210.1 Alicia and the Pilltain Affair

[Corwin]

[20:54] <Alicia> [20:00] <Kotono> The crab is stabbed, burnt metal stinking up the place! It stops moving ont hat wounding, slaughtered!  There are three more immediately close as the party flies into the tunnel with many more ahead! The tunnel's about ten feet tall, giving clearance for some flying, and about ten wide. It goes onward for the immediate aheadedness, nothing unusual seen so far.
[20:54] <Alicia> [20:01] <Alicia> "This way!" Marie urges the other two, leading them on to the large central chamber as Alicia flies after her familiar, ignoring the three crabs in the tunnel since she has plenty of clearance over them.
[20:58] <Kotono> The three fly down the tunnel! Racing along in the clearance, the crabs snap futilely at them as they advance! However, after a few rounds of moving, they can see two things! The first is that it slopes upward just a bit, leading into some large chamber! The second is that a large number of crabs are stacking up ahead - forming a defensive wall of sorts, crab over crab over crab over crab! It's four feet tall and you're about 75 feet away now
[20:58] <Kotono> It's four feet tall and you're about 75 feet away now, as more crabs climb up and assemble! OOC - Go ahead and act. I'll call for another initiative if you get into a combat situation.
[21:00] <Alicia> OOC: how many crabs are there ahead?
[21:02] <Kotono> OOC - Several dozen and more behind and around them, crawling up the wall to make it taller. Lots, basically.
[21:03] <Alicia> "Cover our rear," Alicia tells Antenora as she draws short about sixty feet from the metallic wall. "I'm going to let them bunch up a bit more ahead of us before clearing a path."
[21:05] <Kotono> Antenora turns, stopping and hovering! As the party waits..more craps form! Five feet up! Five and a half! Meanwhile, a few crabs are approaching Antenora from behind and on the ceiling! "How long are  you going to wait? I'm about to get crabbed," Antenora calls back.
[21:07] <Alicia> A solid five foot mass of crabs sounds absolutely ideal to her. "Wait no more," Alicia reassures the erinyes as she directs her palm forward to unleash a devastating blaze of incandescent spellfire that roars up the confined tunnel and straight through the thickly packed mass of crabs!
[21:07] <Alicia> roll 10d8 DC 22 reflex half
06[21:07] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10d8 DC 22 reflex half and gets 45."12 [10d8=7, 1, 5, 6, 8, 1, 7, 2, 3, 5]
[21:08] <Kotono> roll 14#1d20+6
06[21:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14#1d20+6 and gets 242."12 [14#1d20+6 = 11, 10, 23, 18, 26, 19, 17, 13, 23, 8, 14, 23, 22, 15]
[21:10] <Kotono> roll 14#1d20+6
06[21:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14#1d20+6 and gets 218."12 [14#1d20+6 = 11, 19, 11, 11, 22, 9, 25, 21, 16, 13, 7, 12, 16, 25]
[21:11] <Kotono> roll 14#1d20+6
06[21:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14#1d20+6 and gets 224."12 [14#1d20+6 = 7, 22, 24, 9, 16, 17, 25, 15, 22, 21, 10, 10, 10, 16]
[21:15] <Kotono> roll 14#1d20+6
06[21:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 14#1d20+6 and gets 224."12 [14#1d20+6 = 16, 17, 24, 24, 15, 8, 10, 18, 7, 11, 23, 9, 22, 20]
[21:16] <Kotono> Boooosh! As Alicia fires, a flaming jet of spellfire burns through the crab wall! Many of them are melted and crumble into half dissolved slag! Many more are badly burnt and mangled, the wall collasping into ruin! As the spellfire races down the hall, Antenora is meanlile defending herself from crabs! They come raining down, Antenora trusting up at one of the six that fall at her!
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+17 (-2 PA)
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+17 (-2 PA) and gets 24."12 [1d20=7]
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d8+13
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+13 and gets 15."12 [1d8=2]
[21:16] <Kotono> One crab has it's side pierced, but the rest recklessly fall at Antenora, claws snapping and slashing!
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 27."12 [1d20=13]
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 15."12 [1d20=1]
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 15."12 [1d20=1]
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[21:16] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 22."12 [1d20=8]
06[21:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 20."12 [1d20=6]
[21:18] <Kotono> Click CLANG! Antenora dodges all but one, which comes down hard on her new breastplate! It skids off even as it futilely claws at it, metal scraping against metal in vain! OOC - Let's do initative here. There's a pile of melted and nearly dead/dead crabs in front of yo uand some in the back and more coming.
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5 A
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 A and gets 21."12 [1d20=16]
[21:18] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 M
06[21:18] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 M and gets 27."12 [1d20=20]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 23."12 [1d20=18]
[21:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 Crabs have hive initiative. Scary.
06[21:20] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 Crabs have hive initiative. Scary. and gets 25."12 [1d20=18]
03[21:20] * Kotono changes topic to 'Marie>CRABS>Antenora>Alicia'
[21:21] <Alicia> Marie zooms up past all the scrapped crabs and into the large chamber beyond to take in the situation there.
[21:24] <Kotono> Ahead, Marie finds herself in the same room as she was before. The center diagram is still there, as are a bunch of crabs. Most are mobilizing, heading to the path that Alicia and Antenora are in. Several dozen on dozens more, all preparing.
[21:25] <Kotono> Meanwhile, the crabs about react! The survivors and the fallers are all dented up, but they're crawling onto the walls and ceiling again! Meanwhile, Antenora glances back, "Still holding here," she asks tightly, eyeing the crabs and waiting a moment...
[21:26] <Alicia> "No, push on, hopefully whatever's up there will let us end this," Alicia tells the erinyes.
[21:27] <Kotono> "Right!" With that, Antenora flies ahead! As she does, she takes a flyby swipe at one of the half melted, still strugging crabs!
[21:27] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18 (+1 fly, -2 PA)
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 (+1 fly, -2 PA) and gets 30."12 [1d20=12]
[21:27] <Kotono> roll 1d8+13
06[21:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+13 and gets 17."12 [1d8=4]
[21:28] <Kotono> That's enough to finish that one, spellfire melted body collasping entirely! OOC - Alicia!
06[21:28] * Alicia flies right after Antenora, up into the main chamber past the melted wall of metal!
[21:30] <Kotono> Soaring past the defeated crabs, Alicia and Antenora can see ahead! They're just into the vast chamber with a near sea of crabs cominga t them from all directions, covering almost ever square inch ahead! However, past the swarm, the two can see a complex magical diagram on the floor...
[21:30] <Kotono> OOC - MArie.
[21:30] <Alicia> Marie just floats around, letting the big and heavily armed people deal with the actual combat.
[21:33] <Kotono> The crabs are clustering on the ceiling and on the walls, seeming to gather and prepare for something! OOC - Antenora's up.
[21:33] <Kotono> "See that?" Antenora peers ahead, looking at the diagram, "Now what, Alicia?"
06[21:34] * Alicia floats up to take a look at the diagram first, preparing to cast dispel magic if all else fails.
[21:34] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
06[21:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22."12 [1d20=15]
[21:36] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
06[21:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+14 and gets 21."12 [1d20=7]
[21:41] <Alicia> "Okay, I don't really know what it means," Alicia admits, "But it seems to be controlling these crabs so that's enough for me to try dispelling it." Putting action to words, she gestures towards the design while incanting her spell. "Let the controlling weave go still, and return these metallic sentinels to stillness!"
[21:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 targetted dispel on diagram
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 targetted dispel on diagram and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
[21:43] <Kotono> The diagram shudders all over! So do the walls! So do the crabs! Everything shakes, rattles and rolls about like coins tossed about by a greedy merchant! Then...it is silent. The crabs fall to the ground, unmoving. The hive shudders and shakes - cracks start to form rapidly on the walls, a groaning of stone sounding!
[21:45] <Alicia> "Okay, time to leave!" Alicia turns and takes off down the tunnel and back out of the cone before it falls on their heads! Marie follows, though at a more relaxed and sedate pace since it's not like falling masonry can hurt her.
[21:45] <Kotono> Antenora follows like the wind, sending a nasty glance at the slowering moving Marie! But the two flee...OOC - What's your move with Fly, Alicia?
[21:46] <Alicia> OOC: 60
[21:47] <Kotono> The two race out at full speed! Antenora's a bit faster, escaping as the cone groans! Alicia's right behind her, as it groans again! As the two get out, stones start to fall just behind them! However, their speed is more than enough! While the cone collapses in a din of noise behind them, the two women are not caught in a raining deathstorm of broken stone!
[21:48] <Alicia> "That was exciting!" Marie chirps as she emerges from the ruin, finally switching back to corporeal form.
[21:49] <Alicia> "I expected a bit more, to be honest..." Alicia admits. "Still, I'm not sure what connection this had to those dwarves."
[21:52] <Kotono> "Nor do I," Antenora says, pointedly not looking at Marie. "I didn't get a very good look at that arcane symbol, though. Did you?"
[21:53] <Alicia> "Just enough of a look to know I couldn't decipher it," Alicia replies as Marie idly sweeps around for any still active magical auras, floating around the collapsed cone. "I decided it best to just end things rather than spend time analyzing it while surrounded by hundreds of hostile animated metal crabs."
[21:54] <Kotono> "Funny that," Antenora's lips twitch up. "If it didn't do anything for the dwarves, perhaps we can try to free them directly now?"
[21:55] <Alicia> "There's no active magic left," Marie reports as she rejoins them.
[21:56] <Alicia> "Possible. It did seem to have something to do with controlling, and while I assumed it controlled the crabs, it might also be controlling the dwarves - which could explain their strange behaviour," Alicia replies. "Lets go collect Grudrum's body then head back to the miners?"
[21:57] <Kotono> Antenora looks to Marie, "Aren't you the least bit bothered that you should've been crushed by tons of rock by all rights?" she asks, even as she starts to fly upward to the bridge.
[22:00] <Alicia> "By all rights? You sound so lawful!" Marie teases as she flies cheerily around Antenora. "While you might have super-hard - but very nicely complexioned I must say - skin to protect you from harm, I have to rely on avoiding physical peril. Being incorporeal's about the best defence there is so long as magic isn't involved."
[22:02] <Kotono> Turning her blue eyes towards Marie, "You know, you think death would at least dim your bubbly cheer a little. Or at least the threat of it." But Antenora shakes her head, "I suppose the heavens know how to corrupt just as devoutly dedicated paragons as the Hells."
[22:04] <Alicia> "How do you know I wasn't some horrible crotchety old lady before I died?" Marie asks. "Maybe this carefree form is a reward for good service!"
[22:04] <Alicia> "It certainly beats being a lemure," Alicia agrees as they alight on the bridge and start heading onwards down the tunnel.
[22:05] <Kotono> "I can't argue that," Antenora says as thetwo head down the tunnel towards where Grundrum rests. "Though..." With a momentary look at Marie, "Alicia, could you alter Marie's form to a lemure with your magic?"
[22:07] <Alicia> "Funnily enough, I could," Alicia admits. "Or a lantern archon, or a dretch, or an imp... but not an erinyes, sadly."
[22:07] <Alicia> "I'd hate you forever if you did!" Marie fires back, before turning back to Antenora, "Oh! That reminds me, when we went off to visit that crazy wizard, I got turned into an astral deva! You should have seen it, I looked great!" she gushes.
[22:08] <Kotono> Smiling gently, "That's nice, Marie. However, I'd rather be pragmatic. You'dmake a lovely, deceptive looking lemure if there was ever a reason to need some sneaking stealth and slip a fake one in is all."
[22:11] <Alicia> "Wouldn't an imp be better so I could at least fly?" Marie asks plaintively. "Maybe. It's something to bear in mind if we have to infiltrate any parts of Hell again," Alicia reasons, eyeing her familiar speculatively.
[22:12] <Kotono> "Exactly," Antenora smiles sweetly, "Mmm. Marie, we should test that when we get back and see how you look as an imp."
[22:13] <Alicia> Marie starts to grumble before an idea forms, causing a grin to split her face. "Hey, could you turn Antenora into a coure like me, Alicia?" she asks hopefully.
[22:14] <Kotono> Antenora stops there, "Why yes," she smiles easily, "After all, I would so like to look like a celestial one day," she says. "Perhaps like an angel in particular, or an archon. However, an eladrin...not so much. You just look like a tiny baby elf."
[22:16] <Kotono> After a moment, "You know...is Alter Self fine enough to allow you to also add half blooded situations? A half eladrin, half celestial dragon..." Antenora starts to idly eye Marie back. "You could be matching twins with Seira."
[22:18] <Alicia> "Too tiny, actually," Alicia puts in. "I'm afraid that transformation is beyond the limits of my magic. A Lantern Archon or a Protectar are probably the only celestials I could turn Antenora into at the moment. Aasimar, too, but not 'unique' hybrids."
[22:18] <Alicia> "Tiny I'll give you, but baby?" Marie replies indignantly to Antenora, smoothing out her dress to accentuate her figure. "I may be small, but I'm perfectly formed!"
03[22:20] * KillerMaidKohakubot is now known as Drowbot
[22:21] <Kotono> Antenora merely chuckles, flying along now. "You do. It's easy to think of you as Alicia's baby, thinking on it." With a strange little look, "...that's a profoundly strange thought."
[22:24] <Alicia> "I'd like a less cheeky baby," Alicia snorts, the overall conversation just too offbeat to stir any maudlin reminiscing in her.
[22:24] <Alicia> "I'm only nine years younger than she is," Marie points out. "And I'm probably way older if you count my mortal life, unless I died tragically young."
[22:24] <Kotono> "That's true, just..." Antenora chuckles. "It's probably nothing, but I wondered if Mystra has a very strange sense of humor and justice there."
06[22:29] * Alicia doesn't respond to that, and her familiar picks up on her changing mood and decides to move the conversation quickly along. "Anyway, I'm just one type of eladrin. You wouldn't call a ghaele or a tulani a baby, that's for sure," she tells Antenora after throwing a worried glance back at Alicia.
[22:31] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't answer right away, her own mood seeming to shift. "Mmmm..." she says, but instead keeps going ahead. OOC - Want to skip ahead now?
[22:32] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[22:35] <Kotono> Getting Grundrum's body is without incident. Thus the group returns, a summoned tent used as a burial shroud. On approaching where the dwarves are, Alicia finds most of them slumped over. Ancient mining tools lie about, rusted and old. However, one still stands. Chief N'Rust is there, waiting with his gaze boring into Alicia as she approaches.
[22:36] <Alicia> "Chief N'Rust," Alicia nods sombrely to the dwarf. "I've brought Grundrum back."
[22:38] <Kotono> N'Rust smiles tiredly. "I see. So...you're the ones we've been waiting for these long years? You broke the enchantment...and you even did the honor of bringing our fallen comrade to us.""
[22:39] <Alicia> "I am glad to see that the spell is broken," Alicia gently sets the wrapped body down between her and N'Rust. "What happened to all of you? And what will happen to you, now?"
[22:41] <Kotono> "We volunteered to serve," he answers, "We died defending our mines and our temple against onrushing gnomes in the war. We gave ourselves to the last man to stop them...and we were offered this. A chance to live in the future in exchange for lifetimes of blinded service."
[22:44] <Alicia> "That was it? Left here to mine the same ore again and again until someone came to break the enchantment?" Alicia asks, having thought there would surely be more to it than that as she glances at the slumped over dwarves to check they're still breathing.
[22:47] <Kotono> "No." Smiling, "Gond has a gift for you...well, besides the crabs. One of Gond's stranger works. But... Do you remember when you saw the mines change metals? The magic here can produce almost any sort of material. It was designed so that there is a charge left now. I can mine any one metal you want. However...the more potent or expensive it is, the less I can get. Choose wisely."
02[22:48] * Sierra_ReallyDeadPleaseHelp (~Melanchth@pool-71-163-222-138.washdc.east.verizon.net) Quit (-=SysReset 2.53=-)
[22:48] <Alicia> "Oh my..." Alicia shakes her head, smiling ruefully, "I never expected such a boon. This is probably the most potent and expensive metal I know of, but even a few pounds would be enough - Linthrum, please."
[22:52] <Kotono> Antenora stares a moment, "Of all the..." she murmurs. "Did you pray to Tymora instead of Mystra this morning, Alicia?"
[22:53] <Alicia> "I had no idea things would turn out like this," Alicia swears honestly.
[22:54] <Kotono> "Lintrum...it will be hard. Very hard. The stuff's rare and expensive even in it's heydey," N'Rust warns, but he turns to the wall. Quietly, "Lord Gond...Let your gift come. Lintrum for the heroes that will strike down the God King..." After that prayer, he winds back and swings his pickaxe hard against thew all! The wall itself shimmers, before several nuggets rain down. These nuggets are small, but each one glows purple! Again N'Rust swings
[22:55] <Kotono> These nuggets are small, but each one glows purple! Again N'Rust swings, and again and again and again and again! More purple nuggets fall! (More)
[22:56] <Kotono> By the time he's done, N'Rust has dislodged several small nuggets. He gathers them up, a heaping double handful with some to spare. "This should be a few pounds of the stuff. Enough to get a good barrelful of gold if you want it."
[22:58] <Alicia> "I've got a sword to reforge... though finding someone skilled enough to do so will be my next challenge," Alicia replies, opening her backpack for the ore to be deposited into. "What now, N'Rust? Will you go to Gond, or will you live in this world so far removed in time from your own?"
[23:01] <Kotono> "We've been given a chance to live. We won't waste it." N'Rust says with conviction. "Gond said there would be much crafting and mining for us to do when we were freed. But...the world is unfamiliar to us, you're right. Where is a good place to do these things?"
[23:01] <Kotono> Antenora hangs back, glancing at N'Rust on occasion, but keeping her peace.
[23:03] <Alicia> "I can take you to Balmuria, it is a growing human city on the coast not far from these ruins - it has a temple to Gond as well, which would surely welcome you," Alicia volunteers. "If you would rather be among your own people, I know there are dwarves not too far away underground, but don't know the way directly. I could surely find a guide, however."
[23:04] <Kotono> "Once the rest of us awaken, could you take us there? To that human city? WE can see from there." N'rust asks.
Session Close: Fri Jul 11 23:04:17 2008

Session Start: Fri Jul 11 16:14:00 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[16:14] * Disconnected
Session Close: Fri Jul 11 16:14:00 2008

Session Start: Fri Jul 11 23:04:17 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[23:04] * Disconnected
02[23:04] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[23:04] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[23:04] * Topic is 'Marie>CRABS>Antenora>Alicia'
03[23:04] * Set by Kotono on Fri Jul 11 21:20:50
03[23:05] * Drowbot (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
03[23:05] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@70.114.129.129) has joined #dunes
03[23:05] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5443296f.lns5-c7.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[23:05] * betamax.dejatoons.net sets mode: +vao Hatbot Alicia Alicia
[23:06] <Kotono> "Once the rest of us awaken, could you take us there? To that human city? WE can see from there." N'rust asks.
[23:06] <Alicia> "I'd be more than happy to," Alicia nods. "How long do you think they'll sleep for?"
[23:06] <Kotono> "Not long," N'Rust says, "Just give them a little time."
06[23:08] * Alicia nods and settles in to wait. "In the meantime then, if you have any questions about how the world has changed, the three of us would be happy to answer," she offers, wanting to help the dwarves acclimatise as best as possible.
[23:12] <Kotono> Within an hour the dwarves have risen! From there the now large party heads out of the silent mines! Back to the portal and out! On seeing the dwarves following the three, Ajan stares at them...but says nothing.
[23:14] <Alicia> If Ajan isn't feeling talkative Alicia simply nods to him in passing, heading back out of the ruins with all the usual precautions - using a rope to keep everyone together through the enchanted twisty passage, and making sure everyone sits down and holds on tight for the elevator ride.
02[23:15] * tiredofthis (Taishyr@58.194.238.102) Quit (Ping timeout)
[23:40] <Kotono> The trip goes without incident. Into the sunshine the dwarves go! Their spirits are high, looking out at the afternoon sunshine. A few start to sing in dwarven, filling the air merrily.
[23:43] <Alicia> After listening to a few verses to get the hang of it, Marie cheerfully joins in with the singing.
[23:43] <Alicia> "At least the sun and sky should be the same as you remember?" Alicia observes pleasantly to N'Rust, tuning out the tuneful gibberish.

[Corwin]

[17:03] <Alicia> [21:40] <Kotono> The trip goes without incident. Into the sunshine the dwarves go! Their spirits are high, looking out at the afternoon sunshine. A few start to sing in dwarven, filling the air merrily.
[17:03] <Alicia> [21:43] <Alicia> After listening to a few verses to get the hang of it, Marie cheerfully joins in with the singing.
[17:03] <Alicia> [21:43] <Alicia> "At least the sun and sky should be the same as you remember?" Alicia observes pleasantly to N'Rust, tuning out the tuneful gibberish.
03[17:03] * Euphy is now known as Jeanne
[17:05] <Kotono> "It is." N'Rust looks to the skies as you walk, "I've always prefered a cave wall over my head, but...this is fine too. It's been too long." With a lusty sigh, "Aaah. Your flying fairy can't carry a tune, though." He frowns, "Those songs aren't meant to be sung by a cheery sounding woman!"
[17:08] <Alicia> "She tries hard, though," Alicia gives Marie an indulgent smile. "Anyway, once we get to Balmuria do you want to go straight to the temple of Gond, or want me to show you around, first? We could even stop at an inn for something to eat and drink, if you'd like."
[17:16] <Kotono> "Aaah..." Stretching out, "You're generous, aren't you? But we don't need to be babied, just drop us off at Gond's temple. We'll figure out the rest," With a big grin from there, "You're the big heroes. I'm sure you have more important things than to babysit old dwarves."
[17:20] <Alicia> "I just want to make sure you settle in easily, it's honestly no trouble," Alicia returns. "But of course if you prefer to to find your on way, that's perfectly fine as well."
[17:21] <Kotono> "Aaah, we'll settle in fine. There's not a city that can stop us now! C'mon," he says as they travel towards Balmuria.
[17:22] <Alicia> OOC: might as well skip along, then. I'll be sure to point out the temple of Mystra and my house on the way up to the temple of Gond and invite them to stop by whenever they like
[17:31] <Kotono> OOC: Okay. What's on your agenda now that you have the Linthrum?
[17:34] <Alicia> OOC: find the most competent smith I can and see if I can talk him/her into reforging the sword in exchange for whatever linthrum is left over.
[17:35] <Alicia> OOC: at worst i can try to planar bind an advanced azer with skill focus (craft weaponsmithing), but lets see if we can find a non-outsider first.
[17:40] <Kotono> OOC: Basically go on a smith hunt, eh?
[17:40] <Alicia> OOC: yes, within Balmuria at first, but if no one there is good enough I'll start looking further afield.
[17:43] <Kotono> OOC: Go ahead and make a gather info check for the Baronies? +15 competence bonus since you have a ton of challens and pull within the Baronies.
[17:43] <Kotono> *channels
[17:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+27
06[17:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+27 and gets 36."12 [1d20=9]
[17:47] <Kotono> After a few days of inquiries, the best blacksmith in the Baronies seems to be man living outside of Armasea city. Elle mentions that she often orders base weapons from him, and other searches tend to point him out as being exceptional.
[17:50] <Alicia> This all sounds very promising, so Alicia borrows a pegasus from the garrison before she and Marie fly on over to Armasea to put in her request!
[17:51] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[17:51] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 92."12 [1d100=92]
[17:54] <Kotono> The trip to Armasea is without incident. Alicia's destination is a large, smoky stone building a few miles from Armasea city. It stands by itself, smoke coming out from a large chimney in it's back.  It's undecorated, but the sharp tang of molten metal fills the air outside.
[17:55] <Alicia> Leaving her pegasus and Marie outside, Alicia heads towards the front door. If it's open or there's any sort of sign indicating people should head right in, she does so, otherwise she knocks and waits.
[17:56] <Kotono> There's no sign. On knocking there is a pause, before, "Yeah, c'mon in," someone calls. "Door's not locked."
06[17:58] * Alicia opens the door and steps foot inside, taking a moment to look around before focusing on the blacksmith.
[18:01] <Kotono> As Alicia enters, she is buffered by heat! Inside are several forges, blazing hot! In this vast room hang cooling and cooled arms, armor and shields in the front half. In the back half are the forges, where the crafter works. He is a big man - six and a half feet tall, flame scarred and wearing a leather apron over his clothes. He wields a hammer as he pounds on a shield, forcing it into place.  "So what do you want? " He speaks over the din
[18:01] <Kotono> "So what do you want? " He speaks over the din of his hammer.
[18:03] <Alicia> "Are you Mercer?" Alicia asks as she looks up at the smith approvingly - he certainly looks the part. "My name is Alicia Reynes - I have heard of your skill in Balmuria, and if your reputation is accurate then I have a proposition for you."
[18:08] <Kotono> He hammers a few more times, before scowling and shrugging, leaving the shield half finished. He puts his hammer down carefully, approaching. "Crimson Guard's Alicia Reynes? I guess you'd need quality for your job," he agrees with a slight look of pride.
06[18:10] * Alicia nods. "Ever hear of linthrum?" she asks, briefly studying the weapons on display to get an idea of their quality. She may not be a smith but she's certainly a warrior, so should have an eye for this sort of thing.
[18:13] <Kotono> They look well enough made to Alicia's eye. As she does, "Linthrum...?...Linthrum...."
[18:13] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[18:13] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 25."12 [1d20=13]
[18:13] <Kotono> Abruptly he snaps a finger, "Yeah, I read about it somewhere. It's a wizard's metal that glows purple."
[18:15] <Alicia> #Setting her sack on a convenient flat surface, Alicia loosens the drawstring and pulls it open, revealing the myriad fragments of the Sword of the Sealed Gate, along with all the chunks of lithrum she's acquired. "I'd never even heard of it until I found this, that's how rare it is," Alicia agrees, briefly spreading the fragments around so Mercer can see them all.
[18:17] <Kotono> There's a low whistle in Mercer's throat as he kneels down, picking up pieces and staring at them, tapping them, holding them. "I've only heard about it once and I study anything metal. This is really something...and you came to me to fix the sword?"
[18:19] <Alicia> "From all I've heard, you're the best smith in the United Baronies," Alicia admits. "The sharp fragments are probably four fifths of a longsword, and the nuggets make up the difference with plenty to spare. If you can reforge this blade, whatever linthrum is left is yours," she offers.
[18:22] <Kotono> There's a silence as Mercer looks it over, "I'd say it's closer to a greatsword...but ther'es enough material to do either." STopping there a moment as he glances at Alicia, "Also, agreed. I've never gotten to craft Linthrum!" His eyes shine as he looks down on it, "Not even mithril or adamantine is interesting any more, but this..."
[18:25] <Alicia> "I'd prefer a longsword," Alicia admits. "Make sure you use all of the jagged segments, since they still hold the bladeenchantment -
[18:25] <Alicia> OOC: strike that
[18:25] <Alicia> "I'd prefer a longsword," Alicia admits. "Make sure you use all of the jagged segments, since they still hold the blade's original enchantment - the nuggets can be used to make up any difference missing."
[18:30] <Kotono> "Alright." A short, curt nod there. "I don't know how long this is gonna take, so you may want to come back in a few days."
[18:32] <Alicia> "That's fine, I'll stay in Armasea and come back in three days," Alicia agrees. "This is an important weapon, so I want it done right, after all. Until then, Mercer," she gives him a nod and departs.
[18:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20
06[18:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 and gets 31."12 [1d20=11]
[18:36] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[18:37] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 17."12 [1d100=17]
[18:37] <Kotono> Three days pass. On the fourth day Alicia returns. Mercer is waiting for her. "It's done," he says as she enters.
[18:38] <Alicia> "Excellent," Alicia takes a moment to cast detect magic. "Let me see?" she asks.
[18:41] <Kotono> Thus, Mercer produces it! The longsword is well crafted, glittering purple!
[18:43] <Alicia> "Strong magic, looks like it's complete alright," Alicia smiles warmly, taking the blade and performing a few practice swings to see how it handles.
03[18:46] * tiredofthis is now known as killotron-sleep
[18:56] <Kotono> The blade swings exceptionally well. It feels light in her hand, leaving a slight trail of purple behind it. "It was hard to craft, but I think I got it right."
[18:58] <Alicia> "Oh, yes, it handles wonderfully," Alicia praises his craftsmanship as she makes a few more slashes and thrusts. "Now that it's complete I should be able to properly identify all of its capabilities as well - I'll do that now, since it's only fair that you find out exactly what you had a hand in recreating," she goes on, taking out a scroll of identify and using it to analyse the blade.
[19:09] <Alicia> "As I suspected," Alicia announces after completing her spell. "It can prevent creatures from teleporting if struck, and seal planar gateways - more than that, it also banishes any summoned creatures who come to close. Oh, this shall come in very handy," she smiles happily. "I don't suppose you have a spear sheath lying around that I could use, by the way?"
[19:10] <Kotono> "Over there," Gesturing to all the rack sof weapons, "Just take one, there should be one around there."
06[19:13] * Alicia goes and finds one that fits before she attaches it to her belt, thinking one of those magic haversacks might be useful if she's going to be carrying around mutliple large weapons, now. "You have my sincerest thanks, Mercer. I hope you can put the remaining linthrum to just as good a use."
[19:14] <Kotono> "I'm thinking about making a dagger or trying an alloy," he nods, "I wnat to see how the metal stands up as is."
[19:15] <Alicia> "Good luck, then. If I ever have any other difficult smithing jobs, I'll know where to come," Alicia gives him a smile before she goes outside to join her familiar and pegasus, taking off back to Balmuria.
[19:36] <Kotono> Thus Alicia returns home and rests. A morning or two later, Alicia is drilling troops. As she watches them go through the paces, Commander Oberuth approaches. He hangs back in the garrison practice yard, but gestures for Alicia to come forth.
06[19:38] * Alicia leaves Marie in charge of the men as she goes to talk to the Commander, offering him a salute. "Sir?"
[19:39] <Kotono> Commander OBeruth can't help but eye Marie with a bit of an amused look, before shaking it off. "There's two points of interest today," he begins, "Can Marie keep them practicing?"
[19:41] <Alicia> "She has a modicum of my own skill at arms, and the men know that she speaks for me," Alicia glances back to where Marie is fluttering amidst the soldiers, offering encouragement and pointers. "Besides which, sometimes a change of approach helps keep them attentive."
[19:46] <Kotono> "Alright." Oberuth turns away, heading into the garrison. "She'll do, we have matters. Word came back from Malmuth about Pallan, first of all."
[19:46] <Alicia> "Anything new?" Alicia asks, following Obureth.
[19:48] <Kotono> "Pallan's spirit or whatever that spell conjures," A pause until you're inside, past guards lugging a tied stack of halberds along, "Said that he saw a thousand screaming faces."
[19:49] <Alicia> "That sounds cheery," Alicia replies, repressing a light shudder.
03[19:51] * Haruka is now known as Sierra_OHGODTHELIGHTTHELIGHT
[19:51] <Kotono> "Queen Tant wishes you good hunting, incidentally." Oberuth walks along, stepping past some soldiers working on fixing a broken window. "I get the impression she disapproved of this creature's actions."
[19:53] <Alicia> "I honestly can't imagine anyone who does approve - even devils have reason to fear it," Alicia shakes her head. "Still, I'd like to think the new Queen is an improvement on her predecessor, so I'll accept her good wishes."
[19:59] <Kotono> "Alright, stick that under and think about it." A pause as they enter into the meeting room, going to sit. Once seated, "There's a more mundane problem. We're receiving reports that a small farming village in the heartland of the Baronies has has unusual occurances happen in it lately."
[19:59] <Alicia> "What sort of occurances?" Alicia asks as she takes a seat.
[20:01] <Kotono> "Travellers have reports of howling sounds, long nights...people dissapearing, nights not ending...and murders. We've heard nothing, but only a few travellers that made it out and send word to us."
[20:02] <Alicia> "That... does sound quite alarming, if true," Alicia admits. "Do you want me to go investigate?"
[20:04] <Kotono> "It might be nothing, but...like hell if we're going to sit on it and ignore it. I just got the message this morning. If something's up to no good here, we should nip it out here and now. I want you to gather ane ffective team and go investigate this. The village name is Erenholm."
[20:06] <Alicia> "Agreed," Alicia nods, getting up and going over to examine the map on the wall. "Where about is Erenholm?"
Session Close: Sat Jul 12 20:13:58 2008

Session Start: Sat Jul 12 20:13:58 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[20:13] * Disconnected
02[20:15] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[20:15] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[20:15] * Topic is 'Marie>CRABS>Antenora>Alicia'
03[20:15] * Set by Kotono on Fri Jul 11 21:20:50
03[20:15] * CC is now known as Seira
03[20:15] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Seira
[20:16] <Alicia> "If people are disappearing and being murdered then we should hurry, so I'll take the pegasi if there's no objections," Alicia asks as she turns back towards the Commander. "It cuts down the numbers I can take, I don't think a large group is entirely necessary."
[20:18] <Kotono> "Who are you taking then," Oberuth listens and agrees to that.
[20:19] <Alicia> "There's a few new members of the Crimson Guard, isn't there?" Alicia asks, starting to smile. "I've heard of them but haven't met any - this should be a good chance to put them through their paces. Two of them, at least. What do I have to work with?"
02[20:19] * Jeanne (~corwin@bzq-79-183-184-216.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[20:20] * Seira is now known as Jeanne
[20:23] <Kotono> "Daril, Morund and Xavier. Take anyone you want, I'll pull them off what they're doing if need be." Oberuth says.
[20:24] <Alicia> "Where do each of their skills lie?" Alicia asks, since she can only take two after all.
[20:36] <Kotono> OOC - Strike the last few lines and just go ahead and reline your intent, Alicia?
[20:36] <Alicia> OOC: works
[20:38] <Alicia> "Hmm... how about Donald and Pollyanna?" Alicia suggests, wanting to see how well those two are doing since going off on that quest with Rods. She can leave Antenora to keep an eye on things on the home front and look after her sister.
[20:38] <Alicia> OOC: wait, no, strike that
[20:39] <Alicia> "I'll bring along Antenora and... how about Pollyanna, if she's up for it?" Alicia suggests. Marie can hold down the fort for them back in Balmuria.
[20:44] <Kotono> "Alright. Be careful and get going," Oberuth agrees. "I'll have some g uards close to your house, just in case."
[20:45] <Alicia> "I'll be leaving Marie behind to keep an eye on my sister as well, but I do appreciate it," Alicia smiles as she goes to gather her troops.
[20:50] <Kotono> Thus the three gather at the stables. Antenora and Pollyanna are ready, even as the pegasi cast look, horsey looks t Antenora. "How serious do you think this is," Polyanna asks, stroking a pegasus' head.
[20:52] <Alicia> "Well, if we take everything said at face value - very serious," Alicia admits thoughtfully as she leads her chosen mount out of the stable. "Murders and disappearances are one thing, but nights not ending? That's something powerfully supernatural. It could just be exaggeration, mind you, but I think we should go in expecting trouble."
[20:58] <Kotono> "I'd buy both of you a round of drinks if that's true," Antenora says quietly. "I don't find it terribly likely, however."
[21:00] <Alicia> "Perhaps, but it would behoove us to be careful," Alicia returns as she mounts her steed, waiting on the others before taking off and flying towards Erenholm.
[21:02] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 80."12 [1d100=80]
[21:02] <Kotono> roll 1d100
06[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 20."12 [1d100=20]
[21:16] <Kotono> The flight passes easily enough, the day fading into it's dying embers as Alicia and company come close. Erenholm is a small cluster of af ew dozen buildings and houses, with a web of farms surrounding it for miles in any direction.
06[21:18] * Alicia takes the horses down at the centre of the town, keeping an eye out for any sign of evil as she lands.
[21:27] <Kotono> As you land, you see that the town is quiet. Very quiet - no people are coming and going. No evil is immediately obvious, just an empty town at sunset.
06[21:28] * Alicia looks around for any sort of public house or inn, or failing that just the largest building.
[21:29] <Kotono> AS the rest land, Pollyanna looks about, "So empty..."
[21:30] <Kotono> There's an inn a few buildings down. The Chess Duel is the name of the place.
[21:32] <Alicia> OOC: are any lights on?
[21:35] <Kotono> There aren't nay lights on at all. The sunset provides ample light to see with, at least for now.
[21:37] <Alicia> "Feels abandoned," Alicia agrees, leading the pegasi on foot towards the inn. "Antenora, wait here with the horses for a moment, Pollyanna come with me," she instructs as she tries the door.
[21:38] <Kotono> Pollyanna approaches as Antenora stays with the horses. The pegasi squirm and stomp a bit as you go. The inn's door is locked. Meanwhile, the sun continues to set, red light lingering but not forever.
06[21:40] * Alicia pauses at the locked door, glancing back at the riled up winged horses. "Antenora, can you ask the pegasi what's wrong? Can they sense something?" she asks, wondering if this is one of those 'animals instinctively picking up wrongness' things, even if pegasi are quite a bit more than mere animals.
[21:44] <Kotono> Antenora is silent a few moments, before one of the pegasi leans forward to her hand. She sighs and strokes it's ears slowly, and as she blushes, "They said it's not quite right here. It's creepy like a tomb."
[21:45] <Alicia> "There's definitely an uneasy feeling in the air," Alicia admits, before addressing the pegasi directly. "Bear with it, you three - we'll protect you," she reassures them before knocking firmly on the inn's door.
[21:47] <Kotono> Pollyanna smiles a little to the pegasi as well, idly reaching back to check her arrow quiver. "I don't really like this much either." Knock, knock, knock, knock, but no answer. The sun continues to slip into the horizon, red light coming closer to it's fade into night.
[21:49] <Alicia> "Okay, I'm going to force the door," Alicia warns the other two, bracing herself against the handle then shoving her weight against it.
[21:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
06[21:50] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
[21:50] <Kotono> The door does not budge. It's an old sturdy thing, not giving to Alicia's effort.
06[21:50] * Alicia backs off briefly before heaving herself at the door for another effort.
[21:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
06[21:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21."12 [1d20=15]
[21:55] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1
06[21:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 and gets 5."12 [1d20=4]
[21:55] <Kotono> CRACK! This time the old door gives way, lurching a bit forward! It creaks as it opens, revealing the entrance into a small taproom. However, the room is empty and dark. Only a few bits of fading sunset light come in from the windows.
06[21:57] * Alicia picks up a splinter of wood and casts light upon it, looking around as she steps fully inside. "Hello? Anyone here?" she calls.
[21:58] <Kotono> Pollyanna follows in. Inside there is a few dozen tables, a bar, and in the back, a stairway going up. No answer, no noise. The light of Alicia's spell seems faintly feeble somehow, illuminating without banishing the creeping dusk.
[22:00] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia eyes the fitful glow briefly, casting detect magic now to see if there's anything interfering with her light spell.
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC - Make a caster level check?
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
[22:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+19
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+19 and gets 22."12 [1d20=3]
[22:12] <Alicia> "Urgh..." Alicia reels for a moment, leaning on the doorframe. She takes a moment to compose herself, wiping the back of her hand over her mouth as she straightens up and attempts to discern the nature of the magic aura. "There's something foul in the air," she pronounces.
[22:13] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[22:13] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 16."12 [1d20=9]
[22:14] <Kotono> Pollyanna wrinkles her nose, readying her bow and arrow. "It's also getting dark outside. This feels unfavorable."
[22:15] <Alicia> Glancing back out the door, "Antenora, this darkness isn't interfering with your vision, is it?" she checks.
[22:16] <Kotono> "Not at all," Antenora answers, still sighing and petting nervous pegasi.
[22:17] <Alicia> "Good," the paladin nods. "Keep an eye out while Pollyanna and I search this inn - yell if you see anything at all." Turning to Pollyanna, "Stick close, I've got a bad feeling about this," she tells the younger woman, intending to carry out a quick room to room search for any bodies or anything else unusual.
[22:20] <Kotono> OOC - Make a search check? Polly has a better search than yours, so do you want to aide her?
[22:20] <Alicia> OOC: that'd be best
[22:20] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 aid
06[22:20] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 aid and gets 12."12 [1d20=11]
[22:21] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[22:21] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19."12 [1d20=9]
[22:22] <Kotono> It takes a few minutes to search...but the inn is empty. There's fresh food and water still here, but no signs of people at all. Meanwhile, the sun has sunk into the horizon by the time the search has finished.
06[22:24] * Alicia heads back out to rejoin Antenora and the horses. "Nothing. Alive or dead," she confirms. Recalling her flight over the town, she tries to think of where the biggest buildings were, and if she saw anything that looked like a temple, as those would be logical places to search next.
[22:25] <Kotono> Antenora shakes her head, "Nothing at all? I wonder if they're already dead?" A gloomy thought, Antenora shaking her head. There's several important buildings here - no temples, but a few nice houses, a few big shops and a town meeting hall.
[22:26] <Alicia> "Then where are the bodies? Or signs of struggle?" Alicia asks. "Come on, lets try the town hall next - in a crisis surely people would gather there," she reasons, setting off to try and open its doors.
[22:27] <Kotono> OOC - Spot check.
[22:27] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1
06[22:27] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 and gets 5."12 [1d20=4]
[22:27] <Kotono> As you walk towards it, Pollyanna shivers all over. She rubs her arms as you approach, "Is it getting chilly out here?"
[22:29] <Alicia> "Not for me..." Alicia gives Pollyanna a worried look. "Though the air feels foul, it's still warm enough as far as I can feel." Concerned, she looks to see if any new magic is affecting the archer.
[22:34] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+7 spellcraft and gets 18."12 [1d20=11]
[22:38] <Alicia> "There's some sort of magic affecting you, Pollyanna," Alicia tells her. "Hold on while I try to dispel it." At that she incants her spell, "Mother of all Magic, lay bare the plagued threads of the weave before me!"
[22:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 targetted dispel on Polly
06[22:38] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 targetted dispel on Polly and gets 17."12 [1d20=5]
[22:41] <Kotono> The magic does not break. If anything, the darkness around it grows stronger! (More)
[22:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
[22:42] <Kotono> Polllyanna bows her head down. "....he doesn't love me...?" she murmurs, cocking her head strangely.
[22:43] <Alicia> "What?" Alicia blinks at that. "Oh, blast, it didn't take - stay with us, Pollyanna," she urges, trying once more.
[22:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:43] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 32."12 [1d20=20]
[22:44] <Kotono> With that, the darkness retreats! The magic around Pollyanna shatters! She looks abruptly, shivering ceasing. "What was that?"
[22:46] <Alicia> "You complained of being cold then mumbled something, it's not important," Alicia replies, deciding not to dredge up any fears Pollyanna may have about her love life while they're in a potentially life threatening situation. "Just keep it together, okay?" she asks, going to try the door of the town hall.
[22:47] <Kotono> "Uh, I will," Pollyanna rubs the side of her head, blinking a few times. OOC - Make a spot check again?
[22:48] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1
06[22:48] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+1 and gets 16."12 [1d20=15]
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 31."12 [1d20=13]
[22:49] <Kotono> roll 1d20+9
06[22:49] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+9 and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
[22:50] <Kotono> "...Alicia!" Antenora raises her voice as she goes for the city hall.
[22:50] <Alicia> "Hm?" Alicia stops, glancing at the erinyes.
[22:51] <Kotono> Antenora points to the sky. A sky that is black as the soul of a pit fiend, save for one thing pointed out by her. It's very faint - but you see a black disc in the sky, outlined by a thin ring of dark purple. It's like a wretched disc-moon in th esky, hanging like an executioner's mask in place of a real moon.
06[22:53] * Alicia feels a tremor up her spine as she gazes on that hateful symbol in the sky. "Shar..." she hisses, wracking her brain to recall what specifically her symbol in the sky could portend, though it's obviously nothing good.
[22:53] <Kotono> OOC - K:R check.
[22:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+8 and gets 23."12 [1d20=15]
[22:59] <Alicia> "This..." Alicia pauses a moment as to how to best phrase this delicately, "Is very bad," she finally concludes. "A cursed night has begun, a night of grief, loss, despair, and nihilism. We're all going to have to keep our wits about us if we're going to get through this - if you start to feel strange, speak up about it, don't let it fester, okay?"
[23:00] <Kotono> Antenora approaches at that, "In other words, we've come right into a trap, haven't we?"
[23:01] <Alicia> "It's more like walking into an erupting volcano than walking into a trap, if you take my meaning," Alicia returns. "I'm almost tempted to hole up somewhere and ride it out, but I think that would make things worse - we have to keep our minds occupied and focus on our jobs, so lets try to find out what happened to the people here."

[Corwin]

[20:56] <Alicia> [20:59] <Alicia> "This..." Alicia pauses a moment as to how to best phrase this delicately, "Is very bad," she finally concludes. "A cursed night has begun, a night of grief, loss, despair, and nihilism. We're all going to have to keep our wits about us if we're going to get through this - if you start to feel strange, speak up about it, don't let it fester, okay?"
[20:56] <Alicia> [21:00] <Kotono> Antenora approaches at that, "In other words, we've come right into a trap, haven't we?"
[20:56] <Alicia> [21:01] <Alicia> "It's more like walking into an erupting volcano than walking into a trap, if you take my meaning," Alicia returns. "I'm almost tempted to hole up somewhere and ride it out, but I think that would make things worse - we have to keep our minds occupied and focus on our jobs, so lets try to find out what happened to the people here."
03[20:57] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-5af0134d.wfd96.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[20:57] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[20:58] <OblivionKo> Pollyanna glances about, then up to the black disc in the sky. "Then let's keep going?" she prods.
[21:00] <Alicia> "Okay, same again - Pollyanna and I will quickly sweep the building, Antenora you stay here with the pegasi and yell if you see or hear anything at all, okay?" Alicia confirms with the others before attempting to open the door to the town hall.
[21:01] <OblivionKo> Antenora positions with the pegasi as the two go to the town hall door!  The door is thick and heavy...and very locked. The door is faintly cold to the touch.
06[21:02] * Alicia braces herself and tries to force the lock.
[21:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[21:02] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{15}
[21:02] <OblivionKo> The door shudders and wrenches, but doesn't quite give to Alicia's forceful rush!
[21:02] <OblivionKo> In the distance, far away, a distant howl can be heard.
06[21:03] * Alicia pauses, motioning for everyone to be silent as she waits to hear if anything comes after the howl.
[21:04] <OblivionKo> OOC: Listen checks around the board.
[21:04] <Alicia> roll 1d20+4
[21:04] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{21}
[21:04] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+18
[21:04] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+18 --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{22}
[21:05] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+1 huh, she doesn't have listen?
[21:05] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0huh, she doesn't have listen? --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{9}
[21:11] <Alicia> "The reports did mention howling... sounds pretty far away at least, for the moment," Alicia muses. "Lets not worry about it till that changes," she suggests, heaving herself at the door once again.
[21:11] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[21:11] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{11}
[21:14] <OblivionKo> The door buckles again...but once again Alicia fails completely.
[21:14] <OblivionKo> "Yeah..." Pollyanna glances backwards a few times, the howling a distant, faint tugging at your ears.
06[21:15] * Alicia sighs. "Sturdy old thing..." she mutters, stepping back and giving the door a good solid kick.
[21:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[21:15] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{11}
[21:16] <OblivionKo> The door buckles but does not give to Alicia's attempts. It just seems to not be giving despite her best effort. "Maybe there's a window on the sideS?" Pollyanna suggests.
[21:18] <Alicia> "On one hand I don't really want to wreck the door entirely," Alicia admits, "On the other, what if something happens out here while we're inside? We'd want to be able to get back out in a hurry, not waste time climbing out a window. I'm going to have to hack it apart, I'm afraid." Putting action to words, she draws her sword and cleaves mightily into the vexing portal!
[21:19] <Alicia> roll 1d20+9 -10 pa
[21:19] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+9 1,0-10 pa --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{21}
[21:19] <Alicia> roll 1d8+21
[21:19] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d8+21 --> 6,0[ 1d8=6 ]4,0{27}
[21:19] <Alicia> OOC: +31, so 37
[21:22] <OblivionKo> The door is sliced through! The door buckles, shudders and then collapses down the line Alicia cut! Inside, over the broken door, you can see a large town hall.  It's about one hundred feet long, with several wooden chairs littered about. There are doors on the far side and on both walls. It's utterly empty - no sign of life at all. Just a gust of chilly air, making your bones ache.
06[21:25] * Alicia pulls her blindfold down, deciding it'll be more useful to have perfect if limited range 'vision' within the close confines of a building during this scenario. "Since Shar is known for shadows and illusions, this should help," she explains for the benefit of the others,
[21:25] <Alicia> "But I can't perceive anything more than thirty feet away, so the rest of you will still need to stay sharp. Come on, lets quickly look the place over, Pollyanna," she hands the archer her magically glowing splinter of wood before stepping inside to search the building.
[21:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 aid
[21:25] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0aid --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{8}
[21:27] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+8
[21:27] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{28}
[21:31] <OblivionKo> Thus the two search the building! As Pollyanna goes to open one of the side doors...
[21:31] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+5
[21:31] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+5 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{23}
[21:32] <OblivionKo> The side door opens into a small room. However, in this room, Alicia's blindsense can see a tiny, purple, writhing creature. It's only the size of Marie or so, like a bug larvae floating in the air.
[21:33] <Alicia> "Do you see that?" Alicia asks Pollyanna, pointing to the creature. "Something floating in the air," she adds, giving its rough distance and height.
[21:34] <OblivionKo> "I..." Pollyanna stares, "That's horrible!" she says, "BUt...no..no." SHe catches herself, "It's not really there..."
[21:35] <Alicia> This is actually somewhat annoying, so Alicia lifts her blindfold back up her head so she can properly see whatever it is. And whether it's evil/magical.
[21:35] <OblivionKo> OOC - Will save.
[21:36] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[21:36] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+20 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{34}
[21:36] <OblivionKo> Alicia sees nothing at all. It's just an empty closet, but Pollyanna's face is a mix of restrained fear and wonder.
06[21:37] * Alicia blinks. "I can't even see it..." she pulls the blindfold back down to confirm the creature's presence. "What does it look like, Pollyanna?"
[21:41] <OblivionKo> The creature is still there, yes.
[21:41] <OblivionKo> "
[21:41] <OblivionKo> "I saw...I'm not sure. I saw...something horrible," Licking her lips again, "Kondrux...his lair..."
06[21:42] * Alicia reaches forward to grab the floating evil magical object.
[21:42] <OblivionKo> On reaching forward, the object seems to react as well! OOC - For the sake of sorting, roll initiative?
[21:43] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+4
[21:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{19}
[21:43] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[21:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+5 --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{15}
[21:43] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+7 Polly if needed
[21:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0Polly if needed --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{22}
03[21:43] * OblivionKo changes topic to 'Pollyanna>Bug larvae?>Alicia'
[21:44] <OblivionKo> As Pollyanna isn't aware of it...she does nothing! As Alicia reaches forward to touch it, the larvae seems to react! A purple beam fires out from it right at Alicia!
[21:44] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+5 touch AC?
[21:44] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+5 1,0touch AC? --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{12}
[21:44] <Alicia> OOC: 15
[21:44] <OblivionKo> The purple beam whizzes by Alicia's hand, only arching through the dark town hall!
06[21:45] * Alicia proceeds with her plan of grabbing the whatever it is rather than just smiting it even though it's proved its hostility. If it has any reasoning capabilities perhaps she can interrogate it.
[21:46] <Alicia> OOC: if it has natural attacks or a melee weapon it can AoO me to stop the grapple
[21:46] <OblivionKo> OOC - I'll treat it as a grapple attempt. It has no AoO capacity on you, so go ahead and roll grapple.
[21:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 touch attack
[21:46] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+16 1,0touch attack --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{28}
[21:46] <Alicia> roll 1d20+16 grapple check
[21:46] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+16 1,0grapple check --> 6,0[ 1d20=16 ]4,0{32}
[21:46] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+4
[21:46] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{24}
[21:52] <OblivionKo> Alicia is easily able to grasp the tiny larvae in her hand! It feels too soft, like rotten fruit, and very very cold. It's like holding squishy ice. But it is so held, Alicia's grasp on it solid!  OOC - Go ahead and act.
[21:53] <Alicia> "What are you?" Alicia asks the larval thing as she holds it up.
[21:54] <OblivionKo> There is no reply from the larvae like creature. It only struggles in Alicia's vicelike grasp.
[21:55] <Alicia> "Lets see if Antenora can communicate telepathically with it?" Alicia suggests to Pollyanna as she heads back outside of the hall with her squirming passenger.
[21:57] <OblivionKo> Pollyanna follows curiously, as you head outside! However, as you do, you find something is wrong! Outside, you find that only two pegasi remain! They fly nervously over the ground, with no signs of the third or Antenora.
[21:58] <Alicia> "What in the..." Alicia uses her free hand to lift up her blindfold. "Where did Antenora and the other go?" she asks, looking around for any signs of struggle. Surely the erinyes would have called out or issued a telepathic message - and she certainly wouldn't wander off on her own without saying anything.
[21:59] <OblivionKo> There is no sign of the two at all. The harsh black disc in the sky seems to throb. Pollyanna looks about, "I...where did they go?" she asks. "Antenora?" she calls.
[22:01] <Alicia> "You two, get down here," Alicia calls to the pegasi, tossing the larval creature back through the open door and to the side so it won't be able to shoot beams at anyone outside unless it moves.
[22:02] <OblivionKo> The two pegasus skittishly come back down, landing well away from where they were before.
[22:02] <OblivionKo> Meanwhile, the larval creature is tossed to the side, hidden away by Alicia's throw.
[22:03] <Alicia> "Come on," Alicia gestures for Pollyanna to follow as she goes to mount up on one of the horses. "Take us to wherever the other two went!" she orders.
[22:03] <OblivionKo> The two mount! The two pegasi seem hesitant, but they fly over where they were standing before and look straight down.
06[22:05] * Alicia frowns at that, dismounting and walking to the front of her horse, a hand against its snout as she meets its equine eyes. "Nod your head for yes, shake it for no. Were they pulled down into the ground?" she asks calmly.
[22:05] <OblivionKo> The pegasus nods it's head.
[22:05] <OblivionKo> OOC - Alicia, make a listen check.
[22:06] <Alicia> roll 1d20+4
[22:06] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{22}
[22:06] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+1
[22:06] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{21}
[22:09] <Alicia> "... shit..." Alicia utters an uncharacteristic curse. "Pollyanna, stay mounted, all of you take to the air - we've got more trouble coming before we can start to figure out where those two were taken," she commands briskly, drawing her sword. 'Hell Striker, keep me updated on everything you can sense in the area,' she adds to said weapon.
[22:11] <OblivionKo> The riderless pegasi and Pollyanna take to the air, Alicia left alone on the ground! 'I shall,' Hell Striker promises, 'I don't sense anything currently.' Meanwhile, the howling grows stronger, louder! Canine howls, full of baying hunger.
[22:13] <Alicia> Reaching into her survival pouch, Alicia tosses a small object to the street about twenty feet from the town hall which manifests into a blazing campfire to provide some illumination in addition to that shed by her sword as it likewise ignites.
[22:13] <Alicia> "If something happens to me, I want you three to head straight back to Balmuria," she adds, focusing on the spot where Antenora and the pegasus apparently vanished to see if any residual magic traces will provide clues as to what happened.
[22:15] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft on lingering magic
[22:15] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0spellcraft on lingering magic --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{16}
[22:15] <OblivionKo> "Are you sure," Pollyanna calls down, even as she readies her bow  while riding her horse. "I don't want to ride back and report thet wo of you were lost!"
[22:16] <Alicia> "It'll be worse if none of us report back," Alicia replies sternly, casting shield upon herself as she readies for combat. "We've stumbled into something horrible here, Pollyanna."
[22:18] <OblivionKo> "Like hell if I'm going to leave you," Pollyanna retorts, as the howling...begins to fade, slowing. "Come on, we're going to find Antenora and all go home in one piece."
[22:20] <Alicia> "Tch, now it's just messing with our heads," Alicia grimaces as the howling retreats. "Obviously I won't be able to stop you if I'm already indisposed, just don't do anything rash." She considers for a moment, "We're going to have to search this place thoroughly for any clues, but I don't want to split up again and pegasi don't fit inside buildings easily. Any ideas?"
06[22:22] * Alicia abruptly spins and levels her blade at... something, behind her!
[22:23] <OblivionKo> It's coming at her like a black shadow, onrushing at Alicia! It barely doesn't catch her flatfooted, her reaction giving her time to defend!
[22:23] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+14
[22:23] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+14 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{28}
[22:23] <OblivionKo> OOC - AC?
[22:23] <Alicia> OOC: 33
[22:25] <OblivionKo> A claw glances off Alicia's armor, right over her heart! The blow is narrowly stopped! The creature runs past her with incredible speed, ending ten feet to her side and in a crouch. It's like a humanoid of shadow, with a maw like a hungry wolf's! As it's claw hits, the howling resumes again, a fever pitch!
[22:25] <OblivionKo> "I won't, but...aaah!" Pollyanna gawks for just a moment as the creature whizzes by Alicia, missing a critical blow against her! "Damnit!" OOC - Initiative here.
[22:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
[22:25] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+5 --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{9}
[22:25] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+10
[22:25] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+10 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{17}
[22:26] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+7 Polly
[22:26] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0Polly --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{16}
03[22:26] * OblivionKo changes topic to 'Shadow-wolf thing>Polly>Alicia'
[22:26] <OblivionKo> Alicia sees that the creature is moving past her again at light speed, another ripping claw delivered at her via a speedy, rippling runby!
[22:26] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+14
[22:27] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+14 --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{18}
[22:28] <OblivionKo> However, this time it glances off the top-tip of her armor, claws just whizzing past and failing to scratch her toughened neck's skin! It ends up twenty feet away from her, at the edge of a gap between two buildings! The light the fire casts prevents any serious shadow cover, leaving the creature visible! Meanwhile, Pollyanna threads arrows and fires!
[22:28] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+11
[22:28] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{25}
[22:28] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+11
[22:28] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+11 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{31}
[22:28] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+11 crit check
[22:28] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+11 1,0crit check --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{16}
[22:28] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+6
[22:28] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{19}
[22:30] <OblivionKo> roll 5d8+20+3d6
[22:30] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 5d8+20+3d6 --> 6,0[ 5d8=26 3d6=9 ]4,0{55}
[22:30] <OblivionKo> The creature's form, while fast, seems to offer no resistance to the arrows at all! They rip through it with a furious vengence, leaving several holes in it's shadowy body as they pass through! OOC - Alicia.
06[22:30] * Alicia readies her sword and waits for the beast to come at her again...
[22:31] <Alicia> OOC: readied action to hit when it approaches
[22:31] <OblivionKo> The beast is indeed unfazed, running at Alicia full bore, even as it's been arrowed and penetrated thrice! OOC - Go Alicia.
[22:31] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 -3 power attack
[22:31] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0-3 power attack --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{27}
[22:31] <OblivionKo> OOC - Hit.
[22:32] <Alicia> roll 1d8+16+2d6 (assuming evil)
[22:32] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d8+16+2d6 1,0(assuming evil) --> 6,0[ 1d8=1 2d6=5 ]4,0{22}
[22:32] <OblivionKo> Alicia's blade cleaves through the shadowy beast! She finds it's form offers nor esistance at all! It's body splits in two from her heavy blow, fading away into nothingness! The howling ceases, a dead silence enveloping the town...
06[22:33] * Alicia pulls down her blindfold for a moment, waiting...
[22:35] <OblivionKo> The creature is still there. IT is a humanoid with a wolf's head, entirely solid. A cloak of shadows is over it's body, ripped and ruined. But nonetheless, it's there and readying another strike, backing up!
[22:37] <Alicia> OOC: can I act?
[22:39] <OblivionKo> OOC: Go ahead. It's 20 feet away from you now.
[22:39] <Alicia> "Burn!" Alicia commands as she gestures at the creature, causing a stream of molten fire to issue forth in its direction!
[22:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 ranged touch
[22:39] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0ranged touch --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{18}
[22:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 ranged touch
[22:39] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0ranged touch --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{34}
[22:39] <Alicia> roll 1d20+15 ranged touch
[22:39] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+15 1,0ranged touch --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{21}
[22:41] <OblivionKo> OOC - All hit.
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 12d6
[22:41] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 12d6 --> 6,0[ 12d6=38 ]4,0{38}
[22:42] <OblivionKo> The creature's body is stricken by flaming ray after flaming ray! It shudders as he collapses, becoming entirely visible! What lies before you is a young man, burnt and destroyed. "...Alicia?" Pollyanna calls as Alicia fires, though a moment later she stares down.
[22:44] <Alicia> "What the... some sort of shadow werewolf?" Alicia pulls up her blindfold, walking over to examine the corpse.
[22:50] <OblivionKo> Alicia approaches. It looks like a young man, perhaps in his early twenties. He is unclad now, only a few scraps of cloth clinging to his body.  Pollyanna descends down a little bit, "I don't know. Any ideas?"
[22:53] <Alicia> "Shapechangers normally revert to their true form on death," Alicia reasons. "Aside from the shadows, it looked like what you'd expect a werewolf to look like... I don't really know what it has to do with Shar. Or that thing we found back in the closet, for that matter."
[22:54] <OblivionKo> "Shar's the Goddess of Loss? I don't know either, but I do know it's nicely distracted us." Pollyanna observes.
[22:57] <Alicia> "Among other things," Alicia nods slowly, frowning at the lack of any identifiable markings or belongings on the corpse. "Okay, we need to search all the buildings."
[22:57] <Alicia> "I don't like the idea of splitting up, but we really have no choice - if you and the pegasi stay airborne it should at least keep you safe from whatever got Antenora and the other one, and I'll use the Message cantrip to stay in contact," she explains, all business as she focuses on the job at hand.
[23:08] <OblivionKo> "Alright," Pollyanna answers after that.
06[23:10] * Alicia proceeds to cast Message, linking herself with Pollyanna and the two pegasi. "I'll hear anything even if you whisper, and likewise for you, but don't hesitate to yell anyway if there's trouble," she explains, going to the first building on the left of the town hall, pulling down her blindfold, and kicking in the door.
[23:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[23:10] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{15}
[23:29] <OblivionKo> The next building is a shop. It's door buckles and gives way easily. Inside you can see dozens and dozens of trinkets and salable items, but not a single breath of humanity.
06[23:29] * Alicia is hardly here to rob the place, and simply performs a cursory inspection of all the rooms for anything out of the ordinary before she moves on.
[23:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+1 search
[23:30] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0search --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{18}
06[23:32] * Alicia decides to keep a running commentary of everything she sees/does while searching. None of it's useful information, but it hopefully gives the others something to focus on, and if she suddenly goes silent they'll know immediately that there's a problem.
[23:37] <OblivionKo> Alicia searches the shop! As she does...OOC - Make a will savE?
[23:38] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[23:38] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+20 --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{39}
[23:38] <OblivionKo> In a corner of the shop, Alicia finds a trap door. It's not all that well hidden, new and still with some signs of being recently installed.
06[23:39] * Alicia opens the trap door and climbs down to take a look, still recounting what's happening for the benefit of Pollyanna and the two Pegasi.
[23:43] <OblivionKo> "Careful," Pollyanna warns as you descend. A stairway is down there, leading inward. The first ten feet of it are rough and broken, the walls clearly having been worked. But past that, it gives to a natural hollow cave. You go down thirty feet in complete darkness, save fo ryour little shard of light. You come down into a smallish cavern, with paths to the north, south, east and west. But asyou do...A wordless scream of utter agony is hea
[23:43] <OblivionKo> But asyou do...A wordless scream of utter agony is heard. BUt it's voice is unmistakable in it's tone; Antenora's. It echos over and over, a slowly fading din of torment.
[23:44] <Alicia> Alicia cannot see and does not require any light with her blindfold on. "Some sort of natural stone... like a cavern. There's paths in all four directions farth- That was Antenora!" she abruptly cuts herself off, trying to place which direction the scream came from.
[23:44] <OblivionKo> OOC - Listen check.
[23:45] <Alicia> roll 1d20+4
[23:46] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{19}
[23:49] <Alicia> "Coming from the east, I'm going to check it out," Alicia tells the others before pulling back her blindfold so she can see farther ahead as she starts to run down that tunnel, igniting Hell Striker's blade to provide light.
[23:50] <OblivionKo> Thus Alicia restores her vision and races onward! She runs ahead down the cavern's winding path to find...OOC - Make a wills ave?
[23:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
[23:51] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+20 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{38}
[23:52] <OblivionKo> Antenora lies on the ground. She cries out one last time, a puddle of blood around her. "Ali..ci...a...." she reaches forward weakly, before her last bit of energy fails and falls face first down. However...despite a thrill of terrifying fear...it isn't right. Something about it seems off to Alicia.
[23:54] <Alicia> "This... isn't right. It's an illusion," Alicia states shakily, fervently hoping that's the case as she checks for magic and evil where 'Antenora' lays.
[23:55] <OblivionKo> Antenora's blood pools out, a bit of it trickling towards Alicia and her boot.
[23:56] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7 spellcraft
[23:56] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0spellcraft --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{15}
06[23:57] * Alicia stares at Antenora's collapsed form for a moment longer as she registers the scene before she pulls down her blindfold too perceive it in a different manner. 'Hell Striker, what are you seeing?' she asks the sword.
[23:58] <OblivionKo> Alicia sees nothing at all. Just empty air. 'Nothing,' Hell Striker answers.
Session Time: Wed Jul 16 00:00:00 2008
[00:00] <Alicia> "Just an illusion," Alicia tells Pollyanna and the others. "Be very careful if you see anything that looks like Antenora - the pegasi should be able to tell if it's really her by detecting her moral nature, since illusions have none." Now with nothing to distract her, she examines the rest of the cavern she's found herself in.
[00:03] <OblivionKo> It continues to go to the east for a good ways longer and starts sloping downward.
[00:03] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+16
[00:03] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+16 --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{28}
[00:03] <OblivionKo> Otherwise, there's not much of note in the cavern here barring the illusion.
[00:04] <Alicia> "The cavern slopes downwards. I might fall out of contact depending on how deep this goes, but I'm going to check it out," Alicia tells the others as she continues following this path at a more cautious pace, now.
[00:05] <OblivionKo> "Right," Pollyanna calls, as she descends! The path goes about sixty feet downward and sloping before Alicia comse on anything. It's a body, of a middle aged man. H e's been impaled and is still warm and quite bloody.
[00:07] <Alicia> "Found a body..." Alicia pulls up her blindfold to look upon the cadaver with her eyes. "This one's real... and fresh," she examines it for any identifying characteristics,
[00:07] <OblivionKo> It's a middle aged man. He had a gray beard and gray hair. His torso has been run through by a pole armed type weapon. He leans against the wall, as if a force barrelled into him head on and did this damage.
06[00:08] * Alicia starts walking back, calling for Pollyanna every twenty feet until she gets a reply, since she wants to pass this along.
[00:09] <OblivionKo> Twenty feet up is neough. On speaking, you find Pollyanna's breathing is a bit sharper. "I ran into something up here," she says as soon as Alicia makes contact. "It's dead now."
[00:11] <Alicia> "What was it?" Alicia asks. "I just found a corpse down here, looked like it had been gored or stabbed..." she shivers as a thought starts to bubble up, "Pollyanna, did whatever you just killed turn into a human?"
[00:12] <OblivionKo> "Yeah. It was a winged...thing, and it turned into an old woman when it hit the ground." Pollyanna answers back tersely.
[00:14] <Alicia> "Pollyanna, I think... I think we've been killing the villagers," Alicia explains her awful suspicion. "I'm not certain, but I think something's changed them... I don't know if it's controlling them or if they've gone mad, but I don't think these shapechanging monsters just appeared in a coincidentally abandoned village."
[00:16] <OblivionKo> There's a momentary pause from Pollyanna there. She's quiet, "Then we have to bring the cause of it toj ustice," she says back quietly, "We can't let this sort of thing stand. It's making a mockery of us."
[00:17] <Alicia> "I know... I think the body I just found might have been killed by Antenora. Just... just try to avoid any more that appear and defend yourself only if you absolutely have to, okay? I'm going to try to find Antenora before any more lives are lost." At that she takes off on a brisk jog down the tunnel, calling out loudly, "Antenora!"
[00:20] <OblivionKo> roll 1d20+16
[00:20] <Rei-chan> 6,0OblivionKo rolled :6,0 1d20+16 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{30}
Session Close: Wed Jul 16 00:31:40 2008

Session Start: Tue Jul 15 06:22:38 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[06:22] * Disconnected
Session Close: Tue Jul 15 06:22:38 2008

Session Start: Wed Jul 16 00:31:40 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[00:31] * Disconnected
02[00:32] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[00:32] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[00:32] * Topic is 'Shadow-wolf thing>Polly>Alicia'
03[00:32] * Set by OblivionKo on Tue Jul 15 22:26:20
03[00:32] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Corwin
[00:32] <OblivionKo> "Tsh." With a shake of her head, "You can't see here, can you? I didn't kill a one of these in here." Antenora steps away a little bit. Behind her, you can just see what looks to be some sort of black disc, hewn and rising out of the floor. Around it, you can see a rusty red color on the floor.
[00:34] <Alicia> "At least one of us is innocent, then," Alicia replies shamefacedly. "As much as that word can ever apply to the likes of us." Shaking her head to clear such thoughts, she tries to focus on the now - there'll be time for recriminations later. "What happened to the pegasus that disappeared with you?"
[00:36] <OblivionKo> "You wish," Antenora says quietly, "It got sucked away from me. The earth opened up and swallowed us, closing above us so there wasn't any escape. It's like it was alive and I got deposited straight down, while the pegasus was taken...that way," Antenora needs a moment, before pointing...to the northwest. You think. "All that's here is an dozen sacrifices, from the looks of it."
[00:37] <Alicia> "Lets try to find it, but first..." Alicia gingerly approaches the black disc, looking over it with the aid of Hell Striker's flames. "This is an altar, isn't it?"
[00:38] <OblivionKo> "Yeah," Antenora answers, the black disc of Shar about four feet tall. It's made of the purest black stone Alicia's ever seen, like smooth, reflectionless glass. It's like a blank, all consuming eye of nothing.
[00:38] <OblivionKo> You notice that trails of blood seem to have trickled towards it, staining everything around it a rusty red.
[00:40] <Alicia> "You might want to stand back," Alicia warns the erinyes, clenching her fists as she glares viciously at the monument to Mystra's twisted 'mother', flickers of silvery light battling the darkness around her hands as arcane power swells.
[00:41] <OblivionKo> Antenora does just that. "Please," she says quietly. The disc stares back...it seems to. Alicia feels a simple emptiness tugging lightly at her. A hopelessness. Deep within, Alicia can feel familiar pangs of rage trying to stir.
[00:43] <Alicia> Standing right over the altar, Alicia holds her free hand over it as spellfire wells forth. "Foul Nightsister, by all the planes I swear I will make you pay for this," she growls before unleashing a blinding nova of spellfire straight down into the altar!
[00:43] <Alicia> roll 15d8
[00:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 15d8 --> 6,0[ 15d8=66 ]4,0{66}
[00:45] <OblivionKo> The altar swells! The spellfire flows through it, but instead of passing through? It seems to spread into the altar, glowing! With a beam of light that penetrates from floor to ceiling, the altar shatters, sending flying stone all over! Only a fine rubble of stone remains..and oddly, amid it, a bloodied doll. Like a child's doll, it's face and body stained red.
[00:47] <OblivionKo> As the rubble finishes flying, the shadowy darkness leaves. With the light of Hell Striker, one can see a fairly wide cavern. Here a dozen bodies lie, stacked in a circle around the circular disc's remnants. Blood from them seems to have flowed towards the disc. Young, old, male, female...the dozen here are of all types.
[00:47] <Alicia> "Still not enough," Alicia murmurs, scooping up the doll as she senses it could be important, wiping at the blood coating it with a finger. Until she can turn her earlier words into more than a gesture, it'll never be enough. "Come on, lets find that pegasus," she tells Antenora, starting towards the Northeast.
[00:48] <Alicia> Northwest*
[00:50] <OblivionKo> Thus the two return back the way they came. As they walk out of the cavern, "Do you know what sort of ritual that was, by any chance?" Antenora asks.
[00:52] <Alicia> "You mean what I just did? No," Alicia shakes her head. "All I wanted to do was destroy that blasphemous altar... perhaps there's more to spellfire that I don't yet know about."
[00:52] <OblivionKo> "No, I meant the sacrifice," Antenora says it with distaste, "It might give us an insight into what's going on here, beyond what we know."
[00:53] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 religion
[00:53] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0religion --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{15}
[00:56] <Alicia> "I don't, no," Alicia replies. "Shar's clergy sacrifice at the drop of a hat, but this seems more like her acting directly rather than any priests, considering what's in the sky. I don't know if there's any deeper meaning beyond bloodshed and pain."

[Corwin]

[20:42] <Alicia> [22:51] <OblivionKo> Thus the two return back the way they came. As they walk out of the cavern, "Do you know what sort of ritual that was, by any chance?" Antenora asks.
[20:42] <Alicia> [22:52] <Alicia> "You mean what I just did? No," Alicia shakes her head. "All I wanted to do was destroy that blasphemous altar... perhaps there's more to spellfire that I don't yet know about."
[20:42] <Alicia> [22:53] <OblivionKo> "No, I meant the sacrifice," Antenora says it with distaste, "It might give us an insight into what's going on here, beyond what we know."
[20:42] <Alicia> [22:54] <Alicia> roll 1d20+8 religion
[20:42] <Alicia> [22:54] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0religion --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{15}
[20:42] <Alicia> [22:56] <Alicia> "I don't, no," Alicia replies. "Shar's clergy sacrifice at the drop of a hat, but this seems more like her acting directly rather than any priests, considering what's in the sky. I don't know if there's any deeper meaning beyond bloodshed and pain."
[20:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus the two begin to walk back, "I'd like to know if there is. I suppose it could be hatred and killing for it's own sake, but..." Antenora clicks her tongue softly.
[20:46] <Alicia> "It could be that the blood sacrifice was required in exchange for the transformation of others into those shadow creatures," Alicia admits to one possibility as they walk along the pathway, approaching where she last had contact with Pollyanna. "I've got Pollyanna on a message spell, she should be about to come into range," she explains on another note before trying to talk to the archer. "Pollyanna? Can you hear me?"
[20:48] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Alicia?" Pollyanna asks back. "I can hear you."
[20:49] <Alicia> "I've found Antenora, we're looking for the other pegasus, now. Anything happening on your end?" Alicia asks, deciding not to bother Pollyanna with news of the bloody mass sacrifice just yet.
[20:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It's quiet since I shot down that creature," Pollyanna reports back. "Just horribly oppressive and gloomy."
[20:50] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d3
06[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d3 and gets 1."12 [1d3=1]
[20:52] <Alicia> "Stay sharp, hopefully we'll be able to find our missing horse and come back soon," Alicia tells her, though inwardly she wonders exactly how they'll get a horse out of here.
[20:52] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
06[20:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 35."12 [1d20=15]
06[20:53] * Alicia presses on, heading up the north passage once she reaches the junction where she first came down into these caverns.
[20:53] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I will," Pollyanna answers. "Careful down there."
[20:54] <Alicia> "Back at you," Alicia responds grimly.
[20:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The party returns to the juncture. There are three other passages, to the north, the west and to the south.
[20:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+18
06[20:56] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+18 and gets 22."12 [1d20=4]
[20:56] <Alicia> Northwest could be either North or West, but Alicia decides to take things sequentially and therefore goes North.
[20:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> As you just start to turn, Antenora's head jerks to the side. Her body whirls, spear brandished! For a moment she's like that, before she slowly exhales.
[20:57] <Alicia> "You alright?" Alicia asks, glancing to the left and pulling down her blindfold.
[20:58] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Alicia doesn't see anything unusual. Antenora slowly relaxes, "I thought I saw...nothing. I saw nothing." Antenora shakes her head slowly.
[21:00] <Alicia> "Feels like we're being toyed with, doesn't it?" Alicia muses unhappily as they continue on down this pathway, keeping her blindfold on for now.
[21:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "...yes." Antenora agrees, "Have you ever personally offended Shar, by the by?"
[21:06] <Alicia> "Not as far as I know..." Alicia replies slowly. "There was once a small cult of hers in Kelara that I helped eliminate. There wasn't even a real cleric among them, though, just a bunch of violent and misguided fools. I wouldn't call that a personal offense, but then I'm not an evil goddess. From what I hear, they're surprisingly petty."
[21:12] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Yeah..." Antenora smiles a moment in the darkness, "Yes, you're right. Evil's very petty at heart. What evil can stand someone doing good?"
[21:14] <Alicia> "Well, to be fair, it's not like I'm very accepting of people doing evil, and I don't consider myself petty. I suppose it's all about scale... anyway," she shakes her head, "I don't think this is anything personally focused on any of us - the village was doomed before we got here."
[21:15] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Then let's finish what was started," Antenora agrees, starting to head northward as well. OOC - Move along a bit?
[21:16] <Alicia> OOC: sure
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The northern path descends lightly as well. After one hundred feet of going down...
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20
06[21:19] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20 and gets 7."12 [1d20=7]
[21:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC - Ack, forgot the mod. Still, +18 is 25.
[21:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The downward passage slopes for awhile longer, but you can begin to see an opening ahead! However, as you do, Antenora stops again, gaze turning backwards!
[21:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+16
06[21:22] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+16 and gets 28."12 [1d20=12]
[21:26] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Antenora breaths out sharply, but then detenses again. "Nothing..." she murmurs.
[21:29] <Alicia> "Don't worry about it too much, Antenora. Better to stay on guard needlessly than drop it before something really does appear," Alicia reassures the erinyes, taking a moment to lift up her blindfold so she can properly see ahead towards the opening. She also checks the bloody doll she's carried from that ruined altar for any evil or magic it might possess.
[21:33] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Mph." Antenora murmurs something. Ahead, Alicai can see a larger cavern. This one stretches quite a ways and veers generally north-northwestward.
[21:35] <Alicia> "Goes farther than I can see in the dark... see anything?" Alicia asks as they enter the widening cavern.
[21:37] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It winds on slowly. It looks natural enough. There's a wall, but it's far enough away to where I can't get a good look yet," Antenora replies.
[21:40] <Alicia> "Well, lets keep following it, since it seems to be veering a bit to the west hopefully we'll find our missing pegasus," Alicia declares as she presses on.
[21:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+18
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+18 and gets 32."12 [1d20=14]
[21:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+16
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+16 and gets 27."12 [1d20=11]
[21:43] <Tiny_Ko_Army> AS you walk halfway, Antenora speaks. "There's a small archway in the wall. It's to the west," she answers, before she swiftly turns to the side. This time she doesn't hide her growl, "Dammit...Jebel!"
[21:43] <Alicia> "Jebel?" Alicia looks in the direction Antenora looked. "There's no way he could be here..."
[21:44] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I know that," Antenora exhales out again, as you see nothing at all. "It's still bothering me."
[21:45] <Alicia> "I wonder why it's focusing on you so much... I don't suppose you've had any dealings with Shar in the past, have you?" Alicia asks, starting towards the archway.
[21:52] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Not in particular. She's not aligned completely with Hell...th eonly time I can recall is when it came up with your sister." Antenora replies.
[21:54] <Alicia> "Hmm..." Alicia murmurs, not sure what to make of it and therefore letting it drop as they press onwards.
[21:56] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d3
06[21:56] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d3 and gets 1."12 [1d3=1]
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 34."12 [1d20=14]
[21:58] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Thus the two advance to the archway! As they do, they can see another shadowy area of illumination, blanketing everything in darkness! But in it, even if Alicia can't see it...she can hear it. The sound of the pegasus, crying out in pain! The sharp slicing sound of a razor...
[21:59] <Alicia> "It could be an illusion, but that's hardly something we can ignore," Alicia tells Antenora, pulling down her blindfold and starting to run towards the sound.
[22:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I can see...fourty feet in!" Antenora calls, "It's like a ghoul and it's cutting up the pegasus!" With that, Antenora begins to hurry along! OOC - Let's roll initiative here.
[22:01] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
06[22:01] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 10."12 [1d20=5]
[22:02] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+5
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+5 and gets 17."12 [1d20=12]
[22:02] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+3
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+3 and gets 6."12 [1d20=3]
03[22:02] * Tiny_Ko_Army changes topic to 'Antenora>Alicia>Ghoul?'
[22:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Antenora is quickest of the three, already flying like a dart! She attacks carefully, using the side of her spear to lash at the creature as she closes in!
[22:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 1d20+18 (-4 nonlethal, -2 PA +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 7/8)
06[22:03] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 1d20+18 (-4 nonlethal, -2 PA +1 fly, +2 charge, +2 FS 7/8) and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
[22:04] <Tiny_Ko_Army> roll 2d8+26+1d6
06[22:04] * Hatbot --> "Tiny_Ko_Army rolls 2d8+26+1d6 and gets 36."12 [2d8=4, 1][1d6=5]
[22:05] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Clang! The sound of the spearhead hitting wrongsides echos, Antenora's furious glow glowing white! OOC - Alicia. You'll be able to see it as you advance with your 30 ft blindsight.
[22:07] <Alicia> Since she can't charge something she can't see there's no way for Alicia to realistically attack the enemy, at least immediately. But, on the off chance it is an altered townsperson or an illusion, she might still be able to do something. "Mother of all magic, heed my call! Break apart the corrupt taint in the weave before!" As soon as she's cast the spell, she advances forward to perceive the results.
[22:07] <Alicia> OOC: 20ft radius area dispel centred 40 feet dead ahead.
[22:09] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC - Okay, make your dispel check.
[22:09] <Alicia> OOC: just one?
[22:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18."12 [1d20=6]
[22:10] <Tiny_Ko_Army> OOC: Make one more.
[22:10] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 31."12 [1d20=19]
[22:11] <Tiny_Ko_Army> Alicia can see it for a scant moment! It is like a ghoul, but with long fingernails like straight razors! The pegasus is chained to the floor, bloodied and tormented! The ghoul has just been knocked back a bit by Antenora's blow...before it shivers, shudders and melts away. What lies in it's place is a slightly rotund woman with apron and dress, eyes closed.
[22:15] <Alicia> For the moment Alicia is more concerned with the brutalised pegasus and quickly moves to heal it as best she can.
[22:15] <Alicia> OOC: 15hp lay on hands
[22:17] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The wounds mend most of the way from the healing. It's pained cries slow and cease. Antenora approaches it as well, and after a slights igh, pats it's head. "It says thank you."
[22:18] <Alicia> "Just wish we'd gotten here sooner," Alicia likewise gives the pegasi an affectionate pat on the flank before she attempts to remove the chains binding it.
[22:18] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The chains are lightly tied ot the ground. It shouldn't be difficult to sever them with a swordblow, however. They don't look to be anything but iron.
[22:19] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The pegasus lightly neighs at the words Alicia says. Meanwhile, Antenora knees down next to the downed woman. "She's out," she reports after a moment.
06[22:20] * Alicia proceeds to do just that, before she reignites Hell Striker (not having wanted to use a flaming blade so close to the horse) and lifts up her blindfold in the hopes she can actually see anything right now.
[22:22] <Tiny_Ko_Army> You can see dimly in the darkness. While the darkness lingers...this far in you can see something else. A black disk like the last, rising up out of the ground.  It's like a malignant eye, staring ahead at the three woman and pegasus. Meanwhile the pegasus flaps it's wings, using that to help it get back up.
06[22:24] * Alicia approaches the disk, since the unconscious woman should keep for the moment. Setting the doll aside for a moment, she holds her hand above the disk and repeats what she did earlier. "Be cleansed, filthy edifice to a depraved goddess," she intones as spellfire is channeled downwards straight into the disc.
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 10d8 if it actually matters
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 10d8 if it actually matters and gets 48."12 [10d8=5, 7, 5, 7, 3, 7, 3, 3, 5, 3]
[22:27] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The spellfire lances into the eye! The altar glows brightly, a beam of light from the heavens striking it from floor to ceiling! The altar swells and shatters, sending broken stone all over!  Amid the broken stone lies one thing...a small, bloodstained golden ring.
06[22:28] * Alicia picks up the ring and then approaches the pegasus. "My hands are getting a bit full, so can you hold onto these for now? I think they're important... somehow," she asks, placing the doll and ring into one of the horse's saddlepouches. She then examines the downed woman for any magic or evil still upon her.
[22:30] <Alicia> "I think she's safe for the moment. I'm going to try and wake her up, hopefully we'll get some answers now," Alicia goes on, taking out her wand of healing and using a couple of charges on her.
[22:30] <Alicia> roll 2d8+2
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 2d8+2 and gets 12."12 [2d8=4, 6]
[22:31] <Tiny_Ko_Army> The woman groans. After a bit of that her eyes open, foggy. "Joseph...? What time is it...?" she asks for a moment, before she blinks. "..eh? The hell?"
06[22:32] * Alicia crouches down beside the woman, setting her burning sword to the side to continue shedding light. "My name is Captain Alicia Reynes, of Balmuria's Crimson Guard. Do you know where you are?" she asks, tone gentle but at the same time commanding and hopefully reassuring.
[22:34] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I...that damned..." she shakes he rhead. "That damned Eylissa...something. Eylissa and Magur. Something about a town meeting today?" Reaching up to rub at her shoulder, "WAit, you're the Crimson Guard?"
[22:34] <Alicia> "Yes," Alicia offers her a hand to help her up. "Who are Eylissa and Magur?"
[22:36] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "The hell...why are we in the caves...?" Dazedly getting up. "I...Magur's a farmer...an ex farmer now, I guess. Eylissa's been with him lately..." Slowly, "Since the accident."
[22:37] <Alicia> "Tell me about this meeting," Alicia presses. "Where was it held? Do you remember what was discussed? What happened?"
[22:39] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "Slow down..." Holding up a hand, "It's fuzzy. Magur..he said something about tonight being special. Since those weird feelings and waves started, he hasn't been quite himself. Eylissa was with him and just as into it as he was."
[22:40] <Alicia> "Take your time," Alicia allows the woman a chance to compose herself, producing a waterflask from her survival pouch and handing it to her. "What's your name, anyway?"
[22:41] <Tiny_Ko_Army> She drinks from it, "Maggy."
[22:43] <Alicia> "Okay, Maggy. I think Elyssia and Magur are responsible for what's happened here. What's the absolute last thing you remember before waking up just now?" Alicia asks, not wanting to traumatise the poor woman by telling her all of what's occured so soon.
[22:45] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It was Magur. He said that...something about that it was time to honor her." Maggy answers after a bit, thinking. "To offer to her."
[22:47] <Alicia> "Her being Shar," Alicia finally concludes. "That brings some sense to it..." Though why did some people get changed and others were slaughtered? Was there any rhyme or reason to it? "What was your relationship with Elyssia and Magur, Maggy?"
[22:49] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "I got along well with Elyssia...I say before, since she'd not been too friendly since the accident." Answering that, "We used to have lunch together and sew when our husbands were teaching our children how to farm."
[22:50] <Alicia> "You mentioned an accident before. What happened?" It's probably unimportant exactly what happened aside from the fact that a loss was suffered, but every bit of background helps.
[22:52] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It was in the barn. Elyssia was on on second floor, while her husband and son were below moving hay. I'm not sure what happened still, bu t the entire floor collapsed. Eylissa got a broken leg...but her son and husband were crushed under the wood."
06[22:56] * Alicia feels her heart clench with a pang of empathy for the woman she hasn't met, her suffering seeming an echo of Alicia's own. But she tempers such with a reminder of the bloody sacrifice, and the innocents that she and her friends have been forced to put to the sword. Regardless of how she's suffered, Elyssia must be brought to justice. "Thank you," she breathes out at last.
[22:56] <Alicia> "You've been very helpful... oh, another thing, sorry. You seem to know about these caverns - can you tell me about the layout, what's down here?"
[22:57] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "There have always been some caves underneath town. We used to use them to store things before we built a lot of new buildings over the past few years. They're roughly shaped like an cross, with the southern part being the biggest."
[22:58] <Alicia> "We're in the Northwest right now - the entrance was a trapdoor in a shop by the town hall that opened above the four-way junction. If we go Southwest from here will it loop back to the junction or does it go somewhere else?" Alicia asks.
[22:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It should loop. If you go that way it connects to our town well," she getures to the southwest.
[23:01] <Alicia> "Is there any exit that's large enough for a horse to fit through?" Alicia asks hopefully, glancing at the pegasus.
[23:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "The horse...Holy Chauntea it has wings?!" MAggy sputters at that, finally seeming to pay attention to it.
[23:02] <Alicia> "Pegasus. The ground opened up to swallow it earlier, which could make getting back out a problem," Alicia admits.
[23:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "T-Try the well!" The woman gawks at the pegasus, who snorts loudly.
[23:05] <Alicia> "Okay, if that's the only thing for it," Alicia nods. "You're going to have to stick with us for now, since it's not safe to be on your own here. A lot of people have already died, and those that haven't... well, they've been changed into monsters," the paladin finally concludes, not really being able to avoid or sugarcoat it any longer. She doesn't want Maggy's first clue to come by stumbling over a corpse.

[Corwin]

[20:37] <Alicia> [20:59] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "It should loop. If you go that way it connects to our town well," she getures to the southwest.
[20:37] <Alicia> [21:01] <Alicia> "Is there any exit that's large enough for a horse to fit through?" Alicia asks hopefully, glancing at the pegasus.
[20:37] <Alicia> [21:01] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "The horse...Holy Chauntea it has wings?!" MAggy sputters at that, finally seeming to pay attention to it.
[20:37] <Alicia> [21:02] <Alicia> "Pegasus. The ground opened up to swallow it earlier, which could make getting back out a problem," Alicia admits.
[20:37] <Alicia> [21:03] <Tiny_Ko_Army> "T-Try the well!" The woman gawks at the pegasus, who snorts loudly.
[20:37] <Alicia> [21:05] <Alicia> "Okay, if that's the only thing for it," Alicia nods. "You're going to have to stick with us for now, since it's not safe to be on your own here. A lot of people have already died, and those that haven't... well, they've been changed into monsters," the paladin finally concludes, not really being able to avoid or sugarcoat it any longer. She doesn't want Maggy's first clue to come by stumbling over a corpse.
[20:39] <Kotono> The woman's gawk grows larger. "What? What...what are you talking about?"
[20:42] <Alicia> "I'm sorry," Alicia puts a hand on Maggy's shoulder in hopes of offering some form of comfort or reassurance, "But we've found a number of mutilated bodies in these caves already. And we've been attacked by... well, monsters, that turned back into people when we killed them. You were the same just before now, but I was able to dispel whatever was affecting you."
[20:43] <Kotono> Maggy crumples to the ground, a weak sob escaping her lips. "What...no...no!" Trying to fight back tears, "This...this has to be a nightmare then...isn't it?"
[20:44] <Kotono> "...Sorry," Antenora murmurs, barely heard as it's said under her breath.
[20:45] <Alicia> "It's real, I'm afraid," Alicia replies regretfully, crouching down along with Maggy's fallen form. "I don't know what else is in these caves, so I had to tell you before you saw it for yourself..."
[20:47] <Kotono> Maggy doesn't respond. She simply starts to sob instead, sobbing with her shoulders heaving and body quaking.
06[20:48] * Alicia gives her a minute to compose herself. They can afford that much.
[20:49] <Kotono> Maggy sobs for a few minutes before her tears run their course. She looks up, pallid faced and drained.
06[20:50] * Alicia offers her a hand as she stands up. "Do you think you can walk? We're not out of the woods, yet."
[20:51] <Kotono> Maggy nods. Her head stays down, gaze away and towards the floor.
[20:57] <Alicia> "Come on, then," Alicia picks up Hell Striker, "Lets get moving. You said the well was this way?" she asks, starting along the continuing path to the Southwest.
[20:59] <Kotono> Maggy shuffles along with the party! To the southwest you find a long, narrowish patht hat soon connects to a large underground spring. It's quite deep, deeper than you can see. However, it's open faced, with a rope and a 15 ft wide tunnel to the above seen. A bucket hangs at th eend of the rope.
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18."12 [1d20=13]
[21:01] <Alicia> "That's a big well... Pollyanna, can you hear me?" Alicia tries, hoping this opening will provide a route for her message spell to get through.
[21:02] <Kotono> 'I'm here,' Pollyanna replies after a few moments, "How's it going down there?"
[21:04] <Alicia> "We've found the pegasus and a survivor - I was able to dispel the transformation on her," Alicia lowers her voice, only mouthing the next part. "I'm going to send Antenora up first with the survivor, could you put the two bodies inside that shop I found the trapdoor in? I don't want her to see them just yet."
[21:05] <Kotono> "Right," Pollyanna calls back. "I'll let you know when."
06[21:07] * Alicia stalls for time while Pollyanna does that by taking out the doll and ring from the pegasus's saddlebags. "We've got someone up on the surface who can look after you from here, but before you head up, can you tell me if you recognise either of these?"
[21:08] <Alicia> *she asks Maggy
[21:15] <Kotono> Maggy looks up and sniffles. "...that was...Elyissa's husband's wedding ring...and her child's doll..." Looking on at the bloodied things with blankness, Maggy doesn't say anything else.
[21:18] <Alicia> "Sacrificed to Shar... what a waste," Alicia shakes her head silently. Casting prestidigitation, she cleans both before pocketing the ring and putting the doll inside her backpack. Maybe they'll help her reason with Elyissa? She's not sure she wants to, all things considered.
[21:18] <Alicia> In other circumstances she might question what sort of boy plays with dolls, but it's really not the time or place.
[21:22] <Kotono> "Done," Pollyanna replies back. "Send her up."
[21:23] <Alicia> "Okay, Antenora, can you fly Maggy up and take her to Pollyanna? She'll be by the town square where you were pulled under," Alicia asks the erinyes. "Come back with everyone towards the well and I'll send the pegasus up once you do? I'd rather not have anyone left alone, right now."
[21:26] <Kotono> "Agreed," Antenora says, and takes Maggy and does just that! Despite a bit of grunting at her weight, the woman is flown out by Antenora! A few moments later, "Okay," Antenora calls back down. "Send the pegasus up!"
[21:26] <Kotono> roll 1d3
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3 and gets 1."12 [1d3=1]
[21:26] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
06[21:26] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 25."12 [1d20=5]
06[21:29] * Alicia glances to the East, assuming that song could only be coming from the unexplored South passage. "I don't think you'd be able to fly up that normally, so I'll cast a spell to make it easier," she tells the horse, casting Fly on it. "Don't flap your wings, just think about where you want to go - in this case straight up that shaft."
[21:31] <Kotono> After a few false start flaps, the pegasus ascends up the well! Once it's up and out, "Now what?" Pollyanna asks through the Message.
[21:34] <Alicia> "There's only one unexplored passage - to the South. If Antenora comes back down, we'll head that way. I think it'll lead us to the people responsible for all this," Alicia replies through the same spell, not seeing any need to raise her voice when Pollyanna can just pass it on to Antenora.
[21:35] <Kotono> There's a bit of a shuffle, then Antenora descends down. "Ready then?" she asks quietly.
[21:36] <Alicia> "Lets go," Alicia nods, heading along the passage to the East. "I thought I heard singing while you were gone... some sort of hopeless dirge."
[21:39] <Kotono> "I think the proper retort is 'I'll shove that dirge so far up that they'll feel hopeless,'" Antenora starts walking quickly, pace quite brisk.
06[21:41] * Alicia matches pace with Antenora, expecting this path should lead them back to the junction where they can take the final Southerly path.
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d3
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3 and gets 3."12 [1d3=3]
[21:41] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[21:41] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 8."12 [1d20=3]
[21:42] <Kotono> Thus the two return to the center junction! The only path left is the southern one, awaiting...
06[21:43] * Alicia naturally heads down it, sword at the ready.
[21:47] <Kotono> The path sharply descends downward! However, it's not a slope, but freshly carved stairs leading deeper in. As you begin to descend, you can faintly hear it. It is a song. A song of perfect despair, a song that makes your heart wrench in agony. As you hear it losses come back to your mind unbidden - broken loved ones lying on the floor. Empty funerals, rainy days of nothing but an empty household. Antenora slows a moment, her lips twisting in
[21:47] <Kotono> Antenora slows a moment, her lips twisting into a grimace.
[21:48] <Alicia> "Our nameless friend would feel right at home, here, wouldn't she?" Alicia asks, focusing on her anger at the senseless loss of life that this village has seen to beat away the encroaching despair.
[21:50] <Kotono> "...you know..." Antenora pauses on that a moment, "... I do wonder if that ties back to Shar, then?" She takes a breath, eyes narrowing even as she advances on.
[21:52] <Alicia> "It is possible, but there are other sources of great despair in the planes as well. Is not the primary battleground of the Blood War known as one of them?" Alicia snorts. "Maybe she's a Night Hag. Prime Hags masquerade as comely mortals on occassion, so would an extraplanar one choose the form of a beautiful outsider as her ruse?""
[21:54] <Kotono> "We may be onto something...but I'm not sure this is the time," Antenora smiles grimly, "I keep wanting to curl up into a ball and cry. Let's do something about that before we end up doing just that."
[21:55] <Alicia> "It's times like this that I find focusing on rage and anger to be very helpful," Alicia returns, her expression hard as she falls silent and picks up her pace.
[21:57] <Kotono> Thus the path downward continues! After about one hundred feet down, it ends in a small, carved out hallway. Here the walls have regular disks carved into them, disks painted black with violet rims.  The hall is ten feet wide, unlit and dark. However, from sixty feet ahead...they shamble to you. Three of them - three people, rotting and cursed. They reach out hungrily, shambling towards the pair with no regards for stealth! OOC - Initiative.
[21:57] <Kotono>  regards for stealth! OOC - Initiative.
[21:57] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
06[21:57] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 13."12 [1d20=8]
[21:59] <Kotono> roll 1d20-2
06[21:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20-2 and gets 18."12 [1d20=20]
03[21:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Ghouls?>Antenora>Alicia, man, you're mikoing today.'
[22:00] <Kotono> The ghouls shamble forward, coming close to the two, within attacking range! Howeve,r none of them can seem to effective manage that after their long, shambling gait! "...Alicia," Antenora readies her spear, "Stun them or...?"
[22:00] <Alicia> "Brace yourself and strike to incapacitate only, but let me try dispelling them first," Alicia requests.
[22:00] <Kotono> Antenora readies her spear on defense, defending herself! OOC - Alicia.
[22:02] <Alicia> "Weave of magic, heed my call! Shake off this foul dweomer and set free these victims of your Mother's greatest foe!" Alicia incants as she attempts to unravel the spell afflicting these 'ghouls'.
[22:02] <Alicia> OOC: area dispel centred on them. 3 checks?
[22:02] <Kotono> OOC - Go for it.
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 29."12 [1d20=17]
[22:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 23."12 [1d20=11]
[22:03] <Kotono> The magic ripples apart! The three cease their movement, instead falling! Three young children fall to the ground, two boy san done girl. They're down and out, unmoving and no threat at all! OOC - Free action.
06[22:04] * Alicia relaxes, letting her blade's flames dim as she sheathes it and pulls down her blindfold. "Come on, lets carry them back up to the surface before we proceed - we can't leave them down here in case another 'monster' stumbles on them," she tells Antenora, going to carefully put a child over each of her shoulders.
[22:06] <Kotono> Antenora grabs the last, grunting low. "Let's hurry. This hateful arrogance of Shar's followers grates on me. Using these children as fodder?"
[22:07] <Alicia> "Disgusting, isn't it?" Alicia agrees, not sharing her horrible suspicion about just what that 'larva' she found in the town hall really is, and feeling very glad that she didn't slay it.
[22:09] <Kotono> Taking the children up isn't opposed at all, oddly. No attacks, no screams of rage. Just taking them back out. On coming to the surface, you find Pollyanna riding the horse in a circuit of the town. She's got her bow drawn, arrows readied. Riding with the pegasus is Maggy, dimly clinging to her back. Alicia nearly gets a flaming arrow fired at her, Pollyanna's bow and arrow aimed right at her!
[22:10] <Alicia> Well, that's not surprising since they'd likely cleared everything in that direction. "Woah!" Alicia can't quite hold up her hands since they're full. "It's only us - we've got three survivors here."
[22:11] <Kotono> Pollyanna's shoulders rock in a sigh, spurring her horse down. "Good," she says quickly. "Need me to watch over them? I managed to stop another image, but..." Shaking her head, "I don't feel right. I can't stop looking over my shoulder." After that, Pollyanna does just that.
[22:12] <Alicia> "I think we were close to the Sharrans when we encountered these three," Alicia goes to set the children down close to the fire. "We couldn't leave them down there while proceeding in case something else found them first."
[22:13] <Kotono> Antenora follows suit, "Watch them carefully. The source of this doesn't give a damn about killing them."
[22:15] <Kotono> With a slight, weak smile, "I will. Good luck down there, Alicia."
[22:17] <Alicia> "You too," Alicia replies grimly. "If any more transformed villagers show up..." she looks meaningfully at the children laid out by the fire, "Use your judgement." At that she returns to the shop and heads underground to resume their journy South.
02[22:18] * Alicia (WinNT@user-5af202bf.tcl108.dsl.pol.co.uk) Quit
03[22:19] * Ebiris (WinNT@user-5af202bf.tcl108.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[22:19] * ChanServ sets mode: +ao Ebiris Ebiris
03[22:19] * Ebiris is now known as Alicia
[22:19] <Kotono> THus the two come into the range of the song again! This empty song makes your hearts ache and your spirits want to sink into hopeless ennui! But the two heroes resist, heading deeper in! A little past the point of resistance, they come to the end of the hall! Here thick curtains block the way forward, faint trickles of thick fog creeping out from under it. The song is getting louder.
06[22:21] * Alicia lifts up the blindfold so she can see, using the flames of her sword for light. Approaching the curtains, she cuts them aside with a flaming slash before standing as a hopefully imposing sillouete framed by the doorway as she takes in whatever scene lies before her.
[22:22] <Kotono> Alicia sees...fog. A thick bank of fog obscures all that is ahead. She can just see 5 feet ahead, seeing nothing but...more fog. Yep, it's very foggy. The foggy mists prevent Alicia from seeing much of anything ahead.
[22:22] <Alicia> Dammit. On comes the blindfold once again.
[22:24] <Kotono> Thirty feet ahead, waiting, you can see them. They are two - horrible, quill bearing large...hounds? They're bony and gaunt, yet lick at themselves at their ample quills with abandon.
[22:25] <Alicia> Could be howlers. Could be unfortunate townsfolk. Since they might be just as hampered by the fog as she is, Alicia takes advantage of this opportunity and attempts to dispel magic, targetting a spot fifteen feet past the 'hounds' in a wide burst to hopefully catch them as well as any others she can't see just yet. "In the name of Mystra, let this Sharran affront be dispelled!" she calls out loud and clear to advertise her presence.
[22:26] <Alicia> OOC: area dispel. How many checks?
[22:28] <Kotono> OOC - Three. Tell me which are the hounds and which is the uncalled one.
[22:28] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 hound
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 hound and gets 20."12 [1d20=8]
[22:28] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 hound
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 hound and gets 30."12 [1d20=18]
[22:28] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 unknown
06[22:28] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 unknown and gets 18."12 [1d20=6]
[22:29] <Kotono> OOC - Roll the first one again.
[22:29] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12
06[22:29] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 and gets 19."12 [1d20=7]
[22:29] <Kotono> One of the hounds vanishes away! At that, however...OOC - I'm going to call initaitive here now that you've taken an action.
[22:30] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12."12 [1d20=7]
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5 Antenora
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 Antenora and gets 23."12 [1d20=18]
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 howler
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 howler and gets 11."12 [1d20=4]
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+7 ????
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 ???? and gets 20."12 [1d20=13]
[22:30] <Kotono> roll 1d20+2
06[22:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 and gets 5."12 [1d20=3]
03[22:31] * Kotono changes topic to 'Antenora>????1?Alicia>Howler>????2'
[22:31] <Kotono> 'Alicia,' Antenora asks in clipped, ready tones, staring ahead at the fog.
[22:32] <Alicia> 'If you can't see then just brace yourself, there were two howlers thirty feet in, I just got rid of one. Summoned, not transformed, so don't hold back if the remaining one comes into range.'
[22:33] <Kotono> Antenora thus braces! Meanwhile...nothing seems to immediately happen...OOC - Alicia.
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 28."12 [1d20=10]
06[22:35] * Alicia casts true strike and then moves diagonally in forty feet, off to the side of the Howler through the space formerly occupied by its double at least fifteen feet away, hopefully too far for it to detect her while letting her 'see' who else is here.
[22:38] <Kotono> Alicia can see! At the edge of her vision is the most horrible thing...a disk of Shar. Bound to it is a woman with a darkened cloth over her eyes. However...she is held to the disk. She has been pinned there with spikes through her shoulders and knees. She raises her head to sing, a song of complete lonliness and isolation, of pure agony. Next to her is a man, a plain looking man wearing a sleeveless tunic and with muscled arms. He stays low,
[22:38] <Kotono>  Next to her is a man, a plain looking man wearing a sleeveless tunic and with muscled arms. He stays low, graceful movements. His head is shaved bald. A simple rope belt is tied around his waist.
[22:39] <Kotono> "Beautiful...it is Alicia Reynes..." The man's face is dark, expressionless. "My Lady, accept this sacrifice tonight, on your most holy vision night!"
06[22:40] * Alicia doesn't reply, not wanting to advertise her presence in case that howler is unable to see through the fog unlike the man.
03[22:40] * Kotono changes topic to 'Antenora>Man>Alicia>Howler>Woman'
[22:41] <Kotono> Meanwhile, the Howler holds it's position! However, the w3oman continues to sing! The horrible song washes over Alicia, making her spirit quake! It is an empty song, singling of broken times and filled graves. OOC - Will save.
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d20+20
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+20 and gets 25."12 [1d20=5]
[22:42] <Kotono> As the song hits Alicia, filling her heart with horrible feelings, 'Alicia,' Antenora asks again.
[22:44] <Alicia> 'Unh... what?' Alicia's mental voice sounds a bit distracted. 'Gods, can't you feel that... no, it's better if you don't.' With an immense effort she focuses herself. 'Move thirty feet forward and you should be close enough to see the howler. Try to keep it busy for me.'
[22:46] <Kotono> Antenora advances through the fog! She breaks through, a holy ferver overtaking her as she looks about, coming close to the howler! Meanwhile, the man stays low, chanting! In sonorous words he stands still, a corcucating ray coming forth from him!
[22:46] <Kotono> Antenora advances through the fog! She breaks through, a holy ferver overtaking her as she looks about, coming close to the howler! Meanwhile, the man stays low, chanting! In sonorous words he stands still, a corcucating ray coming forth from him at Alicia!
[22:46] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12 touch AC, Alicia?
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 touch AC, Alicia? and gets 14."12 [1d20=2]
[22:46] <Alicia> OOC: 13 thanks to despair
[22:46] <Kotono> roll 1d6
06[22:46] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 3."12 [1d6=3]
[22:47] <Kotono> roll 3*1.5
06[22:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3*1.5 and gets 4.5."12
[22:47] <Alicia> OOC: hay!
[22:47] <Alicia> OOC: spellfire
[22:47] <Alicia> OOC: I'll absorb it
[22:47] <Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:48] <Kotono> The ray fires forth! The sickly ray strikes Alicia, but smoothly flows into her body instead, doing no harm! OOC - Alicia.
[22:48] <Kotono> "What?" He asks, before looking coldly at Alicia. "You deny the power of the Black Lady?!"
[22:49] <Kotono> "Oh....Great Shar..." The woman nailed to the disc groans aloud, as her hopeless song continues to echo!
[22:50] <Alicia> Gripping Hell Striker tightly, Alicia feels holy rage fill her, chasing away the despair. "Idiot! Shar's power quails before the Mother of all Magic!" Alicia retorts as she rushes forward to attack. While she feels a strong urge to kill him, there's a cold fury inside that demands she bring these two back to Balmuria so that the entire United Baronies can see them pay for their immense crimes.
[22:51] <Alicia> Positioning herself so that he's trapped between her and the disc with nowhere to easily slip away, she cracks him in the side of the head with the flat of Hell Striker.
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 1d20+24 -10 pa -4 nonlethal, divine might
06[22:51] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+24 -10 pa -4 nonlethal, divine might and gets 38."12 [1d20=14]
[22:51] <Kotono> OOC - Hit.
[22:51] <Alicia> roll 1d8+40+2d6
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+40+2d6 and gets 50."12 [1d8=1][2d6=5, 4]
[22:52] <Kotono> SLAM! The overwhelming blow rocks the man hard, making him wobble! His head swells up almost instantly from the b low, the clang of it echoing underneath the song! Meanwhile, the howler seems content to pounce on Antenora!
[22:52] <Kotono> roll 1d20+10
06[22:52] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+10 and gets 16."12 [1d20=6]
[22:53] <Kotono> However, Antenora fends it off with a few swipes of her spear, keeping it and it's sharp quills at bay! As the man stumbles from the blow, "Eylissa, smite this fool in the name of Shar!" he calls to her! To that, her song becomes faster paced, singing of the despair of a mother left alone and cold!
[22:53] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8 touch AC?
06[22:53] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 touch AC? and gets 13."12 [1d20=5]
[22:54] <Alicia> OOC: 13. If it's a spell or spell-like I'll absorb it.
[22:54] <Kotono> OOC: It's an SU.
[22:54] <Alicia> OOC: then I'll suffer
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 6d6 sonic
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 6d6 sonic and gets 20."12 [6d6=4, 3, 1, 1, 6, 5]
[22:54] <Kotono> roll 1d4 wis damage
06[22:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 wis damage and gets 3."12 [1d4=3]
[22:55] <Kotono> A powerful voice bursts around Alicia! The very words of loss seem to strike at her back, bringing pain to her body! Meanwhile, Antenora turns her full fury on the howler that attacked her! "You okay, Alicia," she calls as she does!
[22:56] <Kotono> roll 1d20+20 (-8 PA +1 fly, +6 smite, +2 FS 7/8)
06[22:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+20 (-8 PA +1 fly, +6 smite, +2 FS 7/8) and gets 26."12 [1d20=6]
[22:56] <Kotono> roll 1d8+25+2d6+1d6
06[22:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+25+2d6+1d6 and gets 44."12 [1d8=6][2d6=6, 6][1d6=1]
[22:57] <Alicia> "Rrrrg... fine," Alicia replies as she shakes on her feet, mind reeling. "You think I'm impressed?" she demands of the pair. "That your loss is unique? That your pain justifies this? I'll see you both pay!"
[22:58] <Kotono> Spearing the beast, it shudders and collapses, fading away back to whence it came! Yet as this happens, "You have nothing! Your loss begins here! You have no hope, no future beyond the cold floor here that I will personally send you to!" With that, Magur sends a potent combination of overwhelming barehanded strikes at Alicia!
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 35."12 [1d20=14]
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 23."12 [1d20=2]
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+21
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+21 and gets 34."12 [1d20=13]
[22:58] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[22:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 22."12 [1d20=6]
[22:58] <Kotono> OOC - AC?
[22:59] <Alicia> OOC: 32
[22:59] <Alicia> OOC: 30, sorry, raging
[22:59] <Kotono> roll 8d6+18
06[22:59] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 8d6+18 and gets 39."12 [8d6=1, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, 1, 2]
[23:01] <Kotono> The raining blows clang off Alicia's armor, leaving deep, painful bruises! But despite this Alicia has taken worse, only mildly injured by his impressive martial arts!
[23:01] <Kotono> OOC - Alicia.
03[23:02] * Kotono changes topic to 'Antenora>Man>Alicia>Woman'
[23:02] <Alicia> Since he seems quite competent in melee it'd probably be just as well to give him room and let him cast spells, Alicia decides. Tumbling backwards away from the pair, she then fires a beam of incandescent spellfire partially fueled by the Sharran's own spell, targetting the altar but quite naturally hitting both of the two people between her and it.
[23:02] <Alicia> roll 1d20+12 DC 15 tumble
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+12 DC 15 tumble and gets 23."12 [1d20=11]
[23:02] <Alicia> roll 8d8 DC 22 spellfire
06[23:02] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 8d8 DC 22 spellfire and gets 35."12 [8d8=1, 1, 7, 8, 1, 7, 4, 6]
[23:03] <Kotono> roll 1d20+11 man, the woman's pinned to the altara nd can'td odge.
06[23:03] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 man, the woman's pinned to the altara nd can'td odge. and gets 24."12 [1d20=13]
[23:04] <Kotono> Elyissa screams as the spellfire penetrates through her stomach! The altar glows a baleful white, before vaporizing in a pillar of purified light! Alicia feels a fierce joy fill her body even through the rage! The woman lies amid the rubble, bleeding, penetrated and broken! OOC - Antenora.
[23:04] <Kotono> Antenora approaches, flying above and sending one tenative strike, as Alicia feels her injuries mend! (FS 6/8, +10 HP Alicia.)
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16 (+2 charge, +1 fly, -6 PA)
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 (+2 charge, +1 fly, -6 PA) and gets 34."12 [1d20=18]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 1d7 MI
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d7 MI and gets 1."12 [1d7=1]
[23:05] <Kotono> roll 2d8+46
06[23:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d8+46 and gets 52."12 [2d8=3, 3]
[23:06] <Kotono> With no restraint, Antenora impales the man! He lets out a rasping breath as he collapses, bleeding considerably and unconcious! After that...silence overtakes the place. A quiet silence, no sing nor any defiant words left! OOC - Free action.
06[23:07] * Alicia approaches both fallen Sharrans, checking to make sure neither is in any immediate danger of dying.
[23:07] <Kotono> The woman is dying. Her breath is slowing, her body broken, pinned and spellfired. The man is considerably wounded but not in any immediate danger.
[23:09] <Kotono> Antenora flies above the broken man, looking down at him. For a moment she raises her spear but then puts it down, descending to the ground. "I was almost hoping for more resistance.."
[23:10] <Alicia> "It would probably be kinder to let you die here," Alicia reflects, tone melancholy as she lifts up her blindfold to truly look upon the woman. "I doubt you'll see your husband and son in Shar's realm, but perhaps better to just fade away here and never have to live with what you've done."
[23:10] <Alicia> Crouching down beside her, she takes out her wand and waves it over Elyissa's broken form. "I'm not that kind, though."
[23:10] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
06[23:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 6."12 [1d8=5]
[23:10] <Kotono> Alicia's breathing steadies someone. She's still greviously wounded...but she's alive.
[23:11] <Alicia> Has the fog lifted any?
[23:12] <Kotono> The fog behind you still lingers.
[23:12] <Kotono> "Do you think you'll do anything to get through to her...or do anything but execute her?" Antenora asks curiously. The room is moderately big, dominated by what was once a disc to Shar. The walls have the same black and purple disks as the hall, but otherwise it is unremarkable.
[23:16] <Alicia> Oh well. Alicia busies herself with removing any bindings still on the woman, ready to heal her again if removing the spikes does more potentially lethal damage. "I honestly don't know. We'll see once they wake up, but quite frankly execution is almost certainly going to be their fate unless something remarkable happens."

[Corwin]

[16:54] <Alicia> [21:10] <Alicia> "It would probably be kinder to let you die here," Alicia reflects, tone melancholy as she lifts up her blindfold to truly look upon the woman. "I doubt you'll see your husband and son in Shar's realm, but perhaps better to just fade away here and never have to live with what you've done."
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:10] <Alicia> Crouching down beside her, she takes out her wand and waves it over Elyissa's broken form. "I'm not that kind, though."
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:10] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:10] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d8+1 and gets 6."12 [1d8=5]
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:11] <Kotono> Alicia's breathing steadies someone. She's still greviously wounded...but she's alive.
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:11] <Alicia> Has the fog lifted any?
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:12] <Kotono> The fog behind you still lingers.
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:12] <Kotono> "Do you think you'll do anything to get through to her...or do anything but execute her?" Antenora asks curiously. The room is moderately big, dominated by what was once a disc to Shar. The walls have the same black and purple disks as the hall, but otherwise it is unremarkable.
[16:54] <Alicia> [21:16] <Alicia> Oh well. Alicia busies herself with removing any bindings still on the woman, ready to heal her again if removing the spikes does more potentially lethal damage. "I honestly don't know. We'll see once they wake up, but quite frankly execution is almost certainly going to be their fate unless something remarkable happens."
03[16:55] * Kokokokokoko is now known as Kotono
03[16:55] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Kotono Kotono
[16:56] <Kotono> Antenora looks down at them amoment, before turning away. "Yes...still, let's finish this. Are we goign to search them or other locations here or do anything else now?"
03[16:57] * Seira is now known as Jeanne
06[16:58] * Alicia first checks if there are any notable items left over from the shattered altar and then examines both fallen Sharrans for any magic, whether on themselves or their belongings.
[17:01] <Kotono> The shattered altar has something amid it. It's a small golden ring, a bit dented but unsullied. In an inscription written on the inside, Alicia sees, 'Love you forever, Elyissa'. While Elyissa herself bears no magical items, the belt Magur wears is magical. Further, he has a single scroll tucked into his clothing that is also magic.
06[17:03] * Alicia spends a moment stamping on all the Magurs until she's removed his mirror images, then removes the belt and scroll. "These are magical. Hold onto them, will you?" she asks Antenora, also pocketing Elyissa's ring alongside her husband's. "Lets bring these two up to the surface first. We've still got a lot of village still to search."
[17:08] <Kotono> Antenora takes them. "Right." Thus, Antenora bows over and picks up Magur, grunting. "I'll bind them up good as well, just in case one of them heals fast or manages to wake up."
[17:09] <Alicia> "Hopefully we can find some manacles or chains if this village had a constable," Alicia pulls down her blindfold so she can see without light then stows her sword and picks up Elyissa. "Magur is probably strong enough to break a rope quite easily."
[17:10] <Kotono> "He hit that hard?" Antenora asks as she starts to head back towards the stairs. "It looked more like quantity than quality to me, but I was distracted."
[17:12] <Alicia> "He was hitting me with his *fists*," Alicia feels this point has to be emphasised. "Even leaving aside the fact he can cast at least third circle magic. There is no way in hell I'm buying that he's a simple farmer."
[17:14] <Kotono> "Mmmm. You think Shar's been up to something here then?" Antenora queries back.
[17:18] <Kotono> "Besides the obvious," Antenora appends after a few seconds.
[17:19] <Alicia> "I doubt that. I know the Gods can do much, but elevating an unskilled commoner to such a level that he can compete with me in both physical combat and magic? It makes the blessings we've received in preparation to fight Daa-vid seem paltry in comparison." Alicia shakes her head as they traverse the caves.
[17:19] <Alicia> "Perhaps Elyissa's powers were a temporary empowerment for this night, but Magur has to have earned his prowess the same way everyone else does. Which makes me wonder why no one's ever heard of him - he's one of the most powerful men in the United Baronies. People that strong invariably have reputations."
[17:21] <Kotono> Antenora bites her lip as she lugs up the stairs, hauling Magur over her shoulder. After a soft grunt getting over a few stairs, "Yes, that is true. Perhaps he's a sleeper agent from afar then who's integrated in? But..." Thinking, "It would have have been for some time and those seals were all broken recently, weren't they?"
[17:23] <Alicia> "It's also possible he's from another realm, like the servant of Kossuth sent to aid Mihail," Alicia admits as she carefully ascends up through the trapdoor without dropping her burden. "We can ask him when he wakes up, but hopefully that won't be for some time. There's more work ahead of us, first."
[17:23] <Kotono> Once outside, Antenora drops her load like a bundle of rotten potatoes. She kneels and begins to tie him up, even as Pollyanna begins to descent. IN the night sky, the silvery crescent moon shines amid a sea of stars.
06[17:25] * Alicia manages a wan smile as she sees Selune shining brightly in the sky. "It looks like this night of horror is over... but we still need to gather any more survivors, and then tend to the bodies," she comments while setting Elyissa down besides Magur so Antenora can tie up them both. "We've captured the two responsible - anything to report on your end, Pollyanna?"
[17:26] <Kotono> "That black disk vanished." Pollyanna's smile is relaxed, "I feel much better now. There hasn't been anything since it did. It's just a peaceful night now."
[17:28] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia nods grimly. "Things are probably safe enough now. First things first, we need to locate any more survivors, if there are any. I... have an idea where one might be. Wait here for a second," she asks, heading into the town hall and looking to where she left the larval creature next to the doorway inside.
[17:29] <Kotono> Lying next to the doorway is a baby. It's unclad, asleep quietly. His face is soft, innocent.
06[17:31] * Alicia shakes her head slowly. "So close, little one..." she murmurs, gently picking up and cradling the infant as she steps back outside. "Maggy," she asks the oldest survivor, wanting to give her something to focus on, "Can you look after this child for the moment? Pollyanna and I can search all the other buildings while Antenora guards everyone here."
[17:32] <Kotono> Maggy lingers in the shadow of a building, coming forward at her name. Her blank face shows a few signs of reconginition, coming over to the baby. "Little Alexander..." she murmurs, cradling him. "You're safe..."
[17:35] <Alicia> Although almost certainly orphaned... just like those three, Alicia glances at the other three children laid out by the fire. "Okay, lets split up - Pollyanna, you take the North, I'll take the South. Just do a quick room to room search of every building to find any survivors or... others. Bring any survivors back here."
[17:37] <Kotono> OOC - Taking 10/20 or rolling?
[17:38] <Alicia> OOC: just take 10. I'm looking for people, not hidden treasure.
02[17:38] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@70.114.129.129) Quit (Client exited)
03[17:39] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-54479783.wfd84b.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[17:39] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[17:42] <Kotono> Alicia has some luck! In an outlying building, she finds a man asleep in his own bed. A dog sleeps at the foot of it, the former snoring softly. The man still wears his day's clothes, dirtied. He didn't even seem to slip under the covers, having laid down and fallen right asleep.
06[17:43] * Alicia tries to wake him up with a gentle shake on the off chance that he's sleeping and not comatose.
[17:44] <Kotono> He stirs lightly, but mostly just snores louder.
[17:44] <Kotono> As Alicia does that, she hears a canine yawn. The dog at the foot of the bed gets up, casting an eye at Alicia. A soft growl escapes it's throat as it stares at her.
[17:45] <Alicia> "Nice doggy..." Alicia backs away uncomfortably from the animal, hoping it'll settle down if she doesn't make any sudden or obviously hostile movements.
[17:47] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6
[17:47] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{21}
[17:48] <Kotono> The dog eyes Alicia...and it's growling slows and then stops. It trots up to her, sitting on it's haunches. The dog looks up at her, eyeing meeting her own as it starts to pant.
[17:49] <Alicia> "Good dog..." Alicia pats it hesitantly on the head once before she goes to pick up its owner. "Come on, lets go for a walk?" she tries to pitch her voice in that oddly high manner people do when talking to their pets.
[17:51] <Kotono> The dog pants a little more and starts to follow Alicia. As she goes to pick up the man, he mutters something. It's incoherent, but the stirring is enough to make him dimly open his eyes. "Claire...need more sleep..." he murmurs. "Trip was fine, go 'way."
[17:52] <Alicia> "I'm not Claire," Alicia replies as she gently sets the man onto his feet, though still bracing her shoulder under his for support until he wakes up fully.
[18:30] <Kotono> "Claire...?" The man repeats, before his eyes open into a state of semi vision. "...An armored angel...?" he asks groggily.
[18:32] <Alicia> "Flatterer," Alicia manages as much a smile as she can under the circumstances. "But I'm as human as you are. My name's Alicia - what's yours?" she asks, adopting a more informal approach until he's fully roused.
[18:33] <Kotono> He blinks again, going to rub his eyes and stand up on his own. "Darryl," he answers, and then, "Then..w.hat the hell are you doing in my house?"
[18:36] <Alicia> "My full name is Alicia Reynes. Perhaps you've heard of me?" Alicia asks now that he seems more coherent. "I came here to investigate reports of strange occurances at Erenholm... what's the last thing you remember before waking up?" she tries.
[18:37] <Kotono> "Holy fuck!" He says at that, straightening up. "The Crimson Guard?!" He gawks for amoment, "Um...you came all the way from Balmuria? Wow. I got home a little before sunset and went right ot bed. I'd been out the last several days on a trip."
[18:39] <Alicia> "Then it sounds like you missed what happened..." Alicia sighs softly. "Darryl, you might want to sit down. What I'm about to say won't be easy to hear."
[18:40] <Kotono> Darryl stands, "It can't be bad...can't it?" hea sks, looking at Alicia's face. "...what happened?"
[18:41] <Alicia> "Do you know Magur and Elyissa?" Alicia asks first as she builds slowly and inexorably to the terrible news.
[18:45] <Kotono> "Yeah, Elyissa...did she..." Darryl draws a finger across her throat. "She's been really down since her family died."
[18:47] <Alicia> "It's far worse than that I'm afraid," Alicia shakes her head. "Her and Magur, they... they butchered almost everyone in the village. We've found only a handful of survivors, including yourself." Left unsaid but far too obvious is that Claire is almost certainly among the dead.
[18:54] <Kotono> "What?" Darryl croaks out, staring. "...what? No...no. No way. Wait, Magur?"
[18:55] <Alicia> "He seemed to be the one mostly behind this, although Elyissa retains her share of culpability," Alicia nods grimly.
[18:57] <Kotono> "That...son of a bitch," Darryl's fists clench tightly, "Where is he?"
[19:01] <Alicia> "Unconscious and tied up in the town square where we've been gathering survivors." Alicia fixes Darryl with a firm look. "Don't get any ideas, Darryl - believe me, I was tempted to cut his head off myself when I brought him in, but that's not enough for his crimes. I'm taking him back to Balmuria so that everyone can see exactly what happens to murderous scum like him."
[19:04] <Kotono> Darryl takes a breath...and then goes to march out. "I'm going to go...see him," he says quietly, grimly.
[19:06] <Alicia> "I'll escort you there," Alicia tells him as she walks alongside. "Things look to be safe now, but I'm not taking any chances."
[19:12] <Kotono> The two head to the center of town. Pollyanna returns with nothing but a cat cradled in her arms. Her gaze is downward, a slight shake of her head as she meets Alicia again.
[19:13] <Alicia> "I've found Darryl here, but there's a few buildings I still haven't checked. I'll be back after I give them a look," Alicia tells the others before she goes to continue her search where she left off.
[19:17] <Kotono> The rest of the buildings are...empty. Quiet. Abandoned. No signs of life at all, regretably.
06[19:18] * Alicia returns to her crew and the tiny handful of survivors...
[19:21] <Kotono> So they are gathered under the moonlight. Darryl stands over the unaware Magur, with Antenora keeping a careful watch on him from a few feet away. Maggy blankly coddles and soothes the poor baby, and the saved children sleep still. Pollyanna comes over to Alicia, and with her eyes on the survivors, "Now what?"
[19:24] <Alicia> "This village is dead," Alicia states finally. "Two adults and four children... we're going to have to take everyone back to Balmuria. But before that, we should bury the bodies, and then we'll have to gather supplies for the journey - it'll take a lot longer on foot than it did to fly here."
[19:28] <Kotono> A silghtly long nod from Pollyanna, "Yes. Let's get some rest and try that by noon tomorrow or so?"
[19:34] <Alicia> "Alright, we'll use the inn. Get everyone set up inside - I saw some manacles in one of the buildings, so i'll go get them for our prisoners," Alicia nods, going to do just that. Antenora can guard the prisoners in the common room of the inn while everyone else sleeps in the bedrooms, then either Alicia or Pollyanna can guard them in the morning while the erinyes gets her two hours sleep.
[19:41] <Kotono> The beginning of the next day is a sunny one. In the full light of Lathander's glory the dead are laid to rest, prayers murmured and fresh earth poured over them bodies. Thereafter Alicia heads to the house now being used to hold the prisoners. They're very securely bound in manacles and rope, Pollyanna nods and leaves Alicia to them. Elyissa still looks to be out, but Magur is awake. His wounds are healing steadily enough.
[19:42] <Alicia> "He didn't give you any trouble, did he?" Alicia asks Pollyanna before she leaves upon seeing that Magur is awake. Quite a testament to his resilience considering the beating he took last night.
[19:51] <Kotono> "Not a bit. He hasn't said a thing," Pollyanna answers. "G'luck with him."
[19:53] <Alicia> "Anything to say for yourself, then?" Alicia asks as she pulls a chair out from one of the nearby tables and parks herself upon it facing the conscious prisoner.
[19:56] <Kotono> Magur turns his gaze away from Alicia, not uttering a sound.
[19:58] <Alicia> "Fine. I didn't particularly care to hear anything you had to say, anyway," Alicia spears him with a glare before she settles in to wait for either Pollyanna or Antenora to return from foraging so she can get one of them to look after Magur while she talks to Elyissa.
[20:06] <Kotono> An hour passes. During it, Magur says nothing to Alicia. He strains agains tthe manacles a few times, but otherwise...nothing. He seems to have no interest in talking to Alicia. Eventually..."We're ready," Pollyanna pokes back in, "The survivors are so dazed that they're barely arguing. Thankfully."
03[20:06] * Sierra_Mikain is now known as Sierra_OHGODTHELIGHTTHELIGHT
[20:08] <Alicia> The very first time Magur strains his manacles, Alicia very firmly tells him not to do it again.
[20:08] <Alicia> OOC: does he do it again?
[20:12] <Kotono> Magur just lies still in that case, keeping to himself.
[20:13] <Alicia> "Good," Alicia nods to Pollyanna. "Can you watch Magur for a few minutes while I see if Elyissa is more talkative?" she asks, going to pick up the still comatose woman.
[20:17] <Kotono> "Sure," Pollyanna settles in, bow kept ready.
06[20:17] * Alicia takes Elyissa into one of the adjacent rooms, closes the door behind her, then uses her wand of healing on the woman.
[20:17] <Alicia> roll 1d8+1
[20:17] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d8+1 --> 6,0[ 1d8=8 ]4,0{9}
[20:22] <Kotono> Her wounds mend further. Elyissa stirs a little at this but doesn't immediately waken.
[20:22] <Alicia> Frowning a bit, Alicia puts away the wand and then puts a hand on the woman's forehead, channeling healing spellfire into her.
[20:22] <Alicia> roll 4d4+4
[20:22] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 4d4+4 --> 6,0[ 4d4=12 ]4,0{16}
[20:34] <Kotono> That does the trick. Elyissa stirs and awakens, eyes hazy as shel ooks up at Alicia.
[20:35] <Alicia> "I only really have one question that matters," Alicia begins, looking at Elyissa with a mixture of disgust and pity. "Did Shar offer to bring them back to you?"
[20:38] <Kotono> After a moment her eyes narrow to Alicia, a look of quiet agony. "No..." Her agony manifests as a twisted, broken look. "Just to make everyone else like me."
[20:38] <Kotono> OOC - Strike.
[20:38] <Kotono> After a moment her eyes narrow to Alicia, a look of quiet agony. "No..." Her agony manifests as a twisted, broken look. "Just to make everyone else to suffer like me."
06[20:44] * Alicia pauses for a moment as she digests that. It would've been an uncharacteristic offer for Shar, certainly, but it would have brought some fleeting sense to this massacre. "These are yours. For whatever they might mean to you," she finally states, putting the doll and two rings down on the floor between them.
[20:48] <Kotono> "So?" With a wide eyed, dead look, "They're just memories now. I have nothing." Closing her eyes and looking away, "Don't pretend like you have anything, either. Even if you think you do...you'll lose it soon enough."
06[20:53] * Alicia slaps her right across her impudent face. "My husband and son were murdered nearly seven years ago," she hisses, leaning in close. "Not a day goes by when I don't feel their loss. Don't talk as if you have some deep understanding of suffering - you're just an ignorant tool for the likes of Magur and your dark mistress."
[20:57] <Kotono> With a ragged, dead look back at Alicia, "Then you know loss and you know that you can't keep anything. Why resist it?" Her face is red where Alicia smacked it, blazing crimson. "Go listen to Magur a little, he'll make you understand."
[20:59] <Alicia> "He hasn't been very talkative," Alicia replies contemptously. "And soon he won't ever talk ever again. Have anything to say in your own defence before I take you both back to Balmuria?"
[21:14] <Kotono> To that, Elyissa spits at Alicia. It misses, a futile gesture that does little.
[21:17] <Alicia> "Tch," Alicia scowls at the gesture, hauling Elyissa none too gently to her feet. "Come on, we're leaving."
[21:23] <Kotono> OOC - Do you wanna skip along now, if you're going to start travelling?
[21:24] <Alicia> OOC: Sure. While travelling we'll let the children ride the pegasi and keep the two mass murderers away from everyone else. Guard shifts will be taken at night between myself, Anty, and Polly to watch over the prisoners and watch for any random devil/wildlife attacks.
[21:25] <Kotono> roll 1d100
[21:25] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d100 --> 6,0[ 1d100=34 ]4,0{34}
[21:26] <Kotono> The travel back is long,b u t it happens without incident. The two killers are kept very well bound and secured, the caravan reaching Balmuria. While the survivors are still coping...the group has nonetheless reached the western gate of the city. Over the morning cloudiness and warmth, Alicia can see the city buzzing...
06[21:31] * Alicia goes to present herself at the gate, the plan for now being to leave the children under the care of Mystra's church while taking the adults to the garrison so they can give any statements as required while she provides her report and the prisoners are secured.
[21:36] <Kotono> Thus everyone is busy. Alicia's lot is to go report to Commander Oberuth, who breaks away from training with Abagail and the new members of the guard to come talk to her. Once inside, "I was starting to wonder," he asks off the cuff, "What caused the massive delay on return? More extensive problems than anticipated?"
06[21:39] * Alicia of course makes sure Antenora is guarding the two prisoners - especially Magur - while she's talking to Obureth. "We were too late," she admits bluntly. "Of the entire village, there are only six survivors," she indicates Maggy and Darryl, "These two and four children that I've made wards of the church for now. Not counting the two responsible..."
[21:44] <Kotono> "...ugh." Shaking his head at that, "What the hell happened then? WAs it the devils again?"
[21:46] <Alicia> "Sharran cultists," Alicia replies. "They murdered most of the townsfolk as part of some horrific ritual, and turned the survivors into monsters - we didn't even realise until after we'd killed several defending ourselves and they turned back into humans." Alicia's expression turns sick, "There were children used like that..."
[21:47] <Kotono> "....." Oberuth quietly rubs his temple at that, "Bastards. We'll take care of the children and survivors, yes, but...what about the roots behind this?"
[21:50] <Alicia> "There are two prisoners, Magur and Elyissa. Elyissa is somewhat inconsequential, though guilty all the same - she suffered a personal tragedy and turned to Shar out of despair."
[21:50] <Alicia> "Magur is vastly more dangerous - he was able to fight toe to toe against me in melee while unarmed, and is a respectably powerful spellcaster, perhaps even on par with myself. I'm going to have to insist that he be guarded by at least one of our strongest warriors right up until his execution."
[21:52] <Kotono> "If it's that big a concern, I'll see to it that the trial's damned quick," Obruth agrees very quietly. "Is there anything useful to be gotten from them? Interrogation?
[21:52] <Kotono> "
06[21:55] * Alicia shakes her head. "Neither's been very talkative. From all I can tell it was an insane ritual of devotion to their monstrous goddess. It might be worth getting information from Magur about any other Sharrans he knows of - people as skilled and powerful as him don't just appear out of nowhere."
[21:57] <Kotono> "Mmm." Oberuth considers a few moments, quiet. He shakes his head then, "I'll give them a go at it myself. I've done interrogations before in the war. Alicia, see to it that the survivors are treated right. If they need lodging, charge it to the city."
[22:01] <Alicia> "Magur had a magical belt of some sort. I'm going to get it identified and sell it to Elle, then split the money between the survivors - in trust for the children. It's the fairest way," Alicia explains sadly. "Erenholm is dead as a community, but this should let them rebuild their lives elsewhere."
[22:03] <Kotono> "That'll do well enough. Is there anything else?" Oberuth asks.
[22:04] <Alicia> "At the moment, no," Alicia shakes her head. "I'll come back after I've spoken with Elle, hopefully by then you'll have finished with Magur."
[22:10] <Kotono> "Excuse me then," Oberuth smiles ever so thinly, departing away from Alicia. OOC - Loot topic coming.
[22:22] <Kotono> roll 1d20+13
[22:22] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+13 --> 6,0[ 1d20=1 ]4,0{14}
[22:26] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
[22:26] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{20}
[22:31] <Alicia> The next morning, after having heard about the uncoopoerative Sharran prisoner from Alicia, Marie sneaks out of the house before dawn and flies over to the garrison, sneaking inside the dungeon with all the skill and stealth of a fairy ninja as she searches for the Sharran monk's cell.
[22:32] <Alicia> OOC: taking 10 for 34 on hide
[22:32] <Kotono> This goes well enough. A sleepy looking Pollyanna is staying right in front of his cell, keeping a good watch on the bound, gagged and held prisoner.
[22:34] <Alicia> Pollyanna should be receptive to what she has planned, Marie hopes. "Psst, Pollyanna," the eladrin whispers from the shadows out of direct line of sight of Magur's cell.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Hm?" Pollyanna smothers a yawn and glances. "Marie? What is it? Don't tell me you're my relief?"
[22:38] <Alicia> That... actually could work out quite well. "Yeah, sure, I can do that," Marie nods her little head up and down as Pollyanna's question causes her to impulsively shift her plan on the fly.
02[22:40] * NeremWorld (~Ari@pool-96-226-75-200.dllstx.fios.verizon.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[22:49] <Kotono> OOC - Bluff check?
[22:50] <Alicia> roll 1d20+7
[22:50] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+7 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{27}
[22:51] <Kotono> roll 1d20+1 moot
[22:51] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0moot --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{16}
[22:53] <Kotono> "Really? Good," Smiling and starting to walk away, "Just knock 'em back out if he tries to escape."
[22:55] <Alicia> "What do I do when it's breakfast time?" Marie asks, pleased that Pollyanna is so trusting. It's not a bad thing, since she'll certainly watch over the creep just as well as anyone else here could. "Letting him loose seems bad, so do I have to hand feed him?"
[22:57] <Kotono> "That's what I did, not that he wanted to eat much," Walking away now, "Good luck! Oh yes, watch out, he bites."
[22:58] <Alicia> "Eww..." Marie winces, comparing her tiny little hands with the size of a normal human's mouth. "Should've gotten Alicia to turn me into something big... when will breakfast get here, anyway?"
[23:09] <Kotono> "Should be any time," Pollyanna calls back, before turning the corner and going out of sight.
[23:10] <Alicia> Marie settles in to wait, keeping an eye on the prisoner from the same place Pollyanna was standing.
[23:11] <Kotono> IT takes a mere five minutes. A guard comes by with a small tray of food and water, looking at Marie oddly. "....You know..." he says as he holds the tray, "What do you want me to do with this, um..."
[23:13] <Alicia> "You don't have to call me sir, silly!" Marie giggles as she chooses to interpret his hesitation in the most flattering manner. "Anyway, just put it down on that table. I'll take it to the prisoner."
[23:14] <Kotono> The soldier does that, scratching his head. He doesn't press the matter, just wandering off bemused.
[23:16] <Alicia> Marie alights on the table, hopefully out of sight of the prisoner on the floor of his cell by virtue of height and distance, and quickly takes out the pouch of refined indigo mushroom powder and dumping its contents in the water, giving the mug a quick jostle to help it dissolve.
[23:17] <Kotono> The powder sinks into the water! It's thick but dissolves in, a strong, musky, mushroom scent briefly smelled. But then it passes, the water so prepared.
[23:18] <Alicia> Carefully picking up the tray, Marie turns incorporeal which makes it vanish, then flies through the cell door and reverts to corporeal form as she sets it on the floor. "Wakey wakey," she carols. "It's breakfast time!"
[23:21] <Kotono> On entering, you see Magur blankly, coldly stare at Marie. He doesn't say a word, however.
[23:22] <Alicia> Of course, he's gagged! Marie flies up to remedy that, untying the gag and setting it aside before she goes to pick up some of whatever the meal is in a spoon then fly up again level with his head, checking to see if he seems cooperative before she actually approaches.
[23:25] <Kotono> Magur stares nastily at the fairy, before smiling and chomping his teeth at her.
[23:28] <Alicia> Marie smiles back, sets the spoon back on the plate, then flies up a bit into the air above him. Drawing her bow, she smoothly nocks an arrow and fires it straight down between his feet, causing a miniature thunderclap to reverbate through the cell while a sharp tang of ozone fills their noses from the crackling projectile. Waiting a second for that to sink in, she floats back down to eye level. "Have I made my point?" she asks sweetly.
[23:31] <Kotono> OOC- Make an intimidation check, scary pixie?
[23:32] <Kotono> OOC - Er, Eladrin. I'm feeling fey today or something.
[23:32] <Kotono> OOC - Anyway, I'll give you a +3 for that little stunt. Owwie.
[23:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 -8 penalty for being tiny and not very scary looking
[23:33] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0-8 penalty for being tiny and not very scary looking --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{24}
[23:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[23:33] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+14 --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{16}
[23:38] <Kotono> After a long pause, Magur opens his mouth and glares at Marie.
[23:39] <Alicia> "Good, lets all get through this as painlessly as possible," Marie beams her approval, picking up the arrow and tossing it out through the cell bars before she gathers up a spoonful of food and commences feeding Magur.

[Corwin]

[20:13] <Alicia> [21:25] <Kotono> Magur stares nastily at the fairy, before smiling and chomping his teeth at her.
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:28] <Alicia> Marie smiles back, sets the spoon back on the plate, then flies up a bit into the air above him. Drawing her bow, she smoothly nocks an arrow and fires it straight down between his feet, causing a miniature thunderclap to reverbate through the cell while a sharp tang of ozone fills their noses from the crackling projectile. Waiting a second for that to sink in, she floats back down to eye level. "Have I made my point?" she
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:32] <Kotono> OOC- Make an intimidation check, scary pixie?
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:32] <Kotono> OOC - Er, Eladrin. I'm feeling fey today or something.
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:32] <Kotono> OOC - Anyway, I'll give you a +3 for that little stunt. Owwie.
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 -8 penalty for being tiny and not very scary looking
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:33] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0-8 penalty for being tiny and not very scary looking --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{24}
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+14
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:33] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+14 --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{16}
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:38] <Kotono> After a long pause, Magur opens his mouth and glares at Marie.
[20:13] <Alicia> [21:39] <Alicia> "Good, lets all get through this as painlessly as possible," Marie beams her approval, picking up the arrow and tossing it out through the cell bars before she gathers up a spoonful of food and commences feeding Magur.
03[20:13] * Rei-chan (Rei-chan@user-544485aa.lns5-c10.dsl.pol.co.uk) has joined #dunes
03[20:13] * Alicia sets mode: +v Rei-chan
[20:14] <Kotono> OOC: Are you feeding the food first or the mushroomed water?
[20:15] <Alicia> OOC: food first, he can wash it down with water afterwards.
[20:15] <Kotono> Magur eats the food in bath graces, but he does eat it. All that's left is the water now..
[20:18] <Alicia> Marie has to remember that little trick with the arrow for the next time Antenora makes some 'amusing' threatening comments to her, it seems to work wonders. Floating down to pick up the mug, she flies back up towards the monk's head. "Want this in little sips or big gulps?" she asks, offering him the choice since he can't drink himself.
[20:19] <Kotono> Magur doesn't say a word, just staring daggers at Marie.
[20:19] <Alicia> "Fine, I'll stop when you start to choke," Marie shrugs apathetically, floating closer and tipping the mug against his lips.
[20:20] <Kotono> Thus the water flows down Magur's throat...!
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20-4
[20:20] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20-4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{10}
[20:20] <Kotono> roll 1d20+3 con
[20:20] <Rei-chan> 6,0Kotono rolled :6,0 1d20+3 1,0con --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{20}
[20:21] <Kotono> "mguh..." The water is drank! Magur's eyes half shut after, his gaze becoming glassy. He's awake, however.
[20:22] <Alicia> Marie smiles as she sets the mug down on the tray. "Now, you want to honestly answer all my questions, don't you?" she asks smugly as she flies back up.
[20:22] <Kotono> "Uh..huh..." Magur smiles a little, nodding and drooling a bit.
[20:24] <Alicia> "Good boy," Marie nods triumphantly. "Who trained you to fight and use magic like you do, Magur?" she starts, deciding to first of all get details of as many other Sharrans as she can.
[20:25] <Kotono> "...The Prince...prince...Prince Albert Kesse..." his words are staggered, slow, drawled out.
[20:25] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 knowledge nobility, who the hell is he
[20:25] <Rei-chan> 6,0Alicia rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0knowledge nobility, who the hell is he --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{16}
[20:29] <Alicia> "You mean the Prince *of* Kesse?" Marie asks. "That's pretty far away... were you in Kesse when he trained you?"
[20:31] <Kotono> "Prince came to me..." Smiling and licking his lips, "Shar...hahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa." This seems to amuse him, empty laughter coming. "She wanted a perfect, empty soul here...She told me that secret herself...Slipped away into the night too..."
[20:31] <Alicia> "And how long ago was this?" Marie asks curiously.
[20:34] <Kotono> "Year...less? More? Who cares?" Giggling oddly at that, "Tiiimme...everything's strange now..."
[20:35] <Alicia> "Focus - answer my questions honestly to the best of your knowledge, please," Marie tells him firmly. "How long ago did you first meet Prince Albert, and how long did he spend training you?"
[20:37] <Kotono> "Year," He repeats at last, slowly. "Year."
[20:38] <Alicia> "He spent a whole year training you? In Erenholm?" Marie clarifies, wondering how a prince could get away from his royal duties for so long. Especially adding in travel time... unless he could teleport. But a year ago would have been before any of the seals were opened when such magic was all but unheard of...

[Corwin]

[21:00] <Alicia> [18:29] <Alicia> "You mean the Prince *of* Kesse?" Marie asks. "That's pretty far away... were you in Kesse when he trained you?"
[21:00] <Alicia> [18:31] <Kotono> "Prince came to me..." Smiling and licking his lips, "Shar...hahahahahahahahahahahahaaaa." This seems to amuse him, empty laughter coming. "She wanted a perfect, empty soul here...She told me that secret herself...Slipped away into the night too..."
[21:00] <Alicia> [18:32] <Alicia> "And how long ago was this?" Marie asks curiously.
[21:00] <Alicia> [18:34] <Kotono> "Year...less? More? Who cares?" Giggling oddly at that, "Tiiimme...everything's strange now..."
[21:00] <Alicia> [18:35] <Alicia> "Focus - answer my questions honestly to the best of your knowledge, please," Marie tells him firmly. "How long ago did you first meet Prince Albert, and how long did he spend training you?"
[21:00] <Alicia> [18:37] <Kotono> "Year," He repeats at last, slowly. "Year."
[21:01] <Alicia> [18:39] <Alicia> "He spent a whole year training you? In Erenholm?" Marie clarifies, wondering how a prince could get away from his royal duties for so long. Especially adding in travel time... unless he could teleport. But a year ago would have been before any of the seals were opened when such magic was all but unheard of...
03[21:01] * Alicia sets mode: +v Combat_Maid_Bot
[21:02] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Came like the shadows..." Smiling easily to that, and then laughing as he drools, "Secret walker..."
[21:03] <Alicia> "Where did he train you?" Marie presses, assuming the prince was probably using some conveyance through the plane of shadow. It fits, anyway.
[21:06] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Here and there...home and away...shadows." Licking his lips now, "Shadows."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Okay," Marie nods. "Since Shar came to you, did you meet any of her other servants besides Prince Albert?"
[21:11] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh, Elyissa...so pretty. She was so gorgeous when she cried..." With a momentary, wistful smile, "Shar must think she's a good servant now. She gave everything to her. She wanted to go see Kesse herself, you see, because Prince Albert is there." He starts to frown then, "A foolish hope, but...she was so pretty when she cried. I let her keep that hope, so that she could lose it over and over again."
[21:12] <Alicia> Marie frowns, intending to come back to the subject of Elyissa later on. "Were there any others beside her and Albert?"
[21:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh yes...they bled out and worshipped Shar," Leering at Marie with bloodshot eyes, "They had nothing left but to beg. Oh, they worshipped her..." He laughs then, "I wish I knew...more of us would have been nice. But you don't reveal the secrets even to other members of the clergy..." Smiling faintly there and faraway, "It's a shame. I bet Prince Albert has a lovely cult of his own. If you were there...he's take you and peel your wi
[21:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> If you were there...he's take you and peel your wings off for Shar, so that you could never fly again. Wouldn't that be amazing?"
[21:20] <Alicia> "Yes, I'm sure I'd be crippled by the loss and turn into a depraved murderous lunatic. Having to walk places has that effect on me," Marie deadpans, starting to feel annoyed at having wasted her insanity mushroom powder. Well, knowing about Prince Albert will have to satisfy Alicia. "How strong is Prince Albert, anyway? Stronger than you?"
[21:22] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Very strong...very strong. He is the master." Smiling as he cocks his head to the side, "He was even stronger than The Walker, I think. Isn't that lovely? The worst they have...it didn't compare to Shar. Heheheheheheheheheheh."
[21:23] <Alicia> "The Walker? What's that?" Marie asks, wondering if he means a Nightwalker like that shadow creature they found in the Nalfeshnee's ossuary.
[21:25] <Kokokokokokokoko> "The Walker. The cloaked man who isn't a man. He visited not long ago...heheheheheh." Smiling grotesquely now, "He's not from this world. He comes from a dark place...very dark. He is doing a favor for a Devil Lord...a Duke of Hell...for Shar. They shared a competing interest, you see.  Both of them..." He licks his lips, "Want to make her lose everything."
[21:26] <Alicia> "Who is 'her'?" Marie asks, though she has a sad suspicion who he means. Alicia's certainly lucky she has people like Marie in her corner, considering the enemies she accumulates with frightening regularity.
[21:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Her...the bitch that put me here..." With a sweetly tired smile, "Agares...It's so beautiful." Starting to smile, "He himself is losing everything from his words. Yet he still wants to take his revenge and take everything from her... Isn't it a beautiful secret that The Walker showed me?" He turns pensive at that, however, "But...I never learned his secret." With a slight scowl there, "Surely Shar would have liked to have learned T
[21:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Surely Shar would have liked to have learned The Walker's secret...but I never even saw his face. He was always hooded, protected, distant."
[21:31] <Alicia> Hmm, this opens up quite a few follow up questions. But first to go back to something said just previously, "But Prince Albert defeated the Walker?"
[21:32] <Kokokokokokokoko> "He could...the Walker didn't seem that strong..." Licking his lips, "He was more interested in pithy words...and that damned spicy bread. Fool." With a snort there, "Shar's servants are superior."
[21:35] <Alicia> Spicy bread? Sounds like that devil Alicia and Antenora were tracking a while ago... "So Agares and Shar both want to make Alicia lose everything - but you said they're competing, does this mean they're enemies? Or would they work together?" It would be nice if Shar played by the same rules Mystra is, and sent a servant on Marie's power level to carry out this plan.
[21:35] <Alicia> Still, if she can shoot down a titanic bone-forged abyssal siege engine, she can surely deal with anything the Nightsister has to offer.
[21:36] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Hahahahahaha...my belt. It was the favor." Mournfully looking down, "I suppose it's only fitting that I lost it then....bah." Growling low in his throat, "I'll get my revenge on her for that."
[21:39] <Alicia> "No, you really won't," Marie shakes her head sollemnly, knowing the fate this man has in store. "So, you were there when the Walker and Albert were discussing Alicia, is that right? Did either of them ever say what they planned to do to her?"
02[21:40] * Kokokokokokokoko (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
02[21:40] * Combat_Maid_Bot (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
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03[22:06] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[22:07] <Alicia> [19:35] <Alicia> Still, if she can shoot down a titanic bone-forged abyssal siege engine, she can surely deal with anything the Nightsister has to offer.
[22:07] <Alicia> [19:37] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Hahahahahaha...my belt. It was the favor." Mournfully looking down, "I suppose it's only fitting that I lost it then....bah." Growling low in his throat, "I'll get my revenge on her for that."
[22:07] <Alicia> [19:39] <Alicia> "No, you really won't," Marie shakes her head sollemnly, knowing the fate this man has in store. "So, you were there when the Walker and Albert were discussing Alicia, is that right? Did either of them ever say what they planned to do to her?"
[22:09] <Anastasia> "Agares...He wants revenge so bad, to break her soul on the flaming peaks of Avernus..." Letting a laugh rock through his body, making his eyes water heavily, "It's so deliciously personal."
[22:11] <Alicia> "How does he plan to get revenge, though? Is the Walker helping him?" Marie presses, wanting specifics.
[22:13] <Anastasia> "
[22:14] <Anastasia> "The Walker...yeah, he seems to be," After a moment there, "Trying to make sure she dies. A thousand infections, boiling just below the surface. One will get her, sooner or later..."
[22:17] <Alicia> That's the problem with devils, Marie thinks. No imagination. Hey, lets just have lots of guys running around being evil while Alicia kills them all one by one - maybe one will get lucky and kill her instead! Ugh. Even a modron could do better than that. "Yes, well," she sighs in irritation, "Did they mention any specifics about these infections?"
[22:21] <Anastasia> "The Walker...said he's going west..." LIcking his lips at that, "Said something big might be happening there..."
[22:23] <Alicia> "West of the Baronies or West of Kesse?" Marie clarifies, since he did say earlier that he was 'here and there'.
[22:24] <Anastasia> "West-west from Erenholm..." Smiling at that, "I think."
[22:26] <Alicia> Could be the Fiefdoms - Antenora did say that the devil they were tracking made reference to something there, so thinks Marie. "Okay, that's enough about the walker. What about Shar's plans for Alicia? Is Prince Albert involved with them?"
[22:27] <Anastasia> "Oh yes...he was the messenger to help with it. This lovely home she's building around herself while clinging to Mystra...pfh." With a wet, flabbering sound and his tongue lolling out, "Horrible. It must be lost. It must be destroyed. Too much influence."
[22:29] <Alicia> "And how was he planning on doing that?" Marie asks. It would certainly be nice if Albert came here, since Alicia would have to spend a fortune on teleport scrolls if she were to go to Kesse to give the man the royal butt-kicking he clearly deserves.
[22:31] <Anastasia> "Lure her in...the sacrifices can't be ignored forever. Lure in the guard...and crush them." With a growing, tired frown, "She's stronger than I thought."
[22:33] <Alicia> Marie's jaw drops in horror at that part. "You mean... all those sacrifices, everything you did in Erenholm... it was done specifically to lure Alicia to you?" she clarifies, shocked.
[22:37] <Anastasia> "...wasn't is so beautiful, too? Shar smiled at the display, I'm sure." Looking up at Marie with a curious, malicious smirk, "Like a moth to the flame. Elyissa...she was so beautiful, too. It was going to be a beautiful death for her...a gorgeous loss." Suddenly Magur's smile becomes entirely hateful, boring into Marie. "All of those villagers gave their lives to a worthy cause. They lost ev erything to advance The Lady of Loss. What more
[22:37] <Anastasia> They lost ev erything to advance The Lady of Loss. What more could they wish for?"
[22:39] <Alicia> Marie just shakes her head at the vast gulf in comprehension between the two of them. There's no reasoning with this sort of insanity. "Nevermind that. Did Albert say anything about having other agents to perform sacrifices near Balmuria or were you the only one?"
02[22:46] * Anastasia (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
03[23:28] * Anastasia (~dunefar@ip70-177-232-165.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
03[23:28] * ChanServ sets mode: +qo Anastasia Anastasia
[23:31] <Alicia> [20:37] <Anastasia> "...wasn't is so beautiful, too? Shar smiled at the display, I'm sure." Looking up at Marie with a curious, malicious smirk, "Like a moth to the flame. Elyissa...she was so beautiful, too. It was going to be a beautiful death for her...a gorgeous loss." Suddenly Magur's smile becomes entirely hateful, boring into Marie. "All of those villagers gave their lives to a worthy cause. They lost ev erything to advance The Lady of
[23:31] <Alicia> [20:37] <Anastasia> They lost ev erything to advance The Lady of Loss. What more could they wish for?"
[23:31] <Alicia> [20:39] <Alicia> Marie just shakes her head at the vast gulf in comprehension between the two of them. There's no reasoning with this sort of insanity. "Nevermind that. Did Albert say anything about having other agents to perform sacrifices near Balmuria or were you the only one?"
[23:31] <Anastasia> "Nothing 'bout that." He answers after a moment.
[23:32] <Alicia> "Mmmm..." Marie thinks for a moment, but considers it worth a shot. "You mentioned servants of Shar earlier. Do you know about any servants of allies of her that appear as short human-looking women with large black-feathered wings?"
[23:33] <Anastasia> "Sounds like an angel," Snorting at that, "Hahahahaha. Missing a friend, ar eyou?"
[23:35] <Alicia> Marie doesn't dignify that with a response. "I think we're done," she takes a half step away before pausing, "Oh, yes. One last thing. Did you have anything to do with the deaths of Elyissa's husband and son?"
[23:36] <Anastasia> "Haaaaah. That would've been amusing, wouldn't it? I wish I did. Far as I know, it was just bad luck...or just a little bit of loss."
[23:37] <Alicia> "It wouldn't have surprised me, I've heard of your kind doing things like that before," Marie admits as she replaces the gag and then picks up the food tray, turning incorporeal to exit the cell and then stand guard until whomever was actually supposed to relieve Pollyanna shows up.
[23:38] <Anastasia> On exiting out, Marie finds Commander Oberuth leaning against the opposite wall as the cell. His arms are crossed, gaze on Marie once she exits out.
[23:39] <Alicia> "Oh..." Marie blushes guiltily. "Good morning Commander... how are you, today?" she asks, trying to act casual.
[23:40] <Anastasia> "I'm fine. I slept well and I'm up with the dawn. Not that this is unusual. It is unusual to run into someone who said a little eladrin is taking over guard duty," Looking Marie in the face, "So what game are you up to?"
[23:42] <Alicia> Marie glances back towards the cell. "I thought I could ask him a few questions since I heard he wasn't very talkative to anyone else. He's been very informative to me, though," she turns back to Obureth with a guileless smile. "The effect lasts an hour, so I'm told, so if you have any questions of your own, now would be a great time."
[23:44] <Anastasia> "Uh huh." With a long look at Marie, "Not that I personally object, as I'm going to do my damnest to make him ride rope soon, but I see that Alicia's not here with you."
[23:44] <Anastasia> "However, what I do object to is to you completely trouncing our order and going off on some plan without likely telling anyone."
[23:48] <Alicia> "Um... sorry?" Marie hazards. "It's just, well, I don't think Alicia would approve. She has an oath against using poison. Something about it being dishonourable and indiscriminate - it's all very admirable, but this stuff hardly counts as real poison even if it does come from mushrooms. I didn't hurt him or anything!" she then blurts out all at once.

[Corwin]

[20:21] <Alicia> [21:42] <Alicia> Marie glances back towards the cell. "I thought I could ask him a few questions since I heard he wasn't very talkative to anyone else. He's been very informative to me, though," she turns back to Obureth with a guileless smile. "The effect lasts an hour, so I'm told, so if you have any questions of your own, now would be a great time."
[20:21] <Alicia> [21:44] <Anastasia> "Uh huh." With a long look at Marie, "Not that I personally object, as I'm going to do my damnest to make him ride rope soon, but I see that Alicia's not here with you."
[20:21] <Alicia> [21:44] <Anastasia> "However, what I do object to is to you completely trouncing our order and going off on some plan without likely telling anyone."
[20:21] <Alicia> [21:48] <Alicia> "Um... sorry?" Marie hazards. "It's just, well, I don't think Alicia would approve. She has an oath against using poison. Something about it being dishonourable and indiscriminate - it's all very admirable, but this stuff hardly counts as real poison even if it does come from mushrooms. I didn't hurt him or anything!" she then blurts out all at once.
03[20:21] * Hatbot (~Hatbot@70.114.129.129) has joined #dunes
03[20:21] * Alicia sets mode: +v Hatbot
[20:24] <Kotono> "Poison?" Keeping a steely gaze on Marie as she speaks, "Let's see now. Do you think that Alicia would approve of what you did? Obviously not, if you're hiding it from her."
[20:28] <Alicia> "It's not real poison just because it comes from mushrooms and shows up as poison when she casts a spell to detect it - if I'd been able to do this with magic no one would even blink," Marie counters. "I'm doing this for Alicia's own good. Much as I like her, she's got a horrible habit of utterly dismissing people she thinks are beneath her - it bit her in the rear with Christopher, and it would've bitten her here as well."
[20:28] <Alicia> "If she'd actually taken the time to interrogate him herself, which I bet she could've done without having to resort to insanity mushroom powder, I wouldn't have had to do anything."
[20:34] <Kotono> "Interesting. You're doing it for Alicia's own good? I had the impression she was the master. But..." Oberuth's voice levens, becoming less accusing. "That's ultimately between you and her. Why didn't you inform me or a commanding officer before your attempt?"
[20:36] <Alicia> "Um..." Marie blinks as she ponders that question, several seconds of silence stretching out, before... "It just never occured to me?"
[20:38] <Kotono> "Then listen. I give the Guard a certain degree of latitude because they've proven themselves very well. You, however? You're an incarnatino of wild chaos. Even if you're good hearted, you're still as wild as a demon. I want at least a semblence of order around here, so the next time you think of anything like this, come to me before you go and attempt anything. Clear?"
[20:42] <Alicia> In the interests of expediency, Marie decides to just act suitably chastened instead of arguing. "Alright. Next time I plan on doing something like this I'll run it by you if it's possible."
[20:42] <Kotono> "Good. As long as you abide by the spirit of what I said," He raises an eyebrow at Marie, "We won't have problems. Get outta here."
[20:45] <Alicia> "Okay! Remember what I said, though - if there's anything you want to ask the guy, now's the perfect time," Marie nods as she takes to the air and then zooms away up the stairs to head home.
[20:52] <Kotono> ---
[20:55] <Kotono> Meeting with Rods and J is simple enough. Alicia finds them at a bar in the evening, a table to themselves as they chatter away. Alicia, as the members of the Guard tend to, gets a lot of looks as she approacehs them. After sitting down and the slight noise quieting, "So what's the matter," Rods backs, leaning back heavily in his seat, as J watches Alicia neutrally.
[20:58] <Alicia> "Nice to see you both, too," Alicia smiles in faint amusement at the welcome or lack thereof. Regarding J first of all, "I see you're back from your journey South, J, but I don't see Serge. Is he okay?"
[21:00] <Kotono> J's face clouds, "Yeah, he's fine. He's just taking a few days to rest up. It's a long story," Going to her small shot glass and draining it, "So yeah, he's fine."
[21:01] <Kotono> "Nice to see you. Don't mind J, she's just...you know. Crabby. Disagreeable. Bitchy." Shrugging his big shoulders absently, "So is it a social call and wae're lucky, or...?"
[21:02] <Kotono> J takes her empty shot glass and makes to throw it at Rods head, though all that's really tossed is a nasty look.
[21:03] <Alicia> "I can't imagine why," Alicia deadpans at Rods' description. "Anyway, I admit I do have an ulterior motive, but I wouldn't mind just swapping a few tales while we're here. First of all, though," she settles in her seat, leaning on the table towards the pair, "Have either of you heard the news about Erenholm?"
[21:04] <Kotono> "I did," Rods speaks up, grinning back at J, who settles to giving him a gesture that means all sorts of unpleasant things. "Something about a massacre, wasn't it? Bad business...and you got to clean it up, I guess?"
[21:05] <Kotono> "I haven't," J settles down at that, waving a wench over and demanding another drink. Once that's done, "I'm still out of the local loop again."
[21:07] <Alicia> "I'll summarise for you," Alicia offers to J, "Erenholm's a small village a few days to the interior of the Baronies. A pair of lunatic worshippers of Shar slaughtered almost the entire town as part of some sick ritual - the two have been imprisoned and should be tried shortly, thankfully. Thing is, one of the cultists mentioned the name of another Shar worshipper during his interrogation - the one who trained him."
[21:08] <Kotono> "Shar?" J raises an eyebrow, "Isn't that the whore that's all about loss, or am I getting mixed up with Malar?"
[21:08] <Kotono> "If you want us to go and kill someone like that, sure, as long as the price is right," Starting to grin bigger at that, "This axe could use some more breaking in."
[21:11] <Alicia> "Malar's a nature deity, more like an evil counterpart of Silvanus or Meilikki," Alicia provides. "Shar's the sister of Selune and the darkness to her light. Anyway, I thought of you two because of where you said you were from - apparently, the one who taught our prisoner everything about being a murderous scumbag was Prince Albert of Kesse."
[21:12] <Kotono> PFFBTTT! Rods breaks into a bit of coughing at that, needing to pound his chest! J's eyes narrow levelly at that, "That's one helluva interesting thing to say. So you came to us because we're from the area?"
[21:13] <Kotono> "Okay, lemme retractw hat I just said," Rods manages, taking a few deep breaths in after his coughing. "You're saying that Prince Albert worships Shar and is some sort of teacher to crazed mass murderers? We're on the same page here, right?"
[21:14] <Alicia> roll 1d20+6 belated knowledge nobility, what does Alicia know about Albert that Marie doesn't?
06[21:14] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+6 belated knowledge nobility, what does Alicia know about Albert that Marie doesn't? and gets 11."12 [1d20=5]
[21:16] <Alicia> "I don't know the first thing about Prince Albert - even if Kelara is nearer to Kesse than here, there's still a huge jungle in the way," Alicia admits. "All I have is the name - there's no way the prisoner was lying about this. Prince Albert trained him how to use magic and fight bare-handed, and is a fellow worshipper of Shar. This is all I know."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Son of a bitch." Rubbing his forehead, "Well shit. Shit on a stick. Hell, guess it's time for a quick Kesse royalty lesson then, J?" Rods looks to her.
[21:23] <Kotono> J waits a moment, her new drink coming. She guns it down in one gulp, putting the shot glass aside. "Yeah, I'll give you the quick and dirty. King Denegran runs Kesse in theory...but he's old, really old. Remember that warlord we had to go smack down that ended up with us getting teleported way too fucking far? The King's not doing so well and his grip on power's shaky. Stuff like that's the natural reaction, nature abhors a vaccum and so on.
[21:23] <Kotono> Stuff like that's the natural reaction, nature abhors a vaccum and so on."
06[21:24] * Alicia nods, taking a sip of her own drink and quietly listening to the explanation.
[21:24] <Kotono> "Anyway, the point is that the King's old and feeble. However, he wasn't always so old and certainly not so feeble. He has two wives and both of them gave him several children. Five boys and three girls in total, the old man was pretty good at knocking 'em up." After a momentary pause to glance at Rods, he takes over.
[21:26] <Kotono> "Albert's the son of his first wife, but the youngest child for them. He's not really in line for the throne or much of anything, unless Prince Kort up and dies, and Princesses Giselle and Armanda don't feel like challenging for power. Once you get past Prince Kort - who is going to be such a wallflower of a king, I bet, but here not here again - it's pretty much a bunch of rich royals with nothing overly much to do."
[21:27] <Kotono> *here nor there
[21:27] <Kotono> "Yeah," J takes over again smoothly, a slight hiccup coming from her mouth. "Prince Kort puts on a good show and all when he remmebers he has a spine. But the rest kinda slip through the cracks unless you have to get outta the way of their procession."
[21:29] <Alicia> "Hmm... so as far as you know, Albert is just an idle wastrel in the background, then?" Alicia asks, tapping her fingers on the table as she digests that. "No reputation for magical or martial prowess? Not seen as especially kind or cruel?"
[21:30] <Kotono> "Pretty much. Oh, there's talk that he's the one that knocked up the Dutchess' daughter or that he'sg oing to go to the Kossuthites to train or that...well, rumors," J makes a face, "Nothing concrete. He's a rich asshole, but he's not done anything to particularly sour the people...that we've heard of, anyway."
[21:33] <Kotono> "About that," Rods speaks up then. "Wasn't Serge going on about that one bit back after the job with the giant boulders?"
[21:34] <Alicia> "I suppose it fits in a way - Shar's followers are good at keeping secrets. The instigator of the Erenholm massacre was just a simple farmer as far as his neighbours knew, despite being able to use third circle arcane magic and fight toe to toe with me in melee." She pauses at Rods' interjection, "What's that? Do you think Serge knows more about him?"
[21:34] <Kotono> J frowns then, tapping her forehead a few times. "...I think so? Shit, I can't remember, it's been too long. Hell, if it matters...Rods, go wake Serge up and bug 'im."
[21:35] <Kotono> "He might. I'm remembering something. Lemme go kick him in the ass and see if he remembers," Getting up, "I'll be back." Grinning now, "Serge could use a kick in the ass. He's still acting all mopey. He must think you're the cutest thing the side of a pair of succubus lovers."
[21:36] <Kotono> J snorts and then sighs deeply, "Subtle, Rods. Real fucking subtle. How many times do I have to tell you about that?"
06[21:36] * Alicia blinks at that phrasing. "Er..." she shakes her head, actually blushing a little. "I'll just pretend I never heard that part."
[21:37] <Kotono> Laughing, Rods departs away. Once he's gone, "...yeah, sorry. He won't pass up a chance to needle Serge."
[21:39] <Alicia> "I didn't know he was interested," Alicia admits awkwardly, briefly contemplating her mug before just taking a swig. "Mmm... anyway. How did your last job go? Better than Rods', I hope."
[21:40] <Kotono> J raises an eyebrow to that, but doesn't pursue it. Instead, "Long but rewarding. It was boring as hell, honestly. Not the worst kind of job."
[21:42] <Alicia> "Boring is good," Alicia nods with a slight smile. "I miss boring."
[21:43] <Kotono> "I keep hearing 'Crimson Guard heroes this' and 'Legendary warriors of supreme skill that'. Not finding it to your liking?"
[21:45] <Alicia> "If there's trouble then I'm certainly happy to deal with it," Alicia explains, before shrugging, "I just wish there was a bit less trouble. It seems like no matter how much I improve my skills, there's always something more horrifying and powerful around the corner."
[21:49] <Kotono> "Mmm." Taking a lean back, "You mean  you're dealing with things worse than gelugons now?"
[21:54] <Alicia> "I'd say so. Right now there are fiends moving against me that don't even fit into neat categories like 'ice devil'," Alicia nods. "Honestly, it's been a while since gelugons were the worst I could face."
[21:55] <Kotono> "No shit?" Cocking her head at Alicia, "It makes me wonder: Why the hell you, anyway? What's so special about the Crimson Guard? Did Mystra piss in a devil's drink or something?"
[21:58] <Alicia> "Well, for the devils, you remember what I told you about that invasion in the desert we stopped?" Alicia offers, not really wanting to advertise certain other dealings she's had with the baatezu. "But as for Shar and one other I don't even have a name for, I don't really know why they've made it so personal."
[22:03] <Kotono> "Ah, who can tell? I hear outsiders follow reasonings and base passions most of us will never understand until after we fill up a grave." Gesturing for another drink in the meanwhile, "What about the rest of the Guard? I have to admit, from what I have heard, that Balmuria's like a magnet for these things. I hear more stories here in the past year and change than I heard in Kesse in ten years, at least about the abnormal."
[22:03] <Alicia> "I don't think you've met her since she's been gone since before you first got here, but my immediate superior is half elf, half human, and half dragon," Alicia replies simply. After a second for that to sink in she adds, "No, I don't know how it works, either."
[22:03] <Kotono> "...." J doesn't reply, "So...you knwo what? I heard a little about Seira, but..." Waiting for her drink to arrive, J slams this one right down too. "It's like your the playground for the Gods. BAstards."
[22:07] <Alicia> "The Gods might play some role in influencing things, but the ones actually causing all the trouble - and cleaning it up - are mortals and the odd outsider," Alicia reasons, knowing J has somewhat unrealistic expectations of the divine. "Shar didn't murder the people of Erenholm, it was done by two humans."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Mph." Crossing her arms, "Yes, yes and people got to pray to nothing as they were murdered." Rolling her eyes, "Still...Blah. I'm not in the mood for that." Leaning back in her chair and half closing her eyes, which are bloodshot, "How about I call you the Divine Cleanup Crew instead?"
[22:14] <Alicia> "It's not entirely inaccurate," Alicia concedes. "Are you alright, by the way? Your eyes look a little bloody."
[22:20] <Kotono> "Oh, I'm just trying my damnest to get wasted tonight," Waving a hand aside, "Don't worry about it.
[22:20] <Kotono> "
[22:20] <Kotono> As Alicia talks, she can spy Rods returning. He's smothering a smile, coming back to sit. "Alright, I got it outta him. He still didn't feel like coming down, though."
06[22:20] * Alicia shrugs in response to J's statement, if that's what she wants to do. Turning to Rod as he arrives, she gestures him to continue. "Go on, then."
[22:20] <Kotono> "Several years back, Serge got an interesting story when we were staying in a roadside village. A local serving girl was pregnant and Serge struck up a conversation. You know, asking and congratulating and all that sweet stuff. I don't think he was getting on or naything. But anyway, the girl acted funny and Serge managed to get her to talk. She insinuated pretty heavily that Prince Albert was the father and that she'd been violated. Of cours
[22:20] <Kotono> She insinuated pretty heavily that Prince Albert was the father and that she'd been violated. Of course, Serge said he never heard anything else about it or anything but one girl's word, but..." A shrug. "Take it for what it's worth...but if he is an insane murder teacher, I guess rape's not that far removed."
[22:20] <Alicia> "No..." Alicia's expression turns grim. "I suppose it's not. It rounds out my mental picture of the man, anyway..."
Session Close: Thu Jul 24 22:22:21 2008

Session Start: Thu Jul 24 19:39:43 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[19:39] * Disconnected
Session Close: Thu Jul 24 19:39:43 2008

Session Start: Thu Jul 24 19:39:47 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[19:39] * Disconnected
Session Close: Thu Jul 24 19:39:47 2008

Session Start: Thu Jul 24 22:22:21 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[22:22] * Disconnected
02[22:23] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[22:23] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[22:23] * Topic is 'Demara > Ogre > Drow Warrior 3 > Drow Priestess'
03[22:23] * Set by Ebiris on Sun Jul 20 20:15:26
[22:24] <Alicia> protege*
[22:33] <Kotono> "True enough," Rods agrees. "So...what are you gonna do about it then? You aren't gonna march to Kesse and try and fight him...are you?"
[22:33] <Alicia> "It's not entirely unlikely that he'll come here, based on what the prisoner told my familiar," Alicia admits. "He seems to have some way of quickly moving between here and there through the plane of shadow."
[22:36] <Kotono> "Mmmph," J muses on that, "If it's here, you'll have homefield. But if you try and go to Kesse, you'll end up fighting a helluva lot unless you assassinate Prince Albert all sneaky."
[22:41] <Alicia> "At worst he couldn't be worse than Ferdi," Alicia states grimly. "He sponsored the slaughter of over a dozen citizens of the United Baronies - this can't go unanswered." Relaxing a bit and shaking her head afterwards, she concedes, "But Kesse is very far away, and since I've never been there I couldn't teleport either."
[22:41] <Kotono> "Yeah. We're going back that way eventually, but...fuck." Rods shakes his head, "I don't really WANT to trudge through the fucking jungle. It's a shitty, shitty, shitty thing to have to do. Dangerous too."
Session Close: Thu Jul 24 22:41:07 2008

Session Start: Thu Jul 24 22:41:07 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[22:41] * Disconnected
02[22:48] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[22:49] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[22:49] * Topic is 'Demara > Ogre > Drow Warrior 3 > Drow Priestess'
03[22:49] * Set by Ebiris on Sun Jul 20 20:15:26
[22:49] <Kotono> "You too," Rods then departs, leaving Alicia as well. OOC - Okay, is there anything else before we pause?
[22:49] <Alicia> OOC: I'm good