D-ED2 001

[Corwin]

[20:33] <Kotono> -----
[20:33] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, going to check on garrison and then get ring IDed right off?
[20:34] <Alicia> OOC: sounds like a plan
05[20:34] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:34] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:46] <Kotono> The garrison is quiet at the moment. Going to get her ring looked over gets Alicia a lot ofa ttention. As she walks to Elle's shop, eyes are on her. Moreso than usual in Balmuria, a man even staring at her so long that he walks right into a wall.
[20:48] <Alicia> That's actually pretty embarrassing, making Alicia blush as she picks up her pace towards Elle's shop at the top of the hill.
[20:52] <Kotono> Alicia has a trail of followers eyeing her as she goes into Elle's shop! Inside, Elle is whistling as she positions a few scrolls on the scroll shelf. Alice isn't to be seen, but someone else is. Donald's lugging a heavy looking set of metal armor out, face red and huffing. "Where...over there...?"
[20:54] <Alicia> "Rotating the stock?" Alicia asks curiously as she approaches Elle, watching Donald struggling with the armour he's carrying out from the back.
[20:55] <Kotono> "Yeah," Elle turns back, "Oh, Alicia! Donald, just put that up front and assemble it back up? Thank you." While focusin gon Alicia as she says that, "By the Weave, you look amazing! " Her eyes fly wide, "That illusion magic is superb! What spell did you use?"
[20:57] <Kotono> Turning to glance at Alicia, "Hey Ali..." Donald begins, before dropping the armor in a din of crashing metal. His mouth tries to work once or twice or thrice, settling for staring instead.
[20:58] <Alicia> "It's not an illusion," Alicia smiles - even if having people stare is embarrassing, she still appreciates compliments. "I just got back from a trip to Brightwater." Then Donald does start staring, prompting her to shrug, "As you can see, it had an effect."
[20:59] <Kotono> Donald looks back and forth between Elle and Alicia several times. He then looks above, "Apology accepted!"
06[21:00] * Alicia can't help but laugh a little at Donald... well, being Donald. "Nice to see you, too, Donald."
[21:01] <Kotono> Elle's eyes flicker over to Donald, a sigh as she rubs her forehead briefly. "Just pick up the armor...but Brightwater? Indeed it did. The your angelic friend I met didn't look as dazzlingly radiant as you do now."
[21:02] <Alicia> "A lot of people have been staring," Alicia admits. "I suppose it is rather distracting... still, when you're invited to the bathing spring of the goddesses of love and beauty, you really don't say no."
[21:04] <Kotono> "So lucky." Elle looks on at Alicia, then sighs. "Is this permanent?"
[21:06] <Kotono> Donald starts picking up the armor blindly, staring at Alicia all the while. "I hope it is," he blurts, "You look...like if a succubus and an angel blended each other to make the sexiest warrior of light they could imagine. Just, by the sun, you're.....you're...."
[21:08] <Alicia> "I doubt the dazzling radiance will stay," Alicia admits, "But even so, it's even went and removed all of my scars - look," she pulls down the shoulder of her dress to expose her upper arm, tracing a finger just below her bicep, "I used to have a really long one right there, now it's as smooth as the day I was born. I doubt they'll return."
[21:08] <Alicia> She then gives Donald a brief smile as her attire is fixed, "Thank you, Donald, that's... sort of sweet."
[21:09] <Kotono> "Donald, you can compliment Alicia later. The armor, please?" She even smiles at him there. That's enough to pry his attention away, making him turn to the armor and start to assemble it. Once that's done, "You're fortunate. I have a scar from my adventuring days that I hate. I'd pay a pile of gold to get rid of it."
[21:12] <Alicia> "Well, you could try hunting for Evergold yourself, otherwise there's always a regenerate spell - I had to pick up a few scrolls of that recently for those men we rescued from Halla. To be honest, I always thought the scars added character, but I won't shed any tears for their loss," Alicia explains cheerfully.
[21:14] <Kotono> "Maybe another day. I have so much to do...but that's not the point. Come here for business or pleasure, Alicia?" Finishing up quickly with the scrolls, "What can I do for you?"
06[21:16] * Alicia produces the magic ring she was given and holds it up for Elle to see. "A few nymphs and petitioners we met there were exceptionally rude and talked themselves out of winning some sort of good manners contest. Their loss was my gain, but I don't know exactly what this ring does, other than increasing your presence."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Ah." Peering at the ring, "Standard identification or Analyse Dweomer?"
[21:19] <Alicia> "Normal identification should do," Alicia replies. "Considering where I got it I'm not expecting any hidden surprises."
[21:20] <Kotono> "Right. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. Donald, if Alicia wants anything, help her." Elle takes it and goes off, "IT should be around an hour as usual."
[21:22] <Alicia> Having already taken the liberty of counting out the money before leaving the house, Alicia also gives Elle a small sack of gold for her trouble. "Thanks, Elle." Then going over to bother Donald, "Since I've been out of the loop lately with all these excursions, has anything exciting happened in town the past month?"
[21:25] <Kotono> "Um, let's see...I heard Demedais had some stuff, but I haven't gotten the straight of it." Turning to Alicia after a wayward glance at Elle as she goes back, "I heard there was a blast at the Temple of Gond. Something about the breast weapon using alchemy or something. Uh, Seira's inn has gotten some strange sorts lately. People really jus tinterested in her who came to find out about her. I get stuck telling stories for half the night whe
[21:25] <Kotono> out about her. I get stuck telling stories for half the night when that happens." (More)
[21:27] <Kotono> "There's been a lot more sea elves now that they've started really working for the city. They're getting more friendly with the sailors at the docks. We had one come into SEira's inn to sightsee. Um..." Scratching his chin, his eyes fixiated on Alicia, "Lots of little things like that. No ends of the worlds or gaping portals to Hell."
06[21:29] * Alicia chooses to ignore his little verbal slip, although she adjusts her posture slightly so as to put less emphasis on her chest. "Just all the usual fun and games?" Then, glancing at the armour, "So is this you taking a job here or what?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "Oh no, not like that. I've just been helping out in my free time. I mean, magic and I'm supposed to study it, yes?" As he goes back to working on the armor, positining it just so and then taking out a cloth to polish it, "Countess Stronger appreciates it when Alice isn't around."
06[21:32] * Alicia nods. "How's your magic coming along, on that note? Learned any new spells lately?" she asks, about to ask why she never sees him at the temple before remembering that he's a devout follower of Lathander and letting him off the hook.
[21:34] <Kotono> "Yeah, I've been working on one, Ray of Exhaustion. I've just about hammered out the problems with it lately. It's not as good as Vampiric Touch is supposed to be, buti t's strange. It seems like I'm either not hurt or I get in a lot of trouble before I can use that. So I needed something to even the score." Polishing the breastplate of the armor and starting to whistle, "Have you seen Seira lately? Last I heard she was off in Pallanth or M
[21:34] <Kotono> "Have you seen Seira lately? Last I heard she was off in Pallanth or Malmuth with Amaryl Gaial."
[21:36] <Alicia> "Oh, that is a useful spell," Alicia agrees. "As for Seira, no, I haven't seen her at all in the past month, but I've been off in Pallanth or the planes in all that time myself." Cocking her head she then asks, "Why'd she go to Malmuth, though?"
[21:38] <Kotono> "I think she wanted to see it and explore?" Shrugging, "As long as she doesn't start another war, it's all fine, right? So um...who went with you to Brightwater?"
[21:40] <Alicia> "I took my sister, Antenora, and Marie," Alicia replies pleasantly, before emitting a soft laugh, "Lovely place to visit, although I still prefer Dweomerheart."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Antenora, Marie, Alicia's sister," Donald murmurs under his breath, then, "It sounds great."
06[21:44] * Alicia raises an eyebrow. "My sister's attached and you'd probably be biting off more than you can chew with Antenora. Good luck with the coure, though, assuming you don't mind her being able to fit in the palm of your hand," she teases.
[21:47] <Kotono> Donald blushes at that, "Um....nevermind..." Dropping the polishing cloth and rubbing the back of his head, "I just meant...well..." Closing his eyes, "Lathander help me..."
[21:49] <Alicia> Laughing a bit, Alicia gives him a semi-apologetic look. "I'll let you get back to your work without distraction?" she offers, starting to head out.
[21:49] <Kotono> "Either that or you and Elle..." Donald mutters as Alicia turns her back.
06[21:50] * Alicia pretends she didn't hear that and quickly departs! She can kill some time in Seira's inn while waiting on the identify results.
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: Loot topic post coming.
[21:58] <Kotono> OOC: It's up.
[21:58] <Kotono> Elle returns the ring as Donald lingers well away from the two. "...and there you go." she says, "Thanks for the business. Going to hold onto it or pawn it off?"
[22:01] <Alicia> "Well, my cloak already does mostly what it does except better," Alicia admits. "Still, it was a gift so it doesn't feel right to sell. Maybe I'll give it to Antenora - I've heard she needs the help with her singing, to be honest," she finishes in a conspiratorial whisper.
[22:02] <Kotono> "Really? You'd think they'd have given her a voice to tempt mortals in every which way. Ah well, maybe Hell doesn't appreciate music?" Chuckling to that, "So she's not incredibly perfect in every aspect?"
[22:04] <Alicia> "Well, when you can magically dominate someone just by looking at them, you tend to let your other skills stagnate?" Alicia suggests. "She has a nice enough voice, but according to Marie she can't carry a tune to save her life."
[22:06] <Kotono> "I suppose. She moves with incredible grace, has enough presence to draw a room to her, is superhumanely strong, has picked up her skills quickly..." Stopping here, "Tsh. She's just one of how many Erinyes? It's nice to know that she's not talented at every little thing she can do."
[22:09] <Alicia> "Well, she's picked up her skills quickly since coming here - she also spent six centuries in hell stagnating, by all accounts." Leaning on the counter as she converses, she goes on, "Outsiders might have a lot of advantages by default, but with hard work and dedication there's nothing they can do that a human can't equal. That's what I believe, anyway."
[22:11] <Kotono> "I don't know." Elle frowns as she glances at Donald, who's keeping busy back by some hanging staves. "Maybe some elite humans can keep up. But...oh Hells, I don't know. It bothers me to imagine an entire army of Antenoras, as perfect as can be. They're not even much more than mid level fodder for Hell. It hardly seems fair sometimes."
[22:16] <Alicia> "That's true," Alicia is forced to concede the point. "I've been training the guard for a year now, and in a one on one fight I wouldn't expect any of them to handle an erinyes..." She sighs at the bitter summation. "I suppose if nothing else there's the fact that most outsiders were weak mortals themselves at one point."
[22:19] <Kotono> "That's true," Elle copies Alicia's exact words with a smile, "Do you even notice anymore? You're as much of a normal human as Antenora is. You can fly with a few words, you can face down horrors, you're hopping planes of reality like it's nothing serious." (More)
[22:20] <Kotono> "I mean, I can't really talk. My magic's grown considerably in this time. Just...it hardly seems fair sometimes. "When I listen to the normal people, at Seira's inn or at the streets, ro even someone who has enough money to come in for something minor, it drives it home. They might ask me about my magic, or about one of you, or even occasionally the armored woman seen around your house."
[22:21] <Kotono> Stopping again now, "And...I don't know where I'm going with this now." Breaking into a tired laugh, running hands through her hair, "I think I lost my point awhile back."
06[22:21] * Alicia laughs a little. "Fantastic creatures can only be rivalled by humans who themselves become fantastic?" she suggests.
[22:22] <Kotono> "Hells engulfed by Silver Fire, I don't know." Blowing out another breath, "I think I was lured by your radiance to losing the point. I was so absorbed in that and trying to formulate where I was going...you know, maybe you should teleport home."
[22:25] <Alicia> "It's still somewhat early - I think I'll go for a walk," Alicia decides instead, pocketing the ring. "Thanks for your time, Elle."
[22:26] <Kotono> OOC: Going to do anything in particular or just walk?
[22:28] <Alicia> OOC: just stroll around, see what's what - pick up on the rumour mill
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: Make a gather info check?
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC: +5 circumstancial bonus.
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[22:37] <Kotono> Alicia wanders about! It's easy to get people to talk...the problem is that they like to linger. People really seem taken with her. She finds out the following:
[22:39] <Kotono> - Sea Elves are seen more and more at the docks and even in town. They're becoming more social. Like the men and women who linger by Alicia and happily provide this information. (More)
[22:42] <Kotono> - With the city growing, houses outside of the western gate are growing. There's talk of another city area if this keeps up. Houses south of the southern are being discouraged more and more, presumably due to military reasons. The soldier who tells you this spends much of it staring into Alicia's eyes. (More)
[22:45] <Kotono> - There's been more traders from the Desert Fiefdoms coming this far into the Baronies lately. The Waukeenites seem happy about it, as does anyone who makes more money this way. The couple of merchants who tell you this seem to think Alicia's breastplate must be made of diamond, the way they're staring at it longingly. (More)
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC - Strike.
[22:46] <Kotono> - There's been more traders from the Desert Fiefdoms coming this far into the Baronies lately. The Waukeenites seem happy about it, as does anyone who makes more money this way. The couple of merchants who tell you this seem to think Alicia's bosom must be made of diamond, the way they're staring at it longingly. (More)
[22:47] <Kotono> Alicia would probably find out more, but she's getting a LOT of attention right now. To go on would beckon more of that, should Alicia choose to do so.
06[22:51] * Alicia doesn't do too much to dissuade the attention (aside from clearing her throat when people refuse to look at her face), since Sune surely wouldn't want this gift of beauty to be hidden. All the same, most of the gossip isn't particularly relevant to her.
[22:51] <Alicia> Making excuses from her latest friends, she finds some privacy and then teleports to the Barbarian Lands, near the lovely little glade that Rosamund calls home - she hasn't seen the unicorn in ages, and she should have a good idea of what's going on East of Balmuria.
[22:51] <Kotono> OOC: d100 it up.
[22:52] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually and gets 49." [1d100=49]
[22:54] <Kotono> The glade smells of the earth and cool, moving air. Here sunlight comes easily through the foliage, shedding extra light into one point on particular. Rosamund lies on a bed of leaves and loose, soft forest things. Her stomach is enlarged, noticiably so.
06[22:55] * Alicia does recall that male unicorn she rescued from those trolls, and can't help but smile. Approaching, she looks to see if the unicorn is awake before greeting her.
[22:56] <Kotono> Rosamund looks up, "Oh...is that Alicia?" she says, "But you look so much different now!" With a soft little whinny to follow, "Is that you?"
[22:57] <Alicia> "Hello, Rosamund," Alicia nods, throwing a meaningful look at the horse's belly. "I could say the same to you."
[22:59] <Kotono> "Oh, it's a blessing! Soon there will be a foaling. I hope I will have twins, the fates willing it. My mate is gathering food and ensuring none disturb me now."
[23:01] <Alicia> "That would be lovely," Alicia agrees. "The world could always use more unicorns, I'd say," she goes over to sit down in front of Rosamund, smiling serenely. "It's been a while since we last spoke, so I just wanted to come over and check on how you were faring and find out what's happening in this forest. I'm glad to see you're doing so well."
[23:04] <Kotono> "You as well. Oh, the forest has been so much more alive since the Jannath followers have taken home here. The goblins are so much quieter as well, thanks to the giants." Resting her head forward onto the grass, "STill, there are some trolls and rogue goblins, or even simplier things like hungry wolves who are desperate."
06[23:06] * Alicia recalls the trouble she had with the followers of Jannath and the giants over the goblins... "But the followers of Jannath haven't battled the giants?" she checks.
[23:10] <Kotono> "Not that I've heard." Braying softly, "Oh, my foals kicked again. They're so energetic, ready to see and live life."
[23:11] <Alicia> "Oh!" Alicia melts into a sappy grin. "How close are you?" she asks, scooting closer.
[23:15] <Kotono> "A few days, perhaps less." Resting her head upwards now and lifting it, "The forest needs more of us to protect it and foster life. This coming birth will be a blessing for this land."
[23:19] <Alicia> "It really will," Alicia agrees. "With a family of unicorns and those followers of Jannath, things are really brightening up around here. Even the giants aren't so bad."
[23:20] <Kotono> Braying another time, "A little softer, foals...not until you're out." Thereafter, back to Alicia, "I'm happy for that. But look at you, you are the brightest one here of all.
[23:20] <Kotono> "
[23:22] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia inclines her head at the compliment. "I actually just got back from a trip to Brightwater - have you heard of Evergold? It's a sacred spring where Sune, Leira, Sharess all bathe. I had the chance to take a dip myself and this is the result."
03[23:29] * taifk is now known as tai-bangbangbangbang
[23:39] <Kotono> "How lovely, Alicia. No wonder you have such radiance!"
06[23:41] * Alicia smiles. "To be honest I was really just going there so I could get some chaotic holy water since I'd heard it was very effective on devils, and one in particular. But we met this nice eladrin who pointed us to Evergold, and well, when we got there it just seemed silly not to take advantage."
[23:42] <Kotono> "Yes, of...mmmmm." Wincing again, "The foals keep stirring. But Evergold, what was it like?"
[23:44] <Alicia> "Oh, it was exquisite," Alicia almost purrs. "I could've spent days in that water! It was like having every inch of my skin massaged and healed all at once when I was immersed. And it was so warm without being hot... it really was worth the trip."
[23:49] <Kotono> "So lovely," Rosamund says, gently tapping her horn against Alicia. "The other humans must appreciate it. Does this mean you will foal soon yourself?"
[23:51] <Alicia> "Ah, no," Alicia blushes. "While I've received my share of admiring glances, it hasn't progressed beyond looking."
[23:53] <Kotono> "Aaaah, it is...understandable. There are many humans and no press for them, are there not? But there are so few unicorns."
[23:57] <Alicia> "True..." Alicia allows a wistful smile, "Still, I'd like to be a mother again, someday. If I get the chance..."

[Corwin]

[16:53] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Oh, it was exquisite," Alicia almost purrs. "I could've spent days in that water! It was like having every inch of my skin massaged and healed all at once when I was immersed. And it was so warm without being hot... it really was worth the trip."
[16:53] <Kotono> > "So lovely," Rosamund says, gently tapping her horn against Alicia. "The other humans must appreciate it. Does this mean you will foal soon yourself?"
[16:53] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Ah, no," Alicia blushes. "While I've received my share of admiring glances, it hasn't progressed beyond looking."
[16:53] <Kotono> > "Aaaah, it is...understandable. There are many humans and no press for them, are there not? But there are so few unicorns."
[16:53] <Kotono> <Alicia> "True..." Alicia allows a wistful smile, "Still, I'd like to be a mother again, someday. If I get the chance..."
[16:53] <Kotono> "Why aren't you, then?" The unicorn asks, as she brays again.
[16:55] <Alicia> "Haven't found anyone qualified enough to be the father yet, for one thing," Alicia replies. "More pragmatically, the life I lead isn't particularly conducive towards raising a family."
05[16:55] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[16:55] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[16:58] <Kotono> "That's so sad. Children are innocent and pure." The unicorn's eyes squint, "Though mine are wearing my patience and energy now. They're going to be so impatient, I can tell already."
06[17:01] * Alicia chuckles. "It'll be even worse once they're out - you've got a lot of sleepless nights ahead, I'm sure. Still, it'll be worth it, all told. Have you considered names, yet?"
[17:05] <Kotono> "Arion, Antares, Princess, Violet." Laying her head down again, "It will not be determined until they are foaled."
[17:07] <Alicia> "Arion and Antares are nice," Alicia throws her support in for the first two. "Anyway, it looks like you need to rest, so I suppose I'll let you be..." she starts to get up.
[17:08] <Kotono> "Be well, Alicia. Come back and bring the others in a moon, when the foaling and births are done," she invites.
[17:10] <Alicia> "I will do. It'll be lovely to see your whole family, Rosamund - take care until then," she waves as she heads out of the grove, electing to spend a few hours walking back to Balmuria in order to see the outskirts for herself in case anything crops up.
[17:13] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[17:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[17:16] <Kotono> At first Alicia passes through the fringes of the Barbarian Lands forests. They're mostly quiet, not much sign of activity. Past that, she begins to reach the scattered farmsteads and farmhouses east of Balmuria. They're mostly well kept and in good shape, the harvest going on. Many a farmer is taking in fresh fruits and vegetables, piling them high on wooden carts. She passes a four person patrol on horseback, fanning out and keeping a loo
[17:16] <Kotono> She passes a four person patrol on horseback, fanning out and keeping a loose watch on a large area.  But overall, it's peaceful, quiet and productive. Not a sign of trouble nearby at all. It's getting on towards duskfall as Alicia spots the southern gate of Balmuria.
[17:17] <Alicia> Well, that was one way to work up an appetite, at least. Heading to the city, Alicia intends to go home for dinner and to catch up with her friends and family.
[17:18] <Kotono> Going home goes without incident, relatively. No one follows her too far, thankfully. However, you can see something as you approach. There seems to be a crowd gathered in Alicia's backyard, so much so that people are lingering and spilling out.
[17:20] <Alicia> This could be a concern. Taking a moment to cast voice of the archon, Alicia heads towards her house and around the back to see why all these people are on her property.
[17:23] <Kotono> Alicia can't really get far i without resorting to pushing or asserting authority, though she's free to if she wishes. She can hear Antenora, however. "...well, against the wor-my eyes are up here," she can be heard saying, peevishness overflowing. "This isn't about me. Mystra and the Seven Mounting HEavens are more important than mere concerns of the flesh. The flesh fades, but those are eternal."
[17:26] <Alicia> Oh, Antenora's preaching. Good for her! Alicia feels proud of her friend, but do they have to do this in her backyard? Asserting her rights as the homeowner, Alicia makes her way through the crowd with a few nudges here and there so she can get into her garden.
[17:27] <Kotono> As you press in harder and closer, you can see Antenora. She's surrounded by several people. Most aren't really paying much attention, more like staring at her. With a long look to one of them, "IT doesn't matter how beautiful I am. A succubus could be this enrapturing and she would be pure poison. That's the point I'm trying to make."
[17:31] <Alicia> Okay, this is actually somewhat creepy. "Need any help, Antenora?" Alicia asks as she finally manages to work her way through the throng.
[17:33] <Kotono> Antenora flashes a quick smile at Alicia. 'Please. This radiance draws people in like flies to honey.'
[17:35] <Alicia> 'It would be nice if they'd actually talk instead of just staring in such an unsettling manner,' Alicia replies. "Excuse me, everyone," she then speaks up verbally. "It's late and Antenora and I need to go inside for our dinner. If I could ask you all to leave, if you would be so kind?"
[17:38] <Kotono> 'I should've known better than to go outside, even briefly,' Antenora laments, 'I can't blame them.' As Alicia talks...OOC: Diplo check, -5?
[17:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+37
06[17:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+37 and gets 44." [1d20=7]
[17:39] <Kotono> Slowly the crowd disperses. However, many linger nearby or walk slowly, staring at the two women. One approaches, "My name is Jalen," he bows, a slender man with a slight limp. "I offer myself to either of you."
[17:42] <Alicia> On one hand, Alicia might applaud him for actually having the guts to talk to them instead of staring. On the other, a blanket offer made simply on looks alone is hardly commendable, less so when he makes it to either of them without care. "That's quite alright, sir," Alicia tells him, "We don't need people to 'offer' themselves to us."
[17:52] <Kotono> With brown eyes and a steady gaze, "You may not, but I do. I heard what you said...and the two of you are like Goddesses from the heavens."
[17:53] <Kotono> Antenora smiles politely, 'Oh damn it all,' she mutters mentally. "Jalen, if you want to dedicate yourself, go to the Temple of Mystra. We're merely servants, not Goddesses."
[17:55] <Alicia> "Antenora is right. Compared to Mystra we are but pale shadows," Alicia seconds. "Dedicate yourself to a cause or a belief. Dedicate yourself to someone you love. But don't dedicate yourself to a pretty face."
[17:57] <Kotono> "Beauty is fleeting. What lies beyond is eternal." Antenora adds, "Jalen, Alicia's right. Go."
[17:57] <Kotono> Jalen listens to this, looking at both of them very long. "I..." he says, "I understand." He quickly gets up and goes, though he shoots several looks back at the two.
[17:58] <Alicia> "I hope he does," Alicia says after he leaves, proceeding to lead Antenora inside. "How long were you out there, anyway?" she asks the erinyes.
[18:00] <Kotono> "About an hour? I went out the long way to practice and a few people noticed me. One thing lead to another." AS she blushes rather hotly once inside, "The damnable part is that I can understand when I look at you. It may have been wise to stay in Brightwater a few days after bathing. Of course the personal bath of the Goddesses of passion and beauty are going to enthrall."
[18:02] <Alicia> "A few people stared at me here and there, but mostly I was able to go about as I pleased when I was out earlier," Alicia replies. "Oh, by the way, I had this identified," she takes out the ring she received in Brightwater and holds it out, "It's yours if you want it, though it may make people stare even more."
[18:05] <Kotono> "So that's what it does," Antenora looks at the ring briefly. "Let me think about it." Going to sit inside, "Jessica's still gone and I haven't seen Marie lately. Do you have any idea how long this is going to last? I may go fly for a few days if I need to and get away fromt his."
02[18:05] * xorntoro (~ferixstad@141.218.228.98) Quit (And now I get to go for a thirty-minute walk in a blizzard.)
[18:07] <Alicia> "It's like my cloak, albeit on a slightly lesser scale," Alicia nods. "As for how long it'll last..."
[18:07] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 planes?
06[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 planes? and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[18:08] <Kotono> "I'll probably take it then. I was considering a cloak like that myself one day," Antenora works to start taking off her armor, putting it down carefully on the floor. "It was a fun trip...I can't help but wish we were still at that spring."
[18:09] <Alicia> "Should just be a few days. Anyway, I think Marie's at the temple, and Jessica's surely enjoying herself with Roald - I'll just have dinner alone, I suppose," she starts to head through to the kitchen after handing the ring to Antenora. "It really was lovely, wasn't it, though?"
[18:12] <Kotono> "I'll keep you company," Antenora rises once she's removed her armor, "It was incredible. It felt so good and so purifying and so enlivening. The trip was very much hit and miss, but that made all the misses worth it."
[18:14] <Alicia> "It did," Alicia agrees as she busies herself preparing a pot of soup. "Anyway, I've checked around town, things seem fairly quiet in Balmuria right now - I also visited Rosamund in the forest, and she's expecting children!"
[18:16] <Kotono> "Wonderful." Putting her head down on her arms as she rests over the table, "When are they coming?"
[18:18] <Alicia> "She expects within a month - it might even be twins, which would be a real blessing," Alicia smiles as she rapidly chops up some vegetables. "Anyway, Seira's apparently either in Pallanth or Malmuth right now, spending time with Lady Gaial. I haven't heard anything about Demedais, though."
[18:22] <Kotono> "Mmm." Closing her eyes, "I should see if I can find him...mmmm." Antenora reaches up, undoing her ribbon and letting her wings show. "If Arborea is the opposite of Baator, should I be taking what I saw and heard there more seriously? The eladrin and worshippers there seemed to live for happiness and pleasure."
[18:27] <Alicia> "I think there's something worthwhile to be found in all of the upper planes," Alicia reasons. "A lot of what you'd learn from Arborea might be different from what you'd get in Celestia, or even Elysium, but that doesn't mean it's not without merit. Fundamentally, they're all interested in living peacefully and happily."
[18:33] <Kotono> Blowing air out her mouth and messing up her bangs, "Mph. Every time I think I have it down I get another little reminder that I still have a lot to learn. Physical contact feels good and reassuring, and the springs were so nice. So...nice." Smiling a littl here, "Even if I usually spurn that, perhaps it's not the wisest course to ignore these good feelings entirely."
[18:36] <Alicia> "You do follow a rather ascetic philosophy," Alicia admits, dumping the ingredients into a pot of water and lighting the stove before she turns to the erinyes. "I won't tell you how to live your life in this regard, since it's not really a moral choice - as far as I'm concerned you should simply do what brings you happiness."
[18:41] <Kotono> Still looking away at nothing at all at this angle, "Mph. Happiness is being out of Hell and being here instead. Happiness is serving you instead of some wretched abomination from the Pit. Happiness is..." Grabbing her hair ribbon and then tossing it aside, "Is going flying at night and feeling the wind blow past you. I rather liked that just before I met you. Happiness is laughing when Marie makes a good joke once in a moon. Happiness is f
[18:41] <Kotono>  Happiness is laughing when Marie makes a good joke once in a moon. Happiness is fighting with the Guard and all of you against the worst this world can make. Happiness is...watching all of you be happy, too. Demedais when he's with Pollyanna, Seira as she tries to change the world one gold coin at a time. Happiness is..."
[18:45] <Alicia> As Antenora hesitates, Alicia steps towards her and embraces the erinyes in a warm hug. "This?" she asks in a gentle reassuring whisper.
03[19:07] * Taishyr (~ferixstad@adsl-76-235-223-71.dsl.klmzmi.sbcglobal.net) has joined #evildunes
[19:12] <Kotono> Antenora leans up in it, her body warmth against Alicia. "This feels nice, yes. Touching in Hell is never for a good means. Never. But here it feels so different."
[19:18] <Alicia> "I gathered that was the reason for your inclination towards chastity," Alicia admits as she holds her friend. "But it doesn't have to be like that ever again. Even if you don't care to actively pursue romance, denying even the possibility is doing yourself a disservice."
[19:21] <Kotono> With a relaxed sigh as her body slackens against Alicia, "The same for you, too. Maybe one day?"
[19:24] <Alicia> "Exactly," Alicia draws back a bit to smile at Antenora, "I'm not going out of my way to look for it, since it doesn't really suit my lifestyle and I'm perfectly happy as I am - but if an opportunity ever did arise, I'd have no qualms about going for it." She then leans close to whisper, "You can do far better than Marie, though." Then with a laugh she goes back to watching over her stove.
[19:28] <Kotono> Laughing as well, "Can you imagine if she took that seriously? Asking you for an Alter Self so she can try and take me on date...or he, as the case would be."
[19:32] <Alicia> "I pray to Mystra I never get asked to do that for her," Alicia replies with an amused little shudder. "Even I have trouble telling just what she takes seriously - if anything."
[19:33] <Kotono> "Imagine if she did that and then asked you out on the date instead," Smirking to that and raising her voice high, "Oh Alicia...I know why Mystra sent me now! Come with me! I'll romance you from here to Dweomerheart!"
03[19:37] * Taishyr is now known as Demedais
[19:38] <Alicia> "Blech," Alicia makes a face, "I'll be having nightmares, tonight." Turning away from the soup-pot after a few stirs, "In all seriousness, though, don't pay her too much mind. While she probably wouldn't refuse if you offered, I think she mostly just enjoys getting a rise out of you."
[19:40] <Kotono> "I know." Going to lie back down again, "Alicia, what are you going to do in the coming days?"
[19:44] <Alicia> "Well, as much as our current state may be a detriment to walking around town without a fuss, it's a tremendous boon to many of my arcane and divine abilities, so I'm not sure I'd want it to go to waste while it lasts," Alicia admits. "Since Balmuria is quiet, and the rest of the Crimson Guard occupied, I should find something productive to fill my time."
[19:45] <Kotono> "What though?" Antenora sits up and leans back now, "Is there any convienent dang...oh. How about one of those evil magical items?"
[19:47] <Alicia> "They're particularly convenient in this instance, yes," Alicia agrees.
[19:48] <Kotono> "So will you leave for that tomorrow," Antenora considers, "And which one, if so?"
[19:50] <Alicia> "Perhaps the demon armour," Alicia hums briefly, "There's also something else I've been toying with."
[19:52] <Kotono> "Oh?" Standing up now, stretching, "What is it?"
[19:54] <Alicia> "The Halls of the Vanquished," Alicia replies. "Last time we rescued Latha, Ascension, and Hell Striker. But I saw dozens of others being held there... and after seeing the upper planes for myself, the injustice of their captivity strikes home even harder."
[19:54] <Kotono> Antenora smiles frostily at that, "I would be more than game to challenge that. I doubt it will be an easy battle, however."
[19:56] <Alicia> "It wasn't the first time, but I've improved a lot since then," Alicia nods. "More important than the battle, though, is being able to sneak in undetected and find the release commands."
[19:57] <Kotono> "I would be surprised if it would be so easy a second time. The failure ofa d evil behind the lax security is lucky if he's not been hastily demoted." Her smile grows sharper, like a predatory animal, "A new devil would want to ensure that no mistakes of his predessor could be easily repeated. There will be many, many devils to send to oblivion, surely."
[19:59] <Alicia> "That would be a bonus, but the primary thrust is to free as many of those denied their rightful reward as possible," Alicia nods. "If you're interested we can discuss things with Elle tomorrow - I'd probably need a few scrolls for certain spells to accomplish this."
[20:00] <Kotono> "I'm interested, though the danger is not to be underestimated." Antenora stands up now, "If you go, I will be there at your side no matter what spawns of the Pit await.?
[20:02] <Alicia> "Believe me, I'm well aware of the danger after what happened last time. But even so, I could ask for no finer companion," she smiles proudly at her friend.
[20:03] <Kotono> "Then...until tomorrow?" Antenora vows.
[20:04] <Alicia> "Tomorrow it is," Alicia agrees, tasting her soup briefly before she ladles out a serving, "Sure I can't interest you in a bowl?"
[20:05] <Kotono> "No. I'm going to go prepare to fly tonight and clear my mind for tomorrow. Until then, unless you'd care to join me," Antenora throws a glance back.
[20:06] <Alicia> "If you don't mind waiting till I've had my dinner, certainly," Alicia smiles, getting out a hard roll and sitting at the dining table with her meal, having left the remainder of the pot for Jessica when she gets home.
[20:11] <Kotono> "I need to wait for the sun to set anyway," Antenora shrugs, going back to her room.
[20:15] <Kotono> The night passes peacefully. The next morning comes and dawns, the two going to Countess Stronger's shop. Shes' there early, yawning into her hand. "You two are to an early start. What can I do for you?"
[20:19] <Alicia> Actually they won't be going to Hell today anyway, since Alicia intends to go just before her plane shift ring recharges, and right now it's spent from yesterday. But that gives Elle time to make any scrolls she doesn't have in stock.
[20:19] <Alicia> "Looking for a few scrolls so we wanted to catch you before you'd set all your spells for the day, just in case there's any you don't have handy at the moment," Alicia explains.
[20:25] <Kotono> "Right," Rubbing her eyes, "Running off the far corners of Gods only know where again? What spells?"
[20:33] <Alicia> "Let's see..." Alicia considers her plan of attack. "Disguise self, first of all - preferably at a higher caster level than normal, since it may need to last a while. And an invisibility, just in case. Wall of Iron," she nods briefly, "And definitely Knock - although by any chance do you know of possibly a spell like Knock that could unlock a large number of locked objects in a confined area?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "Disguise self at a higher caster power? You'd need a stave for that and those are expensive," Elle considers, "Scrolls use the minimum amount possible. Invisibility is simple, as is Wall of Iron. I don't know of a Mass Knock spell."
[20:48] <Kotono> OOCL STrike.
[20:49] <Kotono> "Disguise self advanced scrolls are possible." Elle considers, "Invisibility is simple, as is Wall of Iron. I don't know of a Mass Knock spell."
[20:52] <Alicia> "Well, I'll settle for a normal Knock spell," Alicia relents. "If you can have them all ready for tomorrow morning, along with two vials of Silversheen?"
[20:56] <Kotono> "Done. You can pay me then," Elle stretches out, "So what's your plan this time?"
[20:58] <Alicia> "Now that I've experienced the upper planes for myself, the injustice of innocents being held prisoner in the lower planes rings ever more true," Alicia explains. "So I'm going to do something about it."
[21:03] <Kotono> "Ooooh. Careful then," Elle says, looking to Antenora, "You'd better keep a good eye on her now. I'm not going to be happy if som ething happens to one of my best customers."
[21:06] <Alicia> "I can't say for certain that we'll come out of this safely," Alicia admits. "But with your help I'm hoping we will. And many others, too."
[21:10] <Kotono> "We will. It won't be easy, but we will," Antenora says firmly, "Not Hell or Stygia's frozen torments will stop us."
[21:12] <Alicia> "Anyway, we'll see you tomorrow before we leave," Alicia gives Elle a little wave before heading out.

[Corwin]

[20:47] <Kotono> -------------
[20:47] <Kotono> Antenora, Alicia and Marie gather inside of Alicia's house. Battle gear is worn as noon comes and creeps closer. "So what's the plan," Antenora asks, "So we have it down right. Also, do we have a contingency if things go against us?"
[20:57] <Alicia> "Based on the fact that none of the reinforcements teleported to us last time, I'm assuming the Halls have anti-teleport wards, so we're going to have to sneak in," Alicia begins. "I'll disguise myself with that scroll Elle gave me, and the ring of eternal celerity should keep any devils with true seeing from seeing through it - Marie will have to hide in my backpack while we're going in."
06[20:57] * Alicia then hands Antenora a set of creepy black robes liberated from one of the Sharran cultists. "These'll hide your armour while hopefully still fitting in - I took the liberty of cutting in holes for your wings already."
[20:59] <Kotono> Antenora sniffs the robes and grimaces, "Ah, cultist. Just the thing to smell like in Hell." She puts them on, the heavy robes covering her armor and body.  Oh yes, Alicia. Do you still have that ring? I think I'd like it and it would be useful here in any event."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Oh, I thought I gave it to you yesterday..." Alicia searches her person for a moment before handing it to Antenora. "Anyway, I'll teleport us nearby and then we walk in like any normal devils would. There are admittedly several options we could take at this point;"
[21:07] <Alicia> "For one, I may have advanced to the point where I could dispel the bindings on the prisoners directly. It's not something I care to count on, though. Another possibility is simply coercing another devil to release them for us - even guards are likely to have overheard a few command words at the very least. It's somewhat risky, though."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Our best bet is to do what Beth and I did by finding the commands ourselves. When we near the secret door, Marie will drink the invisibility potion and proceed straight to the records room, where she can peruse the lists there - they're locked but she should be able to phase through the boxes to read what's inside."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Once she has a good number of them, she comes back out to rejoin us, giving us each a code for one of the more powerful sounding prisoners. We proceed to unbind them - then I'll throw up the Wall of Iron to cut off reinforcements, and Antenora and I eliminate all the devils on our side while Marie starts releasing all the prisoners she can."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Finally, I blast an escape route in the ceiling through which the prisoners can escape - with help from us as necessary if they can't fly."
[21:07] <Alicia> "The contingency is effectively that last part, if we're in danger of being overwhelmed I'll cut us a path out and we'll fly through it ourselves before plane-shifting back to the Prime."
[21:10] <Kotono> "Sounds reasonable enough." Antenora goes over it, "I have no illusions that this will be an easy battle..." Looking down quietly, "This'll be my first time going back to Hell, too. So, no failure will be tolerated. We have to succeed at this, or at least get away safely. We can't be defeated in that museum. Staying frozen for eternity would be the best thing we could hope for then."
06[21:12] * Alicia nods grimly. "If we get into any sort of trouble, retreat is preferable to any grand heroic gesture. We can always try again, provided we get away. Still, considering the types of devils present the last time, we should be capable of defeating any foes that appear to challenge us there, unless another Duke stops by."
[21:13] <Kotono> "I hope that whomever is running it's defenses is as lax as the previous one is, or circumstances make his defenses weak," Antenora says, then smiling a little, "Ready, Marie?"
[21:14] <Alicia> "No pressure," Marie grins back as Alicia hands her the plane shift ring.
[21:14] <Alicia> "Since Antenora and I will have our hands full fighting, its best if you hold onto this," she explains, also handing Antenora a small clay flask containing water from Evergold, a match for one she likewise has on her.
05[21:18] -betamax.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:18] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[21:22] <Kotono> Taken and put under her robes, "I'll be paying as much attention with my mind as I can, so we aren't ambushed by anything unseen or hidden."
[21:25] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll cast my spells and then we'll go," Alicia speaks up, proceeding to use her magic to shield herself, empower everyone's weapons, and ward them against cold. "Also better get that silversheen on your spear, too," she tells Antenora, applying the liquid metal to Hell Striker.
[21:26] <Kotono> Antenora rubs the silversheen into the tip of her spear as Alicia finishes casting her spells.
[21:28] <Alicia> Finally, Alicia takes out the scroll of disguise self. "No laughing," she cautions the other two before she reads from it, an illusion of a hunchbacked and scary looking Bearded Devil superimposing itself over her form.
[21:28] <Kotono> Antenora cracks a smile. "You make a disturbingly ugly Bearded Devil."
[21:30] <Alicia> Marie politely covers her mouth and looks away while Alicia shows a fierce grimace of razor-sharp teeth. "No one should question it, at least," she replies in as guttural a voice as she can manage, hefting Hell Striker which currently looks like a jagged cold-iron halberd.
[21:30] <Alicia> "Now, get in my backpack and then plane shift us to Tantlin, Marie," she instructs her familiar, casting Voice of the Archon and taking Antenora's hand.
[21:31] <Kotono> Antenora squeezes Alicia's hand. "You'll scare all the lemures you see."
[21:33] <Alicia> "Remember to boss her around to stay in character!" Marie reminds Antenora as she clambers into the backpack hidden within Alicia's 'hump' and after receiving assent from the others she focuses on the ring currently worn more like a bangle around her dainty wrist, warping them to that most hated plane of Baator...
[21:33] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 191." [5d100=66, 11, 10, 10, 94]
[21:38] <Kotono> Wooooosh! So cold. There is no heat here. Only a cold that feels piercing even with her magical protections. Alicia's cheek aches. She can feel the touch of Agares on her cheek again as she appears, the foul caress making her face feel like dead, rotting flesh. The bleak, purple sky sheds barely any light, a deep shadow over everything.  You stand on loose circles of ice, most no more than twenty feet wide. They float in a very loose surfac
[21:38] <Kotono> most no more than twenty feet wide. They float in a very loose surface, most dipping ominously down and far too close to letting water spill over; the oily black waters just below toxic to mind and identity. (More)
[21:39] <Kotono> Over this barely together, loose conglomeration of 'land' are several thicker pieces of ice, making jutting, minature mountains perhaps twenty to thirty feet into the air. They are slightly hidden, a chill, dry, flayind wind blowing off of them. On one a hundred or so feet away, an ice devil lies at the top, it's tail coiled down the 'mountain'.
06[21:41] * Alicia doesn't intend to stick around, teleporting the trio to just off the far side of the bridge leading to the Halls - the same place where she first met Agares, at that.
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d10 damage
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d10 damage and gets 4." [1d10=4]
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+80 mishap
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+80 mishap and gets 88." [1d20=8]
[21:46] <Kotono> Ugh! Alicia can feel a sense of domination, chains binding to her! The teleport wracks her body, appearing on a long bridge of ice! Buildings of ice are all around you. About twenty feet away are two vile creatures - a pair of ice devils walking this way! They stop at the apperance, mandibles chittering! "A mere Bearded Devil dares into this quarter! You presume far too much, foolish barbazu! Your life is forfiet for breaking this law!" OOC
[21:46] <Kotono> oolish barbazu! Your life is forfiet for breaking this law!" OOC - Let's roll initaitive here?
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[21:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M should it matter
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M should it matter and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ID 1
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ID 1 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 ID 2
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 ID 2 and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[21:47] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[21:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 15." [1d20=10]
03[21:48] * Kotono changes topic to 'Ice Devil 1>Antenora>Ice Devil 2=Alicia>Marie'
[21:50] <Kotono> "Shit!" Antenora curses under her breath, as the first ice devil extends it's hand out! As whirls of cold and wind gush from it, "Impudent barbazu, and those who would dare with him, suffer!"
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 CL
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 CL and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[21:50] <Kotono> OOC - Ref saves.
[21:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33." [1d20=16]
[21:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[21:51] <Kotono> roll 13d6
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 13d6 and gets 45." [13d6=1, 4, 3, 6, 5, 2, 5, 5, 3, 3, 5, 2, 1]
[21:51] <Kotono> OOC: Doesn't penetrate your resist after successful saves.
[21:52] <Kotono> The cold whips around Alicia and Antenora! Both of them dodge to the sides of the bridge, missing the worst of the freezing cone! 'Attack or hold?' Antenora asks swiftly. OOC: Antenora's up.
[21:52] <Alicia> "Don't waste time, we're getting out of here," Alicia replies in clipped infernal.
[21:53] <Kotono> Antenora hurries over to Alicia then! OOC - Alicia and Devil 2 are up.
[21:54] <Alicia> Satisfying as it would be to slay these fiends, Alicia has more important matters and so doesn't waste time in retrying the teleport!
[21:54] <Alicia> roll 1d100 c'mon
06[21:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 c'mon and gets 96." [1d100=96]
[21:55] <Alicia> OOC: similar area again
[21:56] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia vanishes just as another cone of cold appears! this time you appear on a broken bridge, at the edges of it. This part of Tantlin lies in a cold ruin! Spikes of Baatorian Greensteel jut out of the surviving bridge, several lemures impaled on them. They struggle weakly and in vain, half coated in ice!  Antenora grutns and looks around, "What? Is thijs it or...Is something interfereing with teleport?"
06[21:57] * Alicia looks around in some distress. "It might be," she admits. "I felt something terrible on the first one... I'll try again and if it fails I think we're going to have to call this off."
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 45." [1d100=45]
[21:59] <Kotono> This time you appear on the right bridge! More fortune is on your side, no one is immediately within view. The bridge where you met Agares is...quiet.
06[22:00] * Alicia sighs in relief. "This is it," she mutters, still in Infernal. "It's just ahead, this way," is added as she starts to cross the bridge.
[22:01] <Kotono> MAtching Alicia's vile words with her own, "Nothing nearby. Let's go." With that, the two begin to walk!
[22:01] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 76." [1d100=76]
[22:03] <Kotono> You pass by a dozen sights that will haunt Alicia in her darkest dreams. A ice devil tormenting a Bearded Devil, ripping it's beard out one hair at a time, taking with it chunks of bloody flesh for each effort. A Hellcat feasts on a still writhing lemure, devouring it as it's mindless self fights futilely. A dozen Bearded Devils are frozen into the shape of a giant cross, where in an Ice Devil lies crucified. Written in blood red letters be
[22:03] <Kotono> where in an Ice Devil lies crucified. Written in blood red letters below it is, 'The Fate of those who defy Lord Levistus! Torment for 9,999 years for the crime of lesser treason against one's Lord.' (More)
[22:05] <Kotono> But at last...at last mercy is on you. You begin to approach the cave entrance to the Halls of the Vanquished. Like last time, two bearded devils stand guard. At one hundred feet away, Antenora stops. "Problem. There's something invisible a bit above them. Outsiders, two of them, above average intelligence."
[22:07] <Alicia> "Unless they give us trouble, ignore them," Alicia suggests, her thick bristly beard somewhat obscuring her lips as she whispers, continuing to march along as only a surly barbazu can, 'halberd' held in both hands as if anticipating violence at any moment.
[22:09] <Kotono> Antenora follows, walking along with them. She doesn't even deign to glance at the two barbazu guards as they enter! Nothing unusual as you approach, though ANtenora takes a moment, 'Ahead and inside, three superhuman intelligences. Might be ice devils, they're like the intellect fromt he last two.'
[22:11] <Alicia> 'We'll see in a moment,' Alicia replies, more comfortable talking telepathically where no one can overhear. 'Last time there was only once ice devil here, so unless they're visitors like us it could be they've spent a lot of effort on increasing security.'
[22:11] <Alicia> She idly wonders just where these resources have been diverted from - it could prove useful to take advantage of a weakness elsewhere, if she were to find it.
[22:13] <Kotono> Inside the foyer, three ice devils stand before the door leading to the Grand Hall. Each has the diabolical spears they prefer, the one in the center chattering as the two enter. "On who's authority do the two of you enter the Halls of the Vanquished on?"
[22:15] <Alicia> The erinyes should be the one to speak, and she knows more fiendish names. 'This is new. Make something up, some random devil of influence on a layer far from here,' she suggests to Antenora.
[22:20] <Kotono> Standing up straight and speaking in deep, imperious tones, "The authority of Mitanu of Maladomini!"
[22:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
06[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[22:23] <Kotono> The lead gelugon curtly nods and steps aside. "Enjoy the new exhibit ahead," it says, mandibles clattering together again.
[22:24] <Kotono> Antenora advances on with nary a look to them after, and looking to Alicia, "Stop slacking!"
[22:25] <Alicia> "New exhibit?" Alicia queries in her most scratchy and guttural voice, before suddenly recoiling in fear at Antenora's command. "Hsss! Yes, mistress!" she hunches herself inwards obsequeiously before scurrying ahead to lead the way for the erinyes.
[22:27] <Kotono> Stopping to glare at Alicia, "Do that again and I'll have you become an exhibit for piteous, pathetic wastes of diabolical flesh!" But as you advance on, something else could get your attention. IN the center of the grand hall something new has been added(Besides repaired floors, really.). In the center of the room is a pedestool, much like the ones that hold various trophies here.  Here an Ice Devil stands, being pulled apart in several di
[22:28] <Kotono>  Here an Ice Devil stands, being pulled apart in several directions. It's body is spread eagled as far as it will go, just starting to gruseomly rip apart. It's frozen in this state, a look of soul killing agony on it's alien face! Below it, on a plaque that burns with crimson fire, it reads 'Azanu. See well the price of failure and learn!'
[22:30] <Alicia> 'Former curator,' Alicia supplies for Antenora's benefit. 'My blades tasted his flesh but he retreated... perhaps it would have been better for him if he had not,' she muses. Rather than lingering, she makes a show of bowing and scraping to Antenora before leading her to the hall of captured demons.
[22:31] <Kotono> Antenora looks the statue over, "Fitting," she says. As she does, one of the western doors open. A classical harvester devil walks side by side with a man in plain, dented full plate armor. His face is cold, uncaring. "...why this is such a superior place.  Practicing against the captives is safe, easy and effective." The harvester devil says, as Antenora goes for the eastern door with Alicia.
06[22:33] * Alicia ignores the falxugon and his dupe as she leads Antenora through the exhibits.
[22:39] <Kotono> You pass into the exhibit hall! There are several ice devils here, scattered apart and keeping a general eye on things. A pair of erinyes are examining a chaos beasts, sneering. Ahead are various slaad and chaos beasts, the hall turning north after.
[22:41] <Alicia> 'Definitely been a big increase in security - before it was nothing but barbazu and erinyes,' Alicia tells Antenora as she leads the erinyes around the corner, heading towards the secret door Beth found.
[22:45] <Kotono> The Erinyes are fortunately distracted and don'te ven glance at the two. Turning the corner, you come to the demons. More ice devils are here. Including a pair at the secret door. It's not a secret door anymore at all. It's been changed into a real, obvious door, the two ice devils keeping a vigilant guard.
[22:45] <Kotono> Besides the various ice devils, there's a cornugon, flanked by four fawning male erinyes. He examines a marilith frozen in place, rubbing it's chin. "Superb work," he growls and laughs.
06[22:48] * Alicia picks a large sized creature fairly near the door and starts to study it, using its bulk to shield them from the view of any nearby erinyes. 'Alright Antenora, tell Marie to get going - records are in the second door on the left once she goes through that passage.'
[22:51] <Kotono> A large hezrou is frozen in ice as Antenora sends to Marie, 'You're up. Records are straight ahead, second door on the left once you go through the passage.'
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[22:54] <Alicia> 'Okay. Stay in touch, will you? I don't want to be alone here...' Marie responds, drinking the invisibility potion before she turns incorporeal and phases out of Alicia's backpack, embedding herself half in the frozen floor to avoid detection even from fiends with true seeing before she carefully scoots over to the passageway...

[Corwin]

[20:35] <Kotono> * Alicia picks a large sized creature fairly near the door and starts to study it, using its bulk to shield them from the view of any nearby erinyes. 'Alright Antenora, tell Marie to get going - records are in the second door on the left once she goes through that passage.'
[20:35] <Kotono> > A large hezrou is frozen in ice as Antenora sends to Marie, 'You're up. Records are straight ahead, second door on the left once you go through the passage.'
[20:35] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+14
[20:35] <Kotono> > roll 1d20+14
[20:35] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21." [1d20=7]
[20:35] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[20:35] <Kotono> <Alicia> 'Okay. Stay in touch, will you? I don't want to be alone here...' Marie responds, drinking the invisibility potion before she turns incorporeal and phases out of Alicia's backpack, embedding herself half in the frozen floor to avoid detection even from fiends with true seeing before she carefully scoots over to the passageway...
[20:40] <Kotono> Marie scoots inside! Inside is a well lit hallway, several identical doors. A distinct feeling of needles crawling over Marie's flesh is felt even now. No one looks to be about. It's utterly, dead quiet here. Not a scrap of noise.
[20:42] <Alicia> As Alicia channels a Fly spell into her sword and idly taps it into her palm to gain the benefit of the spell without noisily casting, Marie shimmies up to hide inside the ceiling and then works her way to the second door on the left which she handily bypasses in her incorporeal state.
[20:44] <Kotono> Inside is a large room of filing cabinets, each a single box with writing over it. The room is vast, dozens of these around. It's quiet and peaceable beyond that.
[20:45] <Kotono> Meanwhile Antenora makes a show of examining the nearest statue, 'Lots of ice devils. They're quite smarter than the cornugons, interestingly. Nothing else or nothing that stands out that we haven't seen, at least right now.'
[20:46] <Alicia> Marie spends a few seconds checking the room over for magic or evil auras, while Alicia starts to meander away from the demons and towards the celestials. 'You'd think gelugons wouldn't be relegated to simple guard duty - I've never seen so many in one place before,' she replies as she does a count of all the ones she's seen in the halls.
[20:47] <Kotono> There's been at least a dozen so far and more ahead in the celestial areas. Marie sees that there's strong magic all over the room she's in, including the cabinets.
[20:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[20:47] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[20:49] <Kotono> 'Whomever the new caretaker is, they're taking security seriously,' Antenora breathes, and then, 'Marie, how's it going?'
[20:49] <Alicia> 'Yikes, looks like they've upgraded the defences here. If I was corporeal I'd probably be fried to death and summoning in all sorts of guards right now,' Marie comments for Antenora's benefit as she starts to look over the cabinets for labels to see which ones relate to imprisoned mortals.
[20:50] <Kotono> There's a bunch with names of various mortals. About a fifth of them or so are these or could be these.
[20:50] <Kotono> 'Alicia, there's better traps. Marie says she'd be fried if she wasn't incorpreal,' Antenora sends to her.
[20:52] <Alicia> 'So where's all this coming from?' Alicia wonders as she eyes a familiar looking sword archon. 'There's no comparison at all with how it was last time - you'd think this was a front-line fortress or something...'
[20:53] <Alicia> Meanwhile Marie reads the name of the first mortal she finds and phases into the cabinet to see if she can find the command release code within.
[20:54] <Kotono> The cabinet is empty. Meanwhile, 'Well, Agares is gone and Azanu's a piece of art. Whomever the new caretaker is has enough clout to get plenty of gelugons and better security. Maybe Levistus is taking an interest? Maybe another Duke is?' Antenora pauses to consider as Alicia examines the frozen archon. 'If we have leisure, gathering some information could be productive.'
[20:56] <Alicia> 'Antenora?' Marie hopes the erinyes is listening in as she flits back out of the cabinet, quickly ducking into another random one to see what she can see.
[20:56] <Kotono> Empty again! Nothing at all is in there. No reply from Antenora at the moment.
[20:58] <Alicia> That's all Marie needs to write off this room. Phasing through the wall, she takes a peek in the room's neighbour - the first on the left after entering this hallway.
[20:59] <Alicia> 'Maybe. But I don't intend to stay any longer than necessary...' Alicia replies uneasily.
[20:59] <Kotono> The room looks like some sort of diabolical office, but it's empty. 'Marie, how's it going' Antenora asks after that. 'Alicia doesn't want to linger too long.'
[21:01] <Alicia> 'There's no one here, and the filing cabinets are all empty!' Marie replies, clear relief at hearing Antenora's lovely voice evident in her tone. 'The room next to it's an office I think but it's empty, too. I think these rooms are just decoys!'
[21:02] <Kotono> 'Oh HELLS.' Antenora thinks, 'Hold on.' Then to Alicia, 'Problem, the rooms in there are duds. Empty and trapped to the gills.'
[21:04] <Alicia> 'Clever... I bet they're not even warded against teleportation, too,' Alicia replies with grudging respect. Recalling the plan of the Halls she saw at the entrance and comparing it with its exterior dimensions, she tries to think of where another possible hidden room could be.
[21:06] <Kotono> The problem is that the Halls sink into a cave and close to the Styx. The dimensions are anyone's guess, since it's not like the front map out ther eincluded this secret or anything else like 'Hi, secret door here!'. It really could be anywhere.
[21:08] <Alicia> Well, last time there was a really obvious empty spot in the corner. 'Okay, tell Marie to first of all check above and below those rooms?' she asks the erinyes.
[21:09] <Kotono> 'Right,' Antenora says, 'Alicia wants you to check right above and below the rooms there,' she says, 'Watch out for the Styx, remember.'
[21:09] <Kotono> As you do, the cornugon gloating over the Marilith proceeds ahead, closer to Alicia and company. The male erinyes continues to fawn over him as he walks, "Move!" he bellows to Alicia and Antenora, "I wish to examine that exhibit now!"
[21:10] <Alicia> 'It's okay, corporeal water can't touch me like this no matter how nasty it is,' Marie tells Antenora as she ducks down through the floor below the office first of all.
06[21:11] * Alicia hisses and quickly scurries away from the cornugon with much bowing and scraping.
[21:14] <Kotono> Antenora does the same, "Sorry, sorry, sorry," she whimpers, scurrying away with Alicia as well!
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 24." [1d20=10]
[21:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 26." [1d20=12]
[21:14] <Kotono> The erinyes sneer and smirk at the two, as meanwhile Marie goes up and down! Up is cold, solid ice. Below is frozen eyes, and a little lower, the water of the Styx. No sign of anything.
[21:14] <Alicia> Marie reverses course and flies up!
[21:15] <Kotono> Up is cold, solid ice.
06[21:16] * Alicia moves back amongst the demons once the cornugon has passed, not wanting to get too far away from the passage so Marie can find them easily.
[21:16] <Alicia> Speaking of said eladrin, she descends back to the same level as the empty rooms and decides to check out the one on the right of the empty records room.
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana Alicia
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana Alicia and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 arcana Marie
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+9 arcana Marie and gets 26." [1d20=17]

[Corwin]

[20:36] <Kolunch> The room to the right has racks and racks of weapons. The weapons look fairly plain and uninteresting from a glance, though most looked to be styled with angelic, archonic or various good aligned motifs.
[20:38] <Alicia> This must be where Alicia found Hell Striker. Back into the hallway, Marie looks to see how many doors she hasn't checked out.
[20:38] <Kolunch> There's three more.
[20:39] <Alicia> Marie quickly scoots through each, just poking in briefly to see what's what and move on, unless she sees anything interesting.
[20:42] <Kolunch> It's offices, mundane, empty record storages and a curator's office shell. Nothing in it looks too interesting on a glance.
[20:42] <Kolunch> 'Marie?
[20:42] <Kolunch> OOC - Gah.
[20:43] <Kolunch> 'Marie?' Antenora sends as she does, 'How's it going back there? There's several ice devils, erinyes and a horned devil out here. Careful.'
[20:46] <Alicia> 'There's only one erinyes I want to see,' Marie jokes back in an effort to keep her spirits up. 'Aside from what looks like an armoury of trophy weapons, there's nothing here - the rooms have all been cleared out entirely. The whole thing reeks of a setup - I'm coming back, okay?'
[20:47] <Kolunch> 'Okay.' Then to Alicia, 'She's coming back.' Then to Marie again, 'Tell me when you're back in the backpack.'
[20:49] <Alicia> Phasing back through the walls, Marie makes ample use of cover to avoid moving through the line of sight of any erinyes (except the one in the black robes) as she zips towards the bearded devil lurking by the marilith, once more hiding within Alicia's backpack before she returns to a corporeal state. 'Back,' she announces as Alicia starts at the shifting weight on her back.
[20:53] <Kolunch> 'Right.' 'Alicia, she's back.' Antenora says, as she makes a show of looking about at the various figures.
[20:55] <Alicia> A mental sigh is clearly conveyed from the paladin. 'I'm afraid to say we're stuck, then. I can't count on dispelling these bindings, and the guards are too numerous and powerful for me to magically compel them into releasing anyone... without those release commands there's no way we can get anyone out of here.'
[20:56] <Kolunch> 'Are we going to call it off then?' Antenora asks. She sighs as well, '...dammit. If nothing else, I want to try and find out about this new curator. They're proving disgustingly competent.'
[20:58] <Alicia> 'Considering there's more greater fiends here than they had in the desert invasion force, it's really not hard,' Alicia replies bitterly. 'If nothing else we can take some comfort in the fact that such a large number of gelugons are stuck here instead of actually causing trouble for anyone else.'
[20:59] <Kolunch> 'Let's get out of here then?' Antenora says, 'Before someone gets lucky. We can talk out of the hall, somewhere quiet.'
[20:59] <Alicia> 'If we can find an isolated guard somewhere...' Alicia considers thoughtfully as she starts to head back to the entry hall.
[21:00] <Kolunch> You pass into the entry hall! Here a pair of barbazu is examing Azanu with an intense scowls. No sign of the previous harvester devil and mortal. The way out is ahead.
06[21:02] * Alicia looks to see if the map from last time is still here, and if it's had any changes made.
[21:16] <Kolunch> The map from last time is here now. It's been updated to show the old secret rooms, labeled as offices, storage, ectera. Nothing else has been added.
[21:20] <Alicia> Nothing else for it, really. If Antenora still had her keen observational skills they might be able to try and find another secret door leading to the real offices, but as is they really have no chance. Still, perhaps they can get some information if nothing else... are those three gelugons still here?
[21:20] <Kolunch> Going back into the foyer, the two find the gelugons are still keeping watch.
06[21:25] * Alicia approaches the ice devils, keeping a somewhat respectful distance (ie they'd have to move to stab her) and throws a subservient look back to Antenora before addressing them in her best guttural hiss (though still with the exacting pronunciation that Infernal demands). "I heard once that exhibits can be fought. How does that work?"
[21:26] <Kolunch> Antenora scowls and nods to the barbazu. "I'm interested in this as well. My servant could use a sharpening."
[21:28] <Kolunch> "You need to petition the curator to approve it. Should it be approved, they will be temporarily thawed int he training halls. A letter from a devil with authority in Tantlin or a noble devil will reflect very well on your request."
[21:29] <Kolunch> The gelugon leans forward, chittering-snap-snap as it's mandibles come together. It eyes both of them, with a look of casual contempt for Alicia and leering at the robes erinyes.
06[21:30] * Alicia takes a half-step back from the gelugon, playing her part as a minor baatezu in the face of a greater one. "See old curator back there," she cocks her head towards the grisly exhibit in the front hall, "What can you tell us about the current one?"
[21:32] <Kolunch> "Curator Tenel came to power after the condemnation of Azanu for incompetence, laxity, embezzlement, chaotic sympathies, treason and failure of duty." With a laugh, "I hear that Azanu is awake unlike the others. He spends eternity being torn apart and watching other devils mock his failure every day!"
[21:33] <Kolunch> Another of them grins, a disquieting thing that sends chills down one's spine. "Curator Tenel is far more competent. Azanu's wastefulness let a mere mortal escape and infuried former Duke Agares."
[21:33] <Kolunch> *infuriated
[21:34] <Kolunch> The third laughs, a sound of unearthly, buggish things making noise. "Chaotic impulses! So wrapped up in his own corruption that he forgot the greater duties to Baator! Pathetic!"
[21:35] <Alicia> "Serves him right, then," Alicia bares her needle-like teeth in a rictus of a grin. "Although tales of the *former* duke's troubles have reached even other layers. Is Tenel an associate of that one?"
[21:39] <Kolunch> "Tenel is favored of Levistus. He is a true, greater gelugon," All three lower their eyes at this, a complete pause. "Curator Tenel has vowed to end the laxity and weaknesses of Azanu's pathetic regime!"
[21:42] <Kolunch> Antenora simply laughs. It's a haughty, horrible laugh. "Azanu and then Agares. How far did the incompetent corruption go?"
[21:44] <Alicia> She's still got it! "Would you tell this humble one where such an upstanding fiend might be found?" Alicia asks the Gelugon she first spoke to. If her respectful words aren't enough, there's also the kick of her suggestion spell to help things along.
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
05[21:44] -batcave.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[21:44] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[21:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 SR
06[21:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 SR and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[21:44] <Kolunch> OOC: Make a diplo check?
[21:45] <Alicia> OOC: lets take 10 for 51?
[21:48] <Kolunch> "You can schedule an appointment with Curator Tenel. Submit the request to the Department of Inter-Devil Official Relations. Then again...that takes years." Looking keenly at the bearded devil, "You speak well for one of your caste."
[21:49] <Kolunch> "I've trained it well," Antenora smirks, "THIS bearded devil isn't allowed to be a complete, incompetent fool."
06[21:49] * Alicia briefly shoots a fearful look at Antenora. "Nothing less is expected," she agrees with some quick bowing and scraping.
[21:49] <Kolunch> "Don't you forget that," Antenora finishes.
[21:50] <Kolunch> roll 1d20+18
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Kolunch rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[21:51] <Kolunch> "This process can be speeded up immensely if you are willing to make it worth our while," One of the gelugons says. "The Barbazu is outstanding. I could use a servant who doesn't trip over it's own feet."
[21:52] <Kolunch> "No point." Going to touch the Barbazu's head with a smirk, "My master is impressed with it as well. Surely a promotion is no later than a decade away."
[21:54] <Kolunch> "Something useful then." The first one eyes, "Magic or worthwhile coin."
[21:54] <Kolunch> 'Alicia?' Antenora asks at this point.
06[21:55] * Alicia almost but not quite flinches away from Antenora's touch. 'Forget it, I was fishing to find out where he is so we can drop in unannounced, not get an appointment. We should go,' she responds.
[21:55] <Kolunch> "I'll consider it," Antenora says, then pulls Alicia along by the beard. "We're done here. Come, servant."
06[21:56] * Alicia hisses and follows along, having to move quite carefully to avoid having Antenora's hand noticably phase through her illusory beard and draw attention that way.
[21:58] <Kolunch> The two manage to stumble outside! Once outside, no ome immediately around, "Tenel, eh?" Antenora murmurs. "Now what?"
[22:00] <Alicia> "We have about an hour and a half before my disguise fades," Alicia replies, moving well up the road away from the hall and recasting voice of the archon once no devils are close by. "We could try asking around to get more information, but that depends on how similar hellish cities are to ones on the prime - do you even have things like taverns?"
[22:01] <Kolunch> "In forms, yes. There are places where devils gather. It depends on how fast we can find one," Looking about, seeing the streets quiet for the moment, "Catching up on the gossip would be to our benefit, both about Zquujaj and the going ons of the layer."
03[22:02] * Kolunch is now known as Kotono
[22:04] <Alicia> "I get the impression no one cares about Zquujaj anymore," Alicia muses. "Last time I was here there was a noticable tension - and you said things were going utterly chaotic the last time you were here. But now everything's under a tight lid - they wouldn't spare so many gelugons to guard a museum if a rogue pit fiend really was causing much trouble."
[22:04] <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if we can find such a place and find out what's happening?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "I think the status quo returned," Antenora agrees as the two go to look about!
[22:04] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 80." [1d100=80]
[22:09] <Kotono> It takes about fourty five minutes of wandering to find such a 'place'. It's a precisely carved and promptly neglected building of pure ice. Inside lesser devils congregate. Bearded devils, a few harvester devils, a steel devil, a pair of orthons.  They all drink a foul looking, black, tarry substance from tiny glasses. The 'bar' is a small circle of stone about five feet wall. Inside of it is a hole in the ice, a rusty metal bucket drippin
[22:09] <Kotono> Inside of it is a hole in the ice, a rusty metal bucket dripping with Styx-water just besides it."Close enough to a tavern," Antenora mutters.
06[22:12] * Alicia nods. "Lets see what the word is, then?" Alicia suggests, intending to simply listen in for a bit in case any topics of interest come up while they settle into the tavern. Such as it is.
[22:12] <Kotono> OOC: Make a GI check? Antenora will assist you for +2 if possible.
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 and gets 27." [1d20=10]
[22:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[22:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[22:17] <Kotono> You find most of the patrons are in a strange state. They're simply dazed and blank, drinking tiny sips of the strage black drink. It leaves them glassy-eyed and inert. One bearded devil is not partaking and quite coherent. "What do you want," he asks, then "Superior one," he adds with a quick bow of it's head to Antenora.
[22:21] <Alicia> "There have been many changes in Tantlinn since we were last here," Alicia replies, voice low and guarded. "A duke has fallen, and the... interesting, museum of defeated foes is under new management. This has allowed certain arrangements to lapse, so we are attempting to discern the current state of things."
[22:21] <Alicia> That sounds suitably twisted and weasel-y, so shouldn't arouse any suspicion beyond typical baatezu plotting. Hopefully.
[22:22] <Kotono> Antenora nods, turning her attention away from Alicia to look around. The bearded devil eyes right back, "Came to the wrong place. Devils come here to forget."
[22:24] <Alicia> "Miserable wretches..." Alicia briefly surveys the other inhabitants. "They should return to being mindless lemures if that's all they care about."
[22:38] <Kotono> "It's pathetic. Their masters should flay them for this folly." The other barbazu scowls, "Tantlin has been such a mess since the last reorganization. The last millenia has been worthless."
[22:41] <Alicia> "Their masters are probably busy clicking their mandibles in that museum. Never before have I seen so many superior baatezu all in one place with nothing to do," Alicia remarks before asking, "Where did all those gelugon come from? Surely they have more important tasks than performing the work of our caste?"
[22:46] <Kotono> "Hmph. The new curator comes in with his own power and authority. They're all his own toadies, who flock to a greater gelugon." With a respectful 'sneer' of sorts, "AT least he enforces iron order. The attempts on the museum previously were disgraceful!"
[22:51] <Alicia> "We have heard of this incident," Alicia briefly shoots Antenora a look. "Whether this order is more than a facade has not yet been tested, though. Time will tell if this is an improvement or just a wasteful excess."

[Corwin]

[20:14] <Kotono> > "It's pathetic. Their masters should flay them for this folly." The other barbazu scowls, "Tantlin has been such a mess since the last reorganization. The last millenia has been worthless."
[20:14] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Their masters are probably busy clicking their mandibles in that museum. Never before have I seen so many superior baatezu all in one place with nothing to do," Alicia remarks before asking, "Where did all those gelugon come from? Surely they have more important tasks than performing the work of our caste?"
[20:14] <Kotono> > "Hmph. The new curator comes in with his own power and authority. They're all his own toadies, who flock to a greater gelugon." With a respectful 'sneer' of sorts, "AT least he enforces iron order. The attempts on the museum previously were disgraceful!"
[20:14] <Kotono> <Alicia> "We have heard of this incident," Alicia briefly shoots Antenora a look. "Whether this order is more than a facade has not yet been tested, though. Time will tell if this is an improvement or just a wasteful excess."
[20:16] <Kotono> "I have no doubt he will. To suggest anything else is disloyal," Evenly speaking as he looks about the brain-addled room of devils, "Curator Tenel will be a worthy curator."
[20:26] <Alicia> "Perhaps, perhaps not," Alicia muses ambivalently. "Once Tenel has actually overcome any real challenges we might be better informed as to his abilities. Certainly there are some who might feel he is draining away more resources than he truly needs to defend a set of frozen statues so deep within Baator."
[20:26] <Alicia> She then shrugs as if to say she's only musing, "Then again, perhaps he is aware of some greater threat that we are not privy to."
[20:29] <Kotono> "He is our superior," The bearded devils bows his head low. As that happens, Antneora does likewise. "What of Duke Agares? I hear his ineffective flailings lead to his disgrace."
[20:35] <Kotono> "He had several incompetencies. Word of his failed adventure into a region of the Prime Material Plane spread. A word supposedly weak and ripe for the picking, our forces defeated by a few weak celestials and mortals?"
[20:38] <Alicia> "For such a disgrace he should have been stricken down to lemure status, not allowed to skulk off into the wastes of Avernus," Alicia declares angrily.
[20:45] <Kotono> "Mph. Avernus..." The bearded devil strokes it's horrible beard, "Far better than he deserves. Perhaps Zquujaj defeated him before his retreat?"
[20:48] <Alicia> "I doubt that Agares could survive an encounter with one who battled Bel to a standstill," Alicia mutters before cocking her head, "Though that was the last I heard of Zquujaj. Has he fled into exile with the demons he shamefully consorted with?"
[20:49] <Kotono> With a long look, "Were you not aware of the victory celebrations called for after Bel masterfully forced Zquujaj to retreat? The 999,999 paean recited was a work of brilliance as it described his masterstroke agasint the chaos-spawn."
[20:49] <Kotono> *999,999 word paean
[20:51] <Alicia> "We have only recently returned from another campaign outside the Hells," Alicia replies, oh so glad she never had to listen to such a dirge.
[20:52] <Kotono> "We are rather...outside of the changes," Antenora sends a wayward look to the bearded devil. "We have been unfairly deprived of hearing of Bel's glories."
[20:54] <Kotono> "In a masterstroke, his strategy entombed the demonic hordes into nine vast canyons in Avernus, slaughtering them with a strike force of devils from the air. In the glorious carnage Bel and Zquujaj faced each other! The legendary Abyss-Bane clashed against the chaos-spawn and sent him packing to the Abyss! No chaos spawn can stand against the power of Bel!"
03[20:56] * tai-evilmaylurkandsodoi is now known as tai-offtomemorial
[20:58] <Alicia> "Excellent," Alicia's mouth forms a hideous rictus of a smile. "Let him rut with the tanar'ri. Anyway, it is time we reported to our superiors - thank you for the illuminating conversation."
[21:00] <Kotono> Standing as well, "Hmph," Muttering as he starts to eye one blank-eyed bearded devil, your 'friend' raises it's glaive. "Time for business now."
06[21:01] * Alicia tenses warily, wondering if this signals an impending attack. If they're expecting a normal barbazu and erinyes they're going to be bitterly disappointed, though...
[21:04] <Kotono> The bearded devils trots over to the other bearded devil. It doesn't even look up as the other one slams a scroll down. "Guilty of desertion," it pronounces, "The punishment is oblivion!" As the few coherent devils look on in a mix of surprise and terror, the barbazu decapiates the blank-eyed devil! It's one smooth, easy stroke, sending it's head flying into the air!
[21:05] <Kotono> Antenora grunts, 'Come,' she sends to Alicia, 'Just a deserter. Let's go while the going is good.'
[21:06] <Alicia> Oh. Well, good for him... Alicia doesn't particularly care about internal baatezu discipline, so she readily follows Antenora out. Actually, isn't Antenora a deserter as well? Good thing nobody recognises her.
[21:07] <Kotono> Heading out, Antenora sighs briefly in the frozen-cold streets. "Ready?" she asks. "Let's go home already."
06[21:08] * Alicia takes Antenora's hand in her own and whispers, "Take us home, Marie."
[21:08] <Alicia> A command that her familiar readily obeys!
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 5d100
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d100 and gets 197." [5d100=47, 27, 34, 58, 31]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 1d9
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d9 and gets 6." [1d9=6]
[21:09] <Kotono> Howling, chilly winds batter the party! The air is a little thin as you appear in the mountains - it looks like the Galkass Mountains. No sign of shocker lizards, just rocky peaks. You stand on a narrow mountain path, only about five feet wide at most.
[21:10] <Kotono> Antenora flies up a foot or so, breathing in deeply. "So much better. How did I ever not appreciate how suffocating Hell was?"
[21:12] <Alicia> Marie happily comes out of the backpack while Alicia dispels the disguise she wears. "It was *horrible!*" the eladrin exclaims. "Even the air hurt my skin, like I was flying through a cloud of needles!"
06[21:13] * Alicia sighs. "Just a pity the effort was wasted... we'll have to figure out a better plan if we're to free those souls. Anyway, lets go home," she proceeds to teleport the group back to her house.
[21:13] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[21:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 36." [1d100=36]
[21:13] <Kotono> "Everything has to be just so. Everything has to conform. Everything that doesn't is in error and will be destroyed." Stretching as Alicia teleports them back home...OOC - Anything else on your agenda right now, Alicia?
[21:14] <Alicia> OOC: not really, no
[21:23] <Kotono> ------(Sealant Ko)--

[Corwin]

[20:22] <Kotono> ----
05[20:23] -atarians.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[20:23] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-66-68-88-203.austin.res.rr.com) has joined #evildunes
[20:23] <Kotono> Gathering the Demon Armor to the altar of Mystra one morning, Shankar looks it over. The helmet sits atop the breastplate, like a snarling demon's face froen into steel. "Are you prepared to begin this quest, Alicia?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "I am," Alicia affirms having left her trusty breastplate at home so she can encase herself in this particularly ugly tin-can. For her part, Marie just hovers nearby and looks distastefully at the plate-mail.
[20:28] <Kotono> With a grimace Shankar taps the helmet, "I will divine what must be done, for the sake of shattering the evil on this armor," he proclaims. This praying, the following words come from his mouth, "You must don this armor and travel west, west to Wetwind Harbor. You must slink and observe, for an evil lurks in the shadows of that port. However...the curse of the armor is not a light one. All who see you will see a demon once you don it, not a
[20:28] <Kotono> All who see you will see a demon once you don it, not a heroic champion."
[20:31] <Alicia> "As if wearing a roasting tin-can wasn't enough, I have to do so in the desert?" Alicia looks rather distressed at the prospect. "Very well... help me put it on?" she asks, starting to assemble the full plate.
[20:32] <Kotono> This is done so. The armor feels slimy and sickening to Alicia's touch. Wearing it is heavy and painful, the metal seeming to dig into her joints and burrow at her sides. It smells like sulphur and brimstone, suffocating and not letting in quite enough air.
[20:33] <Alicia> "You couldn't pay me to sit on your head, now," Marie comments as she flutters nearby.
06[20:34] * Alicia sighs, already feeling debilitated. "Just come on - I've never even been to Wetwind Harbour, so we're going to have a lot of travelling ahead."
[20:35] <Kotono> Marie can see a horrible, gnashing, loathesome demon, not Alicia. Shankar looks on carefully, "You mway want to teleport out of town. Invisibility may avail you as well. Going out like that would cause a panic."
[20:37] <Alicia> "Even if I was invisible people would hear me clanking a mile away," Alicia shakes her head. "I'll probably have to rely on Marie a lot... anyway, I can take us to the desert and hopefully with some altitude Marie can spot the coast for us."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Travel with Mystra," Shankar bids, "For your burden already weighs heavily on you." Alicia's voice sounds different - like a menancing snarl, only barely holding back from ripping something limb from limb.
[20:39] <Alicia> "Wow, you sound really scary, too. Maybe you can convince the bad guys you're on their side?" Marie wonders as she alights on Alicia's hand. With a grimace the paladin attempts to cast her teleport spell despite the constraints of her armour, aiming for the oasis in the Northern desert used as camp by the celestials during the campaign there.
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d100 spell failure
06[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 spell failure and gets 15." [1d100=15]
[20:40] <Alicia> OOC: strike, teleport is verbal only
[20:40] <Alicia> roll 1d100 studied carefully
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 studied carefully and gets 45." [1d100=45]
[20:42] <Kotono> Wooosh! You appear amid the sands. The heat isn't nearly as savage as it normally is, the summer winding down and plummeting to it's endless cold depths. Most of the remnants of the celestials look to be gone. A lake remains as Alicia remembers it. Various desert animals flock to it's beard of greenery, drinking and resting. Fruit trees also grow here, ripe and ready. Even without a sign of a tent, there is a faint feeling in the air, a fee
[20:42] <Kotono> Even without a sign of a tent, there is a faint feeling in the air, a feeling of peace.
[20:43] <Alicia> "Looks nice," Marie opines. "Nicer than you, anyway."
[20:43] <Alicia> "This is hard enough, Marie, please stow it," Alicia returns, pointing to the Northeast. "Wetwind Harbor should be that way - fly up to see if you can spot it, or at least the coast?"
[20:44] <Alicia> "Sure, sure," Marie waves cheerfully as she starts to ascend.
[20:47] <Kotono> Marie flies up! OOC - How far are you willing to fly up, Marie?
[20:49] <Alicia> OOC: About a mile, give or take
[20:55] <Kotono> Ascending quite high, Marie can eventually see the coastline. She flies up really, really high. The ground is like a sandbox below...
[20:55] <Alicia> Scanning the coastline from side to side, Marie tries to discern any sign of man-made structures or roads.
[21:00] <Kotono> Marie can juuuust make out some buildings to the east.
[21:00] <Alicia> Good enough. Now she drops back down - wheee! "Found it!" she exclaims after returning to Alicia, briefly recounting what exactly she saw.
[21:01] <Alicia> "Alright, I'll take us a few miles up the coast from it and we'll work from there," Alicia nods, once more teleporting the duo!
[21:01] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen once
06[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen once and gets 35." [1d100=35]
[21:03] <Kotono> Woosh! The two appear! Immediately teh scent of the sea can be smelled! You stand on rising sea cliffs, the cliffs descending to the east in a natural sloping bay. It's al ittle more pleasant here, a breeze coming from the ocean. Far to the east, one can glimpse what is perhaps a town.
06[21:04] * Alicia starts to follow the coast towards the town, keeping a sharp eye out for anyone else wandering in the area as she doesn't particularly want to bump into anyone, and also looking for sea caves and the like that could make appropriate hiding places.
[21:08] <Kotono> OOC: How deeply are you going to be looking? Make a spot check, anyway.
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 A and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[21:08] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[21:09] <Alicia> OOC: just basically keeping an eye out as we walk, failing caves I'll settle for inlets with high ridges around them
[21:11] <Kotono> Marie has some luck! While you don't come on much of anyone out here, she does happen to glimpse something. 10 feet down from the cliffs, above the ocean's waters, is a natural sea cave. With a bit of flying or climbing it would be simple to gon in. It's a few miles from town still.
[21:13] <Alicia> Marie points it out and Alicia has a look to mark the location before continuing on. It'd be preferable to find a spot even closer to town but this might be all they can get.
[21:14] <Kotono> There's one othe rplace, a mile an da half from town. It's a deep ridge, where the cliffs and sand make a bit ofa natural hiding spot. This could service as well, albiet more exposed than the cave.
[21:16] <Alicia> "Okay, I'll have to wait here for now," Alicia tells Marie. "So I want you to scout out the town and then report back - just get the lay of the land, we'll do the actual investigation tonight after dark when hopefully I can sneak in unseen."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Okay. Try not to get killed by any misguided heroes!" Marie salutes cheerfully before zipping off towards the town at full speed in her incorporeal form.
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: Going to hide and keep watch while Marie does her rhing, Alicia?
[21:30] <Alicia> OOC: pretty much
[21:35] <Kotono> Marie flies towards town! She approaches a short western wall to the city. Sand is piled high against the composite stone, bits of shell and fossils seen in the crude rocks. Inside the city, she can see a large dock and a medium sized city.
[21:36] <Alicia> Doing her best to avoid undue notice, Marie flits into the city and proceeds to explore, keeping an eye out for evil as she does so.
[21:39] <Kotono> The city is sandy and busy. Dusky skinned men load cargo and prepare caravans. Ships are loaded and prepared, while others are rested. Off duty sailors carouse and sing around. The town's essentially an overgrown square, with roads leading in straight lines up and down it's length. There's the occasional evil person, but nothing beyond faint evil on a basic scan of the city.
[21:41] <Alicia> Nothing too gripping, but she at least has the layout so Alicia should be able to teleport anywhere here with ease. Since she wants to be helpful, she spends an hour or so eavesdropping on various conversations around the docks, mostly just trying to get an idea of what's on the rumour mill around here.
[21:42] <Kotono> OOC: Make a GI check, +2 bonus?
[21:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[21:42] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 28." [1d20=16]
[21:43] <Kotono> Eavesdropping, Marie hears the following:
[21:44] <Kotono> - With the seasons changing, this is one of the relatively tolerable periods of weather. People are talkinga bout it and enjoying it, instead of freezing cold or blistering heat. (More)
[21:45] <Kotono> - There's a story still being batted around, of a destroyed ship with only a few survivors. Wild stories surround it about Bey Onur, a dragon, a hero from the Crimson Guard and more. The stories are quite a mish-mash even now. everyone seems to know someone who knew a survivor on thes hip. (More)
[21:48] <Kotono> - There's a few trade groups quibbling for supremecy with what shipping is left after what the Pasha demands.  One, the Whirling Sand Group, focuses more on caravans but is expanding. Another, the Green Stars, is doing the opposite. It's leading to a nasty littel rivalry focused in Wetwind Harbor.(More)
[21:50] <Kotono> - Lady Nuriska, a rich woman who lives in town, has recently been taken away by her husband for various crimes. Whispers says she was involved with both male and female servants, with each teller saying one, the other, or both. It's made quite the rumor mill story. (More)
[21:50] <Kotono> - A ship from the United Baronies recently docked. One person complains that it got better treatment than a foreign ship should deserve, really.
[21:53] <Alicia> Marie feels bad for Lady Nuriska, if all she was doing was spreading the love, but there's not really any indications of hidden lurking evil from all of that. Perhaps why it's hidden? Regardless she has little else to do, so she has another quick scoot around for notable evil auras before zipping back to Alicia.
[21:55] <Kotono> This goes without incident. Returning to Alicia also goes without incident, finding her in the ridge, waiting.
[21:57] <Alicia> After Marie relays her findings Alicia agrees that there isn't much to go on, and so the two wait until nightfall, occupying themselves with an impromptu chess tournament.
[21:58] <Kotono> Nightfall comes pleasantly enough. Well, as pleasantly as it can for Alicia. The temperature drops rapidly, warmth becoming chill with a startling speed.
06[22:00] * Alicia pulls her cloak in, for all the good it does when she has this wretched tin-can covering her, and waits another hour or so before declaring that it's time and starting to head towards the city.
[22:08] <Kotono> The two rise at this point and head towards the city. The western wall, with it's stacke dup sand, awaits them. It's quiet now, the night pierced by several lights within Wetwind Harbor.
[22:10] <Alicia> As they near the wall, Alicia sends Marie to look over the other side to make sure no one's in the immediate vicinity.
[22:11] <Kotono> The area by the wall is quiet. No real guard patrol, just a quiet, dark residentials treet.
[22:12] <Alicia> Marie returns and reports an all clear. Since the armour would prove a severe detriment to climbing, Alicia instead just casts Fly. As well as Message to allow quiet communication between her and her familiar.
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 fly spell failure
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 fly spell failure and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 message spell failure
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 message spell failure and gets 48." [1d100=48]
[22:13] <Kotono> Casting successfully, Alicia ascends over thew all without incident!
[22:13] <Alicia> Both done, she flies over the wall and into the city. Following Marie's directions, she starts to head towards the docks, sticking to quiet alleys where possible and doing her best to avoid notice.
[22:15] <Alicia> Both she, Marie, and Hell Striker remain alert for any signs of evil as they move about.
[22:17] <Kotono> Slinking along, the two clear a good distance towards the docks. However, as she comes out of an alley, she can glimpse a tavern. It's wide open, manyp eople in the street outside of it. They're laughinga nd singing and boasting, ale flowing by the flagon. Only one radiates any evil(Faint), but many of them are about. A few dozen ahead.
06[22:18] * Alicia backtracks a bit so she can find a crossing where they're less likely to be spotted.
[22:22] <Kotono> Sneaking back and around goes without incident. Luck is with Alicia and Marie, reaching the docks from there is mercifully without incident. The docks are fairly quiet now, wound down and ships at anchor. Not too much isg oing on, though a few ship holds and windows do have lights on.
[22:24] <Alicia> Marie wonders exactly what they're doing, to which Alicia explains that they're 'slinking and observing'. With that cleared up, the two loiter around the docks for a bit then start to meander back through the city, mostly just keeping an eye and an ear out for trouble.
[22:29] <Kotono> As you loiter in the shadows, eyeing the dock grounds...OOC: Make a listen check, both of you?
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 A
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 A and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 M
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 M and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[22:33] <Alicia> "Someone's coming!" Marie hisses through the message spell. "Hide!" As Alicia presses herself against the wall, Marie throws up the illusion of a pile of crates stacked up to conceal the fiendish looking paladin, and hides herself up by the surrounding rooftops of the alley.
[22:44] <Kotono> Coming into view is a man in a dark cloak. He walks by, sniffing the air. "Ugh...smells horrible." Looking about, "Damned dirty idiots." Hurrying along, he doesn't linger.
[22:44] <Alicia> Is he evil?
[22:46] <Kotono> The man radiates moderate evil.
[22:47] <Alicia> That's the likliest contender they've had so far. Waiting until he's left the alley, Alicia and Marie reconvene and agree that they should follow him, Alicia doing her best to stay quiet in spite of the armour and keeping their distance to the maximum extent possible while just keeping him in range of their magical detection. Speaking of that, Marie checks him over for magical auras.
[22:51] <Kotono> He is wearing some sort of magic clothing or armor under his cloak, for there is a magical aura.
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 18." [1d20=11]

[Corwin]

[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Someone's coming!" Marie hisses through the message spell. "Hide!" As Alicia presses herself against the wall, Marie throws up the illusion of a pile of crates stacked up to conceal the fiendish looking paladin, and hides herself up by the surrounding rooftops of the alley.
[20:07] <Kotono> > Coming into view is a man in a dark cloak. He walks by, sniffing the air. "Ugh...smells horrible." Looking about, "Damned dirty idiots." Hurrying along, he doesn't linger.
[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> Is he evil?
[20:07] <Kotono> > The man radiates moderate evil.
[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> That's the likliest contender they've had so far. Waiting until he's left the alley, Alicia and Marie reconvene and agree that they should follow him, Alicia doing her best to stay quiet in spite of the armour and keeping their distance to the maximum extent possible while just keeping him in range of their magical detection. Speaking of that, Marie checks him over for magical auras.
[20:07] <Kotono> > He is wearing some sort of magic clothing or armor under his cloak, for there is a magical aura.
[20:07] <Kotono> <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[20:07] <Kotono> * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 18." [1d20=11]
06[20:08] * Alicia also quickly realises that sneaking after someone in full plate just won't work. "Marie, you follow him and I'll wait here," she tells her familiar, since she really has no way to be stealthy with this ridiculous tin-can getup.
[20:12] <Kotono> Thus Marie follows! The man hurries through the alleys, moving at a fast clip.  The dry, slightly sandy ground leaves decent tracks, though he's doing an okay job at not leaving too many. AFter af ew minutes and several twisting turns, he comes into the back of ab uilding. He takes a key out, unlocking a backdoor and going inside.
[20:13] <Alicia> While Alicia hides on the neighbouring rooftop of the alleyway she was left at, Marie phases in through the wall to continue her pursuit. She idly wonders if other familiars have to work nearly as hard as she does.
[20:19] <Kotono> It's the backroom of somewhere. From the muffled noises ahead, past a heavy wooden door, it might be a tavern or some sort of festhall. There's a table and several plain chairs here. The black cloaked man is the only one in here. He pushes back his hood. He's of normal dusky skin, with a shaved head. He grins and goes to sit at the table, putting his feet up.
[20:20] <Alicia> Keeping herself well hidden, Marie has a look for any evil auras showing from the next room. Hopefully this man will do something incriminating shortly to justify her going to this trouble.
[20:23] <Kotono> Not much from the next room offhand that she can detect from here. The man yawns and waits. He takes out a few copper coins, spinning them on the table. After a minute of this, leaning forward, "Pah, bastard's late." Sighing deeply and deeper, "Damned wastrel."
[20:24] <Alicia> Yes, keep talking to yourself! Everything you say incriminates you even more! Just don't commit patricide/regicide and we'll be fine, so thinks the eladrin as she maintains her vigil.
[20:26] <Kotono> The man sighs and spins the coins again and again! AFter about five minutes, there's a soft noise at the bacvk door. Scooping up his coin with one deft move, a hand goes inside of his cloak.
[20:26] <Alicia> The plot thickens!
[20:28] <Kotono> The door opens! A short, stumpy man waddles in! He's almost short enough to be a dwarf, with an impressive gut that juts out a foot away from him. With a big, wide grin full of white teeth, "Ah, so sorry I'm late. Dinner was long," Patting that stomach of his as he goes to a chair, nearly tipping over as he walks, "Let's get to business."
[20:31] <Kotono> "Yeah, of course," Leaning back in his chair, "Everything's going fine. There hasn't been any serious change since yesterday's report. Here." Taking a pouch out and tossing it to the fat man, "It's a hair under 200 gold. Not the day's best take, but we've had far worse."
[20:32] <Alicia> Is the newcomer evil?
[20:32] <Kotono> Taking the pouch and tipping it upwards, a rain of gold and silver coins comes out, as well as a few more exotic ones. "Not bad, not bad. 200 after wages isn't terrible at all."
[20:32] <Kotono> The new comer radiates strong evil.
[20:33] <Alicia> A new contender! Marie might need to follow this one afterwards, but lets hear what they have to say, first...
[20:34] <Kotono> "Of course not, sir," the dark man agrees, "I gave Nala a 5 gold bonus like you approved. She's been working harder and setting a good example after that mess with Emel."
[20:35] <Kotono> Laughign so much that his gut shakes like a hurricane, "Good, good! Keep them happy. Yildiz got his quarter cut already?"
[20:35] <Kotono> "Yes. No complaints this time, either. Will that be all, sir?" The cloaked man starts to stand up.
[20:37] <Kotono> "Yes, yes, go ahead." Waving a hand and,a fter a moment, the fat man flips a gold coin to the dark cloaked man. "An extra tip. I'm appreciating your work here so far. Continue to satisify me and you'll be quite rich."
[20:37] <Alicia> Fat man is probably the kingpin, so Marie elects to stick around and see where he goes rather than pursue the underling.
[20:38] <Kotono> Grabbing the coin out of the air, "Thanks, sir," he says, pulling his hood back up. "Oh. I'll be a little late to work tomorrow. I have to take care of a bit of business."
[20:38] <Kotono> "Yes, yes," Waving his hand as he starts to count the gold carefully, "Go."
[20:39] <Kotono> The man does just that, hood up as he exits out of the room, closing the door behind him.
[20:40] <Alicia> Marie checks over the fat man for magic as she waits on him to make his next move.
[20:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 15." [1d20=8]
[20:42] <Kotono> He puts his face down itno the money, giggling. "Ah money. Money, money, moneeeeey." He then starts to put it back ito the bag, which then goes into his overstretched tunic. He stands up then, going to the door.
[20:45] <Alicia> Must be funny... it's a rich man's world. Marie only thinks it, she doesn't sing it out loud, though. Stealth is paramount, as she proves by sneakily following after her oversized quarry.
[20:45] <Kotono> Once outside, the man looks about briefly! He nods slightly and then vanishes from sight abruptly!
[20:46] <Alicia> Do his auras remain?
[20:46] <Kotono> The auras remain, yes. They're traveling down the alley at a good, speedy clip.
[20:49] <Alicia> Marie doesn't need a stupid invisibility spell to stay hidden, as she deftly flits from cover to cover in hot pursuit. She wonders if he ate one of those gnomish gems or whether he invested in metamagic training to cast that spell without any components, though.
[20:53] <Kotono> The man goes to the eastern part of town. He goes into a nicer place, a pleasant two story almost-mansion ahead. In  the sahdows just before it he reappears, waddling over to it. It's painted white and with a watered, kept lawn on it, standing out from the desert all around the city. He unlocks the front door with a key, waddling on in.
[20:53] <Alicia> After a moment, Marie follows him inside!
[20:55] <Kotono> Inside is a richly, though not overwhelming richly, decorated mansion. The man goes to the second floor, into a rather small bedroom. It's mostly taken up by a bed with a silk canopy. It's very dark in here, only a few candles lit. There's the shadows of someone lying in the bed proper. "I'm hooome," he calls.
[20:56] <Alicia> Being an outsider, Marie can see perfectly well in the dark. Okay, it's monochrome, but even so the shadows offer no respite from her gaze.
[20:58] <Kotono> He can see the fat man take off his tunic and clothes, a sight best unseen. He wobbles over to the canopy, "Go ahead and sleep. I'mg oing to bathe tonight and do other things."
[20:58] <Kotono> A woman's voice comes out, "Yes, master," she says agreeably. "Anything you wish, master."
[20:59] <Kotono> Giggling at that, "Oh yes, servant. Keep talking like that for tomorrow."
[20:59] <Alicia> Is the woman evil? Or magical?
[21:00] <Kotono> No evil or magic comes from the woman behind the silks.
[21:02] <Alicia> While his bathing is a prospect best left uncontemplated, Marie does wonder about these 'other things'. The best thing for now is to go collect Alicia so she can wait near the house while Marie spies on him (hopefully after he's had his bath), so she goes off to find said paladin.
[21:02] <Kotono> Alicia is found waiting without incident. Well, as much as there can be no incidient when her master is cosplaying a demon, anyway.
[21:04] <Alicia> Reunited at last, the fun-loving duo make their way towards the fat man's house, with Alicia finding a convenient hiding spot nearby while Marie goes in to resume her scrutiny.
[21:05] <Kotono> The fat man is found wearing a silk robe, sitting in an office room. He looks to be scribing a letter when Marie finds him again.
[21:06] <Alicia> Marie tries to find a nice hiding place above and behind him where she might be able to catch a glimpse of what he's writing.
[21:10] <Kotono> Thsi isn't too hard. He's writing in Common, a letter to a 'Sir Allister.' He's talking about a joint venture in the field of female entertainment and how it would be highly profitable for both of them.
[21:11] <Alicia> Yuck. Marie is tempted to magic missile him for his objectification, but resigns herself to her information-gathering only role.
[21:13] <Kotono> Another page. He talks about how the laws on the subject are generally agreeable, but someone in the Pasha's service would smooth over many difficulties. He would be very grateful for any and all help on the matter. He ends it by signing 'Mr. Radafi.'
[21:14] <Alicia> Alicia was right about these desert people being perverted.
[21:16] <Kotono> Sprinkling sand on the pages of the still wet letters, Mr. Radafi gets up and stretches. He goes to a bookshelf and takes down a book, opening it from a bookmark and taking back to the desk.
[21:17] <Alicia> Marie takes a look to see what he's reading.
[21:19] <Kotono> It looks to be a book of laws. There's scribblings in the margins and notes, making some as he goes. Mostly tlittle things, like question marks, exclaimation marks or ilttle comments, like 'Easy loophole to exploit' or 'Problematic' or 'Research further'. The laws he's studying seem to be about trade, businesses and taxes.
[21:24] <Alicia> Marie just settles in to wait and observe...
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: How long will Marie wait and watch?
[21:39] <Alicia> OOC: lets say half an hour if nothing happens
[21:42] <Kotono> He's at it for a half of an hour without stoppage.
[21:43] <Alicia> Marie gets bored and goes to explore the house for anything incriminating or otherwise exciting.
[21:48] <Kotono> The first floor is all various living quarters. The second floor...now the second floor is more interesting. Besides the bedroom and the study, there's a lush room full of silk drapes and soft couches. It smells faintly of incense. The walls are richly decorated with expensive paintings and tapestries. There's another room that has a set of plain wooden chests inside, each one obviously and heavily locked.
[21:48] <Kotono>  each one obviously and heavily locked.
[21:48] <Alicia> Locks can't stop Marie from simply phasing directly into them. Which she does.
[21:49] <Kotono> The first one is filled with gold bullion. The second is full of finely layered silks, packed tightly as they can go. The third holds a black binded book and nothing else.
[21:50] <Alicia> Is the book magic? Or is there any other magic in this last chest?
[21:51] <Kotono> The book isn't magical, but the chest and it's lock is.
[21:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[21:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[21:53] <Alicia> Marie figures whatever magic it is must be a trap that'll go off if someone tries to open the chest. If she's already inside it, though... She chances assuming corporeal form within the chest.
[21:54] <Kotono> Nothing happens as far as Marie can tell. She's now deep in this chest.
[21:55] <Alicia> Wanting to be careful, she turns incorporeal once more and leaves, sneaking back to the study to make sure Mr Radafi is still where she left him.
[21:56] <Kotono> Mr. Radafi is where Marie left him. He's working away at his book, chuckling to himself on occasion.
[21:57] <Alicia> Okay, time to go back into the chest so she can read the secret locked away book!
[22:00] <Kotono> Going back, Marie opens the book! She finds it's written in Infernal! It looks to be a tretise written by Scax, Duke of Riches. It describes the procurement, adoration and worship of wealth. It discusses how to accure wealth on the back sof others, and how to ruin those that stand in your way, all while staying pristine.
[22:01] <Alicia> Yep, that's pretty incriminating.
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+17 Scax? (planes)
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+17 Scax? (planes) and gets 36." [1d20=19]
[22:04] <Alicia> Okay, now to finish her search of the house - she also checks for secret passages by phasing through the walls/floor/ceiling here and there in case there's any hidden rooms filled with more incriminating things.
[22:06] <Kotono> There's a hidden compartment in the floor of his bedroom. It has a bag of jewels in it. Otherwise, the house is fairly straightforward.
[22:07] <Alicia> Time to go report her findings to Alicia!
[22:08] <Kotono> Alicia is found in her hiding spot without incident, thankfully.
[22:11] <Alicia> After hearing all that, Alicia's convinced that they've found their hidden evil. So now it's time to prepare before making their move - she casts Shield on herself and Voice of the Archon on both her and Marie, then attempts to approach the house without being seen.
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 shield
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 shield and gets 20." [1d100=20]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 1
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 1 and gets 1." [1d100=1]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 1 #2
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 1 #2 and gets 2." [1d100=2]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 1 #3
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 1 #3 and gets 17." [1d100=17]
[22:12] <Alicia> roll 1d100 voice 2
06[22:12] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 voice 2 and gets 59." [1d100=59]
[22:12] <Kotono> It's well into the night now. The house and surroundings are quiet. No lights are on inside or around. No sign of people, Alicia's approach to the mansion without incident.
[22:13] <Alicia> Okay, first things first is for Marie to phase in and unlock the door for Alicia, then she'll sneak up to keep an eye on Mr Radafi while Alicia follows at her own slower and more obvious pace.
[22:14] <Kotono> The door is easy enough to unlock! Alicia comes inside without incident again. Marie zips up, finding Mr. Radafi still at his bookwork! Alicia slowly climbs the stairs in the meantime. OOC: Are you trying to stay quiet at all, Alicia?
[22:15] <Alicia> OOC: sure, I'll make an effort
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20 move silently
06[22:15] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20 move silently and gets 17." [1d20=17]
[22:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[22:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 15." [1d20=1]
[22:16] <Kotono> Alicia ascends the stairs and makes it ot the second floor without incident, then to in front of the door to the study! Despite her heavy, creaking armor, she somehow manages to do it with relative quiet!
[22:16] <Kotono> Mr. Radafi doesn't even look up, absorbed into his work.
[22:19] <Alicia> With Marie prepared to interrupt any spells he might cast, Alicia walks brazenly into the room. "Good evening, Mr Radafi," she begins, resigned to her guttural demonic voice so she might as well get some use out of it.
[22:29] <Kotono> The door is opened! The man drops his book, eyes wide! "What the hell do you want," he sputters as he wobble to standing up!
[22:30] <Alicia> "To talk... for now," Alicia replies with a hint of menace. Said hint surely magnified considerably by her current voice and appearance. "Please, sit."
[22:32] <Kotono> He stands instead, "I don't know you," he hisses, "What the hell are you? Who the hell areyou?" he stands up, "I'm not going to be intimidated."
[22:35] <Alicia> Clearly she's not scary enough even like this. "All you need to know is that I'm a being with certain... philosophical, differences with your allies. And I'd like you to tell me about them." She steps closer, "Certainly you can choose to resist. I'm sure that would make things far more entertaining."
[22:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+28 intimidate
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+28 intimidate and gets 46." [1d20=18]
[22:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 moot
06[22:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 moot and gets 25." [1d20=14]
[22:37] <Kotono> Instantly the man is on his hands and knees in front of Alicia! "Of course, master," he says quickly, "What is it you need, sir?"
[22:39] <Alicia> That was quick. "You follow the teachings of that baatezu Scax, don't you?" Alicia asks. "Tell me, how were you introduced to those foolish methods?"
[22:41] <Kotono> Groveling with his face down at Alicia's feet, "I was originally in Mammon's service. I find his service the most pleasurable, despite my transfers, sir!"
[22:44] <Alicia> Wait a minute... he's a disguised devil, not a mortal dupe! That makes his grovelling before an apparent demon seem all the more pathetic. "I see... now, I want to know what your goals are in this city."
[22:45] <Kotono> "I'm just making a living, sir! I'm working in the human society to become rich!" He looks up with wet, sniveling eyes, "Human women in this realm are pliant and accepting. Services involving them are tolerated and there is easy money to be made."
[22:47] <Alicia> "And what do you do with your wealth?" Alicia presses disgustedly. "How do you advance the cause of the Nine Hells?"
[22:48] <Kotono> "I'm enriching myself, sir!" Looking up again, "I was broken away from my superiors in a battle I had to re-withdraw from, and I have been given leave to establish a base here, sir!"
[22:49] <Alicia> "How have they been keeping in contact with you, worm?"
[22:49] <Kotono> "I-I can make contact with them weekly!" He blurts out, "They deemed this sufficient for now!"
[22:52] <Alicia> "How do you make contact?" Alicia presses. "Do they not send others to keep tabs on you?"
[22:53] <Kotono> "Well...my previous masters are indisposed now," Whimpering even lower, "I've found my old master i-in Minarous are accepting of my situation and helping me, sir!"
[22:54] <Alicia> "So you haven't encountered any other baatezu here? You've only been dealing with mortals?"
[22:54] <Kotono> "Y-yes sir!" He says quickly, "Our r-regiment was wiped out by mortal heroes and celestials, sir!"
[22:56] <Alicia> "Very well. Tell me what sort of base you've built up here and what resources you have on hand," Alicia nods.
[22:56] <Kotono> "I-I've done well. I'm running a shop and bar using women to allure and attract customers with their bare skin." Answering his as he continues to grvel hard, "I've made several thousand gold as the human males love it."
[22:57] <Alicia> "They are simple-minded fools..." Alicia is forced to lament. "Tell me about this shop."
[22:59] <Kotono> "It is called the S-sultan's pride. Women dance and serve there in silk or in little to nothing, for the more well paying men. W-we treat the men well and they pay much gold, sir!" A pause here as he wipes his dripping nose, "Many of the richer merchants have come to favor it."
06[23:01] * Alicia will have to shut that place down. "What of your underlings? Tell me of those you've convinced to serve you in this place."
[23:03] <Kotono> "Many women...paying poor women fair coin is more than enough to have them work obdiently, sir! My troublefixer is named Malim, he knows the city well and is loyal for money. Yildiz is my front man so I can stay ou tof the spotlight. The rest are worthless servants, sir!"

[Corwin]

[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> <Alicia> "They are simple-minded fools..." Alicia is forced to lament. "Tell me about this shop."
[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> > "It is called the S-sultan's pride. Women dance and serve there in silk or in little to nothing, for the more well paying men. W-we treat the men well and they pay much gold, sir!" A pause here as he wipes his dripping nose, "Many of the richer merchants have come to favor it."
[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> * Alicia will have to shut that place down. "What of your underlings? Tell me of those you've convinced to serve you in this place."
[20:13] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> > "Many women...paying poor women fair coin is more than enough to have them work obdiently, sir! My troublefixer is named Malim, he knows the city well and is loyal for money. Yildiz is my front man so I can stay ou tof the spotlight. The rest are worthless servants, sir!"
[20:15] <Alicia> "Have you made any contracts with any mortals residing here?" Alicia then asks.
03[20:15] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5af0e4f7.wfd96.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
[20:17] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "N-no sir!" LIcking at Alicia's armored boot, "I've just been making monneeeeeeeeeey!"
[20:20] <Alicia> "Out of human misery and desperation," Alicia pulls her foot back contemptously. "Are any here aware of your true nature?"
[20:21] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Noooo sir!" Looking up with pleading eyes, "I'll give you a quarter of the profits, sir!...wait, what?" He stops and blinks ahrd at that, "Out of human misery and desperation? What's wrong with that?"
[20:24] <Alicia> "You idiot, haven't you figured it out?" Alicia asks as she draws Hell Striker, not really having much left to ask anyway. "When you get to Hell, tell them Alicia Reynes sent you."
[20:26] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "What, what?" He looks up with quailing fear, "That n-name! I've heard of it! You're one of the C-C-Crimson G-g-guard! Please, spare me!"
[20:28] <Alicia> "By your own admission you're an advance scout for the Hells, bent on corrupting mortals and solidifying a base of operations for other fiends to use here. What possible reason could I have for sparing you?" Alicia asks indulgently.
[20:29] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Moneeeeey!" He looks up, "I'll give you half the profits! No, 60% of them!" Pawing at Alicia's boot, "The women are better off with al ittle money now! All they have is their bodies anyway!" Sniffling now, and with wide eyes, "I'll make you riiiich, so please spare me! I'm jus ta pathetic imp! I'll get turned back into a lemure if I fail!"
[20:31] <Alicia> "They're better off learning proper trades than degenerating themselves, anyway," Alicia returns. "If it makes you feel any better, though, fiends far greater than yourself have fallen at my blade. Perhaps they'll take that into consideration when demoting you."
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Pleaaaaase! You d-d-don't need ot kill me! I'll do a-a-anything! You want the money, I'll give it to you! You want any of my servants, they're y-y-yours! I can get you things! I can be useful!"
[20:34] <Alicia> Well, she gave him plenty of opportunities, but he failed to say anything to capture her interest. "No sale," she concludes, her sword arcing down!
[20:34] <Alicia> OOC: init or just attack?
[20:35] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC" Initiative.
[20:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 A
[20:35] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 A --> [ 1d20=4 ]{11}
[20:35] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
[20:35] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+7 M --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
[20:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+10
[20:36] <Rei-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{15}
03[20:36] * Infinite_Ko_Loop changes topic to 'Marie>Mr. Radafi>Alicia'
[20:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Go Marie.
[20:36] <Alicia> Marie remains hidden, prepared to shoot the fat man if he tries to use any magic before Alicia can perform her execution.
[20:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Alicia is a hair too slow, as the fat man gathers in power! OOC: Marie.
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+22 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{40}
[20:39] <Alicia> roll 1d4+3+3d6+3 devil-slaying bow finally has a chance to shine
[20:39] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d4+3+3d6+3 devil-slaying bow finally has a chance to shine --> [ 1d4=1 3d6=7 ]{14}
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> roll 1d20+10
[20:41] <Rei-chan> Infinite_Ko_Loop rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{15}
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> An arrow flies out, disrupting the man's concentration by arrow to the backside! He howls out in pain, "N-n-nooooooooooooooo!"
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Alicia.
[20:42] <Alicia> Before Marie can chastise her for being too slow, Alicia brings Hell Striker down! Hopefully one strike is all it will take...
[20:42] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 knowledge devotion
[20:42] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+16 knowledge devotion --> [ 1d20=15 ]{31}
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 -12pa, divine might, 3rd level channel, smite
[20:43] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d20+24 -12pa, divine might, 3rd level channel, smite --> [ 1d20=14 ]{38}
[20:43] <Alicia> roll 1d8+42+1d6+2d6+3d4
[20:43] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d8+42+1d6+2d6+3d4 --> [ 1d8=8 1d6=6 2d6=6 3d4=8 ]{70}
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Cathering in her arcane and holy power, Alicia cleaves through the fat man! Horrible green gasses escape his body as he deflates, withering away into scorched sand and dust! All that's left is said sand and dust, and a torn silken robe. Oh, and the horrible, horrible stentch in the air.
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> OOC: Free act
[20:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> .
[20:48] <Alicia> "Thanks, Marie," Alicia nods to her familiar. "We're going to have to shut down that shop of his, or at least change the management. For now, though, we want to ensure none of his underlings can benefit from his wealth."
[20:48] <Alicia> "So we're cleaning the place out?" the eladrin asks as she floats down from her hiding spot.
[20:51] <Alicia> "Precisely," Alicia nods. "First of all you'd better grab those hidden jewels you talked about, then I'll teleport us along with those three chests back to Balmuria. Hopefully we'll have satisfied the requirements for this armour as well, since if I keep looking like this things'll be hard..."
[20:51] <Alicia> So Marie dutifully goes to recover the bag of gems while Alicia goes to the treasure room.
[20:54] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> All of this goes without incident, Marie bringing the gems back to Alicia.
06[20:55] * Alicia then teleports herself, familiar, and all three chests to her study.
[20:55] <Alicia> roll 1d100
[20:55] <Rei-chan> Alicia rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=39 ]{39}
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Woosh! Alicia and her large chests return home safely! It's dark though, nothing going on in the night.
06[20:57] * Alicia starts to head out, half-expecting to be accosted by Antenora. Hopefully Marie will smooth things over, unless the erinyes' recently trained mindsight allows her to see past vulgar appearances.
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora is standing just out of the room, arms crossed. "Hello Ali-!" She blinks hard, "Marie, what's going on here?"
[21:02] <Alicia> "Demon armour," Alicia explains. "It looks even worse when you wear it, hard as that may be to believe."
[21:02] <Alicia> "I tried sitting on her head earlier and I got a rash!" Marie wails for effect.
[21:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Antenora snickers loudly at that, "Oh Marie. Done with it yet? IT looks and smells ghastly. Oh..." A pause after, "Wheneve ryou get out of it, go see Jessica. She's waiting for you to get back."
[21:05] <Alicia> "We'll be going back to clean up a few things, but that'll be tomorrow since I'm out of teleports. Hopefully I'm done with this wretched tin-can, at least... oh, and don't touch the chests in there, they're all trapped," Alicia nods as she heads out,
[21:05] <Alicia> intending to slip in the rear entrance to the temple neighbouring her house rather than head out onto the main street and through the public entrance.
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Fortunately, it's nighttime and the city is quiet. Slipping into the temple is easy enough as well. However, in the main altarroom, are a group of robed young people, chatting and talking by the altar, with a few books between them. No sign of Shankar at all.
[21:09] <Alicia> "Marie, go ahead and warn them," Alicia hisses.
[21:09] <Alicia> Dutifully Marie flies ahead to meet her fellow followers of Mystra. "Hi!" she calls cheerfully, fluttering amidst the group. "What's everyone up to, here?"
[21:12] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> One young woman looks up, faint memories of acne still on her face. "Oh, I've heard about you! Your'e the eladrin in the service of Mrs. Reynes! We're studying and trading cantrips!"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Oooh, sounds fun," Marie grins. "Actually, Mrs Reynes is just outside, but she's feeling shy," she flutters a bit closer and lowers her voice, "She actually looks really ugly right now because of some nasty magic armour she tried on - doesn't flatter her figure at all, and you wouldn't believe the smell!"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Anyway, she wanted me to come and warn you so you wouldn't get surprised by her appearance - but if you're all good I bet she'll give you a few hints with your studies!"
[21:16] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> A young man with a smirk nods, "Oh, okay! WE won't freak out then."
[21:17] <Alicia> "Good! Just remember, her current hideous and wretched appearance, not to mention the utterly vile odour, are all signs of her devotion to Mystra. So don't make fun, either!" Marie adds before calling over. "You can come in now, Alicia!" which prompts a rather embarrassed looking demonic figure to creep inside.
[21:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The young ones stare. "Wooooooow," The girl drawls, "You're really devote dot Mystra, aren't you?"
[21:22] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "No kidding," A second young teenage boy says, "That's really intense!"
[21:23] <Alicia> "Sometimes you have to wear unpleasant disguises, though in this case it's nothing but a handicap," Alicia admits as she approaches the altar, hoping that imp was the hidden evil she had to root out as she places her gauntleted hand atop the stone.
[21:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Light comes from above! The demon armor glows white, white hot! Alicia's skin should burn away, yet her flesh is not even singed byt he heat! The armor seems to melt down in the light, swirling into a garb of flowing metal around Alicia! It solidifies into the roaring shape of Leonal when it's done, gleaming golden instead of dark.
[21:30] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia steps back and studies herself a moment. "Still too heavy, but certainly a vast improvement. What do you all think?" she turns to the youngsters, mood considerably brightened.
[21:36] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The girl claps, "Oh, that looks so regal now! You look like a she-lion!"
[21:38] <Alicia> "Much better than that smelly ugly demon look you were sporting before," Marie agrees.
[21:39] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles as she approaches the group. "So, what was that I heard about you all studying cantrips? Which ones are you working on, now?"

[Corwin]

[20:24] <Kotono> > Light comes from above! The demon armor glows white, white hot! Alicia's skin should burn away, yet her flesh is not even singed byt he heat! The armor seems to melt down in the light, swirling into a garb of flowing metal around Alicia! It solidifies into the roaring shape of Leonal when it's done, gleaming golden instead of dark.
[20:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia steps back and studies herself a moment. "Still too heavy, but certainly a vast improvement. What do you all think?" she turns to the youngsters, mood considerably brightened.
[20:24] <Kotono> > The girl claps, "Oh, that looks so regal now! You look like a she-lion!"
[20:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Much better than that smelly ugly demon look you were sporting before," Marie agrees.
[20:24] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia smiles as she approaches the group. "So, what was that I heard about you all studying cantrips? Which ones are you working on, now?"
[20:25] <Kotono> "Light!" One says, as Alicia's pains and burdens leave. Another stares at Alicia for severla seconds.
[20:26] <Alicia> "Always handy when you don't have a torch," Alicia agrees easily. "So how's it going for you all?"
[20:29] <Kotono> "Well, I came here to study," One woman says, and another man nods. "It's hard to choose with all the magic temples and schools starting up. I've met more mages in a month than I did in my entire life before."
[20:32] <Alicia> "So you're all practicing the scholarly art of the wizard?" Alicia clarifies with a smile.
[20:32] <Alicia> "I might not be too helpful since the sorcerous discipline has some important differences, but the important spell components are typically the same - I've had to work especially hard on perfecting somatic components myself since armour tends to make such subtle movements tricky, so if you need help with those I'm your woman."
[20:33] <Kotono> "Oh..." One of the staring men blushes at that, "Thank you, ma'am!"
06[20:40] * Alicia smiles indulgently as she begins to lecture. "So, light... unlike the dancing lights spell that my familiar favours, it relies on having an object to become the source of the light rather than simply springing up in thin air. A lot of wizards rely on finding convenient pebbles, but I find a coin is the best thing to use."
[20:40] <Alicia> She fishes a silver coin from her pouch, her gauntleted hands begining to perform the fairly simple gestures this cantrip involves. "Hidden mysteries be revealed, let my guiding light show the way!"
[20:40] <Alicia> roll 1d100 spell failure
06[20:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 spell failure and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[20:44] <Kotono> Alicia's silver coin glows with light! With a few ooohs and aaaahs, "Oh, that's so precise! You even managed it while standin gin that armor! Impressive!" Another smiles widely at that, "Wooooow!":
[20:47] <Alicia> "It took years of practice to be able to compensate like that, which admittedly could've simply been spent on learning new spells," Alicia concedes as she flips the coin. "But this is the path I've chosen - what you'll probably find is that every mage has their own opinions on the best way to master their magic, and I'm sure you'll all find your own paths as well, given time."
[20:48] <Kotono> "I can't imagine learning magic then bothering with that armor," One of the women admit. "If you're casting magic, can't you control things without evne needing that?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "There are spells that can protect as well as any armour," Alicia agrees, "But often they have short durations - great if you know you'll be facing combat, but if you're surprised it means you have to spend time on bolstering your defences even as you're being attacked."
[20:52] <Alicia> She then shrugs, "Of course, if you intend to use your magic solely for peaceful purposes you might not worry much about such, but it's a good idea to consider the possibility that others won't honour your pacifism."
[20:55] <Kotono> "Indeed," The boy says, "I mean, no one wants to mess with a wizard! But there are some stupid people out there"!
[20:56] <Alicia> "Not to mention other wizards who think their magic is better than yours!" Marie reminds him.
[21:03] <Kotono> "Those too," Laughing nervously at that, "Have yout wo met many of those?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "A few," Alicia nods. "Mostly we battle things like dragons, demons, and devils, but there are a few misguided people who want to try their luck. Still, you should be focusing more on your studies than thinking about such conflicts," she then chastises.
[21:11] <Kotono> "Thank you," The boy quickly nods, as one of the women laughs. "We shouldn't worry so much about battle, should we?"
[21:15] <Alicia> "Not at your age, no," Alicia shakes her head. "Ideally you'd never have to, but life isn't really that simple. Anyway, I should probably get going, but before I do how about I show you a few tricks with prestidigitation that I learned when I was starting out? They're perfect building blocks for moving onto more advanced spells."
[21:17] <Kotono> "Sure!" The acolytes call.
[21:20] <Alicia> Casting prestidigitation herself, Alicia proceeds to demonstrate the simple exercises she was taught herself so long ago at her home temple in Kelara, basic conjuring and alteration of magical substances that aren't useful in any real sense but help to reinforce certain fundamental arcane concepts that underline a number of first circle spells.
[21:27] <Kotono> This goes well enough, the students impressed greatly by it. Thus Alicia heads along...OOC: What are your plans now? You were going to rest and go back to Wetwind Harbor?
[21:29] <Alicia> OOC: didn't Jessica want to talk to me?
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[21:30] <Kotono> That evening, once the lion's armor is removed and Alicia is settling down to eat and rest? It's quiet in the house, that is, until Jessica comes in. A radiant smile is on her face, humming music to herself. "Sister!"
[21:31] <Alicia> "Hello, Jessica," Alicia greets her sibling. "Antenora said you were looking for me, earlier?"
[21:33] <Kotono> Jessica smiles from ear to ear, her hands behind her back. "Sister..." She sits down besides her. "You've seen a lot of gemstones and jewelry, haven't you?"
[21:35] <Alicia> "I suppose... I've never been particularly fussed for them, but I've seen a lot," Alicia agrees, wondering where this is going.
[21:36] <Kotono> Presenting her hand to Alicia, she can see a pleasant gold ring with several small gemstones on it. "How does this one look?" she asks.
[21:39] <Alicia> Not being entirely dense, Alicia figures out where this has went. "Oh, sister!" she starts to smile, "It's lovely - does that mean Roald...?"
[21:40] <Kotono> Blushing all over, "He did!" She squeals! "It was so incredible, too! He got on his knees and everything right at the perfect tim eand...!"
[21:42] <Alicia> Getting up, Alicia wraps her arms around the older woman in a hug, "That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you!" Part of her can't help but wonder what Beth would've made of all this, but she's still sincerely happy on Jessica's behalf.
[21:47] <Kotono> With a tight hug back, "We're talking about the spring, maybe. But I'm so happy! He's such a good man, Alicia."
[21:50] <Alicia> "If he makes you happy then that's all that matters," Alicia replies sagely as she seperates a bit to study Jessica's expression. "Gods, you really do look blissfull, too. Have you told anyone else?"
[21:51] <Kotono> "Just Antenora," She gushes, "I was waiting to tell you first, but I was too excited!" Hugging Alicia again, "I think that trip to Evergold is what finally made up his mind, too. Oh sister!"
[21:55] <Alicia> "Marie will be happy as well when she hears," Alicia smiles as she goes to sit down on the couch, gently pulling Jessica along with her. "I really should get to know him if he'll be joining the family - same with his own relatives. Does this mean you're getting along better with his mother?"
[21:56] <Kotono> "Well..." Rubbing the back of her head, "Welle nough. We don't really get along that well, but we're restraining each other. Roald got a little upset with her about it and that helped."
[21:57] <Alicia> "Ah, well, can't have everything I suppose," Alicia shrugs. "So long as you two are happy that's the most important thing."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Thank you. I'm just glad you're happy for me, Alicia!" Smiling broadly now, "I suppose I'll need to take him to Kelara at some point to meet the family and spend more time with everyone here. Well..." Blushing a little, "I think he's a little intimidated by it. He really looks up to Seira and the Crimson Guard for something they did for him years ago."
[22:06] <Alicia> "Just say the word and I can take you there - I'll probably be heading back myself shortly, anyway," Alicia replies. "Past that... where are you two going to live?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "We don't know yet. He has the idea of going to Valandia lately, maybe...or maybe Kelara...but I want to stay here, too." Blushing even more, "So we really don't know, Sister."
[22:08] <Alicia> "Well, Spring's a ways off, so plenty time to figure it out," Alicia gives Jessica's hand a comforting squeeze. "It's too early to worry about the details for now, anyway."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Antenora said we should stay in Balmuria, but..." Shaking her head, "I think she was thinking only of safety. I know she meant well by that, but...that shouldn't be the only reason, either. It's not fair of Roald's stuck here forever because of me, either."
[22:11] <Alicia> "It's not like you've personally been attacked, anyway," Alicia admits. "You have that tiger and we'll pick you up another one of those bracelets as well, so if trouble does find you then help is near no matter what. Obviously I'd miss you if you moved away, but with teleportation I can visit no matter where you are."
[22:15] <Kotono> "Thanks," Hugging Alicia again, "But...Oh Mystra, I have to get a dress and bridesmaids and a celebration...Alicia..." Blushing a little, "I hate to ask but can I borrow a bit of money for all of this?"
[22:17] <Alicia> "Traditionally the bride's family does pay for the wedding, so don't worry about it," Alicia waves that off. "Speaking of that, though, if you want to put your rogue hat on I've got a couple of locked and trapped chests in the study that I need opened. Think you could help out?"
[22:20] <Kotono> "OF course," Jessica says agreeably, "Lead on, sister?"
06[22:22] * Alicia leads Jessica through to the study where the three chests are. "They've got magic traps on them, but I can suppress them for a bit if you think they're dangerous - want to have a look, first?"
[22:31] <Kotono> Thus the two go in there. Jessica nods as she kneels next to them, searching!
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[22:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 21." [1d20=9]
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 13." [1d20=1]
06[22:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23." [1d20=11]
[22:32] <Kotono> After a few checks, "Okay, I think I've found at least one of them. They're not too dangerous unless you trip them while accidentally disabling them," she says. "Or if you intentionally spring them."
[22:33] <Alicia> "Want me to dispel them just in case while you disable them?" Alicia offers.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Oh, just stand back," Waving a hand, "What's te worst that could happen...which means yes, dispel them," she adds a moment later. "I'm getting far too cocky."
06[22:38] * Alicia laughs a bit and casts detect magic so she can properly see the auras and then attempts a targetted dispel on the one Jessica's at now.
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[22:39] <Kotono> "Right!" Jessica quickly works while Alicia's magic is in effect!
[22:39] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:39] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32." [1d20=20]
[22:39] <Kotono> "Got it!" Jessica says, "That one was pretty easy."
[22:40] <Alicia> "Okay, now the middle one - you can try picking all the locks once we have the traps disabled," Alicia suggests as she makes another dispel.
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 3." [1d4=3]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[22:40] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31." [1d20=19]
[22:41] <Kotono> It takes a bit of fiddling, but then, "Got this one, too!" Jessica looks up, "One more?"
[22:41] <Alicia> "Here we go," Alicia again dispels the magical trap on the last one.
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 and gets 27." [1d20=17]
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d4
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 27." [1d20=15]
[22:42] <Kotono> "That's the last of them," Sitting upat that, "Maybe I was right. Those traps weren't much of anything to disable."
[22:43] <Alicia> "Better safe than sorry - not like I had any reason to hoard my spells anyway," Alicia shrugs amiably. "Think you can pick the locks on them, now? I probably should've just looked for the keys while I was there, but it just never occured at the time..."
[22:44] <Kotono> "That will be easy enough without traps," Jessica gets to doing just that! Soon the chests pop open! OOC: Taking 10/20 since she can keep trying until she succeeds here.
[22:46] <Alicia> Once they're all open Alicia tries to estimate the value of the gold bars, assuming they're of a standard trade size.
[22:46] <Kotono> The gold bars are around 10k gold or so. Ballpark.
[22:49] <Alicia> "Not a bad haul indeed... those silks are probably worth a lot as well, not to mention the bag of gems Marie found," Alicia remarks. "Well, I'll deal with it tomorrow since I have to go back to Wetwind, anyway. Thank you, Jessica."
[22:49] <Kotono> Going over and hefting a gold bar, "Mmmm. What are you going to do with it all? The normal?"
[22:53] <Alicia> "Well, I may be getting into business myself," Alicia admits. "This all came from an imp that was running an inn/bordello."
[22:53] <Alicia> "If I just leave things then his underlings will just take over the business which is no good to anyone. And if I get rid of them then the women working there will be forced onto the streets. So I was thinking of arranging a takeover and seeing if I can get the place run along more respectable lines."
[22:56] <Kotono> "So...how do you make a bordello respectable? Turn it into a normal inn?" Scratching her head as she eyes Alicia, "Any ideas?"
[22:58] <Alicia> "Well I'd have to see what I have to work with, but I'd take Seira's inn as a good model to follow," Alicia agrees. "Even if they're being used as whores, the women working there surely have other skills that we can hopefully nurture so they can prosper without degrading themselves and relying on fleeting beauty."
[22:59] <Kotono> "I suppose. Still...Did Evergold rub off on you? The entire thing seems like you mean well, just not what you normally do. You go around and smite evil, not worry about women in cheap whorehouses." With a long look at Alicia, "Better than them being whores, though."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Maybe it did?" Alicia responds with a slight smile. "To be honest I don't usually have the need to get involved as such, since most of the foes I face don't support the livelihoods of innocents."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Besides, that imp said they were better off with the money they earned working for him... I'd hate to think that they'd be worse off for my intervention in killing him, so I suppose I want to ensure things will work out."

[Corwin]

[20:54] <Kotono> ---
[20:56] <Kotono> OOC: Oh yes, roll your TP. Dhur.
[20:57] <Alicia> roll 1d100 seen casually?
06[20:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 seen casually? and gets 63." [1d100=63]
[20:57] <Kotono> Woosh! Alicia appears in the alley near the dock at just past the early morning. The docks are busy, ships being loaded and people hustling. The curses and songs of sailors are heard, the wind carrying the merciful moisture of the endless sea.
[20:59] <Alicia> While the imp was certainly informative, Alicia wants to learn a bit more about the operation he was running, so she heads out into the city and starts to ask around a bit concerning the Sultan's Pride, trying to find out the local opinion on the place and its staff.
[21:01] <Kotono> OOC: Gather info check it up.
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 and gets 21." [1d20=6]
[21:04] <Kotono> The Sultan's Pride is a special inn for those who have money or desires. It's talked about relatively openly by the people. It's a sanctioned establishment where the women are servile and often unclad. It's been growing in popularity lately and attracting good, wealthy patrons.
06[21:11] * Alicia really does loathe the Desert Fiefdoms for their attitude towards women. Likely as not if she did try to reform the place along more respectable lines it would be given a wide berth by the locals - to say nothing of sailors who'd surely only have one interest. Still, she's chosen to make the effort, so she'll see it through.
[21:11] <Alicia> Finding a private spot, she transforms Marie into her aasimar form (albeit slightly taller and better filled out than normal, to properly fit her new attire) and has her get dressed in Alicia's plainswalker's robes. Then she casts Voice of the Archon on her familiar, and message so they can stay in touch, and the duo then head to the Sultan's Pride itself.
[21:13] <Kotono> The Sultan's Pride has a sign in front of it, the building painted a reflective white. It's of a rich, old man sitting on cushions and being fed grapes by a pretty woman. The doors are currently closed.
[21:17] <Alicia> They've discussed what's involved, so Marie knows her part. While Alicia waits nearby, the eladrin goes to knock on the door!
[21:18] <Kotono> The door is knocked on! After a few moments, a sweet woman's voice calls from the other side. "We're closed right now, we're cleaning up. Come back in a few hours for normal business."
[21:19] <Alicia> "I'm looking for Yildiz," Marie calls back in her own sweet voice.
[21:20] <Kotono> "Oh yeah, what for?" The voice asks right back.
[21:21] <Alicia> "An offer! One he can't refuse!" Marie sing-songs. After catching a glare from Alicia she coughs and dampens her enthusiasm, "Ahem. It's business," she concludes.
[21:26] <Kotono> A little slit-hole opens the door. You see a woman's eyes, looking MArie over. "Ah, very wlel. Hold on." The door is opened after the sound of a latch is heard. Just inside is a pretty woman in a mundane white robe, gesturing you inside. "This way."
[21:27] <Alicia> Naturally Marie is checking for any evil auras as she steps inside and smiles at the woman. "Thank you."
[21:30] <Kotono> The woman isn't evil. Inside is a short hallway with a few side niches with stools. They're all currently empty. The woman has raven black hair and light brown skin, hair kept back in a ponytail. Past this is a large open serving room, soft chairs and sturdy wooden tables about. A bar is here, as well as several doors. Sitting at one table, working over some scrolls, is a scrawny man. He has a stubble of beard, the hints of gray in it showi
[21:30] <Kotono> is a scrawny man. He has a stubble of beard, the hints of gray in it showing his older age. He looks up, scowling, "Yeah? What is it? I heard you from the door, what do you want?"
[21:31] <Alicia> Is he evil?
[21:33] <Kotono> OOC: Faint evil.
[21:35] <Alicia> "How about we talk in private?" Marie suggests with a winning smile. "There's a few things we need to talk about, and I've got an offer for you as well."
[21:36] <Kotono> "This is private," Gesturing about, you see only the woman who let you in is in here besides the two of you. "Looking for work?"
[21:38] <Alicia> "Hahaha," Marie laughs indulgently at the implication, before shaking her head and tossing her pale lilac hair in what she thinks is a haughty gesture. "No, not exactly. Alright then, first thing's first - how much do you really know about Mr Radafi?"
[21:39] <Kotono> With a long sigh, "Stop being indirect. Cut it out and get to the point. I don't have patience for these sort of question and answer games."
[21:41] <Alicia> "Fine!" Marie claps her hands together. "Showing works better than telling, anyway - be warned, this is quite graphic," she cautions with a warning glance to the lady present.
[21:42] <Alicia> She then gestures to the side and conjures up an illusory image of Mr Radafi writing at his desk. Then a hideous looking demon enters the scene, prompting Radafi to get on his knees and make begging gestures. The demon proceeds to eviscerate Radafi, who transforms into an equally hideous bloated little imp in agonisingly detailed slow motion as he expires.
[21:42] <Alicia> The demon turns its nose up disgustedly and walks off the scene before both vanish.
[21:43] <Kotono> Folding his hands together, "Magic? I assume this means that Mr. Radafi is now...indisposed?" His voice says brusquely calm throughout. He only raises a single eybrow at the display of violent imp murder.
[21:45] <Alicia> "The scene you just saw was witnessed by someone we had monitoring him, yes," Marie nods. "Not to shed any tears, as an outsider this means he's not quite dead, but I still wouldn't count on seeing him any time soon. Unless you had plans to visit Hell yourself."
[21:46] <Kotono> "What do you want, then?" Asking this as he looks Marie over, "Are you here to kill me as well?"
[21:52] <Alicia> "Do I look like a demon to you?" Marie asks in mock offense. "No," she shakes her head and smiles. "I'm here to buy you out."
[21:53] <Kotono> "Really?" Raising an eyebrow again, "How much? This place makes money hand over fist. With Radafi gone..." Smiling a little, "My cut just went way up."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Please," Marie laughs softly. "Radafi underpinned this establishment - its foundations are going to get rocky enough with him gone. More pressingly, however..." she saunters closer, "That demon you saw there isn't dead - our spy certainly wasn't going to stop it. Now if it could find Radafi, it surely knows about his associates, just as we do..."
[21:57] <Kotono> OOC: Make an intimidation check, Marie?
[21:58] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22 yay for not being tiny
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 yay for not being tiny and gets 25." [1d20=3]
[21:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[21:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[21:59] <Kotono> The man's eyebrow twitches several times, as he blows out a long breath. "That's a...good point. How much money are you offering?"
[22:01] <Alicia> "Four thousand gold," Marie answers a bit below the limit Alicia had given her, wanting to leave room to manuever if he puts up a fight. "More than enough for you to start a new life somewhere far away and safe..."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Hmph." Eyeing Marie suspiciously, "Y-you gotta do better than that," he says, crossing his arms. "I got all the women I want here. I see a girl dancing, I can have her in the back in 2 minutes. It's a dream job."
[22:10] <Alicia> "Have you ever met a succubus?" Marie wonders idly, before shaking her head. "No, I don't suppose you have, otherwise you wouldn't be standing here talking to me... Five thousand, and I promise it's a better offer than you'll get from anyone else."
[22:13] <Kotono> After a long moment and a gulp down of air, "...F-fine," he snaps, "I get the message."
[22:15] <Alicia> "Excellent!" Marie claps her hands together. "I have an associate who'll arrive with the money momentarily - it's not the sort of coinage a lady should carry around, after all. In the meantime lets get to the paperwork, shall we?"
[22:15] <Kotono> "Feh," Standing up, "I keep it in the back. Stay here. You," Glancing at the quiet, obdient woman behind Marie, "Go get a signatory offical to witness this."
[22:17] <Alicia> Marie smiles at her new employee as she settles in to wait. Meanwhile Alicia teleports back home, intending to collect both Antenora and a crate with enough of those gold bars to cover the 5,000gp fee.
[22:17] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:17] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 74." [1d100=74]
[22:20] <Kotono> The teleport goes without incident. They all return, Antenora in tow. They return, finding Yidliz waiting with some papers and a older man in white wrappings. He sits, looking bored. Antenora and Alicia gets some looks, Antenora's armor and gear moreso.
[22:22] <Alicia> "Ah, you both made it," Marie nods in greeting to the duo as they enter with the crate carried between them. "If you'll just set that down over there my friend here can check everything's in order then we'll sign the paperwork, shall we?"
[22:22] <Alicia> "Oh, to make an old woman labour under such a burden," Alicia all but rolls her eyes as she helps Antenora set the crate down and pops the lid.
[22:29] <Kotono> Antenora helps but it down, before Yidliz slides a paper across the table to Marie. "Here, whomever is going to sign it, sign it. Also, what's in the box?"
[22:31] <Alicia> "The gold, of course," Marie answers, pointing to the neatly stacked gold bars now on display after Alicia's opened the box. "All yours, now." With that she goes ahead and signs 'Marielle' in loopy flowing script.
[22:32] <Kotono> "Yeah, done. Dammit." Rubbing his temples, he looks to the robed man. He looks over the signature and signs besides Marielle's(His name is Mezli). Then Yidliz signs, the man repeating the process after. He then speaks, "I have witnessed and co-signed. This deal is done."
[22:35] <Alicia> "Alright then," Marie nods cheerily. "Now, I suppose most of the staff won't show up until later, but are any around now?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "A couple. The first batch of girls is getting ready, we open soon enough," he says. "I can call them out or take you to them."
[22:41] <Alicia> "I should at least say hello, and I'll want to chat with everyone when they get here," Marie agrees. "I'll want to put my own spin on how things are run here, after all."
[22:44] <Kotono> Antenora can't help but shake her head, and to Alicia, 'I'm almost worried on what Marie's planning now. Why'd you have her sign?'
[22:45] <Alicia> 'My name's well known,' Alicia replies, 'I'd rather not have this place targetted for being associated with me. Don't worry, though, Marie won't do anything without my approval.'
[22:50] <Kotono> "This way," Yidliz shrugs, leading Marie back. OOC: Antenora or alicia coming?
[22:51] <Alicia> OOC: we'll stay with the gold
[22:54] <Kotono> Marie goes on back. In the bakc ia  large dressing room. About five women mill about here, black haired. They range from robed to entirely naked, preparing, brushing hair, using wet clothes to bathe themselves, chatting, and so on. When Yidliz enters, they all shut up and stop, looking right to him.
[22:54] <Kotono> "It happened like I said," he says, "This here is Marielle. You listen to her now." He says, before leaving the room.
[22:58] <Alicia> "Hi there," Marie smiles engagingly to the group, counting on her innate charm to disarm their natural apprehension. "You all don't need to worry about getting dressed up... or undressed, as the case may be," she giggles nervously,
[22:58] <Alicia> "Since we won't be opening tonight. You'll still be getting paid, of course, but for today I'm looking to get to know everyone and find out where your skills lie - there's going to be some big changes around here."
[23:01] <Kotono> "Oh," The unclad girl looks at Marielle with long eyes, "You don't look like a native of here."
[23:06] <Alicia> "Well spotted," Marie smirks and taps one of her outrageously pointed ears. "But even so I'm hoping we can all get along - I want this to be a safe and happy workplace for all of us, after all. Now, I'll be interviewing each of you later on, along with everyone else when they show up, but I really just wanted to stop by and say hello first off... so hello!"
[23:09] <Kotono> One of the women, wearing a silken shrift that hides just enough to tease, nods. "Hello, ma'am," she says respectfully. The others murmur this as well.
[23:13] <Alicia> Well, Marie can't really blame them for being guarded, considering what their previous boss admitted to doing with them. "Well, that all said, you can relax for now - I'm sure we'll get to know each other more in the days ahead," she smiles brightly. "There's going to be a lot of changes in how this place is run, changes that I really hope you'll agree with me are for the better."
[23:13] <Kotono> There are more murmurs there, a normally dressed girl quietly asking, "What changes, ma'am?"
[23:16] <Alicia> "No prostitution," Marie replies bluntly before starting to ramble as is her habit. "Now, I've heard that this sort of thing is common and accepted in the Fiefdoms, but I can't believe any of you enjoy it."
[23:16] <Alicia> "And trust me, where I come from no one needs to pay for sex to have a good time, so I'm certain we can still run a flourishing establishment without that particular line of business, thank you very much."
[23:18] <Kotono> The women look at each other long, "But ma'am," the unclad one says with a bit of energy to her voice, "That is what paid us the best of our jobs. Lying with men kept us well enriched."
[23:27] <Alicia> "Rich in wealth but not in spirit!" Marie retorts, before momentarily looking abashed. "Look, everyone needs money to get by, I understand that, but there are better ways. I don't want to judge you for how you get through life when it doesn't really hurt anyone el..." she then trails off vacantly for a moment before her mind catches up.
[23:27] <Alicia> "Wait a minute! It does hurt people! Those men who buy love are only perpetuating their own inability to relate to the opposite sex in anything except a twisted mercantile fashion! Nobody's a winner from prostitution!"
[23:27] <Alicia> Content with her sudden burst of insight she goes on, "And anyway, even if you can make money now, do you think it'll still work when you start to become grey and saggy? Listen, if any of you really want to live that life, I can't stop you - you can walk out the door."
[23:27] <Alicia> "But if you stay I can promise that you'll not only be paid well, but you'll be treated well, too. And given a chance to learn skills and better yourselves so you can take life on your own terms and not be dependent on the carnal urges of rich deviants!"
Session Time: Sat Mar 07 00:00:00 2009
03[00:29] * Celenu (WinNT@user-544627a2.lns2-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #evildunes
02[00:34] * Alicia (WinNT@user-544627a2.lns2-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[00:37] * Celenu is now known as Alicia
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03[00:42] * Demedais is now known as Anansifk
[00:45] <Kotono> The women all listen, nodding in the right places. "But..." The unclad one looks up here, "Ma'am...we're making more money doing this than we could as bar servants or housecleaners or common workers. If we save up well, we'll have neough for when we get old."
[00:45] <Kotono> Another nods to it, wearing a robe and brushing her hair. "Yes ma'am," she agrees.
[00:50] <Alicia> Marie's starting to wish Alicia was here, she'd surely be more convincing. "You're really dead set on living that way?" she asks, mystified. "I honestly didn't expect that..."
[00:54] <Kotono> Another speaks, "Ma'am...We know the bosses get most of the money, but they still pay us better than common work to do this." Blushing and looking down, "Serving men while they look at my naked body and occasionally letting one have me isn't such a bad price."
[00:54] <Kotono> "Well, it pays the best," The naked one just shrugs at that, "Can you pay that well for something else?"
[00:58] <Alicia> "Yes!" Marie insists, knowing Alicia's stubborn enough to run this place at a loss if she has to. "If it's just about the money, don't worry - you will be paid as much as you were before. We can make this place a success without selling our bodies, trust me. Seriously, if everything else is equal, wouldn't you rather a job that didn't involve screwing an endless parade of strange men?"
[00:59] <Kotono> "Well..yes," The naked one admits, "Easier work for the same pay? Certainly, ma'am."
[00:59] <Kotono> The silk clad one considers, "What would you have us do then?"
[01:05] <Alicia> "My friends and I have a lot of ideas, but a lot of that depends on what you lot can do," Marie replies. "That's why I want you all to have a good think over your skills - or even things you're not sure about but want to try - like singing, acting, playing instruments - we can get you tuition!"
[01:05] <Alicia> Feeling that she's winning them over, Marie's exuberance returns, "We can get exotic wines and delicacies from all over, that's sure to bring in lots of patrons even without the sex. But that doesn't mean we'll scrimp on the entertainment - certainly I know you can all dance, if nothing else."
[01:05] <Alicia> "What I'm saying is, we're going to turn this into a fantastic place where all sorts of people can come and expand their horizons, not just a sordid den of vice for rich old perverts and sailors! Instead of being another seedy Fiefdoms bordello, this'll be the best darn tavern in the world!"
[01:06] <Kotono> "As long as we get paid, yes!" The naked woman says quickly, with a hint of energy. A few calls of that go up to Marie's words!

[Corwin]

[20:08] <Kotono> -----(Stone Ko)--
[20:13] <Kotono> Severla days later, Alicia is passing through Kelara on business. As she approaches the Temple of Mystra there, she notices something. It's edifices above have some additions. Beautiful stone angels have been added to the roof, gazing out serenely over the city. Finely carved swords of stone, etched with flames, point to the sky in their hands. They're striking, made of a polished-smooth gray stone.
06[20:15] * Alicia was going to head in to pay her respects anyway, and takes approving note of the new decorations as she heads inside.
[20:18] <Kotono> Inside you find Taldeer in her rooms in due time. She's scouring over a pile of loose gemstones with a critical eye, motioning Alicia over. "Hold on..." she mutters.
06[20:18] * Alicia goes to take a seat and patiently waits for the cleric to finish what she's doing.
[20:19] <Kotono> It takes a good twenty minutes before she's done, wiping her brow. "Ah, sorry. Oh, did you see the statues out front? You haven't been here since they were installed, were you?"
[20:20] <Alicia> "I was going to say, yes," Alicia nods. "They look very striking - I approve."
[20:22] <Kotono> "They're more than just apperances. That dwarf has been quite busy," Gently starting to put the gems away into a silk bag, "They're animated and possess fearsome defensive powers when properly invoked."
[20:24] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia's eyes widen. "That's incredible - certainly I'd hope they'd never have to be used, but even so... Did I tell you about the attack on the temple in Balmuria? We could certainly have used such defences, then."
[20:28] <Kotono> "I heard, yes." Smoothing over her robes once she finishes, "From what he says, he's spent his life recovering methods of stonecraftsmanship. He's found a way to animate statues far better than simply making an Animated Object. I don't think they're true golems inthe sense of the word, but they're far from useless."
[20:31] <Alicia> "That's fantastic," Alicia smiles. "Has he shared his methods with the church? Certainly this is the sort of knowledge we should be preserving ourselves."
[20:35] <Kotono> "It's a difficult lesson to learn, for it relies on being a stone craftsman beyond normal peer." Rubbing her temples at that, "Some of the theory is useful, and we have a few starting to study stonework. But direct replication isn't possible without aid. A bound Earth Elemental or like creature might be able to help that, but I won't be experiementing until he's done here, out of respect for his work and what he's doing in thanks."
[20:35] <Kotono> done here, out of respect for his work and what he's doing in thanks."
06[20:38] * Alicia nods. "Fair enough. On a similar note, though..." she fishes in her backpack and produces a leather-bound book which she slides across Taldeer's desk. "I had my familiar translate and revise the gnomish magical theory that David used, and the acolytes in Balmuria have transcribed a few copies. Someone here might find it interesting."
[20:39] <Kotono> "Oh!" Taking the book and opening it quickly, "Oh yes, I'll have a good read of this. Thanks, Alicia."
[20:42] <Alicia> "It's an interesting approach to magic, and despite the source there's nothing particularly objectionable in there," Alicia smiles, leaning back. "So, is Rubri'granit still here, then? What's he up to now?"
[20:46] <Kotono> "He's 'whipping the smiths and stonemasons into shape', to take his words. He's taken anything even tangentially related to our church and is trying to improve them," Folding her hands together, "He keeps saying that he's going to use the extra time he's been given to improve the world and to spite that, ah, the phrase he uses is 'Dark Shadow Rutting Bitch'."
06[20:49] * Alicia laughs a little. "That's certainly a healthy attitude to take out of things," she notes. "I'd thought he might be impatient to return home, but I suppose if this is how he wants to use his time then more power to him."
[20:50] <Kotono> "Yes. I approve of it," Taldeer says, "Now then, what brings you here today, Alicia?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "Well I was passing stopping in Kelara anyway so I thought I'd drop off that book and check in to see how things are doing," Alicia replies. "And from the looks of it they're doing well, which is gratifying."
[20:53] <Kotono> "Yes." Smiling a little now, "What of faraway Balmuria?"
[20:56] <Alicia> "Things are rather peaceful for the moment, which is nice," Alicia thinks of a few notable happy events and smiles wistfully, "My sister is getting married in the spring, and a unicorn I know is expecting to give birth in just a few weeks."
[20:59] <Kotono> "Oh, congratulations!" Brightening at that, "Beth...it's amazing she's turned her life around so much, even with all that's happened."
[21:01] <Alicia> "Well... she's not really Beth, not any more," Alicia concedes. "But she's happy, and I hope if there's any part of Beth left that she's happy as well." Shaking her head she follows up with a shrug, "I'd intended to search for a way to recover her memories, but she asked me not to, so I can't really disagree."
[21:02] <Kotono> "She's wiser than Beth, then," Smiling a little to that, "To know that herself is happiness nad understand that her past self wasn't."
[21:02] <Alicia> "I sometimes wonder myself..." Alicia admits quietly, "But it's not a decision I can make for her."
[21:06] <Kotono> "Then let it be. Now then...who is she marrying, Alicia?"
[21:08] <Alicia> "His name is Roald, he's a baker. Nice young man," Alicia nods. "Younger than I'd go for, certainly, but he makes her happy."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Good for her. What of you, Alicia?" Asking this, "How is your family? How is Antenora?"
[21:12] <Alicia> "She's doing well - we recently visited Arborea and I think the experience did her a lot of good in expanding her horizons," Alicia chuckles slightly. "Certainly more than Marie's managed, bless her for trying."
[21:14] <Kotono> "She's a fascinating case from what you've told me. But Marie...she's true to her ethos and creation." Chuckling as well, "Now you're traveling the planes?"
06[21:16] * Alicia nods. "I recently had a horrible experience with a planar portal in Kesse. After that it really behooved me to acquire a way to safely travel them." She takes out her specially crafted ring and passes it to the elf to have a look, "Being able to visit the nicer ones at need is a definite plus."
[21:18] <Kotono> "What happened?" Asking that as she looks over the ring, "How nice. You know, they say those that travel the planes become part of them and leave this world behind," she remarks. "Is that true?"
[21:22] <Alicia> "Haven't left yet," Alicia shrugs. "Marie has warned me quite strongly about visiting Dweomerheart, though - and she's right. I went there to get those regeneration scrolls and I think it's best I don't return as long as I'm alive. But any one plane is infinitely big, and there's so many - I can see how people could spend their lives exploring them, with so much to see and do."
[21:22] <Alicia> "As for what happened, I was using this sword," she unsheathes the sword of the sealed gate and presents it to Taldeer, "Which inhibits dimensional travel to try and seal a portal to the Plane of Shadow. Instead it exploded and deposited me in the Abyss."
[21:24] <Kotono> "Ugh!" With a look of faint disgust, "All the horrible demons you must have endured! Thank Mystra you defeated them all and emerged out safely."
[21:26] <Alicia> "The worst part was the ones that were nice to me," Alicia shudders as she puts the sword away. "But yes, I managed to eventually find a portal to the Infinite Staircase and worked my way home from there. Now with that ring, though, I should be able to escape far more easily if something like that happens again."
[21:27] <Kotono> "Demons being nice to you?!" With a disturbed, sickened look, "Why would a demon ever be nice to you? They're the incarnations of hateful rage and whimsy. You're the exact opposite of that."
[21:30] <Alicia> "So I'd like to think," Alicia sighs, "But perhaps they thought I could be convinced to see things their way... I'd like to think that's impossible," she shakes her head, "But to be honest I felt like I was going crazy there. If I'd stayed long enough who knows what would have happened?"
[21:35] <Kotono> "Ah, that would be why. A good reason to avoid the Abyss, if you didn't have enough," Taldeer says.
06[21:37] * Alicia nods glumly. "It's not a nice place, at all."

[Corwin]

[19:46] <Kotono> -----------------------------------------------------(Mount Polly, eh? Can that be right next to Amaryl's mountains? That would be awesome.)--
[19:47] <Kotono> Once the square's crowd is broken it's not too hard to pick up speed. Lord Salman travels in an entorage, an honor guard of soldiers around him as they ride on white horses, heading for the square. They're about three streets away now as Demedais gets in sight of them.
06[19:50] * Demedais advances forward quickly, dismounting and walking up to the honor entourage once he's about three-fourths of a block away. "Ah... I need to quickly inform Lord Salman of events in the main square."
[19:50] <Kotono> The honor guard parts, the entorage stopping. Lord Salman raises his voice, "Captain, what is the matter?" he calls.
[19:53] <Demedais> "An outsider was watching the preparations with the intent of disrupting the ceremony and killing us, at the least. He has been dispatched, however, and Alicia and Seira were calming the crowd as I left. I felt it necessary to confirm your safety after the event, and thus have come here." A slight pause. "Also, may I give you something?" he replies, after fishing through his backpack for the component to the Shield Other
[19:54] <Demedais>  after fishing through his backpack for the component to the Shield Other spell.
[19:55] <Kotono> "Well done to have detected and dispatched this event," Lord Salman says, taking the ring offered. "This ring is magic?"
[19:55] <Demedais> "It is not, but wearing it will allow one of my more potent magics to be used, shielding you from any attacks that slip through." Demedais shakes his head. "Pollyanna can testify to its efficiency."
[19:57] <Kotono> The ring is put on. "We are impressed with the speed you have reacted to this. Is the square fully safe now?"
[19:58] <Demedais> "I believe so, yes. No threats were spotted within any range." Demedais nods.
06[20:00] * Demedais also invokes the spell at this, since it'll remain on Lord Salman for six hours after.
[20:01] <Kotono> "Ride at the head of the honor guard," Lord Salman instructs. "You have earned it, and it is ag ood defense in case other threats await in lurking danger."
[20:02] <Demedais> Demedais pauses for a short second, before, "Yes, milord." With that, he remounts, glancing to Pollyanna before he gets in formation and leads the honor guard back the four or so streets to the square!
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: #evil.
[20:03] <Kotono> OOC: Er, #dunes.

[Corwin]

[19:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> ----(Epic Ko)--
05[19:41] -sebben.dejatoons.net:@#evildunes- Alicia invited Hatbot into the channel.
03[19:41] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.114.105) has joined #evildunes
[19:44] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Alicia afternoon has passed well enough. As the day winds on, she finds herself meandering down a noisy street. As she does, sound springs into her mind. An ethereal voice, whispering in gorgeous murmurs. 'Where are you, Alicia? I wish to make contact regarding Esthan. Please respond, using allied priest for Sending. Latha.'
06[19:50] * Alicia covers her mouth and murmurs in reply as Marie looks on curiously. It could be a trick, but if it is Latha she really can't ignore it - and she did contact Latha via an intermediary cleric herself, recently. "In Baronies capital." No sense confusing her with name changes, "Staying at Lamplight Inn, will be back in Balmuria tomorrow. Will wait for you at inn if coming today."
[19:52] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Thus the reply is sent. 10 minutes pass, no immediate reply seems forthcoming. OOC - Going to go wait in the inn or...?
[19:52] <Alicia> OOC: yeah, I'll relax in the common room there
[19:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The afternoon crawls into death. The common room of the inn is busy. People eat, drink and act merry here as Alicia waits. There's no immediate sign of Latha as she settles in. However, as she does wait, a familiar face enters the room. Donald stretches and comes in, getting some looks as his armor clanks. On seeing Alicia, he heads over to her. "Tired of the festivities already?"
06[19:59] * Alicia looks up from her game of chess with her familiar, an illusory knight hacking apart a creepy looking wizard as Marie adds a visceral edge to the give and take of their pieces. "Hello, Donald," she nods, the eladrin also giving him a little wave.
[19:59] <Alicia> "I got a message from Latha that she's looking for me, so I told her to find me here if she's coming today. Don't want to risk missing her, so I'll just wait."
[20:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh wow, is that chess?" Looking down at the pieces, "That looks really fun! You're using magic to make it look like a real fight to kill th etime?" A distracted nod to Alicia after, his attention on the gameboard.
[20:11] <Alicia> "It helps Marie practice both her illusions and her tactical thinking," Alicia nods as Marie moves one of her goblins down the side of the board while the wizard blinks away and vanishes.
[20:11] <Alicia> "It also gives her an unfair advantage since I get distracted having to do two things at once," the eladrin pouts.
[20:11] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "How about I help you to make up for it?" Donald offers, grabbing a chair and going to sit close to Marie. "That should even the odds back up?"
[20:14] <Alicia> "Bishop to E4," Alicia speaks after a moment, gesturing where she wants her man in a funny hat to move so Marie knows which one she's talking about.
[20:14] <Alicia> "Sure, if you want," Marie shrugs as she moves Alicia's piece through sheer mental effort alone.
[20:23] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> The thre settle into game! It's a fairly good game, a half hour passing. One can become lost in it's efforts, which is understandable. Still, it's hard to miss that a cloaked woman is approaching your table, face hidden by a hood.
02[20:23] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@24.174.114.105) Quit (Hatbot)
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06[20:25] * Alicia is losing, so is quite glad of the distraction. "Latha?" she asks as she looks up, Marie doing likewise as she and Donald box in the last remnants of Alicia's pitiful resistance.
[20:27] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Donald looks up from furrowing his brow and concentrating. "Oh, hi!"
[20:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Gently pulling back her hood, Latha's face is revealed. She smiles warmly to both, going to sit down as well. "Peace and prosperity touch you," she greets. In a low whisper, "My work to undo Esthan's acts and bring him to judgment continue apace."
06[20:31] * Alicia nods as Marie sighs in relief and lets the illusion dissipate. "We can go upstairs to talk more privately," Alicia offers. "I have a room."
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Can I come," Donald adds in.
[20:33] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Latha pulls her hood back up and stands. "Lead on, then."
[20:35] <Alicia> "Of course," Alicia nods to Donald, proceeding to lead everyone up to the single room she slept in last night. "It's good to see you again, Latha," she tells the deva as they head in, while Marie hovers close to the paladin and remains mostly silent.
[20:37] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Donald grins a little bit and goes to plop down on the bed, armor and all. The bed groans at that, the heavy metal weight bearing down on it. Latha pulls back her hood again, "It is good to see you as well. I wish our meeting was under better circumstances, but I fear that is not to be until Esthan is laid low."
[20:38] <Alicia> "It's only finding him that's the problem," Alicia goes to lean against the window. "Have you had much luck, there?"
[20:41] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He leaves a trail. Intentionally, I'm certain of it. A trail of subtle perversions and nudges along towards the path of tyranny and domination. Never a chained or bought soul, only..little pushes. Masterful pushes, but no chains of immediate damnation are shackled to them. Oh no, he seems content to allow them to craft those themselves." (More)
[20:43] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "For if he wishes not to be followed, he could teleport with ease. We have evidence of that, and attempts to use magic to locate him are a universal failure. If he is indeed a diabolical magus, the strongest shielding magics are a grim reality we have to face. I suspect Mind Blank is at work, and perhaps secondary spells as well."
[20:45] <Alicia> "I suspected that as well," Alicia nods. "And he certainly does teleport, though - to walk from Pallanth to Kelara would take years, but he appears wherever he pleases. Recently he was in Balmuria where he infected a man with a virulent disease simply to send a message to Demedais..." she shakes her head in disbelief.
[20:45] <Alicia> "I have seen - felt - the worst that followers of Jubilex can do in that regard, but even such masterpieces of fiendish contagion can be cured. Not so with Esthan's disease - we went so far as to take the man to Ilmater's realm in search of a cure, but still none has been found."
[20:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> With a long, blown out sight. "Were it not for a lack of apocalyptic signs, I would worry that he is a Duke of Hell or something worse. His resources are deep and remarkable. The master he has spoken of intrigues me, for they are giving him resources that even a typical Pit Fiend would not have at beck and call."
[20:47] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh yeah, like when Agares was about to come or something? Wasn't there a bunch of signs in the desert, or am I forgetting? That entire time's like a mix of being half dead, exhausted or dazed."
[20:48] <Alicia> "No doubt there are schemes at work we can't perceive - certainly something more than that half-baked tale of rebellion he fed us," Alicia nods, before glancing at Donald. "Yes, that whole section of the desert seemed like it was becoming blended with Hell from all that was leaking through the portal."
[20:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Now Latha frowns at that, "That a devil would scheme against Asmodeus is entirely in character. That one so powerful would take an interest here and devote strong resources to it...that speaks ill, whatever fiend is behind it. I wonder...if he obtains access to the Crimson Guard, what can he gain on a scale that would be worthwhile?"
[20:51] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh yeah, I remember that now," Donald rubs the back of his head, "Well hell, there's a lot of stuff going on. What about that misty-crystal thing that's supposed to be so important? Or what about those ruins outside of town?"
[20:52] <Alicia> "The power of the Daa-vid. It can be nothing else," Alicia replies. "Recall what correspondence we found in the devil's fortress in the desert? They were restricted from interfering in matters pertaining to the gnomes by a power beyond them. If they could use us as proxies, however..."
[20:52] <Alicia> OOC: nix *the
[20:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "If a devil obatined the power that made the God-King so mighty, he could stand against Asmodeus." Latha frets at that, "A terrifying prospect. If a ruler of Hell had that power and the power of Hell proper, what would befall us all?"
[20:54] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Eh, that's why we're going to cut his head off and shove it up his brimstone scented ass before he gets that far?" Donald shrugs lightly. "I mean, that's a given, right?"
[20:55] <Alicia> "That's the plan, Donald," Alicia tells him. "But that doesn't mean we can take him lightly, given the massive resources he seems to have at his disposal." She then cocks her head and studies Latha, "So, what was your last lead on him, anyway?"
[20:56] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He was raising troubles in the western desert and in Kelara and all the unincorporated lands there. Little things mostly, seeds that would grow into terror in due time."
06[20:58] * Alicia sighs. "But nothing we can use to track him?" she concludes. "Considering how he moves around so much, I honestly don't think it'll be possible for us to confront him unless he wishes it - and as last time he'll arrange an overwhelming force on his side."
[20:58] <Alicia> "With that in mind I almost think we'd be better off going to Hell and taking down his boss directly... except we don't know who he's taking orders from."
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "He's presented a perfect front. As it looks like, our attempts are futile. Without a doubt, that is exactly what he wants. We have no hope except when he deigns to act and show his latest gambit." Now standing up, "Which is why we need to find a way to shatter what he has done in one way or another. Some way to catch him in a situation where we can win. I continue to undo his seeds, while trying to gather naything, something that
[21:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> I continue to undo his seeds, while trying to gather naything, something that will give an edge."
[21:03] <Alicia> "If there's anything we can do at all, just ask," Alicia offers. "We have many threats, true, but none more ultimately dangerous than Esthan."
[21:04] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Has he done anything to the three of you lately?" Latha asks. "Has anything changed since we last met?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "The diseased man I just mentioned was most recent, and before that he was in Kelara - when I contacted you via Dweomerkeeper Taldeer." Alicia grimaces at that, "Hiring mercenaries to 'protect' my parents because I couldn't. As if a few sellswords could do anything themselves against a Dogai or a Lilitu, anyway."
[21:08] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's the thought that counts?" Donald says hesitantly, "Nothing like rubbing your face into an insult?"
[21:08] <Alicia> "Oh, he rubbed my face in it, alright," Alicia glowers, looking moodily out the window as her mood rapidly sours.
[21:09] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I'm worried our best chance may be to throw everything we have at him and hope we can triumph," Latha considers, "That, or...figure out his next move before he does it."
[21:10] <Alicia> "We need to know who he truly serves..." Alicia looks thoughtful, forcing herself to calm down. "He mustered a lot of fiends for that meeting we had with him in Pallanth. I doubt they'll have the same protections he has, so perhaps we could hunt down one of them and force it to provide the information we require?"
[21:25] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "It's worth a try," Latha agrees, "If we can find any of his toadies."
[21:28] <Alicia> "Seira could likely scry on any of the ones she saw there," Alicia nods. "On another note, you might get some use out of this," she produces a small clay flask and hands it to the Deva. "You remember telling me how water from Arborea had a negative effect on Agares?"
[21:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Yes." Latha says, "I recall that. Is this the same?"
[21:29] <Alicia> "Straight from Evergold itself," Alicia smiles slightly. "I procured a small source. If you find yourself in a tight spot with any baatezu it should hopefully help you out."
[21:31] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Thank you," Latha takes the clay vial, tucking it away into her clothes. "I have had to take stronger measures, or the beginnings of them." Raising up her arms, a pair of strudy leather bracers can be seen. "The magic in these is weak, but it is better than nothing. I found them amid untangling one of Esthan's schemes."
[21:32] <Alicia> "What do they do?" Alicia asks curiously. "I recently purchased a set of bracers myself," she pats the leather straps adorning her forearms, "That let me strike more quickly in combat."
[21:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "They're purely armoring," Latha answers, "Yet without cold metal's way of weighing down my body. Even the best crafted armor leaves me feeling heavy and immoble."
06[21:41] * Alicia nods. "Marie can't wear armour either, but we got some clothes for her that offers some degree of protection... not that it admittedly did much good for her, today," she explains, gesturing to her familiar who smiles and tugs on the silken fabric she wears. "If you need any special equipment, please don't hesitate to ask for help in that regard - I don't want to see you hurt, after all."
03[21:43] * Alicia is now known as Ebiris
02[21:44] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-544640c8.lns3-c12.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit
Session Close: Sun Mar 15 23:13:22 2009

Session Start: Sun Mar 15 23:13:22 2009
Session Ident: #evildunes
02[23:13] * Disconnected
02[23:13] * Attempting to rejoin channel #evildunes
03[23:13] * Rejoined channel #evildunes
03[23:13] * Topic is 'Marie>Mr. Radafi>Alicia'
03[23:13] * Set by Infinite_Ko_Loop on Wed Mar 04 20:41:02
03[23:13] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
03[23:25] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[23:28] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Thank you for your generosity. If I do, I will." Latha offers, "My blessings give me most of what I need, while brave mortals struggle with far less. Let me not be the one to take the cup of plenty from those that need it more."
[23:29] <Alicia> "Up to you," Alicia allows. "So, what do you intend to do, now?"
[23:30] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Esthan has striken close to home for you. I'm going to Kelara to ensure that no other surprises were laid," Latha says. "I would also like to see your family's home myself. If Esthan has been there...there is no harm in being familiar with it, just in case."
06[23:33] * Alicia nods. "He's made it clear he can strike there at any time," she agrees with a slightly pained expression. "Still, I don't think we're going to find him by just following him. I'll ask Seira about scrying on one of his underlings, since I think that's our best chance of unravelling his schemes."
[23:34] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Stay in touch." Latha offers, "My aid is yours on any matter to defeat him."
[23:35] <Alicia> "The same goes for us," Alicia replies with a smile. "On another note, we made a second trip to the Halls of the Vanquished recently."
[23:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Where's that," Donald speaks up, "It sounds violent."
[23:38] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "How was it?" Latha asks, overruning Donald's words in a rush, "Did you free the others?"
03[23:39] * Demedais is now known as Taishyr
06[23:40] * Alicia shakes her head as Marie shushes Donald. "No, they've changed the layout since last time, so I wasn't able to find the release commands. The guards have also been increased considerably - for every barbazu that was there when we broke you out there's now a gelugon."
[23:40] <Alicia> "But I've come up with a method that should allow me to free some without needing the command words, so I'll be going again some time soon."
[23:42] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "If you need a strong arm to aid you, say so," Latha promises. "I will fight to the last breath to ensure that no more are enslaved as trophies."
[23:44] <Alicia> "Thank you for the offer, but if things work as I expect I shouldn't even need to draw my blade," Alicia shakes her head. "I just wanted you to know that something was going to be done, considering your own experiences."
[23:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Latha starts to answer, as Donald mutters something low under his breath. She raises an eyebrow, looking right at him. "Thank you, Alicia.  You have my eternal thanks for this." Turning back to Alicia, "May Celestia bless your efforts.
[23:45] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "
[23:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 listen, what did he say?
[23:46] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 17
06[23:50] * Alicia decides to just ignore Donald's mutterings. "You don't need to thank me any more, Latha," she smiles. "Anyway, you probably want to get back to chasing down Esthan - we'll be in touch if we hear anything, ourselves."
[23:50] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Pulling her hood back up, Latha turns to go. "Until we meet again," she says, heading out.
06[23:51] * Alicia waves, her familiar hesitantly doing likewise. "The Halls of the Vanquished was where I met Latha," she fills in for Donald. "It is not a nice place, no."
[23:53] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "Oh." Donald shakes his head, "Hey, good reason to go wreck that place then, isn't it?"
Session Time: Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 2009
[00:00] <Alicia> "Very much so," Alicia agrees. "Anyway, we don't need to linger here any more, so I think Marie and I will go back out to see how the festivities are going. Have any plans yourself?"
[00:01] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> "I'm kind of tired," Donald yawns, "I didn't do much todya, but I'm sleepy. I don't get it."
[00:01] <Alicia> "I thought elves didn't sleep?" Alicia raises an eyebrow curiously.
[00:03] <Infinite_Ko_Loop> Scowling at Alicia, "I mean tthat I need to ...nevermind, I still think like a human," Donald turns pitch-red. "Just...just..." Throwing his hands into the air, "Maybe I just want to lay low today?"
[00:04] <Alicia> "Go have a nice trance!" Marie encourages him. "You'll feel better afterwards."

[Corwin]

[21:18] <Kotono> ----
[21:18] <Kotono> You're in a deep void. A deep...something. Nothing is there. Only your most basic awareness. From deep in this void, "Seira...Seira...Seira...! SEIRA!"
[21:19] <Kotono> OOC: Strike, wrong room. Dur.
[21:20] <Kotono> It's warm here. You're so warm here. So warm and comfortable. It's a good feeling. A happy feeling. It feels long forgotten, but very very familiar. In the distance, you can hear two people talking. "...I don't know..." A woman's voice says.
06[21:21] * Demedais blinks at this. "Eh? What the..."
[21:22] <Kotono> You can't quite seen - your face feels like it's pressed against something. "I know..." A man's voice says, full of worry. It sounds a bit familiar, too. "But he'll be taken care of here. The priests, they're good men."
06[21:23] * Demedais frowns, attempting to move what's pressing on his face, even as his suspicions kick into full gear. He also tries to remember where the voice was from...
[21:35] <Kotono> Demedais struggles. He can see cloth - he's pressed against something warm and covered by cloth. "I still don't know..." The woman's voice is wistful, "I think...no...I know this isn't right. He's our baby. We can keep him. No matter how hard it will be."
[21:37] <Demedais> "Oh for the love.of." Demedais mutters, or tries to, as what's going on has made itself perfectly obvious as he tries to grab the cloth and yank it away.
[21:38] <Kotono> There's a pause here, then, "Do you feel that strongly?" The cloth isn't too hard to push back, a tiny hand moving it. He can see up a little - a woman's face, a woman with soft brown hair. She has large, warm eyes that sparkle blue. Meanwhile, the man's voice picks up. "If you feel that strongly...but...can we really give him a life worth leading?" Around you, large droplets of rain fall down.
06[21:39] * Demedais tries to adjust himself to see the man, since he can't seem to recall the woman's face.
[21:46] <Kotono> The man's face is familiar. It's...younger than it should be. But it's a face he knows. Croger? It looks like him. Quite a lot like him. He bites his lip, looking down. "Alright," he says after a few more moments. "...Alright. If you feel that strongly, let's go home. It'll be hard...but we'll make it, together. Our child...what should we name him?"
06[21:47] * Demedais pauses at this, before wishing he could let out a stream of expletives long enough to drown out most of existence.
[21:52] <Kotono> The woman starts to speak, then frowns. "...It's odd. I just had the strangest idea for a name. Demedais...I've never heard it before...but feels right. Demedais...yes. We could name him that. He'll grow up to be a strong, handsome young man. I swear it to you, my child."
06[21:53] * Demedais starts trying to break out of this. "Okay, this is good enough. Good to see you two, but I've indulged curiousity long enough, would like to go now, kay thanks..."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Is that all?" A voice insists, a quick, impatient voice. "A chance to grow up with your parents. To find a peaceful, happy life with them. A chance have everything you never had before. A life with no dragons, no devils, no insane battles or duties. A world of normal peace."
[21:55] <Demedais> "... you know, you just blew your chance to convince me." Demedais replies.
[21:57] <Demedais> "And... yeah. In the end, between duty and peace, I choose duty. So hey, thanks for the offer, but no."
[22:00] <Kotono> The image shifts. Demedais sees himself running in a field, playing with children(Like himself?). He sees himself being read to by his mother, a bedtime story. He sees his father training him with a wooden sort, ruffling his hair after a good workout. "You will never have a chance for this again. The power to manipulate time is banned to mortals by divine edict. Only I can give you this chance, Demedais. Think long and hard on it."
[22:00] <Kotono> Only I can give you this chance, Demedais. Think long and hard on it."
[22:02] <Demedais> "I thought about it a long time ago." Demedais replies. "And I do appreciate the offer. But... no. There's too many reasons why not, and my own happiness? Isn't worth any of those reasons alone. You're the Magus of Time, aren't you? Tell me, how do we free the people in this place without harming them?"
[22:05] <Kotono> "Your will is so strong..." With that, everything is gone. "The thread is chosen then, with your iron will. Come then...I await above!" Blink. Demedais stands with the others, bar Alicia. The others stand there, rigidly straight and unmoving. The door into the tower is open.
06[22:05] * Demedais looks to the others in confusion, before looking for Alicia. As the one missing... "Alicia! Marie! Any of you here?" he bellows, looking into the tower.
06[22:06] * Demedais grimaces again, before glancing to Seira, Amaryl, and Pollyanna.
[22:07] <Kotono> All of them are utterly rigid. Their eyes are open - you can see clock faces instead of eyes. The clocks are turning rapidly.
[22:09] <Demedais> "I take it this is your handiwork... giving them the same choice, are you, Magus of Time?" Demedais calls upward, before going to stand with Pollyanna, one hand on her shoulder. "I can but guess what road you've chosen for her..."
[22:10] <Kotono> As Demedais does that, Alicia emerges out of the tower's front door.
[22:11] <Demedais> "Alicia! You alright?" Demedais says as he spots her, turning.
06[22:11] * Alicia doesn't seem her usual composed self, looking around for a moment before her eyes settle on the bald man. "Demedais? Yes, I'm... I'm unhurt," she confirms as Marie flutters into view, looking at Alicia with undisguised pity. "You... you rejected what he offered?"
[22:13] <Demedais> "Yeah, though I owe him one anyway." Demedais shrugs, speaking loosely as if a bit stunned. "He showed me my parents. ... Croger's my dad. But there's no way I'm ditching you guys on this."
[22:14] <Alicia> "Croger? The... by Mystra's lost spell! Is there no depths to Esthan's depravity?!" Alicia asks indignantly, her fury for the moment managing to return a semblance of normality to her and push aside her temptation to relive a more innocent time.
[22:15] <Demedais> "Yeah, that was my response. Which is also probably another part of why the entire thing didn't work." Demedais grins a bit, approaching feral. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna need to try and pull a few favors..."
[22:17] <Alicia> Demedais's comment about not ditching the others shames Alicia for her own weakness, and she nods briskly. "Alright... I wasn't sure what was affecting you all so I went ahead to deal with the source, but if you came out of it by yourself then the others should as well?" she looks expectantly at the remaining three, as if they'll spring to life at any moment.
[22:17] <Demedais> "Presuming they don't take the bait, so to speak." Demedais nods, hand still on Pollyanna's shoulder as he rubs gently.
[22:18] <Kotono> Pollyanna abruptly shudders all over, falling to her knees. Looking up, eyes wild and panicking, "No...I..."
06[22:18] * Demedais quickly kneels down to her. "You alright, dear...?"
[22:19] <Kotono> "I couldn't do it...I couldn't do it..." she repeats, looking straight ahead. "I'm so sorry...I couldn't....It's my fault again...It was just a trick. It was just a trick, wasn't it, Demedais? Wasn't it?"
06[22:19] * Alicia looks away, unwilling to admit just how tempted she is by said bait. Even being nigh certain it isn't real, part of her wants to believe...
[22:21] <Demedais> "Tell the truth, I've no clue, but either way... we're here now." Demedais holds her close, before a slight grin. "Oh, and pretty good odds I can have you meet my dad!"
[22:22] <Kotono> Looking up, blank eyes, "What?" Pollyanna says, voice a hollow shell of itself.
06[22:23] * Demedais shakes his head. "It doesn't matter right now. ...what I was offered was a life with my birth parents, away from the temple." Keeping Pollyanna close, Demedais sighs. "...thank you."
[22:24] <Kotono> Seira abruptly blinks her eyes and staggers a bit. She is now aware again.
01[22:24] <Seira> "Hmph."
06[22:24] * Demedais looks over to Seira, not moving from his position. "Heh."
[22:25] <Kotono> "I..." Pollyanna just leans on Demedais for a time, closing her eyes.
06[22:25] * Alicia wordlessly looks to the last member of the group, wondering what the runaway noble will choose...
01[22:25] <Seira> "I was offered a happy life. I wanted to have a life like that when I was ten." She snorts again. "Whatever command over time this Magus might have, he doesn't understand my perfect world one bit."
06[22:25] * Demedais nods softly and lets her lean on him, keeping her close.
[22:25] <Kotono> "It's not the monsters. It's the damned tricks that are the real danger. He's attacking our will and our spirits as fiercely...no, more fiercely, than our bodies and lives."
[22:26] <Demedais> "He is." Demedais says softly, keeping the rest of his thoughts quiet.
01[22:27] <Seira> Just then noticing the state that Amaryl is in, Seira bites on her lower lip.
[22:29] <Kotono> Amaryl stands there, like a statue of time. Very slowly, she begins to fade away. Her body is starting to become transparent, like a ghost fading in the glorious light of the dawn.
01[22:30] <Seira> "We chose this life over heaven itself, remember?" she says, grasping at her. "Whatever he's showing you, don't be tricked! There's nothing you can't achieve on your own if you work towards that!"
[22:30] <Alicia> Seeing Amaryl vanish, as if moving into another timeline rather than simply remaining insensate in a fantasy, hurts Alicia's resolve even more, the paladin staring in morbid fascination as the scene plays out.
06[22:31] * Demedais turns as well, somewhat speechless.
[22:31] <Kotono> It's like trying to hold onto semi-solid air. It's difficult, her arm passing in and out of Seira's hand. Her face stays blank, impassive. "She's choosing her own paradise?" The Magus of Time is heard aloud, "What can you offer her that is better than that?"
01[22:34] <Seira> "Real happiness, one forged with her own two hands!" Seira calls back. "What's the use of being given something, if you don't work towards it? Can you even enjoy its fruits? Take pride in your accomplishment?" She tries to shake Amaryl's shoulders. "Do I have no place in your paradise, Amaryl? Because I'm right here!"
[22:35] <Kotono> "S...ra..." Amaryl murmurs. She is shaken, almost fading away like mist - almost, but not quite. She lingers like that several seconds. Her voice is faraway, a sleeper's dream voice. "Se...ra...?"
01[22:37] <Seira> "I'm here!" Seira repeats urgently. "And if that matters to you, then don't listen to that mage's lies! Don't believe him, and return to me! Because I am right here, waiting for you!"
[22:38] <Kotono> Thump. Thump. It's only a few beats of a heart, only a few seconds. Amaryl falls forward, abruptly solid. She lands on Seira, leaning into her.
01[22:39] <Seira> "You've made it," Seira whispers, holding her close.
06[22:39] * Demedais smiles slightly.
[22:39] <Kotono> "I was somewhere happy, Seira..." Amaryl blinks her eyes open, smiling. "It was a happy place, but I heard you calling."
[22:40] <Kotono> Pollyanna looks up, a deep sigh uttered. "Another trial down...damnations all to Helm." Standing up now, "Nearly defeating us with visions of paradise, more dangerous than a dozen swords."
01[22:41] <Seira> "I was somewhere that made me happy, too," Seira tells her, smiling sadly herself. "My family wasn't torn apart, my dead friends didn't have to die. But that wasn't the future I wanted to myself, even if he truly could make it a reality."
06[22:41] * Alicia knows no one would call for her like that... looking in her familiar's direction she only gets a sad yet understanding smile in reply. "Lets go, then?" she offers to the group, trying to muster up her resolve.
[22:42] <Demedais> "Everyone ready?" Demedais asks, moving to help Pollyanna up.
[22:43] <Alicia> Wordlessly, Alicia turns and heads back through the door, Marie following close behind.
01[22:43] <Seira> "Almost," Seira says, calling for Detect Magic to see whether the spell on Amaryl had faded away and needs to be refreshed.
[22:43] <Kotono> OOC: What's the duration on blur?
01[22:44] <Seira> OOC: 16 minutes
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: It's gone.
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: MI should be too.
01[22:44] <Seira> OOC: Consider it recast
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC: Righ.t
01[22:45] <Seira> roll 1d4+4
06[22:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d4+4 and gets 5." [1d4=1]
[22:45] <Kotono>  Visibility is bad in here - only about twenty feet in any direction. Ahead, you can see a stair hugging against the right wall, leading upward. Because of this, you can't even see all of this bottom floor.
06[22:46] * Alicia was heading for the stairs before and that's where she goes now, casting Shield as she puts her foot on the bottom step.
06[22:47] * Demedais follows Alicia, trying to peer through the mist in a bit of confusion.
06[22:53] * Seira supplements her senses with detect magic, keeping near the rear once more.
[22:53] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 nom
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 nom and gets 37." [1d20=11]
01[22:55] <Seira> "Mists, bad," Seira mutters, looking around warily.
[22:56] <Demedais> "This mist's really thick." Demedais mutters as they ascend. "Proceed with caution."
[22:56] <Kotono> Thus the party begins to climb up! They climb and climb and climb and climb and climb! 5 minutes of this, the floor long since lost in the hazy mists. Now you see something above - the stairs connect to a series of platforms above, floating stone and glass walkways.
06[22:57] * Alicia doggedly keeps on going till she gets to the platforms, then looks for further stairs. Might as well keep going till they reach the top.
06[22:58] * Demedais follows Alicia's lead, uneasily eyeing the floating walkways. "Unsupported walkways, my eternal nemesis."
[22:59] <Alicia> "I can cast feather fall, but we're probably high up enough that it'd wear off long before you touched the ground," Alicia cautions.
[23:00] <Kotono> The party comes out! There is a 3x3 grid of stone platforms here, nine in total. They form a perfect square, with the lower lefthand one being where you are and the upper right-hand one having stairs continuing up. They are connected on straight lines with glass walkways. Each stone platform, besides the two with stairs attached, has a grandfather style clock sitting on it.
[23:01] <Demedais> "I have my ring." Demedais notes, swapping that on with a slight grin before looking at the clocks directly. "Is this... an actual puzzle?"
06[23:02] * Alicia starts walking to the platform on the left so she can investigate the clock there.
[23:03] <Kotono> OOC: You started on the lower lefthand, Alicia. There wouldn't be another platform there. Do you guys want a quick map for this?
[23:04] <Demedais> OOC: I think I've got it, but.
[23:04] <Alicia> OOC: well, left would be 'forward' then. From A1 to A2, basically. Going clockwise.
06[23:04] * Demedais looks at the clock Alicia
[23:04] <Demedais> 's walking to, in an attempt to read it before she steps on.
[23:08] <Kotono> You walk over the glass walkway without incident. The party reaches the platform, the clcok here saying it's 4 o'clock. It tic-tocks softly, steadily.
06[23:09] * Demedais glances to the two adjacent clocks.
[23:09] <Kotono> The one ahead of you is at 7 o'clock. The one to the right is at 5 o'clock.
[23:10] <Demedais> "Guessing we go right." Demedais notes.
[23:10] <Alicia> "As good a guess as any," Alicia allows, heading onto said walkway.
01[23:10] <Seira> "I'm not convinced this is an actual riddle, so we might as well," Seira agrees.
06[23:11] * Demedais nods and follows Alicia.
[23:12] <Kotono> The party advances to the center platform! The clock here reads 5 o'clock. Nothing happens on the walk to there.
06[23:12] * Demedais checks the three surrounding ones again.
01[23:13] <Seira> "Up and then right again?" Seira suggests.
[23:13] <Kotono> The one going ahead is 8 o'clock. The one going back down is 2 o'clock. The one continuing to the right is 6 o'clock.
[23:14] <Demedais> "Following the pattern, right again." Demedais says.
[23:14] <Alicia> "Suits me," Alicia agrees with Seira, since going to six puts them far away from seven, so just incrementing the numbers won't help.
[23:15] <Kotono> The party advances to 6 o'clock! Upwards is the stairway going up, downwards is a clock set to 3 o'clock.
06[23:15] * Alicia continues on to the stairs and heads up! Hopefully.
[23:15] <Demedais> "Let's go ahead?" Demedais shrugs, advancing with Alicia.
[23:16] <Alicia> "Maybe it would've been an obstacle if we didn't have these bracelets?" Marie suggests, tapping hers as she floats alongside Alicia.
[23:16] <Kotono> The party advances to the stairs without incident! Thes tairs ahead await.
[23:16] <Demedais> "Possibly, yeah." Demedais nods, looking up the stairs.
06[23:16] * Alicia heads up the stairs.
01[23:16] <Seira> "I do wonder if they are an actual deterrent or just another trap," Seira muses. "I guess it won't hurt to trust a bit."
[23:16] <Kotono> "Maybe so, or we're really lucky," Pollyanna follows along with Alicia. "Either way, I'm thankful."
[23:20] <Kotono> The party starts to ascend higher! As they do, the mists in the center of the tower begin to swirl. As they do, "Two thousand years ago, the fruit of the folly of the Gods nearly rent apart Creation," The voice of the Magus of Time speaks. "The world lies in a shattered state because of unchecked arrogance and foolhardy indulgence."
[23:21] <Demedais> "Huh." Demedais says quietly to himself, eyeing the mists.
06[23:22] * Alicia doesn't mind the history lesson, simply listening in as she marches up the stairs, half an eye on the swirling mists.
01[23:22] <Seira> "Is it really so shattered?" Seira voices.
[23:23] <Alicia> "Aren't you the one with the big plan for fixing those wastes?" Marie asks Seira. "Sounds like they're pretty shattered."
[23:23] <Demedais> "Esthan exists." Demedais comments.
[23:23] <Kotono> In it, an image forms. An image of a shoreline, the sea lapping against it. It is nighttime, the stars in the sky sparkling with magnificent beauty. Yet one of them grows bright, brighter and bigger. "Who but fools would allow the Fairest Star to pass into mortal hands? Who would let a mortal tinker with the very stuff of Creation?"
01[23:24] <Seira> "Not irreparably so!" Seira protests to Marie.
[23:24] <Demedais> "What is the Fairest Star? How was it made?" Demedais asks as he advances.
[23:24] <Kotono> "Seira, maybe we should be paying attention to this," Pollyanna whispers, "Trick or not, this does sound important."
[23:24] <Alicia> "Well sure," Marie agrees. "But shattered doesn't imply irreparably. I droped a plate once and it shattered into lots of pieces, then Alicia fixed it with magic so it was good as new!"
06[23:25] * Seira snorts, but nods at Pollyanna. "Don't worry, I am. I can just carry on a conversation in the meantime, so it's all good."
[23:28] <Kotono> In the sky, the star becomes bigger and brighter, rapidly blotting out everything as it plummets down to the ground! "When you look into the night skies, the stars are not meaningless dots of light. The stars are Creations, far, far, far away."
[23:29] <Demedais> "Huh."
[23:29] <Kotono> "It's like what we saw in the museum?" Amaryl speaks up here.
[23:30] <Alicia> "You mean alternate prime material planes?" Alicia asks curiously, recalling her conversation with G'renna on the subject. One of the few memories involving the succubus that doesn't overly trouble her.
[23:31] <Kotono> "Creation is the domain of the Gods. Yet, over time, the Gods had grown indulgent to mortals. Partly as result of the endless divine wards, partly as giving their worshippers too much...partly out of simple blindness. Things beyond mortality became within the reach of mortals. Magic beyond the nine mortal circles, immortality, the capacity to become far more than one was born as." (More)
[23:32] <Kotono> *wars
[23:34] <Kotono> "Yes, you are correct." The image shatters apart as this great, bright star impacts! The jolting shock sends an earthquake throughout the tower! "When a part of Creation itself, unshaped by divine hand, fell to another Creation, the Gods allowed it to be touched by mortal hands."
01[23:34] <Seira> "There is something within me that cries out at the injustice of being lectured about the mortals's foolishness from one of the foolish mortals who were actually responsible for all this," Seira mutters in distaste.
[23:34] <Alicia> "You've never tried to convince someone to learn from your mistakes?" Marie asks innocently.
01[23:35] <Seira> "My mistakes are usually so horrible no amount of convincing is necessary to learn from them."
[23:35] <Kotono> "Yes, my mistakes..." The mists fade apart, back into a thick, vision cloying mess. "Come closer, continue to climb closer to me."
06[23:36] * Demedais blinks. "Eh." A slight shrug.
[23:36] <Alicia> "It sounds more like he's blaming the Gods for letting things come to a head," Alicia muses as she continues to ascend while watching the show.
01[23:37] <Seira> "Yeah, but it has the whole 'oh you foolish immature kids' ring to it," Seira responds, following Alicia. "Torm's a god and he went nuts, right? I think there's plenty of failure upstairs without even starting on us."
[23:37] <Kotono> "I think that's the point," Pollyanna points out, "All he just said was saying that the Gods made a mistake and are flawed."
[23:38] <Alicia> Marie nods. "No one came out of that war with anything to be proud of," the eladrin affirms sadly.
01[23:38] <Seira> "How about Talinn and his side?"
06[23:39] * Demedais shrugs again. "I'll refrain judgment 'til I've heard the entire thing."
[23:42] <Kotono> As you continue to climb, higher and higher and higher, "The one who touched the Fairest Star was Daa-vid. He took it with him, spending time studying it. For in his hands he had something that transcended mortality. For with Creation, one can make and remake. Yet...with absolute power, corruption follows. Daa-vid, in time, became the God King Daa-vid. Not a mortal anymore, but recreated into a divine being of immense power." This time the
[23:42] <Kotono> Not a mortal anymore, but recreated into a divine being of immense power." This time the mist swirls again, "It is Ao's, the Overgod, law that any beings that wish to assume divinity must be approved by him. This is one of the sacred duties of the divine, to ensure that this mandate is never violated."
01[23:43] <Seira> "This actually brings up an important question!" Seira exclaims. "Is the power of the star inherently corrupting like that, or is it just the regular lure of power leading to a fall from grace deal?"
[23:44] <Demedais> "Just amplified to an insane extent, I'd presume." Demedais muses.
06[23:44] * Seira shrugs. "If it's just that, we'll be fine with it."
[23:44] <Alicia> Overgod... surely a being with such power could have stopped Daa-vid before he achieved his divinity if he wasn't up to standards? For all she knows everything went according to some secretive plan known only to Ao. "Do we even know that Daa-vid struck first?" Alicia volunteers a disturbing possibility, her voice quiet.
01[23:46] <Seira> "He had 'rape fortresses' numbering in the dozens and turned a fellow gnome into an insane artifact. I'm pretty sure he was a very bad person."
[23:46] <Kotono> "That is a wise question, but it is not time for the answer to that. Not yet." In the mists, you can see a blasted wasteland. An endless field of slain angels, obliteration on a cosmic scale. "As arrogant as the Gods were...you are as wise as they should have been, Alicia. All too late they realised their heresy. For was not Daa-vid correcT? He was divine. It was his right and nature to seek worship now. Even with a heart of evil, he would
[23:46] <Kotono> Even with a heart of evil, he would be no worse than Shar or Cyric or a dozen others."
06[23:48] * Demedais considers this. "So... No offense, Seira, but this entire story sounds like a metaphorical ton of dragons colliding in air."
01[23:48] <Seira> "It's okay. It's actually a funny image. I bet there's a spell for that!"
[23:49] <Alicia> "I know that, Seira, but... if a different approach had been taken?" Alicia sounds uncertain. "A cornered animal will fight... maybe his foul nature was spurred by the hatred he received from all corners of creation? As far as we know, all of the horrible things he did all came during the war, didn't they?"
[23:49] <Kotono> "As the war began...it was not Ao who came from Beyond to bring his wayward Gods to task. The Gods were summoned to the place of meeting by another. He...or it, called itself the Arbiter. In that meeting, it laid down divine law and order, commanding all Gods."
06[23:49] * Demedais blinks at this.
01[23:49] <Seira> "Just think about it from another angle, then, Alicia," Seira suggests. "To say that because one Shar exists a second must be allowed to also exist is a logical fallacy."
[23:50] <Demedais> roll 1d20+14 Arbiter? Angelghostdude mentioned this, too.
06[23:50] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+14 Arbiter? Angelghostdude mentioned this, too. and gets 18." [1d20=4]
06[23:50] * Seira frowns. "I'd kill the first one if I got the chance, and it's not hypocritical in the least to prevent evil assholes from fully reaching godhood."
[23:51] <Demedais> "Arbiter? Who is that? I've heard of it, but not much else."
01[23:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 what Deme said
06[23:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 what Deme said and gets 13." [1d20=2]
06[23:52] * Alicia shakes her head. "That's not what I meant... he didn't have to be evil." It sounds heretical, as Mystra is among the deities she's questioning, but even so... "I just think if they were going to stop him, why did they wait until he'd achieved such power?"
[23:52] <Kotono> "The Gods were to be punished. They would be forced to withdraw and distance themselves, while a mortal would be the one to wound the God-King. They would work together, to build a suitable prison, arena and court for Daa-vid. For he said that as they had neglected mortalkind with this fallacy, this matter shall be ended and judged by mortalkind, not the divine."
01[23:53] <Seira> "I'm pretty sure the fortresses, at least, predate Daa-vid's battle with the gods," Seira says slowly. "But if you would like to know for certain, I will research this matter further."
[23:54] <Alicia> "It doesn't matter," Alicia replies. "What Daa-vid is now matters far more than what he could have been, after all."
[23:54] <Kotono> "Daa-vid...was evil. Of that there was no doubt. The creature you call Lagann, ou saw his torment and fate at the hands of Daa-vid. He consigned with the devilkind freely. His heart was black, of that there is no doubt. But now, listen. For the tale reaches it's most important part."
06[23:54] * Demedais listens, saving questions for the end and or when they meet face to face.
06[23:54] * Seira is willing to listen to the story's climax before asking more.
[23:57] <Kotono> "Talinn was the greatest mortal hero on this world. He was chosen by the Arbiter, given a weapon to wound the God-King. He did so, surviving only by dint of will. Thus, wounded and assailed, the God-King was imprisoned. The true battle against Daa-vid comes when mortals meet him once more. There the the delayed judgment against the Gods will be wrought."
01[23:58] <Seira> "Didn't he forge the weapon?" Seira can't help but ask.
[23:58] <Alicia> "Given a weapon? He didn't craft it himself?" Alicia asks, this information conflicting with her earlier understanding.
[23:58] <Kotono> "He did. He was given it in the sense that the knowledge came to him through the movements of the Arbiter in the background."
01[23:59] <Seira> "Aarondaq, wasn't it?" Seira presses on. "Can you tell us where it rests now?"
[23:59] <Demedais> "I see. Please continu-" Demedais then shrugs.
Session Time: Sat Apr 04 00:00:00 2009
[00:01] <Kotono> "I can in due time. You have felt it's aura of death once before." There is a moment there, snowy, high mountains seen. "The seal around Arondaaq underestimated the destructive power of the blade...or was it the will of the Arbiter? I know not, but it's wards have begun to weaken. If not taken or re-sealed, waves of death will travel west into Pallanth, and eventually west ntil there is no more west to go. The silver dragon you fought was a
[00:01] <Kotono> and eventually west ntil there is no more west to go. The silver dragon you fought was an innocent victim of Arondaaq's energies."
06[00:02] * Alicia shivers. That's the weapon she has to wield? Such a horrific thing should not be...
[00:02] <Demedais> "Oh. That's what was causing that? Charming." Demedais grimaces.
01[00:03] <Seira> "Hmph. It's just like with the shard, isn't it? It all depends on if the wielder is strong enough to resist the lure of power."
[00:03] <Kotono> "You shiver...you are wise again. Talinn did not believe Arondaaq would be needed again. He wished for it to be sealed for all time, for whomever wields it burns away their life with every swing. IT will be another choice you will have to make in the coming times. For you have chosen the hard reality over your own paradises."
[00:04] <Demedais> "Talinn was an optimist. Granted, I can't say I don't understand. That place was just... yeah." Demedais muses on this.
[00:04] <Alicia> "If it were me I would have destroyed it," Alicia notes quietly.
01[00:04] <Seira> "Lagann stabbed me in the face when we just met. Leave befriending the sword to me!"
[00:05] <Kotono> "Arondaaq can yet be resealed. Gods willing, for all time. But should you take it, you will have the power to kill the divine...for what little time you live after it. Make no mistake, nothing can prevent your death once you have taken Arondaaq. To bear it is to throw away your live, sacrifice it for momentary power."
06[00:06] * Demedais glances to Seira, before thinking. "How many more seals must be broken before it returns to this world?"
[00:09] <Kotono> "The process has begun. But be wary...one of your enemies has an inkling of where it is. Should he or his master hold Arondaaq, a catastrophe will rise up from the Pit unlike any other. Yet his threads of time seldom go to it without interference, for he does not fully appreciate how close he is to finding it."
[00:10] <Demedais> "Yeah, that's what I was worried about." Demedais comments.
01[00:10] <Seira> "Esthan, right? So who's his real master?"
06[00:11] * Seira blinks. "For that matter, is he even really Esthan?"
[00:12] <Kotono> "That I cannot tell you. For those with divinity can resist even my view of Time. It's master is an abomination who has a spark of the immortal within it's heart. He shields those who work for him...Esthan's threads are shadowy the further away from the present I look."
06[00:12] * Demedais pauses at this. "Oh. That's just lovely."
01[00:13] <Seira> "Asmodeus or a nasty god, then?"
[00:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 planes does that description mean anything to me?
06[00:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 planes does that description mean anything to me? and gets 39." [1d20=19]
[00:14] <Alicia> "Could be an arch-duke or one of the Lords of the Nine," Alicia fills in. "Something far beyond Agares, that's for sure."
01[00:15] <Seira> "Since you're being so helpful and all, and you can see some of Esthan's moves," Seira says, "can you tell us more about them? Just what the hell is he after? Why do we matter? Why interfere in Pallanth so much?"
[00:16] <Alicia> "He wants Daa-vid's power to support his revolution against Asmodeus, surely," Alicia posits her theory. "And we're in the best position to take it."
[00:16] <Kotono> "I know scant little about him. While I can see past much of his protections, the aegis of his master prevents some understandings. But...enough of Esthan for now. Come. You are almost to me." Indeed, you can faintly see a ceiling and a hole that the stairs go into above.
[00:16] <Demedais> "We matter because we're the closest to getting what he wants, and he's interfering in Pallanth because I suspect he thinks Arondaaq's around there." Demedais guesses. "Right?"
06[00:17] * Alicia takes a deep breath and picks up the pace. "This is where we prove our worth in trial by combat?" she asks.
[00:17] <Kotono> There is no reply to either of those.
[00:17] <Alicia> Well, only one thing for it... Keep going!
01[00:18] <Seira> "It sounds a bit too convenient," Seira mutters. "But I suppose it's not something I need answered right this instant."
[00:18] <Demedais> "Trial by cup of tea would be nice." Demedais shrugs, still advancing.
06[00:18] * Seira does decide to cast Shield in case Alicia has it right.
[00:21] <Kotono> The party walks up! Here there is no mist! There is a stair on the far wall continuing up and up and up and up and up. Here sits a single throne, a stone lined pool of water besides it. Here sits an ancient, tired creature. It's short like a dwarf, it's beard white and reaching down to the floor. His face is wrinkled and wrinkled twice over, skin nearly covering his eyes. He is stooped, using a simple wooden cane to lean against. He wears m
[00:21] <Kotono> e is stooped, using a simple wooden cane to lean against. He wears metal armor, a sleek black color. "It's been two thousand years...I've spent it watching so damned many threads. Hundreds of possibilities to who would be the ones to reach here! Who would be the ones with the might, wisdom, and suicidal determination to reach this lofty place?"
01[00:22] <Seira> "Disappointed?"
[00:23] <Demedais> "I'd offer tea as consolation except I don't have any on me. Nor ale, for that matter."
[00:23] <Kotono> "No." Looking up at Seira, "No...I'm not. Not anymore. You threw away paradise to reach here. You're the biggest monsters mortalkind could produce. You'll kill, subvert, plunder...you'll do anything to reach your goals."
06[00:24] * Demedais glances to Pollyanna.
01[00:25] <Seira> "Thanks? You know all the right words to say. Are the next ones out of your mouth going to be those that tell us how to safely free the inhabitants of this forest?"
[00:25] <Kotono> "So? It's my duty. If you don't approve, take it up with Helm," she says.
[00:25] <Alicia> Is she a monster? Giving up a chance to return to her old life, with her lost family? Maybe she is... Alicia is hardly her usual combative self as she stands partly to the side of the group, half-dreading the impending battle.
[00:25] <Kotono> *Pollyanna says.
[00:25] <Kotono> Amaryl stays close to Seira, "You're wrong...Seira's not a monster. I know her."
[00:25] <Demedais> "So I take it making a funny face isn't appropriate at this time." Demedais shrugs.
[00:26] <Kotono> The gnome's eyes fix onto Alicia now, stopping. Everything -stops-. Demedais stops. Seira stops. Marie stops. Everything stops but her and the gnome. "But you," he goes on, "You still have doubts."
06[00:26] * Seira flashes Amaryl a smile.
[00:30] <Alicia> Put on the spot, unable to dodge the question as she had before... "Yes," Alicia admits softly. "I..." she swallows and shakes her head, "No, what you offer, it's a retreat from reality. I can't accept that. But unsealing ancient horrors, returning the world to its old state... even now I see vile Gods and terrible fiends treating the world as their playground, and we're barely half-done..."
[00:34] <Kotono> "It's your destiny as long as you follow this path. The Gods; no, the Arbiter, will have you face worse and worse horrors, like a blade put into the furnace to temper it. Before your time is done, you may cross blades with some of the worst abominations in all the realities." Extending one hand out, "That is your fate now. In the other hand," Holding his other hand out, "Is motherhood. Love. Life. If you are willing to continue on your path
[00:34] <Kotono> "Is motherhood. Love. Life. If you are willing to continue on your path, so be it...but tell me one thing. Tell me that you're willing to let your husband and child die again. For this time, their blood is on your hands. You hold their fate in your hands. This is another choice you must make: Your family, or the darkest horrors there are. Love...or a likely death and eternal torment at the hands of things best never comtemplated. Only the s
[00:34] <Kotono> Love...or a likely death and eternal torment at the hands of things best never comtemplated. Only the screams of your loyal friends will provide you any succor for eternity. No wonder the Abyss craved you. Damnation in it's depths would be merciful compared to the path you walk now!"
[00:35] <Kotono> "It's your choice," he finishes again. "Think on it well."
06[00:39] * Alicia clenches her fists, her brow starting to sweat. "Damn you... I don't care what horrors I have to face!" her voice starts of weak but turns into a shrill snap. "I'll endure them all, but what's the point if my current path only makes a worse world for everyone else?" she sweeps her arm expansively.
[00:39] <Alicia> Taking a deep breath, she presses on, "Hans and Felix are dead, and have been for a long time. They're not coming back, but their souls rest peacefully where they will. I won't have you put this false choice before me!" With a half-step towards the Magus, "The future concerns me!"
[00:39] <Alicia> "Not any self-indulgent 'what if' from a possible past, but the very real consequences of what I do in the here and now!"
[00:41] <Kotono> "Then you've made your choice. It is not your first and it will not be your last. But know this and know it forever: The power I have could have brought them back. Understand the choice you have made Alicia. When you go home after this, look at your home. Is an empty bed and cradle and full graves worth a shell of your sister and a devil, no matter how much they love you and are grateful to you? Long after this is a memory, ask yourself tha
[00:41] <Kotono> love you and are grateful to you? Long after this is a memory, ask yourself that." (More)
[00:43] <Kotono> "Now then..." Time resumes. To the others, nothing has happeneda ta ll, in between breaths of being. "You've all made your choices." He says. "What comes next is two fold. We will battle; your choice has made this inevitable. For my second betrayal, I was promised peace in eternity unlike my kin. I desire it, I grow weary of this world. After the battle, in an infinite moment before I die, I will tell you everything you wish to know."
[00:43] <Kotono> I will tell you everything you wish to know."
06[00:44] * Seira doesn't need more incentive to start casting!
[00:44] <Kotono> OOC: Let'sroll initiative here?
06[00:44] * Demedais shrugs, quickly throwing up his devotions. "Then... thank you.
[00:44] <Demedais> roll 1d20+!
[00:44] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 A
06[00:44] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+! and gets Error: Numeric values only." [1d20=13]
06[00:44] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 A and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[00:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 13." [1d20=6]
01[00:45] <Seira> roll 1d20+11 nerveskitter
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+11 nerveskitter and gets 23." [1d20=12]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Pollly
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Pollly and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Amaryl
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+6 Amaryl and gets 23." [1d20=17]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+15 Magus
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+15 Magus and gets 25." [1d20=10]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Magus
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 Magus and gets 26." [1d20=16]
[00:45] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Magus
06[00:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Magus and gets 8." [1d20=3]
03[00:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Seira(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Alicia(18)>Marie(13)>Magus 3(8)'
01[00:47] <Seira> OOC: Deme at 14
03[00:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Seira(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Alicia(18)>Demedais(14)>Marie(13)>Magus 3(8)'
[00:47] <Kotono> ---FIXING INITIATIVE---
03[00:48] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Marie(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Alicia(18)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Magus 3(8)'
[00:48] <Kotono> OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[00:50] <Kotono> The Magus of time raises one gnarled hand up! In it, a clock can be seen! It moves painfully slow, a wave of molasses-like waves passing over everyone! OOC: Wiill everyone, after SR For Deme.
[00:50] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[00:50] <Kotono> OOC: Got your SR on the nose, Deme. Will saves.
[00:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 A
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 A and gets 37." [1d20=13]
[00:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 M
06[00:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 M and gets 25." [1d20=10]
01[00:51] <Seira> roll 1d20+20
06[00:51] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+20 and gets 28." [1d20=8]
[00:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7
06[00:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[00:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20 it doesn't matters ince Amaryl needs a 20. Poor girl.
06[00:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 it doesn't matters ince Amaryl needs a 20. Poor girl. and gets 8." [1d20=8]
[00:52] <Demedais> roll 1d20+18 weee
06[00:52] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+18 weee and gets 32." [1d20=14]
[00:53] <Kotono> OOC: Alicia and Demedais passed. The rest of you are slowed, except that the penalty to attack, AC and reflex saves is -6 instead of -1.
[00:54] <Kotono> The waves of movement leave much of the party barely movinga t all, impossibly going in slow motion! Thereafter, the Magus holds up a hummingbird in his hand! It goes from a baby to a pile of dust in mere moments, the Magus moving much faster now! OOC: Amaryl and Marie are up.
01[00:54] <Seira> "I can reverse it!" Seira exclaims, recognizing the magical effect even as it takes hold of her. "If you just wait a moment!"
[00:55] <Alicia> Marie frowns a bit, for once her empathic link serving as a hindrance rather than a boon, as Alicia's disturbed thoughts distract her rather than provide a calming centre. For now she tries to focus on the insanely fast (from her perspective) gnome, wanting to hit him with a magic missile when next he casts.
[00:55] <Alicia> OOC: readied action to zap him
[00:56] <Kotono> Amaryl moves in slow motion, managing to fire off a pair of arrows despite moving at the speed of mud!
[00:56] <Kotono> OOC: I read good. Amaryl'll hold instead. Polly will as well since she's slowed down blues. Alicia?
[00:57] <Alicia> OOC: Seira can get her word in
[00:57] <Kotono> OOC: Deme?
[00:58] <Demedais> OOC: Deme will also stall, sure.
06[00:58] * Seira doesn't waste any time, hands moving sluggishly to form arcane seals that call for the magic of Haste upon herself and her allies!
[00:58] <Kotono> OOC: Seira?
[00:58] <Kotono> The magic echos out, speed returned to the party! OOC: Any of you going now, or waiting on the Magus 3 to act?
[00:59] <Alicia> OOC: I go
[00:59] <Demedais> OOC: Deme will go after Alicia
03[00:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Marie(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Magus 3(8)'
[00:59] <Kotono> OOC: Go Alicia.
06[01:00] * Alicia steps a bit away from the group, moving fifty feet around to the side at a quickened pace before she focuses on the magus, weaving her own magic and sending a crackling ray of dark-red energy lancing out at him!
[01:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 ranged touch
06[01:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 ranged touch and gets 40." [1d20=20]
[01:00] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20 ranged touch crit check
06[01:00] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 ranged touch crit check and gets 24." [1d20=4]
[01:00] <Kotono> OOC: SR?
[01:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 boo
06[01:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+15 boo and gets 16." [1d20=1]
[01:02] <Kotono> Alicia fires forth a bolt of energy! The enervation hits the gnome, but fizzles away into nothing! OOC: Are you also going to go, Deme? Amaryl and Polly are going to fire.
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Amaryl=Marie(23)>Pollyanna(21)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
[01:02] <Demedais> OOC: Yes.
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Demedais(14)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Demedais>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
03[01:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Demedais>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Magus 3(8)'
06[01:04] * Demedais grimaces and rushes at the magus yet to act, sending his blade sweeping upward once he's close with a prayer to Helm!
[01:04] <Demedais> roll 1d20+28 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge)
06[01:04] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+28 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge) and gets 37." [1d20=9]
[01:04] <Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[01:05] <Demedais> roll 2d8+11 mainly using this hit to get DR bypassing, since it seems like he's tricked out
06[01:05] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 2d8+11 mainly using this hit to get DR bypassing, since it seems like he's tricked out and gets 25." [2d8=8, 6]
[01:06] <Kotono> The blade has trouble even hitting the gnome, striking him hard but barely leaving a mark at all! A moment later, the archers come firing!
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 (+2 haste)
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 (+2 haste)
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 (+2 haste) and gets 28." [1d20=15]
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 (+2 haste) and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 16." [1d20=8]
[01:06] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet)
06[01:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet) and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet last use))
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 (+2 haste, +2 helmet last use)) and gets 37." [1d20=16]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 haste attack, remind me to roll Amaryl's after this, I forgot it.
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 haste attack, remind me to roll Amaryl's after this, I forgot it. and gets 37." [1d20=18]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 32." [1d20=18]
[01:07] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[01:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 4d8+4d6+40
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4d8+4d6+40 and gets 73." [4d8=3, 4, 1, 7][4d6=5, 4, 4, 5]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again and gets 31." [1d20=18]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again and gets 33." [1d20=20]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again crit?
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+13 Amaryl which also splits again crit? and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[01:08] <Kotono> roll 1d8
06[01:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8 and gets 4." [1d8=4]
[01:09] <Kotono> Amaryl and Pollyanna send a pincusion the way of the gnome! A few hit, few of them doing any serious damage to him at all! OOC: Magus is up. Did you want to MM him now, MArie?
[01:10] <Alicia> OOC: if he's casting, sure!
[01:10] <Kotono> OOC: Roll your SR and we'll resolve it first?
[01:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 24." [1d20=8]
[01:10] <Kotono> OOC: DAmage.
[01:10] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 20." [5d4=2, 4, 2, 3, 4]
[01:10] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 concentration check
06[01:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 concentration check and gets 26." [1d20=1]
[01:11] <Kotono> The magic missiles fire! They hit the gnome, momentarily disrupting his concentration and one of his spells! OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[01:11] <Kotono> --FIXING INITIATIVE--
03[01:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Magus 3>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Demedais(8)'
[01:14] <Kotono> The Magus reaches out, touching Demedais in retort!
[01:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 touch AC, Deme?
06[01:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 touch AC, Deme? and gets 28." [1d20=9]
[01:14] <Demedais> OOC: 15~
[01:14] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 SR
06[01:14] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 SR and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[01:15] <Kotono> The touch on Demedais is like a wilting death, yet it crumbles before him! Thereafter, the Magus withdraws thirty feet back, behind the throne! OOC: Magus 1 is up.
[01:17] <Kotono> Thereafter, he holds up his hand! Green mists flow out, engulfing the archers, Seira and Alicia! The mists burns horribily, acidic and toxic! Further, it's dense and they can't see anything in it at all!
[01:17] <Kotono> roll 2d6 all of you but Deme take this.
06[01:17] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 all of you but Deme take this. and gets 7." [2d6=2, 5]
[01:17] <Alicia> OOC: I am 50 feet away from those guys, if it matters
[01:17] <Kotono> OOC: Then you're off the hook, Alicia.
[01:17] <Kotono> OOC: I forgot you moved, my bad.
[01:18] <Alicia> OOC: and Marie's incorporeal right now
[01:18] <Kotono> OOC: She's okay then.
[01:19] <Kotono> After that mist comes forth, hiding and counfounding, the magus moves another sixty feet back, near the upward stairway! OOC: MArie?
[01:19] <Alicia> Marie flies up out of the fog which doesn't hurt but does block her view, settling in position up in the air above and ready to zap the magus when he tries casting again.
[01:20] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, Seira. Bear in mind that your movement is also hamstrung in it and you can't see. Marie was off the hook since she was incorpreal.
01[01:21] <Seira> "Stay strong and remember the ring," Seira whispers to Amaryl, disappearing from sight in the noxious cloud even as she calls upon Waukeen's divine power and silently tries to make her way out of the area. When in doubt, always go up!
01[01:21] <Seira> OOC: I figure I can make 5+5 feet up like this?
[01:21] <Kotono> OOC: You can't 5ft step in a solid fog.
[01:22] <Kotono> OOC: Oh wait, devotion? Dur.
01[01:22] <Seira> OOC: No, but a move ends up in traveling 5ft, right? And I'm using Travel devotion to move again, which is 5ft more.
[01:22] <Kotono> OOC: Yeah, a double move of ten is fine.
[01:22] <Kotono> Seira moves up, still engulfed in burning fog, but closer to freedom! OOC: Alicia.
06[01:24] * Alicia doesn't like the look of those stairs and doesn't really want to be stuck chasing the Magus all over the tower, so she moves sixty feet closer and then throws up an invisible wall behind the gnome to block his retreat in that direction!
[01:24] <Alicia> OOC: wall of force to block the stairs
[01:31] <Kotono> A wall of force springs into effect, blocking off the stairs! The Magus turns now...OOC: Marie?
03[01:32] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)(Fog damage here)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Alicia>Magus 3>Amaryl>Pollyanna>Demedais(8)'
[01:32] <Alicia> Marie fires a salvo of magic missiles once more to interrupt the Magus's spell!
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 33." [1d20=17]
[01:32] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 17." [5d4=1, 4, 3, 1, 3]
[01:32] <Kotono> roll 1d20+25 DC 37
06[01:32] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+25 DC 37 and gets 41." [1d20=16]
[01:33] <Kotono> The Magus is stricken, but withstands the blow! A moment later, a shimmering field of force appears in front of him! OOC: Amaryl's up.
[01:34] <Kotono> Crying out, Amaryl stumbles forward in the acid fog! Pollyanna does the same, struggling! OOC: Shec an't do much but stumble closer to being out. Ditto with Polly. Deme.
[01:35] <Kotono> Amaryl also has the moment to activate the magic in the ring of spell storing.
06[01:37] * Demedais approaches 50 feet to try and reach the base of the stairs or as close as possible, muttering two prayers as he does - one for protection, one for power! OOC: Protection Devotion and Divine Power up.
[01:38] <Kotono> The stairs are still 40 feet away and blocked off with a wall of force, but Deme's closer and empowered now! OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[01:38] <Kotono> --FIXING INITIATIVE--
03[01:39] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)(Fog damage here)>Marie(23)>Seira(13)>Amaryl>Magus 3>Alicial>Pollyanna>Demedais(8)'
[01:41] <Kotono> Pointing his finger out, "Be wary of this one in the future!" he says, a black ray of enervation coming out at Alicia! But as it arches at her, the ray splits into two!
[01:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[01:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 29." [1d20=10]
[01:42] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[01:42] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 35." [1d20=16]
[01:42] <Kotono> OOC: Touch AC?
[01:42] <Alicia> OOC: 15. Spellfire, though.
[01:43] <Kotono> OOC: Moment, I need to read the text or something.
[01:45] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, works as normal, +6 spellfire.
[01:47] <Kotono> Alicia quickly absorbs the spell, stopping it! But the Magus works again a moment later, as this time his hand points out! A strange purple ray comes from his hand, right at Alicia!
[01:47] <Kotono> OOC - Gah, premature.
[01:48] <Kotono> Alicia quickly absorbs the spell, stopping it! But the Magus works again a moment later, as this time his hand points out! A strange purple ray comes from his hand, right at Alicia! As it fluxuates in the air, it splits apart into two, the second arching off to go at Demedais!
[01:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 Deme SR
06[01:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 Deme SR and gets 30." [1d20=10]
[01:48] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19 to hit Alicia
06[01:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 to hit Alicia and gets 24." [1d20=5]
[01:48] <Kotono> Alicia glows a strange, ominous purple-red color!
[01:49] <Kotono> roll 2d6 acid damage for the ones in teh fog.
06[01:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d6 acid damage for the ones in teh fog. and gets 6." [2d6=3, 3]
[01:49] <Kotono> OOC: Marie.
[01:49] <Alicia> Marie maintains her readiness to shoot the magus on his next spell!
[01:49] <Kotono> OOC: Seira?
06[01:50] * Seira proceeds in her quest of leaving the fog area, calling upon the spell of Draconic Might along the way.
[01:51] <Kotono> SEira goes twenty feet, reaching the end of the fog! She can see again! OOC: Amaryl.
[01:51] <Kotono> Amaryl does the same, getting out of the fog unseen! OOC: Magus 3.
[01:52] <Kotono> OOC: Marie?
[01:52] <Alicia> Marie shoots!
[01:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 30." [1d20=14]
[01:52] <Alicia> roll 5d4+5
06[01:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 5d4+5 and gets 19." [5d4=2, 4, 1, 4, 3]
[01:52] <Kotono> This time her magic hits the barrier in front of the Magus, shattering into oblivion! The Magus casts unimpeded, gesturing at Alicia! A fireball bursts around her, shaking the ground with it's impactful fury! OOC: Ref, Alicia.
[01:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 and gets 32." [1d20=16]
[01:53] <Kotono> roll 10d6
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 10d6 and gets 26." [10d6=6, 1, 2, 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 1, 1]
[01:53] <Kotono> roll 26*1.5
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 26*1.5 and gets 39."
[01:53] <Kotono> OOC: 39 base fire damage you need to make a will save.
[01:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24
06[01:53] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 and gets 34." [1d20=10]
[01:54] <Kotono> Alicia is hit by the fireball, dodging but finding the flames to burn far hotter than usual, scorching her like a dry tinder! OOC: Alicia.
06[01:55] * Alicia quickly turns herself invisible then moves seventy feet to switch herself onto the opposite side of the platform, not moving any closer to the magus. Even as she's burnt and assailed, it feels oddly like going through the motions... but still she fights.
[01:56] <Kotono> Pollyanna also escapes the fog, coughing and shuddering! OOC: Deme-Deme.
06[01:58] * Demedais seems to be wearing an iron mask as he charges the gnome again, lashing out with a brutal cut upward across his face again!
[01:59] <Demedais> roll 1d20+29 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -4 PA)
06[01:59] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+29 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +2 Charge +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -4 PA) and gets 30." [1d20=1]
[02:00] <Kotono> Demedais charges with all he has, striking out at the gnome! Yet his blade betrays him, missing by a milimeter! OOC: Magus 2 is up.
[02:00] <Kotono> --FIXING INITIATIVE--
03[02:00] * Kotono changes topic to 'Magus 2(26)>Magus 1(25)(Fog damage here)>Marie(23)>Demedais>Amaryl>Magus 3>Alicial>Pollyanna>Seira'
[02:01] <Kotono> The Magus goes to Demedais and reaches out to touch him! Fast and hard!
[02:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+19
06[02:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+19 and gets 23." [1d20=4]
[02:02] <Kotono> roll 6*1.5
06[02:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6*1.5 and gets 9."
[02:02] <Kotono> OOC: 9 damage to int, wis and charisma, Deme.
[02:02] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 SR
06[02:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 SR  and gets 32." [1d20=12]
[02:02] <Kotono> OOC: Got it on the nose. Bummer.
[02:03] <Kotono> A moment later, the Magus is casting again! "Now, listen!" he says!
[02:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[02:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 22." [1d20=2]
[02:03] <Kotono> But this spell fizzles on Demedais's resistance entirely! OOC: MArie?
[02:04] <Alicia> Marie is tapped out... so she puts some faerie fire on the gnome. It might help if he copies Alicia's last move?
[02:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 SR
06[02:04] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+16 SR and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[02:04] <Kotono> Faerie fire surrounds the gnome! OOC: Deme?
06[02:05] * Demedais growls gutturally, seemingly incapable of anything but ravaging his opponent - but ravage he does, blade turning into an instinctual cyclone of slashes!
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=10]
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+26 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 36." [1d20=10]
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+21 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+21 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 37." [1d20=16]
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+16 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+16 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 22." [1d20=6]
[02:06] <Demedais> roll 1d20+11 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA)
06[02:06] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 1d20+11 (+2 Haste, +4 Law Dev, +4 Divine Power, +1 Str, -5 PA) and gets 19." [1d20=8]
[02:06] <Kotono> OOC: Three hits.
[02:07] <Demedais> roll 6d6+66
06[02:07] * Hatbot --> "Demedais rolls 6d6+66 and gets 93." [6d6=5, 2, 5, 5, 5, 5]
[02:08] <Kotono> IN all his fury, Demedais thrusts forward! He impales the gnome right in the chest! HE staggers a moment, smiling as he looks down at the blade. Stop. Everything stops again. Everything but all the lliving beings here stops. "It's done. You've made your choice. The Resort waits upstairs."
06[02:09] * Demedais stares ferally at the gnome, trying to withdraw his sword to cut downward again!
[02:10] <Kotono> The sword comes out! There's a gaping hole in the gnomes chest, blood frozen as it starts to run down from the wound! The injury seems frozen in place entirely. OOC: You can attack again if you like, Deme.
06[02:10] * Demedais blinks at the blood. "...Not bleed? Why..."
06[02:12] * Alicia becomes visible once more. She didn't really do anything... she's not sure she even wanted to, given how lacklustre her contribution was compared to the battles that took them here. "How do we free the other guardians from protecting an item that will soon no longer be here?" she asks tiredly.
[02:12] <Kotono> "Time is frozen. We exist between ticks of the clock here." Turning to Alicia, "Tell me why you wish to save them, then."
06[02:12] * Seira doesn't become visible herself, but nevertheless approaches. "Isn't it obvious?" she asks. "It's what we do."
[02:13] <Alicia> "Because they deserve to live their own lives on their own terms, not to be beholden to a task set down centuries ago that no longer holds any meaning," Alicia answers with a bit of fire, this at least being something she feels strongly about in unequivocal terms.
[02:13] <Demedais> "...don't... bleed?" Demedais seems immensely confused at this, missing the rest of the conversation.
[02:14] <Alicia> Marie floats over to Demedais and gives him some pretty lights to look at, albeit staying well away from the reach of his sword.
[02:14] <Kotono> "Hehehehe...I can free them if you care to. They'll appear over Pallanth, fitting in. It's where they're supposed to be, if it wasn't for all of this."
[02:14] <Alicia> "I do care," Alicia responds earnestly.
01[02:14] <Seira> "Please do," Seira agrees. "And hey, you're nice for an evil gnome!"
[02:14] <Demedais> "...light..." Demedais stares, seemingly enraptured.
06[02:17] * Demedais then tries to grab one.
[02:18] <Alicia> Sadly they are intangible.
[02:18] <Kotono> As Demedais sees the pretty lights, the gnome continues. "I can dispel the enchantment on his mind. There will never be another chance for him to have this...and he earned it by right of arms." Meanwhile, Demedais grabs at the ethereal lights! PRetty!
[02:18] <Alicia> "Please do!" Marie bobs agreeably in the air.
06[02:19] * Demedais opens hand, sees nothing in there, twitches and slashes at the light!
[02:19] <Kotono> Demedais moves very fast for a few seconds, then his mind is restored!
06[02:19] * Demedais blinks.
01[02:19] <Seira> "Welcome back!" Seira greets.
[02:19] <Kotono> "Pretty light?" Pollyanna comes up to Demedais, "What the hell?"
03[02:20] * Nao (Mokou@c122-107-246-130.eburwd9.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #evildunes
[02:20] <Demedais> "Thank you." Demedais rubs his head, looking with a mix of sorrow and thanks to the gnome, before looking to Pollyanna. "I'll... explain later."
06[02:20] * Alicia patiently waits for the gnome to go about freeing the guardians like he said he could.
06[02:20] * Demedais then looks back to the gnome. "... may I ask your name?"
[02:21] <Kotono> "They'll vanish back into the real world the moment the timestop ends and I pass," he says.
[02:21] <Kotono> "My name...I erased it from time. Let it be forgotten." The Magus of Time says, "Some secrets must be lost to the ages."
[02:21] <Alicia> That's good enough for her.
01[02:22] <Seira> "Though speaking of names, could you tell me Lagann's? And more about how he used to be? Any other method I've tried got me stabbed, either literally or in my mind."
06[02:22] * Demedais nods slightly. "... thank you. That's... really all I can say here..."
[02:23] <Kotono> "His name was Yandrazrt, master of metal. What remains of him is the shattered leftovers when the God-King punished him."
06[02:23] * Seira nods, even though no one can see her. "Is there a way to help him? Or should I just help him start over?"
[02:25] <Kotono> "Yandrazrt is dead. You call him Lagann now." The gnome laughs, "He made his choice. He made the best one he could, even if it lead to all the pain he's gotten. Tell me, did you find him in the God-King's prison?"
01[02:26] <Seira> "Yeah. Why?" Seira frowns. "And just because he died before doesn't mean he can't regain his memories. And his sanity. Does it?"
[02:28] <Kotono> "It may be possible, but it will require powerful magic. He will need to receive a heal spell boosted to a level beyond that of the nine mortal circles of magic, then resurrected into a prepared body. Even that...it will be a long road for him."
01[02:28] <Seira> "Don't suppose you could help him with the memory part, having control over time and history and all that?"
[02:28] <Alicia> "Wouldn't it be kinder to let him pass on?" Marie wonders. "Or are you the only gnome that's allowed that?"
[02:29] <Kotono> "No. I lack the power to change any of the actions 2,000 years ago or longer. If not..." With a look of tired eyes right to Seira, "Even if not, I cannot affect the divine without consent. His fate was the act of the God-King."
06[02:30] * Seira takes that as her cue to appear. "I'll ask him once we've made more progress, then. It's not like I'll force Lagann to stick around against his will. Okay, so since this is taken care of, and so is the fate of the guardians, you were mentioning the seals on Arondaaq?"
[02:30] <Kotono> "The Gods put him in that ruin. Why, I do not know, but I believe they had mercy on him. To put him in your path, they must accept the possibility."
06[02:31] * Seira nods in agreement.