Around elves watch yourselves

[Ebiris]

[17:36] <@Kotono> Clearbrook is a small settlement tucked away in the quiet forest shadows of the Vastwood. A human settlement of a dozen farms and a few craftsmen, it is utterly unremarkable save for one thing - it has a tavern. A converted log cabin that is now a tavern, and that is where are story begins. It is around high noon during early spring, an unremarkable day on first glance. A few people are about,
[17:36] <@Kotono> eating, drinking and putting their weary feet up. OOC: Go ahead and intro each of yourselves then I'll come with more.
[17:36] <@Kotono> *our
[17:39] * Feather is one of those weary humans, sitting on his own and about to finish his food. His traveling pack rests on the ground next to his feet, his trusted hat perched upon it. Afterwards, there would be a need to find proper lodgings for the night, and then it's back into the forests for him.
[17:40] <Gildas> A man in his early twenties stepped into the tavern on that fine day, carrying with him a backpack, indicitive of his travels around the area. He wore little except for his explorer's outfit, taking his hat off out of respect for the establishment, and as to try to avoid getting any liquors on it. He took a cursory glance around at the patrons and decided on a quiet table, not in a corner, but
[17:40] <Gildas> not right in the middle of the action, either.
[17:40] <@Porridge> After a week without seeing a living soul, Porridge is quite happy for a chance to enjoy some company and a warm bed, so stopping by the village was the natural thing to do. Though his ears attract some unwelcome notice, with too many people mistaking him for a horrible prissy elf for his liking, the solidly built and scar-faced half-elf has been quick to disabuse people of such notions while spending the afternoon doing various chores around town to make himself more welcome. Now finds him up at the bar in the tavern, drinking fairly heavily of the local brew and picking at what rumours and lore he can learn from the bartender and various fellow drinkers he talks to.
[17:43] <@Kotono> Thus does the lunch hour pass. Yet as it does? The door to the tavern is thrown open! A burly man stumbles in - black bearded and rugged, wearing homespun clothes. His face is a mask of red, a long cut on his forehead sending crimson down his face. He stumbles in and ot the nearest chair, "Treachery!"
[17:44] <@Kotono> The barkeep, a lean man with middle aged gray hair and a limp, comes around, "Aw shit," he mutters, hobbling on over. "Clint, what sort of damned fool trouble have you gotten into this time?"
[17:44] <@Porridge> That gets Porridge's attention, turning on his stool to look and wondering if a fight's going to break out.
[17:45] * Gildas too, looks over in the direction of the sudden commotion, if it could be called as such.
[17:45] * Feather keeps an eye on his pack to make sure no one would get any ideas about it should something happen.
[17:46] <@Kotono> "Treachery and monsters!" The bloodied clint snarls, "The damned monsters took my Loiuse-Ann!"
[17:47] <@Porridge> Now Porridge stands up, alarmed. "What happened, man? Who took her?" By the large axe rested by his chair, one can assume he's more inclined to battle such monsters than most.
[17:47] <@Kotono> "Aw -shit-," With enough feeling to be mistaken for a curse, the barkeep grimaces.
[17:47] <Feather> "Monsters, you say?" Feather speaks up, only a moment behind Porridge as he stands himself.
[17:48] <@Kotono> "The freakish horse-men." Looking up as he wipes his brow of blood with the back of his arm, "They came in with wolves and took her."
[17:48] <@Kotono> "Louise-Ann is his darlin' daughter. Cute as a button, she's what? Eight years old now?" The barkeep wrings his hands, "Shit!"
[17:49] <@Porridge> "Show me where they took her," Porridge asks, grabbing his axe up. "I'll get your daughter back!"
[17:50] * Feather shoulders his pack, subtly checking that his armor fits well underneath his clothing, and his scimitars are within easy reach. "Sounds about right," he says, making his way over to the bloodied man.
[17:51] <Gildas> Gildas wasn't quite so excited to suddenly get involved in such an... interesting scenario, but the other two gentlemen did at least appear to know what they were doing. After a moment or two of further contemplation on the matter, he hoisted his backpack and took a step or two in that direction to at least listen.
[17:52] <@Kotono> "Seven," A gruff correction as Clint glances at Porridge and Feather, "Shit, you travelers?" Getting to his feet, "Y'all are mighty fine people, 'specially for pointyears. They took her from my farm down by the stream. Trail shouldn't be that hard to follow, had enough of 'em."
[17:53] <Feather> "How many?" Feather asks, getting straight to business. "Know where they're headed?"
[17:54] <@Porridge> "Don't mix me up with them," Porridge says with a look of distate as he slings his weapon and shoulders his pack. "Name's Porridge Boarkin. You coming?" he asks the other who volunteered, starting towards the door. Though knowing how many is indeed prudent, so he's slow enough to wait for that answer!
[17:56] <@Kotono> "Had half a dozen wolves and there were four of them," Giving each of the three a look, "Two of 'em had bows and two had those pointy sticks knights in the stories use. L-somethings." He gives Gildas a glance, "Ya stretching your neck to nose in or just curious there?"
[17:57] <Gildas> "Safety in numbers." He responded simply.
[17:57] <Feather> "Won't be able to cut them off," Feather muses, giving the man a firm nod. "Wait here and get better. We'll get your kid back." And then, he's out of the tavern!
[17:58] <@Porridge> Porridge as well, whistling as he leaves and causing a small brown hawk to wing off the roof of the tavern and fly ahead of him. "You got a name?" he asks Feather.
[17:59] <Feather> "Falling Feather," he responds. "Go by Feather. How fast can you go?"
[18:00] <Gildas> Gildas stepped out after the other two. Whether they noticed or not wasn't really a concern at the moment, but he was curious as to these monsters, either way.
[18:01] <@Porridge> He shrugs and taps his armour, "This don't slow me down," he says. Though it really does! It just lets him walk as fast as someone without armour, so it gets the point across. "What about you?" he looks back at Gildas, unsure if he's in their posse or not.
[18:02] <Gildas> "Gildas." Again, a simple response.
[18:03] <Feather> "I manage alright," Feather says, before nodding at Gildas in acknowledgement.
[18:03] <Gildas> "I should be able to keep up with the both of you." To answer a question that he wasn't really asked, but needed an answer, regardless.
[18:04] <@Porridge> "That's walking covered, hope you both can fight too," Porridge snorts, briskly heading to the farm by the stream so he can get the trail marked.
[18:05] <@Kotono> "Hold on, I'll take you to the farm," The barkeep rushes out, "Name's Samuel." He limps at good speed, "You gotta get her back. Louise-Ann is his only child." As you talk you see it's not far - the town is aptly name. A busy stream bank-full of rushing water forms the northern border of the village. A few farms are here, including a rather large, red roofed one.
[18:05] * Feather tries to see if everyone will be able to keep up with him after all. If not, he'll need to slow down and conserve his strength. "Fight, yes. Don't like the numbers much, though."
[18:08] * Gildas doesn't seem to have any trouble keeping up with them at their current speed. In fact, he seems to be slowing his pace slightly, if they'd notice.
[18:08] <@Porridge> "We'll get this sorted, don't you worry," Porridge nods. Unfortunately being a cheapskate who can't afford mithral he really is slower than Feather!
[18:10] <Feather> "You folks got some dispute going here?" Feather asks Samuel, since they do have their guide to show them to the scene of the abduction.
[18:11] <@Kotono> You're taken to the fields near the river. It's obvious here - the grass is disturbed and a few dolls lie about. "Seen 'em once or twice but this is new," he explains, "Now look. Odds are they went back up through the river, so you'll need to find the trail on the other side."
[18:12] * Feather looks for a crossing. Or how difficult it would be to just get across on his own.
[18:13] <@Kotono> No crossing, but the stream isn't so bad that you can't walk across. It only looks 'bout waist high or so.
[18:14] <Feather> "I'll look for it over there," Feather says, starting to walk across. "Want to give this bank a look in the meantime?"
[18:14] <@Porridge> "Hooves are pretty distinctive, should be easy to catch," Porridge reckons, looking for any likely spots a group of horses and wolves could get up on the other embankment, either greatly disturbing the plants or in a spot with few plants.
[18:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Feather'n'Porridge, do you two have ranks in survival and/or the track feat? Gildas, lemme know what you're doing too, even if just hanging back and awtching.
[18:16] <Feather> OOC: Survival at +8
[18:16] <@Porridge> OOC: track and survival +9
[18:17] * Gildas is simply going to watch for now and intervene if neither can find anything. He might make a cursory glance around the area for anything out of the ordinary, though.
[18:17] <@Kotono> OOC: Survival checks, Feather'n'Porridge. Spot check, Gildas.
[18:18] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:18] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[18:18] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9
[18:18] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 and gets 11." [1d20=2]
[18:19] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[18:19] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+3 and gets 20." [1d20=17]
[18:21] <Gildas> OOC: Oh my bad, it looks like that's +10, not 3, sorry! Forgot Perception is rolled into Spot.
[18:21] <@Kotono> OOC: Yes. Spot/listen are perception, I juse use spot/listen out of long familiarity. If I call for those just use perception, still getting used to new skills.
[18:22] <Gildas> OOC: You got it boss.
[18:23] <@Kotono> Feather crosses the stream and looks. Finding the trail isn't hard - lots of wolf tracks and hoofprints. It's going roughly northernly, ahead into the forest. Porridge finds a matching crossing point as well - looks like they didn't hide their escape at all. Gildas catches sight of something not far from the dolls. The gleam of metal in particular. Going over, he finds an small copper coin lying
[18:23] <@Kotono> in the dirt. It's a little smaller than human copper coins on a glance.
[18:25] <Feather> "They crossed here after all, seems like," Feather calls to the other bank, waving the others over.
[18:25] <@Porridge> Wading across himself, Porridge whistles for his hawk to come back, landing on a leather bracer on his arm. "Seek, Bubi, seek the little girl," he says, smoothing down the bird's feathers and gesturing in the direction the tracks lead. With a cry the hawk takes off and flies in that direction, searching for the kidnapping victim at which point he'll screech loudly.
[18:27] * Gildas will lean down and pick up the coin and carry it over to the others, after passing through the water. "I found this over there, I think they might've dropped it in their haste."
[18:29] * @Porridge glances and then shrugs. "Maybe you can pay them for the girl with it." He doesn't sound particularly serious.
[18:29] <Gildas> "Perhaps."
[18:30] * Feather snorts, before following the tracks. There is little else they can do right now.
[18:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Was a sec. What languages can Gildas read?
[18:31] <Gildas> OOC: Common, Druidic, Elven, Orcish.
[18:31] <@Kotono> On picking it up, Gildas can see the coin is of elven make. It has elven writing on it that reads, 'Penny'.
[18:33] * Gildas will make a face at that. "Porridge, I have a question." He will show him and feather the coin again. "Why would a human girl have an Elven Penny?"
[18:34] <@Porridge> "Oh fuck, ask the guy with pointed ears, right?" Porridge makes a displeased face, not slowing his pace any. "Copper's copper and people trade. I've got all kinds of coins in my moneybag."
[18:35] <Gildas> "Seven year old girls don't trade." It was another simple response. "It isn't much of a stretch to puzzle out possibilities from why this coin was over there."
[18:36] <Feather> "Can't do much about that," Feather pitches in, keeping pace. "Maybe elves are involved, maybe not. Don't know if there's any elves living here or if they got a problem with the locals. You wanna find out, go ask around in the village. I bet it'd be too late for the kid by then, though."
[18:36] <@Porridge> "They get pocket money, though. Or steal from their parents. In fact, how do you know it belonged to hers? Someone walking by could have dropped it at any point, or it was dropped by Clint when he was being attacked by the centaurs?"
[18:37] <Gildas> "It is simply something to keep in mind as we continue." He shrugs and puts the coin away. "There are many possibilities."
[18:37] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, y'all are following it with your bird in the lead? He's gonna make noise when he spies the kidnappers?
[18:38] <@Porridge> OOC: yes, he's twice as fast as we are!
[18:40] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 10." [1d100=10]
[18:41] <@Kotono> A good half hour of travel passes. The forest is shady and peaceful as you follow the trail further. Ahead the path goes down a rather long, steep hill. The hill is rocky and has a fair deal of overgrowth and trees. Certainly not impossible to cross, but far from a safe stroll on sunlit grassplains.
[18:42] <@Porridge> No way horses could get through that, Porridge thinks. By now Bubi has returned, knowing not to go too far ahead, and Porridge looks to see if the tracks divert elsewhere.
[18:42] * Feather checks to see that the beasts they are pursuing the same path, and haven't split up somewhere along the way.
[18:44] <@Kotono> With the party's strong tracking skills, it's easy to tell. The wolves went down the hill and it looks like the horse-men skirted around in an easterly direction.
[18:44] <Feather> "The kid's with the centaurs," Feather voices, "so we better keep after them."
[18:45] * Gildas nods. "A sound assumption."
[18:45] <@Porridge> Nodding, Porridge goes that way and sends his hawk ahead again in case they're getting close.
[18:47] <@Kotono> Going ahead, it's not long before you leave the hill behind. Ahead is more thick forest - but suddenly you hear Bubi's shrill cry ahead!
[18:49] * @Porridge gestures for everyone to go low, drawing his axe. "Carefully now," he whispers, "Lets see if we can get the jump on them." With that he advances, trying to shield his approach with the undergrowth and trees...
[18:51] * Feather follows suit, keeping a hand on the handle of his scimitar.
[18:51] * Gildas follows suit, stepping quietly behind the others.
[18:52] <@Kotono> OOC: Make stealth checks, y'all. +2 bonus due to dim conditions and lots of foliage and things to block vision.
[18:52] <Feather> roll 1d20+9+2
[18:52] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9+2 and gets 27." [1d20=16]
[18:52] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9
[18:52] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 and gets 19." [1d20=10]
[18:53] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10+2
[18:53] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10+2 and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[18:55] <@Kotono> The party quietly approaches! Ahead you can see a clearing. It's a small clearing and a break in the canopy. Sunlight streams down like a waterfall. Ahead is grass with no rocks in sight. In the middle is a circle of yellow buttercups, a single line of a circle and more grass inside. Inside that circle a young girl with black hair lies, seemingly asleep. There are four monsters just outside of
[18:55] <@Kotono> the circle! They have human torsos and the lower bodies of horses! They are quite muscular and well developed, two having bows and two having lances. They at least don't wear any armor. They're silent, all focused on the circle and the girl.
[18:56] <@Kotono> OOC: Y'all can make K:Nature checks here if yo ucare to.
[18:57] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 I have a suspicion...
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 I have a suspicion... and gets 15." [1d20=7]
[18:57] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[18:57] <Gildas> roll 1d20+9
[18:57] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 22." [1d20=13]
[18:58] <@Kotono> The party can all identify them as centaurs. Porridge and Gildas know they have nasty kicks so watch out for that. Porridge and Gildas also remember old stories - that flower circles are said to be connected to the Fair Folk, and that perhaps they are gates to their mysterious realms.
[18:59] <@Kotono> The centaurs are roughly 50ft from the party and the girl is 60ft away, lying in the circle.
[19:00] <@Porridge> "Fuck no..." Porridge breathes under his breath, before moving without giving the centaurs a chance to defend themselves! With a fierce cry he bursts out of the undergrowth, limbs and muscles distorting and spasming as the rage takes him, veins popping out madly over his body as he leads with his axe to carve the torso off the nearest horse!
[19:00] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 -4pa, rage, charge, rhino's rush
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 -4pa, rage, charge, rhino's rush and gets 23." [1d20=15]
[19:01] <Feather> About to try and coordinate their next move, Feather barely stops himself from palming his face before he, too, has abandoned cover and is charging at one of the archers!
[19:01] * Gildas seems a bit surprised by that sudden outburst, but doesn't really have any time to react to the sudden developments.
[19:01] <@Kotono> OOC: Feather and Gildas, y'all have a surprise round. Make your attack, Feather. Gildas, you can act too if you care to.
[19:01] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit Porridge.
[19:02] <@Porridge> roll 2d12+34
[19:02] <Feather> roll 1d20+9+2 charge, channeling shocking grasp
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9+2 charge, channeling shocking grasp and gets 30." [1d20=19]
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 2d12+34 and gets 57." [2d12=11, 12]
[19:02] <Feather> roll 1d20+9+2 charge, channeling shocking grasp crit?
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9+2 charge, channeling shocking grasp crit? and gets 18." [1d20=7]
[19:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Crit.
[19:02] * Gildas lets out a small sigh, wondering what the point of tracking them like this was if they were just going to jump them. Regardless, he makes a brief motion before shapeshifting into a small bear!
[19:03] <Feather> roll 2d6+6+1d6+4d6 (last is lightning)
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 2d6+6+1d6+4d6 (last is lightning) and gets 30." [2d6=2, 5][1d6=3][4d6=6, 2, 3, 3]
[19:03] <@Porridge> "They're trying to sacrifice her to fairies!" Porridge roars now that battle is joined. And his target hopefully dead.
[19:03] <Gildas> Snarling, the Gildas-Bear will bound at the other archer to engage it.
[19:04] <@Kotono> OOC: Go for it.
[19:04] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:04] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7  and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[19:04] <@Kotono> OOC: Hiiit.
[19:05] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 bite bite bite
[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 bite bite bite and gets 13." [1d6=6]
[19:07] <@Kotono> Caught off guard, the centaurs are swiftly laid into! Porridge charges one of the lancemen, cutting the centaur's head off! It splurts blood as it goes down, staining the yellow flowers red! One of the archers begins to turn, only to take a scimitar slash deep into its chestside! Electricity pulses through it, causing it to shake, shudder and fall, hair aflame and body rapidly bleeding out! The
[19:07] <@Kotono> other archer suddenly finds a big old bear on it, biting and chewing its arm up! "Aw!" One manages a shout of pain, while the other calls in words the party doesn't understand! But the battle is on! OOC: Init.
[19:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 archer
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 archer and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[19:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 lancer
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 lancer and gets 21." [1d20=19]
[19:08] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 18." [1d20=15]
[19:08] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[19:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lancer Centaur(21)>Feather(18)>Gildas(14)>Archer Centaur(10)'
[19:08] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1 Porridge
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 Porridge and gets 7." [1d20=6]
[19:08] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4 Bubi
[19:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Lancer Centaur(21)>Feather(18)>Gildas(14)>Archer Centaur(10)>Porridge(7)'
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+4 Bubi and gets 24." [1d20=20]
[19:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Bubi(24)>Lancer Centaur(21)>Feather(18)>Gildas(14)>Archer Centaur(10)>Porridge(7)'
[19:08] <@Porridge> OOC: Bubi holds
[19:08] <@Kotono> OOC: The hawk opens. Go.
[19:10] <@Kotono> In snarling Common the surviving lancer calls out, "Murdering bastards!" he says, bringing his hooves around onto Porridge! Meanwhile the yellow buttercups begin to turn red, spreading rapidly - far more than the blood should stain them, turning a perfect blood crimson!
[19:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 AC? hoof 1
[19:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 AC? hoof 2
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 AC? hoof 1 and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[19:10] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 AC? hoof 2 and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[19:11] <@Porridge> OOC: 17
[19:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d10+4
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+4 and gets 8." [1d10=4]
[19:12] <@Kotono> The hoof catches Porridge right in the nose! With a snap of cartilage breaking and a spray of blood, the half-elf's nose is broken! As blood pours from his nose...OOC: Feather, go.
[19:13] <Feather> Keeping his scimitar in a guarding position ahead of him, Feather dashes towards the innocent girl in the center of the circle. There are only two centaurs left, and both are facing an opponent that can fight back. That means that the reason for them coming here, the little girl who had been abducted, takes priority. Thus, he picks her up as he reaches the circle's center and turns about abruptly
[19:13] <Feather> to make his way towards the cover they had just sprung from without missing a beat!
[19:14] <Feather> OOC: 40ft of movement, 10ft to the girl to pick her up and 30ft back
[19:14] <@Kotono> As Feather races into the circle, he feels...wrong. Something's off here, and as he grabs the child, he feels a force pulling at him! OOC: Make a CMB check here.
[19:15] <Feather> roll 1d20+7
[19:15] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[19:15] <@Kotono> But Feather is stronger! He pulls Louise-Ann away from a force that tugs her back, stumbling safely out of the circle with the child in his arms! OOC: Okay. Gildas.
[19:16] * Gildas is intend on not giving the archer a chance to do any harm to anyone, especially the girl they came to rescue. So, in that vein, he bites again.
[19:16] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7  and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[19:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Hits.
[19:16] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7 bite bite bite BITE bite
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 bite bite bite BITE bite and gets 12." [1d6=5]
[19:17] <@Kotono> With another meaty CHOMP, the centaur's throat is torn out! It grasps at it sthroat as it audibly chokes, blood not deterred as it staggers and falls onto its side! The beast continues to thrash, slower and slower as a pool of red surrounds it! OOC: Okay. Porridge.
[19:17] * Kotono changes topic to 'Bubi(24)>Lancer Centaur(21)>Feather(18)>Gildas(14)>Porridge(7)'
[19:17] <@Porridge> Caught up in his rage, Porridge feels no pain! "Goob worb mab!" he cheers on Feather's initiative, hefting back his axe and swinging heavily forward to retaliate against the hoof-striker!
[19:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 -2pa
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 -2pa and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[19:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Hitsky.
[19:18] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+13
[19:18] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+13 and gets 18." [1d12=5]
[19:18] <@Kotono> The axe bites deeply into the creature's flank, ripping away blood and flesh in its aftermath! OOC: Bubi.
[19:18] <@Porridge> OOC: holding
[19:19] <@Kotono> Staggering and greviously wounded, the centaur nonetheless returns the attack as it glances at Feather! "Bastards!" it snarls, "Worthless bastards! You've ruined everything!
[19:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[19:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7 and gets 17." [1d20=10]
[19:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d10+4
[19:19] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+4 and gets 14." [1d10=10]
[19:20] <@Porridge> OOC: AC 15
[19:20] <@Kotono> A hoof catches Porridge right in the side of the head! His vision swims from the blow, a fog of confusion and dizziness following! OOC: Feather.
[19:22] * Feather pauses briefly in indecision, but the child in his arms reminds him of his duty. He disappears back into the cover they struck from, placing the girl carefully on the ground and checking her for injuries. If the fight against the remaining centaur takes a turn for the worst, he would still be in striking range against it.
[19:23] <@Kotono> She's uninjured on a glance, just asleep. OOC: If you have ranksy in Heal or anything related you can make a check to tell more.
[19:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Herbalism's fine.
[19:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 herbs!
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 herbs! and gets 14." [1d20=6]
[19:23] <@Kotono> The child's sleep is far too deep. Her lack of reactions strongly suggests a sedative or something akin to that.
[19:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Gildas, go.
[19:24] <Gildas> Gildas-Bear bounds over to the last remaining enemy and will take another bite out of it!
[19:25] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7  and gets 10." [1d20=3]
[19:25] <@Kotono> He goes for a chomp, but this time the centaur manages to push the bear away, keeping him at bay! OOC: Porridge.
[19:25] <@Porridge> Porridge sways a bit, but his rage fuelled body recovers swiftly enough to shout, "Gubi! Harry dis fuck!" before swinging his axe horizontally as the bird pecks and flaps around the centaur's face!
[19:25] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 aid another for Bubi
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 aid another for Bubi and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[19:26] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+10
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+10 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[19:26] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+9
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+9 and gets 21." [1d12=12]
[19:26] <@Kotono> With a heavy cleave, the centaur's skull is torn asunder! It falls back and joins its kin in fertilizing the clearing, the centaurs down and dead! OOC: Free act.
[19:27] <@Porridge> "Ohh, fuck..." with a sickening crack, Porridge forces his nose back into place, blinking quickly afterwards. "Hnnng... couldn't wait to plan in case they heard us," he explains belatedly. "Don't take chances with fairies." On that note he backs away from the circle!
[19:28] <Gildas> Gildas-Bear makes a growl or two... then is suddenly back to his former self, clearing his throat. "I don't like the color this circle has become." He takes a step back from it as well.
[19:28] <Feather> "Nice going," Feather commends the others, picking Lousie-Ann once more. He shakes his head. "The circle, it pulled back. We better get going, I'm thinking. You two well enough to head back?"
[19:28] <@Porridge> "Neat trick by the way," he adds to the shapeshifter. "Yeah, lets get out of here," he agrees, fit to head back even if a bit wounded and sore, not to mention covered in a bit too much blood. Damn nose.
[19:30] <Gildas> "I feel like there's more to this situation than we realize. There are too many things that don't add up."
[19:30] <Feather> "Bastards drugged the kid," Feather says, starting back on the path. "Think she'll be alright with some rest, though."
[19:31] <@Porridge> "Maybe they work for fairies and were gonna replace her with a changling. Maybe they were cursed by fairies and wanted to sacrifice her to get better," Porridge shrugs. "Don't care. You don't use a kid like that, ever."
[19:32] <Feather> "Could be slavers, too. Rotten lot."
[19:32] <Gildas> "We should investigate, regardless of whether you care about the circumstances or not."
[19:32] <@Porridge> "Less you're a necromancer we ain't gonna be getting answers outta those four."
[19:33] <Gildas> "The girl's father mentioned treachery, did he not?"
[19:33] <Gildas> "Perhaps they were on good terms with the centaurs before this."
[19:34] <@Porridge> "Ask him when we get back," the half-elf recommends.
[19:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Are y'all ready to return back now?
[19:34] <Feather> "Didn't mention no thing like that. Neither did the barkeep," Feather drawls dubiously. "Guess anything's possible, though."
[19:34] <Feather> OOC: Sure
[19:35] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 86." [1d100=86]
[19:35] <@Kotono> roll 1d3
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3 and gets 1." [1d3=1]
[19:35] <@Kotono> The party begins to head back. As you do...OOC: Make a spot check, Porridge?
[19:36] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12
[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+12 and gets 19." [1d20=7]
[19:36] <@Kotono> roll 1d4 damage and more this is not your day for avoiding the ouchies.
[19:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 damage and more this is not your day for avoiding the ouchies. and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[19:38] <@Kotono> As you go, Porridge takes a step like any other. But the ground gives slightly, foot plunging down. His ankle twists as he steps into a hidden little hole in the ground, a fiery thrill from his ankle! OOC: Sprained your ankle, -10 movement speed until healed/treated.
[19:39] <@Porridge> "Oww! Oh for fuck's sake!" Porridge grunts, pulling his foot out of the hole. "Ouch... fuck!" he grimaces, having to hop and stumble his way from it.
[19:40] <Gildas> "Do you need some help?" He frowned, stepping over to support the Half-elf if he was the sort to accept such kindness. If not, Gildas would simply slow down anyway.
[19:40] * Feather clucks his tongue. "Alright there, man?"
[19:41] <@Porridge> "I'll live," he grumbles sullenly, able to stand on his own. "Good thing that didn't catch me on my way in I guess... lets go."
[19:41] * Feather nods firmly, proceeding along.
[19:42] <@Kotono> The rest of the trip back is a little slower, but Porridge is able to keep pace. Soon enough you return to the riverbank! On the other side are several farmers, armed with pitchforks, torches, knives and that manner of things. Clint is at the forefront, head wrapped in a white bandage. As yo uapproach, "Louise-Ann!" he cries, "You got her back!"
[19:43] <Feather> "Sure did," Feather responds. "Centaurs were gonna send her to the damn fairies, but we got to her in time."
[19:44] <@Porridge> Crossing the river, Porridge takes advantage of the chance to splash some water on his face to wash off the crusty dried blood around his nose and mouth. "Lucky for her," he adds once more presentable.
[19:44] <@Kotono> Clint gallops across the river, splashing mightily as he takes her from Feather. He holds his sleeping girl tight, "Is she alright? Louise-Ann? Wake up!"
[19:45] <Feather> "Bastards gave her something that put her to sleep," Feather tells him. "Let her sleep it off, I say. I can take another look after a few hours."
[19:45] <@Kotono> The barkeep approaches, leaning on a pitchfork, "Y'all alright? Helluva broken nose you got there, sonny. My wife's good with the herbs, she can fix you up something to help with the pain."
[19:46] <@Kotono> Exhaling, "Wait - fairies? The Fair Folk?" Clint's voice catches, as the noise seems to drain out, "Them?"
[19:46] <@Porridge> "Much obliged," Porridge nods. "One of 'em got me with a nasty kick."
[19:46] <Gildas> "Put your daughter to rest first. We will discuss the details afterwards."
[19:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Skip ahead a little bit?
[19:47] <@Porridge> OOC: sure
[19:47] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7
[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+7  and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[19:47] <@Kotono> roll 1d4 healing to Porridge, at least fortune's going both ways today, she aced her check
[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 healing to Porridge, at least fortune's going both ways today, she aced her check and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[19:49] <@Kotono> Soon enough the party is back in the tavern. Food and drink is on the house as you sit back. Porridge is seen to by a graying lady, wearing a plain dress and dirty apron. The painkilling herbs make Porridge feel a fair bit better, and a herb-rub on his ankle knocks the swelling right down. It's not quite right yet but it feels a damned sight better. Clint and the barkeep are there as well,
[19:49] <@Kotono> awaiting the details. OOC: Go ahead, y'all.
[19:50] * @Porridge is content to just ease back and take a load off, trusting the other two to go over the salient points.
[19:50] <Gildas> "When you came in, you were shouting about treachery. Have you had relations with the centaur before this incident?"
[19:51] * Feather snorts into his ale, before finishing the drink.
[19:53] <@Kotono> Clint is working on an ale, feet up. He drains it before replying, "I'd seen them a few times, and so had Louise-Ann, but they kept away. Real cautious folk. I figured that if they don't want to be social, it's fine as long as it isn't a problem. Then they come along and do this!" Slamming a fist down onto the table, "Treacherous bastards! It's not neighborly is what it is."
[19:54] <Gildas> "So they've been around for a while?" He takes a small bite of the food that had been offered, but does not seem to eat very much of it. "Or had they just shown up recently?"
[19:57] <@Kotono> "Say...'bout a month or two?" The barkeep says, "That's when the stories started. I remember since it was a few weeks before that late snowstorm we got. Hard to miss them picking through the snow. It was the same day Liza came down with the falling shakes."
[19:58] <@Kotono> "Yeah, sounds right." Clint nods, "'cause the next day was when that old pine in Lashey's plot cracked. Remember talking about it while we were chopping it down."
[19:59] <@Kotono> "Damn, bet it was an omen now," The barkeep mutters, "Granddaddy always said trees breaking bad were omens. Why, the time I broke my leg I'd seen a healthy oak go down not three days ago!"
[20:00] <Gildas> "Have you had any travelers come by here recently? Specifically, elven ones?"
[20:00] <@Kotono> "Yeah, but if the Fair Folk..." Clint trails off, taking a shake of salt into his hand and tossing it over his shoulder. "You think that they might've...?"
[20:02] * @Porridge wakes up enough to say, "We got her before they could do whatever they had planned. Right pissed about it they were too." And then he grabs a pie to start eating.
[20:02] <@Kotono> "Sure did," The barkeep goes on, "Maybe three or four of them? One as a woman, remember that much. She was talkin' to Montgomery for awhile. Talked to one myself, man I think. Hard to tell with those elves, you know? Name was Allundias. Said they were seeing the sights and wandering the woods. Had a good sword at his side, remember seeing the grip was well worn."
[20:03] <Gildas> "We cannot jump to any conclusions at this point. I'd just like to have all the information possible. Did any of those... visit your farm, Clint?" He looks over at the man.
[20:03] <@Kotono> Clint just sighs in pure relief, shuddering after.
[20:04] <Feather> "There won't be any centaurs coming back, either," Feather adds. "Wolves won't act on their own that far out, I bet."
[20:05] <@Kotono> Clint shakes his head, "No. I never saw them myself, had a calving that day that was a fucking mess. It was a breech birth and had to get the calf out the hard way."
[20:05] <@Kotono> "No loss," The barkeep mutters, going around and refreshing drinks. "You ask me, you did Clearbrook a service with that."
[20:06] * Gildas takes out the elven penny from earlier. "We found this coin, it's Elven, at the location your daughter was taken." He holds up a hand as if to stop the following outburst. "At the moment, I think we need to figure out if there is a connection between them and what happened."
[20:07] * Feather welcomes the refill, not letting it go to waste.
[20:08] <@Kotono> The barkeep takes the coin, "Yeah, that's the coins they used. They're smaller but denser. 'ccording to my scales, an elf penny's worth about one and a half of our coppers."
[20:08] <@Kotono> "You ask me," Clint speaks up, "You wanna find out what a man's doing, you find his home. Or whatever those monsters call a home."
[20:09] <Gildas> "Then I think we need to find these travellers." He regards the other two. "If this is something the two of you wish to investigate."
[20:10] <@Porridge> "Why so interested in elves?" Porridge asks, wondering if Gildas really thinks the elves are in cahoots with the centaurs and fey, or if he's just racist. Not that the elves don't deserve it, smug bastards...
[20:11] <Feather> "How far back did they pass through here, anyway?" Feather floats his own question. "Anyone got any ideas where they went?"
[20:11] <@Kotono> "Couple of weeks?" The barkeep answers, "Think there were going northish from the sounds of things."
[20:12] <Feather> "Trail's a bit cold there," Feather points out with a shrug.
[20:12] <Gildas> "Because I'm not willing to believe that centaurs would suddenly kidnap a girl and try to give her to something like Fairies without something spurring them on. Maybe it is the Elves, maybe not." He looks at Porridge flatly. "But anything is possible, so we should not rule anything out."
[20:12] <@Kotono> As you talk, the barkeep's wife returns. "Excuse me," she steps in.
[20:13] <Feather> "Hmm?"
[20:13] <@Kotono> "True enough that there's things we don't know," The barkeep says, "Ya work this job long enough and you learn each side has a story. Then again, maybe they were sick fucks already-hm dear?" turning ot her.
[20:15] <@Kotono> "It's about Louise-Ann." Clearing her throat again, "She's been asleep several hours now and I've administered some herbs to stir her. But she's not waking up. I tried prodding the poor girl and it didn't work..." Looking down, "Gods preserve, but when I touched her eyelids there wasn't a reaction, nor when I tried her reflexes after. She's breathing, but everything else seems unresponsive."
[20:15] <@Kotono> With a clatter as his chair is knocked over, Clint rises up and hurries off the way the wife came from.
[20:15] <@Porridge> "Damn..." Porridge furrows his brown. "We're gonna have to go back."
[20:17] <@Porridge> *brow
[20:17] <@Kotono> "Aw shit," The barkeep shakes his head, "Shit from all directions."
[20:17] <Gildas> "Back? To the circle?" He turns slightly to regard Porridge. "I suppose we may."
[20:18] <Feather> "No time like the present," Feather says, finishing his ale. "Might be worth our while to track them back to their lair, too, see what's there."
[20:18] <@Kotono> "It's getting fairly late in the day," The barkeep points out, "Y'all got a lantern?"
[20:19] <Gildas> "Somewhere in here." He motions to his backpack.
[20:19] <@Porridge> "Got some torches, but might be better if we leave at first light," Porridge says, "Some bedrest'd do me good if we have to fight more of them."

[Ebiris]

[18:02] <@Kotono> The next morning comes. The party meets downstairs below, Clint waiting for them. He is grim faced, shaking his head as they look to him. "She's still asleep as the day is long."
[18:04] * Gildas lets out a breath. "Not surprising, I suppose." He looks at the other two, since he's more or less still following their lead.
[18:05] <@Porridge> "We'll get to the bottom of this," Porridge says, "If it's finding their poison to work out an antidote, or putting an end to some witchery, ain't no way we'll have a little girl suffer for those bastards."
[18:05] <@Kotono> "It's got to be the work of the Fair Folk," he says, "Nothing sleeps this long naturally, not a healthy girl," Bowing his head down, before slamming his fist into his hands, "Get going."
[18:06] <Feather> There is nothing more to say, and so with a nod Feather starts leading the way back to that accursed circle the child had been in.
[18:07] <@Porridge> Porridge heads out as well, cracking open one of his healing potions as they go.
[18:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d8+1
[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d8+1 and gets 7." [1d8=6]
[18:07] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:07] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 62." [1d100=62]
[18:07] * Gildas will simply follow along.
[18:07] <@Kotono> OOC: Make survival checks, y'all? It matters beyond just following the path.
[18:08] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:08] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
[18:09] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[18:09] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21." [1d20=11]
[18:09] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9
[18:09] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[18:10] <@Kotono> The path ahead is without incident this time. The path begins shadowy, barely any light coming through. Yet as the sun rises, the canopy slowly lets in pale light and the occasional sunbeam. In this lingering twilight you advance forward into the forests. It's still well before noon when you return to the clearing. Here you find there is no sign of the centaur's bodies. Instead, the clearing is
[18:10] <@Kotono> filled with blood-red buttercups, growing everywhere within save for the interior of the flower-circle.
[18:11] * @Porridge looks to see any evidence of the bodies being dragged away. The alternative is unsettling to say the least.
[18:11] <@Kotono> OOC: Survival or spot check. Whichever is better.
[18:11] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12 perception
[18:11] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+12 perception and gets 25." [1d20=13]
[18:12] <@Kotono> Porridge can see no sign of anything being disturbed. No signs of bodies being moved at all.
[18:12] <@Porridge> "The... flowers... ate the bodies?" Porridge keeps a respectful distance from the foliage.
[18:13] <Gildas> "Anything is possible, when it comes to these matters." He adds, looking around.
[18:14] <@Porridge> Exhausting all options, Porridge now looks for any older tracks that would signify centaur traffic around here not leading back towards the town but off in other directions that might lead to centaur camps.
[18:14] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9 survival? +3 if perception
[18:14] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 survival? +3 if perception and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[18:15] <@Kotono> Looping around the clearing and searching, Porridge finds some old tracks on the far side of the clearing. They lead further into the forest.
[18:16] <@Porridge> "Okay, two options," Porridge says. "Follow these tracks to try and find where the centaurs are coming from. Or we see if we can use the circle to go into the fairy world."
[18:17] <Gildas> "Do you think the centaurs would have an antidote?" He looks back at the buttercups. "I somehow doubt they thought that far ahead."
[18:18] <Feather> "Can always try the crazy fairy circle later," Feather muses, looking at it warily. "Not sure we can make it back from there easily. Better check the other tracks first, I reckon."
[18:18] <@Porridge> "Thing is, we don't know if it's poison or magic," Porridge points out. "If it's poison then sure, they'd have an antidote. If it's magic, though..."
[18:19] <@Porridge> "That's two for the tracks," the half-elf nods to Feather. "Lets go then. And hope they're either few in numbers or peacable."
[18:19] * Gildas shrugs and will follow the other two.
[18:23] <@Kotono> Thus the party follows the tracks. The way ahead has a fair deal of poison ivy and poison oak, but the party is skilled enough to avoid such hinderances. You travel this path until roughly noon. You come on a small clearing, clustered around the backside of a hill. A trickling brook makes a small, irregular waterfall, a small pond that continues on in a small brook beyond. There's a few houses
[18:23] <@Kotono> near the pond edge - huts of straw and wood, oversized for humanoid creatures. No one seems to be about, the air still and quiet.
[18:25] * @Porridge peers ahead trying to estimate how many centaurs would live here based on the number and size of the huts. "Either of you good at peacemaking?" he asks offhandedly. No point even trying to talk it out if they can't smooth over the four dead centaurs after all.
[18:26] <Feather> "Won't trust nobody who'd just shrug off what we did to their pals," Feather responds with a snort.
[18:26] <Gildas> "I don't think we speak the same language, anyway. Intimidation might be a better idea." Gildas adds, taking another glance around.
[18:27] <@Kotono> A dozen or so, perhaps? It doesn't look very big. OOC: Make a perceptioncheck, Gildas?
[18:28] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[18:28] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 20." [1d20=10]
[18:29] <@Kotono> Nothing is awry. Gildas can see few signs of recent activity that should come with a village like this.
[18:30] <Gildas> "I don't think they've been here in a while." Gildas comments.
[18:31] <@Porridge> "Lets see if anyone's inside any of the huts first," Porridge suggests, getting up and walking into the little cluster of huts, looking in any windows he can see.
[18:32] * Feather draws a scimitar, taking a spot by the door while Porridge checks the windows.
[18:34] * Gildas shrugs again and hangs back.
[18:35] <@Kotono> The first hut looks to be storage - lots of clay pots and supplies about. The second is more interesting - for here on two piles of hay lie two smaller centaurs. They have child-like features, one a boy and one a girl. They lie on the hay, seemingly fast asleep. A crude shelf nearby holds dozens of small clay jars and a book sits atop the shelf. The third and fourth huts look to be simple living
[18:35] <@Kotono> spaces, as do the next several. The last is bigger - it has a statue of a centaur made of wood within and nothing else.
[18:36] <@Porridge> Porridge frowns now, starting to suspect something. Opening the door he shouts, "Hey! Wake up!" at the two child centaurs.
[18:37] <@Kotono> The two centaur children do not stir at this shout.
[18:37] * Gildas perks his ears up at the shout. A frown forms on his face at that, most likely suspecting the same thing as the others.
[18:38] * Feather sheathes his weapon before approaching the children. If he can tell whether it's the same ailment he saw in the girl they rescued....
[18:38] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 herbs?
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 herbs? and gets 12." [1d20=4]
[18:38] <@Porridge> "Right, think I've figured it out," Porridge frowns, stepping back. "Some fairy cursed the centaur kids to sleep, and the centaurs thought they could pass the curse off to human kids instead. We fucked up their ritual though, so it's just left everyone worse off. Tch..." he spits. "Idiots should've talked it out first."
[18:39] <Gildas> "I'm not sure that's what it is, but it does not really matter the circumstances." He shrugs again. "Either way, we must resolve the issue."
[18:39] <@Kotono> The herbs look to be quite assorted, but most are various stimulants and rousing agents.
[18:40] * @Porridge goes to check in all the other huts to see if there's any other victims.
[18:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Just checking or any more in depth searching?
[18:40] <@Porridge> OOC: just checking
[18:41] <@Kotono> A check reveals no other centaurs.
[18:42] <@Porridge> Returning to the now probably orphaned children, Porridge gives them each a little sip of water from his waterskin. "With no one to take care of them they're not gonna last. Think we should take them back to town first and then brave the circle."
[18:44] <Gildas> "I'm unsure that is a good decision... perhaps we should investigate the circle first." He frowns. "If we take them back and, for whatever reason, centaurs approach the village... they might attack it under false assumptions."
[18:45] <@Porridge> "I don't think there's any centaurs left," Porridge shakes his head. "And if we go in the circle and don't come back, these two are dead."
[18:47] <Gildas> "We have only encountered four... plus these two. This village appears to be larger than that... but regardless, the others, if they are still here, have not returned for some time." He shrugs again. "If you believe it to be the best course of action, I will simply voice my dissention but follow through nonetheless."
[18:47] <@Kotono> As the party chats in the hut? The strangest thing - the sound of child-like giggling. It lasts only a moment before a loud howl sounds! It's the baying of a wolf, loud enough to echo like a ghostly call to battle!
[18:47] * Feather frowns, thinking their situation over. "How about we spend a bit here, first?" he finally suggests. "Be all thorough-like, see if they left anything behind? Similar elf coins or some letter? Maybe it's not fey after all."
[18:48] <@Porridge> "To arms!" Porridge grabs his axe and rushes out of the hut. "Gotta deal with this first!"
[18:48] * Feather sighs. "Yeah, 'course it's fey, what was I thinking there," he mutters, grabbing his scimitar and letting Porridge take the lead.
[18:49] * Gildas turns and will follow suit.
[18:53] <@Kotono> Heading outside, you find the hut surrounded! Four wolves are just outside the door, within striking distance! They snarl and snap as further howls are heard from around the village! OOC: Init here.
[18:54] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 12." [1d20=9]
[18:54] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1 Porridge
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 Porridge and gets 13." [1d20=12]
[18:54] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4 bird
[18:54] <@Kotono> roll 4#1d20+2
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+4 bird and gets 6." [1d20=2]
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 4#1d20+2 and gets 44." [4#1d20+2 = 12, 21, 4, 7]
[18:54] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7 gildas init
[18:54] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 gildas init and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[18:54] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(14)>Porridge(13)>Feather(12)>Bubi(6)'
[18:55] * Kotono changes topic to 'Wolf 2(21)>Gildas(14)>Porridge(13)>Feather=Wolf 1(12)>Wolf 4(7)>Bubi(6)>Wolf 3(4)'
[18:55] <@Kotono> The second wolf is up, snapping and biting at Gildas before he can react!
[18:55] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 flatfooted AC?
[18:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 flatfooted AC? and gets 17." [1d20=15]
[18:55] <@Kotono> OOC: +1 to that, sorry.
[18:56] <Gildas> OOC: 13
[18:56] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+1 damage and it gets a free trip
[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+1 damage and it gets a free trip and gets 3." [1d6=2]
[18:56] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 CMD?
[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 CMD? and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[18:57] <Gildas> OOC: 23
[18:57] <@Kotono> Gildas gets a chomp on his ankle, the wolf grabbing a hold of him! It tries to shake him down, but Gildas manages to pull his bloodied ankle away safely! OOC: Gildas, go.
[18:58] <Gildas> Without further fanfare, the wolf is now facing down a very angry bear! Wasting no time, that same bear responds in kind to the wolf by trying to take a bite out of it!
[18:58] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[18:58] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 24." [1d20=17]
[18:58] <@Kotono> OOC: That be a hit.
[18:58] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7
[18:58] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 and gets 11." [1d6=4]
[18:59] <@Kotono> Wolf on bear! The two snap, snarl, bite and claw each other! It's a battle of wild fury as the two go at it! Gildas leans in, biting into the beast's spine! He just barely misses snapping it in two, but instead takes a great big chomp out of his opponent! OC: Ow. Porridge.
[19:00] <@Porridge> Porridge keeps his cool for now, skirting around the edge of the wolves to make being surrounded less likely before bringing his axe down on the one opposite Gildas' playmate!
[19:00] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 -2pa
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+6 -2pa and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[19:01] <@Kotono> Porridge maneuvers quickly, but his axe blow hits only soft dirt! OOC: Hatebot representin'. Feather.
[19:03] <Feather> There are far too many wolves facing them, and Feather seeks to make the numbers more manageable. He darts out past Porridge and Gildas to strike at a wolf that must be feeling bored right now, before dodging any pursuit to get back to the relative safety of the doorway.
[19:03] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 shocking grasp channel
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 shocking grasp channel and gets 29." [1d20=20]
[19:03] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 shocking grasp channel crit
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 shocking grasp channel crit and gets 20." [1d20=11]
[19:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Crit. This is gonna be explosive.
[19:03] <Feather> roll 2d6+6+1d6+4d6 last is elec
[19:03] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 2d6+6+1d6+4d6 last is elec and gets 23." [2d6=3, 2][1d6=1][4d6=5, 1, 4, 1]
[19:04] * Kotono changes topic to 'Wolf 2(21)>Gildas(14)>Porridge(13)>Feather=Wolf 1(12)>Bubi(6)>Wolf 3(4)'
[19:05] <@Kotono> Dancing through the wolves with pure agility, Feather goes to the fourth one and slashes across its neck! Its head falls away as its body convulses with electricity and smokes, fur catching aflame from the voltage! It lies there, red staining the pristinge grounds of the village! Meanwhile the first wolf is all ab out turning and trying to bite down on Porridge!
[19:05] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 21." [1d20=18]
[19:05] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+1 and free trip is acomin'
[19:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+1 and free trip is acomin' and gets 2." [1d6=1]
[19:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 CMD?
[19:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 CMD? and gets 6." [1d20=3]
[19:06] <@Porridge> OOC: 18
[19:06] <@Kotono> Porridge isn't quite fast enough, the wolf biting at him! He manages to twist out of the way of that, but the wolf's claw grazes his still healing ankle, drawing a deep scratch! A few drops of blood come from it - nothing serious, but he feels it! OOC: Bubi.
[19:07] <@Porridge> Bubi preens himself in the trees.
[19:08] <@Kotono> Meanwhile the third wolf turns and gazes at Feather - but on seeing its kin cut in twain, it seems to struggle a moment. Its eyes go out of focus, the wolf shaking its head! Its ears flop about as it does, before it suddenly lunges at Feather!
[19:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 20." [1d20=17]
[19:08] <@Kotono> OOC: AC?
[19:08] <Feather> OOC: 19
[19:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+1 and trippin' times afollow.
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+1 and trippin' times afollow.  and gets 5." [1d6=4]
[19:09] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 rollign it would help, spaced a moment
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 rollign it would help, spaced a moment and gets 6." [1d20=3]
[19:09] <Feather> OOC: CMD 20
[19:11] <@Kotono> Feather gets a leaping wolf on his chest! It snaps and bites at his shoulder, latching onto it! With a downward stroke of his hilt pommel to the wolf he frees it, blood trickling down from the bite! Meanwhile the second wolf is locked in combat with Gildas, snarling and snapping at him!
[19:11] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3
[19:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+3 and gets 7." [1d20=4]
[19:11] <@Kotono> But it's easily ignored by the bear, like an ant trying to chew up a mountain! OOC: Okay. Gildas.
[19:12] <Gildas> The angry bear makes another bite at the wolf that he originally engaged with, trying to finish it off!
[19:12] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[19:12] <@Kotono> OOC: Chomp. Damge.
[19:12] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7
[19:12] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 and gets 9." [1d6=2]
[19:12] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(14)>Porridge(13)>Feather=Wolf 1(12)>Bubi(6)>Wolf 3(4)'
[19:13] <@Porridge> Growling but keeping himself from taking it too far, Porridge kicks the wolf away before swinging his axe down to cut through its spine!
[19:13] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 -2 pa
[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+6 -2 pa and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[19:13] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+9
[19:13] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+9 and gets 20." [1d12=11]
[19:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Dude, wait for your cue.
[19:14] <@Porridge> OOC: sorry
[19:14] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(14)>Porridge(13)>Feather>Bubi(6)>Wolf 3(4)'
[19:14] <@Kotono> Bear-Gildas bites down on the wolf! He grabs it into his mouth and chomps down, the front and back of the owlf falling away in two discrete chunks! As this happens Porridge whirls and brings his massive axe down! It slices the wolf's skull apart, the creature twitching once before falling in a heap of blood and fur! OOC: Feather.
[19:16] <Feather> His scimitar once more flashing with lightning, Feather foregoes his usual style and tries to behead the wolf that bit him!
[19:16] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 24." [1d20=15]
[19:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Sign of the hit.
[19:16] <Feather> roll 1d6+3+4d6 last is elec
[19:16] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d6+3+4d6 last is elec and gets 29." [1d6=3][4d6=6, 6, 6, 5]
[19:17] <@Kotono> Slice! With a clean slice the wolf is decapitated! It shudders with electricity as it gushes blood! Wolf's blood stains the party as they stand triumphant! Yet beyond the village comes a serenade of howls! OOC: Free act.
[19:18] <@Porridge> "Something's driving them. Pull that door shut, Feather, then we've gotta find the fairy asshole we heard laughing earlier," Porridge barks before calling up, "Bubi! Seek fairy!" which causes the bird to take flight and spiral around looking for said prey!
[19:19] * Feather kicks the wolf properly outside before closing the door behind him.
[19:19] <Gildas> The bear growls once before returning to the mild-mannered human it used to be. "There is more to this than meets the eye, it would seem."
[19:20] <Feather> "You think?" Feather muses, holding his free hand to his bleeding shoulder. "Looks like it's the damned fairies."
[19:20] <@Kotono> OOC: Have Bubi make with the perception check?
[19:20] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21
[19:20] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+21 and gets 35." [1d20=14]
[19:21] <@Kotono> As the party rushes into the hut once again and closes the door behind them, Bubi looks about. It can see some faint disturbances in the trees above - little movements of branches and the like that shouldn't be.
[19:22] <@Porridge> Being the clever and well trained bird he is, Bubi buzzes the disturbance and screeches loudly to draw the eyes of others to what's about!
[19:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Strike the bit about the party rushing inot the hut.
[19:23] <@Kotono> Above Bubi circles! About 40ft up and 20ft away, Bubi is going crazy around a branch! As that happens...OOC: This is provoking something, so init.
[19:23] * Feather inevitably draws towards the screeching!
[19:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[19:23] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 21." [1d20=14]
[19:23] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8 ???
[19:23] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 ??? and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[19:24] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(21)>???(18)>Feather(14)'
[19:25] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1 Porridge
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 Porridge and gets 3." [1d20=2]
[19:25] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4 Bubi
[19:25] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+4 Bubi and gets 17." [1d20=13]
[19:25] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(21)>???(18)>Bubi(17)>Feather(14)>Porridge(3)'
[19:26] <@Kotono> OOC: Go Gildas. Doing anything or holding?
[19:26] * Gildas will turn into a bear!
[19:26] <Gildas> And that's it!
[19:27] <@Kotono> Once again Gildas is a huge bear! Then above? Suddenly...
[19:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8 AC Bubi?
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+8 AC Bubi? and gets 22." [1d20=14]
[19:28] <@Porridge> OOC: 29
[19:28] <@Porridge> OOC: 20!
[19:28] <@Porridge> OOC: typo
[19:29] <@Kotono> roll 1d4+4
[19:29] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+4  and gets 5." [1d4=1]
[19:30] <@Kotono> Suddenly Bubi twitches in the air! The trained bird shudders and dips down! Blood red buttercups burst out all over its body, growing from its form! It wobbles, barely able to keep flying! OOC: Flying speed is reduced by 20ft due to flower growths. Bubi's up.
[19:31] * Gildas growls and snarls for some reason.
[19:32] <Feather> "So, uh... let's play the waking everyone up game?" Feather says uncertainly into the air around him.
[19:34] <@Porridge> Bubi screeches miserably before pitching forward to plant himself talons first in the invisible fairy!
[19:35] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 CMD for grappling!
[19:35] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+6 CMD for grappling! and gets 20." [1d20=14]
[19:37] <@Kotono> OOC: d100 first, miss chance for invisibility.
[19:38] <@Porridge> roll 1d100
[19:38] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d100 and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[19:41] <@Kotono> Bubi screetches in and darts forward! He manages to grasp something small in his claws! THere's no sound or cry or any noise at all, but he can feel a grip on something! OOC: Okay. Faether.
[19:41] <@Porridge> roll 1d4-2 damage if it matters
[19:41] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d4-2 damage if it matters and gets 0." [1d4=2]
[19:43] <Feather> As he gets no answer, Feather gives the tree a curious look to see if it's scalable with his length of rope and grappling hook..
[19:43] <@Kotono> It's a fairly stout tree. Some climbing looks entirely possible.
[19:43] * Feather gets the brilliant idea of climbing up there!
[19:43] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 28." [1d20=20]
[19:44] <@Kotono> OOC: What's your regular speed?
[19:45] <Feather> OOC: 40ft
[19:45] <@Kotono> With branches to aid him and an easy climb, Feather makes it about halfway up and is still going strong! OOC: Okay. Porridge.
[19:45] <Feather> OOC: I can use swift expeditious retreat for +30ft if I see it's that far
[19:45] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Lemme do the math real quick.
[19:46] <@Kotono> Calling on his magic, Feather is able to make it a little farther! He just makes up to the branch, his last gasp of movement getting him up! OOC: Porridge.
[19:47] <@Porridge> "Hang on, Bubi!" Porridge shouts, rushing towards the trunk after Feather and throwing his spear up at whatever his bird is tussling with before he too can try climbing!
[19:47] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+2 range increments are unkind
[19:47] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+2 range increments are unkind and gets 15." [1d20=13]
[19:47] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[19:47] <@Kotono> OOC: Is this a regular spear, masterwork, magical or what?
[19:47] <@Porridge> OOC: masterwork
[19:48] <@Porridge> roll 1d6+3
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d6+3 and gets 8." [1d6=5]
[19:49] <@Kotono> The spear is chucked! It hits something in Bubi's talons - and stops cold! It recoils back and falls like it hit solid rock or steel! OOC: Gildas.
[19:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Gah, mispasted.
[19:50] <@Kotono> The spear is chucked! It hits something in Bubi's talons - and stops cold! It recoils back and falls like it hit solid rock or steel! There is no sound from this impact at all - not even a whimper or a clang. OOC: Gildas.
[19:50] <Gildas> OOC: Is there any way the bear could bound off something to reach up where Bubi is at present?
[19:50] <@Kotono> OOC: What's your jump score? Depends some on that.
[19:51] <@Kotono> OOC: Or wait, isn't that rolled into something else in Pathfinder?
[19:51] <Gildas> OOC: Arcobatics, maybe?
[19:51] <@Porridge> "Starting to think this is a decoy..." Porridge mutters suspiciousyl.
[19:51] <@Porridge> OOCL acrobatics
[19:51] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Acrobatics mod then?
[19:51] <Gildas> OOC: +10
[19:52] <@Kotono> OOC: You could try, though it wouldn't be an easy check.
[19:52] <Gildas> OOC: Might as well try!
[19:52] * Gildas gets the idea to try and run, jump and then jump again in the direction of Bubi and the invisible thing! He will try and grab it in his mouth and bring it down to the ground if he can.
[19:52] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[19:52] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[19:53] <@Kotono> Gildas leaps up - but his ursine form is just oto heavy for the branches! They snap beneath him, sending him right back down! Then...
[19:54] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+4 and gets 5." [1d20=1]
[19:54] <@Kotono> Nothing seems to happen! OOC: Okay.  Bubi.
[19:54] <@Porridge> Bubi tries to force his rigid and unyielding prey to the ground!
[19:54] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 CMB
[19:54] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+6 CMB and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[19:55] <@Porridge> OOC: +5 since target never tried to escape grapple
[19:56] <@Kotono> But the target resists - it's like trying to move a block of stone, unable to push it down! OOC: Okay, Feather.
[19:56] <Feather> Deciding to trust in the bird's efforts and ignoring the ridiculousness of the entire situation by focusing on the pain in his shoulder, Feather slashes at the invisible spot Bubi is grappling with!
[19:56] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 17." [1d20=8]
[19:56] <Feather> roll 1d100
[19:56] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d100 and gets 70." [1d100=70]
[19:58] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[19:58] <Feather> roll 1d6+3 cold iron
[19:58] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d6+3 cold iron and gets 9." [1d6=6]
[20:00] <@Kotono> The cold iron scimitar slashes into the unseen creature! There is a cry louder than the constant howling, which ceases at the same time! It is a cry of pain, as a child's voice states in agony, "Life thief!
[20:00] <@Kotono>  OOC: Gah.
[20:01] <@Kotono> The cold iron scimitar slashes into the unseen creature! There is a cry louder than the constant howling, which ceases at the same time! It is a cry of pain, as a child's voice states in agony, "Life thief!" As it speaks, the trees sprouts bloody buttercups all over, from branchtips to the base of the trunk! "May the world never again soothe you!" OOC: Make a will save, Feather.
[20:01] <Feather> "Abomination!" Feather's voice booms back.
[20:01] <Feather> roll 1d20+5
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+5 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[20:03] <@Kotono> Feather feels a terrible separation. Alien. The world around him is alien. He does not belong! He does not belong! HE DOES NOT BELONG! The air, the water, the bloody buttercups. He feels them all rejecting him, tearing into his flesh as something that does not belong! He feels himself crumbling - but a moment of mental reserve comes to him. It's an image of Louise-Ann's sleeping face, holding
[20:03] <@Kotono> her in his arms. It provides a stark moment of clarity, the sense of alienness rejected! Then Bubi is holding nothing in his claws save for a single blood-red buttercup. OOC: Free act.
[20:04] * Feather spits, taking care as he climbs down to stand on solid ground once more.
[20:05] <@Porridge> Bubi emits a sad cry and flies down to land on Porridge's gauntlet where he starts trying to preen himself and bite out all of those horrid buttercups between his feathers.
[20:05] * Gildas recovers from his failed attempt at acrobatics and returns to his normal form. "Are you all right?" He calls over to Feather. "What an odd encounter..."
[20:06] <Feather> "I feel like a wolf took a bite out of my hide," Feather responds, grimacing.
[20:08] <@Porridge> "Think that was the cause of all this?" Porridge asks hopefully.
[20:08] <Gildas> "I think our battle may have caused some of this -- the red flowers would indicate as much..." He adds, although he is not entirely sure.
[20:10] <Feather> "Might tell as we check on those two centaur kids?" Feather suggests, deciding to take a look.
[20:11] <@Kotono> Going to check the children, you find them still fast aslumber.
[20:13] * Feather shakes his head sadly. "So what now? Look around closer for anything, or just bring them back?"
[20:15] <@Porridge> "Lets take them back where at least they can be cared for. Then we'll have to look at that circle more," Porridge says, at a loss for anything better to do.
[20:15] <Gildas> "I think the only way we're to resolve this is by making peace with the Fairies." He glances around the town again. "But perhaps we should just bring the children back first and then... perhaps try and follow those Elves that we heard about."
[20:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Goign to take the children back then?
[20:16] <@Porridge> OOC: yes
[20:17] <Feather> OOC: sure
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 46." [1d100=46]
[20:20] <@Kotono> The trip back is a slow one. Rigging up something up to help carry the children along takes some time, and it's slower going. It's well past noon and into the heart of the afternoon when you reach Clearbrook once more. The barkeep's waiting for you at the brook, "Ho there!" he calls.
[20:20] <Gildas> "Which one of you wants to explain the situation?" It was as if he wasn't volunteering.
[20:21] <@Porridge> "Things are more complicated than we thought," Porridge says, nodding towards the sledge he's carrying with a slumbering centaur foal in it, "Centaur kids are lost asleep too. Since we killed their parents, we need someone to take care of them here."
[20:23] <Feather> "Must be fey," Feather grumbles. "Some weird blood-red flowers just sprouted all over, and one of them was invisible and talked." He grimaces. "Weirdest thing I ever saw, that."
[20:24] <@Kotono> "Shit on a stick," The barkeep rubs his forehead, "That's going to go over like horse shit in a well. Everyone hear has heard about how centaurs kidnapped Louise-Ann and how they're at fault now." That's stopped by wary look at Feather, "The Fair Folk indeed," he mutters, "Y'all must have balls like boulders. Heard they take people who aren't respectful and call 'em like that."
[20:25] <@Porridge> "Look, they're kids," Porridge says flatly. "I'll pay if no one's willing to take care of sick kids out of common decency, but like hell if I'm leaving them out to die."
[20:25] * Gildas looks to be considering something, but is waiting for the Plight of the Children to be finished first.
[20:26] <Feather> "Only way they'd be taking me is after they pry my weapon out of my cold dead hands," Feather swears. At Porridge's words, he nods firmly. "Don't matter how you sell it to the others, man. Call it a safety policy against the centaurs having friends that'd come back. So long as they're safe while we fix this mess, that's all good."
[20:26] <@Kotono> "Shit, shit, shit!" Cursing and looking Porridge in the eye, "You best do that. I can put 'em up for awhile. Maybe once tempers cool it'll float, but right now everyone's upset."
[20:27] <Gildas> "I have a question." Gildas interjects. "It was mentioned that there was a tree taken down recently, correct? Where is it? Or... was it, I suppose."
[20:28] <@Porridge> "Here," Porridge scowls, loosing his moneypouch and tossing it to Samuel. "Over a hundred in there, spread it around to make people kinder if you need to. Can expect better from orcs," he spits, the situation of these children reminding him of his own.
[20:31] <@Kotono> That gets a stare before the barkeep snaps his fingers, "Oh right. The old pine in Lashey's plot?" He's interrupted by the money toss, pausing a moment. He grunts, takes a few coins out and tosses it back. "Shut the fuck up," he snaps back, "Fine. They're horses but I'm not gonna have that on me when it's time to 'splain my life." Taking a breath after, "It got chopped into firewood. It's still
[20:31] <@Kotono> in Lashey's stack, he already had plenty left over." OOC: -10 gold but he tossed the rest back.
[20:32] <Gildas> "I would like to investigate it." He looks at the other two. "I have a feeling about something."
[20:33] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Give me a hand getting these kids taken care of and I'll take y'all over," he says.
[20:33] * Gildas nods.
[20:33] <Feather> "I'll go get bandaged properly and stop for a drink?" Feather muses, glancing at the barkeep. "Help you wih the kids along the way."
[20:34] <@Porridge> "Fine, fine..." Porridge frowns as he takes the money back, knowing he's abrasive... but they're just children! Continuing to pull the sled, he wants to make sure they really are taken in before he leaves.
[20:36] <@Kotono> From there it's a simple matter to get the kids taken care of. With three armed adventurers no one really says anything. Once downstairs the barkeep's wife comes around, administering painkilling herbs and bandaging wounds. As she fusses over you and the party gets a drink, "Clint hasn't left Louise-Ann's side since this morning," he says, the tavern currently empty save for the group. "Got
[20:36] <@Kotono> anything good I can tell him?"
[20:37] <Gildas> "We will take care of it." He says, flatly.
[20:37] <@Porridge> "Those centaur kids've probably had what she's got even longer, so we know it's at least stable," Porridge offers.
[20:39] <@Kotono> "Alright," He says once at the statements, "I'll take y'all to old Lashey's in a moment."

[Ebiris]

[17:35] <@Kotono> Old Lashey's plot is at the far western end of the cluster of farms at the brook. It's unremarkable - a small farmhouse that has a fair few attached buildings in a haphazard manner. A fairly sizeable stack of firewood rests against a wall here. The barkeep jerks a thumb, "It's at the end," he says, "Should be less weathered than the rest of the wood, can't miss it."
[17:36] * Gildas nods. "Allow me a moment." He strides over to the end to investigate his suspicion.
[17:37] <@Kotono> Going to the end, you find that there is indeed a pile of wood that looks less weathered than the rest. It's still in decent shape, not having the grayish mottling of more aged firewood.
[17:39] * Gildas will lean down and hoist a piece up and scrutinize it. He's mainly going on the assumption that this is, somehow, related to the fairies and the trouble that's started.
[17:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Have any ranks in K:Nature or anything like that?
[17:41] <Gildas> OOC: Yes.
[17:41] <Gildas> OOC: +9 on K:N
[17:41] <Gildas> OOC: Spellcraft too, if that matters.
[17:41] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a K:N check.
[17:42] <Gildas> roll 1d20+9
[17:42] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 15." [1d20=6]
[17:44] <@Kotono> There is something awry. The wood's lasting longer than typical pine, which is ill suited for long term outdoor exposure once felled. This suggests some sort of unusual influence, but not likely an overpowering one. Unfortunately Gildas can't recall more information about it than that.
[17:46] <Gildas> "...I thought as much." He carries the piece over to the others and holds it out for their inspection. "There's something wrong with this, but... I cannot tell you, exactly, what it is. However, I can tell you normal wood of this type does not last long like this. It is my assumption that the fairies were using this tree for something, and when it was felled, they took it as offensive."
[17:47] * Feather takes a critical look at the piece, spitting on the ground.
[17:47] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 K:N
[17:47] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 K:N and gets 10." [1d20=2]
[17:48] <@Kotono> It does look well preserved for pine wood left exposed, but unfortunately Feather can't recall anything more.
[17:48] <Feather> "Nice wood," he comments a moment later, shrugging.
[17:48] <@Kotono> "Ya know, pine usually does age faster. Tends to get buggy'er'rotty." Shrugging his shoudlers, the barkeep looks on, "Now we ain't see any Fair Folk shit like fairies," Lowering his voice and speaking carefully, "But hell, ya think?"
[17:49] <@Porridge> "So they blackmailed the centaurs to get at the humans, then? Or at least one human... just raises more questions it does," Porridge drawls thoughtfully. "Not gonna get answers till we put hands around a fairy's neck I don't think."
[17:50] <Gildas> "I think it bears further investigation. Could you take us to the site where it once stood?" He looks to the other two. "I believe we will find more answers there."
[17:52] <@Kotono> "Sure," The barkeep leads you 'round the other side of the house. There's a hole in the ground here, a few hints of roots in the interior edges. "Here all is where it happened, y'all," he says, "Old Lashey hasn't gotten around to fillin' it yet. You ask me, you're asking for it to get all wet and mosquito filled soon."
[17:53] * Gildas steps over to the actual site and kneels down for a closer look.
[17:55] <@Kotono> It's a hole in the ground. It looks holey as holes tend to do. It's easy enough to tell a tree stump was once here - it still has the ends of sliced roots visible. OOC: Make another K:N check.
[17:55] <Gildas> roll 1d20+9
[17:55] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 28." [1d20=19]
[17:59] <@Kotono> The soul here has signs of extreme richness, above and beyond what is usual here. It suggests some sort of influence - stories say dryads can cause this, as well as certain types of plants such as assassin vines or man-traps.
[17:59] <@Kotono> *soil
[18:01] <Gildas> "...I believe the story is starting to unravel." He waves the others over and indicates the soil. "You see this? I believe it has been enriched by something... perhaps a dryad, perhaps something else... But I believe this to be the... forgive me, but the root of the problem."
[18:03] <@Kotono> The barkeep promptly groans and rubs the bridge of his nose. "Terrible, by the gods." Sighing after, "Now I dunno, but I haven't ever heard of trouble round these parts. But old Lashey isn't the most social type. Comes to the cookouts, singings and the shared work, but sort of keeps to himself when he can. Rough around the edges."
[18:03] <@Porridge> "Huh." Porridge looks at the hole, and then at the farmhouse a few feet away. "How long's this village been here?" Seems odd that a dryad would live practically within their limits and never make itself known even when the tree was being cut down.
[18:05] <Feather> "Don't think it's a dryad," Feather voices, shaking his head. "But maybe the fairies had a tea party there a few decades ago one night and it became all special to them ever after?"
[18:05] <@Kotono> "'bout thirty years. Old Lashey's been here longer, y'all." The barkeep shakes his head, "Shit in the clouds, I think he's been here at least ten more. Milligan used to say he was the oldest salt here before his heart stopped."
[18:09] * Gildas stands up and dusts himself off. "So Lashley, where would we find him? Or do you mean to say he has passed on?"
[18:11] <@Kotono> "Would be a right shame if he had," The barkeep says, "He's probably fucking off in there somewhere. He drinks and complains about his old bones. He brews his own stuff. Hate to admit it, but he makes a mean berry-wine. It kicks you right in the gut and doesn't stop kickin' until you wake up naked next to something you'd rather forget the next morning."
[18:15] <Gildas> "Then I think we should speak to him." He again looks at the others. "Do you agree?"
[18:15] <Feather> "Can't hurt us any."
[18:16] <@Porridge> "May as well," Porridge allows.
[18:17] <@Kotono> "Yeah sure," The barkeep leads you 'round the front. The door is pounded on several times, followed by a shout of, "Lashey! Get your ass out here!" More pounding, "It's about Louise-Ann!" More pounding. This finally gets the door open. The man here is rather average on first glance. He has a long white beard and a bit of a stoop in his back. He's aged, alright. He wears rough, homespun clothes.
[18:17] <@Kotono> Giving the party a look, "What?"
[18:17] <@Kotono> "These fellas need to talk to you," The barkeep says, "It's about Louise-Ann."
[18:19] <@Kotono> The party gets another lookover, old Lashey repeating, "What?" This time it's directed at the party.
[18:21] <Gildas> "Had the tree that was recently taken down been here before you arrived?" Hopefully it was an easy question to answer.
[18:21] <@Kotono> "Yeah. What about it?" He answers right back.
[18:23] <Gildas> "We believe it, and the soil, may have been enchanted by something, and by cutting it down it angered them." He said, calmly. "We are trying to find the answers to many questions, and believe this is a starting point."
[18:24] <@Kotono> "Yeah?" Asking again, "No idea. It's just a tree."
[18:25] <Gildas> "It is not." He didn't seem shaken, at least not yet. "Had you ever seen anything out of the ordinary in all your time here? Voices from things unheard?"
[18:25] <Feather> "Did creepy or weird shit happen around it a lot?" Feather pitches in.
[18:27] <@Kotono> "Not a thing," he repeats, "You're barking up the wrong tree."
[18:27] <@Porridge> "Good one," Porridge snorts.
[18:27] <Feather> "Not bad, old man."
[18:28] <Feather> With a snort of his own, Feather says, "So we also hear you make the best berry-wine in these parts?"
[18:29] <@Kotono> "Yeah, so what?" Eyeing Feather, "What's that got to do with it?"
[18:29] <Feather> "Got any? I'll pay."
[18:30] <@Kotono> "Yeah. Ten gold." He says, shortly, "It's the best you'll get in a hundred miles."
[18:31] <@Kotono> "Shit on a cracker!" The barkeep exclaims, "Ten gold for that shit?"
[18:31] <@Kotono> "They don't get the local discount," The old man replies evenly.
[18:31] <@Porridge> "I'll buy a bottle for two," Porridge chips in.
[18:32] <@Kotono> "You can drink dick piss for two gold," The old man retorts right back.
[18:33] <@Porridge> "Bah, screw you," Porridge waves it off. No point if he won't haggle.
[18:35] <@Kotono> Turning to Feather then, "Really? Ten gold?"
[18:35] <Gildas> "You are certain, then, that you have -never- heard anything out of the ordinary here. Ever." It wasn't accusatory, just fact-finding.
[18:37] <@Kotono> "Never," he says flatly.
[18:37] <Feather> "Too rich for me," Feather finally says with a shake of his head. While he might afford it, just barely, that would mean he'll need to hunt his food in the near future. And there's no time to get a job for a week or so with this situation here, either.
[18:38] <Gildas> OOC: Can I make a Sense Motive check? Gildas has a hunch that the old man isn't being entirely truthful.
[18:38] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[18:38] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13." [1d20=3]
[18:38] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 (Mod not listed for secrecy purposes as noted in the skill)
[18:38] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 (Mod not listed for secrecy purposes as noted in the skill) and gets 6." [1d20=6]
[18:39] <@Kotono> Gildas gets the impression that he's hiding something. He's too defensive.
[18:39] <Feather> "Let's go," Feather says, turning away. "Dead end, this. Fairy trees." He shakes his head.
[18:40] <Gildas> "Sir, your town may be at risk. There is already one girl dreaming something she may never recover from. If you do not help us find the true reason for this, then your entire town may suffer the same fate. Can you live with that on your conscience?" Gildas folds his arms, not moving.
[18:43] <@Kotono> The old man glares at Gildas - but doesn't speak. He is silent a few moments, "It's not the Good Folk," he finally says. "It isn't any of your business what it is, but it's not them."
[18:44] <Gildas> "Then you do know about them." He responds."
[18:45] <Gildas> "Please, we have no quarrel with the fairies, we just wish to solve this and be done with it." He adds as well.
[18:46] <@Kotono> "Isn't hard to guess when you start babbling about fairy trees and a child that won't wake up." Grunting after that, "I'm old, not stupid."
[18:47] <@Porridge> "I have a quarrel with them," Porridge mutter sullenly.
[18:47] <@Kotono> "Good for you," The old man drawls, "You won't have to worry about all the aches and pains of getting older."
[18:50] <Gildas> "At any rate..." Gildas interjects, trying not to anger the old man any further. "Please, tell us what you know, sir."
[18:50] <@Porridge> "Damn right I'd be pained leaving innocent kids to waste away for their sick amusement!" the half-elf snaps back.
[18:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas, make a diplomacy check. Porridge, make an intimidation check.
[18:51] * Feather just stands there a few paces away awkwardly.
[18:51] <@Kotono> The barkeep is much the same as Feather at this point, just watching the entire back and forth.
[18:51] <Gildas> roll 1d20+2
[18:51] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+2 and gets 6." [1d20=4]
[18:51] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6
[18:51] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+6 and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[18:53] <@Kotono> Gildas gets a glance of dismissal, but he lingers on Porridge. That snap gets his attention, and for just a moment he frowns. A silence draws out, "In here," he finally says, heading back inside, "You three are welcome. You," A glance at the barkeep, "Go away. Ain't any of your business and they don't need a guide in here."
[18:54] <@Kotono> "Shit on you, too," The barkeep mutters, but steps back with a scowl.
[18:55] <@Porridge> Nodding silently, Porridge follows Lashey inside.
[18:55] * Gildas nods to Samuel in thanks. "Thank you for your trouble." He turns and heads inside.
[18:55] * Feather gives the barkeep a silent shrug and follows the others indoors.
[18:57] <@Kotono> Inside is a ramshackle house. You're lead down a hall, into a door that leads to a connecting building and then another. It's all very uncoordinated and a bit messy. Soon enough you come to a barricaded door. Besides it is a series of old metal cages. Three of them have plump rabbits inside. He goes to one and opens it, deftly snapping the rabbit's neck. Carrying it by the the scruff of the
[18:57] <@Kotono> neck, "Easier to show you than piss around explaining it." he says, all while undoing the barricade with his free hand.
[18:58] <@Porridge> Curious as to what manner of beast lies behind the barricade, Porridge just nods and waits.
[19:00] * Gildas frowns at the display, and the further death of the animal, but says nothing.
[19:01] <@Kotono> The door is opened! Within is a large room, with tilted window-slats all over. They let in a surprising amount of sunshine. Odder yet is that it seems better lit than the typical forest gloom. The slats have glass panes that let in this sunlight. Within the room is open dirt, no real floor at all. From the dirt rises a tangle of vines, twitching as the old man enters. "Morning sunshine," he
[19:01] <@Kotono> drawls sardonically, going to kneel amid the vines. "Food's here." He drops the rabbit down, the vines coming to surround the rabbit.
[19:03] <@Porridge> "Yeah, don't think that's a dryad," Porridge concludes. Not very helpful after all.
[19:04] * Feather just has to ask, "Why did you build a house around that thing?"
[19:04] * Gildas turns and looks at Porridge, then looks back towards the vinyl display.
[19:05] <@Kotono> "It's called an assassin vine." The old man watches as the vines tear the rabbit apart, "They used to infest that tree when first set up here. Ain't the Good Folk at all. Just keep 'em for the summer berries." Standing up now as the vines work away, "Because it'll make anyone with half a brain realize what a shit idea it is," he says, "And people will start asking questions."
[19:06] * Feather turns his laugh into a cough, shaking his head.
[19:07] <@Porridge> "Yeah, it's got nothing to do with our fairy problem. Won't give up your secret old man," Porridge tells him.
[19:08] <Gildas> "How did you get the vines out of the tree?" He wasn't entirely sure where to go from here, but figured he'd ask anyway.
[19:08] <@Kotono> "Got my ways," he says casually. "Trade secrets." OOC: Y'all can make K:N checks on that if you care to.
[19:09] <Feather> OOC: Pass on this
[19:09] <Gildas> roll 1d20+9
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 25." [1d20=16]
[19:09] <@Porridge> OOC: ditto
[19:10] <@Kotono> It would take considerable training in horticultural arts or magic. A normal person wouldn't have that level of training, though it's not impossible that an old man who's seen and done a lot might be able to pull it off. He'd be a hell of a green thumb if he did, though.
[19:11] * Gildas raises an eyebrow and shakes his head. "It does not matter how you did it, I suppose, but since you seem to have an association with the 'Good Folk,' as you call them... I would ask your opinion on the events that led to us being here. There is a reason."
[19:13] <@Kotono> "Isn't any of my business," he says, turning brusque. "You ask me, y'all need some Morning Holly and someone that knows their way around herbs." He walks back and closes the door behind him, barricading it once more. "Y'all can go beg the Good Folk, but it's a bad-odds gamble." He begins leading the group back out.
[19:15] <Gildas> "If I told you there were crimson buttercups involved, would that change your mind at all?" He didn't think it actually would, but he didn't have much else to go on.
[19:17] <@Kotono> There's no answer to that. He just leads the group the front door and opens it wide. "Morning Holly grows in the morning sunlight on the rocky outcroppings at the edge of a waterfall. Now get and keep your mouths shut."
[19:18] * Gildas makes a face, but departs to the outside regardless.
[19:19] <@Porridge> "Wasn't a waste of time after all," Porridge smiles. "Want to follow the stream, see if we can solve this without having to parley with the fairies directly?"
[19:20] <Gildas> "As this was my excursion to this part, I believe you two should have the say in where we go next." He offers.
[19:20] <Feather> "Anything to avoid that bit of pleasantness."
[19:20] <@Kotono> OOC: Sow hat's your plan, y'all? Also sec.
[19:21] <@Porridge> OOC: follow the stream until we find a waterfall, wait for holly, profit? Maybe a survival check can tell us which direction most likely will lead to a waterfall?
[19:24] <Gildas> OOC: Gildas is fine doing whatever the other two decide on.
[19:25] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, survival.
[19:26] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 sure
[19:26] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 sure and gets 19." [1d20=11]
[19:27] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9 aiding
[19:27] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 aiding and gets 27." [1d20=18]
[19:27] <@Kotono> The stream doesn't show signs of leading to a waterfall on either end soon. You can estimate that either direction will be a bit of a trip at least.
[19:28] <@Porridge> OOC: whichever direction leads to the sea, we'll go the opposite direction!
[19:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 20." [1d100=20]
[19:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 85." [1d100=85]
[19:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Do you have rations or will you be hunting/living off the land?
[19:31] <@Porridge> OOC: hunting. Bubi helps!
[19:31] <Gildas> OOC: I have the Ring of Sustenence, but will help if the other two need it.
[19:32] <Feather> OOC: A few rations here, I'll stretch them out by hunting
[19:33] <@Kotono> OOC: Make survival checks real quick, each of you?
[19:33] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[19:33] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 11." [1d20=1]
[19:34] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9
[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 and gets 29." [1d20=20]
[19:34] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17." [1d20=9]
[19:37] <@Kotono> It's an unremarkable stop to prepare food. As Feather is slicing up an unlucky rabbit...
[19:38] <@Porridge> Porridge sniffs and then looks at the meat before cursing. "These animals are sick. No point cooking them up, nothing good'll come of it."
[19:40] <Feather> "You sure?" Feather asks, giving the rabbit another look.
[19:41] <Gildas> "A strange coincidence." He doesn't move to check the meat, trusting in Porridge's intuition.
[19:42] <@Porridge> "Yeah, it's no good for you. Besides, you don't want to be eating too much rabbit anyway, bad for you even if they are healthy," Porridge confirms. "I'll go forage around for something else, best if you bury that one."
[19:43] <Feather> "Sure thing," Feather agrees, deciding to clean his knife thoroughly afterwards as well.
[19:43] <@Kotono> OOC: Make another survival check, Porridge?
[19:43] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+9
[19:44] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+9 and gets 15." [1d20=6]
[19:46] <@Kotono> Porridge finds some safe berries and catches a squirrel. Not great eating, but it looks clean.
[19:47] <@Porridge> Pretty lean times. Oh well, he'll make some mash out of it, and so after returning starts efficiently skinning and stripping the meat and good organs off the squirrel in readiness for cooking.
[19:48] * Feather will stick to the berries this time and hope for better pickings the next.
[19:49] <@Kotono> From there the party continues on. Your going is slow - lots of underbrush, mud and rocks. Dusk is falling, the forest rapidly darkening...OOC: Are you going to keep going or set up camp?
[19:50] <@Porridge> OOC: camp
[19:51] <Feather> OOC: Camp's good
[19:51] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then. Any watch or anything like that?
[19:52] <Gildas> OOC: Gildas can take the watch. Oh, he'd probably also want to use a spell or two to heal them if they hadn't been bandaged up and taken care of from the fight before.
[19:52] <@Porridge> OOC: I trance 4 hours and can watch the other 4.
[19:52] <Feather> OOC: I'm good for a shift a swell, of course
[19:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Do y'all want to do the healing IC? I don't think Gildas has shown any actual magic around you two, just shapeshifting.
[19:54] <Gildas> OOC: Whatever they want is fine with me.
[19:55] <@Porridge> OOC: there isn't much milage in it.
[20:07] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then.
[20:07] <@Kotono> OOC: Roll you rhealings.
[20:07] <Gildas> OOC: Okay.
[20:08] <Gildas> roll 1d8+4 healing to Porridge
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d8+4 healing to Porridge and gets 11." [1d8=7]
[20:08] <Gildas> OOC: Then a Cure Minor Wounds to myself, for 1.
[20:09] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. More coming.
[20:09] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 26." [1d100=26]
[20:09] <@Kotono> OOC: The night passes without incident. Add in HP restored from rest.
[20:12] <@Kotono> The next morning begins without incident. It's still gloomy when you chance on your destination! Ahead is a drop off, the stream becoming a waterfall! The foliage above is extremely thick and the river speeds up closer to the waterfall. OOC: Everyone has concealment here due to lighting conditions unless you have low-light or darkvision. Act y'all, feel free to look around for more info or do
[20:12] <@Kotono> whatever.
[20:13] * Gildas takes a look around, then at the others. "How would you suggest we proceed?"
[20:14] <@Porridge> "We're gonna have to climb up by the waterfall and hunt around for holly," Porridge says, approaching and looking to see if he can spot any from the ground.
[20:15] <Feather> "Works for me," Feather agrees, deciding to start on the climbing part of the plan.
[20:16] <@Kotono> It looks like you can climb up - it'llb e aslippery-tough climb, however. It's a good thirty feet up. OOC: If you're going to climb, go for it with checks'n'stuff.
[20:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12 perception first to direct said climbing
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+12 perception first to direct said climbing and gets 19." [1d20=7]
[20:17] <@Porridge> roll1d20+12 climbing now
[20:17] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12 climbing now
[20:17] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+12 climbing now and gets 17." [1d20=5]
[20:17] <@Kotono> There's a fairly direct path up - it's just not an easy one any which way. Porridge begins to climb! He gets 10ft up before his foot slips on a wet rock, sending him plunging down! OOC: Do you have any skill checks to mitigate a 10ft fall?
[20:18] * Feather tries to turn the fall into a more controlled one!
[20:18] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 acrobatics
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 acrobatics and gets 22." [1d20=13]
[20:19] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 I have acrobatics to!
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 I have acrobatics to! and gets 27." [1d20=19]
[20:19] <@Kotono> OOC: No need, Feather. Porridge is the only one that checked to even climb up in the first place.
[20:20] <Feather> OOC: Right! Use the roll for my climb? It's a +8 mod.
[20:21] * Gildas will simply watch the two of them for now, since he doesn't appear to have any desire to go climbing today.
[20:22] <@Kotono> Porridge manages to land safely! Meanwhile Feather manages to make it halfway up safely! Half down, half to go! OOC: You'll need a second climb check to get the second half, sicne it's a genuinely dangerous climb.
[20:24] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[20:24] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13." [1d20=5]
[20:25] <@Porridge> Dusting himself off, Porridge starts climbing again, slow and steady!
[20:25] <@Porridge> OOC: take 10 for 22
[20:25] <@Kotono> Feather makes it 20ft up before his feet slip! He stumbles and begins to fall! OOC: You can make Acrobatics to reduce the fall distance by 10ft.
[20:26] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[20:26] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 22." [1d20=13]
[20:27] <@Kotono> roll 1d6
[20:27] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6 and gets 3." [1d6=3]
[20:27] <@Kotono> Feather manages to land on his feet, a painful THUMP sending a shock from his feet to his head! But he's fundamentally intact. Meanwhile Porridge carefully makes it halfway up, half still to go.
[20:28] <@Porridge> OOC: still taking 10!
[20:28] * Gildas continues to stand and wait. "Are you all right, Feather?"
[20:29] <@Kotono> Porridge manages to make it to the top! He's able to look around - the river is 30ft wide here. Smack in the middle, right by the very edge of the fast moving stream, is a rocky outcropping! Holly can be seen sprouting from it in the dim light.
[20:30] * Feather shakes his head, before deciding to do this properly and taking his rope and grappling hook out. "Gonna toss it over," he calls to Porridge. "Ready?" He gives Gildas a nod. It's not the worst fall he had taken.
[20:31] <@Porridge> "Found some holly!" Porridge shouts down from the top. Whistling for Bubi, he then says, "Fetch, Bubi!" while pointing at the holly, prompting his bird to go collect it for him!
[20:31] <@Porridge> "It's alright, I'm coming back down in a second!" he calls after.
[20:33] <@Kotono> With a flying bird doing it, collecting the holly isn't hard. It takes him a few grabs to snatch it, but soon enough Porridge has the holly.
[20:33] <@Porridge> Affectionately patting Bubi's head afterwards, Porridge puts the holly in his pack and then climbs down!
[20:33] <@Porridge> OOC: take 10 for 22
[20:35] <@Kotono> The climb down is without incident, the party again reunited!
[20:35] <@Porridge> Now the holly is passed to Feather, "Think you can mix up a cure with that, then?" he asks hopefully.
[20:36] * Feather studies it thoughtfully.
[20:36] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[20:36] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13." [1d20=5]
[20:37] <@Kotono> It's fairly exotic - Feather hasn't personally used it before. At the least someone to help would be a good idea.
[20:38] <Gildas> "I believe if we work together we can come up with something. If all else fails, we can always ask the gentleman who sent us here." He offers.
[20:39] <Feather> "Might do, if we put our heads together," Feather agrees. "Seems to be plenty to work with."
[20:39] * Gildas nods. "Then let us return and see if we can solve this on our own."

[Ebiris]

[17:41] <@Kotono> As you begin to walk back, the dimness does not abate. Instead, it stays steady. Moreover, within an hour? From above it comes. Water! Rain! Rain comes down in pouring lines and splashing trails through the canopy and plunging down. Branches sag and the occasional leaf falls with the rain, water coming down everywhere. Soon the party is chilled and soaked as you continue on...OOC: Make sp-er,
[17:41] <@Kotono> perception, all.
[17:41] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12 Porridge
[17:41] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+12 Porridge --> [ 1d20=8 ]{20}
[17:41] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[17:41] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21 Bubi
[17:41] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{23}
[17:41] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+21 Bubi --> [ 1d20=17 ]{38}
[17:42] <Feather> roll 1d20+7
[17:42] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=4 ]{11}
[17:43] <@Kotono> As the party goes along? Porridge, Gildas and Bubi can all notice muddy colored tendrils coming out from the river, slithering towards Feather's ankles as you walk by the river. They look like vines, albeit stained deeply by mud and dreck.
[17:44] <@Porridge> "Feather, watch out!" Porridge shouts as Bubi screeches, the half-elf going for his axe. "By the river!"
[17:45] * Feather sends himself into a blind cartwheel away from the river at the warning!
[17:45] <Gildas> "Hm? ...What the...?" He glances over, taking a step back away from them. "What manner of plant is this...?"
[17:45] <@Kotono> Feather tumbles away, squelching in the muddy mess as the warrior gets out of the way! The vines pounce where he was, getting only air! OOC: K:N here, y'all.
[17:46] <Gildas> roll 1d20+9
[17:46] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+9 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{14}
[17:46] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8
[17:46] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{18}
[17:46] * Feather stares wildly about for danger!
[17:47] <@Kotono> Gildas knows that these are assassin vines - albeit an aquatic variant. Same basic creature. Porridge also knows that they constrict and grab their prey away, so the best defense is distance. OOC: Init here.
[17:47] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[17:47] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{18}
[17:47] <@Kotono> roll 1d20 vines
[17:47] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1 Porridge
[17:47] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20 vines --> [ 1d20=10 ]{10}
[17:47] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+1 Porridge --> [ 1d20=10 ]{11}
[17:47] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4 Bubi
[17:47] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+4 Bubi --> [ 1d20=5 ]{9}
[17:47] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[17:47] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=14 ]{21}
[17:47] * Kotono changes topic to 'Gildas(21)>Feather(18)>Porridge(11)>Vines(10)>Bubi(9)'
[17:47] <@Kotono> OOC: Open Gildas.
[17:48] <Gildas> "How would you care we approach this situation?" He asks, quickly.
[17:48] <Feather> "Kill it! Kill it with fire!"
[17:49] <@Porridge> "Yes, make with the magic, don't get close unless you have to!" Porridge yells.
[17:50] <Gildas> "I am afraid I have not prepared any 'fire,' but I do have an idea." with that he made an incantation and stepped over, laying a hand on Porridge and infused him with Cat's Grace!
[17:50] <Gildas> OOC: Can I also shapeshift after that? I forget the rules on swift actions.
[17:50] <@Kotono> OOC: Yes.
[17:50] <@Kotono> Sudden grace fills Porridge, making him faster and nimbler! OOC: Okay then. Feather, go.
[17:50] <Gildas> After doing so, he had become bear.
[17:58] <Feather> Unable to come up with a better idea, Feather leaps at the vine and hacks at it. He doesn't stick around to see if his hasty swipe did anything or not, because a fresh series of jumps and tumbles takes him well away from the trecherous thing.
[17:59] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 (+shock)
[17:59] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+9 (+shock) --> [ 1d20=2 ]{11}
[18:00] <@Kotono> But his leap lands him in the mud, sticking down and causing his balance to shift! His blade flails by the vines altogether, only a quick jump back gets him out of the muck and safely away! OOC: Okay. Porridge.
[18:01] <@Porridge> "Thanks," Porridge gives Gildas a brief nod, backing off a bit himself and throwing his spear at the vine to weaken it a bit before he has to resort to melee.
[18:01] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8
[18:01] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{9}
[18:03] <@Kotono> But the sphere flies errant! It lands in the river instead, splashing in! At this the vines slooowly slither forward in the mud, extending out further! They manage to just reach Gildas and Porridge, but nothing else! OOC: Bubi. If he holds just go ahead and go, Gildas.
[18:04] <@Porridge> OOC: holding
[18:04] <Gildas> With little else to do, the bear attempts to tear into the vines with a series of angry bites!
[18:04] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[18:04] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{15}
[18:05] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[18:06] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7
[18:06] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d6+7 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{11}
[18:06] <@Kotono> Gildas bites deep into the vine, severing one of them! It thrashes in the rain before stilling, the rest still going! No blood, only a bit of faintly bitter sap. OOC: Feather.
[18:07] * Feather has little choise but to repeat his earlier attempt, this time with a bit more care.
[18:07] <Feather> roll 1d20+9 (+shock)
[18:07] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+9 (+shock) --> [ 1d20=10 ]{19}
[18:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit. Don't roll the shock damage, plants are immune to electricity.
[18:08] <Feather> roll 1d6+3
[18:08] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d6+3 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{6}
[18:09] <@Kotono> Feather's cold iron blade slices another vine apart, kicking it into the river a moment after! Two stout vines remain and two stumps thrash in the mud! OOC: Porridge.
[18:11] <@Porridge> "Nothing for it now," Porridge grumbles with everone in melee, taking a single swipe before backing off again, away from the other two so the plant can only close with one at a time. "Should buy a bow or three sometime."
[18:11] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8
[18:11] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{25}
[18:12] <@Kotono> OOC: That be a hit.
[18:12] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+5
[18:12] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d12+5 --> [ 1d12=1 ]{6}
[18:12] <@Kotono> Whack! A third vine goes down, cut away! Only one remains, but that vine goes for Porridge this time!
[18:12] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 AC?
[18:12] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 AC? --> [ 1d20=9 ]{16}
[18:13] <@Porridge> OOC: 19
[18:15] <@Kotono> But Porridge is too quick, the cat-like grace infused into him letting him slip aside in the mud! A spray of water and dirt follows, battered down by more rain from above! OOC: Bubi. If holding go Gildas.
[18:16] <@Porridge> OOC: still holding
[18:17] <Gildas> Another snarl and angry bite into the vines, the bear trying to tear another one to bits!
[18:17] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[18:17] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+7 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{9}
[18:17] <@Kotono> But this bite only results in mud being tossed around and no concrete effect! OOC: Ow. Feather.
[18:18] <Feather> There is only one left, and Feather runs it down!
[18:18] <Feather> roll 1d20+11
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{30}
[18:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[18:18] <Feather> roll 1d6+3
[18:18] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d6+3 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{6}
[18:18] <@Kotono> With a final slice, the last vine is cut in half! The mass and the severed vines lay before you, no more movement! The party is rain-soaked and mud-stained, but victoriously unwounded! OOC: Free act
[18:18] <@Kotono> .
[18:19] <Gildas> With the battle done, he is his human form again. "This isn't the same creature we saw in the house, is it?" He glances at the other two.
[18:20] <@Porridge> "No, river variant," Porridge says, trudging off to retrieve his spear. Can't get any wetter.
[18:20] * Gildas nods. "I wonder if they are common to this part of the Vastwoods."
[18:21] <Feather> "Better not be, or I'd be wondering how I survived on my own getting here."
[18:21] <@Kotono> The river's running faster and heavier with the rain. It isn't that overwhelmly fast here, but Porridge can tell it'll be a bit of a struggle to get to the spear.
[18:22] <@Porridge> Thing's worth a small fortune, and he needs it to hurt things he can't reach! Whatever it takes, he'll get it back!
[18:24] <@Kotono> OOC: Make an Acrobatics check.
[18:24] <@Porridge> OOC: take 10 for 20
[18:24] <@Kotono> It takes some tight moves and deft work, but Porridge manages to get the spear and return with it safely. It's wet but otherwise none the worse for wear.
[18:25] <@Porridge> It was wet already, along with the rest of him. Setting it in its sling and likewise for the axe, Porridge continues trudging through the mud back to town.
[18:26] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:26] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=7 ]{7}
[18:27] <@Kotono> From there, the rest of your journey is mercifully without incident for a time. The rain continues all day. By late afternoon the party is tired, wet and throughly chilled. Based on the speed you're making, you can manage back to town if you push for another 3-4 hours, about half of those past nightfall. Otherwise you'll need to camp in this.
[18:28] * Gildas will defer to the other two on whether they should camp.
[18:28] <@Porridge> "Feel like trying to push on through the night?" Porridge asks. "Otherwise we should start looking for a cave now if we want to be dry."
[18:29] <Feather> "Got my tent with me," Feather muses. "But we better get there. Nothing beats a proper shelter."
[18:31] <@Porridge> "Right, lets try and hurry it up, see if we can shave an hour or two off before it gets dark," he suggests, picking up his pace to a slow jog.
[18:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then. Make con checks, y'all.
[18:32] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4
[18:32] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{7}
[18:32] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[18:32] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{11}
[18:33] <@Porridge> OOC: +4 from endurance so 11
[18:33] <@Kotono> OOC: Do any of you have Endurance-yes, that.
[18:33] <Feather> roll 1d20+2
[18:33] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{21}
[18:33] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 nonlethal and fatigued Porridge+Gildas and more coming
[18:33] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d6 nonlethal and fatigued Porridge+Gildas and more coming --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
[18:34] <@Kotono> The constant mudding and mucking is so tiresome. The party burns with fatigue, about halfway now as dusk is about to fall. The Vastwoods are dark already with the rain, conditions requiring light or darkvision to continue safely. You did make good time - another hour or so of this and you should make it to town.
[18:36] <@Porridge> "You said you had a lantern, right?" Porridge asks Gildas, breathing a bit more heavily now.
[18:37] <Feather> "Almost there," Feather mutters, wiping a mix of sweat and rain off his brow.
[18:37] <Gildas> "Ah, yes. One moment." He will pull his back off and reach in and pull out his hooded lantern and light it for them!
[18:37] <@Kotono> With light the way ahead is once again revealed! OOC: More.
[18:37] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:37] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d100 --> [ 1d100=73 ]{73}
[18:38] <@Kotono> OOC: Con checks again, y'all.
[18:38] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8
[18:38] <Rei-chan> Porridge rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=3 ]{11}
[18:38] <Gildas> roll 1d20+3
[18:38] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+3 --> [ 1d20=10 ]{13}
[18:39] <Feather> roll 1d20+2
[18:39] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+2 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{3}
[18:39] <@Kotono> roll 2d6 and exhausted Porridge and Gildas nonlethal damage still
[18:39] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 2d6 and exhausted Porridge and Gildas nonlethal damage still --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}
[18:39] <@Kotono> roll 1d6 and fatigued nonlethal Feather
[18:39] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d6 and fatigued nonlethal Feather --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
[18:40] <@Kotono> Exhaustion. Pure exhaustion hounds the party. Each stride in the miserable conditions only make it worse. But finally - ahead! You reach Clearbrook once more! The town is dark, save for the open door of the tavern, which sheds a warm, inviting light.
[18:42] <@Porridge> He's filthy, soaked and dragging his feet, but that doesn't stop Porridge from stumbling into the tavern and dripping everywhere. For Bubi's part he's long since given up and rests on his master's shoulder, head tucked under a wing.
[18:43] <Gildas> Likewise, Gildas is moving at a slow pace. Even so, at least they made it... he steps in after the other two and looks around for a good place to finally sit.
[18:44] <@Kotono> The tavern is filled with the farmfolk - even old Lashey. There are drinking and talking, warmth spilling form a large fireplace with a roaring flame. The only one who you don't see is Clint. The barkeep comes 'round and claps his hands together, "Shit on a grave, y'all trudged through this all day? You look like you're one step away from being death's toys, friends."
[18:45] <@Kotono> There's places to sit - a single empty table not too far away. It's far from the warmth of the fire, but nothing's perfect.
[18:46] <Feather> It's warmer than outside, and Feather heavily sits down by that empty table.
[18:47] <@Porridge> "I need a bath and a bed," Porridge sighs tiredly, but contents himself with sitting like a dog by the fire. "Found some holly that might cure the sleeping kids if'n it can be brewed up right."
[18:47] <Gildas> "It was quite an adventure." He sits and lets his pack hit the floor, letting the weight off his shoulders. "I think we should rest before we attempt anything... to be on the safe side."
[18:48] <@Kotono> As the party settles down, "Did you get it? Thank the Gods." Sighing with ihs eyes closed, a smile coming, "We'll get y'all some food, some warmed water and a bed." Glancing back at the watching crowd, "Get your asses home! Happy hour's over! Louise-Ann's gonna be fine now, so get!"
[18:48] <@Kotono> OOC: Good with skipping along to th enext morning?
[18:48] <@Porridge> OOC: yep
[18:48] <Gildas> OOC: Sure thing.
[18:50] <@Kotono> OOC: HP recovered and status removed.
[18:51] <@Kotono> The next morning the party meets with the barkeep's wife. "I looked over the holly," she says "There's enough to make six doses - assuming we succeeed on them all. More practically, it gives us room for error, dearies. Are any of you good with herbcraft?"
[18:53] <Feather> "I dabble in it," Feather voices. "Never managed to do what you did for Porridge, here," he continues, nodding at the half-elf, "but I'll give you a hand if you'll have it."
[18:53] * Gildas nods. "I have some skill in the matter."
[18:53] * Feather looks at Gildas in surprise.
[18:55] * Gildas responds with a rather neutral look. "Is it that shocking?" He smiles, at little bit. "Nature is full of surprises."
[18:55] <@Kotono> "That's good. The three of us should be able to put our heads together and work it out." OOC: What's everyone's mod for it?
[18:55] <Feather> OOC: +8
[18:55] <Gildas> OOC: +10
[18:57] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas has the highest mod. Roll Gildas and the other two can aid.
[18:58] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[18:58] <Rei-chan> Gildas rolled : 1d20+10 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{27}
[18:58] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+7 aid
[18:58] <Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+7 aid --> [ 1d20=8 ]{15}
[18:59] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:59] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=1 ]{9}
[19:02] <@Kotono> Hours of work pass - but you make six doses successfully! The barkeep's wife hands them over to the party, "These should work," she says, "Go on. They've been in your hands this entire time, it's only right you go wake them up."
[19:03] * Gildas will thank the others for their assistance. "Then let us see if we can deliver some good news."
[19:03] <Feather> "They should," Feather agrees, feeling like he learned more than helped during the time spent working on the cures.
[19:04] <@Kotono> With that, the party heads upstairs! In a quiet inn room lies Louise-Ann. She's tucked in, her father sitting on a stool next to her. He looms over her, quickly asking, "Do you have something?"
[19:05] * Gildas is happy to let the others deliver the good news, if they so desire, as it was much more emotional for them.
[19:07] <Feather> "Here," Feather says, offering one of the doses to Clint. "Should wake her up properly!"
[19:09] <@Kotono> The dose is taken, gently poured down her throat! The girl lies there in rest for only a few more moments before she begins to stir. "M...mmm...Daddy?" she asks, "What are y'all doing here?"
[19:09] <@Kotono> "My baby girl!" Clint wraps her up in a hug, holding her tight.
[19:10] * @Porridge smiles happily at a job well done.
[19:10] <Feather> And the results speak for themselves! Feather scratches the side of his nose, hiding a smile of his own.
[19:11] * Gildas nods in approval. "Young lady, what is the last thing you remember?"
[19:13] * Feather places a hand on Gildas's shoulder, gently but firmly. "I reckon we should give them some time to themselves a bit, first?"
[19:15] * Gildas glances over. "I do understand your feelings. If she does not remember now, she may later."
[19:16] <@Kotono> "Daddy!" The young girl giggles, rather tied up with her father. "No," He glances back, "I want to put this to bed. Tell the men what you last remmeber, Louise-Ann."
[19:20] <@Kotono> Detangling enough to look over a bit of a pout making her dimples show, "I...I think the horse men wanted to play?"
[19:22] <Gildas> "Do you remember anyone else? Pointy ears, maybe?" He meant no offense to his companion, but even so...
[19:22] <@Kotono> Frowning a little, "Pointy ears? Oh, like Cahsa?" Her face lights up, "Did Cahsa come back to play again?"
[19:23] <@Porridge> Porridge does blow out a long breath, the constant obsession with elves is growing old.
[19:24] * Gildas looks at Clint. "Do you know this person?"
[19:25] <@Kotono> "Cahsa...nope," Shaking his head, "Who's Cahsa, princess?"
[19:26] <@Kotono> "Cahsa has pointy ears! She played with me awhile ago, but she left. I wish she'd come back, but she said her friends had to keep going."
[19:29] * Gildas nods. "Then that must be where the coin came from." He nods to Clint as well. "Well, it is not much, but I think we have a general idea of what happened."
[19:30] <Gildas> "The why is what I still have concerns about..."
[19:30] <@Kotono> "Good girl," Clint pats his daughter's head, "Thanks. Come on by once this all settles. Got something for y'all."
[19:31] <@Porridge> "Still gotta wake up the two centaur kids. Maybe they can shed some more light on things," Porridge says, nodding to Clint as he leaves.
[19:32] <@Kotono> OOC: Gonna go do that now, you two?
[19:32] <Feather> Wholeheartedly agreeing with that, Feather gives a nod to Clint and a smile to his daughter, following Porridge outside.
[19:32] <Gildas> "Then let us be off." He nods to them all.
[19:32] <Gildas> OOC: yahp
[19:36] <@Kotono> Another room holds the centaur children. They lie on the floor, piles of hay for each one. They've been cleaned up and have blankets draped over them.
[19:38] <Gildas> "I do not think this one will go as smoothly." He warns the other two.
[19:39] <Feather> "Smoothly or not, we don't got much choice here," Feather responds, offering Porridge one of the doses before kneeling next to one of the children and trying to wake him.
[19:39] <@Porridge> "Doesn't matter, we'll just have to do our best," Porridge says. Accepting the medicine he feeds it to the girl.
[19:40] <Gildas> "Indeed." He will await the two to do their business.
[19:46] <@Kotono> The medicines are given! The boy and girl immediately begin to stir - the boy faster. He reaches up and rubs his eyes as his tail swishes. He speaks in words the party doesn't understand, blearily looking around.
[19:47] <@Porridge> "Sorry, you speak common?" Porridge asks hopefully, stepping back to give them both room and reassure themselves of each other's presence.
[19:48] <Feather> "Elven?" Feather voices after him, thus exhausting his limited knowledge of languages.
[19:50] <@Kotono> "C-ommmon?" The boy centaur replies, "Simple speech, I speak. Elfspeak, I speak."
[19:51] <@Porridge> "Thanks," Porridge gives him a smile. "I Porridge, those Feather, Gildas," he gestures appropriately, speaking in simple terms. "Your name?"
[19:51] * Gildas nods to his name with a hopefully reassuring smile.
[19:53] <@Kotono> "Briarhoof. You Sidhe?" It asks, a hint of fear coming, "Sidhe came! I remember Sidhe came!"
[19:53] <Feather> "Not those," Feather says, shaking his head. "Human."
[19:54] <@Porridge> He shakes his head. "Human," pointing to the other two, "Half-elf. No Sidhe. Found you in village, no one else there. Brought you here until you woke."
[19:57] <@Kotono> The creature looks at you, "Want Father. Where's Father?"
[20:00] <@Porridge> This is tough, and tougher still by the language barrier. Still, Porridge tries to be clear. "Four centaur men attack humans. Take human child to Sidhe. We fight centaurs to save child, and centaurs die." Not very artful, but what can you do?
[20:02] <@Kotono> The girl is stirring by this point - but you barely have a chance to notice, as the boy centaur stares at you with widening eyes, tears looming! Then? He screams as loud as he can!
[20:02] * @Porridge won't stop the kid letting it out. He'd be pissed too... if he had parents to start with, anyway...
[20:03] * Gildas lets out a small sigh and stands where he is, hoping that the scream won't stir anything other than the townspeople.
[20:03] <@Kotono> The girl centaur looks around, startled before she begins to scream, too.
[20:04] <@Kotono> "What in tarnation?!" The barkeep throws the door open, wincing at the onslaught of noise.
[20:05] <@Porridge> "They just found out we killed their dad," Porridge tells him. "Just let them be for now?"
[20:06] <@Kotono> "Oh shit on toast and eggs!" The barkeep curses, rubbing his temple, "Get the fuck out! Dear, get in here," he shouts at the top of his lungs, "Fuck, this isn't for menfolk!"
[20:07] <@Porridge> Taking a last look at the screaming children, Porridge sadly walks out.
[20:08] * Gildas will step out as well and look at Porridge. "I think it would have been best to make up a story."
[20:09] * Feather steps out silently after Porridge and Gildas, shaking his head.
[20:10] <@Porridge> "Wasn't gonna lie to them, and pidgin doesn't make sugarcoating easy," he sighs bitterly.
[20:12] <@Kotono> The barkeep's wife rushes in as you are escorted downstairs. Here the noise is muted, the group sitting. "What a mess," he groans, "Figure we'll work out something. Louise-Ann's up, so that should help everyone calm down. Maybe they'll cotton around to these parts, maybe not." Shaking his head after, "But y'all's money's no good here now. We owe you for saving her."
[20:12] <Feather> "Lies like that, they only grow," Feather agrees gloomily. "Will just get revealed at the worst time. Lead to bitter retaliations."
[20:12] <Gildas> "Hm." Whether he agreed or not, they did have a new lead... as they were taken downstairs, he looked at Clint. "I have a feeling I know the answer to this, but have you ever seen any Sidhe around these parts?"
[20:13] <@Porridge> "Maybe there's more centaurs out there still than the four we ran into, but that's for later. If you guys are willing to take care of them it's hardly the worst thing in the world."
[20:14] <Feather> "Could be out there," Feather agrees. "Likely, too."
[20:15] <@Kotono> "Sidhe?" Snapping his fingers, "Heard it but I don't know what it means. It ring any bells for you all?" OOC: Any of you have any skills related to Elven culture or anything like that?
[20:17] <Gildas> OOC: Not to my knowledge!
[20:17] <Feather> OOC: Local works?
[20:18] <@Kotono> OOC: It would.
[20:18] <Feather> roll 1d20+5
[20:18] <Rei-chan> Feather rolled : 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=12 ]{17}
[20:18] <@Kotono> Feather recalls that Sidhe is an elven word for fey. It's akin to calling them the Fair Folk - a term of polite respect.
[20:19] <Feather> "Just means fey, but polite-like."
[20:20] <Gildas> "Hm..." He shakes his head. "Lashley said he was sure it wasn't them, but now we have this."
[20:21] <@Porridge> "There's the circle they had Louise-Ann at too," Porridge reminds everyone. "And we met one at the centaur encampment. They're definitely involved in the thick of things."
[20:21] <Feather> "'course it's them. That Cahsa, gotta be one of them too," Feather says, before nodding at Porridge's words. "Yeah. Or the talking flying invisible flower. That just ain't natural."
[20:25] <Gildas> "I wonder." He will not argue the point further. "There are too many unanswered questions as it stands. We should decide where to go from here, as I do not believe this is solved yet."
[20:26] <@Porridge> "Figure that circle's our last avenue, 'less you have any better ideas?"
[20:27] <Gildas> "The only other option is to try and follow the path of those that were here before us, but I am not convinced they are involved in this matter... but I am neither convinced they are not."
[20:28] <@Porridge> "What the hell is your beef with elves?" Porridge asks, exasparated. "I hate them too, but I don't blame them for everything that happens wherever they've passed."
[20:28] <Feather> "Try to return to the centaur village?" Feather suggests. "See if anyone's been back. Leave a note for them that the kids are safe here. We come across anyone, we might hear more."
[20:29] <Gildas> "We certainly do not want the centaurs to attack here, thinking they were kidnapped." he nods.
[20:33] * Gildas glances at Porridge. "I would ask what yours is. You seem extremely defensive every time they are brought up." He shrugs. "If they are involved, they are. If not, then they are not. I see no problem."
[20:35] <@Porridge> "Oh shit, you're pinning it on me, now?" he laughs, half in disbelief but half actually offended. "My problem is you keep trying to sidetrack us with a wild goose chase after some random elf that may or may not have dropped a copper in a village they stopped in. We've got a problem right here to deal with, but if you want to go hunt a single elf that left here weeks ago in the entire Vastwoods, be my guest."
[20:38] <Gildas> "I do not recall placing any blame at your doorstep." He responds, simply. "I have not called for us to seriously go after the other travelers as of currently. I am sorry if you feel otherwise on the matter."
[20:41] <@Porridge> "Good, and don't expect me to go along when you decide we should. Not on the strength of a random coin you're waving around like it's a bloodstained glove," Porridge grumps, crossing his arms and leaning back.
[20:42] * Gildas simply shakes his head at the rather sudden outburst, looking no more bothered by it than the centaur children.
[20:42] <Feather> "Might not even be a problem anymore," Feather muses all of a sudden. "Kids all got cured. A fey's the one responsible, probably. They're flighty things. Might've gotten bored and gone away. Might just find us more interesting and come to us. I figure, spending a few days here to make sure it's all quiet is best, short of the visit to the centaur place."
[20:43] <@Porridge> "That's talking more sense," Porridge nods in approval.
[20:44] <Gildas> "Do what you feel is best on the matter." He shrugged again.

[Ebiris]

[17:29] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, what was your plan? Stay in town a few days, see if anything happens? Anything else?
[17:30] <Gildas> OOC: If nothing does, we probably ought to go to the centaur village and leave a note, then go to the fairy circle just to be on the safe side?
[17:30] <Feather> OOC: Leave a not at the centaur village that the kids are alright and back here?
[17:30] <@Porridge> OOC: sure lets go with that
[17:31] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[17:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:31] -rpgcafe.ca.us.lunarnet.org:@#dunes- Kotono invited Hatbot into the channel.
[17:31] * Joins: Hatbot (~Hatbot@cpe-72-182-99-123.austin.res.rr.com)
[17:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 29." [1d100=29]
[17:33] <@Kotono> The trip to the centaur village is without incident. On arriving, you find it overgrown! Thick red foliage is all over, blossoming red buttercups growing out of the ground, the huts and even the rocks. It looks like no one has been here in years. The huts are crumbling as well, as if succumbing to nature's pull.
[17:34] * Gildas lets out a rather pronounced sigh once they see that. "Red buttercups again... may I propose a theory? I have a feeling you both know what I am going to propose, though." He glances back at the other two.
[17:34] <Feather> "Shit's creepy."
[17:35] <@Porridge> "We're gonna have to go to the source," Porridge nods, looking over the verdant crimson ruin in vague disbelief.
[17:36] * Gildas nods. "Precisely. When we battled the centaurs, the blood must have caused whatever ritual they were performing to warp... and now we have this."
[17:41] <Gildas> "I will admit that I have no suggestions on how to address the issue, but perhaps if we return it will be more clear."
[17:41] <Feather> "We better get going," Feather says, looking about warily.
[17:42] <@Porridge> "Lets go," Porridge agrees, backing off and then turning to head for the circle.
[17:43] <@Kotono> As the party turns to go, the bloody buttercups open behind them! Sickly sweet red pollen begins to spread out, rapidly fast.
[17:43] <@Porridge> "Go!" Porridge shouts, breaking into a run!
[17:44] * Gildas will shift into his Bear-likeness in order to run faster away!
[17:45] * Feather dashes ahead of the rest without any shame, relying on his magic!
[17:45] <@Kotono> The party flees into the forest, leaving the overgrown village behind! The pollen is easily outran as the party retreats well away!
[17:47] <@Porridge> Once a respectable distance away Porridge will slow down, even if he is far behind the other two.
[17:49] <Gildas> Gildas will likewise return to his normal form once we're a good enough distance away. "Well... I think we need to solve this before those try to take over the other village, too." Even though he had no idea -how- to do that...
[17:50] <Feather> "How?" Feather asks reasonably. "By running away?"
[17:51] <@Porridge> "Go to the circle," Porridge says, "See if we can go to their world. It's either that or we start burning everything, and after last night's rain that's not happening easily."
[17:51] <Gildas> "I agree with  that sentiment. We must try, at least."
[17:54] <@Kotono> OOC: Going to the circle then?
[17:55] <Gildas> OOC: It would seem so.
[17:55] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:55] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[17:56] <@Kotono> OOC: Perception checks, y'all.
[17:56] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[17:56] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[17:56] <Feather> roll 1d20+7
[17:56] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+7 and gets 18." [1d20=11]
[17:57] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12
[17:57] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+12 and gets 18." [1d20=6]
[17:57] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21 Bubi
[17:57] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+21 Bubi and gets 31." [1d20=10]
[17:59] <@Kotono> As the party comes close to the clearing with the circle - still a good 50ft or so before you can really see inside - you can distantly hear the sound of a flute playing.
[17:59] * Gildas will slow his pace and stop to look at the others.
[18:00] * @Porridge readies his axe. "Keep your wits sharp, their music can enchant others," he warns, continuing to approach.
[18:01] * Feather takes the time to retrieve his earplugs and put them in before bringing in the rear. He might not be able to spot any attack this way ahead of time, but by watching Porridge and Gildas it shouldn't be much of an issue.
[18:37] <@Kotono> Feather earplugs up before following. Thus the party continues on! The music becomes louder. It's a warm and whimisical tune - and as you get close enough to see? The person fluting is a woman. A human woman by the looks of it. She wears travelers clothes supported with leathers. Her head is bowed and hidden by the flute and her forward spilling purple hair. Her hair is an unreal sort of purple,
[18:37] <@Kotono> vibrant and -alive- for lack of a better word. She looks fairly young, probably not far from her teen years, but it's hard to tell from here. She rests against a rather large backpack. She sits amid the red buttercups, not too far from the circle.
[18:40] * Gildas looks at the others again, although of course Feather can't hear anything.
[18:45] <@Porridge> Not trusting appearances - though the purple hair is a dead giveaway, Porridge nonetheless risks talking first just in case. "Hey! Here to admire the flowers or what?" he asks impolitely over the music.
[18:49] <@Kotono> The music ceases! The flute is lowered, the human looking up. Her features are wholly human, but her eyes widen in surprise at seeing Porridge. "Oh!" she calls in Elven, her voice marvelously melodious. A hand goes to her lips, "Uuma ma' ten' rashwe, ta tuluva a' lle! Alush!" Bowing her head after, "They're a captivating shade, aren't they?" She rises and comes forth, bearing no weapon. "Are
[18:49] <@Kotono> they your work?"
[18:51] <@Porridge> "Yeah, don't bother with that elven greeting crap," Porridge waves it off, starting to be somewhat disarmed by her manner. "There's fairies at work here. If you're not involved you don't want to be."
[18:52] * Gildas will stay quiet for now and simply watch.
[18:53] <@Kotono> "Oh!" A hadn again goes to her lips, "...I see, a half blood," she replies, "I had wondered what would cause this shade of flower. I've never seen its equal." After a glance at Gildas and Feather, "Would you prefer I switch to Common?"
[18:53] <Gildas> "You may speak as it pleases you, I can understand you without issue." He smiled, at least a little bit, to seem reassuring.
[18:55] <@Porridge> "Name's Porridge, not half-blood," said half-blood tells her grumpily. "Now what are you doing here? You're not from Clearbrook, think I'd have seen you."
[18:56] <@Kotono> Smiling back, "I'm Eltia," she dips as if curtesying, despite wearing practical pants instead of a skirt. "No, but I was wondering where Clearbrook is. It should be within a day's travel at most. I'm a wandering bard and storyteller."
[18:58] <@Porridge> "'Bout an hour that way," he points the correct direction. "Folks could probably use some soothing music if that's what you're peddling. Just watch out when you wander into strange flowers near fairy circles in the future?" he suggests tiredly, amazed she's lived so long with those instincts.
[18:58] <@Kotono> "Thank you," She smiles, cocking her head slightly to the side, "Are you unwell?" Tapping a finger to her lips, "You sound weary."
[18:59] * Feather removes his earplugs for now, keeping them near. Judging by the mood, it's either not a fey or one that isn't interested in a fight.
[18:59] <Gildas> "We are in the midst of discovering how to get rid of these crimson flowers. They were caused by a battle... and we believe them to be problematic." He left out the important details, but it was still truthful anyway.
[18:59] <@Porridge> "Fairies," Porridge points to the circle as if that explains it all.
[19:01] <@Kotono> "Ooooh!  The noble Sidhe's whims." She goes back to her pack and puts it on, managing to even grunt alluringly as she puts it back on. "Thank you. Be well, travelers."
[19:03] <@Porridge> "Yeah, real noble," Porridge drawls. "Might see you later if we don't all get lost anyway," he shrugs, starting to walk through the bloodcups towards the circle.
[19:06] <@Kotono> The circle is as you left it last time. Meanwhile Eltia makes her way out of the clearing and towards Clearbrook.
[19:07] <@Porridge> "Sooo... just jump in, you think?" he asks his companions.
[19:07] <Gildas> "I do not see many other alternatives, unless we stand here and hope to call them to us."
[19:08] <Feather> "Where'd that woman come from, anyway?" Feather voices, glancing at her and then back towards the circle.
[19:09] <@Porridge> "Hopefully just a traveller like us," Porridge says. The alternative is left unsaid. And without any other suggestions, he boldly steps into the middle of the circle.
[19:10] <@Kotono> Porridge steps into the circle! He feels a tingling all over, but nothing seems to immediately happen.
[19:12] <@Porridge> "Hmm. Think we need to know the right words? Or an invitation?" he asks, unsure how to proceed.
[19:13] <Feather> "Beats me," Feather admits, trying to step into the circle himself.
[19:13] <@Kotono> Feather likewise feels a tingle all over, but nothing seems to immediately happen.
[19:14] * Feather shrugs. "Could go see if the barkeep's wife got the centaur kids talking. Might learn something from that?"
[19:15] <Gildas> "Perhaps we have to be asleep." He offers. Not that it's a good idea, mind you.
[19:15] * Feather looks at any magic that might be there as he says, "Yeah, not gonna happen."
[19:16] * Gildas will opt to step in as well, just to see what happens.
[19:16] <@Kotono> OOC: DMing, y'all?
[19:16] <Feather> OOC: I am
[19:16] <@Kotono> OOC: Roll spellcraft.
[19:17] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[19:17] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 13." [1d20=5]
[19:17] <@Kotono> There is faint magic here, but Feather can't puzzle out how it works. Meanwhile Gildas steps in! He also tingles, but again nothing else happens.
[19:17] <Gildas> OOC: Can I try?
[19:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure, cast detect magic and roll spellcraft.
[19:18] <Feather> "Huh. Some magic's still here, even after all that time."
[19:18] <Gildas> OOC: Okay, I'm going to use a charge from the wand in that case.
[19:18] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[19:19] <Gildas> OOC: Can I take 10 on this one? Actually, maybe 20? I dunno how long that'll be though.
[19:21] <@Kotono> OOC: You can't take 20 it but you can take 10.
[19:21] <Gildas> OOC: OK, then I will do that for... 19, it looks like.
[19:22] <@Kotono> There are signs of a space between spaces here. To activate it needs - it was once something, but right now a foreign pollution results in one thing that will work: Blood.
[19:23] * Gildas grimaces.
[19:23] <Gildas> "If we wish to activate it, we need blood again." He doesn't sound very thrilled about that.
[19:24] <@Porridge> "How much blood?" Porridge asks warily.
[19:25] <Gildas> OOC: Would he have any idea?
[19:25] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas isn't sure.
[19:26] <Gildas> "I cannot say." He frowns.
[19:26] <@Porridge> Sighing, Porridge nicks his pinky with the blade of his axe and drips some blood at their feet.
[19:27] <Feather> "If this ain't enough," Feather mutters, following Porridge's example, "we should just get going. Not like the village got harrassed after everything went back to normal."
[19:28] <@Kotono> On cutting himself open, Porridge finds his pinky to gush a disproportiate amount of blood! He can feel his blood being pulled out, a sharp moment of pain! There is a sense of moving and running felt by the party, then you stand in a large meadow clearing, full of yellow buttercups. The s uns hines down sweetly, soaking the meadow in sunlight. OOC: 5 damage, Porridge. Sickened for 1 round, but
[19:28] <@Kotono> that shouldn't matter much.
[19:29] <@Porridge> "Ow! Mother of fuck!" Porridge yells at seeing his littlest finger produce such a large amount of blood! "Fuck, think I lost a pint!"
[19:29] * Gildas is about to say something when the blood suddenly comes gushing out. He's taken by surprise and looks around. "Porridge, are you all right?"
[19:30] <@Porridge> "Owww... fuck..." he waves his hand and then sucks on his thankfully no longer so copiously bleeding digit. "Yeah, I'll live. Someone else can get us our way back though."
[19:32] <Gildas> "Do you think we're even still in the Vastwoods now?" He looks around at the area. "It's hard to say how far we traveled."
[19:33] <@Porridge> "We're in the Vastwoods. Just not our Vastwoods," Porridge says softly, stepping out of the circle and looking around. "Tread carefully, mind. Fairies have all the advantages here."
[19:34] * Feather snorts. "As if they needed any."
[19:36] <@Kotono> It's quite a large meadow full of yellow buttercups. The sunshine gives it an ideal, picturesque quality. There's not a thing wrong, a perfect scene of idyllic nature. As if a poet was about to compose some bloated peace in praise of it.
[19:36] <@Kotono> *piece
[19:37] <Gildas> "Well, where shall we go?" He continues to look around, trying to see anything out of the ordinary.
[19:38] <Feather> "How about heading back to Clearbrook, seeing if there's anything on this side that's there?"
[19:39] <@Porridge> "Oh, good idea," Porridge nods. "It's all like a warped mirror, isn't it?"
[19:40] * Feather nods himself, starting to walk in that direction.
[19:40] <@Kotono> roll 1d100+10
[19:40] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100+10 and gets 70." [1d100=60]
[19:43] <@Kotono> You find the trip back easy. The worst of the underbrush isn't as troubling and there's no sign of poison ivy, nettles or ankle-breaking nooks to catch your feet in. When you reach Clearbrook, you find the river over it is heavier and wider. It's a proper river, yet a bridge of unworkd stone provides easy passage over it. It is decorated with hanging vines like ribbons. On the other side is not
[19:43] <@Kotono> Clearbrook. Instead there are colorful tents and decorated trees. It is also absolutely quiet, not the slightest noise, not even the soft flap of an insect buzzing by.
[19:44] <Feather> Nothing to do but to head across the bridge and take a look at the tent city!
[19:44] <Gildas> "I find this to be somehow more unsettling..." He comments and follows the others.
[19:45] <@Porridge> "Yeah... creepy," Porridge agrees, approaching the tents and looking inside the closest.
[19:46] <@Kotono> The sound of your feet on the stone bridge are as loud as cannon crashes in this silence. Yet you cross without incident. The first tent has a wooden bar. B ehind it are archery targets, several bows lying on the bar. Sitting on the bar are several beautiful dolls. They are of boys and girls, a life-like clarity and craftsmanship to them.
[19:47] * Feather glances closer at the dolls to see if they bear any resemblance to Clint's girl.
[19:47] <@Kotono> None of the dolls resemble Louise-Ann.
[19:48] <@Porridge> "Not getting less creepy," Porridge murmurs, starting to make a circuit of the other tents, looking inside.
[19:48] * Feather figures they might as well stick together for now.
[19:49] * Gildas follows with the other two, a grim look on his face, despite the extremely colorful atmosphere.
[19:50] <@Kotono> The next tent is an improptu restaurant. Several tables are clustered between stalls. One has what looks to be roasting meat, another having bowls of honey and fruit, a third offering what looks to be golden leaves. The tent after that has a large clay pool, taller than a man and several times as wide. An empty platform sits above it, a red and white target just to the side of it.
[19:50] <@Kotono> There are five tents still unexplored.
[19:53] <@Porridge> OOC: does the meat look unburnt/the fruit fresh?
[19:54] <@Kotono> OOC: Yes and yes.
[19:55] <@Porridge> "I don't get it. It's like they just left five minutes ago," Porridge says, continuing to examine the tents for any clues linking them to the humans or the centaurs.
[19:56] <@Kotono> The next tent is wrong. It's far bigger inside than outside. Within is a path leading to the center of a three ring circus! All around it bleachers rise up! A single spotlight appears in the center as Porridge looks around.
[19:56] <Gildas> "Perhaps they heard us drop in when we appeared here." It was the only solution he could think of. "But that doesn't explain where they are..."
[19:57] <@Porridge> "Not like them to be shy, though..." Porridge decides to walk into this tent until he's under the spotlight, in case that triggers any response.
[19:58] <Feather> "S'all done with magic, innit?" Feather voices. "Might even be here all around, invisible."
[20:00] <@Kotono> The moment Porridge steps into the circle, the silence is broken! Applause breaks out all around from the bleachers, not a soul seen despite the outpouring! 20ft away from Porridge, another spotlight appears! Within it is a wolf - far bigger, with horns, a dark coloring and a vicious snarl! More applause comes, even as the wolf leaps at Porridge! OOC: Initiative.
[20:00] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7 gildas init
[20:00] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 gildas init and gets 13." [1d20=6]
[20:00] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 wolf
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+2 wolf and gets 17." [1d20=15]
[20:01] <Feather> roll 1d20+3
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+3 and gets 12." [1d20=9]
[20:01] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+1 Porridge
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+1 Porridge and gets 14." [1d20=13]
[20:01] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+4 Bubi
[20:01] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+4 Bubi and gets 23." [1d20=19]
[20:01] * Kotono changes topic to 'Bubi(23)>Dire Wolf(17)>Porridge(14)>Gildas(13)>Feather(12)'
[20:01] <@Kotono> OOC: Open Bubi. Moment.
[20:02] <@Porridge> "Bubi, harry that wolf!" Porridge shouts, pointing as his faithful hawk flies down to harass and flap around the wolf, distracting and disorienting it!
[20:03] <@Porridge> OOC: aid another, +2 AC for the next person the wolf attacks
[20:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Does it need to roll for it?
[20:04] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 attack roll, I forgot
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 attack roll, I forgot and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[20:04] <@Kotono> Bubi flies and harries the wolf, but it only slows its attack and doesn't stop it, as...
[20:04] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AC?
[20:04] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AC? and gets 20." [1d20=9]
[20:05] <@Porridge> OOC: 17
[20:05] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+10 and improved trip incoming
[20:05] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+10 and improved trip incoming and gets 14." [1d8=4]
[20:06] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+12 CMD?
[20:06] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 CMD? and gets 15." [1d20=3]
[20:06] <@Porridge> OOC: 18
[20:07] <@Kotono> Porridge finds his ankle makes a wonderful chew toy for oversized wolves! It darts in low and chomps, shredding his ankle and muscles! Blood pools down his boots and to the ground from the grevious wound! OOC: Go Porridge.
[20:07] <@Porridge> Savaged by the wolf, Porridge promptly reacts by flipping the fuck out! Muscles bulge and warp as bones lengthen unevenly, limbs lengthening and growing bulkier with savage muscle! One eye nearly popping out of his furious face, Porridge lets loose a primal battlecry and brings his axe down heavily on the wolf's head!
[20:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+7 -3pa rage
[20:07] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+7 -3pa rage and gets 23." [1d20=16]
[20:08] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+15
[20:08] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+15 and gets 16." [1d12=1]
[20:09] <@Kotono> Roaring, a gasp comes from the unseen crowd as Porridge slices into its shoulder! He carves off a great chunk of flesh and a bit of bone, yet no blood comes at all! The carved-out chunk simply vanishes after a few moments, but the wound remains! OOC: Okay. Gildas.
[20:09] * Gildas decides the best defense is a good offense, and quickly turns into a bear and bounds forward at the wolf, trying to take a bite out of it!
[20:09] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:09] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[20:10] <@Kotono> OOC: What's yoru reach as a bear?
[20:10] <Gildas> OOC: oh shoot, sorry, uh... I believe it's 5
[20:10] <@Kotono> OOC: It's big enough to have reach on you and will AoO you. You okay with that?
[20:11] <Gildas> OOC: Yes
[20:11] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 AoO
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 AoO and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[20:11] <@Kotono> OOC: It misses and you hit. Damage
[20:11] <@Kotono> .
[20:11] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7
[20:11] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 and gets 13." [1d6=6]
[20:12] <@Kotono> Joining the raging Porridge, bear-Gildas goes to tear into the side of the creature! He bites down and his claws go in, ripping the rips of the creature open! No blood, only flesh and bone that vanishes as its torn away! OOC: Ow again. Feather.
[20:13] * Feather darts in, drawing his scimitar during the approach. He strikes low, seeking to cripple the wolf's mobility at the very least, before leaping back to a safe distance.
[20:13] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[20:13] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit.
[20:13] <Feather> roll 1d6+3+1d6
[20:13] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d6+3+1d6 and gets 11." [1d6=4][1d6=4]
[20:14] <@Kotono> Feather deftly slices its back legs apart, the wolf's bottom sagging down as its paws vanish! It doesn't relent, despite being terrifically wounded! OOC: Bubi.
[20:15] <@Porridge> Bubi keeps on harassing the wolf, sensing its weakness and aiding his master in getting the kill!
[20:15] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 aiding for +2 to hit on next attack vs wolf
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 aiding for +2 to hit on next attack vs wolf and gets 27." [1d20=19]
[20:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Success.
[20:15] <@Kotono> Bubi continues to keep th ewolf occupied, but its savage fury knows no bounds! It returns blows with Porridge, trying to bite him down!
[20:15] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11
[20:15] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+11 and gets 28." [1d20=17]
[20:16] <@Kotono> roll 1d8+10 and trip shenanigans are a go
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d8+10 and trip shenanigans are a go and gets 12." [1d8=2]
[20:16] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+12 CMD?
[20:16] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 CMD? and gets 17." [1d20=5]
[20:16] <@Porridge> OOC: CMD still 18
[20:17] <@Kotono> Porridge gets his other ankle torn open! Both are little more than shredded bits surrounded by blood and bone! Somehow he stands on wobbling legs, wounded but alive! OOC: Your ankles are both shot, -10 to movement speed and -2 to any acrobatic checks involving legs until you get healed up some. Go Porridge.
[20:18] <@Porridge> Overtaken by the warp, Porridge feels no pain! "Raaaarrragh!" he screams, mouth foaming and veins throbbing as if to rip free of his skin as he heaves his axe into the wolf!
[20:18] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 -4pa
[20:18] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 -4pa and gets 11." [1d20=3]
[20:19] <@Kotono> Porridge swings heavily - but his wounds betray him, his attack missing entirely and slicing deeply into the ground! OOC: Gildas.
[20:19] * Gildas growls and continues with the pressure, trying to finish this thing before it finishes them!
[20:20] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 27." [1d20=20]
[20:20] <@Kotono> OOC: Crit confirm.
[20:21] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:21] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 11." [1d20=4]
[20:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Normal hit.
[20:22] <Gildas> roll 1d6+7
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d6+7 and gets 8." [1d6=1]
[20:22] <@Kotono> With a final bite and tear, the wolf is broken in half! It simply vanishes entirely - and a moment later loud applause bask the party! OOC: Free act for the moment.
[20:23] <Gildas> OOC: Can I shift out and heal Porridge with a spell?
[20:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[20:23] <@Kotono> OOC: Do so IC and roll it.
[20:23] <Gildas> OOC: OK
[20:24] <Feather> "So what's the deal?" Feather asks, staring at the empty rows of bleachers. "Why kidnap a little girl? Why put kids to sleep?"
[20:24] <@Porridge> "Arey you not entertained?!" Porridge roars, spittle flying from his lips. "Well fucking show yourselves!"
[20:24] * Gildas shifts back and takes a breath. "Porridge, hold still." He holds a hand out and places it near one of his ankles and channels healing energy into him via Cure Light Wounds!
[20:25] <Gildas> roll 1d8+4
[20:25] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d8+4 and gets 8." [1d8=4]
[20:25] <@Kotono> As Porridge shouts and Gildas heals the barbarian's wounds, Feather calls out! Yet all of this provokes naught but roaring laughter, overtaking the applause! What follows is another spotlight appearing! An entire trapeze set appears, two polls with inbuilt laddering going up 60ft! Atop them are trapeze. OOC: That's enough healing ot negate the penalties from your ankles, Porridge.
[20:27] * Gildas turns and looks up. He doesn't look terribly excited about that one...
[20:28] * @Porridge has no idea how trapezes work, and isn't in a mode of mind to critically think things out. So instead he takes a running jump onto the bleachers and starts wildly raging and hacking at benches and thin air all around!
[20:29] <@Kotono> Porridge leaps! But just before the bleachers, spidewebs appear before him! He smacks right into them, layer after layer of spiderwebs appearing! OOC: You can try'n'slice them if you wanna convert your momentum to that, Porridge.
[20:30] <@Porridge> His axe will cut through anything in his way!
[20:30] <Feather> "Swing emptily for your entertainment?" Feather calls derisively. "Think again."
[20:30] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 -2pa
[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 -2pa and gets 24." [1d20=16]
[20:30] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+13
[20:30] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+13 and gets 17." [1d12=4]
[20:33] <@Kotono> A good part of the webs are cut away, but more appear, trying to keep up with Porridge's axe!
[20:33] <@Porridge> For so long as he rages his energy is bottomless, and he'll keep on trying until a more productive avenue makes itself available.
[20:34] <@Kotono> OOC: Make another attack roll.
[20:35] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+6 -4pa
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+6 -4pa and gets 16." [1d20=10]
[20:35] <@Kotono> OOC: Damag.e
[20:35] * Feather decides to help Porridge out and cut the webs away. Maybe if they break through here, something will give.
[20:35] <Feather> roll 1d20+9
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+9 and gets 15." [1d20=6]
[20:35] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+17
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+17 and gets 36." [1d20=19]
[20:35] <@Kotono> OOC: Hit. DAmage.
[20:35] <Feather> roll 1d6+3
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d6+3 and gets 9." [1d6=6]
[20:35] <@Porridge> roll 1d12+17 disregard
[20:35] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d12+17 disregard and gets 27." [1d12=10]
[20:38] <@Kotono> Axe and then scimitar cut through! Then suddenly they are gone! Before you is a beautiful creature. She is everything. Her body is unclad, staggeringly, mindbreakingly beautiful. Her fangs reach to her chin, her pointed elven ears going straight up to the sky. Spider-silk clings to the fangs as honey drips from her fingers. Her ankles and legs are covered in what looks to be moss. Her hair is
[20:38] <@Kotono> the white of pure spider-webbing and long, becoming part of the webbing. Yet merely looking at her...!!!! OOC: Fort, all.
[20:38] <Feather> roll 1d20+7
[20:38] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+7 and gets 14." [1d20=7]
[20:39] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[20:39] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+11 and gets 15." [1d20=4]
[20:40] <@Kotono> OOC: Gildas?
[20:40] <Gildas> OOC: Sorry!
[20:41] <Gildas> roll 1d20+7
[20:41] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+7 and gets 25." [1d20=18]
[20:42] <@Kotono> It is too much! The vision of Porridge and Feather plunges into darkness, save for that one image of the creature before you! It seems burned into your eyeballs, the only thing you can see, an eternal picture! Her voice is so wonderful, a feminine laugh followed by Common, "Hark and poorly met." OOC: You two are blinded.
[20:43] <Feather> "Ugh," Feather groans, free hand going to his eyes as he waves his scimitar ahead of him in a reflexive warding pattern. "Can't unsee!"
[20:44] * @Porridge snarls like a wild beast, but barely refrains from swinging wildly at the phantasmal image on his eyelids - even like this he knows it's unreal. "Who are you?!" he growls, voice a wretched guttural and scratchy thing in comparison to her overdone wonderfulness.
[20:45] <@Kotono> "Lady Valisha, boorish humans. Hm?" Gildas can see her cock her head to the side, "You endure, human? Very well, I will deign to hear your reason for this churlish behavior. Speak."
[20:46] <Gildas> Perhaps it was the distance, but thankfully he stood. It did not change his concern for his comrades nor the situation they found themselves in... but Gildas still stood, watching what was unfolding.. until he was addressed. "We wish to remedy the situation I believe we caused, with the crimson buttercups, the sleeping children... we wish to resolve it... I offer my confusion to the reasons
[20:46] <Gildas> behind it... but the resolution of the matter is more paramount." He did his best to speak respectfully, out of concern for his allies.
[20:47] <@Porridge> Porridge's long ears flick towards the owner of the voice, marking her position should it matter.
[20:47] <Feather> "We caused it?!" Feather exclaims. "We weren't the ones kidnapping kids or forcing them into magical sleep!"
[20:49] * Gildas doesn't respond to that.
[20:49] <@Kotono> "Hm?" Her attention is fully on Gildas now, "Crimson buttercups?" Her face smiles - showing row after row of fangs. "Oh, someone was naughty to get into a blood sacrifice. Dear Elosha was playing with the humans and centaurs. Take it up with her, it's a pixie's play."
[20:51] <Gildas> "We do not wish there to be discourse with you and your people, Lady Valisha. Would you be so courteous to allow us to know where we could find this Elosha? We mean you and yours no harm, only to rectify this situation and put it to an end." His tone was still the same, but it tried as best he could to remain respectful in such a creature's audience.
[20:51] <@Kotono> "She is on your side," Waving a hand, "I am surprised you have not found her already. She loves to play with you creatures so."
[20:52] <Gildas> "I believe I know where to go, then. Would you allow us to leave then, Lady?" He indicates his two companions.
[20:54] <@Kotono> "You may. Tell me your name, human. At least you have manners and some talent for the world." She steps forward, right up to Gildas. The scent of honey is so strong as to make his nose sticky, like it's clogged up.
[20:55] <Gildas> "I am called Gildas Verdantstep." He resists the urge to wrinkle his nose, keeping a respectful distance as much as she allows and eye contact.
[20:58] <@Kotono> "There are herbs that can awaken the children, should Elosha leave them aslumber. The crimson buttercups will fade as the sacrifice does. They are of no harm to any but those who would defile the world." She opens her hand wide, a graceful smile on her face. In each hand is a wolf's eye, "Give these to your boorish friends. It is their right by conquest." In a low voice, so low Gildas is certain
[20:58] <@Kotono> that only he can hear it, and speaks in Druidic. "I will watch your progress, sapling. Do be entertaining. Go. Return to whence you came."
[20:59] * Gildas nods and takes all that is offered to him, and likewise, responds in the Druid tongue. "You have my respect and admiration, Lady. Thank you for these gifts."
[21:00] <@Kotono> Raising her voice to be heard after the eyes are given ove r- still warm and pulsing in Gildas's hand - "You two may go with your friend. You will be give a leinent punishment this time."
[21:01] <@Kotono> *given
[21:01] <@Porridge> Since it seems the fight is over, Porridge relaxes, a pained breath sneaking out as the agony of his deformed body catches up to him, only slowly returning back to its natural configuration. Fumbling for the edge of the bleachers, he attempts to climb back out to where Gildas is, whistling for Bubi and then trying to convince the bird to act as a guide in following the sighted member of the team by tugging on his falcon glove.
[21:01] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+10 handle animal DC 25 to push him
[21:01] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+10 handle animal DC 25 to push him and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[21:01] <Feather> So coming over was meaningless, and it really was some bored fey who just got tired with the whole thing and went away? How troublesome, Feather muses. But if they are to believe her, none of the perpetrators are here, and so there's no need to fight anyone. Silently, Feather sheathes his weapon and tries to rely on his ears to go towards Gildas.
[21:02] <@Porridge> Bubi doesn't seem to get it and just rests on Porridge's forearm though.
[21:02] <@Porridge> "Gave you a good show with the wolf, didn't we?" Porridge asks the spiderlady, before trying to convince his falcon how to guide him once more.
[21:02] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+10 handling animals
[21:02] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+10 handling animals and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[21:03] <Gildas> "Here. These as yours." He will press one wolf eye into each of their hands. He's not... quite sure if that will cure them of their blindness or not, but supposes that's probably the general idea.
[21:03] <@Porridge> Now Bubi gets it! It may be slow, but Porridge can at least be led around now. With his free hand Porridge takes the squishy eye, squeezing it and making a face as he tries to figure out what it is.
[21:04] <Gildas> "They're wolf eyes." As if that somehow made it all make sense...
[21:06] * Feather sees no reason to reject it.
[21:06] <@Kotono> There's naught but a chuckle from that. As the eyes are taken, they melt into the hands of Porridge and Feather! Vision returns, sharp and clear as ever! Yet in each other's eyes they can see they have the eyes of a wolf instead of humanoid eyes!
[21:07] * Feather just sighs before starting on his way out of the tent.
[21:07] * Gildas will leave with them!
[21:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Doing anything but heading back?
[21:08] <@Porridge> Seeing Feather and guessing his own state, Porridge scowls and heads out. Once across the bridge he speaks, "That thing we killed at the centaur village? I'll bet anything that was Elosha."
[21:10] <Feather> "Might be," Feather muses, before glancing at Gildas. "You said you had another idea?"
[21:10] <Gildas> "I didn't think we killed it." He looks over. "But I think we ought to return to where we found it the first time."
[21:11] <Feather> "We did. It was the centaur place, and got overrun by the blood flowers," Feather reminds him. "Unless you want to stand on the exact spot or something?"
[21:11] <@Porridge> "Called Feather a lifethief remember, tried to put a deathcurse on him or something? Definitely dead," Porridge seems firm in his belief but doesn't object to checking back there anyway.
[21:13] <Gildas> "Either way, we at least have more information then we started with. The Lady did also tell us that it will fade in time, so that is some relief." He nods to both of them. "If our investigation turns up nothing, then we will decide how to proceed, is that acceptable?"
[21:16] <@Porridge> "Think we're done, but if it'll put your mind at ease. I know my next move's gonna be finding someone to fix my eyes, though."
[21:17] <Feather> "Sure whatever. So long as it's clear of those flowers," Feather says, before nodding at Porridge. "What I'm thinking, just about. Gonna try to find some sage that'd make sense of things. Might as well stick together till then, if you don't mind the company."
[21:17] * Gildas nods to them both again. "I can only hope you are correct."
[21:18] <@Porridge> "Makes sense. Dangerous times, I'd be glad to have someone reliable at my side," he nods to Feather in appreciation of the sentiment.

[Ebiris]

[17:42] <@Kotono> The trip back in the fey realm is without incident. You return to the meadow of yellow buttercups. There is a sense of serenity here, naught but flowers and the warm sun shining down from above.
[17:43] * @Porridge can't wait to get out and steps gladly into the circle. "Someone hurry and cut themselves."
[17:44] * Feather handles that grim duty.
[17:45] <@Kotono> Feather cuts himself - but nothing happens! A bit of blood flows out but there is no reaction at all. OOC: 1 damage and no other effect.
[17:46] * Feather shakes his head in confusion. "Maybe it's got to be you?" he tells Porridge uncertainly.
[17:46] * Gildas glances around.
[17:46] * @Porridge sags in disappointment. "Better be," he mutters, pricking his ring finger on his shortspear's blade.
[17:50] <@Kotono> Gildas sees nothing immediately awry. Porridge pricks his finger! A single droplet of blood comes forth as reality shifts! Porridge's and Feather's eyes suddenly ache, a stab of pain like twin needles burrowing into their corneas! It passes as you find yourselves in the crimson buttercup clearing!
[17:50] <@Kotono> OOC: 1 damage to Porridge.
[17:51] <Gildas> "Well, at least you didn't lose a lot of blood this time." He offered at least a small positive!
[17:51] * @Porridge hisses in pain and once it passes he looks at Feather. "You too, huh?" he asks grimly.
[17:52] * Feather winces, covering his eyes with an arm. He nods curtly. "Like got stabbed right in them?"
[17:54] <@Porridge> "Yeah, and..." Porridge points over the portal, stepping off it and seeing the ripples remain in place.
[17:54] * Gildas blinks and looks between the two of them, then seems to realize what they're talking about.
[17:55] * Feather sighs. "Not that bad, that part. 'least we can avoid them, now."
[17:56] <@Porridge> "Still wanna get rid of them," he says, starting to head back to Clearbrook. "Could be some fairy watching everything we see right now."
[17:58] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 3." [1d100=3]
[17:58] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[17:58] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 14." [1d100=14]
[17:58] <Gildas> "I would assume they were all made by the same one." Gildas says, glancing back at the field of buttercups as they walk away.
[17:59] <@Kotono> The party travels back to Clearbrook. It is mercifully without incident, reaching the tavern without problem. The barkeep's there, "You're back? Well, that's shit on beef stew!" he blurts out, rubbing his eyes. He looks at the party and then rubs his eyes again.
[18:01] <@Porridge> "Got a little memento for our troubles," Porridge sighs, not even trying to decipher the old man's vernacular. "But problem's been solved, the fairy responsible is good and dead."
[18:03] <@Kotono> "Hell of a memento!" he blurts out, staring openly.
[18:04] * Gildas looks to be about to say something, but decides against it and nods. "It was quite the spectacle."
[18:04] <@Porridge> "Right turn of shite it is, but better'n being crippled or dead," the half-elf shrugs. "Bound to be someone out there that can reverse it for us, gonna start looking after we've rested up."
[18:04] <Feather> "Pointless is what it was," Feather mutters. "The fairy's dead, though, looks like. So there's that."
[18:06] <@Kotono> "If that's all you got, then you came out ahead with the Fair Folk," The barkeep says, shaking his head. "Damned lucky."
[18:08] <Gildas> "Just stay away from the red buttercups for a few days." He adds.
[18:08] <@Porridge> "Anyway, what's on the menu? I need to fill my belly then I'm gonna hibernate a few days till I feel better. Took a right kicking off the wolf that gave us these eyes," Porridge asks, leaning on the bar.
[18:10] <@Kotono> "Got some roasts cooking. You can have some now if you don't mind rare. Got some vege-" Here he's cut off, as his wife's voice calls out, "Samuel! I need you to bring up some water and carrots!"
[18:11] <@Kotono> "Shit on parade," The barkeep mutters, rubbing the back of his neck, "Yeah, you'll need to hold on. She's been keeping busy with those kids you brought back."
[18:12] <@Porridge> "Don't worry, just pass me over a plate when you've got time," Porridge doesn't mind waiting for that reason. For now he'll go take a table and collapse into a chair.
[18:14] <@Kotono> OOC: Skip along some then?
[18:15] <@Porridge> OOC: yep
[18:16] <@Kotono> After a meal and a hour's rest or so, the barkeep's wife comes on town. She looks a bit tired, "You have a couple of angry colts ready to kick you upside the head," she says without fanfare, "But from the sounds of it, they don't have anywhere else to go."
[18:17] <Gildas> "I just wish we knew why this all began. It is... quite unfortunate that it seems to have just been the whims of a fairy." He says with a frown.
[18:18] <Feather> "Fey."
[18:18] <@Porridge> "Ain't fair how things've been laid on them," Porridge shakes his head sadly. "Did either say how many other centaurs were around?"
[18:19] <@Kotono> "They don't know," she says with a sigh, "Apparently something happened, but it began with them falling asleep. Something about a fairy, but - ah yes. The Fair Folk." Bowing her head after saying that, "From the sounds of it there should be more of them, but what Samuel told me suggests that..." She just sighs here, "I don't think there's any more. I think something terrible happened, Gods
[18:19] <@Kotono> protect us."
[18:21] <Gildas> "I feel that there should have been more than the four we found. I don't know what might've happened to them, though..." He shakes his head with another frown.
[18:22] <@Porridge> "Village had room for twelve," Porridge nods. "But if the kids don't even know... fuck, what happened to them?"
[18:23] <Gildas> "They may have wandered off to try and find medicine for the children."
[18:24] <@Kotono> "Possible," The older woman says, "But truth is that we just don't know. I know y'all are tired and have done a lot, but could I ask a favor of you?"
[18:24] <@Porridge> "Sure," Porridge nods agreeably.
[18:26] * Feather waits expectantly.
[18:26] <@Kotono> "Could y'all go pick through the centaur village for anything that's left? The poor children will do better with a few familiar things."
[18:27] <Feather> "Last time we were there, it got overrun by the flowers," Feather says dubiously. "Could give it another try, but it might be too early for that."
[18:27] <Gildas> "I think we will be fine." He comments. "We were told how to avoid them, remember?"
[18:27] <@Porridge> "Can go tomorrow, if there's nothing at least we tried," Porridge shrugs, the task not particularly onerous so he may as well go for it.
[18:28] <Feather> "Sure thing, then."
[18:30] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then. Do your HP recovery from resting up and any spelling.
[18:30] <@Porridge> roll 1d8+4
[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d8+4 and gets 10." [1d8=6]
[18:30] <@Kotono> OOC: The barkeep's wife can try herbing any of you if you want/need it.
[18:30] <@Porridge> OOC: I'll walk it off
[18:30] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:30] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 89." [1d100=89]
[18:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d3
[18:31] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3 and gets 1." [1d3=1]
[18:32] <@Kotono> Thus the next morning is taken up by a trip to the centaur village. As you go...OOC: Make list-er, perception, y'all.
[18:32] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12 Porridge
[18:32] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+12 Porridge and gets 14." [1d20=2]
[18:32] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21 Bubi
[18:32] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+21 Bubi and gets 34." [1d20=13]
[18:32] <Feather> roll 1d20+7
[18:32] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[18:32] <Gildas> roll 1d20+10
[18:32] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[18:33] <@Kotono> Feather, Bubi and Gildas can notice a sharp CRACK sound above - subtle but audible. A glance up shows a heavy, log-like branch falling from the canopy, falling with a destination of Porridge's head in mind!
[18:34] <Feather> "Move it, Porridge!" Feather calls out, gesturing up.
[18:34] <Gildas> "Porridge! Jump forward!" He shouts, likewise.
[18:34] <@Porridge> Bubi is trained to watch for enemies, not for logs. But from Feather's call Porridge dives forward without questioning why!
[18:35] <@Kotono> OOC: Ref save, Porridge. +5 bonus.
[18:35] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+11
[18:35] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+11 and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[18:36] <@Kotono> Porridge is moving -b ut his foot slips in the still muddy ground! It causes him to slip back - and right into the path of falling deadwood! A big old branch slams right into the top of his head!
[18:36] <@Kotono> roll 3d6
[18:36] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 3d6 and gets 12." [3d6=5, 5, 2]
[18:37] * @Porridge curses up a blue storm and lays there for a moment before heavily picking himself up.
[18:38] * Gildas jogs forward. "I'm sorry, I should have noticed that earlier."
[18:39] * Feather looks around for more trecherous trees.
[18:39] <@Porridge> "Rrrgh, hardly your fault," Porridge grunts, rubbing gingerly at the goose-egg on the back of his head.
[18:41] <@Kotono> Feather can see a few branches sagging - the wood still looks wet from the recent day-long deluge.
[18:41] <Gildas> "I can heal you again, if you want." He checks him over for any other serious injury.
[18:42] <@Porridge> "Sure, still not recovered from that wolf anyway. Would help a lot."
[18:43] <Gildas> "Hold still." He reaches out to touch the area where he was recently injured and channels a Cure Light Wounds into him!
[18:43] <Gildas> roll 1d8+4
[18:43] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d8+4 and gets 10." [1d8=6]
[18:43] <@Kotono> Healing flows into Porridge, soothing away the pain of his recent logging!
[18:44] <@Porridge> The bump recedes until it's almost invisible and Porridge lowers his hand. "Thanks," he nods, keeping himself more alert as he proceeds.
[18:44] * Gildas nods and will continue on!
[18:44] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[18:44] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 89." [1d100=89]
[18:45] <@Kotono> roll 1d3
[18:45] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d3 and gets 2." [1d3=2]
[18:45] <@Kotono> OOC: Perception checks, y'all. +4 bonus since you have reasons to be keeping extra-alert.
[18:45] <Feather> roll 1d20+11
[18:46] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+11 and gets 28." [1d20=17]
[18:46] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+16 Porridge
[18:46] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+16 Porridge and gets 35." [1d20=19]
[18:46] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21 Bubi is the same as ever
[18:46] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+21 Bubi is the same as ever and gets 39." [1d20=18]
[18:47] <Gildas> roll 1d20+14
[18:47] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+14 and gets 19." [1d20=5]
[18:47] <@Kotono> This time none of the party is surprised when they hear a subtle CRACK above, just like before! A glance up shows that it's falling over the party again, towards Feather! A big old hunk of deadwood is coming right for him!
[18:47] <@Porridge> "Feather, move!" Brevity is best in this situation.
[18:49] <Feather> It's not natural, the way this is happening! Feather leaps aside!
[18:49] <@Kotono> OOC: Ref, +5.
[18:50] <Feather> roll 1d20+8
[18:50] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17." [1d20=9]
[18:50] <@Kotono> Feather dives out of the way! He's quick enough, dodging entirely as the wood hits the muddy ground! Safe!
[18:51] <Feather> "Just what's going on up there?!"
[18:52] <Gildas> "I do not believe this is coincidence."
[18:52] <@Porridge> "Haven't seen any falling that didn't aim for our heads, have we?" Porridge notes sourly.
[18:55] <Gildas> "It does seem intentional... I have a bad feeling." He frowns.
[18:56] <Feather> "Porridge, could you send your hawk up for a quick check?" Feather asks, climbing back to his feet.
[18:58] <@Porridge> "Sure," he whistles for Bubi who dutifully flies over before being told, "Bubi, seek! Up, seek!" which prompts the bird to fly up above the canopy to look around for anything that shouldn't be there.
[18:58] <@Kotono> OOC: Perception on the hawk.
[19:00] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+21
[19:00] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+21 and gets 33." [1d20=12]
[19:00] <@Kotono> Bubi doesn't see anything awry up there.
[19:01] <@Porridge> He continues flying up high, occassionally dipping down enough to keep track of Porridge as he travels beneath and flying mostly above him until called to do otherwise. Or he gets hungry.
[19:02] <@Kotono> From there the party continues on. They find the centaur village as they left it - crumbling and overgrown, forgotten in a sea of crimson buttercups.
[19:03] <@Porridge> Whistling for Bubi to come back down, Porridge starts picking through the huts in search of any mementos or toys he can find.
[19:04] <Feather> "I'll keep an eye out, just in case," Feather says, staying outside.
[19:06] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay. Porridge, make a search check. Feather, make perception. Doing anything, Gildas?
[19:07] <Feather> roll 1d20+7
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[19:07] <Gildas> OOC: Hmm...
[19:07] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+12
[19:07] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+12 and gets 22." [1d20=10]
[19:07] <Gildas> OOC: He'll investigate the nature around the area to see if anything is out of the ordinary besides the buttercups.
[19:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a K:N check.
[19:08] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[19:08] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 31." [1d20=20]
[19:08] <Gildas> OOC: Suck on that, nature!
[19:09] <@Kotono> While the others work, Feather spots nothing awry. Porridge looks around, finding a child sized blanket, an oddly curved and tangled stick beneath it and several dolls of centaurs. Gildas finds that nothing's awry here - if anything, nature's strong and vibrant, growing fiercely in the dawning of spring.
[19:11] * Gildas nods to himself at his findings, then looks to the others to see if they've discovered anything.
[19:11] * @Porridge packs up the dolls and the odd stick - maybe a toy sword? and bundles them in the blanket before emerging from his search. "Think I've got all I'm gonna find here."
[19:17] <@Kotono> From there the party walks back. This time no deadwood makes your lives painful and the barkeep's wife smiles once you hand them over. "Thank you," she says, taking the items. "There's some lunch set aside for all of you. Samuel's watching it - I think he wants to talk to you all again."
[19:18] <@Porridge> "Much obliged," Porridge nods gratefully, heading in that direction.
[19:19] <Feather> "'course," Feather agrees, following.
[19:21] <@Kotono> Lunch is leftover roast, bread and berry preserves. As the party eats, "So, things are winding down and this all will be forgotten as planting season gets going," he says, "So what are y'alls plans now?"
[19:21] <@Porridge> "Find someone that can get these fixed," Porridge points at his eerie canine eyes.
[19:23] <Feather> "Don't supposed you know a sage around these parts?"
[19:26] <@Kotono> Rubbing his chin, "'fraid not so much, but I can probably point y'all in the right direction. You follow the stream eastward for three days until you come to a clearing. You'll know it, it's big and there's usually at least a few people camping there. Y'all will want to go north there with a slightly western bearing for 'bout a week. Up that way is Carnath Falls. The mayor of the village is
[19:26] <@Kotono> named Redmond and has a bunch of books. Fancies himself a learned man, and he doens't know, hec an point you to someone who does."
[19:27] <@Porridge> "Sounds good," he nods gratefully and chews on his lunch for a bit. "Hey, you seen a bard called Eltia call by last couple of days?" Porridge asks curiously, not having seen her in the tavern either last night or today, which is where one would assume a bard would be.
[19:28] <@Kotono> "Yeah," he says, "Got drunk and took a shine to McCast." Shrugging and with a hint of a smile, "Haven't seen much of either of them."
[19:29] * Gildas simply sits quietly and will eat a small bit of food.
[19:30] * @Porridge nods, satisfied that she made it here safely. "Guess we can set off tomorrow?" he asks Feather, sending a "You in?" Gildas's way.
[19:30] <Gildas> "I am happy to assist you, if you'll have me." He smiles.
[19:32] <@Kotono> "Well hell. Gonna have the wife fix you up something special for tonight then." Samuel rises, "Been a pleasure to have y'all around."
[19:32] <@Porridge> "Looks like we've got ourselves a party," he nods and takes a spoonful of stew. "And hey, Samuel?" he takes out his coinpurse and removes ten gold before handing the whole bag over. "Take it this time. You're doing a good thing looking after those two kids, that needs respectin'."
[19:34] <@Kotono> The coins are so taken, "Yeah, gonna be a hell of a thing," he says with a bit of a sigh, "But hell. If nothing else they'll be strong as horses. If they can earn their keep with that, they'll be tolerated. Shit, maybe accepted in time."
[19:36] <@Porridge> "Hah, if a pansy pointy-ears like me can grow up so well in an orc tribe, I bet they'll do just fine," Porridge grins, leaning back.
[19:37] <@Kotono> "No shit?" Shaking his head, "Hear something new everyday. Still..." With the coins in hand, "Thanks and good luck." OOC: Y'all ready to move on now? If so, anything to be done in Clearbrook before moving on?
[19:38] <@Porridge> OOC: I'm good
[19:38] <Feather> OOC: Likewise
[19:39] <@Kotono> OOC: Assuming nothing from Gildas in a sec, I'll move you on then. Sec.
[19:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 57." [1d100=57]
[19:43] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 23." [1d100=23]
[19:45] <@Kotono> You thus leave Clearbrook behind. Two days of travel are unremarkable. The weather is just this side of cool instead of warm, spring poking away the chill of the past season. Fortunately no more deadwood makes itself known to your heads, so injuries are non existant. OOC: The rest+healing should be enough to restore you to full, Porridge. More.
[19:48] <@Kotono> roll 1d100
[19:48] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d100 and gets 54." [1d100=54]
[19:50] <@Kotono> The third day of travel is likewise uninteresting - besides a wonderful lunch of fresh fish - and by late afternoon you come on the clearing. It's quite a big clearing, several dead trees lying about. The canopy is broken here, pure sunshine streaming down from a pale, cloudless sky. Several tents are here, at least a good three dozen. Moreover, you can see foundations being laid. At least half
[19:50] <@Kotono> a dozen of them, humans working away at it.
[19:52] <@Porridge> "Least it's not fey..." Porridge says, a momentary feeling of dread upon seeing the tents before he noticed the humans setting them up.
[19:52] <Feather> "Let's say hi, I reckon?" Feather suggests, heading over to the tents.
[19:53] * Gildas nods to them and will accompany them!
[19:57] <@Kotono> As the party approaches, "Yo travelers!" A burly young man works, shaved bald. His shirt strains against his muscles as he hefts a big, flat stone. An echo of greetings follow, a woman of perhaps twenty five approaching. She is strikingly pretty - all angular lines and warmth, red hair like fire and eyes to match. Her ears have a pointy tip that hints at non-human ancestry, her steps seeming to
[19:57] <@Kotono> glide over the muddy ground instead of touching down. She wears sturdy traveling clothes, albeit of fine make and with gold stitching standing out notably. "Travelers!" Her face splits into a smile, "You're the first visitors to Riverside!"
[19:58] <@Porridge> "Just getting the town set up?" Porridge asks, looking around at the foundations and tents. "Where you folks from?"
[20:01] <@Kotono> "Way back east. Ever heard of Volgard? It's a principality." Waiting a moment for an answer and going on regardless, "All this unexplored land and forest - it has to be worth something. If nothing else, it's a chance for a fresh start and cleaner living."
[20:02] <Feather> "Few can say no to that," Feather agrees.
[20:03] <@Porridge> "All a person could want here in the Vastwoods... and plenty you don't if you're unwary," Porridge declares, having earned that wisdom in his eyes. "Name's Porridge, these two are Feather and Gildas. You folks needing a hand getting settled?"
[20:04] <@Kotono> She sketches a quick curtesy to them, "If you're offering, we could use a few more hands with the foundations. 'course, you look like you can take care of yourselves." Smiling now, "Would you say you're problem solvers instead of bricklayers?"
[20:05] <@Porridge> "Something like," he nods, "But if you folks are new here a bit of practical wisdom wouldn't hurt to be shared around. If there's food and beds I figure we can stay a day or two, help where we can?" he looks to his companions to see if they're okay with it.
[20:06] <Feather> "Travelers, more like," Feather muses. "One's got to know how to take care of himself to do that." At Porridge's look, he shrugs. "Not in any hurry, so we could stay a bit."
[20:07] <Gildas> "I am happy to be of assistance." He adds to Feather's statement.
[20:08] <@Kotono> "Thank you!" Smiling warmly and going over to a felled log, "Have a seat. Let's talk."
[20:09] <@Porridge> Ambling over, Porridge plops himself down, whistling for Bubi who swoops down to land on his gauntlet. "Go hunt a while, Bubi," he says, the hawk preening briefly before it takes off and flies into the trees.
[20:09] * Feather lowers his pack before taking a seat on the log, his hat going on top of his belongings.
[20:10] <@Kotono> Once everyone's comfortable, "So the thing is that we have a bit of a valley problem."
[20:10] <@Porridge> "Go on?" Since that doesn't explain much.
[20:13] <@Kotono> "There's a valley within a stone's throw of here," she begins, "We came on it scouting around. It's ancient, no river runs through it anymore. Only a dry streambed and crystals. Crystals everywhere. Have you ever seen a geode or a rock with quartz inside? Well, they're the same thing anyway. There's rough crystals all over there and that's not the problem. The problem is what lives there."
[20:14] <@Porridge> Porridge's mind flashes to images of monstrous crystalline spiders, legs like jagged glass swords and web like razor wire... "What've you found?" he asks, mouth dry.
[20:17] <@Kotono> "Spiders," she says, "Like they're half made of crystal. They cut through the ground with them. There's no way in hell those things aren't dangerous, so we want to mount an expidition to deal with them. But if you're here and willing, I'll pay well for a group that would deal with them."
[20:18] <Feather> "Why bother with them?" Feather wonders. "Those spiders make any move towards you guys?"
[20:19] <@Porridge> "Fuckin' knew it," Porridge mutters under his breath. Straightening up and facing the unnamed redhead he follows up Feather's question, "Anyone fought one yet?"
[20:20] <@Kotono> "Yeah, cut up one of the settlers good, but we chased it away," she answers, "We want to deal with them since if they decide to spread or attack us, we could get slaughtered."
[20:21] <Gildas> OOC: Can I do a K:N check out any further info on the crystal spiders?
[20:22] <@Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[20:22] <@Porridge> roll 1d20+8 perhaps I've had previous experience with them?
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Porridge rolls 1d20+8 perhaps I've had previous experience with them? and gets 18." [1d20=10]
[20:22] <Gildas> roll 1d20+11
[20:22] * Hatbot --> "Gildas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 12." [1d20=1]
[20:23] <Feather> roll 1d20+8 everyone's rolling!
[20:23] * Hatbot --> "Feather rolls 1d20+8 everyone's rolling! and gets 27." [1d20=19]
[20:23] <Gildas> OOC: at least it wasn't on something important.....
[20:25] <@Kotono> Porridge realizes that such creatures cannot be natural in any way. Magic of some sort must be involved. Gildas meanwhile draws a huge blank. Feather recalls something else - an old story. A story of a madman who forcefully grafted creatures with crystals, believing them to be 'jewel-spiders' and to be invincible. They were - or at least enough to shred their creator and tormentor and escape.
[20:26] <Gildas> "I've never heard of such things before... have you two?" He looks at the others.
[20:26] <Feather> "Gotta be the jewel spiders," Feather muses, scratching his chin. "Nasty things."
[20:26] <@Porridge> "They're not natural... I'm not sure if that means they can't breed or not. If not then just culling them will work pretty well. Otherwise we'll have to get them out by the roots," Porridge says, thinking it over.
[20:27] * Feather shakes his head. "Don't think they do. A wizard did it, so all we've got is all there is."
[20:29] <Gildas> "Perhaps we can seal them in somehow?" He shrugs afterwards. "We should investigate, either way."
[20:30] <@Kotono> "So do you accept?" she asks.
[20:31] * Feather blinks. "Investigate? If we go there, we break them. All there is to it." He glances at Porridge and Gildas, before returning his eyes to the redhead. "Could be nice. What's the reward?"
[20:31] <@Porridge> "Can give it a go," the half-elf nods. "Set out tomorrow morning if you can spare someone to guide us there?"
[20:32] <@Kotono> "A hundred gold and whatever valuables you find there. We have a few people with mercantile training and the quartz there is fairly low quality. It's not worthless, but it's not worth the effort of mining right now. At least to us. If you want to take some," she shrugs after.
[20:33] * Feather nods after mulling it over. "Works for me, if you can afford it."