from Malmuth?"
[20:42] <Demedais> "For a short time." Demedais nods slightly. "May I come in for a moment?"
[20:43] <Kotono> You are lead in. The room's fairly spartan, save for a few holy symbols for Ilmater and the Triad. Smothering a yawn as he sits onto a chair, "How are you? You've been occupied so much."
[20:45] <Demedais> "I have, I'm afriad. And... that's going to be even more the case from here on." Demedais says, looking up to Croger. "Helm's requested my aid. I... won't be around for a while, not directly."
[20:46] <Kotono> With a slightly cocky smile, "Yes? That long, but so be it. After all I've seen since I met you, I'm not worried." He goes to Demedais, "Son, you took me to the Heavens to save my life."
06[20:49] * Demedais nods slightly, smiling. "Heh. I... yeah. Mainly just feel bad for the disconnect, but... I should be able to stop by again sometime, after what needs to get done is done." With that, he embraces Croger. "Do take care of yourself, especially if you go on that pilgrimage to Ilmater. Alright?"
[20:49] <Kotono> "I'm going to. Triad save both of us," Croger says softly. "Be well, my son."
[20:50] <Demedais> "I will be. Talk to you later, alright? ...Love you." Demedais says softly.
[20:52] <Kotono> "Bless you and love you," With a whisper back, Croger parts.
06[20:54] * Demedais nods. "And remember, don't get cursed by random disguised devils who I've been annoyed at for a while!" With that and a grin, Demedais shakes his head.
[20:55] <Kotono> "I'll try my hardest," Grinning back, "Let's hope Esthan was the only one."
[20:56] <Demedais> "Indeed. But you know where to turn if not." With that and a wave, Demedais steps out and heads back to his room, thinking a bit before teleporting to Engan's doorstep.
[20:59] <Kotono> Engan's house is warm. There is light coming from inside, the door shut.
06[21:00] * Demedais listens to see if there is any company. The message can wait, but he'd like to finish these errands before the day broke in Malmuth, if at all possible.
[21:01] <Kotono> There's relative quiet in the hou se, it sounds like.
06[21:02] * Demedais knocks, then!
[21:03] <Kotono> After a few moments, the door open. Engan peers at Demedais, "Oh, c'min," he bids. "Weren't you off in Malmuth?"
[21:04] <Demedais> "I was, but... well. I had something I needed to do here, including stopping by." Demedais nods, stepping in.
[21:06] <Kotono> Inside you are takento a warm fireplace, a bottle of strong booze open. Engan pours Demedais a shotglass of it, "To ward off the cold."
[21:07] <Demedais> Suspecting that it would be hard to get him drunk tonight, Demedais accepts the glass. "Thank you. I presume the training is still going well for them?"
[21:08] <Kotono> "Yeah." Swallowing his drink down as liquid warmth travels through Demedais. "This cold winter's been good for teaching them how to endure cold."
[21:09] <Demedais> "A valuable lesson." Demedais nods, before falling into a quiet for a moment. "Engan, thank you for all that you have taught me, and for continuing to teach others here in Balmuria."
[21:09] <Kotono> "You're welcome...so you're going somewhere? You're saying goodbye?"
[21:11] <Demedais> "For now, yes." Demedais nods. "...Helm's requested my aid directly, so... it'll be a while before I can swing back in again, though I intend to. Take care of yourself and toughen those kids up, alright? Don't have the time to say hi to them, but... tell them that Helm will watch over them, and that I'll be back sometime."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Yeah, I will. When someone comes in on a night like this and thanks you, it's a sign." Cracking his knuckles, "Good luck then."
[21:16] <Demedais> "Thank you. And..." Demedais grins. "If this is excuse enough for a double workout tomorrow, presuming they're around, do it."
[21:23] <Kotono> "Hah!" With a big grin back, "It is."
[21:24] <Demedais> "Excellent. Later, then." Demedais nods, stepping out and closing the door. After a moment, he closes his eyes and imagines the outskirts of the city where he visited for the orphanage.
[21:25] <Kotono> In a moment, Demedais is there. It's quite sunny and warm, the sun high in the sky.
06[21:27] * Demedais pulls out a bag, filling it with small gems before put the bag inside the handy haversack again. With that, he opens the door, peering inward.
[21:30] <Kotono> Inside you can see children playing, running around in fun and joy. Sister Julia works amid them, keeping order amid the storm of child-chaos.
06[21:31] * Demedais grins at seeing all this, before walking gingerly over to Julia. "It is good to see you, Sister."
[21:33] <Kotono> Julia turns, "Ah! S-Sir Demedais!" She whirls, "Holy man, we are honored by you coming to us again!"
[21:34] <Demedais> "It is only a short visit, I am afraid." Demedais smiles sadly. "However, the opportunity arose, and I decided I would take it. Everything has been well since I left?"
[21:35] <Kotono> "Yes!" With a quick nod, "The..." A pause as children run by, laughing. "Demedais!" One of them call, pointing, "He's here!"
[21:36] <Demedais> "Hehe..." Demedais looks at kids with an easy, if still somewhat sad, grin.
[21:36] <Kotono> "Children! You can play with him later!" Sister Julia commands, the children backing away.
[21:37] <Demedais> "You were saying, Sister Julia?" Demedais asks as the children back off.
[21:37] <Kotono> "The orphanage is doing better now." With a warm look, "How are you?"
[21:39] <Demedais> "I am alright, but... I will be undergoing a task that will take the majority of my time for a while. As such, I won't be able to stop back in until it's resolved. I figured I'd visit while I had the chance." Demedais replies.
[21:40] <Kotono> "Ah, of course. A holy man such as you has important deeds," Sister Julia looks down and blushes, "T-thank you for coming."
[21:43] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais shakes his head. "Knowing these children will be safe allows me one less burden to carry as I move forward."
[21:44] <Kotono> "They'll be well cared for!" Sister Julia says immediately, "I vowed it."
[21:47] <Demedais> "I know. Thank you." Demedais says with a smile, before taking the bag out of the haversack. "Wait on opening it until after I leave, but... it should help the orphanage and its works. I'd rather invest my own energies into it, but this is the best I can do for now - and I'm sure it will be used wisely."
[21:50] <Kotono> "T-t-thank you," Making a deep curtesy to Demedais, "Thank you so much! The children thank you!"
06[21:55] * Demedais bows in return. "I'm simply sorry I cannot do more, or stay longer. But Helm will watch over you all, I am confident, and with you here I have no fears." With that he rises. "I... I'm afraid I probably should go - my journey's got more yet to go. Take care of yourself, Sister Julia, and I hope to be able to come back again soon."
[21:56] <Kotono> "So soon..." With a momentarily longing look, "Of course, holy man. Thank you."
[21:56] <Demedais> "Take care." Demedais says, before stepping outside and just out of view of others... before disappearing, planeshifting to where Uatu is.
[21:57] <Kotono> Woosh! Demedais appears before Uatu instantly. It is misty and cool, as it always is here.
06[21:58] * Demedais looks around for any of the priests, uncertain if what he wants to do is feasible enough to do.
[21:58] <Kotono> Two of them stand guard at the edge of the platform, before the mists reachy, Uatu well beyond them.
[21:58] <Kotono> *misty
06[22:01] * Demedais walks to the guards from behind in a bit of embarrassment. "Excuse me."
[22:01] <Kotono> "Yes?" Both salute Demedais.
[22:04] <Demedais> "Is there a section of crystal from the steps that would be removable?" Demedais asks simply.
[22:05] <Kotono> "You may do so, honored one," They gesture at the stairs leading up.
[22:06] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais nods in gratitude, ascending and looking for such a step.
[22:06] <Kotono> There are steps. Lots of steps. They all look very crystal. Demedais could try pulling or hitting one or whatever.
06[22:07] * Demedais kneels down near one where an outjut looks thin, and attempts to pull it first.
[22:07] <Kotono> The crystal is easily pried up by his hands, coming out without any effort.
06[22:08] * Demedais nods and bags it, bowing to the guards before vanishing again (and feeling bad for not lingering), appearing... at Elle's doorstep.
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC: Her shop or home?
[22:10] <Demedais> OOC: Shop first, using "should be slightly earlier in Balmuria" excuse for Deme if he's wrong and the shop is closed.
[22:10] <Kotono> It's still nighttime. You can hear faint sounds inside of of Elle's shop. Sounds like laughter.
06[22:11] * Demedais knocks on the door of the shop, listening.
[22:11] <Kotono> The laughter slows down, and quietly, "This late?" Donald's voice can be heard muttering. Then aloud, "We're closed!" Elle calls, "Come back tomorrow!"
[22:12] <Demedais> "It's Demedais!" Deme calls back, suddenly feeling somewhat amused. "I have a request... well, for both of you, actually!"
[22:13] <Kotono> Donald can be heard cursing, then the sound of feet pounding. Elle's footsteps are far lighter as she calls, "Hold on." Nearly a minute passes before the door opens, Elle wearing her normal red clothes. Her hair is a bit out of shape, though, cheeks flushed and giggles going through her. "Good evening." In the air behind her is an image of Marie, Seira and a green dragon."
[22:16] <Demedais> "Good evening. Sorry to disrupt festivities, but my time is somewhat limited." Demedais says, pulling out the chunk of crystal.
[22:16] <Kotono> With a word the image vanishes. Elle steps aside, "Quartz? Go on then."
[22:16] <Kotono> As this happens Donald waltzes out from back, whistling, "Oh, Demedais," he says evenly. "Out late?"
[22:18] <Demedais> "Yeah. Gotta return to Malmuth and finish up some things there, before... well, let me start at the beginning. Helm's requested my direct assistance in a manner. This means I won't be around for a decent while." Demedais starts.
[22:18] <Kotono> "Oh. Congratulations!" Elle says warmly, while Donald just nods.
[22:20] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais says, shaking his head. "The favor I wanted to ask of you, Elle, was this. I don't know if this crystal has any latent properties - perhaps not - but I'm hoping that I can use it to aid you guys once I settle down, as it's from where I'm going to be placed at. A pin, brooch, or amulet made out of these materials for... well. The Crimson Guard and close allies, mainly. I'll make a list quickly for referen
[22:21] <Demedais> " The Crimson Guard and close allies, mainly. I'll make a list quickly for reference." Demedais says. (More)
[22:24] <Demedais> "If it can be enchanted or something to further aid Seira and the crew, that'd be great, but... for now, mainly just need that and I'm not sure where else to turn." Demedais notes. "Especially since everyone stops in to see you." Turning to Donald, "And my request for you... well, it's something I don't think I need to say, but will anyway."
[22:24] <Kotono> "I'll try," Elle says, taking the crystal. Donald just smirks, "Yeah?"
[22:26] <Demedais> "Protect Seira and Alicia." Demedais says simply. "I think you'd do this anyway, but... You're the person I trust the most to do that. Keep them safe, alright? You can't save them from everything, but if you're there... do what you can."
[22:27] <Kotono> "Yeah, sure," Donald smirks, "Iknow, they need a lot of it. Women, running off to ba-ow!" Donald stops as Elle tugs at his long ear.
[22:27] <Kotono> "He says thank you," Elle says with a sweet smile.
[22:28] <Demedais> "Gotcha." Demedais grins. "Thank you, Elle. The payment for this - I'll have Father Ceiar drop it off. Take care, you two. And have a good night."
[22:31] <Kotono> "Night," Elle calls as Demedais leave.s
06[22:33] * Demedais muses, before heading out to find Seira and Alicia as the next-to-last leg.
[22:33] <Kotono> OOC: Which one first?
[22:34] <Kotono> OOC: Or are you going to get the two together and then talk to them?
[22:34] <Demedais> OOC: That'd be easier, yeah, preferably.
[22:35] <Kotono> Alicia is found before she goes to bed, and the two head to SEira's inn. They settle in with warm drinks against the cold, windy night...
[22:36] <Demedais> "Sorry to keep you two up so late." Demedais starts, a bit hunched over the table.
[22:37] <Alicia> "It's alright, you get used to keeping odd hours," Alicia waves it off as she nurses her warm cider. "We haven't seen each other in almost a week but it feels like longer, so much has happened."
[22:37] <Alicia> *over a week
01[22:40] <Seira> Exiting the back room with a giggle, Seira pauses as her eyes catch sight of Demedais, before she skips over to the table. "Demedais! How is it going?" she asks happily, commandeering a chair for herself.
06[22:40] * Demedais waves to Seira. "It's... okay. There's something really big I need to tell you two, though."
01[22:42] <Seira> "Ooh! Me too!" Seira exclaims, before nodding magnanimously. "You first."
06[22:42] * Alicia covers a smile at Seira's excitement, silently nodding for Demedais to go on.
[22:43] <Demedais> "...Mine will ruin the mood. You first, Seira." Demedais says simply.
06[22:44] * Seira tilts her head in confusion. "Ah. Alright." Her good mood takes over, then, and she leans over to whisper conspiratorially, "Amaryl and I cordially invite you to our wedding, in five years or so. Be there!"
[22:46] <Demedais> "... heh. Hopefully that is a promise I can keep." Demedais nods in return, before his face regains the sad smile. "As for me... Helm came to me directly. He wants me to aid him... personally... and the task I'll undertake means I won't be able to fight by your sides for a while. Hopefully it's not too long, but."
[22:48] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia blinks. "But what about Daa-vid? Wasn't that our big task from the gods? What does Helm need you to do?"
01[22:48] <Seira> Many questions appear in her mind at the news, as well as a silent curse at Helm, but she only asks, "What about Pollyanna?"
[22:50] <Demedais> First turning to Alicia, "Helm... thinks he has a way to limit Shar's influence, and I'm to be the one overseeing it. I think I'll be able to return and aid you for the fight against Daa-vid, perhaps, but the resorts are all under our control. That part, we've won, pretty much." Demedais says simply.
06[22:51] * Seira can't prevent a hiss from escaping at Shar and her vile influence being named so casually.
[22:52] <Alicia> "Shar... oh, anything that hurts her gets my full support," Alicia responds venomously. "Is there anyway we can help you, then?"
[22:52] <Demedais> Then, to Seira, "...Pollyanna will be continuing to aid you two for now. I'd take her with me, but... frankly, until I gain control of what I'm doing, I'm not really going to be able to be there for her as I want to be. Better she feels she has some ability to help you two than to be by my side and not able to do much of anything as it stands." (More)
[22:54] <Demedais> "...when I can, I'll come back for her. And that should be about when I'm able to aid you guys again. Until then, take care of her. I don't like this decision, but I feel it's the better one." A shrug to Alicia. "If help is needed, I'll call. Elle's making some pins for people - I'm hoping I can use them to assist you guys, even from a distance."
01[22:54] <Seira> "Or you could give her a son," Seira says bluntly. "I've got a potion that'll help!"
06[22:55] * Alicia turns to stare at Seira.
01[22:55] <Seira> "Well, I do! What, did you think I used it?"
06[22:56] * Demedais spits his drink out. "... I... ......" After a moment, he begins laughing. "Okay, that was good. But I don't think it'd help much, and... well, I'd like to be there for the kid too, Seira."
06[22:57] * Seira grins. "Don't want to miss all the sleepless nights and the changing and feeding and toothing?"
[22:58] <Alicia> "They're worth it," Alicia interjects wistfully. They're all she's got of her son, so she'll be damned if she doesn't appreciate them.
06[22:59] * Demedais looks to Alicia with a regretful grin. "It's more a case of... if I'm responsible for something, I should be there for it. In this case, I'm being called to deal with... her. So I'd rather not be able to not help Pollyanna... which leads into my one request. Please protect her, if you can. I know the life of an adventurer - walked it with you guys. But... if you guys can... I'll do what I can on my end." Demedais nods
01[23:01] <Seira> "Did you ask her?" Seira voices, smile slipping slightly. "You really should, instead of making the decision for her."
[23:02] <Demedais> "...yeah, I know. Going to. I decided I'd like to spend the final day with her, which is why I'm doing my errands now for the most part."
[23:02] <Demedais> "Or do you mean inviting her along?"
01[23:03] <Seira> "I'll do what I can," Seira promises, "although I don't know if she'd eagerly welcome my help. And yes. Your decision should be taken together, Demedais." She smiles again. "Aren't you proud of how wise I'm becoming?"
[23:04] <Alicia> "Whatever happens, we'll keep her safe," Alicia promises, reaching over to clasp Demedais' hand. "All I ask is that you make Shar bleed," she concludes, fiercely looking into his eyes.
06[23:06] * Demedais accepts Alicia's hand. "If it works as Helm thinks - and I think it should - it won't be swift, but it will be harsh." Then, to Seira, "Yes, honestly. And..." A quiet pause. "I think Helm will allow it, if my mind changes. But for now, I think it's best if one of us continues to aid you, and... as I said, I can't be there for her. I don't want her to have to stew there."
01[23:07] <Seira> "Convince her of it, then, instead of presenting it as a done deal?" Seira suggests, reaching across the table to pat Demedais on the shoulder.
[23:07] <Alicia> "If you can stay together you should find a way," Alicia suggests earnestly, giving his hand a squeeze. "I think it would be best for both of you."
[23:09] <Demedais> "...we'll see, yes. Thank you, both of you." Demedais nods. "I'll leave my belongings for the most part with Father Ceiar, as I don't think I'll have much need of them. The shield and ring are with the Commander, and Elle's got the crystal for the brooches. Please do take what you need, as... well, as I said, I won't have much need. Maybe sometime I'll ask to repay the favor, but for now..."
[23:11] <Alicia> "We won't just sell your belongings to buy shiny things, Demedais," Alicia chuckles. "They'll be put to good use or kept safe until you have need of them again."
01[23:11] <Seira> "Don't tempt me like that," Seira chides Demedais with a pout. "That's mean!"
06[23:14] * Demedais shrugs. "I figured that they'd be able to see some use, if not amongst you two than with whoever else you bring along. But if there's only use in selling them, do it. The only things I'm keeping outside of those, for now, are the armor and my sword. The armor will be in storage at the Temple, and the sword will be with me."
[23:17] <Alicia> "We're not that desperate for money," Alicia shakes her head. "Don't worry, your things will still be here when you get back."
06[23:18] * Seira nods, because treasure just isn't the same if you don't take it fairly off your enemy's cooling corpse.
06[23:18] * Demedais holds up his hands. "Just saying. I figure Pollyanna will take some of it, but."
[23:19] <Alicia> "That's her right, if you two are going to be parted," Alicia agrees. "She'll know she'll see you again, at least."
[23:21] <Demedais> "Yes." Demedais nods. "...Yeah, that's about it. I'm confident in you guys - else I wouldn't think about doing this - and I should be able to aid you from there, given time."
01[23:21] <Seira> "So where's there? And what are you going to be doing?" Seira can't help but wonder.
[23:22] <Alicia> "You haven't been very specific," Alicia agrees.
[23:23] <Demedais> "Heh. I've given you a few hints... but yeah. I'm going to be working with Uatu further." Demedais elaborates slightly. "What I'm doing... I don't know how to describe it too well. But Shar's been getting power illegitly, so to speak - we're going to try and slam that door closed. It requires someone attuned to Uatu... and I fit the bill."
06[23:24] * Seira can't see why Pollyanna can't hang out with Uatu, either, but doesn't voice her thoughts at this time.
[23:25] <Alicia> "She's been a busy thing, hasn't she?" Alicia mutters acrimoniously at Shar's illicit power-grabbing.
06[23:26] * Demedais nods. "Should keep her off your backs for a time, at least."
01[23:26] <Seira> "Whatever hurts the bitch's good enough for me," Seira agrees.
06[23:28] * Demedais nods, before looking outside. "I'll get back to Pollyanna before daybreak. Helm granted me a boon to be able to say goodbye and settle affairs for today, so I won't need help getting back... but if you want to see how reconstruction is going, you can."
[23:30] <Alicia> "I was in Malmuth a few days ago - how's Tahani doing with that lyre of construction I dropped off?" Alicia asks interestedly.
01[23:31] <Seira> "Visited Dad a couple of times," Seira voices for her part. "I'm sorry our paths never crossed at the time. But Amaryl and I will drop by tomorrow, if we won't get in the way?"
[23:32] <Demedais> "Oh, you were the provider?" Demedais asks. "It's working wonders for getting the city back on its feet." To Seira, "It should be fine, though knock before entering tomorrow. Normally wouldn't ask, but, um."
06[23:32] * Seira pretends to think about it.