Pond Creek Mill 07

[Corwin]

18:58 <•Anastasia> OOC: Quick clarification, were you two gathering any particular info or just fishin'?
19:00 <Skaya> OOC: Rumors, with a focus on mysterious strangers fitting our target
19:06 <•Anastasia> You dig. It takes into the morning but just after breakfast you find someone. An older man with a bad back, sitting painfully down in the tavern. He rests by the fire as he listens to your questions, "Oh, oh. Oh yes, yes, yes, I do remember something like that. Yes, yes I do. I did hear something about a strange, masked man."
19:17 <Devar> Devar nods along with the man's story. "When was it that you saw him, if you recall?" He asks.
19:19 <•Anastasia> "A week ago and a few days," Is the answer, "He was talking to old Nillar at Pond Creek Mill."
19:21 <Devar> "Is that were Mister Nillar usually can be found?" He asks.
19:21 <•Anastasia> "Yeah," He answers, "Yeah, that's it. Yeah, you'll find him there," The man grimaces and rubs his lower back once he's fully seated, "Yes yes, you'll find him there almost every day."
19:22 <•Anastasia> "A lead," Rina murmurs to herself, smiling at that bit of fortune.
19:25 <Devar> Devar nods and puts a hand on the old man's shoulder. "I hope this helps a little." He says. OOC: Cure Light Wounds
19:25 <Devar> roll 1d8+4 for whatever its worth
19:26 <•Anastasia> OOC: One moment, rousing the unspeakable horror of dicebot.
19:26 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@lunarnet-82C188CE.hr.hr.cox.net)
19:26 <Devar> roll 1d8+4 for whatever its worth
19:26 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d8+4 for whatever its worth --> [ 1d8=3 ]{7}
19:27 <•Anastasia> The healing makes the man sigh in relief, "Oh! T-thank you, thank you, good sir!" he says, eyes wide.
19:27 <Devar> "No problem." Devar says. "It looks like we're off to the mill. Which way is that from here, sir?"
19:27 — Skaya cheers deep down! How lucky of a find was this?
19:31 <•Anastasia> A fair question, but one unanswered. Meanwhile, "North and east, a few miles. Follow the dirt road to it, you can't miss it, it sits on the river."
19:31 <Devar> "Thank you sir. Have a wonderful day." He nods again to the man and goes to rejoin the others.
19:33 <•Anastasia> Anne listens to it all and once you gather, "So we can begin there, though I fear we may walk into trouble."
19:33 <Skaya> "Do you really think trouble will happen so early?"
19:33 <•Anastasia> "You're in the wrong job if you fear trouble," Regis retorts, "A few miles, we can be there soon enough."
19:34 <•Anastasia> "Yes," Sanda doesn't even hesitate at that, "Statistically speaking, villains like that have a high ratio of trouble versus apperances."
19:35 <Skaya> "Not much we can really do aside from going over to take a look, though!"
19:37 <Devar> "Right, and we may get more leads." He says. "Or perhaps start to understand the motives behind this person."
19:39 <•Anastasia> With that, the party heads off and...
19:40 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
19:40 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=67 ]{67}
19:41 <•Anastasia> It's a bright summer day. No rain as of now, just heat. A scorcher in the making as you reach Pond Creek Mill. A large stone building, sturdy looking from the outside, and with several horses awaiting outside. A single soldier in leathers and light chain guards the horses. Looks rather bored, leaning on his spear and smothering a yawn with his hand. Otherwise it's quiet outside.
19:42 <Skaya> "Hey there!" Skaya greets the soldier with a wave as she approaches. "Toasty day, isn't it?"
19:43 <Devar> Devar raises a hand in greeting as well.
19:49 <•Anastasia> The soldier turns. You see he grimaces and wipes at his forehead, "Summer," he says briskly, a hint of a burly accent, "Don't think we're going to get rain today, and that's too bad. It's going to be toasty."
19:51 <•Anastasia> "So, is something going on here? We have business with someone who works here," Anne asks.
19:52 <Skaya> "Looks like it," Skaya agrees, before following up on Anne's words with, "Hope it's nothing bad."
19:55 <•Anastasia> "Someone's arrested for smuggling and stealing," The guard says, "They're interrogating everyone connected to him, he worked here."
19:56 <Devar> What an odd coincidence, Devar thinks as he glances at the other.
19:57 <•Anastasia> Anne scowls and shakes her head, "I have a bad feeling we're a few steps behind."
19:57 <Skaya> "Could you please tell us this guy's name? If he's the one we're after, perhaps we could provide some information to your investigation."
19:58 <•Anastasia> "Nil-something. Nillar?" The soldier wipes his forehead again, "I think so."
20:01 <Skaya> "So he was up to something shady after all, huh?" Skaya muses. "Maybe I should talk to the officer in charge of the investigation, try to help out however I can?"
20:05 <•Anastasia> "If they're interested in our help, but we're no longer in Laremy," Regis points out, "They're likely to brush us off as foreigners."
20:06 <Skaya> That's possible! Skaya glances at the soldier guarding outside just the same, to see if he's interested in her offer. If not, no need to force it.
20:14 <•Anastasia> "If you know something, I can have you talk to the commander," he offers, the- The sound of a loud BURST is heard, followed by the rattle of stone as the building shakes. The side wall is visibly blown open, a gush of flame erupting out and towards the sky before it fizzles out. The soldier on guard visibly staggers and whirls, "What in the name of -"
20:14 <•Anastasia> Anne immediately turns and starts to rush over, no hesitation.
20:14 <•Anastasia> Regis and Rina trade alook and do the same, weapons drawn.
20:14 <Skaya> "Let's go! Lives are in danger!" Skaya calls out, dashing after and soon overtaking them!
20:15 <Devar> Devar hustles along after the others!
20:15 <•Anastasia> "Hurry," Sanda agrees, picking up at a sprint. A limping sprint so she's behind, but her heart's in it.
20:17 <•Anastasia> The party hurries over. The inside of the mill is on fire, people screaming. Some are on fire as they run out, others are down and mangled. Soldiers are amid them, chaos in front of all of you. A blackened corpse shudders all over, several explosions rocking him, tearing it apart and sending lesser bursts of flame all around. The building shudders, cracks visible and running throughout the
20:17 <•Anastasia> stonework, ominous rumbles and sags of the roof before your eyes.
20:19 <Skaya> There's a lot to do here, but she's not a healer. So since there's no one to fight and people know well enough to stay away from an exploding corpse, Skaya studies the building. Her architectural and engineering knowledge should give its benefits by telling her where load-bearing walls are in danger and what she could do as a stopgap to allow everyone to evacuate safely.
20:20 <Skaya> OOC: Engineering 10 for 26, Perception 10 for 25?
20:21 <•Anastasia> Meanwhile Anne wastes no time. She rushes in, holy symbol out, already channeling energy, "In Lady Jetina's name, be healed. If you can flee, flee!" Regis rushes to help the injured who make it out, trying to heard the burning ones to a nearby creek. Rina joins him as meanwhile Sanda stares intently, as...OOC: More, just establishing things, responses to PCs in next line. Waiting for Devar's
20:21 <•Anastasia> action too.
20:22 <Devar> Devar's going to look for anyone who needs something more potent than what channel energy will mete out - prioritizing anyone who looks like they're more seriously injured!
20:23 <•Anastasia> Skaya can tell the building's been badly damaged. How much so she simply can't tell from a momentary glance. Anyone could tell that, though. Honestly, she's pretty sure there's not a lot she can do. If it falls fast there's not much she can do without more than a bit of magic. Regardless, it's probably better to get people out than to try and fruitlessly patchwork a building in this condition
20:23 <•Anastasia> as fires spread. For his part, Devar can see several. Burnt and burning, broken and battered but somehow out, even if not long for this world. At that Sanda shakes her head and goes to help as well, trying to get people out.
20:24 <Skaya> In that case, she'll just have to do it! Her superior speed and strength should allow Skaya to grab two injured people and get them outside faster than anyone else would!
20:25 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100+15 just checking, new line isn't coming quite yet
20:25 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100+15 just checking, new line isn't coming quite yet --> [ 1d100=33 ]{48}
20:26 <Devar> Anyone who's moving will get healed by Anne as they go, so he rushes to anyone not moving and he will go from there!
20:27 <Devar> OOC: Heal checks for 18 on anyone down to make sure they are at least alive before he does anything for reference
20:27 <•Anastasia> OOC: Sure.
20:28 <•Anastasia> Healing. Devar sees to it as the others try and quench theburning. It's desperate work amid the rubble, and there are some that are fallen that aren't ever getting up again. Skaya grabs two and hurries out as Anne works, but there's still quite a few down, including soldiers. Anne's still in there, channeling more energy as the rest of work. Devar blows through 10 points of lay on hands in
20:28 <•Anastasia> moments with multiple people, working away as Skaya can see more people down int here, more people who need help. For his part, Regis nods ot Sanda and hurries in, trying to get others out as well.
20:30 <Skaya> "Building's not stable!" Skaya calls out to their team. "Get people out, then treat them outside." It made sense to save people when they just arrived, but that little bit of positive energy spread from Devar and Anne should tide the wounded over. Naturally, she keeps on following her own words and gets as many people out as she can carry.
20:32 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100+15
20:32 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100+15 --> [ 1d100=80 ]{95}
20:33 <•Anastasia> Skaya calls that out - and Anne turns to go as more are taken out and go back in, but there's a terrible groaning as suddenly the roof gives way all at once, a horrid noise as-! OOC: Ref saves Skaya, Regis and Anne. +8 bonus for Skaya and Regis, since they're going in and out and a lot less committed here.
20:33 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+13 Regis
20:33 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+13 Regis --> [ 1d20=1 ]{14}
20:33 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+3 Anne
20:33 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+3 Anne --> [ 1d20=15 ]{18}
20:34 <Skaya> roll 1d20+6+8+5 evasion, cunning insight
20:34 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+6+8+5 evasion, cunning insight --> [ 1d20=7 ]{26}
20:34 <•Anastasia> roll 10d6+3d6 full Regis, none the rest of you
20:34 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 10d6+3d6 full Regis, none the rest of you --> [ 10d6=36 3d6=7 ]{43}
20:37 <•Anastasia> Somehow Anne reacts fast enough. A sprint a split second before it happens, cleaing ten steps in an instant. A burst of panicked reaction, just enough to dive out, the collapse missing her by inches. Skaya is much faster, able to sprint back. Regis? Regis isn't fast enough. There's a terrible moment when he turns, reacting later than the others, then the roof falls fire and rock entombing
20:37 <•Anastasia> him. The survivors all stare, at least the ones safe enough able to, dust and noise overwhelming. Then, "NO!" Rina screams and stumbles forward, "NO!"
20:37 <•Anastasia> *clearing
20:38 <Skaya> "Anne, Devar! Heal! The range is close enough, isn't it?!" Skaya calls out, already turning back to try and dig Regis out.
20:39 <•Anastasia> Anne rises as fast as she can, visibly shaken, but calls, "Please, help!" she cries.
20:40 <•Anastasia> roll 1d1000
20:40 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d1000 --> [ 1d1000=703 ]{703}
20:40 <•Anastasia> Meanwhile, Skaya sees it's a burning collapse. This won't be safe to try and move things - is she willing to try anyway?
20:40 <Skaya> Of course she is! She would do it even if she didn't have a slight resistance to the flames!
20:41 <•Anastasia> OOC: Str check real quick as I give Devar a chance to react.
20:41 <Devar> "You got it!" Devar says as he runs over to make sure he's in range to heal, praying to Eldath that Regis somehow survived enough for the healing to help, though he won't be able to breathe long as it is...
20:41 <Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5
20:41 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{15}
20:42 <•Anastasia> roll 3d6 fire damage Skaya
20:42 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 3d6 fire damage Skaya --> [ 3d6=17 ]{17}
20:42 <•Anastasia> The stone's burning and fire leaps on her, burning her terribly. Her hands scream at her as she realizes one thing - she'll need help and something to stop the flames first, unless she wants to be burnt alive.
20:43 •Skaya was opped (+o) by •Anastasia
20:43 •Skaya set the topic: Skaya 19/31
20:45 <•Anastasia> As Rina screams Sanda hurries to her, others watching. Anne takes a breath, "I'll heal you, but...it probably won't reach him under all that stone," she says, sadly.
20:46 <•Skaya> This-- she could try to smother the fire with her winter clothes, but it'd take too long. So Skaya decides to gamble she isn't turning a bad situation worse, and brings out the water barrels she's got stored in her haversack for the trip. If it's a regular fire, it might get smothered.
20:49 <Devar> In the meantime, Devar channels energy in the area, praying the whole time this works out.
20:49 <Devar> roll 1d6 it isn't much but its honest work
20:49 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d6 it isn't much but its honest work --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
20:49 •Skaya set the topic: Skaya 23/31
20:52 <•Anastasia> roll 2d6
20:52 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 2d6 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{5}
20:52 <•Anastasia> OOC: 7 after empower turning from Anne's healing.
20:52 •Skaya set the topic: Skaya 30/31
20:53 <•Anastasia> The water sends up terrible, hot steam - but it quenches the fires immediately int he area, at least on the surface and for the moment.
20:53 <•Skaya> If it's just heated stone, she can deal with this. She's got healers on her side, too! Skaya keeps on digging for Regis in the rubble!
20:54 <•Anastasia> Then Rina's there, tears rolling down her cheeks, as she desperately claws and paws at the stones nonetheless. Then Sanda joins her, a few soldiers as well, battered but intact. OOC: Str check Skaya, +15 bonus.
20:54 <•Skaya> roll 1d20+3+5+15
20:54 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+3+5+15 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{31}
20:54 <•Anastasia> It takes time. Precious time to pull away stones, to get blasted by fire, to get lightly scorched by hot stone. It's hot work, dangerous work, hard work that...
20:55 <•Anastasia> roll 1d12 fire damage Skaya, Rina and Sanda, highly variable
20:55 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d12 fire damage Skaya, Rina and Sanda, highly variable --> [ 1d12=2 ]{2}
20:58 <•Anastasia> Finally. Finally. With a lurch a wooden beam is removed and - sobs. Heartbroken sobs. Regis lies there, broken and battered, burnt and still burning in places. From the damage it's clear to see that he's no longer in this world, body broken. "Even if...all that fire..." Sanda breathes. Anne bows her head even as she channels more energy, but to no effect for Regis.  OOC: Will patch up that
20:58 <•Anastasia> 2 damage on others, at elast.
20:58 •Skaya set the topic: Skaya 31/31
20:59 — •Skaya moves next to Rina, hugging her wordlessly.
21:00 <•Anastasia> Rina collapses on Skaya, "No, no, no, no. We survived all of t-that for this to..."
21:01 <•Anastasia> Anne approaches, "Devar," she keeps her voice down, "Help me move him."
21:02 <Devar> A simple nod is the answer - though it wasn't a request that needed further clarification. He moves over and kneels down slowly.
21:03 <•Anastasia> From there are the simple, necessary things. Tending the injured, seeing to the dignity of the deceased. Organization. After the worst of that is over, you see a middle aged soldier approaching. "A word with all of you," he says, voice grave. He's battered and turn off, blonde musstache mostly gone, but otherwise intact.
21:04 <•Skaya> Now that there's nothing more to do for Regis, Skaya can't bring up the energy to respond. If it weren't for shock, she might be reexamining her actions up to now.
21:05 <•Anastasia> Anne lingers nearby, "I've used all my healing and seen to anyone unstable, words are all I have right now." she smiles nonetheless, a sad look. Rina just sits by Regis, head bowed. Sanda's with her.
21:06 <•Anastasia> "We owe all of you a great debt for your heroism, travelers. I'm sorry one of yours didn't make it." The soldier says, bowing his head in Regis's direction. "We've all lost friends today."
21:07 <•Anastasia> "Thank you. Let us talk later. We believe we know who may be behind this, but...not now. Please." Anne murmurs.
21:08 <•Anastasia> "As soon as you're ready. This vile a deed will go to the Lawkeeper himself." The soldier declares, "There will be justice for this."
21:08 <Devar> "I'll handle it." Devar says to the others. "There's... a few things about this I think we should check while we have time." He's got dirt and soot and some flame-kissed bits here and there but he pushes himself up to stand. "Like what exactly caused the explosion in the first place."
21:09 <•Anastasia> The soldier turns to Devar, "That's what we want to know. Tell us anything you can."
21:10 <•Anastasia> A breath, "Some magic on the guilty party. We had no wizard with us, and only Tymora's good fortune had Johanssen call out a warning. Some drawing on the man's chest, like squiggles and letters."
21:11 <Devar> "There was... I only saw it for a moment in all the chaos, but it looked like there was a corpse itself that was shedding explosions and fire?" He asks aloud. "Did everything get buried in the collapse?"
21:12 <•Anastasia> "Yes," Is the answer, "We had him tied up and secured, but we had no idea of the magic on him. We thought it was a simple case of corruption, no reason to bring reinforcement." The soldier visibly flinches, "Johanssen used up all his luck, he was closest to him."
21:12 <Devar> "That was this person named Millar, right?" He asks.
21:12 <•Anastasia> "Yes. You know of him?" The question is sent right back.
21:14 <Devar> "No - we're not from around here, but we're following leads about a masked mage who seems to leave destruction in his wake." Devar says the last part rather bitterly. "We heard he was seen talking to him by someone in town and came to chat, but..." He turns and gestures towards the destruction. "I was hoping to see if I could find any magic on the body, but I bet this was all setup in a way
21:14 <Devar> as to make that impossible."
21:16 <•Anastasia> The same bitter smile on the soldier's face, but it's cut by fury. Quiet, burning fury. "We'll see how he does when the Lawmaker orders him taken, dead or alive. Do you have anything else about him, why he would do this and how he'd be connected?"
21:17 <Devar> "You all might have that answer - was he suspected of anything originally? I think I heard something about seeking him out for smuggling, but who authorized or suggested that he was a suspect?" He asks.
21:19 <•Anastasia> "Not smuggling, stealing from the mill. He was one of the supervisors and had been sneaking away goods as well as coin." Is the answer you get, "It started suddenly, and the fool was so daring it was near impossible to miss. We got word and came up to deal with it."
21:20 <•Skaya> "Sudden and obvious," Skaya speaks suddenly. "Leading to a trap. Right?"
21:20 <Devar> "Do you know if anyone would know what he specifically took?" Devar asks. "Also, once we've had some time, would it be permissable for us to search his house? We might find more clues there." He turns back to Skaya and nods. "Something about all of this is a little too coincidental."
21:21 <•Anastasia> "Yes," Is the soldier's response, looking Skaya's way. "Does that match something else he's done?"
21:22 <•Skaya> "That bastard's been seen causing trouble all over, but he's rarely actually caught red-handed. Usually, he's just seen in the area or it's all conjecture, but that's fucking bullshit! I personally saw him chumming it up with the leader of a huge band of bandits. And now he was here just a week and change, chatting it up with the guy who was rigged to explode and kill you guys when you got alerted to this behavior?"
21:27 <•Anastasia> "He sounds like a mad wizard," Is the answer you get back, and for some reason Sanda flinches at that.
21:28 <•Anastasia> "He sounds like he needs to face justice for his crimes," Anne breaks her tired silence, "For Regis, for Johanssen and for all the other victims today and in the past."
21:28 <•Skaya> "If he's not a wizard, he's got access to rare magic items," Skaya agrees. "I'll kill him. Can you find more information about him? Sighting, strange and blatant crimes, increased bandit activity out of the blue?"
21:29 <Devar> "Maybe we can find something if we look in Millar's house." Devar suggests. "When you're all up for it. He might've left a letter or something."
21:30 <•Anastasia> "By myself no, but this will go to the Lawkeeper, and the Lawmaker will deal with this." With a long breath out of his own, "That was our next destination. As an acknowledgement for your heroism, you're welcome to come with us." The soldier offers his hand out, "Sargeant Dubois."
21:31 <•Skaya> "Skaya," she responds, shaking his hand.
21:31 <•Anastasia> "Most of us aren't up to it, but at least a few are. I'll go," Anne speaks up here, "That I somehow got out and Regis didn't, in spite of his better position? That can only be Moore's hand protecting me, and I'll not stand idle while this monster roams free."
21:31 <•Anastasia> Skaya gets a firm handshake back.
21:33 <Devar> "I can stay with them if you want me to." Devar offers to Skaya, nodding to the other two.
21:34 <•Skaya> "Okay." Things can't go worse than they already have, after all.
21:36 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay then, Skaya off into #dunes.

[Corwin]

21:40 <•Anastasia> In time, a bit away from the collapse. People stand around it, some pulling away stone as villagers come to help. Others come to mourn and cry, but all of you stand a bit apart from that. With Regis, Rina still sitting next to him. Her head's bowed and Sanda's at her side. Finally, "Would Eldath bring him back, if I asked?" Rina looks up, eyes red and puffy. "Maybe if you asked?"
21:41 <Devar> "I can't give you any promise." Devar says. "But there's never harm in asking." He adds quietly.
21:45 <•Anastasia> "I'll try. Please try, too," Rina asks.
21:47 <Devar> Devar takes a breath to pray. He's learned that he doesn't need his hands together to feel Eldath's kindness - perhaps its a way of hers showing her own respect for people not resorting to using their hands in violence. He prays - to lead Regis back to them, or if he's truly gone, to see him off and ensure he's all right.
21:47 <•Anastasia> OOC: 1d1000. Might get lucky.
21:47 <Devar> roll 1d1000
21:47 <Kobot> Devar rolled 1d1000 --> [ 1d1000=176 ]{176}
21:48 <•Anastasia> roll 1d1000 Rina
21:48 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d1000 Rina --> [ 1d1000=627 ]{627}
21:50 <•Anastasia> Quiet and silence as - you see a misty place. Foggy and indistinct, a stairway ahead. You can see Regis there, walking down. In the shadowy mists he looks ahead, but then perks up. Someone waits for him and he approaches. You hear the sound of waves crashing on the shore and glowing light from above, which burns away the mist and - you blink, returning to yourself.
21:51 <Devar> A few blinks and a look over at Rina, curious if she saw the same thing he did or not.
22:01 <•Anastasia> Rina stares ahead, "I-" A word starts and stops. "Oh." She looks down and Regis, and with tears starting to fall again, "Goodbye, brother." she leans down and kisses his burnt forehead, then stands up. "At least I know now."
22:03 <Devar> Devar smiles and puts a hand on Rina's shoulder. He doesn't need to pry into the meaning or what Regis likely saw, it seems Rina already knows, so he just silently gives her some comfort.
22:06 → Iddy joined (uid408070@lunarnet-423F0355.irccloud.com)
22:06 <•Anastasia> "I saw something," Rina says as Sanda looks up. "Regis was going somewhere in fog, but he had someone waiting for him. They took him somewhere, with waves and light. I don't know what it means, but I feel a little better. Does it make sense to either of you?"
22:07 <Devar> "I never had the chance to get to know him that well." Devar says. "I thought it might mean something to you." He admits.
22:08 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11 Sanda might, she's drank deeply from the K skills
22:08 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 Sanda might, she's drank deeply from the K skills --> [ 1d20=5 ]{16}
22:08 <•Anastasia> "Nothing," Rina admits, a sigh coming.
22:09 <•Anastasia> "It's familiar," Sanda says, "But I can't recall where. Probably somewhere nice if there's light?"
22:10 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 21 on K:R if it tells him anything.
22:10 <•Anastasia> A little sniffle, "Anne said sometimes we'd be remembered for all the money and time we gave to her orphanage. Maybe that's true?"
22:10 <•Anastasia> Waves and light is a bit thin, but it does match Lunia, the first layer of Mount Celestia.
22:11 <Devar> "Hey, that Moore person she talks about all the time is part of Celestia, isn't he?" Devar asks. "I think he wound up there."
22:13 <•Anastasia> "Hope so," Rina answers, "I-I feel a little better, but I want to lay down. Can we go back to the inn and rest?"
22:15 <Devar> "Of course." Devar says. "Come on, let's get both of you there."

[Corwin]

19:01 <•Anastasia> "If we're only so lucky," Is the sargeant's blunt opinion. "Also, please hand over that ring. It's evidence."
19:01 <•Anastasia> Meanwhile, outside, "Think we found something hidden behind the firewood pile in the back, Sargeant!" is the call from another soldier.
19:02 <Skaya> "Do you have a mage who can identify it? If not, it won't be too late to pass it on to you tomorrow," Skaya responds, before perking up at that yell. "Let's investigate outside together?"
19:04 <•Anastasia> "If you have one-hold that thought," Sargeant Dubois agrees, heading right on out. The woodpile is being cleared by a few soldiers, just a pile of firewood outside. However, another sack is within, being revealed fully.
19:05 <•Anastasia> A low, long whistle, "Another one? If that's full of gold, it beggars belief how quickly he got money even with blatant, obvious corruption."
19:05 — Skaya kneels next to it, checking for any trap.
19:05 <Skaya> OOC: Perception 10 for 25
19:05 <•Anastasia> No sign of any sort of traps or trappery.
19:06 <Skaya> "I'm going to open it, so get back a bit just in case," Skaya requests, waiting until compliance before taking a look inside.
19:10 <•Anastasia> It opens. Inside is a mess of what looks to be silver and copper coins.
19:16 — Skaya searches within. The first bag had a ring, so perhaps something is hidden beneath all these coins as well.
19:20 <•Anastasia> Beneath all the coins is another ring, identical to the first. Gold with four tiny red stones set in it.
19:22 <Skaya> "Another ring here," Skaya voices, picking it up without touching it directly. "Want to take this one to your mage, and I'll bring the other one once ours looks at it?"
19:24 <•Anastasia> "Alright, I'll trust you with that," You don't get an argument, the ring taken. "If there's any clue, it's in the spellmanship of these rings."
19:25 <Skaya> "I suspect they're either cursed or serve as keys for some secret society," Skaya muses, shaking her head. "No reason to keep two identical rings, even if magical. Wouldn't work. Please be careful with them."
19:28 <•Anastasia> "As for you. For now, rest and we'll meet tomorrow," The sargeant promises. "We'll see what both of ours figured out."
19:30 <Skaya> "Yeah." With that settled, Skaya heads back with Anne. It's been the longest day, and she'd pulled all nighters and fought in time-locked dragon ruins.

[Corwin]

apocrypha

19:03 <•Anastasia> It's not hard to get back to the inn. Rina and Sanda end up resting, though Anne does not. She lingers by you a little time, before, "Have you ever felt it, when you patron intervened for you?" She asks as you two walk, just outside of the room Sanda and Rina currently share. "Even now, as I calm, I can hardly believe how swiftly and quickly I moved."
19:03 <•Anastasia> *your
19:07 <Devar> "I've had glimpses every now and again." Devar says. "Well... they were much... more vivid the first time, but I was in a bit of a bad place the first time I heard Lady Eldath speak to me." He says quietly. "Every now and again I swear I can hear her whispers as I move through my life, but I think by her nature she doesn't like to interfere."
19:10 <•Anastasia> "It's the same for me. My lord rarely directly intervenes, yet-" Anne shakes her head tiredly, "It seems I have more yet to do."
19:12 <Devar> "Planeswalking isn't for us just yet." Devar agrees. "I don't know... it seems so fantastical, the idea of living beyond death... but we know it happens. I wonder if we'll ever see him again, but maybe we won't know its him, you know?"
19:15 <•Anastasia> "If it's to be, it will happen. Until then, we have matters to attend to." Anne lingers by a window in the hall, looking outside at the sunshine. "This wizard will meet justice at our hands. That I have no doubt of."
19:15 <Devar> "Still, I have to wonder.. why the mask?" He asks. "I've been thinking about it - isn't he more recognizable as a person with the mask on?"
19:21 <•Anastasia> OOC: Goa head and strike everything so far in today's session in here, see #elysium.

[Corwin]

19:34 <•Anastasia> OOC: Any immediate moves then, you two? What's your play here?
19:34 <Skaya> OOC: Have Sanda try to identify the rings. See what plans others have.
19:36 <Devar> OOC: If Sanda can't Devar will take a crack at it, but otherwise no specific plans here besides see what else they can figure out.
19:39 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11 Spellcraft, she'll pull out bigger guns if this doesn't work in the morning, but feel free to try spellcraft right away if this is a bad roll, Devar.
19:39 <•Anastasia> OOC: Oh right, Kobot. Moment
19:40 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@lunarnet-82C188CE.hr.hr.cox.net)
19:40 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+11 Spellcraft, she'll pull out bigger guns if this doesn't work in the morning, but feel free to try spellcraft right away if this is a bad roll, Devar.
19:40 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+11 Spellcraft, she'll pull out bigger guns if this doesn't work in the morning, but feel free to try spellcraft right away if this is a bad roll, Devar. --> [ 1d20=13 ]{24}
19:42 <•Anastasia> Sanda spens a good ten minutes with the ring, looking it over constantly. "Hmph," she finally says, but her voice lacks much of her normal tone. Quiet, "It's one of a pair I think, meant to control and manipulate magic engraved onto something. An object or more likely statistically speaking, a person."
19:43 <Skaya> "There are indeed two of them," Skaya agrees. "How does the manipulation work? Remotely? By wearing both? Are they controlling the person holding them, or he is the one using them?"
19:46 <•Anastasia> "Wearing both. Mentally taxing I think," Sanda looks to both of you, "Odds are, he wasn't strong enough to wear the control rings or they were too showy."
19:47 <Skaya> "So if I put both on I might manage to control this engraved magic? If we knew what and where it was."
19:48 <•Anastasia> "I suspect the most likely answer is that it was the same magic that caused this entire incident," Sanda says, "It certainly looked out of control, like it lacked the proper contorls, didn't it?"
19:48 <Skaya> "Oh!" Skaya gasps.
19:49 <•Anastasia> "Those rings would stand out on a normal person," Anne frowns deeply, "If you're right, then this man has gold to waste, or he had no other purpose for the rings?"
19:49 <Devar> "Hm... so if that guy had been wearing these rings, he wouldn't have exploded like that?" Devar asks. "Or are you suggesting that someone else could've controlled the magic on him through the rings from a distance?"
19:50 <•Anastasia> "The first," Sanda clarifies.
19:51 <Skaya> "Other than looking for people wearing these rings, hunting for rumors of the same and working with the local law enforcement, does anyone have any other ideas for how to proceed here?"
19:52 <Devar> "Hm, then why would he put them away?" He asks aloud. "Unless maybe he didn't know what they did...? Hmm." A hum after that. "I'm just trying to figure out what transpired before today... it might give us some insight as to what this wizard wants and give us a lead. I'm guessing you didn't find any notes or anything at the guy's house?"
19:53 <Skaya> "Sanda thought it was too mentally taxing for him," Skaya reminds Devar.
19:53 <Skaya> "And no, no notes, no diaries, no maps, no correspondence. Nothing of use."
19:53 <•Anastasia> "That or maybe he got greedy, or had some other reason not to wear them today," Sanda says, "Or he was an idiot."
19:54 <Devar> "Or he was told not to?" Devar asks. "But... that'd be a little too... I'd hate to think we walked right into a trap like that..."
19:54 <•Anastasia> "Incredibly frustrating, but that may be why he used him. A simple man, a foolish and greedy man," Anne speaks aloud, "Almost impossible to track, unless we catch him alive, and we weren't so lucky. It does meant that the destruction of the mill was probably not his intended goal with this."
19:56 <Devar> "I wonder if he wanted something from the mill? Something he'd use as a reagent that was hard to get his hands on?" Devar asks. "We still don't know the nature of their relationship at all."
19:56 <•Anastasia> Sanda goes with that, "If you're right, then was it like the bandits? Trying to set something up to spread misery and possibly weaken the area?" she ventures. "Or we're dealing with a madman who has no greater plans than to see what happens."
19:58 <Skaya> "I couldn't find some reason behind it back then."
20:01 <Devar> "Well, maybe the local soldiers can tell us something. Didn't they mention some... Lawmaker or something? There is a spell that allows you to talk to the dead." Devar says.
20:01 <•Anastasia> "I think it's time we rely on magical aid then," Anne muses, "If I were a little more advanced, the third circle would allow me to question a corpse."
20:02 <•Anastasia> "Get a scroll of it, it'll be expensive but we might be able to find one if we go north," Sanda offers, "It's a good idea, and if that corpse can tell us anything, it'll help."
20:02 <Skaya> "Okay."
20:03 <Devar> "Yes, if the local soldiers don't have anyone who can do it, we might be able to find one." Devar agrees.
20:05 <•Anastasia> OOC: Good there then and ready to hop along?
20:05 <Devar> OOC: yep
20:05 <Skaya> OOC: let's go
20:08 <•Anastasia> The next morning has Rina rejoin you. She looks as if she's aged a decade in a night, but at least eats. It matches the mood in Kean, the people whispering and many clad in black. The mood is somber as your breakfast is interrupted by the Sargeant. He sits with all of you, "The ring was meant to be one of two controlling rings, but it rapidly exhausts the mind." he opens with, right to business.
20:09 <Skaya> "We believe wearing both controlled whatever shit he had engraved on him," Skaya agrees, providing the second ring to him.
20:12 <•Anastasia> "Matches our own thoughts," The Sargeant agreed, "We've sent word to both Lawkeeper and Lawmaker. Once it reaches him, there's going to be a large bounty placed on the capture of this wizard. As for the current dead end? An offense this grave will mean divination magic to try and help."
20:13 <Skaya> "We're lacking in that aspect," Skaya freely admits. "But we think we'll be valuable for any follow-up investigations, not to mention the eventual capture."
20:15 <Devar> Devar nods in agreement with Skaya.
20:17 <•Anastasia> "I'd sign off on that. You all did us right with your bravery and saved lives," He takes out a scroll. "This is from Acting High Reeve Richman of Dareslan. It gives you authority as bounty hunters in Welland, which will allow you free movement and the legal right to capture prisoners. If any soldiers or guards give you trouble, show this to them."
20:18 <Skaya> "Will do," Skaya says as she accepts the scroll. "Thanks."
20:21 <•Anastasia> "There's one more thing. Once Nillar's corpse is dug up, we'd like to use a speak with dead spell to see what he knows," Anne says, "But we need to get a scroll of it so I can cast it."
20:21 <Skaya> "Unless you have the local talent to use that magic here?"
20:30 <•Anastasia> A shake of his head. "Get the scroll and the corpse will be available."
20:33 <Skaya> "Where could we get it?"
20:37 <•Anastasia> "North in Daresland," Is the answer, "There's a few good magical shops there.
20:37 <•Anastasia> "
20:38 — Skaya nods, before looking at the others questioningly.
20:38 <•Anastasia> "Let's go," Rina's voice is steady, meeting Skaya's eyes.
20:38 <•Anastasia> "No reason not to," Anne agrees, "Even a name would give us something to work with."
20:39 <Skaya> "We'll be leaving as soon as we're done packing, then," she says for the sake of the sargeant.
20:43 <•Anastasia> From there the party leaves behind, smaller than before, and...
20:43 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100
20:43 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 --> [ 1d100=79 ]{79}
20:45 <•Anastasia> It takes most of the morning to reach Daresland. It's a city alright, bustling adn busy. Old, winding streets and narrow passages. A city built on hilly ground, with buildings having several stories and often with  foot bridges across roofs, or even crude stairs for height differences. It's a city bustling and busy with trade, with people and with summer's commerce. However, it's quick and easy
20:45 <•Anastasia> to get in, no even any sort of entrance fee.
20:46 <Skaya> They can surely enter any city in this land for free. And all it cost was one friend!
20:46 — Skaya scans the city's skyline for any churches. That might well be the best way to get that scroll.
20:49 <Devar> "Want to see if we can dredge up anything about the mask?" Devar asks. "They might've come through here recently."
20:50 <•Anastasia> "Some of us can talk and some of us can shop," Rina says right away.
20:50 <•Anastasia> Meanwhile Skaya looks about and...OOC: Mostly perfunctory, but quick perception check.
20:50 <•Anastasia> OOC: And K:R to save itme.
20:51 <Skaya> OOC: Perception 10 for 25, K:R 10 for 27
20:58 <•Anastasia> You see a few buildings with symbols you know. One with the symbol of Mystra, one with the symbol of Lady Gwynharwyf, a third with the sigil of Lathander and Latha - some sort of join church you'd speculate. There's also a rather run down one contrasted by a nicely painted symbol for Eldath, and finally one for Amaryl. Gaial,
20:59 <Skaya> "I'm going to do a round of the churches, starting with Mystra," Skaya says. "Who's coming with me?"
21:01 <•Anastasia> "I will." Anne falls in.
21:01 <•Anastasia> "The rest of us can talk around and see if we hear anything. More ears, more chances, logically s peaking," Sanda shakes her head.
21:02 <Skaya> "Okay." She wants to tell them to stay safe, but a glance at Rina makes her swallow the words. "Let's meet by the gate here in four hours. We'll see where to go from there together."
21:03 <Devar> "Four hours, got it." He agrees.
21:06 <•Anastasia> OOC: Devar into #evil.

[Corwin]

21:06 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay Devar, what's your exact info gathering plot?
21:07 <Devar> OOC: Ask around if anyone's seen someone with a mask in town lately, or heard any rumors about someone with a mask. Also ask if there's been any recent trouble - bandits, that sort of thing that seems out of the ordinary. Take 10 for 22 on GI.
21:09 <•Anastasia> OOC: Diplo check, +4 bonus since Rina and Sanda will aid you. So total of 26 then. More.
21:16 <•Anastasia> The main gossip is the disaster near Kean. That's taking up a lot of noise - and you also hear word of heroic travelers who saved lives, who pulled good Wellandian soldiers from the rubble and healed them. Beyond that there's gossip that there's spreading ankheg problems to the west, whispers of the undead and vampires in town, a lost labyrinth is said to be discovered if rumors are true
21:16 <•Anastasia> and-! It's a young mother carrying her child, face tired as she sits a moment on a bench tucked against what looks to be a fur shop. "Oh! I heard about that, a story about a wandering masked wizard."
21:18 <Devar> "Did you, ma'am?" Devar confirms. "About when was it, if you recall?" He asks. "He's suspecting of having something to do with what happened in Kean, so anything you recall will be helpful."
21:26 <•Anastasia> Rina focuses wholly on her as Sanda stops, a little smile to the baby. The baby's subdued at least as the mother says, "Kean! That horror? I hear good men ran screaming from it, on fire like a log." A deep shudder at that, "A week or two ago. I heard he had business with one of the free gatherings." Then a startle and a peer at Devar's holy symbol, "Begging your pardon for that. A braver
21:26 <•Anastasia> man than I to walk the path of Eldath!"
21:27 <Devar> A smile to the baby as well and then to the woman. "Bravery has nothing to do with it, ma'am." He says. "Can you tell me more about this - what is a 'free gathering'?" He asks. "We aren't, ah, from around these parts."
21:34 <•Anastasia> "Oh. As you surely know, Eldath once held sway here as surely as Tempus held sway in Laremy," She says Laremy like a curse, "But these days things are far more open. The people are receptive to any power, and a free gathering is a small gathering of any deity who doesn't have a full cathedral here. Some spring up and some are established."
21:36 <Devar> "It's good to know Lady Eldath has some children here regardless." He says with a soft smile. "Do you by any chance know which deity it was for?" He asks. "Or know anyone who might've also gone to that gathering?"
21:40 <•Anastasia> "No, but it was one of the ones people don't talk about lightly. The..." she pauses, "Less savory ones." Looking back and forth and then holding her child tight, who stirs and frowns in her sleep, "You'd be best asking at the Blackgate Inn."
21:41 <•Anastasia> Rina growls softly, a sound from deep within her as her fists ball up. "Scum stick together."
21:41 <Devar> "Unsurprising." Devar says. "Thank you for the information ma'am, may you always be blessed by Eldath's smile." A short bow to her as he turns to Rina and Sanda. "Want to wait for the others or go investigate now?"
21:45 <•Anastasia> "Thank you," Rina takes a moment for the woman and then, "We're burning daylight. Let's go now."
21:45 <•Anastasia> Sanda gives Rina a look, "I can go now. We still have time."
21:46 <Devar> "Just be prepared." Devar says as he walks. He didn't ask the woman where this inn was but it surely can't be hard to find out from passerbys.
21:50 <•Anastasia> It isn't too hard with a bit of persistence. It's a basement tavern, tucked away and down at the end of a winding alley. Garbage and old tankards are here, kegs discarded and empty about. It smells of alcohol and nastier things beneath. You walk the steps down to it, finding a well lit tavern. Only a few people are here, few conversations. There's a fe barmaids and a single, absolute unit
21:50 <•Anastasia> of a man at the bar. Seven feet if he's an inch, muscular and with long black hair. He eyes you the moment you walk in, putting down the beer stein he was polishing.
21:56 <Devar> Devar walks up to the counter and offers a nod. He speaks in a low voice, but not a whisper. "Good afternoon. I'll be direct - I heard there was a masked wizard at one of the free gatherings a few days ago, and I'd like to talk to anyone who was there." He says, short and to the point. "He turned someone into a living explosion - the news from Kean, if you've heard it - so we're hoping to
21:56 <Devar> stop that sort of thing from happening again."
21:57 <•Anastasia> You get stared at, "Kean was that bastard's work?" A question back.
21:58 <•Anastasia> "Yeah," Rina says shortly, "My brother was there. Was. It's personal."
21:58 <Devar> "He's been causing a lot of problems for a lot of people." Devar agrees.
22:00 <•Anastasia> "Twenty gold for a backroom," He says, as everyone else is looking anywhere but at all of you.
22:01 <•Anastasia> Rina puts the gold down after a moment of fishing, and the man jerks a thumb back towards a door, "Go in there and wait."
22:02 <Devar> Devar nods and will head towards the door!
22:03 <•Anastasia> It's a plain room with a table and no chairs. No windows, either. The only light is a single candle already burning when you enter. Rina stands and waits, arms crossed. Sanda hesitates before, "I don't like our odds if we have to fight out of here," she says, "We're trapped with only one way out."
22:08 <Devar> "I don't think they set up a room for that sort of thing." Devar says with a glance around since he can see fine in the darkness anyway. "But if we do, we make a break for the exit." He says. He may as well cast Mage Armor on himself just in case.
22:10 <•Anastasia> It's not long until a man enters. Fourty something, limping and wearing dirty clothes. He was one of the bar patrons you think, and he nods. "What is it you want to know about him?"
22:11 <Devar> "Guessing he never gave a name?" Devar asks first. A name would help with divinations, so he probably wouldn't give that up, or if he did it was probably fake.
22:17 <•Anastasia> "He called himself a hard worker. He just..." A pause, "He was there when he wanted to be? Magic for sure." The man looks pale as he talks, "And then he wasn't. He told the gathering about who we should follow. He said his patron's called the Adversary, and in him we can gain incredible strength. That with him, a single drop of poison can destroy an entire nation."
22:21 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 on K:R for 21 on the name since Devar never had the pleasure before
22:21 <•Anastasia> Something dark. You've heard the name but it's a bit obscure. Dangerous.
22:22 <Devar> Devar frowns. "Even within the things I know, people shouldn't associate with that one." He says. "Did he tell any of you where to go if you were interested in following him?"
22:24 <•Anastasia> "He told of a ritual if we wanted to follow him." The man says, "Self mutilation that promises power."
22:25 <Devar> "How much you want to bet our walking bomb messed up?" Devar says to the others.
22:25 <•Anastasia> Sanda looks green at that, while Rina simply says, "It sounds what I'd expect. Monster. Nothing but a monster."
22:25 <•Anastasia> "He messed up," Sanda agrees, very softly.
22:26 <•Anastasia> Then, "What was the ritual," Rina asks.
22:26 <Devar> Devar nods to the question. "Please."
22:27 <•Anastasia> "Cut yourself and bleed while chanting words past midnight but no more than two hours before dawn, and call on the Adversary. You must have taken a life for it to work." Is the man's answer.
22:27 <•Anastasia> "The words?" Rina asks right away.
22:29 <•Anastasia> There's a hesitation before,  "Why?" A tight, guarded question.
22:29 <Devar> "It will help us locate him and stop him." Devar says.
22:30 <Devar> "He's hurt a lot of people, some we were very close to." He adds.
22:32 <•Anastasia> "100 gold." Is the answer after a moment.
22:32 <•Anastasia> Rina fishes in, "I have that," she says, tossing a handful of coins onto the table and then another. "There."
22:33 <•Anastasia> "In spite I defy all the light and step into the umbral dark." Is the answer at last. "It's your life to throw away." he finally says. The man shakes his head and scratches at his chest. "Gives me a bad feeling."
22:42 <Devar> "It should." Devar agrees. "I'm not here to tell you path to follow, but don't follow that one."
22:42 <Devar> "Did he mention anything about returning, or anywhere else he was planning to go?" Devar follows up.
22:43 <•Anastasia> "No, only that he had business in Welland," Is the answer, "He just..." A wave of his hand, "Wasn't there anymore, when I looked away and looked back."
22:44 <Devar> Devar nods. "Either a spell like invisibility or teleportation magic." He turns to the others. "Any other questions you think are relevant?"
22:46 <•Anastasia> Rina's quiet, "Do you know anything else about him or this Adversary?"
22:48 <Devar> "All I can tell you is The Adversary is extremely dangerous, evil, and something no one should ever say lightly." He says, but he turns back to the man in case he has anything to add.
22:50 <•Anastasia> The dirty man scratches at his chin now, "Sounds about right. Also, 200 gold." He says, meeting Rina's eyes.
22:51 <•Anastasia> Rina doesn't hesitate, "It's my brother's money. It's going to avenge him or to an orphanage otherwise. I hope it's worth it," Rina's voice is cold. More coins are tossed on the table, the click of metal loud in contrast to your voices.
22:52 <Devar> Devar turns his attention to the man. "Use it to find a path to someone on the other side of things than what you might usually do." He says. "For your own sake."
22:54 <•Anastasia> The money's eyed before it's scooped up. "One of the Risen was asking the same questions you did, two days ago. Hundred to one you aren't the first ones to want him dead, and I suspect there's a graveyard of people who had the same idea you did. You go against him, you go with everything you have."
22:56 <Devar> OOC: Is there a knowledge check for Risen that'd be useful here?
22:56 <•Anastasia> OOC: K:R.
22:56 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 21
22:59 <•Anastasia> The Risen or Risens is the name of followers of Antenora Reynes. Big emphasis on those who atone for past evil, as fitting Antenora Reynes, a risen fiend. She's part of the Sylica pantheon and champions redemption.
23:00 <Devar> "This Risen have a name, or know where we might talk to them?" Devar asks.
23:03 <•Anastasia> "Starre, an elf," Is the answer you get, "Blondest hair I've ever seen, like sunshine."
23:04 <Devar> "Shouldn't be too hard to find." Devar says. "Please," He adds, relaxing a little. "No more consorting with these types of people, all right?"
23:06 <•Anastasia> "Then who is here to tell you what you need to know?" The man says, "People like you pay well."
23:07 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+4
23:07 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+4 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{17}
23:07 <•Anastasia> roll 1d3+1
23:07 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d3+1 --> [ 1d3=3 ]{4}
23:09 <•Anastasia> The swing is wild, furious and catches the man righ ton the jaw. Rina's fist meets his face and the man staggers back, Her expression is silently furious, chest heaving as she breathes hard. "FUCK YOU!" The man's nose is out of position, blood starting to flow. He's visibly off balance, hit good and hard.
23:09 <Devar> "There are better ways to make a-" Devar is in the middle of saying - "Hey!"
23:10 <•Anastasia> Sanda goes and quickly goes to pull Rina bakc, but she's not advancing him further. The man twists his wrist, a dagger sliding from his sleeve into his hand. He's ready to strike, a tense moment where- OOC: Chance to itnervene if you want to.
23:11 <Devar> Devar lets out a bit of a breath. "The people you consort with would kill you without a second thought. Your life is worth more than that." He says. "Please, we didn't come here for violence." He says, putting an open - weaponless - hand forward to heal him. OOC: Lay on hands to fix the damage if he lets him.
23:11 <•Anastasia> OOC: Diplo check, +2 bonus.
23:12 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 24

[Corwin]

21:06 <•Anastasia> OOC: What's your plan here? Hitting up the churches to buy or look or what?
21:08 <Skaya> OOC: Hitting up the churches to see what level scrolls they have available, and if the specific one we're looking for is (we'll stop as soon as a church has this). At the same time, we'll try to get an audience with a priest with some level of authority with our token, explain about the masked wizard and ask for any news or rumors.
21:13 <•Anastasia> Mystra's church is more of a tower than anything else, set in a low point between hills. It rises over a dozen stories and is covered with various windows. These windows dance with illusions. Some show the stars of Mystra that dance around her eyes, others show acts of magic and others show deities tied or related to Mystra: Savras, Azuth, Velsharoon, Alicia Reynes. These illusions move and
21:13 <•Anastasia> cycle, a constant show as you walk in. "Welcome, welcome, welcome three seekers to the Dancing Lights Temple!" A young man with a big smile, blonde hair brushed back and kept long, long enough to reach his low back. "You seek the Mother Of All Magic's wisdom?"
21:14 <Skaya> "After a fashion," Skaya agrees. "We are in need of a scroll and Mystra's temple was honestly my first thought."
21:22 <•Anastasia> "Only logical," The man says with a beaming smile, as Anne subdues a sigh. "What spell do you need, fair friend?"
21:24 <Skaya> "We need to talk to a dead mass murderer to find out who he was working with."
21:32 <•Anastasia> "....speak with dead," That smile fades right away. "Definitely that one. Wait, wait. The only one that I've heard of-!"
21:33 <Skaya> "Perhaps we could talk somewhere more private?"
21:35 <•Anastasia> A quick nod. You're ushered into a side room - quite a lovely view out a window currently showing the art of how to cast magic missile - and once in, "Kean?" A single question at that.
21:36 <Skaya> "Yes. I don't know what you've heard, but that incident was instigated by a traveling wizard."
21:38 <•Anastasia> "There are always those that use Mystra's Weave foolishly," The priest says with a grimace.
21:38 <•Anastasia> "We intend to correct his foolishness, permanently," Anne says, "You understand our need for both discretion and haste."
21:40 <Skaya> "Aside from the scroll, I was actually hoping to pass the word on," Skaya adds to that. "He's been traveling all over, consorting with bandits and criminals." She gives a brief description of the man, following it up with, "If you've heard of something along those lines... or perhaps, strange occurrences or a recent rise in such crimes...?"
21:43 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+8
21:43 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+8 --> [ 1d20=19 ]{27}
21:44 <•Anastasia> "A masked wizard." He stops at that, his frown growing deeper. "I did hear something about that. Some trouble in a free gathering by a masked man. I couldn't tell you anything more, but that was...ten days ago? Nine? Eight?"
21:45 <Skaya> "That's a couple days after he was last seen in Kean, wasn't it?" Skaya muses, glancing at Anne for confirmation.
21:46 <•Anastasia> "More or less," Anne says, "It's not precise, but it fits. We know he's headed north so it makes sense."
21:48 <Skaya> "Worth taking a look. Where was the gathering? Do you know of someone who was there in person that we could talk to directly?"
21:51 <•Anastasia> "I don't know anything else, only something I heard in passing," he answers, "You'd have to ask around to find out more."
21:52 <Skaya> "Alright. The gathering was in Daresland, at least?"
21:54 <•Anastasia> "Yes, I know that much," You get back.
21:54 <Skaya> "Thanks. In that case, let's return to that scroll?"
21:56 <•Anastasia> "375 gold," Is the answer you get back, "We should have one on hand, so you can have it in minutes."
21:57 — Skaya takes out the money, quickly counting the coins. They can settle it later.
21:59 <•Anastasia> Within minutes, you get a wrapped scroll for your troubles.
21:59 <•Anastasia> OOC: Post expense inloot.
21:59 <•Anastasia> "Here, as promised," He offers, "Good luck with it. Mystra guide your magic through it."
21:59 <Skaya> OOC: Done
22:00 <Skaya> "Thanks," Skaya says again, handing the scroll over to Anne.
22:01 <•Anastasia> "Then we need to hurry back to Kean," Anne rises, "Thank you. May Moore's light bless you for your aid in this difficult battle."
22:02 <Skaya> "We can't rush anywhere until all four hours are up," Skaya reminds Anne once they've left. "Let's spend the time looking up information about that free gathering. Maybe we'll get a lead to help us focus our questions better."
22:05 <•Anastasia> "We might get lucky," Anne agrees with that. OOC: Diplo for GI, Anne will aide for +2.
22:06 <Skaya> roll 1d20+10+2+5
22:06 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+10+2+5 --> [ 1d20=8 ]{25}
22:14 <•Anastasia> You talk around. Eventually, you hit on something. A guard on break, eating from a little roadside stand. As he takes a big bite out of his skewer, it's a bit muffled when he says, "Eh, now that you mention it. Heard something about that. A murder last week, a witness said a masked man was the one who did it."
22:15 <Skaya> "Oh?" That's a fresher trail than she expected.
22:19 <•Anastasia> "He touched him and the man collapsed, and died horribly. Poison, it looked like. Foaming out of his mouth, bleeding from his eyes and nose." A shrug as if it's no big thing, "Another reason never to shake a wizard's hand. Didn't know they could do that."
22:21 <•Anastasia> Sanda hms, "Yes, there are spells that can do that," she admits, "Not easy spells of the first circle, but I know it can be done."
22:21 <•Anastasia> *Anne
22:22 <Skaya> "There really shouldn't be any issues shaking hands with wizards," Skaya voices. "If anything, it puts them within easy reach. But there are terrible people in every profession. Ah, that witness, is it possible to talk to him?"
22:30 <•Anastasia> "Second hand story," Is the answer, "But I imagine he's still going. You'd need to ask," A click of his tongue, a snap of his fingers, "Berstein, he's probably on the Sun Gate today. He's the one who told me, he's know the witness."
22:32 <Skaya> "Thanks for pointing us the right way," Skaya tells him gratefully, handing over a gold coin as a sign of her appreciation.
22:34 <•Anastasia> The gold coin vanishes with a smile.
22:35 <•Anastasia> Once you step away, it's Anne who says, "It seems he made more of an impression in Daresland, but now I worry about what he's done here."
22:36 <Skaya> With an answering smile she displays without truly feeling it, Skaya waves her goodbye and heads for the Sun Gate with Anne. "We still need to confirm it's him, since criminals and masks do go together. But it's not mysterious murders in a guarded town are that common, so it seems like a good lead."
22:45 <•Anastasia> A brisk nod back, "It's the best we have yet, though I still wonder why. Why this determined campaign of abuse and ruin? Why be such a malefactor?"
22:45 <Skaya> "He could literally be working for the lower planes, and that's their entire thing?"
22:52 <•Anastasia> "Yes, but the point is that if his only motivation is destruction, then he's a rabid dog to put down. Otherwise, he has motivations we can understand and work to use against him," Anne takes out a breath,
22:54 <Skaya> "Before I heard he came here to Welland I figured it might've been a move to destabilize the country. But to do it to more than one... we don't really have some world power empire who would benefit from it, so either it's personal or some lower planes plan."
22:55 <•Anastasia> A sour scowl at that, "I fear you're right, unfortunately."
22:56 <Skaya> "I don't suppose you could pray for guidance, here? If there is an actual plot, having it confirmed would be nice."
22:58 <•Anastasia> "I did last night, and I will again today." Anne says. "You're welcome to join me."
22:58 <Skaya> "I'm sorry, I'm not really feeling in tune with Celestia."
23:01 <•Anastasia> Anne smiles now, "But if you reach out, who is to say they won't answer and show you the way? You have nothing to lose and eternity to gain." 
23:02 <Skaya> "I suppose I can try. But I don't want to spend eternity in Celestia, so I'll shop around some."
23:11 <•Anastasia> Anne smiles just a little more, "I'll have to work on that then, Skaya."

[Corwin]

19:05 <•Anastasia> OOC: Refresh me on your current move, Skaya?
19:05 <Skaya> OOC: We're heading to see Berstein at the Sun Gate. He was the direct witness of the altercation a week ago possibly involving our guy.
19:06 <Skaya> OOC: We being Skaya and Anne
19:13 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay.
19:14 <•Anastasia> The Sun Gate is one of the city's gates. Nothing too surprising about that. Guards work away there as people come and pass, and Berstein isn't too hard to find. A bigger man, muscle and bulk mostly. He rubs his black beard as he looks on at you, having stepped away a moment. "What is it you want?"
19:16 <Skaya> "Heard you ran into this masked wizard recently?" Skaya cuts right to the chase. "Shook a guy's hand and the poor man ended up foaming at the mouth on the ground before expiring?"
19:25 <•Anastasia> "Ran into? No. Heard of?" A grunt at that and a scratch at his chest, "Yeah. Who's asking exactly?"
19:27 <Skaya> "Name's Skaya," she introduces herself, before jerking her head towards her companion. "That's Anne. It sounds like a guy we've been looking for, so we wanted to check the details." Luckily, she has that scroll nominating them part of the law services, and a city's guard should have no issues telling them what he knows. "Here's the official part," she adds, presenting said scroll to him.
19:32 <•Anastasia> The scroll's taken and after a look over, "Yeah. What do you want to know?"
19:33 <Skaya> "Everything about that masked man," Skaya tells him. "If you heard about that incident, could you point us towards the witness? And if the witness is not with the guard, can you tell us anything about the victim or how the investigation of his death went?"
19:44 <•Anastasia> "Alright," You get a look and after a moment to think, "I was stuck helping with the cleanup for it. Masked man touched another man and made him drop dead. Poison, it was pretty clear from the body. Strong poison too, it takes something potent to do a man in that fast. You see poison and you think assassin or spellcaster. First because it's their calling card when a knife in the dark won't do,
19:44 <•Anastasia> the second because spellcasters can make the stuff up by wiggling their tongue and howling at the moon."
19:45 <•Anastasia> "We do not howl at the moon," Anne says evenly, "Do we look like Selunites?"
19:45 <Skaya> "You could, though. For effect."
19:47 <•Anastasia> "You could also run around topless. For effect." Anne retorts.
19:48 <•Anastasia> "Look," Berstein smiles as you two go back and forth, "Isn't the first time I've dealt with a masked man, but this one's smoke. Probably an out of towner or a towner who i s better at hiding his tracks than the average scum. Just my take on it, anyway, and the witness had no idea."
19:50 — Skaya perks up. "That'd be some effect," she starts to say before visibly forcing herself to focus on Berstein. "Right. So what was the deal with the victim? Who was the victim, what did he do? Any suspicious activity before death?"
19:57 <•Anastasia> "Jack Downsdale," Is the answer, "Moved from Laremy when he was a young child. Merchant, had some questionable ties back home but nothing but hearsay. I believed it for what it's worth, there was enough smoke to be fire." Going on from that, "Apparently they had some sort of argument or disagreement or something. My guess is someone from Tempus's armpit down south had a problem with him and
19:57 <•Anastasia> chose an assassin with a certain flair to their work, but it could be a local who gre wa big brain." A shrug at that. "Nothing to go on and no one really missed him, so last I heard it's a dead end."
19:58 <Skaya> "What about his things? Did anyone go through them?" Skaya asks curiously, since if the masked man is spreading his rings around perhaps some were here as well.
20:00 <•Anastasia> "Yeah," Is the answer, "Had some money on him and a couple of knives, but nothing unusual unless any of it was magic. Don't know if his home was searched."
20:01 <Skaya> "Got it. Thanks for helping out!" Skaya tells him, offering a gold coin here as well. Guard or not, some drinking money for being a decent person when they came asking is only right.
20:03 <•Anastasia> The coin's taken. "Oh, one more thing," Berstein says after he gets the coin, "18th Marsten Way, back room. In case no one's beaten you to it."
20:03 <Skaya> "Oh?"
20:06 <•Anastasia> "He rented a room there," Is the answer, a nod to you before turning back and returning to his post.
20:06 <•Anastasia> "Thank you," Anne bows her head to him, but quieter to you, "Honestly, Tempus's armpit?"
20:07 <Skaya> "Thanks!" Skaya calls to him with a wave and leads Anne towards their meeting at the other gate. At the whisper, she shrugs, not having any particular loyalty to any nation, nevermind one corrupt enough to make troubles for her.

[Corwin]

19:06 <•Anastasia> OOC: 4 points spent.
19:07 <•Anastasia> The broken nose fixes itself. The man gives Rina a long, fearless look before, "Anything else?" he asks, in lieu of an attack.
19:07 <Devar> "No, i think we have all the information we need." Devar says but looks to the other two just in case.
19:15 <•Anastasia> "We're fine," Sanda says, as Rina breathes heavily. With that the man takes his money and leaves, leaving the three of you to your own devices.
19:18 <Devar> "Well, we have a lot more than what we started with." Devar says, trying to shift the topic slightly. "If this guy does have spells like teleport, then we're really at a disadvantage to try and stop him, at least right this second."
19:24 <•Anastasia> Rina goes to lean against the wall and gathers herself. Meanwhile Sanda says, "He seems more and more dangerous the more we learn about him. I don't like the odds of this."
19:28 <Devar> "It may be something we simple cannot solve as we are." Devar says. "But perhaps our next step is seeing if we can find Starre. It sounds like there's some divine interest in finding this guy."
19:32 <•Anastasia> "Ask around, that name should stand out. Who has a name like Starre?" Sanda asks aloud.
19:34 <Devar> Devar nods. "Right, then let's get out of here and not have a reason to come back." He says
19:39 <•Anastasia> That's not hard to do, even Rina follows. Once outside Rina shakes her head, "...Starre, right? We just have to track him or her down?"
19:39 <•Anastasia> "That's the idea," Sanda says as you step back out into the fresh air.
19:39 <Devar> Devar nods. "Let's get to it, then." He says. OOC: Take 10 for 22 on GI to see if we can find her!
19:46 <•Anastasia> OOC: The other two will aid for +4 for 26 total.
19:46 <•Anastasia> roll 1d100 for ???
19:46 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d100 for ??? --> [ 1d100=55 ]{55}
19:46 <•Anastasia> You search around but you're starting to run into practicalities: You'll need to meet up with Skaya and Anne soon, unless you want to run over. Up to you there, as the answer isn't leaping out right away.
19:47 <Devar> "Let's meet up with the others and explain what we found." Devar says. "They can help try and track this person down if they're still in town at all."
19:50 <•Anastasia> "Alright," Sanda says, "We can get lunch on the way." OOC: I'll hook you into Skaya's room once they finish with their current scene.
20:10 <•Anastasia> OOC: Dunes.

[Corwin]

20:11 <•Anastasia> From there the party meets back up as planned, one group reuniting with another. "Our time was productive," Anne greets, "How was yours?"
20:12 <Devar> "We've got a lot of leads." Devar says, adding with a frown, "As well as some concerning information about who this guy serves."
20:13 <Skaya> "Let's go get a private room for a meal and to exchange information, then," Skaya suggests. "Found anything good while scoping the town?"
20:15 <Devar> "We had a snack at one of them earlier." Devar says. "We can go there or somewhere else that looks like it has some privacy."
20:15 <Skaya> "Works. Lead the way?"
20:16 <Devar> Devar will head back the way they came to stop by somewhere to eat and chat!
20:18 <•Anastasia> Getting a private room and food costs a pair of gold coins, but it's done. Once you're inthere and the party is fed, you...OOC: Go ahead.
20:20 <Devar> "So it sounds like this guy is a servant of a deity known as the Adversary." Devar begins. "All I know is the name brings dark imagery and vile thoughts. It seems to be a deity shrouded in some amount of secrecy but enough is known to know that it isn't something to be taken lightly."
20:24 <•Anastasia> "The Adversary..." Anne murmurs softly at that, "That's more than we knew. Anything else?"
20:24 <Skaya> "Right. For our part, we found out he was active twice at the very least, ten days and a week ago. The former, during some sort of free gathering. And the latter, when he straight up murdered someone with what appeared to be magical poison. I got the victim's address, and figured we would stop by. Ah, we got the scroll, too."
20:26 <Devar> "Oh, great." Devar says with a nod. "We also found someone of a deity named Antenora's might be in town - her name is Starre. If you're not familiar, Antenora is a risen fiend who very well may have given this person a mission to track this guy down too. It sounds like it's something up their alley."
20:27 <Skaya> "So how do we find her? It's a huge place."
20:32 <•Anastasia> "The hard way. We have a name," Rina speaks up here, rubbing her wrist. "But they could be a useful ally if we track them down, but it'll take time."
20:33 <•Anastasia> "We could split up again and hope to get lucky while others check out that room," Sanda suggests, "Statistically speaking, I think it's our best chance, since numbers won't matter much for searching ar oom."
20:33 <Devar> "Someone like that's bound to have made some waves." Devar says. "Or so I'd assume, anyway."
20:34 <Skaya> "Okay." She'd been hoping they had a lead, but this is fine. "I propose we look into the victim's residence. Sanda's suggestion of splitting up works, because that means another group could try to look into that free gathering ten days ago. How do we split up this time?"
20:35 <Devar> "The free gathering was where we found out about that guy, actually." Devar says. "He was trying to convince other people to perform a profane ritual for power. We think it's what ended up happening to Millar."
20:37 — Skaya purses her lips as she thinks it over. "We approached Mystra's temple and revealed our goal, so if Antenora's chosen had checked in there, it's highly likely they wouldn't have been surprised by what we said. In that case, let's check out Amaryl Gaial's church. Deities ascending together and all that, perhaps they'll know something."
20:41 <Devar> Devar nods. "Also, at least from what it sounds like, the guy definitely knows spells like teleport - or at least a lot of people claim he's 'there and then gone'."
20:42 <Skaya> "Yeah, I said as much. If it's not teleport, it's hard to tell what he does. Though I figured it was an item, since otherwise he should've just tried to kill me back then. No way I could've held out against a teleporter."
20:43 <Devar> "It might be invisibility, but... even then." Devar says with a nod to Skaya.
20:44 <•Anastasia> "But even then," Anne reckons, "But it's also possible he simply didn't care enough about some random interloper."
20:45 <Skaya> "That... wouldn't he care about his pawns? Why let them just get killed off?"
20:46 <•Anastasia> "Cut his losses, maybe," Sanda runs with it, "Or maybe he had business elsewhere. Or he's a murderous madman who doesn't care."
20:47 <Devar> "I think as long as death and destruction happen, he doesn't care how it works." Devar offers.
20:47 <Skaya> "Okay then. Anyway, after both groups are done, let's just try to ask around about Starre. If we do it incompetently enough, the search itself should become rumor and she could find us."
20:52 <Devar> Devar nods again. "That sounds like a plan."
20:52 <Skaya> "Who wants to go where?"
20:52 <•Anastasia> "I'll go with the group looking for Starre," Anne decides, "I'm little good searching a room."
20:53 <•Anastasia> "I'll go with Skaya or whomever's searching," Rina says after a moment.
20:53 <•Anastasia> "Whichever side needs magic," Sanda says for her part.
20:53 <Skaya> "That would be the search," Skaya notes for Sanda's sake. Hopefully.
20:54 <Devar> "I can look for Starre, if Sanda's going with you I think you've got the magic side covered." Devar says.
20:55 <•Anastasia> OOC: On emoment for bathroom, gimme teams so we can roll when I get back.
20:57 <Skaya> "Okay," Skaya says, a bit disappointed but taking care not to show it. "Let's go together to pick an inn. That way we don't need to worry about meeting again, and we could also point towards it in case we leave a trail for Starre to follow. As for the time we spend on the search and barring new information, two days work? Or too much?"
20:58 <Devar> "I think that's fine." Devar says. "We need more information if we're going to accomplish anything."
21:00 <Skaya> OOC: Team Search/Skaya, Sanda, Rina; Team Temple/Devar, Anne. And after we'll both gather information re: Starre to try and get it out there that we're looking for her and are staying at Inn X for the next 2 days.
21:07 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay.
21:07 <•Anastasia> OOC: Skaya in here, Devar in #evildunes
21:07 <•Anastasia> .

[Corwin]

21:09 <•Anastasia> The three of you head to 18th Marsten Way. It's a back alley house, with a sign saying ROOMS FOR RENT by the door, and beneath that a simple picture of a bed. It has windows old enough to be dark and smeared by filth, tucked away out of sight of most.
21:11 <Skaya> Auspicious place! Skaya looks for the head office or reception.
21:16 <•Anastasia> It's just the first room in, where an old woman sits in a rocking chair. An old black cat sleeps on her lap as she looks up from her knitting. She smiles tightly. "I know your type," she says right away.
21:16 <Skaya> "Now I'm curious."
21:21 <•Anastasia> "You're here because someone here did something to bring you here. You're too well fed, too well made to be here otherwise." She grins at that, showing not a single tooth in her mouth, yet her words come out clearly.
21:23 <Skaya> "Nice, Aunty!" Skaya tells her cheerfully. "I do have official backing to look into something, but it could be worth your while if you help. And no worries about selling someone out, because we're looking into that guy that got himself killed a week ago. He won't mind."
21:32 <•Anastasia> "Last door down the left hall," she points with a single finger, nail several inches long. "You'll need to pick the lock, but I doubt that's a problem for your sort."
21:32 <•Anastasia> Rina gives the woman a less than thrilled look, a toss of her hair and going on without a word.
21:32 <•Anastasia> "Adventurers need useful skills," Sanda retorts back, "It's simply a matter of percentages."
21:32 <Skaya> "Did he have any guests? Leave anything with you for safekeeping?" Skaya asks, not bothered at all.
21:43 <•Anastasia> "Nothing, girlies, whatever's in his room is it." Is the answer, waving you off.
21:44 <Skaya> With a shrug, Skaya finally follows Rina to the door, where she withdraws her tools. "I'll work slowly, so let's start your training here?" she proposes.
21:46 <•Anastasia> "Let's start," Rina agrees, "Show us, Skaya.
21:46 <•Anastasia> "
21:49 <Skaya> "When it's just a regular, dilapidated place like that, first thing you do is check for any... traps, really. The process is the same as normal, out in the field, but what we're really looking for are subtle signs that there had been unauthorized entry. Scratches on the door mechanism, a torn hair-thin string tied to the door, that sort of thing. It's rarely that someone will actually outright make opening a door this way dangerous, but
21:49 <Skaya> we can often find it informative."
21:49 <Skaya> OOC: Perception 10 for 25
21:51 <Skaya> "Then, we start the process proper. I don't really have quality tools with me, always meant to pick them up so maybe we'll do a tour after this and find matched sets, but when in need a dagger would do." Skaya holds out a hand towards Rina to borrow one of her throwing weapons, before demonstrating how to maneuver the locking mechanism into compliance, working quite slowly.
21:51 <Skaya> OOC: Disable Device 10 for 22
21:53 <•Anastasia> No traps and with a bit of effort, the cheap lock is popped open. Rina listens and watches all the while, Sanda doing the same as well. Sure enough, the door is open. "I get it," Sanda says, "It reminds me a little of jewelry work, of precise little movements and cuts to achieve an endgoal."
21:54 <Skaya> "You would, you had to watch me work on unlocking the cursed ring of uselessness back then," Skaya says with a sigh. So much work, time and effort, just wasted. But at least the thief was caught! She pushes the door open, voicing, "Looks like no one came to do what we just did, or the guy inside wasn't very careful."
21:57 <•Anastasia> The door opens and inside is...next time!

[Corwin]

21:09 <•Anastasia> OOC: Devar, what's your play here?
21:10 <Devar> OOC: Let's head directly to Amaryl's temple and go from there
21:15 <•Anastasia> It's a temple. A small one with most of the property for woods, a dirt path that leads deeper in. The building itself is taller than it is wider, a slice of green amid the city. A single man stands before the entrance, clad in light chain armor and with a scruffy, five o'clock shadow sort of face. He rubs his chin as you approach, "Welcome!" he calls grandly, "Visitors are welcome here."
21:16 <Devar> "Good day." He says with a respectful nod. "We're looking for someone that may have come by here - a Risen by the name of Starre, do you know her by any chance?"
21:22 <•Anastasia> "What a strange question," The man observes, "Why would you be looking for a Risen here?"
21:23 <•Anastasia> Anne smiles ever so slightly to him, "Because there's need for a Risen." She taps her holy symbol, "And not anything else."
21:24 <Devar> Devar tilts his head slightly at his question and then glances at Anne before looking back. "It was my understanding that the Cauldron was a pantheon of like-minded deities." He adds with a smile.
21:33 <•Anastasia> OOC: Charisma check both of you, +2 bonus.
21:33 <Devar> OOC: Take 10 for 24
21:33 <•Anastasia> roll 1d20+5
21:33 <Kobot> Anastasia rolled 1d20+5 --> [ 1d20=7 ]{12}
21:41 <•Anastasia> After a long pause, "I hear Leman's Tavern has a good dinner special," He says at last, "In case you're hungry."
21:43 <Devar> He turns back to Anne. "Well, you hungry?" He asks with a bit of a smile.
21:47 <•Anastasia> "It has been a long day," Anne agrees, "I could go for something hearty. Beef sounds good, doesn't it?"
21:48 <Devar> A nod back to the keeper of the temple as he heads off with Anne. "I will say, though, all this subterfuge today is giving me a headache."
21:52 <•Anastasia> Anne doesn't respond right away. She looks up the afternoon sky, and after a few moment's pause, nods and follows you. OOC: Going there to get dinner and/or ask around, I presume?
21:53 <Devar> OOC: It's probably a little early for dinner, but hopefully they don't mind.
21:58 <•Anastasia> OOC: Okay, that's fine, Anne's hungry. She'll get fed...next time!

[Corwin]

19:08 <•Kotono> Leman's Tavern's is quite busy even before the dinner rush. The sounds of eating and drinking fill it, it's closer to a restaurant than a tavern, a ground floor establishment with a small, open back area with trees and several tables out there for the more adventurous eaters. You stroll in and see there's tables available - what's your plan here?
19:12 <Devar> Devar looks around - if there's a bar or bartender he'll approach them, otherwise he'll have a seat.
19:15 <•Kotono> There is and you get one. A man, young, with a big smile. "Hello there," he greets, "What's your pleasure?"
19:17 <Devar> "I've heard from the local temple you all serve quite the dinner special." Devar says. "I realize it's a bit early, but I was hoping we could order that?" He smiles afterwards, doing his best to look as trustworthy as possible. He does lean forward slightly so his symbol of Eldath is slightly more pronounced.
19:24 <•Kotono> "Your timing's good." He nods towards a side service door, "We're having the special upstairs tonight, it's a buffet. They'll take your money up there."
19:25 <Devar> "Of course, thank you so much." Devar says and nods to Anne. He'll heard toward the service doo!
19:25 <Devar> *door!
19:35 <•Kotono> It leads straight to a stairway. Up that stairway to a closed door, locked.
19:35 <Devar> Devar will knock politely on said locked door! He turns to Anne afterwards. "I'm not sure we should announce ourselves or not, but I guess we'll see if they open up."
19:42 <•Kotono> "Best not to risk an unnecessary fight," she murmurs back, "As privacy seems paramount."
19:43 <•Kotono> A woman's voice, quiet and half muffled by the door, "Yes?"
19:44 <Devar> "My name is Devar - I'm with a friend of mine named Anne. I believe we have a mutual topic to discuss with you regarding a certain adversary." He calls out, trying to make sure to keep his voice audible enough for the door but not shouting anything back downstairs.
19:48 <•Kotono> The door cracks open, "Enter," The woman's voice calls.
19:49 <•Kotono> "Thank you, "Anne says, but waits for you first.
19:49 <Devar> Devar nods to her and will step inside - and close door after Anne enters.
19:55 <•Kotono> It's a small apartment. Really just a plain bed, a small table - half eaten meal still there - and a single chair. The elf there has intensely blonde hair, like liquid sunshine, waist long. A breastplate, greaves and bracers are worn, and a sword is sheathed. The elf is short even for that race, notably below five feet tall. "One of Eldath's?" A quiet voice, "It's good to see some still
19:55 <•Kotono> hold to her in this country."
19:58 <Devar> Devar smiles. "It's a difficult path to follow." He says. "But so are the lives of anyone who fights evil, I think." He nods back to Anne. "You're called Starre, correct? We've reason to understand you're chasing down someone we're on the tail of too - the masked wizard in service to that ghoul the Adversary."
20:08 <•Kotono> A short, brisk nod, "I am." The elf steps back, standing near the bed. "What has he done this time?"
20:10 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@lunarnet-E011B3A9.hr.hr.cox.net)
20:10 <Devar> "I don't have all the details, but I'm here with a group - we split up to do some investigation - but the short version is he turned someone into a living explosion." Devar says. "Well, it's possible the person themselves did it, but... we know about the profane ritual he's convincing people of, and we're actually heading back to talk to the corpse to learn more about it once we're done in
20:10 <Devar> the city." Devar explains. "If you're familiar with him, would you be willing to speak to all of us about it? Perhaps we can pool our resources together."
20:18 <•Kotono> A sucked in breath, "That business at the mill was him?" the elf asks, "What do you know of him?"
20:19 <•Kotono> Anne stays back, "Asking a question for a question is poor manners. It's better to cooperate than engage in that. But in the spirit of that: He caused trouble in Laremy and we're after him, and stumbled on his latest ill workings."
20:20 <Devar> "We know he has either invisibility magic or teleportation." Devar adds. "At least in terms of being able to catch him, it will be nigh impossible unless we caught him completely off guard and knocked him out or killed him."
20:21 <Devar> "We... lost a comrade in that explosion." Devar adds solemly. "So he's become a bit of a personal target for a few of our team."
20:24 <•Kotono> "The name he goes under is Brachidos, but I don't think it's his real name," Starre begins, eyes momentarily closed. "He doesn't use it often. It's been the same sick song from Gorgeland to Altare to Eis to Laremy and now Welland, and I can't say how much it's been going on before I crossed paths with him."
20:26 <Devar> "So he's been active for a while..." Devar shakes his head. "Still, perhaps we can come up with some sort of plan if we work together - if you're willing to, of course." Devar says.
20:27 <•Kotono> "Tell me what else you know of him. Everything, "Starre insists quietly, "No matter how small."
20:31 <Devar> "Anne, were you there when Skaya met him the first time?" Devar asks. "I've only heard of him from the stories and his disgusting works."
20:36 <•Kotono> "No," Anne says, "If memory serves, it was Marken."
20:38 <Devar> Devar nods. "Then a lot of what we've got is just things we've run across that we think he's been involved in." Devar explains. "But we can bring the others back here if you're not comfortable leaving."
20:40 <•Kotono> "He knows my face and name, and he's tried to kill me before. I only got away by playing dead," With a mournful look, "It's the protection of the Heavens that I even survived the fall that I did."
20:42 <Devar> "It sounds like Lady Antenora must want to make sure you can get rid of this guy." Devar says with a bit of a smile. "We'll bring the others back and go from there."
20:56 <•Kotono> "Until then," Starre agrees, "Be careful."
20:57 <Devar> Devar nods. "You as well. I'll knock three times next time so you know it's us." He says, and with a polite nod to her and then Anne, will depart! OOC: We'll just plan to meet back up with Skaya and the others.
21:01 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, one sec on that then.

[Corwin]

19:14 <•Kotono> It's a room. A room that's been left alone, looks like. A simple room with a dresser drawer, a bed and a small table. Not much going on here, not a ton of space, either. It's a place to sleep one supposes, if you don't mind the cracked the walls.
19:19 <Skaya> "Let's check the usual," Skaya voices, proceeding into the room even as she shows Rina how she sweeps for traps along the way. "The dresser first. We'll look at the drawer, but also take it out and check for hidden drawers or anything glued or otherwise secured to the interior. Ideally, we'll find something to clue us in on what this guy's scheme was, or what angle he was working on."
19:20 <•Kotono> Rina ndos along and follows, while Sanda looks about. "Do you think hehid anything anywhere special, like under a floorboard?"
19:23 <Skaya> "It depends on how valuable it would be," Skaya muses, moving on to the bed. Checking under the mattress, prodding it and the pillow to tell if there are any unusual lumps, that sort of thing. "The floorboards are a good choice, and sometimes people hid things in the walls. Usually, the furniture is moved in such a way to block easy access, but that can backfire in places like this where the grime is measured in layers."
19:31 <•Kotono> "Why's that?" Sanda asks as you search, nothing of note in the dresser or bed.
19:31 <•Kotono> "The disturbed dust or dirt gives it away," Rina answers, "Same reason why glitterdust counters invisibility."
19:33 <Skaya> "Oh good! You saved my poor finger from a tactile demonstration, Rina," Skaya says with no small amount of gratitude. She proceeds to check the cracks in the walls. Plus, isn't there ventilation? That's a very popular hiding spot!
19:37 <•Kotono> OOC: Perception check, +5 bonus.
19:38 <Skaya> OOC: Taking 10 for 30
19:44 <•Kotono> There! You check the walls and find a part that's carefully made so if you touch it, you can gently have a square fall away. Cracks hide it, give it camouflage.
19:45 <Skaya> "Here we go," Skaya voices, waving Rina and Sanda over. "It's like a compulsion. Some people have to hide things."
19:52 <•Kotono> "I wonder what the statistics are for what's in there?" Sanda asks aloud.
19:52 <•Kotono> "So is it trapped?" Rina peers at that bit of wall.
19:53 <Skaya> "Doesn't look like it," Skaya responds, double-checking just in case before removing the square.
20:05 <•Kotono> No sign of it and there's a cut out hole in the wall. Sitting here are several things. The first is a coin bag, visibly bulging with coin. The second is a key ring with five keys on it. Next is a glass phial, resting against the back, with a blue-green liquid within. Fourth is a sheaf of papers. Last, you find a silver anklet, plain.
20:06 <•Kotono> Sanda whistles, "We found treasure!"
20:06 <Skaya> "Can you check for magic, treasure girl?"
20:08 <•Kotono> With a smile Sanda does just that, "Probably a potion," she points out, "Anklet's both cute and magical."
20:08 <•Kotono> Rina eyes it and shakes her head, "Which means it's worth more than just acheap silver jewelry."
20:09 <Skaya> "Try to identify it?" Skaya offers, picking the anklet up.
20:10 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+11
20:10 <•Kotono> OOC: One moment.
20:10 → Kobot joined (~dunefar@lunarnet-E011B3A9.hr.hr.cox.net)
20:10 <•Kotono> roll 1d20+11
20:10 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d20+11 --> [ 1d20=2 ]{13}
20:11 <•Kotono> After a few minutes, "No, I'll need better magic," she says, a note of annoyance in her words.
20:12 <Skaya> "I'll try tomorrow morning, then," Skaya muses, putting the magical loot away. Next is the money bag, which she searches for a ring similar to what the previous associate of the masked wizard had hidden.
20:19 <•Kotono> Nothing like that. It is stuffed full of platinum coins, however, and not mere gold or silver.
20:21 <•Kotono> Rina picks one of the coins up, "Local mintage," she says, "I was wondering if we'd see coins from Laremy the way this is going."
20:21 <Skaya> "Huh. Let's take a look at the documents," Skaya says, pocketing the coins and the keys.
20:26 <•Kotono> The documents look to be written in some sort of code, and that aside, looks to be some sort of bookkeeping.
20:28 <Skaya> "Code, huh," Skaya mutters in disappointment. "And without proper context, it'd be hard to break down. Let's ask the owner if she recognizes what the keys might open?"
20:29 <•Kotono> The owner gives you a look, "Now that you mention it, he did mention a storage building somewhere. Named...named...Red something." Is the answer. "Somewhere in town."
20:32 <Skaya> "Thanks," Skaya tells her, tipping with a gold coin. For now, they can gather some information of the storage facilities available in town. Just how many can there be? They can take a look at all those starting with Red.
20:35 <•Kotono> OOC: GI function of Diplo real quick.
20:40 <Skaya> OOC: Take 10 for 20
20:42 <•Kotono> roll 1d100+40
20:42 <Kobot> Kotono rolled 1d100+40 --> [ 1d100=7 ]{47}
20:43 <•Kotono> You ask around a little while. Eventually, an errand boy you ask stops, holding a package under arm. "Yeah, I know one. Redder Hold. It's on Calmwater Street."
20:43 <•Kotono> Sanda smiles at that, "You have a good memory, child."
20:46 <Skaya> "Give us instructions?" Skaya requests, a silver coin appears between her finger from one moment to the next. Using gold here would just paint a target on the kid, probably.
20:56 <•Kotono> You quickly get instructions, the kid's eyes on the coin the entire time.
20:58 — Skaya flicks her fingers, and it disappears in a display of sleight of hand. The kid spots it in his hands a moment later, though. "Thanks! We won't keep you from your work, then. Have a nice day~"
21:01 <•Kotono> "Thanks, lady!" The kid goes off, one coin richer. Rina almost smiles a moment before, "Think it's anything important there, honestly?"
21:02 <Skaya> "A clue, I'm hopeful. Something to help break the code. Let's take a quick look?"
21:04 <•Kotono> Redder Hold is in mid city, a small building amid several others. Looks normal to you, a storage building with a locked front door and not much else to be seen from the outside.
21:05 <Skaya> OOC: Is it basically a private warehouse/locker, or a whole facility of them which is itself currently locked?
21:09 <•Kotono> OOC: First, just one building of many on the street.
21:11 <Skaya> They don't have that many keys, so Skaya will try to find the right one to open the storage unit!
21:14 <•Kotono> The fourth key does the job. Rina perks up at that and Sanda says, "Now I wonder what's inside?"
21:14 — Skaya opens the door and checks!
21:24 <•Kotono> It's full of junk on a glance. Some old lumber, several barrels full of what looks to be random scrap, broken down old furniture, several wagon wheels, a pile of old tiles, that sort of thing. Just on a glance, it's one big open floorplan and there's a lot of junk about.
21:26 — Skaya decides to search it for anything that is hidden behind all the junk.
21:27 <•Kotono> OOC: Perception. Rina and Sanda will aid for +4.
21:29 <Skaya> roll 1d20+19
21:29 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+19 --> [ 1d20=18 ]{37}
21:30 <•Kotono> It takes some doing, but you find a trap door, hidden beneath that pile of old tiles. It has a lock on it, too.
21:30 <•Kotono> "Well well," Sanda says, lowly, "We might have more after all!"
21:31 <Skaya> "How complicated," Skaya mutters, first checking if one of the other keys opens it.
21:39 <•Kotono> It does, another key down and used. "A hidden wall cache and now this. I'mw ondering if he got killed for being annoying."
21:40 <Skaya> "I'm worried that there are still unused keys," Skaya voices, checking properly for traps before opening the trap door.
21:41 <•Kotono> No traps. Inside the trapdoor is short drop going down, a ladder to come back up. At the bottom is a locked door, "Key number three," Sanda predicts, "Statistically speaking, I'm guessing a locked chest or such for the last."
21:42 <Skaya> At this point, Skaya just routinely checks everything is as safe as she can ensure before opening the lock.
21:44 <•Kotono> Safe as can be, and with a pop the third lock is undone. It's a small room with a long, low chest, indeed with a yet another lock on it.
21:45 <Skaya> "I cannot imagine why one would do this," Skaya admits, giving the room a cursory check just in case it holds something aside from the obvious chest.
21:45 <Skaya> roll 1d20+15
21:45 <Kobot> Skaya rolled 1d20+15 --> [ 1d20=15 ]{30}
21:47 <•Kotono> No traps. Sure enough, the last key opens it. Within is - ! 30something heavy bars of gold are here, stacked up neatly, and each one with a leaf imprint on the center-top of them.
21:48 <•Kotono> Sanda stares, "...oh. So that's why he was killed," she says in a shaky voice. "For a small fortune.
21:48 <•Kotono> "
21:49 <Skaya> "That's a lot," Skaya agrees, still making sure to check if there's anything at the bottom of the chest beneath all that gold.
21:49 <Skaya> OOC: Does it seem possible for us to bring it out and to our inn?
21:52 <•Kotono> Nothing like that, just the gold. Weightwise no, it's simply too much weight to carry.These are big, heavy bars.
21:53 <Skaya> With a sigh, Skaya deposits the stores of water and food she's brought in her haversack before starting to fill it with the golden bars. Since no other method would work, she'll need to resort to magic and collect the mundane things later.
21:56 <•Kotono> Done and done. You're now much richer in gold bars. Now what?
21:56 <Skaya> "Guess this is a dead end, overall," Skaya muses. "Let's regroup for now?"

[Corwin]

21:59 <•Kotono> Thus everyone gathers together and...OOC: Go ahea dand chat you two, need to get up a sec so go ahead and get coordinating done with real quick.
22:00 <Skaya> "So we found a series of leads that resulted in us finding a small fortune in gold belonging to the victim," Skaya says once they've gathered back in one of their inn rooms. "Here's one."
22:03 <Devar> "Oh wow." Devar says. "I've got a Haversack if you need another one to collect the stuff if you don't want all of us going together. We did fine Starre - apparently our friend goes by the name Brachidos, but she doesn't think it's his real name. I told her we'd meet back up with her after to share information since you've had dealings with that guy directly, in a fashion."
22:04 <Skaya> "I did tell you guys all I saw," Skaya says with a sigh. "Brachidos, huh? So does Starre want to team up for this?"
22:05 <Devar> "I'm hoping to get her on-board with the idea." Devar says. "But she seems cautious to want to go out, I guess the guy's made some attempts on her before."
22:06 <•Kotono> "That much?" Anne marvels, "What does it have to do with anything? I didn't get the impression he's after money at all."
22:07 — Skaya thinks back to whether there remained an unused key in the ring.
22:08 <•Kotono> There was not.
22:10 <Skaya> "No idea, so let's just move past this. We could try to toss the storage unit he had rented, in case something mundane was overlooked, but other than that let's just decide on a plan together with Starre."
22:10 <Devar> "It sounds like we might be able to at least get better equipped to track the guy down, if nothing else." Devar says. "But yes, I'm with you on figuring out a plan."
22:13 <•Kotono> OOC: Okay, in that case heading on over then?
22:14 <Skaya> OOC: Sure
22:19 <Devar> OOC: If you need my input too then also yes, sorry
22:20 <•Kotono> OOC: No, I awas a sec, but we're considerably over anyway, so we'll hit here Thursday.