214.1 Alicia and the Kelaran Rebellion

[Corwin]

[20:09] <Kotono> OOC - Goa head and make a diplo check? +8 bonus since you really eloquently talked the hell out of them.
[20:09] <Alicia> roll 1d20+36
06[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+36 and gets 52." [1d20=16]
[20:13] <Kotono> Alicia's speech goes on! She pours her heart and soul into the words, authority and passion bleeding through. Once it is done, "Well spoken. We have heard your words," Lord Roth says, restrained. Lord Lahn smiles at that, clapping for Alicia. Lord Kelvan's face goes stony by the eighth part, yet politely claps as well.
[20:13] <Kotono> Lord Frost grimaces at it, but claps as well. "I must admit...it's a superb speech," he says grudgingly.
[20:15] <Kotono> "I've not heard better," Lord Anders says delicately. "You make a rousing case."
[20:16] <Kotono> "An amnesty's not a bad idea," Lord Lahn does agree to that. "The sooner things go back to normal, the better. As for the rest?"
[20:18] <Kotono> Lord Kesper shrugs, "Maybe she's right. She grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth, being of the Reynes family. She's made quite the name for herself out east in the Baronies."
06[20:18] * Alicia smiles at the mostly positive reaction and responds to their praise. "They are only words, however - though on my travels across this world and others I have seen enough that I think my ideas have merit," she nods respectfully to Lord Kesper at his recognition of her experience.
[20:18] <Alicia> "Deeds are what Kelara needs, however, and it will be up to all of you to actually choose what will be done to remedy the dire situation this land has fallen into."
[20:19] <Kotono> "The council thanks you for your words, Knight-General. You may go now." Lord Roth says.
06[20:20] * Alicia had intended to leave an ominous warning of what might occur in future if the concerns of the countryside are not met, but given how everyone seems to be giving her words the proper thought she deems it churlish. "I thank the august assembly for its time," she bows respectfully before sweeping out of the chamber.
[20:23] <Kotono> Once out of the chamber, Antenora continues. "Back home for now or...?" she asks. "Did you want to get information from our captive first?"
[20:28] <Alicia> "He'll just lie or mislead me. We'll go early tomorrow once I have a spell to ensure he speaks the truth," Alicia replies. "Anyway, regarding trials where the outcome is already known, I don't particularly see it as a problem when guilt is admitted to and self evident. It was much the same for Magur and Elyissa in Balmuria, after all."
[20:28] <Kotono> "I suppose."
[20:28] <Kotono> OOC - GAh.
[20:29] <Kotono> "I suppose." Antenora walks along for a little bit, the two exiting to outside. A drizzle has begun to fall, a slow, clouding rain. "Thinking about it, that's not what's entirely bothering me. There's something else. Since I lost my composure like a child in the middle of interrogating David..." Her voice turns rather annoyed at that. "For such a silly reason, too."
[20:31] <Alicia> "You just found out you'd inadvertently delivered the order for an assassination," Alicia consoles, charitably forgetting about the whole succubus thing. "I don't blame you for being upset."
[20:35] <Kotono> "No, not that. That wasn't a silly reason." Shuffling her feet and looking down, shame and a blush coming to her face. "Though that certainly made my mood far worse on thet rip back to Kelara."
[20:37] <Alicia> "What, you mean when he said you're alluring?" Alicia asks, giving the erinyes a sidelong look as they stroll through the drizzly streets.
[20:39] <Kotono> "I don't know, I just..." Crossing her arms and blowing out, letting the rain fall on her face, "I'm finding out how nice simple touching is. Back in Hell, you're only touched when something wants to hurt you or use you. Now...it was so pleasant having Jessica resting against me. Warm and I felt...I don't know. Protective, and the simple contact felt very good in it's way. Reassuring."
06[20:43] * Alicia nods understandingly. "It is nice, whether it's romantic or platonic or filial," she agrees. Hesitating a moment, she goes on, "I've never felt comfortable asking before, but... what was your childhood like? You said once that erinyes are fiercely protective of their young, but is that all there is to it?" her voice is gentle, not wanting to dredge up bad memories if they exist (which is likely, hence her never asking before).
[20:45] <Kotono> Antenora looks up at the raining sky, before looking very much away from Alicia. "A good deal of our instincts are born in. However, our parents...reinforce them, and we reinforce them onto our peers. Oh, they're certainly protective, but it's not a kind protective. Imagine a sin...young erinyes do it to each other with all the malice and hatred in the multiverse."
06[20:49] * Alicia doesn't doubt that Antenora gave every bit as good as she got. Not wanting to dwell on that, she simply reaches over to take the other woman's hand and give it a comforting squeeze. "Hopefully you'll have a long time to explore the your new feelings, then."
[20:51] <Kotono> "I will." Turning to smile at Alicia, she squeezes her hand back. "But..." Her blush returns a little, "I've never wanted to ask you this too much, either. But...how nice is it to hold someone you love? Someone you love like your husband? I've been starting to wonder how real love feels. Something that's more pure than being some succubus whore-alike."
06[20:58] * Alicia smiles wistfully. "It's the ultimate act of union," she waxes poetically. "Really, bards have been trying and failing to encapsulate it in words for as long as there's been language, and I doubt they've succeeded. It's so much more than simple physical stimulation - which is pleasant, don't get me wrong - it's like... the closest you can get to becoming one with someone you've given your heart to."
[20:58] <Alicia> She briefly looks around embarrassedly after her speech. "Mystra, listen to me. I'm as bad as any bard..."
[20:59] <Kotono> As you walk out of the city, the gates still open if guarded, the two allowed through without comment in the rain, "Becoming one with someone." Antenora murmurs, "Something to fight and strive for. I've seen the way Demedais looks when he talks about Pollyanna...or Jessica talks about Roald."
[21:02] <Alicia> "It's a rare and precious thing, true love," Alicia agrees. "To be honest though, fighting was the last thing on my mind when I was with my husband. Well... except when we argued, but that's a different sort of fighting," she chuckles briefly in recollection.
[21:05] <Kotono> "I'd like to have it one day. One day, when I don't look like a succubus reject." Antenora walks down the patha way from the city, stopping now. "I really wish there were more men in Balmuria that weren't taken, didn't openly distrust me, or aren't apathetic. Well, that and being strong enough so they aren't in danger being around me."
[21:08] <Alicia> "Give it time," Alicia pats Antenora on the back. "Although I'm not quite sure what we can do about the looks - obviously you don't want to stop being jaw-droppingly gorgeous so I suppose the demonic wings are the issue? At least you don't have horns or cloven feet or a tail."
[21:10] <Kotono> "I'm lucky I wasn't born a Bearded Devil," With a very slight smile to that, "Maybe one day we can do something about it. Maybe one day.." With a momentary twinkle in her eye, "We'll both have someone to love instead of being alone?"
[21:14] <Alicia> "Maybe..." Alicia shrugs at that. "To be perfectly honest I've little interest in trying to recapture the romantic bliss of my youth. The life I lead now isn't really conductive towards it."
[21:16] <Kotono> "I suppose, but..." Antenora slows down again, "Shouldn't you be happy like that again? It's not fair if you fight the rest of your life for a happiness you only had for your youth."
[21:18] <Alicia> "Fair rarely comes into it," Alicia doesn't sound terribly bothered. "Really, I'm happy enough the way I am now, anyway."
[21:19] <Kotono> "Well..." Starting to really smile now, "I'm not sos ure about that. If Marie and I put our heads together, I'm sure we could find someone for you."
06[21:21] * Alicia snorts. "If that's what it takes for you two to get along, knock yourselves out," she laughs.
[21:21] <Kotono> "I have to admit, it would be a better use of time than bickering," Antenora says as the two come to within sight of Alicia's childhood home.
[21:23] <Alicia> "I think everyone would agree with that, yes," Alicia nods as they through the gate and up the path towards the manor itself.
[21:32] <Kotono> OOC - What's next on your list? Anything there or skip along?
[21:35] <Alicia> OOC: I'll have a brief chat with big sis to make sure she's okay and ask if she wants to come back to Balmuria with us tomorrow or stick around here a bit and get picked up after Esthan
[21:41] <Kotono> Alicia and Antenora find Jessica sitting in a guest room. She's lying on her bed, wearing an entirely out of place but very nice silk nightgown. "Come in," she calls to Alicia's knock, going to sit up on the bed.
[21:43] <Alicia> "Resting after a hard day's decorum lessons?" Alicia asks sympathetically as she enters.
[21:44] <Kotono> "Oh, sister!" Smiling at her, "Yes, Mother is insane!" With a cross look, "I need refinement lessons and social callings and courtings and new dresses and a dozen other things! Mystra above, I think that she's overcompensating!"
[21:45] <Kotono> "And new nightclothes?" Antenora asks, eyeing the delicate blue garb Jessica wears.
[21:46] <Kotono> "Oh, this? An upstanding woman needs something nicer to wear than plain clothes." Jessica picks at the front of it, "It's soft and all, but I was fine sleeping in underclothes or a simple light gown."
[21:47] <Alicia> "Maybe she thinks if she'd forced us to do all those things when we were younger we might have turned out differently?" Alicia shrugs as she goes to sit on the bed. "Or maybe she's just trying to connect with you in the only way she knows how."
[21:49] <Kotono> "It's aggrivating!" With a little glare of frusturation, "Who cares if you use a seperate spoon for your soup and your main dish? Who cares if you have two different forks for a salad? Or if I have to wear clothes that cost at least ten gold coins a dress! I could buy plenty of food and supplies with that money!"
06[21:51] * Alicia reaches over to pat her sister's shoulder. "Sadly a lot of people care about precisely those things. Mother isn't just some crazy woman of strange habits, she's a perfect example of an upper class lady."
[21:52] <Kotono> "It's wasteful. That money could help a lot of the poor or help a hero buy the gear he needs to protect everyone." With a long look, "It's just so wasteful."
[21:53] <Alicia> "Or that money could let a tailor feed his family?" Alicia suggests delicately.
[21:53] <Kotono> "Your mother's showing her love," Antenora stays standing, "Enjoy it for what it is."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Mph." Looking down now, "Maybe, Alicia. Still, she's so...so..." Shaking her head, "In a month she'll have me dressed up like a doll, laughing with other ladies of standing and talking about marrying someone who increases the family's social authority."
[21:56] <Alicia> "Well, I take it you'll be wanting to come back to Balmuria with us tomorrow, then?" Alicia asks knowingly.
[21:58] <Kotono> "Yes," Jessica says quickly, "She's my mother and Mystra knows that I'm supposed to love her, but..." Closing her eyes, "I'm not cut out for a life like this. I'm happy making sure the house is clean and being with all of you in Balmuria. I don't want to be some perfume scented noblewoman in training."
[22:00] <Alicia> "That's fine," Alicia pats Jessica's back. "It won't be long before we'll be able to visit regularly, anyway. I've got to get up early so I'll be going to bed now, but we'll probably be leaving in the morning."
[22:01] <Kotono> "I need to rest as well," Antenora stands up, "Sleep well, Jessica, Alicia."
[22:04] <Kotono> Alicia awakens in the middle of the night! Antenora's already waiting inside of her room, sitting on the foot of her bed. "Ready when you are," she says.
[22:06] <Alicia> A lesser woman would be unsettled, but Alicia is well used to people entering her room while she sleeps and so proceeds to get cleaned up and dressed after focusing on her spells. "Lets go," she confirms, casting voice of the archon right away since the duration will easily last the journey.
[22:13] <Kotono> Going back under the cover of darkness, you find the city gates closed. The guards outside open the gates on confirming it's Alicia, allowing the two to enter. The trip to David's prison is a long one - the prison building is set deep within and underground. They aredmitted down a deep, dark flight of stairs. Torches light the way at the bottom, two guards there. However, their double swords are lying on the ground. Each leans against the wall,
[22:14] <Kotono> However, their double swords are lying on the ground. Each leans against the wall, a look of utter rhapsody on them.
[22:15] <Alicia> "Oh... you are fucking joking!" Alicia snarls, knowing that look. She promptly marches straight to the cell, knowing that she'll find one of those wretched black feathers there. Taunting her.
[22:16] <Kotono> "Shit!" Antenora runs with Alicia, dark words coming from her mouth! They go down, finding the cell door ajar, about 40 feet away when seen. A glorious yellow light comes from inside of it.
03[22:16] * Sierra_Mikain (~Melanchth@pool-71-191-19-58.washdc.east.verizon.net) has joined #dunes
[22:17] <Alicia> She might still be there, in that case. Alicia draws the Sword of the Sealed Gate in one hand while her other clutches the despair token that Elle made. "Remember your token to ward against her aura!" she hisses at Antenora, running forward now that she's suitably protected.
[22:23] <Kotono> Antenora takes a moment to grab hers, spear in one hand as she rushes ahead! As they do, they can hear HER voice. "For something far better than now." It is a glorious voice, one that makes your skin crawl with magnificence. Rushing ahead to the front of the cell, the two see her! It's impossible to truly look at her, too much, too perfect. Even her back radiates an allure that you only barely feel in control of. David is there, staring empty-e
[22:23] <Kotono>  Even her back radiates an allure that you only barely feel in control of. David is there, staring empty-eyed up at her. "But...they've come. The ones who must be judged and comdemned for their sins. Do you understand now? Do you hear them as they rush down the hall?" OOC - roll intiaitve here, I think.
[22:24] <Alicia> roll 1d20+5
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25." [1d20=20]
[22:24] <Kotono> roll 1d20+5
06[22:24] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+5 and gets 17." [1d20=12]
[22:25] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
06[22:25] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 27." [1d20=15]
03[22:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zetsuboku>Aliica>Antenora'
03[22:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Zetsuboku>Alicia>Antenora'
[22:27] <Kotono> "Aaaaah?" She turns, impossibly glorious. It is staggering to even look at her, like waves of glory crashing against your insignificant mortal shores. "You would so compound your sins and stand against me?" There's a note in her voice - a note of surprise. OOC - She's holding for the moment. Alicia, you're up.
[22:29] <Alicia> "What sins?" Alicia demands through slitted eyes, her left hand dropped behind her and clasping her ward while the Sword of the Sealed Gate is brought up into a guard position. Having to keep these things held is a horrid liability for her and Antenora so any combat is likely to go poorly for them, therefore she stalls! "You said that before but you never said what I did that merited your judgement."
06[22:30] * Alicia also glows with her own glorious radiance.
[22:30] <Alicia> Which probably doesn't compete, but she does what she can/
[22:32] <Alicia> And she channels a dispel magic into her sword, since that's something she can do while talking without it being noticable.
[22:32] <Kotono> "Impossible..." she draws back for a second, "You truly resist...you...." Her voice turns angry, "You have brought back those sinful charms!" The radiance becomes hot, scalding, too bright, like looking direclty into the noon sun. "You, who wallows in sins...feel your judgment!" OOC - Will saves, ou two.
[22:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+22
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+22 and gets 32." [1d20=10]
[22:33] <Kotono> roll 1d20+16
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+16 and gets 30." [1d20=14]
[22:36] <Kotono> It's staggering! Alicia can see everything! Everything around her - her sins, her failures, her hatreds. Ever murder, every lust, every jealousy, everything magnified! It is over...overpowering! She finds utter revulsion rising to within her heart, utter disgust! But...but...a few images stay in her mind's eye. The image of her sister, smiling in the moring over breakfast. Demedais and Seira, laughing as the the party rests and recovers after a
[22:36] <Kotono> Demedais and Seira, laughing as the the party rests and recovers after a hard battle. Antenora, holding Alicia's hand and smiling with all her soul. Her husband and child, looking on at her with endless love. Tot hat, somehow, the images fade to a manageable distraction! OOC - Anty saved as well, she's up.
[22:37] <Kotono> The clatter of Antenora's pear on the ground is a loud, welcome distraction! She quickly grabs one of the daggers from Alicia's back, a snarl on her face, "You...are...DEAD!" OOC - She's up.
[22:37] <Alicia> OOC: no she's not
[22:37] <Alicia> OOC: she held till after me
[22:38] <Alicia> OOC: so it's my turn, now
[22:38] <Kotono> OOC: Oh yeah, dur. Sorry.
03[22:38] * Alicia changes topic to 'Alicia>Zetsuboku>Antenora'
06[22:40] * Alicia can only imagine how bad what she just endured must have been for the ex-devil, and glares at the creature before her. "WHO are YOU to judge us?!" she demands, lunging forward to stab into her black heart with the sword of the sealed gate. She can use her true seeing scrolls in a moment but first she must ensure that there will be no escape for their foe... which is admittedly an optimistic mindset.
[22:40] <Alicia> roll 1d20+31 smite, 4th level channel, charge, divine might
06[22:40] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+31 smite, 4th level channel, charge, divine might and gets 42." [1d20=11]
[22:40] <Kotono> OOC: D100.
[22:41] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[22:41] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[22:45] <Kotono> Alicia stabs forward! The raw awe around her clouds her eyes, making the stab a hard affair! She thrusts forward bu can't quite get the attack right! It misses by a hare's breath, going by her chest! "You...!" She steps back again, close to the wall of the cell. "You truly revel in your own sin! I'm sorry..." her voice drops, "You have become even more sinful since I last saw you. I must stop your degenerate life soon...David, I am sorry, but t
[22:45] <Kotono> I must stop your degenerate life soon...David, I am sorry, but today...Evil claims to setback all that is right. Aaaah..." With that, she is gone! The overwhelming feeling leaves the room! David continues to stare empty eyes, while Antenora stares hatefully at where she was.
06[22:47] * Alicia stabs her sword into the stonework with such ferocity that it's embedded almost halfway to the hilt. "Damn her!" she swears furiously. "If she wants to judge me then why flee? Is this some sick game to her?"
[22:48] <Kotono> Antenora doesn't say anything, but leans against the wall. She slowly slides down it, anger seeming to melt away from her body. Instead...tears come. Soft, silent tears as she falls to lean-sitting against thew all.
[22:49] <Alicia> That manages to puncture Alicia's rage, causing her to go and sit beside the erinyes, putting an arm around her in a gesture of mute comfort.
[22:50] <Kotono> Antenora quickly wipes her eyes, blinking it away. "I-I'm okay," she turns to Alicia. "Overwhelmed me." Smiling with wet cheeks, "Bitch. That stupid, judgmental bitch. Like a fucking vulture that waits to pick away refuse."
[22:52] <Alicia> "She's insane," Alicia concludes coldly. "She must be - this was a perfect chance for her to kill us both if her capabilities have not been oversold. Why not take it?"
[22:53] <Kotono> "There must be some reason." Cleaning her face with the back of her hand, "Mystra knows what it is, though." Standing up, Antenora leans on Alicia until she rises, then goes to get her spear. "At least...at least she didn't get away with him. But...why? Is she trying to torture us?"
[22:54] <Alicia> "Fattening us up for the slaughter, it feels like," Alicia replies bitterly as she helps Antenora up, retrieving her sword with a grunt while the erinyes recovers her spear.
[22:55] <Kotono> "She's done this several times throughout the years, according to what we know. There has to be a guiding principal to it, dammit!" Goign to lean against the wall inside of the cell, "It feels like a sick parody."
[22:56] <Kotono> "And...to what end? We just went through agony to save a man who's going to be executed at dawn?"
[22:57] <Alicia> "Better that he die cleanly than live through what she would have done to him," Alicia replies grimly, looking down at David as she resheathes her blade.
[22:58] <Kotono> "Yes, but....damn her to the darkest pit of the Hells!" Snarling abruptly and slamming her fist into the wall, "Her very existance insults me. Every venomous word she utters makes me want to slaughter her. Coming like a messenger of light and justice and shitting all over it and us! Does she think it's funny, some sort of joke that she gets her jollies to?"
[23:01] <Alicia> "She's either a consumnate actress, or she sincerely believes what she says..." Alicia calms down a bit as she considers things. "Perhaps she was once a being of fair judgement but her mind snapped, leaving her with an impossible definition of what is good and consiging everything else to evil? I don't know..." she shakes her head, "And she obviously isn't in the mood to talk, either."
[23:01] <Alicia> OOC: is David still properly tied/chained and such?
[23:01] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[23:03] <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if these charms are retroactive..." Alicia leans over David and presses the ward into the palm of his bound hand to see what happens.

[Corwin]

01[21:26] <Seira> [22:58] <Kotono> "Yes, but....damn her to the darkest pit of the Hells!" Snarling abruptly and slamming her fist into the wall, "Her very existance insults me. Every venomous word she utters makes me want to slaughter her. Coming like a messenger of light and justice and shitting all over it and us! Does she think it's funny, some sort of joke that she gets her jollies to?"
01[21:26] <Seira> [23:01] <Alicia> "She's either a consumnate actress, or she sincerely believes what she says..." Alicia calms down a bit as she considers things. "Perhaps she was once a being of fair judgement but her mind snapped, leaving her with an impossible definition of what is good and consiging everything else to evil? I don't know..." she shakes her head, "And she obviously isn't in the mood to talk, either."
01[21:26] <Seira> [23:01] <Alicia> OOC: is David still properly tied/chained and such?
01[21:26] <Seira> [23:01] <Kotono> OOC: Yes.
01[21:26] <Seira> [23:03] <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if these charms are retroactive..." Alicia leans over David and presses the ward into the palm of his bound hand to see what happens.
[21:26] <Kotono> > "Yes, but....damn her to the darkest pit of the Hells!" Snarling abruptly and slamming her fist into the wall, "Her very existance insults me. Every venomous word she utters makes me want to slaughter her. Coming like a messenger of light and justice and shitting all over it and us! Does she think it's funny, some sort of joke that she gets her jollies to?"
[21:26] <Kotono> <Alicia> "She's either a consumnate actress, or she sincerely believes what she says..." Alicia calms down a bit as she considers things. "Perhaps she was once a being of fair judgement but her mind snapped, leaving her with an impossible definition of what is good and consiging everything else to evil? I don't know..." she shakes her head, "And she obviously isn't in the mood to talk, either."
[21:26] <Kotono> <Alicia> OOC: is David still properly tied/chained and such?
[21:26] <Kotono> > OOC: Yes.
[21:26] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Anyway, lets see if these charms are retroactive..." Alicia leans over David and presses the ward into the palm of his bound hand to see what happens.
[21:29] <Kotono> The charm doesn't seem to do anything for David. He continues to stare in his complete estatic emptiness.
06[21:32] * Alicia grimaces as she pockets the charm. "So much for that... I doubt he'll recover before his scheduled execution, either."
[21:33] <Kotono> "Ask for a stay." Antenora pokes him a couple of times, "There's a good extenuating circumstance."
[21:34] <Alicia> "It feels a bit miserly, but I suppose there's no helping it," Alicia sighs. "Stay here and I'll see if I can find one of the guards still active upstairs?"
[21:35] <Kotono> "Alright," Antenora says as Alicia heads up. Heading back up the stairs, she finds a few guards on normal patrol.
06[21:36] * Alicia flags down the guards. "Who's in charge of this dungeon?" she asks, wanting to take this to the top.
[21:37] <Kotono> "Lefttenant Pierce," The answer comes with a quickly done salute. "Ma'am."
[21:37] <Alicia> "I need to speak to him, then," Alicia nods primly. "There's been an intrusion."
[21:39] <Kotono> "Ma'am," A salute to her again, leading her to him. He sits in an office, feet up, though these go right back to the ground just as Alicia gets a glimpse of it.
06[21:41] * Alicia isn't here to care about the man's posture. "Lefttenant Pierce," she nods to him. "My friend and I were going downstairs to speak with the prisoner, as you know, when we discovered an intruder in his cell with him," she begins.
[21:41] <Kotono> "Ah dammmit!" He swings up and to standing up in a quick motion. "Dammit! ?You mean THE prisoner, ma'am?"
[21:43] <Alicia> "As if I'd be talking about any other," Alicia nods. "The intruder fled when confronted, but both the prisoner and the two guards outside his cell have been left insensate from her presence - I've encountered this exact same occurence back in Balmuria, and all three will likely won't recover until mid-morning at the earliest."
[21:43] <Kotono> "Ah DAMN!" He rushes out, ellowing to the soldiers outside, "More guards on the prisoner David, now! Full alert, someone tried to break him out!"
[21:44] <Alicia> "I've left Antenora with him, just so there's no misunderstandings," Alicia adds helpfully.
[21:47] <Kotono> "Yes yes, thank you," Looking back, "Is there anything else? I need to mobilize the entire prison guard rotation now."
06[21:50] * Alicia looks a bit conflicted, not really wanting to press this too strongly. "Given the circumstances, I think a stay of execution might be in order, at least until he regains his faculties. If you could convey my request to your superiors I'd be obliged."
[21:50] <Kotono> "Uh...you'll need to go to the top, ma'am. I can stop them from taking him at dawn until you can talk to someone." Eyes widenening, "That's way out of my pay grade."
[21:53] <Alicia> "I suppose I can take it to the council directly, I just thought following the chain of command might be best. That's fine, then," she nods. "I'll go and collect Antenora the see about doing that once I can find one awake at this hour."
[21:55] <Kotono> "Ma'am," he salutes again before going off. Alicia returns to the cell and finds Antenora and about six guards already there, staring. Antenora steps away from them, "They came running like all the hordes of Hell were after them."
[21:57] <Alicia> "Would you want to be the one to explain that the prisoner disappeared on your watch?" Alicia asks dryly. "Anyway, we'll need to find a member of the council to make any sort of request for a stay of execution."
[21:58] <Kotono> "
[21:58] <Kotono> "Oh, waking up one of them in the middle of the night. This'll be fun," Antenora tries to smile, her cheeks still showing a bit of a hint to her recent distress. OOC - Move along to that, and if possible, any preference on one you waken?
[21:59] <Alicia> OOC: lets go with Lord Roth since he seems to have the most clout
[22:00] <Kotono> About an hour before dawn, after pulling severals trings, Lord Roth arrives at the prison. He's dishelved, a squad of soldiers with him. He goes to sit in the leftenant's office, dismissing the man away with a word. "Tell me what in the name of the blazing abyss happened."
[22:03] <Alicia> "We came here early to ask David a few questions prior to his execution - mostly making sure he didn't have anyone 'behind' him guiding the rebellion, so to speak. Upon arriving we found a... creature - I don't know what she is, I don't even know her name - in his cell with him," she explains.
[22:03] <Alicia> "This being is known in the United Baronies, Pallanth, and Malmuth for absconding with prisoners and... well, altering them. Few can even stand to look at her without being rendered utterly insensate. However she appears to have little taste for direct conflict, for she immediately fled when challenged."
[22:07] <Kotono> "I see. Will she return soon?" Lord Roth asks.
[22:08] <Alicia> "Unlikely," Alicia hedges. "Her words indicated she was giving up on this one, and we managed to recover a prisoner from her back in Balmuria and she's made no further attempts on him. I couldn't rule it out entirely, though."
[22:09] <Kotono> "Get what you can out of him. Once we're done will go on with the execution. I don't suppose dawn in srealistic now, but I'd like to have it done by noon in any event. David escaping would be a horrible disaster for us. Is there any way we can assure that she doesn't try again?"
[22:10] <Alicia> "There are wards that allow people to withstand her aura - I can have the method for crafting them passed to the temple of Mystra here so that they can be distributed to the prison in case of future incidents," Alicia offers. "But when dealing with someone who can teleport freely there's really little way to completely prevent coming and going without powerful magic."
[22:12] <Kotono> "Then hurry. I'd rather execute him sooner than later then," Lord Roth says, "Get him together and get the information out of him that you will."
[22:16] <Alicia> "We'll wait here in the prison so we can proceed as soon as he wakes up, then," Alicia inclines her head gratefully.
[22:17] <Kotono> OOC - Skip along a bit then?
[22:18] <Alicia> OOC: please
[22:21] <Kotono> Dawn passes. About an hour after(And a really poor breakfast of gruel provided by the prison kitchen, if Alicia's hungry), David finally starts to stir. It's slow at first, his blinking and slight noises minor.
06[22:23] * Alicia sits in his cell, waiting for him to fully rouse himself. She also finally stopped glowing after noticing an hour ago. It's oddly easy not to notice, for some reason.
[22:23] <Kotono> "Ugh. Shit. My head." He grimaces before blinking. HE fixes on Alicia. "Well...am I dead, and are you an angel to take me away?"
[22:24] <Alicia> "Not yet," Alicia shakes her head grimly. "Do you remember your other visitor from last night?"
[22:26] <Kotono> "Oh yeah. Gorgeous. That's about it, it's a blur," Shaking his head again, "Man alive, I seem to be a magnet for pretty women lately. Maybe the universe is trying to make up for my execution."
[22:27] <Kotono> Antenora stands in the doorway of the cell, her arms crossed. She doesn't say a word.
[22:28] <Alicia> Well he's handling this better than Christopher did, that's for sure. "There are worse things than death. You just met one of them and were spared, if that gives you any comfort," she observes, sympathetic in spite of her strong dislike for the man.
[22:29] <Kotono> Smiling broadly, "For which I'm grateful, right? It's only natural that I trip over myself thanking you so that I can die on schedule today."
[22:31] <Alicia> "Didn't you say yourself that the afterlife would hold no fear for one who knows what to expect? I'm sure you'll receive exactly what you want from it," Alicia's tone turns a bit frostier.
[22:31] <Alicia> "In any case I have little desire to be in your company for much longer so I'll keep this brief - my friend here doesn't think you could have pulled off the rebellion on your own," she cocks her head towards Antenora, "So tell me true, were you guided by another?"
[22:31] <Alicia> DC 21 will
[22:31] <Kotono> roll 1d20+8
06[22:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[22:32] <Kotono> "Ah, no confidence in me," he smiles to Antenora. "That stings."
[22:33] <Alicia> roll 1d120+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d120+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind and gets 115." [1d120=105]
[22:33] <Alicia> roll 1d20+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind, haha not that
06[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d20+10 sense motive, Anty feel free to roll for your own peace of mind, haha not that and gets 15." [1d20=5]
[22:34] <Kotono> roll 1d20+18
06[22:34] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+18 and gets 36." [1d20=18]
[22:35] <Kotono> roll 1d20+22
06[22:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+22 and gets 27." [1d20=5]
[22:37] <Alicia> "I suppose we just got lucky, or you unlucky," Alicia seems satisfied as she gets up. "Goodbye, David."
[22:39] <Kotono> "Ah well, no kiss before the gallows?" David calls. Antenora follows Alicia out.
[22:44] <Kotono> OOC: What's your agenda now, 'licia?
[22:44] <Alicia> OOC: teleport back to Balmuria and beg an Analyse Dweomer spell off Elle to ID my loot (and Hell Striker) and ensure Marie hasn't burned the house down
[22:45] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, we'll cover that tomorrow.

[Corwin]

[20:44] <Kokokokokokokoko> Gathering up Jessica and Antenora, the three say goodbye to family once more. "Do come back soon," Arthur says, "I'm sure your brother misses you."
[20:44] <Kokokokokokokoko> "I wonder how he is..." Alicia's mother ponders that, as they talk in the tea room. "Now that this ghastly business is running down..."
[20:46] <Alicia> "There's a matter in Pallanth that requires our attention, otherwise we'd stay a bit longer," Alicia apologises. "But if all goes well we'll return after that's been dealt with."
[20:48] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Soon..." Jessica smiles a little too widely.
[20:48] <Kokokokokokokoko> "It was pleasant to meet all of you. Alicia has a fine family," Antenora goes to shake your father's hand. "I'll ensure that she comes back unharmed."
[20:49] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Be safe," Your father instructs, "The more I hear about the Baronies, the more worrisome your times there become. Such a wild, dangerous place."
06[20:50] * Alicia takes out the first of the two teleport scrolls that Taldeer so generously provided - she'll have to pay her back next time she visits. "Kelara isn't exactly a beacon of stability right now, either," she notes gently. "Hopefully things will improve, though - you two ready?" she looks between Antenora and Jessica.
[20:51] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yes!" Jessica says very quickly.
[20:52] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora walks over to Alicia, holding out her hand. "Ready whenever you are."
06[20:55] * Alicia gives Jessica an unamused look at her transparent eagerness to depart. It may be understandable but she should at least try to be polite. "Here we go, then..." she reads from the scroll, focusing on Atarum Oasis as a quiet out of the way but reasonably hospitable and memorable destination spot before she takes Antenora and Jessica's hands and vanishes.
[20:55] <Alicia> roll 1d100 lets say it's studied carefully
06[20:55] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 lets say it's studied carefully and gets 7." [1d100=7]
[20:58] <Kokokokokokokoko> The three appear under several palm trees. The shade here helps against the instant heat that engulfs them. The palm trees are clustered around one of many stone wells, a few people nearby, some of which who are currently gawking at the three women.
06[20:59] * Alicia doesn't intend to linger, taking out scroll number two and reading from it as she focuses on her living room, repeating the process.
[20:59] <Alicia> roll 1d100
06[20:59] * Hatbot --> "Alicia rolls 1d100 and gets 11." [1d100=11]
[21:05] <Kokokokokokokoko> Woosh! Alicia appears in her liv-OH DEAR GODS! The party of the century is going on, eladrin in wild deb-actually no. Alicia's living room is currently quite peaceful. A sense of serenity, kindess and vigilance fills the room. Sitting on the floor, eyes closed and meditating, is Hopiel.
[21:07] <Alicia> "Hopiel!" Alicia smiles widely. "Not the celestial I expected to find on arriving home, but a very welcome one nonetheless!"
[21:09] <Kokokokokokokoko> Standing up in one fluid, gravity defying motion, "Marie went out while I mediated. Courre eladrin and meditation are compatible concepts."
[21:09] <Kokokokokokokoko> *Are not
[21:09] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh...wow." Jessica stares slacked jawed, squiting. "I...Oh, MYSTRA..."
[21:10] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora hangs back slightly.
[21:10] <Alicia> "She does pretend to have a short attention span," Alicia agrees before performing introductions. "This is my sister, Jessica, and this is Antenora, the erinyes that Marie briefly mentioned before," she indicates each in turn.
[21:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> The strong feelings in the room recede, becoming far less overt. Her glances at Jessica, taking a warm smile. "I'm sorry, my presence can be difficult for people not strong attuned to elemental good to withstand." Then his attention goes to Antenora, looking at her. Deeply looking at her, "I've never met a risen fiend like this, face to face. It gives me hope that there's more point to our endless battles than to slaughter and oppose
[21:15] <Kokokokokokokoko> point to our endless battles than to slaughter and oppose each other's sides for eternity."
[21:17] <Kokokokokokokoko> "It's a miracle," Antenora says quietly. "Your thanks and hope should go to Alicia more than me."
[21:19] <Alicia> "You took the first step, even if it was motivated more by self interest at the time," Alicia tells Antenora, "But really there's no point getting into that sort of debate." Turning back to Hopiel, "Has Marie filled you in on the situation regarding Esthan?"
[21:20] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Did she brainwash you? Unless she did, you have to have wanted to change. Besides, a thousand slain fiends oppose my ideals unto oblivion. One changed fiend reaffirms them." After that, he turns back to Alicia. "I've heard, yes. This fiend is playing a dangerous game. I would agree he is likely a Pit Fiend or a supremely skilled greater devil."
06[21:24] * Alicia idly rubs the ring finger on her right hand as she nods. "He might reveal his true form when pressed into battle, or he might be content to simply rely on his magic and nothing more," she reasons. "Although with you on our side we do have a counter to such magic - and speaking of that, I have something you might like."
[21:25] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh?" Hopiel smiles at that, "What is it?"
[21:26] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora lingers near Hopiel, who glances at her and nods openly. "If you like," he says to her. "There's no need for stealth, is there? I find it exceedingly distasteful even when it's neccsisary."
[21:27] <Kokokokokokokoko> Antenora blushes a little bit at that. "It's..." she starts, but instead full stops. "When Alicia's done with you then."
[21:28] <Alicia> "Just a moment and I'll get it," Alicia smiles as she heads upstairs to retrieve the Treasure of the Soul. While she's assured of some privacy in her room she glances at her right hand. "What?" she mutters irritably. "Killing that balor wasn't enough? Will you be satisfied if I kill Esthan?"
[21:28] <Kokokokokokokoko> The ring doesn't do much of note, like give a hint or speak or anything. At least the cold ache is gone again.
06[21:29] * Alicia sighs and dismisses it, walking back downstairs with the greatsword held in her hands.
[21:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> Jessica has gone to sit a ways away from all of this, eyes mostly on Hopiel. She shakes her head every so often, but it doesn't seem to do much good.
[21:30] <Kokokokokokokoko> "A greatsword?" Looking at it, "It appears to be a fine weapon. You wish for me to use it?"
[21:32] <Alicia> "You probably remember this sword as the one I wielded on the astral plane," Alicia explains. "I originally took it from a fallen planetar who served Torm - my presence on the astral was actually to purify it of sin. Now it has been blessed by Mystra to grant wisdom and sanctity of mind for the wielder, as well as striking especially true against fiends. As recompense for you coming to our aid, I believe it would serve you well."
[21:32] <Alicia> At that she holds it out, laid flat between her palms.
[21:33] <Kokokokokokokoko> Hopiel reaches out, taking the blade's hilt. He holds it, lifting it to point up to the hidden heavens. "A fine weapon," he says, "If there was once sin on it, I cannot feel it. Do you mean it as a loan or as a gift?"
[21:35] <Alicia> "It is yours to keep," Alicia nods with a smile. "Certainly, I can think of few better to wield it."
[21:36] <Kokokokokokokoko> Holding it in one hand, Hopiel reaches to his back. He draws his greatsword, presenting it hilt first towards Alicia. "Take this weapon as a gift and a token of my esteem. There are few worthy of an angel's sword. You are one of them."
06[21:38] * Alicia shakes her head. "Truly, Hopiel, there is no need. Your presence in the coming battle is more than payment enough. Any further trade is unnecessary."
[21:39] <Kokokokokokokoko> "It's not payment. It's a gift." Hopiel insists.
[21:42] <Alicia> It would only be rude and embarrassing to protest further, so Alicia accepts the gift in the spirit it's intended, taking hold of the oversized blade. "In that case I accept," she ducks her head gratefully.
[21:51] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Now then. Marie should be back soon, and Antenora wanted to talk with me. Unless you'd like to come along?" Hopiel invites.
[21:54] <Alicia> "No, that's fine," Alicia shakes her head. "I have to go and visit Elle Stronger to see about getting some magic items identified. I'll see you all later," she gently sets Hopiel's... no, her, sword onto the table and hefts her backpack before heading off to do just that.
03[22:04] * Seira is now known as CC
[22:05] <Kokokokokokokoko> Thus Alicia heads to Elle's shop. As she goes, climbing up the hill leading to it and feeling the cooling sea breeze blowing down onto her, she can see the people looking at her. Many of them are city folks or likely to, the numbers of those growing quickly. Traders as well; traders, travelers, demi-humans. Arriving at Elle's shop, you find several people there. Alice is helping an older man with a cane and a limp as he looks over som
[22:05] <Kokokokokokokoko> limp as he looks over some scrolls. Another is a bushy-headed man, talking to Rods and dickering over a pair of bracers in his hands. Elle herself is talking with a well dressed man, wearing light jewelry and silken clothes.
06[22:06] * Alicia settles in to wait until Elle is available, not being so crude as to queue-jump. She's not in any particular hurry, anyway.
[22:08] <Kokokokokokokoko> "That's a lot," Elle whistles loudly, "Tell Lord Salman that I'll accept the commission, of course, as fast as it can reasonably be done. I recently sent him and the Commander of this city a message relating to that and wanting more crafters." Meanwhile, Rods growls low in his throat, "I'm not paying that much for those, even if I had it! Besides, ten to one, if you're showing them to me instead of selling to the Countess there, you'r
[22:08] <Kokokokokokokoko> if you're showing them to me instead of selling to the Countess there, you're trying to rip me off." The older man is reading a scroll, squinting at it with a monocle in his eye, "Not quite, no. Third circle magic. That flaming sphere is a poor patch on a real fireball, let alone competent magic!"
06[22:09] * Alicia cooly eyes Rods and his friend, ready to step in if their enthusiastic haggling gets out of hand.
[22:10] <Kokokokokokokoko> The other man grunts a that, putting the gauntlets away into a backpack he wears. "Yeah, fine, I'll go sell it to her. Your loss." As he goes to stand respectfully behind the well dressed man talking to Elle, Rods stretches and goes to look over at some martial weapons on display. His gaze takes his eyes over Alicia, he grins a moment and nods to her.
06[22:11] * Alicia nods in greeting to Rods. "If you're looking for weapons I've got a pair of daggers of the same make as that axe of yours," she tells him. "Of course, I won't know what they're worth until I get Elle to appraise them."
[22:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Lord Salman will be pleased," The well dressed man says smoothly. "I can't comment on your other concerns, but he wants these done as fast as reasonably possible."
[22:12] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Hm? Oh, where'd you get those? Kelara?" He approaches over, "More of that gnome gear?"
[22:13] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Fly. A good spell, but so good that I already have backup scrolls," The old man tsks, going for another one. "I can't blame you for that, it's a classic."
06[22:14] * Alicia nods as she produces the pair of wickedly barbed daggers from her backpack, deftly twirling them in her grip. "Someone over there looted a gnomish ruin and went on a bit of a rampage. Apparently these have quite a reputation, but I don't know yet if it's justified," she smiles thinly, "He never got a chance to use them against me."
[22:17] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Lucky you. I cut myself with my axe in training a few times. Hurts like shit," Peering at the two, "Eh, I might. Depends on how much they're worth. We're trying to resupply, but also have a good egg of traveling money for when we pull up stakes from here."
[22:18] <Alicia> "Dagger's probably not as good as a greataxe, for you," Alicia admits as she looks the heavily muscled man up and down. "Not unless they've got something spectacular on them." Carefully she puts them back into her backpack, glancing around the unusually crowded shop. "Never seen the place so busy. Elle must be pleased."
[22:19] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yeah. So yeah, I heard you were in Kelara. How is it over there, I figure we'll pass through one of these days,"  Rods says. "I'd wanted to catch you about that sooner or later."
[22:22] <Alicia> "It's seen better days," Alicia admits. "The former owner of those daggers instigated a full on uprising that killed half of the ruling nobles. People are scared and angry all over..." she shakes her head, "I'm hoping that with him out of the picture things will calm down and hopefully end up better than before if the nobles actually learn their lesson and address the concerns that let rebellion take root."
[22:23] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Ah hell," Scratching his beard, as Elle takes a scroll from the welld ressed man, "Well, if we hear it's bad as we get close, we'll skirt around. I really don't wanna get involved in a civil war." After a moment he shrugs, "Oh, how's your friends?"
[22:25] <Alicia> "Wise policy," Alicia nods her approval. "And which ones? I just got back a half hour ago, so I haven't even seen Seira and Demedais, yet."
[22:25] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh, ah..." After a pausing moment, "Say, Antenora?"
[22:27] <Alicia> "Hmm?" Alicia cocks her head. She wasn't sure if Antenora had even said all of two words to Rods. "She's fine." No need to say how shaken up she was by their encounter with that horrible nameless thing. "She went for a walk with another friend who's visiting us right now."
[22:28] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Nice. But yeah, we're staying at Seira's now. NIce place, she offered us free room and board for a favor we did for her. Nice girl, but she has more problems after her than J after a drunken tavern night."
[22:30] <Alicia> "Lot of that going around," Alicia chuckles. "Still, Seira's tou- well, I was going to say tougher than she looks, but she's effectively a humanoid dragon, so she looks very tough. You should have seen her a year ago, though - hard to believe someone so fresh faced could make captain."
[22:31] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Yeah. You get all sorts of surprises around her," Rods rubs the back of his head, grinning at Alicia. "Anyway, I need to gt back. Say hello to your familiar pixie-angel thing for me."
[22:32] <Alicia> "Will do," Alicia gives him a little wave as she continues to patiently wait for Elle to finish with Lord Salman's intermediary.
[22:35] <Kokokokokokokoko> The two are just finishing up, shaking hands as he turns to go. He stops towards Alicia, "Captain," he says, "Good day to you." Then he heads out and away, back into the summer sunshine.
[22:36] <Alicia> "Good day," Alicia nods in return, heading over to Elle once he's gone. "Who was that?"
[22:39] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Someone from teh capital, messenger for Lord Salman. They want me to do some commissions." Smiling at that, "Don't worry about it. Anyway, what can I do for you? Buying something?"
[22:40] <Alicia> "Not quite yet - although I might be interested in that vivacious greataxe at some point. For now, though, I'm hoping you prepared an Analyse Dweomer spell today, because I've got a lot of mysterious magic items to identify!" she grins as she plops her backpack on the counter.
[22:43] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Oh, wait, that? Karan...bourg, I think?" Elle frowns at that, "Well, you're going to have to do a touch of work to get it. I sold it. But oh yes, I can do that. Lovely things, gnomish?" She peers at the dagger, tapping one of the barbs with her finger. "OW!" He cry is quite loud, getting the attention of Alice and the old man. Grabbing a bit of cloth from beneath the counter and applying to her finger, "Yes, gnomish."
[22:44] <Alicia> "Really?" Alicia's face falls, though she dutifully reaches over to take Elle's hand and heal her trivial cut. "Oh... well, if you come across any similarly enchanted weapons in the future, do let me know - I'm certain I'll have need of one at some point."
[22:45] <Kokokokokokokoko> OOC: 1 HP.
[22:45] <Kokokokokokokoko> "I can do a little better than that. I know who bought it and I can point you their way," Elle answers. "I don't know if they'll sell it back to you, but you can try if you want."
[22:47] <Alicia> "If they bought it then they surely need it, so that probably won't do me any good," Alicia sighs. "Anyway, there's quite a few other things besides the daggers," she proceeds to lay them all out on the counter. "And while you're at it, why don't you take a look at Hell Striker as well? I've never had it properly divined," she unslings her sword and sets it down as well.
[22:49] <Kokokokokokokoko> "Right. Anything else?" Elle asks, "Those are easy enough to do. After that and anything else, I was thinking of going to get a drink and putting my feet up over at Seira's. Want to come?"
[22:50] <Alicia> "That sounds good to me," Alicia smiles. "I could do with a break after all that grief in Kelara."



[20:46] <Kobrb> --------------(Coca Kola Ko)----
[20:48] <Kobrb> Walking through the dragon mouthed entrance to Seira's inn, you can hear sounds trickling outside. Sounds of talk and revelery and fun, the sort of sounds natural to this sort of place. "So how was Kelara?" Countess Stronger asks.
03[20:52] * Kobrb is now known as Kotono
[20:52] <Alicia> "A lot worse than I remember," Alicia replies with a sigh. "Even allowing for the fact that there was a rebellion going on. I'm not even talking about fighting and rioting - there wasn't even any of that, the whole thing was assassinations and scare tactics. But everyone seemed to use it as license to utterly forget about such concepts as manners and common courtesy."
[20:52] <Alicia> "You couldn't walk down the street without perfect strangers yelling abuse or throwing eggs at you for no reason."
[20:54] <Kotono> "How queer." Going to the bar and sitting, Elle orders, "Wine for me," she says, with a momentary glance at Alicia. "I'm not an expert, but doesn't social distinegration and anarchy rely more on riots and bloodshed, rather than bad manners and egg throwing?"
[20:59] <Alicia> "The entire rebellion was a queer thing," Alicia notes, pausing to order, "Pear juice, please," then back to the conversation. "I mean, I'm no fan of the noble council - had it been a genuine movement for political change I might have even sided with the rebels."
[20:59] <Alicia> "But it wasn't - the whole thing was down to this crazed anarchist running around using charm magic to get people to buy into his ridiculous 'kill the people in charge and maybe things will get better eventually, I don't really know or care, though' plan."
[20:59] <Alicia> "Calling it a rebellion is really a misnomer. People were dying, but it was from daggers in their backs and poison in their food - there were no riots or battles that I saw or heard of."
[21:00] <Kotono> "...curious." AS the drinks arrive, one can note a male bard entrancing several listeners with a bold tale about the Crimson Guard versus the hordes of Malmuth. "The entire thing sounds like the product of a demented mind on a sick country. You said yourself you'd support it under better circumstances," With a raise of her eyebrow, "Really?"
[21:07] <Alicia> "Well, the nobles really concern themselves with the city and view people living in the surrounding towns as incidental - I used to live in one of those towns myself, so I understand the grievances of the people living there. But fundamentally I think it's down to how the country is run."
[21:07] <Alicia> "Kelara's system of government is a mess," Alicia nods as she takes a sip of her juice. "You get a room of people of equal rank in a room together, all with their own differing agendas and petty rivalries, and expect them to lead a country in a sensible direction?" She snorts. "I've heard people say it's the best system since it encourages compromise and debate, but if you ask me it's like herding cats."
[21:07] <Alicia> She shrugs and sets her cup down, "I mean, this 'rebellion' is a perfect example, really. It's been going on for months, with nothing being done to stop it while social order disintegrates all around - Antenora and I are there for three days and the ringleader is caught like that," she snaps her fingers.
[21:08] <Kotono> With a smile there, "Perhaps Mystra granted you a boon? My apologies," AS Elle drinks down a sip of wine, "But Kelara sounds woefully incompetent so far."
[21:09] <Kotono> Taking another drink, "Then again, not everyone can be competent. As far as I knwo, the Baronies are strong, the elves are strong, Malmuth is recovering from Ferdi, the Desert's strong..." Taking that time to put down her glass, "Perhaps it's simply natural that one country be inept at a time."
[21:13] <Alicia> "And what do all of these strong countries have in common?" Alicia asks, gesturing grandly. "A single unifying leader - a visible symbol for the people to rally around, and one who has the final say and final responsibility for all decisions. Don't get me wrong," she shakes her head,
[21:13] <Alicia> "I'm not saying that's the be all and end all - the Fiefdoms are a horrible place to live if you're low down the social ladder, and what I've seen of Malmuth isn't so great either, but those countries are at least stable and the people protected."
[21:13] <Alicia> She takes several gulps of her drink, collecting her thoughts. "I'm hoping this will give Kelara the wake up call it needs to at least focus more on proper governance - maybe if they pull their heads from their behinds that gang of nobles will actually prove effective. But only time will tell."
[21:16] <Kotono> "I'm of the opinion that a strong leader's natural." Elle sips down her wine slowly, savoring and keeping in control. The bard's song is getting rowdier, as the Guard defeats one hundred and eight score Malmuthian knights at once. People are clapping along to it as well. "The strong rally people." With a sly look at Alicia and lowering her voice, "You or Seira or many other of the guard could do the same, like that." A snap of her fingers, "If
[21:17] <Kotono> A snap of her fingers, "If you wanted to sit around ruling things instead of adventuring. People want - need - heroes and champions on a level. Something to believe in, just like Gods. Look at how people revere the Guard in Balmuria. You've been here a year and most people in the city would do anything you ask of them."
[21:18] <Kotono> Alicia can notice, if she's of a mind to glance, that some familiar mercenaries have come down the stairs and are currently watching the bard perform: J, Rods and Serge, though they don't seem to have noticed Alicia offhand.
[21:21] <Alicia> "Exaggarated tales like that one do their part," Alicia nods in the bard's direction ruefully. "I remember Beth once said something like that to me, though - that the two of us could have taken over Kelara if we'd worked together. I didn't really take the concept seriously, but... well, considering what I saw back West, it's something I can't not think about."
[21:27] <Kotono> With a long drink of her wine then, "You know...if you do, pay attention to Seira. You know how she tries to have the Church of Waukeen improve everyone's life? If you decide to be called Queen," She keeps her voice whisper soft, "It's not just ruling. It's making people's lives better. The Crimson Guard, it makes the people's lives better by making them safe and secure. But, they don't have to worry about the grain harvest or droughts or trade
[21:27] <Kotono> But, they don't have to worry about the grain harvest or droughts or trade disputes. A ruler does."
06[21:34] * Alicia nods. "I know. And those aren't things I want to worry about, either - I've trained almost my whole life as a warrior, and I think that's what I can do the most good as. But seeing how easy it was for an incompetent with no long term planning to almost take over, I can't help but think that I could do it myself... and might get tempted to, if no one else seems up to the job of providing leadership."
[21:34] <Alicia> She frowns and swirls her cup around in her palm, "That's why I really hope those nobles can get their act together and fix this mess they've made through their own negligence," she concludes quietly.
Session Close: Mon Dec 08 21:34:47 2008

Session Start: Mon Dec 08 21:34:47 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[21:34] * Disconnected
02[21:35] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[21:35] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[21:35] * Topic is 'Alicia>Zetsuboku>Antenora'
03[21:35] * Set by Alicia on Wed Dec 03 22:41:08
02[21:35] * Kyoko (~corwin@bzq-79-177-119-135.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
Session Close: Mon Dec 08 21:35:29 2008

Session Start: Mon Dec 08 21:35:29 2008
Session Ident: #dunes
02[21:35] * Disconnected
02[21:35] * Attempting to rejoin channel #dunes
03[21:35] * Rejoined channel #dunes
03[21:35] * Topic is 'Alicia>Zetsuboku>Antenora'
03[21:35] * Set by Alicia on Wed Dec 03 22:41:08
02[21:35] * Marianne (~corwin@bzq-79-177-119-135.red.bezeqint.net) Quit (Broken pipe)
[21:37] <Kotono> Elle whispers a few words, touching Alicia's shoulder. Thereafer, under the effects of Message, "Sorry, I'd rather not talk about a quasi-coup in public so lightly." she says. "But I don't know, either. Even if it's not for your fate, you could install someone competent. Take a grand sounding title, like Queen-Mother Regent or Empress or whatever, and assign someone to rule in your stead? Of course, that's if they prove unable to solve their ow
[21:37] <Kotono> that's if they prove unable to solve their own problems."
[21:38] <Kotono> "Before you ask," With a sunny smile, "The answer's no. Seira tried to get me to take the position Claris has in Valandia. I'm not interested."
06[21:40] * Alicia rests a hand over her lips as she mouths her response. "Then it's a matter of finding someone competent that I trust and actually wants the job." Letting her hand fall away to show her own smile in response, "It's true what they say about wizards being genuises," she comments aloud before resuming their silent conversation.
[21:40] <Alicia> "I don't want such a role either, but all this just has me thinking I might have to if things don't go well for Kelara in the days ahead."
[21:41] <Kotono> "Who then?" Elle leans forward, as if covering her mouth for a yawn. "Do you have any ideas yourself? There's that strapping young lad Donald..." Her eyes drift to wherehe normally is, though he's not present to play bouncer. "No, bad idea, even if he was here."
[21:43] <Alicia> "Kelara can't have a foreigner for a leader anyway," Alicia shakes her head, still covering her mouth. "If I were going that far I'd be as well just helping one of the neighbouring kingdoms conquer it, and that's something I'd never permit."
[21:44] <Kotono> "Mmm." After a long, thoughtful pause, "Your sister, perhaps. She's certainly caring enough and I know she has an appetite for learning." A curious pause here, Elle stopping to call for another round. AS glasses are refilled, "Or perhaps...if she's trustworthy, Antenora? No attachments to mortal kingdoms and certainly will see the long term over the short term."
06[21:47] * Alicia snorts. "She did want to be a queen when we first met," she mutters aloud, waiting for their drinks to be refilled before continuing more silently. "My sister has a bad reputation among any who'd remember her, anyway..." She resumes talking normally, "Lets just hope it doesn't come to require any such measures. Have I missed anything of note here while I was gone? I haven't seen my familiar yet so I'm not caught up."
[21:50] <Kotono> "Not really...well, one thing.  Seira came back midweek in a tizzy. A redirected or failed teleport, she argued that it was the will of Waukeen, but I know the spell enough and I don't care to argue it, put her down in the middle of a ship battle. An efreet and fire elementals were assaulting a ship from Wetwind Harbor. Bey Onur, one of Seira's friends from there, and his aide, Deniz, were with her and Donald when it happened. During the fight,
[21:50] <Kotono> Deniz, were with her and Donald when it happened. During the fight, Deniz fell. I helped ferry the few survivors back to Balmuria, there's still resting upstairs."
[21:52] <Alicia> "Fire elementals... on the ocean?" Alicia raises an eyebrow, before she lowers her gaze at the mention of casaulties. "May their Gods watch over them."
[21:53] <Kotono> "From what I reckon, the efreeti was behind it. The Amir of...something, I forget. The worst part is that he got away. Seira was furious. Furious." The second time she speaks aloud, voice heavy with meaning. "Deniz is resting here. I believe that Seira and Bey Onur hope for a miracle to bring her back."
06[21:55] * Alicia nods respectfully. "I heard of such a miracle occuring in Pallanth, a woman who died in childbirth was returned by the grace of Corellon Latherian. But to even hope for such a thing is probably courting disappointment."
[21:56] <Kotono> "It costs nothing to hope," ELle counters thoughtfully. As she drinks again, "Alicia." A man's voice, a familiar voice. Serge. He comes up to the bar, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"
[21:58] <Alicia> Her reply to Elle cut off, Alicia swivels around slightly towards the dwarf. "No, we were just catching up," she replies politely. "What can I do for you, Serge?"
[21:59] <Kotono> "Oh, I thought I'd offer to buy you a drink," he says, going to sit on a bar stool. "I heard you were in Kelara, so you must recently have returned with magic.
[21:59] <Kotono> ""
[21:59] <Kotono> Elle shrugs, "I don't mind, Alicia," she says via message. "Dwarves are rare enough company."
[22:01] <Alicia> "Just got back less than an hour ago," Alicia confirms giving Elle a brief nod. "I'm having pear juice," she tells him, hoping he won't insist on strong alcohol of some sort.
[22:02] <Kotono> "That's fine." He puts a gold coin on the counter, "Barman, drinks for both of the ladies." The gold is taken, drinks refreshed. Once that's done, "But yes, I heard." After a long, drawn out moment, "I heard you visited your family in Kelara as well?"
[22:03] <Kotono> Farther back, one can see J keeping a not as causal as she thinks watch on Serge and Alicia, a drink in hand.
[22:05] <Alicia> "We're not especially close, but it would still be rather rude to go all that way and not visit them," Alicia notes with a half-smile, sipping her drink. "My sister hasn't seen them for over ten years, so it was nice for them to be reunited, at least." No sense complicating things with the whole amnesia issue.
[22:07] <Kotono> "Ah." A mug of water is brought to Serge, who drinks deeply. After a pause, "So, would you like to go see a play," he asks, changing gears completely. "There's one in the new quarter of town tonight."
06[22:12] * Alicia almost - almost - says something horribly tactless to the blind dwarf in response. Fortunately she's possessed of a fair degree of decorum and charm, so said thought never reaches her lips.
[22:12] <Alicia> Instead she performs a quick mental checklist. He's propositioning her. He's doing so in a reasonably polite manner. He's interesting company. Good enough. She's not looking for love or anything, but it sounds like a nice enough way to spend an evening. "I do enjoy theatre," she smiles. "What's the play about?"
[22:13] <Kotono> "The final battles of the liberation war for the United Baronies," he answers, "It's the first time being preformed by this troupe, though I hear they're quite good."
[22:13] <Kotono> Elle smiles a little, and on the wings of a whisper, "Do you like dwarves," she wonders aloud.
[22:15] <Alicia> "All the ones I've met have been nice..." Alicia replies silently in the same manner. Admittedly the physical differences do pose a number of questions, but really, what's the harm in just watching a play? "Hopefully it's not too outlandish and we might actually learn something about the history of this land," she notes aloud. "Alright, Serge. When and where?"
[22:16] <Kotono> "Sundown. I can meet you at your home, it's not toof ar from there," he replies, a smile coming onto his face.
[22:18] <Alicia> "That suits me," Alicia agrees pleasantly. "I'll see you then?"
[22:18] <Kotono> Serge is just as pleasant, tipping his head towards Alicia and standing up, "Until then!" As he goes off, under the guise of whisper, "That was a pleasant distraction. Are you interested?"
[22:22] <Alicia> "I can't fault his manners, and he's been good enough company whenever we've spoken in the past," Alicia replies to Elle once Serge has left, briefly glancing at J to see if her interest has waned. "I don't know if it'll go anywhere - normally these things don't, anyway - but there are worse ways to spend an evening."
[22:25] <Kotono> J's interest is more on the returning Serge now. "Nothing lost," Elle agrees, "Besides, not all of your life has to be doing and brooding on matters of such deadly importance. Go out, have some fun, live a little."
[22:29] <Alicia> "I know I'm still attractive, but I think I intimidate most people," Alicia reflects. "I suppose it's only fitting that a blind man would be the first in Balmuria to sincerely court me."
[22:30] <Kotono> With a twisting smile, "I would think it's a side effect of being so famous. You're more like an idol of perfection than an attainable goal." Going back to her drink now, "Ah, I've done the same myself on a lesser scale in my youth. HE's also an outsider to Balmuria and experienced in battle as well. To him, I imagine, you're more of a person than a hero."
[22:33] <Kotono> After a few moments to ruminate on that, "If you start glowing, people might even mistake you as a greater being of the light." With a sidelong look to Alicia, "You also have an entrancing force of will and personality."
06[22:36] * Alicia snorts at that last comment. "I do sometimes wonder; I was so young and simple back when I married. Would Hans and I be able to make the same connection if we met today? I've changed a lot since then..."
[22:39] <Kotono> "I don't know." Elle admits this. She looks down to her mostly full wineglass, before drinking half of it off. "Seira and Demedais and Antenora? All three of them can make me stare at them just by a few words or a motion. They have it, but you're even better at it. You radiate raw charisma like no human I've ever seen. You've met various outsiders aplenty. You remind me more of what I might planar binding or summon than a human." She says that
[22:39] <Kotono> planar binding or summon than a human." She says that very slowly, thoughtfully as she finishes her glass. (More)
[22:40] <Kotono> "Antenora's an outsider and a peculiar one at that, but the three of you are human...well, not Seira, but let's not nitpick the pont. Yet you outdo them. On occasion, it's more like I'm spending time with a vision of divine force that happens to be my friend, instead of what you are."
[22:40] <Kotono> (More)
[22:42] <Kotono> Putting her glass aside, and resting on her hands, eyes on Alicia, "It's gotten more pronounced lately. You cast magic not far behind myself, you fight as well as the most experienced warrior and you virtually radiate goodness. No, you literally do with that nimbus of light around you, when you will it. So... I guess the answer is...that I really don't know. I'd like to think that love isn't something you outgrow, but..."
[22:42] <Kotono> No, you literally do with that nimbus of light around you, when you will it. So... I guess the answer is...that I really don't know. I'd like to think that love isn't something you outgrow, but..."
[22:50] <Alicia> "No... but it's hard to love on equal terms if you can't relate to one another," Alicia replies as she digests Elle's words. "The way you describe me... it's like the stories of people entranced by fey creatures. They breed obsession, not love," she leans her elbow on the bar and cups her chin as she faces Elle. "I suppose it's an impression I've helped to cultivate, though."
[22:50] <Alicia> "I like to think I'm an example that humans can be as strong as any fiend, as puissant as any dragon, as just as any angel. I wouldn't say I'm perfect but I can certainly rival such beings on a good day. But perhaps I'm simply making myself as unattainable as they are."
[22:52] <Kotono> "It's not a bad thing if you want to be aloof. Do you?" Elle asks seriously, looking Alicia right into the eyes. "It would be easy enough if you really wanted a lover, I imagine, but...what would it be now?"
[22:56] <Alicia> "Hmm... it's funny, really. Antenora asked me the same thing this morning," Alicia admits. "But to be honest... no. You're right, if I wanted a lover I could certainly be aggressive and take one. But I don't - I'm not alone anymore, I have lots of friends, and even something of a family again. Romance just..." she pauses a moment as she considers her phrasing, "It's nice, but I can live without it."
[22:58] <Kotono> "That is odd." Chewing on her lip, "Then again, I've read of half celestial children far in the past, but they're certainly not common. Perhaps...perhaps this is natural for you to feel that way as well? I hate to keep comparing you to them, but just listening to you talk..." Elle smiles, apologetically. "Maybe it's something you're meant to outgrow? Maybe it's Mystra's will that you're on this path?"
[23:00] <Kotono> Looking at her glance, "Or maybe I'm just gettind drunk," she adds, "Tsh, I should know better than to drink that much already. A drink is fine, three is a good way to wake up with a persistant headache."
[23:02] <Alicia> "Outgrow is a sad way to put it," Alicia shakes her head. "Sune would most certainly disapprove," she adds with a slight smile. "I'm just saying it's not necessarily for me. Once I was perfectly content as a wife and mother, but I'm content this way as well. Neither is necessarily better than the other." She then laughs and pats Elle's shoulder, "Wine isn't so bad. You wouldn't believe the noxious stuff I had to drink in Kelara."
[23:04] <Kotono> "Haha." Smiling now, "I was just telling you to go have fun, then I'm saying you should outgrow romance. I'm a big idiot." Smiling warmly to Alicia, "Go on, I think I'm going to listen to a bard's tale or two and take an early evening. Go, get dressed up a little, have a good time."
[23:06] <Alicia> "Take care of yourself, Elle," Alicia gives the redhead an affectionate squeeze on the shoulder. Leaving a few copper coins to pay for her non-Serge-bought drinks on the bar, she gets up and slings on her backpack before heading off home.

[Corwin]

[20:38] <Kosick> --------------------
[20:39] <Kosick> Evening comes. Alicia's home is more or less quiet. Oh, there's Marie's normal noise, and Antenora's out back training. But really, it's peaceful enough right now. Ideally, Serge should be here fairly soon. OOC - Goa head and set yourself up? Moment.
[20:46] <Alicia> Marie should be busy reading that gnomish book so she can provide a summary to Alicia later on! After reminding her familiar of her obligations, Alicia resumes fiddling with that puzzle-box she recovered from the dragon's lair - Marie claims to have solved it recently but it eludes Alicia exactly how.
[20:46] <Alicia> For this evening she's dispensed with her usual black tunic and leggings, instead wearing a long pale blue dress with a darker blue shawl over her shoulders while her hair is worn long. It's nothing close to fancy, but the break from routine manages to earn her familiar's beaming approval.
[20:46] <Alicia> "I meant to get my hair cut, today..." she notes, idly fiddling with her unbound tresses. "Have to wait till after Esthan."
[20:49] <Kosick> As Alicia frets a little over her hair, in a most relatively unusual manner, there is a knock on her door. That should be him with any fortune.
[20:51] <Alicia> "Good luck!" Marie calls from her book as Alicia gets up and goes to answer the door!
03[20:58] * taifk is now known as taibraindead
[21:00] <Kosick> Opening the door, you do find Serge there. He wears a black tunic and pants, well pressed and clean. He wears a simple white cloth over his eyes, a bouqet of flowers in his hand. "Good evening," he says seriously, smiling to Alicia as he presents blue and yellow flowers to her.
[21:03] <Alicia> "Thank you," Alicia accepts the flowers and takes a sniff before realising she doesn't have a vase handy and... oh, there's Marie.
[21:03] <Alicia> Handing the flowers to her dilligent familiar as she buzzes by and departs with a, "I'll put these in some water!" Alicia returns her attention to Serge.
[21:03] <Alicia> "Now then, shall we be off?" she asks, stepping out and closing the door behind her.
[21:06] <Kosick> "Yes." Looking Alicia over, up and down with eyes that can't possibly see, "You look well this evening," he says anyway. "It's nice to get out of armor once in awhile."
[21:08] <Alicia> "Mithral doesn't weigh much, but even so..." Alicia rotates her shoulders idly as she starts down the path leading from her house around the temple to the main street, "It is nice to be out of it, even if most times when I relax like this something ends up happening to make me wish I'd kept it on."
[21:10] <Kosick> Chuckling at that, "Yes. That's a hard learned lesson. That's happened to you a few times?"
[21:11] <Alicia> "More frequently since I started living here, but it happened to me when I was back in Kelara these last few days, so I think it's just a sign of the times," Alicia chuckles slightly. "Anything like that ever happen to you?"
[21:16] <Kosick> "It's happened to all of us." Smiling a little, "When we were travelling through the Barbarian Lands, we'd had a lot of bad luck, including falling into a mudpit. We came on small forest lake and thought it would be a good chance to bathe. Of course, that's when the goblins found us."
[21:18] <Alicia> "What did they do?" Alicia asks. The sensible thing would be to steal some stuff and run away, but recalling those four goblins who kept trying to rob her when she was more inclined to eat their souls, she half expects they'll have taken a less sensible course.
[21:20] <Kosick> "They tried to rob us and kill us. They were a bunch of fools," Looking to Alicia searchingly a moment, "We'd kept watch by having J bathe on one side and the two of us bathe on the other, so we could watch both ends at once. There were mroe on J's side, so she threw some magic at them to scare 'em. Rods ran out, completely naked, and went goblin chasing with just his weapon in hand. Scared them right off."
[21:21] <Alicia> "They don't lack for ambition, I'll give them that," Alicia notes wryly as they make their way to wherever the play is being held.
[21:23] <Kosick> You walk down the main streets, down to a side street. Here an open air auditorium has been built, stone benches serving as seats. Perhaps two hundred people sit here, gathering in to watch. You even spot a few familiar faces amid them - the matron of the Dawn Pointe inn, Father Ceiar and a few guardsmen. The stone and wood stage has a curtain draped over it currently, sounds coming from behind it.
[21:25] <Alicia> "Looks like this is popular," Alicia muses, looking to find some nice seats for them, preferably near the front in consideration for Serge's height, and completely ignoring the fact that he's blind and therefore wouldn't care if someone tall sat in front of him.
[21:27] <Kosick> Serge does likewise, the two finding seats a row away from the front. On sitting, "I've heard Balmuria's been attracting more entertainers as well, but it's not surprising. IT's a boom city now." As he looks up at the stage, "LIke how you found yourself here?"
06[21:28] * Alicia chuckles softly. "I hardly ended up here by choice..." she then corrects herself, "Well, that's inaccurate, we always have choices. But it wasn't a choice I was particularly thrilled about making."
[21:33] <Kosick> "Yeah." Looking up to the stage a moment, before back at Alicia, "It wasn't my choice to be flung all the way from Kesse and it's environs to here because of some damned foolish mageling. But here I am."
[21:35] <Alicia> "Made any progress in getting back there?" Alicia asks curiously.
[21:38] <Kosick> "We're gathering up money. Going through the jungle is going to be hell." A stop there, "Once we have a large fund of money, we're going to travel through the desert and fish around the kindgom-lets and free cities south of the jungle, see if we can find a guide, or if we're really lucky, a mage who can eleport us past most or all of the jungle. That part's probably wishful thinking."
[21:40] <Alicia> "Why not get a scroll of teleport from Elle Stronger?" Alicia recalls suggesting this previously, but Serge might not have been around then. "J should be able to cast from that, right?"
[21:51] <Kosick> "Mmmm. That's a good thought," Rubbing his chin there, "We'd need two - I know the spell can fail and I'm nots ure exactly how big the jungle is and if it fits the range of the spell."
[21:54] <Alicia> "Always helps to have a backup. There's also the Shadow Walk spell - there's some risk in travelling via that plane, but I know for a fact it's sufficient to get you between here and Kesse," Alicia offers helpfully.

[Corwin]

[20:17] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Why not get a scroll of teleport from Elle Stronger?" Alicia recalls suggesting this previously, but Serge might not have been around then. "J should be able to cast from that, right?"
[20:17] <Kotono> > "Mmmm. That's a good thought," Rubbing his chin there, "We'd need two - I know the spell can fail and I'm nots ure exactly how big the jungle is and if it fits the range of the spell."
[20:17] <Kotono> <Alicia> "Always helps to have a backup. There's also the Shadow Walk spell - there's some risk in travelling via that plane, but I know for a fact it's sufficient to get you between here and Kesse," Alicia offers helpfully.
[20:20] <Kotono> "Shadow Walk? Eh." As he thoughtfully looks around, "To be entirely honest, I'm supposed to be keeping our risk down. Somehow...somehow I just know J or Rods will find some fuckup in the Shadow Plane. We're like a beacon for it."
[20:22] <Alicia> "Best to stick with teleporting, then," Alicia nods sagely. She does wonder a bit at his mannerisms, since looking around isn't stereotypical blind person behaviour. Was he born blind or did he lose his sight later in life? It feels a bit too personal to ask, though, so she doesn't.
[20:25] <Kotono> AS you talk, there's some of the normal noise at a theater. People chatting here and there, people getting seated. Amid the rows, you notice men carrying heavy trays with steaming finger foods and mugs of cool water. "Two copper, two copper!" One of the men calls. Turning his head towards them, "Hungry," Serge asks.
[20:26] <Alicia> "A little," Alicia nods, appreciating something to snack on during the performance.
[20:28] <Kotono> "Here!" Serge gets up and goes to the man, a few clinking copper coins passed over. He comes back with a pair of chicken legs and cups of chilly-cool water, passing one of each to Alicia. "Yeah. Rods and J...hahaha." As he looks onward, the performance still not ready, "They're really the muscle of the group. Sure, J probably couldn't lift Rods' axe, but she can do more than enough bashing with magic. Somebody has to stop and think before we le
[20:28] <Kotono>  but she can do more than enough bashing with magic. Somebody has to stop and think before we leap into another mess."
06[20:31] * Alicia sets her cup down by her feet and carefully holds onto the chicken to avoid getting grease all over her fingers. "Don't you do any bashing of your own?" she asks, doubting the other two would keep him around if 'thinking' was all he brought to the table.
[20:34] <Kotono> "Oh yes, I know how to use a bow well." He stops here, smiling there at Alicia as she tries to keep her clothes and fingers clean. "For all his talk, Rods loves to mix it up and when he has a chance, he will. He's a born brawler. J's so damned headstrong that when she gets caught up in it, she's as bad as he is. If one of us didn't have a cool head, we'd have gotten a quick ticket to the end of the path by now."
[20:36] <Alicia> "I have to ask," Alicia begins after a quick nibble on her fowl, "How do you do it? I've heard of - though only in stories - blind swordsmen, but never a blind archer."
[20:48] <Kotono> After a moment to take a bigger bite of his chicken, "It's a gift. Ot
[20:48] <Kotono> OOC - Gah.
[20:50] <Kotono> After a moment to take a bigger bite of his chicken, "It's a gift. You have your own gifts from Mystra, Alicia? It's...rather like that in it's way. I don't see, but I can sense and feel everything around me. It's called blindsight in technical terms, usually."
06[20:51] * Alicia nods, smiling. "I have a magic item that gives me the same ability, although the range is too limited for me to ever become consider archery while using it."
[20:52] <Kotono> After a thoughtful moment, "That black headband you wear sometimes?"
[20:53] <Alicia> "You can tell it's black?" Alicia sounds surprised. "Your blindsight is better than what that thing gives me, then. But yes, that is what I meant - if I'm dealing with an invisible enemy I can just pull it down over my eyes to gain its benefit."
[20:57] <Kotono> With a momentary smile, "Yeah. I can read with it, too. It's...." He stops there, before a shrug. "Remember when J went off on that rant about how the Gods don't lift a damned finger to help us?" With a sidelong look to Alicia, "J's really stupid about anything with religion. Have I said that before? It bears repeating anyway. She's...Ah, Abyss." Rubbing his forehead, "But yes, it's sublimely useful for anything like that."
03[20:57] * Taishyr is now known as taifk-errands
[20:57] <Kotono> "She looks a divine gift in the face most days and she still thinks no one gives a damn."
[21:01] <Alicia> "I didn't really care to get in an argument with her over it - it's not an uncommon point of view, sadly, even though I'd expect it more from someone with less experience of the world than she clearly has," Alicia muses. "But yes, that's certainly a wonderful gift Kossuth has granted you, Serge," she concludes, honestly impressed by it.
[21:04] <Kotono> "I know. Beyond temples in Kesse, there's not much open religion. More than in some places, but still not much. Most people don't think the Gods care much. There's a few spells cast and spiritual guidance, but..." He stops there, looking at Alicia's eyes, even as you hear a curtain rising. "I'm glad to see it's changing in this city, in no small part to you for helping with the temple to Mystra."
[21:05] <Alicia> "It's only one of many, here," Alicia begins, wondering if they might have seen a temple to Kossuth if he had perhaps chosen a less highly strung representative, "Oh, it's starting!" she hushes up.
[21:12] <Kotono> Quiet overtakes the area as the play starts. It's a story set around Balmuria, detailing the final days of the Malmuthian occupations and attacks. Brave warriors - including a few real life figures, like Commander Oberuth, and briefly Lord Salman - are acted out leading the noble, clean men of Balmuria over the slovenly, slouching soldiers of Malmuth. It is a very epic styled play, with long monolouges taking place, sometimes in the middle of p
[21:13] <Kotono> with long monolouges taking place, sometimes in the middle of perfectly paused action. The actor that plays Commander Oberuth - a likeness to him, if more fat than muscularlly bulky - gives a long mid battle speech about how the rightful justice and free choice of the Baronies will triumph over the cold, self interest supporting tyranny of Malmuth. (More)
[21:16] <Kotono> As a large battle scene plays out, dozens of extras showing small battles and carnage, many simply lying dead with fake blood on them, the crowd seems most into it. Many of them cheer quietly, enraptured. Serge smiles at points of it, and as this goes on, "Is this Commander Oberuth like that? I hear he still serves in this city."
06[21:17] * Alicia shakes her head. "He's not really one for speeches, no," she whispers, not really thinking much of this play.
[21:19] <Kotono> Whispering back, "I suppose so, yes.  This isn't really like a battle, but it does make good, simple entertainment. It resonates with many of the people here. What about you?"
[21:22] <Alicia> "Too politically skewed for my tastes," Alicia keeps her voice low, since her sentiment is likely an unpopular one.
[21:23] <Kotono> "Heh, heh. We are outsiders here," Whispering back, Serge offers his hand, "Come on, let's go do something else instead."
06[21:27] * Alicia shakes her head. "It might get better, and the choreography is well done," she offers. Really, it might send a bad message for someone in her position to be snubbing the heroic tale of the Baronies' independence.
[21:27] <Kotono> "C'mon," He smiles more now, "You don't look like you're having fun. There's no point sitting the rest of this out. Let's go live a little instead."
[21:30] <Alicia> "We can live after the play," Alicia whispers. "Really, it's fine."
[21:31] <Kotono> "Alright," Serge agrees to that, settling back in for th eplay. It goes ona nother half hour, ending with the complete triumph of the Baronies, of course. The actors come out for a curtain call, cheering heard from most of the crowd.
06[21:33] * Alicia applauds politely, not having any complaints with the quality of the actual acting. "There, that wasn't so hard now, was it?" she asks Serge now that it's over.
[21:34] <Kotono> Serge applauds as well, "It wasn't hard." He does agree to this, standing and stretching, "I just think there were better things to do. Did you feel obligated to stay?"
[21:36] <Alicia> "I do represent the United Baronies in an official capacity," she reminds him quietly, getting up and starting to leave the theatre. "Snubbing the tale of how they came to be would not send a very positive message."
[21:39] <Kotono> "I know." He says this, waiting until they're out on the street to raise his voice. "It's cute." He says this with a smile, "You're really dedicated to everything you do, aren't you?"
[21:42] <Alicia> "Cute?" Alicia actually looks somewhat flustered, not having heard that word used in relation to her since she was a teenager. Then again, that's probably what she is by Dwarf standards. "Well, anyway, yes," she nods as she recovers her composure. "If you're going to do something you should give it your all," she explains simply.
[21:44] <Kotono> Serge can't help but grin at that, "Yes, cute. Just like that, especially like that." He starts to walk along, "You're entirely right. You shouldn't do anything at half standards. Come on," he starts to head westward, "There's something else I have planned."
03[21:45] * Sierra_GONE is now known as Sierra_MomentaryLife
06[21:46] * Alicia amiably follows along, deciding just not to rise to the bait of being called cute. "And what's that?" she asks.
[21:50] <Kotono> Alicia is lead to the west and then north. Near the temple of Gond - but not too close, there's a small little building near the water's edge. He goes to the back of it, leading you around. There's a few tables there, as well as torches near the shore, casting a warm orange glow over the water, as well as the tables. The chairs look wooden but padded, surprisingly soft. It has a superb view of the bay and docks from here. "I found this place no
[21:50] <Kotono> It has a superb view of the bay and docks from here. "I found this place not too long ago. It's a great place to have a drink and relax, it has a great view."
06[21:53] * Alicia wonders just how far the blind dwarf can actually see. "It is nice," she agrees, taking a seat facing the water. "That's one of the good things about living here - I've grown quite fond of the sea."
[21:54] <Kotono> The evening air is fresh with the scent of the sea, alive and vital. "Never had much taste for it ever since I ended up taking a dip in it unexpectedly." Serge murmurs, as a man comes out. He's dressed well, a pitcher of what looks to be pear juice put down, a cup poured for each. "I've gotten used to and fond of the surface, though."
[21:56] <Alicia> "The sound of the waves is soothing, for me," Alicia admits. "So did you originally live underground? I know there's a community of dwarves beneath the mountains south of Balmuria - something like that in Kesse as well?"
[21:59] <Kotono> "Yeah." He stops to take a small sip of the pear juice, though not much more than that. "There's alot of isolated settlements down there, like a loose network of traders and miners as well. I've heard a little about the dwarves here, they're rather reclusive. Even by our standards, and I'm as trange once since I willingly went and stuck with the surface world."
[21:59] <Kotono> *one
[22:00] <Kotono> "Kossuth gets some worship with us. There's more than the average amount of volcanic activity; the entire area is prone to eruption sand earthquakes at times, though Kesse is on the border of it and not directly in that area."
[22:02] <Alicia> "It is a bit strange that Balmuria seems to be a stone's throw away from communities of elves and dwarves but the humans here seemed entirely ignorant of their existence until very recently," Alicia muses, taking a sip of her own drink. "So what made you decide to stay on the surface?"
[22:04] <Kotono> "This entire area is odd." SErge agrees, looking out over the water. It's a pretty view, the bay's dark-green waters and the orange of the torches clashing together to make colored patterns. "Wanderlust. Underground, you can only follow the caves and mine tunnels. Here, you can go in any direction you like, if you can take care of yourself."
06[22:05] * Alicia nods. "I can see the appeal," she agrees. "Although I suppose most dwarves prefer the caves and tunnels or else you wouldn't consider yourself an oddity?"
[22:07] <Kotono> "Yeah. I'm very much the odd one out." He smiles there briefly, looking to Alicia. "I found, despite the freedom, that most people stay on their farms or in their safe cities. AS free as it is, it's a dangerous world. Up here, I think the odd ones are those that ignore that and see the world. Which makes me doubly odd."
[22:12] <Alicia> "There's a lot to see. Once I'd have been happy living out my whole life within a day of Kelara's walls, but now I've covered thousands of miles on this world, and explored other planes as well," Alicia puts in for herself. "There's a lot of wonderful and terrifying things out there, if you go looking for them."
[22:13] <Kotono> "Yes." With a long sip of his drink now, smiling warmly at Alicia, "There really is. I've seen wonderful things, terrifying things, ugly things...beautiful things." The last is with a look at Alicia, unhidden. "There's always something over the next hill and past the horizon. Granted, I wish it hadn't been thrust one me because of one damn fool of a wizard, but that's life."
[22:19] <Alicia> The long look can't really be ignored. "And here's me thinking I'd be too tall and skinny to match a dwarf's standards of beauty," she deflects it with a little humour. But it would be cruel to just string him along, so she turns a bit to face Serge fully. "You're not bad looking yourself," she admits, "But you should probably know - I'm not looking to take this further."
[22:22] <Kotono> There's a moment, before Serge nods. "Shit." He says it without much heat, "Thanks, I appreciate the honesty." He looks out over the water, thoughtful. "Yeah. I'd been...you're damned arresting, but I you hadn't really taken any of the more subtle baits, but..." He stops there, turning back to Alicia, "I just had to try, and Rods kept saying thes ame thing."
06[22:24] * Alicia reaches over to pat his hand. "It's a lovely evening, and I do enjoy your company," she commiserates. "I'm just not looking for any romantic entanglements."
[22:26] <Kotono> "No, I can respect that." He takes Alicia's hand, giving it a squeeze. "You are a paladin, I know your word is good." He looks at Alicia one more time, "Honestly, I was debating letting it go, but Rods got pushy about it again the last few days after talking to your familiar. So I figured, what the hell?"
[22:28] <Alicia> "He talked to my familiar?" Alicia blinks, that being news to her. "He mentioned saying hello to her when I ran into him at Elle's shop earlier, but I thought it was just a pleasantry..."
[22:29] <Kotono> "Yeah. I didn't get the entire thing out of him, but I did get it out of thim that he talked to her. I don't know aboutw hat, but..." A shrug there, "Rods ended up telling me it ws none of my business, but I figured that she said something to make it think this was a good idea."
[22:30] <Alicia> "She is a little troublemaker at times..." Alicia briefly frowns, before just letting it pass. "I'll discuss it with her later," she decides.
[22:31] <Kotono> "Yeah. That's where I heard about you being in Kelara and all of that," he adds. "She's as mischevious as a pixie, I take it? That's what Rods described her as."
[22:32] <Alicia> "She's not quite as bad as a pixie, but she's not far off," Alicia nods, before sighing. "She probably thought she was doing us a favour, too."
[22:34] <Kotono> Crackling a smile there, "She meant well...maybe." AFter a thoughtful moment, "Will she tell you the truth about it?"
[22:35] <Alicia> "If I press her," Alicia nods. "She likes to prevaricate when she can, but the truth always comes out in the end."
[22:35] <Kotono> "Heh, good luck with her then." Standing up now, "I appreciate the honesty again. Want me to walk you home?"
[22:36] <Alicia> "Sure," Alicia smiles in reply as she also stands up, glad that this was handled with a minimum of embarrassment or anguish.
[22:39] <Kotono> The streets are dark but lively, torches out and people coming and going. As they walk amid them, Serge seems content to keep his peace and quiet. Once reaching Alicia's house, he offers his hand out. "To good fortune and triumphant might in your battles ahead." He repeats that in Dwarven, strange words lost on Alicia. "It's a dwarven parting message to ensure that you see the person again.
[22:39] <Kotono> "
03[22:40] * Sierra_MomentaryLife is now known as Eternal_Sierra
[22:43] <Alicia> "A fine sentiment," Alicia agrees as she shakes his hand. Then, deciding that there's no harm in it since she's made it clear this won't go further, she leans down and kisses Serge's cheek. "You can at least tell Rods you got that far," she offers with a smile.
[22:45] <Kotono> "Hahahaha." He can't help but grin at that, "Thanks. Until-" He stops, glancing to the side of Alicia's house. Serge half frowns, before he glances back to Alicia. "Oh sorry, something distracted me a moment."
06[22:46] * Alicia is fully aware that her familiar has her ear against the door and is eavesdropping for all she's worth, so she glances to the side to see where Serge was looking. "What was it?" she asks. Admittedly it could be any of three legitimate residents, but it could also be an intruder with nefarious intent!
[22:47] <Kotono> "Winged woman. Has a spear and armor on." He says tersely. "Doesn't look to be particularly hostile."
[22:48] <Alicia> "Oh, that's Antenora. She lives here," Alicia explains. "Likes to spend her evenings practicing out the back."
[22:49] <Kotono> A nod back, a smile, "Alright. Until then..." At those words Antenora comes around, even smiling briefly to Serge. As Serge leaves and Antenora comes around, "Sorry," she apologizes. "I heard voices and I wanted to make sure it wasn't anything troublesome."
06[22:50] * Alicia waves to the dwarf before nodding to Antenora. "It's alright, we were just saying goodbye." She hesitates at the door just long enough for Marie to flee before she opens it. "Hopiel around? I thought you'd be practicing with him."
[22:52] <Kotono> "We'd been talking," Following Alicia inside, "He went to stretch his wings outside of the city."
06[22:53] * Alicia nods as she goes to the living room where Marie is on the table with her book. "Oh, you're back already!" the eladrin smiles, all innocence. "Did you have a good time?"
[22:55] <Alicia> "It was nice," Alicia smiles at the coure. "You never told me you made a new friend while we were in Kelara."
[22:55] <Alicia> This prompts Marie to pout in reply. "I said I'd keep quiet, I should've got him to do the same..."
[22:56] <Kotono> Antenora smiles a little, all too softly as she goes to sit down. "Oh, why was that?" she asks the little eladrin. "Is there a reason you should've kept it quiet?"
[22:58] <Alicia> "Surely so I could live in the happy fantasy that my social life is not all at the behest of my familiar's deft manipulations," Alicia concludes as she alights on the couch. "Really, Marie, I'm not even angry. Just give me a little warning in future, please?"
[23:00] <Alicia> "People just don't appreciate surprises," Marie shakes her head. "Oh well. You were right about this book - it's all magical formula for gnomes who like to stab people in their vitals," she pats the pages as she changes the subject. "Pretty interesting, but not the kind of thing anyone could easily put into practice."
[23:02] <Kotono> "Better we have it than anyone else," Antenora says as she eyes Marie quite long. "Beth would've loved that, good thing she never stumbled on much of anything gnomish."
[23:04] <Alicia> "None of the spells are anything particularly evil," Marie notes. "Really, it's mostly utility stuff - I guess they expected to use their spells for getting where they need to be and then," she mimes stabbing someone, "Letting their blades to the dirty work."
[23:05] <Kotono> "Speaking of dirty work like that..." Antenora looks to the two, "Are both of you ready to face Esthan?"
[23:05] <Alicia> "Maybe Jessica could learn some of it anyway? If she cares to try," Alicia considers. "Alright Marie, you know where my writing supplies are in the study - see if you can make a translation at some point. It can go to the Church library." As Marie's face falls when confronted with impending drudgery, Alicia nods to Antenora. "Tomorrow was the deadline Seira gave. We'd better be."
[23:08] <Kotono> "I will be." She says, "We are going to triumph, pit fiend or not." She looks Alicia in the eye, "A pit fiend's scales are harder than steel and it's flesh is like diamonds. Could you enchant my spear before we go? I'll need all the help I can get.""
[23:10] <Alicia> "Of course, I'll do that for all of us," Alicia nods. "I have some silversheen we should use as well."
[23:10] <Alicia> "And I've got my silvered banishing arrows!" Marie exclaims. "I was able to send a marilith back to the abyss with a cold iron one, so I know these should work great!"
[23:13] <Kotono> "Until then...I practice," Antenora stands up, "I have to be at my absolute best coming up. We can't let Esthan loose a single day longer. I won't allow it." Her voice is very quiet, very strong. "Alicia, Marie, would either of you join me?"
[23:15] <Alicia> "There's a few hours left in the day. Just let me get changed," Alicia gets up to go do just that.
[23:15] <Alicia> Meanwhile, Marie floats up from the table, "You know I love being the target!" she giggles.
[23:16] <Kotono> "If you do well, maybe I'll let you sit on my head," Antenora smiles ever so slightly to that. "So don't slack off."
[23:17] <Alicia> "Just so long as it's a non-magic spear, you can hit me all you want," Marie promises as she turns into an incorporeal ball of light. "Or try to, anyway!" she adds before zipping out the back.