Logs

[:<]

Session 1

[05:46] <[DM]> Late afternoon in Thornston was quiet, especially down by the town hall, where visitors and vagabonds of all sorts were supposed to register their name and purpose. Judging by the lack of a clerk, they didn't care enough to make sure, only a bit of parchment, a quill and several crudely drawn pictures of wolves nailed to the wall with illegible writing.
[05:51] <Lien> Lien leans on her walking stick in front of the parchment, staring at the picture of wolves and lack of a clerk with confusion. The dialect here is hard enough to read without people writing in a terrible hand.
[05:52] <Lien> She turns around to poke the next best passerby and ask, "Hey, sorry, what exactly am I supposed to do here?"
[05:59] <Zeni> Zeni was standing there just as confused as the monk, arms folded and glaring at the parchment as she attempted to make sense of the setup.  Upon being poked, she annoyedly shifts her glare to the monk and quickly attempts to give her a little shove, "W-Watch who you're shoving, oaf!  Obviously you just sign the paper and let these dumb yokels know who you are, you could probably name yourself "Francis Underpantsis" and they'd believe you.  Now hurry up already!!  Then go hunt those big dumb wolves if that's what you're into, orsomething."  The young lady huffs, refolds her arms and glares anew, seemingly waiting for the monk to sign first.
[06:00] <Lien> "But how are they going to know if there's nobody here to read the thing?"
[06:01] <Zeni> "Magic.  Now stop staring at me and sign, dumby!"
[06:01] <Ellis> Ellis blinks owlishly. Has this person been living under a rock? She coughs, cutting into the conversation. "They don't really...care enough to check."
[06:02] <[DM]> Zeni could hear a snigger as a farmer hurries out of the town hall to his cart outside.
[06:02] <Lien> "So which is it? Why would they put it there if they don't care?"
[06:03] <[DM]> Lien, after long dedicated squinting, could make out something about sundown and solid doors.
[06:04] <[DM]> It seems wolves attack after dark, even all the way here in town.
[06:05] <Zeni> Zeni shifts a bit uncomfortably, flicking a twin-tail over her shoulder and glaring the farmer's direction.  "Sign, siiign and let's be on our way."
[06:06] <[DM]> Zeni, meanwhile, manages to decipher it entirely(possibly due to it's resemblance to her own writing), 'Wolves attack after dark. Travelers, seek shelter behind stout doors and barred windows. There is a bounty of one silver apiece for each wolf head, payable at the town hall.'
[06:07] <Lien> "Fine, fine." Lien scrawls her name, hesitates a little, and adds 'bugs research' for her reason to be here in a hand just as illegible as the warning about wolves and steps aside. "What's this about wolves? They come all the way into town?"
[06:09] <Ellis> "Wolves?" Ellis leans over Lien's shoulder, peering at the notice (and incidentally the newcomer's signature).
[06:13] <Lien> "It says... something about wolves and doors. Can't read any more than that."
[06:15] <Zeni> As soon as Lien had finished, Zeni butted her way in, nudging and trying to shove the monk once more as she takes up the quill.  As soon as she was succesful, Zeni would scrawl out "Zenithar Rankwitz" in as fancy of print as she could muster; which happened to be pretty damn fancy.  She follows it with a quick sketch of a seal, an observant one might recognize it as the seal adorning her signet ring, followed by the purpose of "Passing through."  "It seems the towns people think they have a wolf problem that follows them well into town, if we could avail them of these 'wolves' we could earn some silver.  Psh, silver~"  Zeni huffs once more and takes a couple of steps away, turning her attention back to the creepy farmer if he was still in sight.
[06:17] <[DM]> The farmer was indeed still in sight, his donkey doesn't seem very fast as the cart trundles away. He could probably walk faster than that.
[06:18] <Lien> "Huh. Where I come from the wolves just leave us alone."
[06:19] <Ellis> Ellis takes the quill from Zeni, grimaces at her partner's ornate and highly visible signature, then scrawls something illegible on the list. "Well, it sounds nicer than this place. Maybe they think killing a few wolves will convince the rest to leave."
[06:25] <[DM]> Mulling over the wolves, Zeni is perplexed, given that wolves don't attack settlements of this size, not without something commanding them, being driven out of their territory, or starving.
[06:30] <Lien> "So do you two know any bigger towns around here? Where I could find sages or the like? You seem like you know this kind of place."
[06:31] <Zeni> Zeni seems to stare into space in the general direction of the creepy farmer as she mulls over the wolves thing a bit more, giving the yokels the benefit of doubt that there were actual wolves invading the town.  "Hmr...  If we assume these slacked jawed people aren't blind, and that there are wolves attacking at night, then perhaps there's something controlling them.  Or they're just being driven out of their territory and starving, who knows, dumb canines~  Regardless, the sign tells us to get behind doors, so I suppose I'm off to do so."
[06:34] <Ellis> "Don't stare, Zeni." Ellis mulls it over, adjusting her glasses absently. "Hmm. You know, there might be some money in staying out of doors for a bit."
[06:37] <Zeni> The lithe little woman glares at Lien once more, "What constitutes a 'sage' to you?  I could probably convince you I was one by just ratlling off random verbage from my spell book.  Regardless, head for Lach if you need a sage, Iguess.  Not somewhere I'll be heading anytime soon, so tata."
[06:37] <Lien> "Lach, huh. Alright. ...Where is that from here?"
[06:38] <Zeni> Zeni spins in place to look up at Ellis, folding her arms, "It's only silver!  You can stay out and play with the puppies if you wish, I have to get back to figuring out a good way out of this backwater town, so I'm heading for the tavern."
[06:39] <Lien> "Well, it's not like it's sundown for a while yet..."
[06:41] <Zeni> "Lach is to the west, you could probably walk there just fine, just watch out for a deranged and scarred up axe murdery guy," the little sorceress offers as she starts to step off towards the tavern.
[06:42] <Lien> "What."
[06:43] <Ellis> "Normally I'd tell you to ignore her, but...that one's actually true." Ellis pulls a face. "Bit of a jerk. The axe murderer, not Zeni."
[06:44] <Lien> "Well, okay. Thanks. You two are strange." Lien nods and decides to follow them around anyway. They seem like they know what they're doing. To a degree.
[06:46] <[DM]> The nearest tavern is a grimy looking place, the only sign hanging in front is a rather well done picture of a drunk looking tree.
[06:49] <[DM]> The inside is packed with more farmers, including Mr Raisin from before, settled in and the whiff of their animals crowded into the stables permeating the place, waging a war with the cheap beer.
[06:49] <[DM]> The babbling of background conversations quiets slightly as the three outsiders enter, then resume after a moment.
[06:50] <Ellis> If Ellis wonders why the woods person is following her into the bar, she doesn't say anything about it. Sure, her eyes flick around to check the room for weapons and escape routes, but that's perfectly normal for her.
[06:50] <Zeni> Zeni stands there outside, tapping her foot and glaring at the place in disapproval.  "... Surely there's another tavern, one in which I wont have to share a table with goats.  Surely."
[06:51] <Lien> Lien, on the other hand, doesn't seem to think much of it and instead just asks the innkeep straight, "How much for a room?"
[06:56] <[DM]> "Eh? We be full up on rooms girl, with them monsters out there. One copper to bed down in the common room, three for drink and a meal." The bored looking man doesn't give her much more than a glance as he wipes the counter with a dirty rag.
[06:56] <Ellis> Nothing out of the ordinary here, apart from a strong smell of sheep wool. Ellis finds a seat somewhere that's not too objectionable and makes herself comfortable, idly pulling out a deck of cards and shuffling.
[06:58] <Lien> "Well, sure." How much worse than sleeping in the forest could it be to sleep among people again for a change? "I'll have that meal too."
[06:59] <[DM]> "Weellll, if you sleep in the forest hereabouts you'd be waking up as supper for them beasties outside." Lien only has to wait a moment before a mug of beer, a large bowl of stew and a large piece of rock hard bread is delivered.
[07:01] <Zeni> With great hesitance, Zeni eventually follows Ellis in, sidestepping around some sheep as she makes her way over to the woman, ending up having to sit a bit too close to her to avoid the neighboring goat.  "O-Oof... We really can't go find a different tavern?" she questions with a huff, re-folding her arms and not looking comfortable at all.
[07:02] <Lien> Lien figures if you were really set on sleeping outside, you could just find a tree. But the floor of the common room would be more comfortable, she bets. So she digs into the stew and looks around with some interest.
[07:03] <Ellis> "Do you think this place has a second tavern? We wouldn't make another town before nightfall, either, so it's the sheep or the wolves." Ellis shrugs, dealing herself a game of solitaire.
[07:04] <[DM]> After a moment of shuffling, Mr Raisinface scoots over to Ellis's table with a grin, "You fancy some betting or you just like playing with yourself?"
[07:05] <Ellis> Ellis gives Raisinface a small smile. "I could be tempted to play a few hands, Mister..."
[07:06] <[DM]> "Petaf's the name. I turn shit into wheat."
[07:07] <Ellis> "Most people can only manage the other way round." Ellis scoops her cards up. "What'll you play?"
[07:08] <[DM]> He puts a couple of coppers on the table, "Blackjack?"
[07:09] <Zeni> Zeni just seems all the more disgusted with this man's arrival, scooching a bit closer to Ellis almost as if she wanted to hide behind her.  Late, but.
[07:11] <Ellis> Ellis, for her part, shifts to accomodate Zeni, dealing a few cards out. "Works for me."
[07:12] <[DM]> Playing a few hands winds up with Ellis richer by three coppers, most of them going back and forth, "So, what're you city girls doing out here in the boonies?"
[07:15] <Ellis> Ellis scoops up her meager winnings, stacking them in front of her. "I'm just passing through. Must have picked a bad time with the wolves, though."
[07:17] <Zeni> Zeni merely answers the man with a brief glare before averting her gaze and happening to look in Lien's general direction.
[07:17] <[DM]> *Ptui*,He spits to the side, "It's been two months, the lord hadn't sent anyone to clean out the animals. Figure he won't care until the wolves eat the taxman."
[07:21] <Ellis> Ellis nods sympathetically. Bureaucrats like their safety. "Well, come nightfall I might take a crack at them. Could use the money, and I'm not playing well enough to bring in much more than room and board today."
[07:22] <Lien> Lien has been digging into the cheap food and booze before piping up. "I'm kind of curious too. Been a while since I've heard of wolves actually attacking humans."
[07:22] <[DM]> "Well, if you want to take your chances." He pops out one silver coin, "Care to gamble on this?"
[07:25] <Ellis> Ellis mulls it over. "Hmm. I suppose I can risk it. Time to kill and all that." She shuffles the cards together with a decisive snap. "More blackjack, then?"
[07:26] <[DM]> "You're on."
[07:27] <Zeni> Zeni didn't seem any more interested even with the raised stakes, the girl just boredly staring at the cards and coins as she restlessly waited.
[07:32] <[DM]> The silver coin goes across the table, Ellis and Zeni noticing the coin is scratched with the shape of a sword, to some dismay on the farmer's part, as he retrieves his remaining coppers, "Well, ladies, I can't afford to keep losing at this rate. You're gonna need that luck."
[07:35] <Ellis> Ellis makes a sympathetic noise. "Understandable. Better luck next time, Mr. Petaf."
[07:36] <Ellis> She glances over at Lien. "I'd have pegged you for someone who'd know what the deal was with the wolves. I'm not an outdoors person."
[07:37] <[DM]> Something clicks to Zeni, wolves acting strangely, and now the coin. Werewolf. Only magic or silvered weapons work on them, and they're still dangerous even if you had silver.
[07:37] <Zeni> Zeni snatches up the silver coin without asking, ignoring the smaller coins as she drags it across the table and begins to polish it with a napkin, eyeing the scratches curiously.
[07:37] <[DM]> The best way was really to burn them. At long range.
[07:37] <Lien> Lien shrugs. "Back home, they've learned humans aren't edible."
[07:40] <Ellis> "And you taught them?" Ellis ignores Zeni taking her hard-earned winnings.
[07:41] <Lien> "Well, not me personally. But yeah."
[07:44] <Ellis> Ellis leans over and taps the coin Zeni's playing with. "Look. Marked up. Any thoughts?" she murmurs quietly.
[07:51] <Zeni> Zeni stares back and forth between the coin and the departing man's back for some while, till he disappears.  She then looks up to Ellis, letting out a familiar little hum as she subtley casts her 'message' spell, gesturing with one hand beneath the table as the other taps her arcane focus, "Seems Raisinface offered us a clue.  Wolves.  Werewolves.  Seems we should be spending this silver by tipping some of your bolts, though I should be able to burn down such things easily enough.  Perhaps we can trick that oaf into being our meat shield, just in case.  Also, Raisinface... Did you see anything odd about him?  A farmer yokel, throwing us a clue like this... suspicious.  Could be a trap."
[07:55] <Ellis> Ellis collects her cards while listening to the whispered message, replying in kind once she's finished. "That explains the signs. Dangerous, sure, but no problem if we get some help. The farmer's a bit odd, though. Watch out for him."
[08:00] <Ellis> She turns to Lien again, curiosity evident in her voice. "You can handle yourself, then? Interested in giving us a hand with the wolves this evening?"
[08:01] <Lien> Lien shrugs. "If all else fails, I can climb and wolves can't. Sure."
[08:03] <Ellis> "That was...easier than I expected." Ellis blinks again, then stands, brushing herself off. "We should get ready to handle that, then."
[08:03] <Zeni> Zeni gently applies a foot to the neighboring goat's face to nudge it away before standing herself up, "Before any of that we should acquire lodging, and the silly oaf can sleep here if she so desires but I'm not even remotely ready to tolerate such a thing.  Let's find the local merchant."
[08:06] <Ellis> Ellis shoots Lien a what-can-you-do look. "I expect you'd rather be called by your own name than Zeni's."
[08:07] <Lien> "Yes, please don't call me oaf. I'm Lien."
[08:09] <Ellis> Ellis nods politely, offering her hand. "Ellis. A pleasure."
[08:10] <Lien> Lien takes the hand with a strong honest-person shake
[08:14] <[DM]> It is a relief to be quit of the rather animal-smelling tavern, and headed for merchant Goodsky's mansion, a gloomy building looming a good man's height above any other structure in town, complete with an actual man high stone wall.
[08:15] <[DM]> The gate is manned by a single guard, a young man with a serious pimple problem and a spear. Unlike everyone else in the town, he looks somewhat attentive.
[08:20] <Zeni> Zeni seems quite a bit happier now, seemingly already imagining herself owning the place as she strolls up to the guard... immediately recoiling upon seeing his pimple problem.  She quickly recovers her composure and stands tall before the guard, well, as tall as a quite young half-elf could, anyway.  "Open up the gate already, I have business with our good merchant!" the girl demands with a smile, nonchalantly flashing her signet ring as if assuming the guard knew precisely what it was.
[08:22] <[DM]> He apparently fails to recognize the ring, but snaps to attention, "Allow me to tell Master Goodsky, Lady...?"
[08:26] <Zeni> The little half-elf feigns offense as she glares at the guard, "I am Zenithar Rankwitz, Envoy of the Count of Lach! You will open that gate immediately and trouble me no further!"
[08:28] <[DM]> The young man salutes, "My apologies Lady Rankwitz, I will announce you to Master Goodsky immediately!"
[08:28] <[DM]> He runs inside.
[08:29] <Zeni> Zeni grins victoriously as she spins around to face her two companions, "Not bad, eh?  Uhu, more of that to come!  We'll practically own this place, soon enough."
[08:31] <[DM]> After about fifteen minutes of waiting later, a lean, heavily bearded man in rich clothing walks up to the gate, the pimply guard from before opening it as he passed, "Lady Rankwitz?"
[08:35] <Ellis> While Zeni is wrapping the merchant around her little finger, Ellis murmurs into Lien's ear. "I should mention there's likely to be a werewolf, if that changes your mind. We've got silver and fire, for what that's worth."
[08:39] <Zeni> Zeni taps her foot even as the man approaches, as impatient as ever.  "Count Richeyvic of Lach is demanding a favor of you, Merchant.  It would be unwise to decline," Zeni insists as she hands the man the parchment with the hand wearing the signet ring.  "We require room and board for the week, though we are unlikely to stay quite that long."
[08:39] <Lien> "Huh. That puts a bit of a stick in the climbing, I guess. But it's still three on one if we can separate it from the other wolves, right? Lone wolf isn't as much of a threat."
[08:42] <Ellis> Ellis nods approvingly. "It can only go after one of us at a time. Then the rest of us can shoot it, or set it on fire, or however it is you fight."
[08:42] <[DM]> "Oh of course, I would be pleased to be of assistance to the Count. Please, enter. I'm afraid that dinner would be lacking however."
[08:46] <Lien> "I just hit things with sticks when I have to."
[08:48] <Ellis> Ellis considers that new piece of information. "Well, if that works for you, that works for you. You're still alive, at any rate."
[08:49] <Zeni> "Then we shall, Merchant Gudskee.  A pleasure meeting you," Zeni replies with a rather unpracticed curtsy before stepping past the man and his guard, grinning as she steps into the warm abode.  "Yess... This shall do quite nicely.  Dinner can lack with such short notice, we'll manage somehow."  Zeni gestures for her companions to follow, making her way for the living room and fireplace.
[08:50] <[DM]> "Merchant Goodsky, Lady Rankwitz. I shall assign a maid to service you and show you to your rooms. Now I must take my leave, there is some urgent business."
[08:54] <[DM]> Zeni gets the feeling the merchant really is in a rush. Lien however, gets a sense of barely restrained lust. Okaayyy
[08:54] <Zeni> Zeni seems to think twice, possibly three times before finally replying, "So be it.  Have a pleasant evening, Merchant Goodski~," Zeni murmurs as she stumbles towards the fireplace, half dropping her facade before flopping into the comfiest seat there.  So noble.
[08:55] <Lien> Lien raises an eyebrow and waits for Goodsky to leave before looking at Zeni. "I wouldn't sleep here with the door unlocked if I were you."
[08:58] <Zeni> "What was that, oaf~? I can't hear you over how good this feeeels~" Zeni murmurs out with a yawn as she sprawls in her oversized loveseat, taking up allll da space.  "You can start thanking me any minute now by massaging my feet, uuuu, a lady really shouldn't be made to walk this far in one daaay!"
[08:58] <Lien> "He was practically hunched over the whole time. I think he likes you."
[08:59] <[DM]> As Goodsky takes his leave, Lien notices an oddity with some of the doors they passed on the way to the guest hall. Some of the smaller doors are incredibly well made, and an examination shows them to hold no more than some cleaning materials, in a space only big enough for one person, and a heavy bolt on the inside.
[09:00] <Zeni> "You would think such strange things... Nevermind the massaging, I don't even want you touching me, weirdo."
[09:01] <Lien> "Also. Did anyone else notice those closet doors looking like they could stand up to a ram?"
[09:02] <Ellis> Ellis curses inwardly. "If that means what I think it means..."
[09:04] <Lien> A beat passes. "Then what? It's weird, but I don't really get it."
[09:04] <Zeni> ... You couldn't lift Zeni from her focus on relaxation with a forklift at this point, let alone with mere theory crafting.  "Shush, simpletons, you're just trying to bend facts to fit your narrative, relax already~"
[09:06] <Ellis> "It's a bit hard to relax in a werewolf's house."
[09:07] <Lien> "...Oh. Right."
[09:07] <Ellis> Reflexively, Ellis checks to make sure her crossbows are still there.
[09:08] <[DM]> They are.
[09:10] <Zeni> Zeni growls at that, sitting up and glaring at Ellis, "Fine.  You did it.  You ruined it.  I got us into this amazing place so that we can fiiiinally relax after being on the road with you for a week and you've gone and ruined it."  The hauty little half-elf stands herself up and straightens out her clothes, "The maid should be here any minute, we can interrogate her when she does, then you dumbies will have to relax if we can't get anything out of her."
[09:10] <Lien> "Well, if it's true, that might not be so bad... It's close quarters and away from the actual wolves, and all."
[09:10] <[DM]> After a long moment, a young girl in a maid's uniform opens the door, "Lady Rankwitz and companions? Your room and baths are ready, and dinner will be served in the dining room as soon as you wish."
[09:11] <Zeni> "Speakofthedevil.  Maidy girl, come over here~" she gestures to a seat right beside her.
[09:11] <[DM]> "I wouldn't dare, Mistress." She remains stiffly at attention.
[09:12] <Ellis> "Yes. I ruined it. Hooray for me." Ellis's voice is dry.
[09:12] <Zeni> "That wasn't a suggestion.  Come, sit."  Zeni sharpens her gaze and points a little more insistantly.
[09:15] <[DM]> "I dare not, Mistress."
[09:17] <Lien> "She's scared of the boss, huh?"
[09:22] <Zeni> "A little too scared, were he but a man."  Zeni takes a few steps around the sofa and towards the girl, glaring.  She quickly incants a spell, poorly attempting to hide her gestures as she casts an illusion, the door behind the maid suddenly bursting into flames.  "I don't think you realize what you're dealing with... but we can be a lot scarier than your boss.  Come clean with us, now."
[09:24] <[DM]> The maid drops to her knees and starts bawling.
[09:25] <Lien> "Whoa, what?"
[09:25] <Ellis> "Oh, god."
[09:26] <Zeni> "A-Aha... Okay, g-good girl."  Zeni drops the illusion and steps up to the girl, patting her on the head, "There, there!  No fire, see?  I mean it totally could've been real fire, I could totally burn this whole place down on a whim!  But no flamey flames now, so talk with us."
[09:28] <Zeni> "What are those doors for, over there?" Zeni gestures, continuing to pat the girl despite probably looking about the same age as her.
[09:30] <[DM]> She doesn't really calm down, just quivering where she sits, "After sunset. *sniff*, we must stay inside. Or bad things happen."
[09:31] <Zeni> "Baaad things as in the boss reprimands you, or bad things as in wolfy things and stuff?"
[09:32] <[DM]> "Blood. Blood everywhere. Must clean."
[09:34] <Zeni> "... Alright, I think that's enough for now.  Perhaps you should go head into your little closet now, sweetie."  Zeni tosses the scratched up coin to Ellis, "And perhaps you should get smelting that over the fireplace?  I don't know what the oaf should do, punch them with a fist full of silvers?"
[09:35] <[DM]> The maid staggers over into the closet and locks herself in.  They could still hear the sobs.
[09:36] <Ellis> Ellis heaves the sigh to end all sighs, catching the coin. "Perhaps nail the coin to one end of your walking stick?"
[09:36] <Lien> Lien vaguely tries to console the girl somehow, most likely ineffectually, and gives up after she's locked in. "I was going to nail a- yeah that."
[09:37] <Zeni> "Well, get to it~" Zeni cracks her knuckles as she steps back over to her loveseat and relaxes back into it.  "Let me know if you need me to stoke the flames, till then I'll just be relaxing~"
[09:37] <[DM]> Lien's efforts gets little change in the noises.
[09:43] <Ellis> Ellis sets about melting some of her silver without bothering to ask Zeni for contributions, then carefully silvers the tips of some of her crossbow bolts.
[09:46] <Ellis> "Help me with your staff?" she asks Lien, not looking up from the procedure.
[09:46] <Lien> "Sure. What do I do?"
[09:48] <Ellis> "The trick is to not set it on fire. Just a thin even coating on the striking surfaces will do it. I'll keep the metal hot, you apply it evenly."
[09:49] <Lien> "Okay." Lien doesn't have a clue what she's doing, so she just sticks it in and moves it around at Ellis's say-so.
[09:50] <[DM]> It was hit and miss for a moment, but after a while the bolts, and Lein's staff are coated with silver, though a very thin layer of it, something good for a few fights before it wears off.
[09:52] <[DM]> Outside, as they silver the weapons, the skies dim and howling rises to the sky.
[09:52] <[DM]> Odd, there's quite a lot of howls nearby....

[:<]

Session 2

[05:23:21] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------------
[05:26:54] <[DM]> Wolves howling shatter the peace of the evening, even as Alyssa rushes for the mansion, the old farmer Petaf's plea to get his granddaughter out of that den of wolves.
[05:28:05] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves at a supernatural pace, wisps of shadow gathering and solidifying around her like armor that happens to disguise her traveller's outfit as well.
[05:28:30] <Alyssa> Muttering an incantation, a rapier of pure whiteness materializes in the air and into Alyssa's hands.
[05:28:43] <[DM]> The manor's walls are only  slightly more than head level, though a dense layer of shurbbery surrounds the foot of the walls, save for the cleared area around the sealed gatehouse.
[05:30:04] <Alyssa> Looking at the locked gate, Alyssa looks around to see if she's alone.
[05:31:26] <[DM]> There is some movement in the gatehouse, but nobody emerges to challenge her. Sensible, with the wolves howling so close by.
[05:32:38] <Alyssa> Stepping further away from the gatehouse, Alyssa attempts to climb the wall.
[05:34:52] <[DM]> Finding a foothold in a bit of cracked mortar, Alyssa vaults the wall in mere moments, landing on the opposite side in some kind of garden.
[05:38:15] <[DM]> Abruptly, a wolf lunges out of the foliage, leaping for Alyssa's, followed by a second, with a spine chilling howl.
[05:42:32] <[DM]> Toppling her  with a smash, the two beasts rip into her prone form.
[05:43:38] <Alyssa> A wild swing of her rapier gives her a breather to kick herself upright. Alyssa aims for the first wolf and stabs at it.
[05:45:26] <[DM]> The wolf does not like it  at all! It flees back into the bushes while it's companion growls, then leaps for Alyssa again.
[05:47:56] <Alyssa> A quick step in finishes off the escaping wolf before it could fully turn back and flee.
[05:48:56] <Alyssa> Pivoting on her feet, ignoring the burning sensation of the bite and claw wounds on her body, Alyssa swipes at the other wolf across the eyes.
[05:50:18] <[DM]> The remaining wolf snarls as it dances out of the way of Alyssa's swipe, then lunges again.
[05:50:50] <Alyssa> Alyssa sidesteps, recovering her breath and making another stab.
[05:51:56] <[DM]> The stab goes wild, scattering leaves as the animal attacks wildly.
[05:54:25] <Alyssa> Alyssa feels faint from the blood loss, to think that attempting to save someone's family meant that her journey would end prematurely? Summoning that frustration, Alyssa lunges with all her might.
[05:56:31] <Alyssa> Missing, Alyssa spies a nearby tree of a very good height. Grinning, she disappears in a puff of silvery mist and reappears on the tree.
[05:58:03] <[DM]> The wolf paws the dirt, sniffing the air as it looks for the vanished girl.
[05:58:25] <Alyssa> Channeling eldritch energy into her hand, Alyssa fires the energy at the wolf.
[06:00:26] <[DM]> The blast skims off the wolf, which glares balefully at her up the tree.
[06:00:34] <[DM]> It howls.
[06:01:17] <[DM]> -----------------------------------------------------------
[06:02:22] <[DM]> Inside, weapons freshly silvered, the trio could hear howling across the courtyard, as well as the odd thunk and rustle of fighting.
[06:03:42] <[DM]> Lien additionally, could hear faint sniffing in the corridor outside...and a distressing lack of torchlight outside the room.
[06:04:36] <Lien> Lien's head snaps around. "Wolf right outside. Carry a torch, please."
[06:08:06] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, "Oh, right.  Silly humans can't see in the dark."  She tippy toes up to a sconce and brings down the torch, stepping up beside Elissa, "I'm not walking in there first though.  The oaf gets that duty.  I suppose I could send some flame ahead, but I'm not sure we want to burn this place down just yet."
[06:10:31] <Lien> On that cue, Lien throws the door open.
[06:11:42] <[DM]> The corridor is filled by a big fuckoff wolf, and two smaller ones. That's not good.
[06:13:47] <Ellis> Ellis immediately fires two shots past her new traveling companion's ear straight at the most terrifying threat.
[06:17:29] <Ellis> Taking up a firing stance in front of Zeni, she reloads two more of the newly silvered bolts.
[06:17:41] <[DM]> Both bolts sink in, one an inch short of it's huge eyes. and another scraping past it's big teeth.
[06:19:48] <[DM]> It looks like it's reconsidering this whole eating humans thing.
[06:21:27] <Zeni> Zeni scooches ever so slightly more behind Ellis before raising her hand and totally incanting a kickin rad spell, centered on the small wolves!
[06:23:38] <[DM]> One of the beasts topple over quietly with a snore.
[06:26:19] <Lien> As one of the smaller wolves drops, Lien sidesteps to smack the other upside the head with her stick, followed by a straight knee to the snout before retreating a step back into the room with her staff ready for defense.
[06:27:52] <[DM]> Lien's blow cracks the wolf's skull in a single smash, and her follow up kick drives bone fragments through it's brains.
[06:30:24] <[DM]> The larger wolf crouches low as a deep rumble fills the corridor at the death of it's companion.
[06:35:27] <Ellis> Ellis squints through her glasses. Ignoring the sleeping wolf to focus on its larger companion, she aims for the last pair of shots she sunk into its face.
[06:36:34] <[DM]> The wolf ducks and snaps one of the bolts out of the air, spitting it out with a huff.
[06:40:10] <Lien> Before Zeni moves, Lien jabs at the wolf's snout, then makes as if to slam the door in its face, but actually moves out of the way for Zeni to do... some magic thing! She can do that, right?
[06:42:49] <Zeni> Zeni immediately does so the very moment Lien steps back out of the way, raising her right hand high and forming a small flaming spear in her palm, which she then throws!  She's also not a kindergartner like Mami, so she doesn't name her spell.
[06:43:25] <[DM]> The bolt skitters across the big wolf's head, leaving a fetching burnscar.
[06:43:36] <[DM]> Then it charges.
[06:45:34] <[DM]> Lien finds her face full of teeth as the huge wolf bowls her over in it's charge.
[06:47:17] <Zeni> Zeni cringes as she watches the thing maul the oaf, glad that wasn't her getting hit.  "Doing great, oaf!"
[06:49:07] <Ellis> Ellis, likewise, winces in sympathy. As long as it's standing still, though... "Hey! Moron!" The instant the wolf looks up at her, she snaps off two more shots.
[06:50:03] <Lien> Having wedged her stick between the wolf's teeth after the first assault, Lien involuntarily looks up at Ellis's call as well.
[06:51:31] <[DM]> One bolt plows into it's flank, then the second somehow punches through it's thick skull, leaving the large beast to collapse onto Lien in a bloody heap.
[06:53:36] <Ellis> Ellis lets out a satisfied breath, straightening up from her crouch once no more wolves come crawling out of the woodwork. She stalks out into the hallway and double-taps the wolf Zeni put to sleep. You know, for safety.
[06:53:47] <Lien> "I have a name." Using her staff as leverage, Lien wrestles the big wolf off herself and gets up. She ends up looking a bit deranged with the blood running down over her face.
[06:54:18] <Ellis> Ellis glances over her shoulder. "Oh, sorry, not you. Just wanted its attention so I could get a better angle."
[06:54:46] <Lien> "Oh, okay."
[06:56:32] <[DM]> Outside the sounds of combat have quieted, though the wolves are still howling every so often while there is the sound of bushes being torn apart.
[06:56:43] <Zeni> "Yes you do, but I forgot it alreadyyy~"  Zeni seems content with staying back in the fireplace room, taking a step back were the even more deranged looking monk to look her way.  "Did it hurt~? Are we ready to go on?"
[06:57:41] <Ellis> Ellis stows a crossbow, freeing up a hand to wipe some of the blood away from Lien and inspect the damage. "How bad is it?"
[06:58:28] <Lien> "It's Lien. Pretty bad, but could be worse. I'll clean it later if we find some booze... hm. Sounds like there's something going on outside, as well. I don't really want to go fight wolves in the open, though..."
[07:00:32] <Ellis> "Better avenues of attack that way," Ellis muses absently. She wipes the blood from her hand off onto the nice couch Zeni was using earlier. Poor upholstery. "If you're firing from the windows, at least. Someone else is out there, maybe?"
[07:01:04] <Lien> "Could be. They're messing up the garden something bad, it sounds like."
[07:02:18] <Lien> "Um... balconies were to the right, right?"
[07:03:10] <Zeni> "My bet is on those wolves just scattering as soon as we off Mr... Gudski, or whatever, I'd prefer we go after him.  We could snipe them if you really want, but don't waste the silvered bolts on them."
[07:05:16] <Ellis> "We should take a look. Even if we don't do anything about it, best to know what else might be waiting to eat us so we can run. Balconies are...that way, yes."
[07:05:29] <Lien> "So right. Right. Let's go."
[07:05:42] <[DM]> The first door they try on the right is securely locked, despite the rattling.
[07:06:14] <Lien> Lien gives the lock a good solid kick.
[07:07:32] <Ellis> Ellis starts to produce a set of intricate metal tools before Lien does her thing. "Oh. Well, never mind then."
[07:08:28] <[DM]> Her foot rips the door clean off it's hinges, flying into the room with a rain of splinters and a crash. As Zeni moves the torch to illuminate the room, a fluffy bed with curtains as the centerpiece, they could see a balcony on the other side, with a view of the gardens.
[07:12:13] <Lien> Lien moves forward to lean over the balcony railing and survey the garden.
[07:12:52] <[DM]> From the balcony she could see shadowy forms flitting about the garden...and a girl in a tree, obviously suffering from excessive wolfing.
[07:13:04] <Zeni> Zeni takes a quick glance around... fairly obviously looking for any valuables to pilfer.  She's not the most perseptive thief, though.
[07:14:20] <Lien> "Girl in tree, shooting wolves. Let's distract them a bit."
[07:14:23] <Ellis> Ellis, likewise, reconnoiters the room, although her attention's more on the disturbance in the garden. She follows Lien over to the balcony. "Huh. Someone picked a bad time to rob the place."
[07:14:45] <[DM]> At first sight, the large mirror on the dressing table would be worth some coin, while ransacking the closet produces a few pieces of silk underthings.
[07:16:18] <Zeni> Zeni places her torch in a sconce and seems about ready to start ripping through some dresser drawers, but she does step towards the balcony once hearing about the maiden in distress.
[07:16:49] <Ellis> "What did you have in mind?" Experimentally, Ellis sights down at one of the wolves.
[07:17:21] <Lien> Climbing over the railing, Lien hangs from it to drop softly into the garden.
[07:19:36] <Ellis> Unfortunately, situations like this are far too familiar. Ellis takes up a sniping position to cover the monk.
[07:20:08] <[DM]> This proved to be less than advisable as Lien finds six wolves beelining for her through the gardens.
[07:20:45] <Zeni> Zeni's eyes widen in disbelief as she watches the monk hop down, but it wasn't -that- far outside of her expectations of the dumby.  She steps beside Ellis and prepares a spell.
[07:26:26] <Lien> Lien quickly takes stock of the wolves she's gotten the attention of, then sprints in the direction of the nearest one, a lot faster than one might expect. Without stopping, she runs a half-circle around it and keeps moving, leaving her pursuers in the dust.
[07:28:14] <[DM]> The wolves rush her, loping to quickly put Lien between two wolves while the others break cover to pursue her in the open.
[07:28:54] <Lien> With the wolves successfully on her tail, Lien shouts to the girl in the tree. "Hey! Can you run?"
[07:29:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Lien. "I'm in no shape for another physical encounter!"
[07:29:30] <Lien> "Not what I asked!"
[07:29:42] <Alyssa> "Yes I can run!" Alyssa rolls her eyes.
[07:30:55] <Zeni> Zeni just stands there face palming, "Couldn't we have just picked them off first? Stay in that tree, lady, don't risk anything!  Don't listen to the dumbface girl!"
[07:31:40] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the balcony and notes the crossbow. "Pick them off! Try not to hit your friend!"
[07:32:07] <Zeni> Zeni just sighs and incants her spell, lazily throwing a firebolt at one of the wolves closest to Lien.
[07:35:35] <[DM]> The two bolts catch one of the leading wolves on opposite sides, causing it to burst as the firebolt hits the eldritch blast in the middle of it's gut.
[07:36:45] <Ellis> Ellis, meanwhile, targets the wolf on Lien's other side, squeezing both triggers carefully.
[07:39:32] <[DM]> One bolt grazes the fur on it's head while the other punches a hole in it's side.
[07:44:02] <Lien> Lien takes the burst of gore on her side in literal stride and gives the other wolf flanking her a left hook before just dashing on and on. "Well, run, then!"
[07:45:10] <[DM]> Her punch breaks the wolf's neck as it slumps down onto the grass, while the other wolves give chase, maddened by the deaths of their pack. Lien finds herself surrounded by wolves, up close.
[07:45:20] <Zeni> "No. :I Stay there!  And you, monky oaf!  Come back up here already!"
[07:45:50] <Zeni> Zeni sighs.
[07:47:05] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs and fires another bolt at the nearest wolf.
[07:47:34] <Zeni> The sorceress channels her frustration into another fire bolt, aiming for the same one as the maiden.
[07:47:42] <Ellis> Ellis considers the relative merits of climbing onto the roof when no one's looking and waiting until morning to scram.
[07:48:34] <[DM]> The fire bolt slams into a bush, which catches on fire as the second bolt joins it, blasting the burning bush apart.
[07:49:50] <Ellis> Instead, she slots two fresh bolts into her crossbows and takes aim, hoping to catch the wolves on the fly and keep them off Lien.
[07:52:27] <[DM]> The first bolt goes wild.
[07:53:10] <[DM]> The second bolt hammers into the wolf's throat, mid pounce, sending it flying into the bushes with a spray of blood.
[07:55:50] <Lien> As the bolt catches one of the wolves around her, Lien arrests her momentum by jamming one foot into the ground, then backflips over the rest of her pursuers, turning in midair, and dashes right back the way she came like the wind itself.
[07:57:36] <[DM]> The wolves HOWL as they whip back around to pursue Lien, audibly frustrated and looking a little ragged from the circular chase.
[07:58:02] <Ellis> Ellis blinks in disbelief. The monk climbs a few more rungs on her respect ladder.
[07:58:50] <Alyssa> Alyssa frowns, but turns her attention right back at the wolves, firing another bolt of energy at it.
[08:00:32] <[DM]> Another much abused bush explodes, scattering kindling across the garden.
[08:00:56] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Lien, barely paying the wolves any attention as she lobs another firebolt.
[08:01:21] <[DM]> The kindling promptly gets nailed by the firebolt.
[08:01:31] <[DM]> The garden is now properly on fire.
[08:01:33] <Ellis> Superhuman prowess or no, Ellis figures Lien would appreciate a few fewer wolves in her life, so she joins in the barrage with her own brand of machine-propelled magic.
[08:03:10] <[DM]> One bolt punctures a wolf, which begins shrinking away from the growing fires.
[08:08:44] <Lien> With her pursuers whittled down to just two, Lien stops in her tracks, planting her staff into the snout of one, then whipping around and treating the other to a kick that throws its head up to receive an elbow to the throat.
[08:10:40] <Lien> When the last one left turns to flee, she circles again to slam the end of her staff into its head.
[08:11:34] <[DM]> Cracks of broken necks could be heard as Lien destroys two of the three attacking her, as the last one decides this is too fucking much for it.
[08:12:40] <Zeni> Zeni seems a bit re-envigorated as she sees the last wolf scurry off, taking more careful aim before firing off one last firebolt at the wolf, picking it off.
[08:12:20] <[DM]> Alas, Zeni's firebolt pierces it on it's way to bugger off.
[08:12:39] <Alyssa> Alyssa grunts as she disappears in a puff of silvery mist to reappear on the balcony.
[08:13:20] <Alyssa> Looking faint, she looks at Ellis. "Old farmer Petaf's granddaughter is here, did you see her?"
[08:13:44] <Lien> "Heh." Lien giggles a bit at the rush from the chase. "Works every time."
[08:14:17] <Ellis> Ellis considers. "What does she look like?"
[08:15:02] <Lien> "Wait, you could do that?" Lien frowns at the display of magic transporting the unknown girl to the balcony. "Well, that was a waste."
[08:15:18] <Zeni> Zeni blinks confusedly at the bloodied up girl, siddling away from her.  "Raisin face sent you here too? Hmrrr..."
[08:15:35] <Alyssa> "No. She's one of the maids that works here." Alyssa shakes her head as she staggers into the room, grabbing random bits of cloth, tearing them up to bind her wounds.
[08:16:33] <Alyssa> "Ah I forget my manners, Alyssa Fielding, thank you for your assistance." the last phrase is emphasized with her grateful look at Lien.
[08:17:00] <Lien> "Hey, cover my back while I take a look at those fires?" Cautiously looking around for other wolves, Lien moves to put out the small fires that have started up as quickly and silently as she can.
[08:17:46] <Ellis> Ellis shoots Zeni an I'm-not-touching-that-one look before leaning over the railing. "No more injuries?" She scans the garden for more of the wolves.
[08:18:06] <Lien> "I'm as fine as I was before."
[08:18:33] <Ellis> "Nice moves, by the way."
[08:18:46] <Lien> "Heh. Thanks."
[08:18:55] <Ellis> "Looks like you put the fear of you into some of them."
[08:19:19] <Lien> "Hope so. Wouldn't like a lot more to come for more."
[08:19:35] <Zeni> Zeni stares blankly at the bloodied up girl as she shares her greetings,  "Zenithar.  Perhaps we should save our greetings for when you're not bleeding all over the place, silly.  Patch yourself up."  The half-elf points to the bed, "Rip that stuff up if you need to.  Are you feeling sick at all?  All those bites..."
[08:19:44] <Lien> "Animals are pretty quick learners, though."
[08:20:39] <[DM]> Lien finished with one fire before hearing several large somethings moving through the bushes. More dire wolves.
[08:21:43] <Lien> "Well, so much for that. Coming back up." Lien leaves the rest of the fires where they are and jogs back to the balcony, throwing her staff up for Ellis to catch before jumping up to grab the railing and heave herself up.
[08:23:57] <[DM]> As Lien pops back up the balcony to the room, she gets the distinct feeling more enemies would be coming right down the corridor again, and the door here wouldn't hold even if she hadn't kicked it down. They need options.
[08:24:12] <Ellis> Ellis catches the stick, handing it back to Lien once she's safely on the balcony. "More wolves?"
[08:24:50] <Lien> "Yeah. Was fun, but not a thing I want to be doing all night long. And I'm pretty sure there's going to be more coming down the corridor. We need to find something defensible and take a breather."
[08:27:40] <Zeni> Zeni quickly takes up the torch from the sconce again, then turns to the doorway and incants a small spell, a 5x5x1 stone wall suddenly springing into existence just inside the room.  "Should buy us some time..."
[08:28:36] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a good look at the other three in the room with her, taking note of any injuries or fatigue.
[08:28:37] <Lien> "If we climb up to the roof, the only one who could reach us should be the were, and that only if he knows to look there."
[08:31:22] <Lien> Lien nods to Ellis, who looks like the most reliable of the bunch so far. "Give me a boost?"
[08:31:25] <Zeni> Zeni steps back out onto the balcony, looking up at the roof.  "Well.  I'll need help, so get up there already."
[08:31:48] <Ellis> Ellis nods, dropping to one knee and lacing her fingers together to give Lien a foothold.
[08:32:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa joins the others, sheathing her rapier at her belt.
[08:33:01] <Lien> Grabbing her things, Lien steps into the foothold, grabs onto the floor of the upper balcony, and fluidly flips herself up, then tosses her rope down to help the others up before continuing onto the roof in the same manner.
[08:33:28] <Ellis> Without hesitation, Ellis grabs the rope and starts scaling the building.
[08:34:26] <Lien> With everyone pulled onto the third floor balcony, Lien repeats the whole process to get everyone up to the roof.
[08:34:52] <Zeni> Zeni does hesitate a bit... but easily manages to climb up, glaring at Lien when she reaches to help her, "No.  Too bloody, goaway."
[08:35:31] <Lien> "Half of this blood is there because of you, you know."
[08:35:33] <Alyssa> Alyssa gratefully accepts Lien's help to get up, gore not bothering her at all.
[08:35:55] <[DM]> As Zeni hauls herself up onto the roof, heavy, animal breathing could be heard in the room below, and more wolves prowl the gardens.
[08:35:56] <Zeni> "No, it's there because you jumped down there like an idiot, silly monk."
[08:36:23] <[DM]> A piercing howl cuts through the night as they discover the massacred animals below.
[08:36:27] <Zeni> "You should really listen when a sage advises, you know."
[08:37:11] <Lien> "Shh." Lien maybe concedes the point, maybe not, but in any case raises a finger to hush everyone while the wolves run around probably looking for them.
[08:37:48] <Ellis> Ellis flattens herself to the roof, ears perked up for the sound of an approaching werewolf.
[08:38:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the opportunity to lay down and rest. Tonight has not been going smoothly, and her thoughts revolve around the maid she's supposed to rescue.
[08:53:20] <Lien> "Wait, you said you weren't a sage."
[08:57:30] <Zeni> Zeni hams it up, "I... I didn't want to let you know, it's kind of a dark secret of mine... i-it all started with a vision... flames, flames and blood everywhere... and beetles... beetles, yes!"
[08:58:31] <Lien> Lien silently tilts her head and gives the twintailed mage a "not buying your bull" kind of look. Then, she blinks at the mention of beetles. She whispers, "What's what about beetles?"
[09:02:26] <Zeni> Zeni wasn't even looking at Lien, dramatically averting her gaze with her head turned in the direction of the wind, her twin tails majestically flowing behind her.  "The beetles, yes... And the moths, and the ants, they were all migrating to the east, an omen of what was to befell my village, for it was from the west they came, a few days later..." The little half-elf shudders and looks down a bit, giving body language that reads, "don'taskaboutit."
[09:03:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa silently listens in, while resting as much as she could.
[09:04:29] <Lien> "...Sure. Let's talk about that later. Pipe down for now."
[09:05:26] <Ellis> Ellis rolls her eyes and settles her glasses to perch a little further up her nose.
[09:05:53] <Alyssa> "How did you get your magic?" Alyssa whispers, just loudly enough for the group to hear.
[09:09:00] <Zeni> "Years of hard study at my university, unlike you, warlock."  She fires Alyssa a vaguely jealous glance, but says no more.
[09:10:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs. "The price to pay..."
[09:11:37] <Lien> "Shhhh." Lien has no idea what those two are talking about, but she really doesn't want to get heard by a werewolf until she's ready to run around like that again.
[09:12:40] <Zeni> "Oh shush.  I was trying to summon a fiend at least once a day all that time I spent studying, and not once did I hear even a whisper from one.  What could you possibly have to complain about?"  Zeni turns her head towards Alyssa and actually glares at her this time.
[09:14:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa glares back at Zeni. "And I thought a mage would have studied enough to know how priceless a soul is, and how precious true freedom is."
[09:16:57] <Ellis> Ellis gives Lien a long-suffering look, as if to say 'You see what I have to put up with?'
[09:17:21] <Zeni> Zeni looks back away and scooches around a bit, trying to get comfy on the hard shingled roof.  "That wouldn't weigh on me one bit, seems you just lack the ambition to wrest your freedom back.  Out fiend a fiend.  I'll do that, one day~"
[09:17:35] <Lien> This time, it's Lien's turn to sigh. She nods and scoots away from the arguing mages and closer to Ellis, half shutting her eyes to meditate. She's done so in less comfortable situations than on her belly out in the cold.

[:<]

Session 3

[05:05:17] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------------
[05:06:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles. "Perhaps your summonings go silent because they know you'll try to cheat your way out of the bargain while keeping the power."
[05:07:27] <[DM]> Time passes, and red glow flickers across the courtyard and the former gardens. The party had caught their breath while waiting, but wolf howls continue to echo down below as the creatures seek their prey.
[05:07:44] <[DM]> To be the hunter, or the hunted?
[05:09:22] <Lien> After the argument has run its course with Lien meditating, she checks Alyssa's wounds just in case. "I'm surprised he hasn't come up yet. Is the smoke covering up the blood scent?"
[05:09:35] <Lien> "Or maybe he doesn't want to go one on four."
[05:10:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa gratefully lets Lien check her wounds.
[05:11:11] <Zeni> Zeni stands up and starts packing away a blanket of hers, "I don't know, but it's pretty silly that he let us rest up like this.  We could probably get away with even more rest, but I'm growing impatient.  Finishing this sounds good, about now."
[05:11:21] <Lien> "These are going to need cleaning and a good bed rest."
[05:13:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa closes her eyes as she fortifies her body temporarily with magic. "We'll rest once I rescue the farmer's daughter."
[05:13:55] <[DM]> There is a creak of wood below the roof as Alyssa speaks.
[05:15:18] <Lien> "Shh." Lien crawls forward and raises her head a bit, just enough to peer over the edge of the roof in the direction of the noise, hopefully without getting a face full of wolf the second she does. On the balcony?
[05:15:47] <[DM]> Lien has a split second's warning as the roof below her shatters.
[05:16:46] <[DM]> Not enough warning as it turns out, when she falls into the dark attic, rank with a positively feral smell.
[05:24:41] <Lien> Lien doesn't have time to make a confused sound before he hits the attic, but at least she does so with her feet under her. Whirling around to face the shape in the dark, she raises the silvered end of her staff in a defensive stance and backs up a little to let the enemy put himself in plain sight through the hole.
[05:29:14] <Ellis> Ellis whirls on the spot as Lien drops through the roof. Moving to the edge of the hole to get a better shot, she fires at what she's pretty sure is the werewolf. It's big and it smells terrible, anyway.
[05:33:27] <[DM]> The two bolts connect with a meaty thunk, then with a savage howl it lunges at Lien.
[05:37:11] <Lien> Lien dances back, to the side, and forward again, guiding the werewolf's snout and claws away from her with deceptively light pushes of her stick.
[05:39:57] <Zeni> Zeni was shocked to watch Lien fall through the roof, and perhaps even more shocked to see Ellis run right up to the crumbling shingles and begin firing.  "Throwing caution to the wind isn't much like you!"  she whines out as she cautiously steps beside her, recoiling at the smell of the damn thing, "Foulsky!  That's my oaf, you're not taking her away!"  She raises a hand and instead of just a firebolt, a flaming orb coalesces above her palm, three beams quickly firing out of it followed immediately after by three more.
[05:42:33] <[DM]> Flames crash down into the attic, blasting into the werewolf and the floor, sending the creature falling through below as the scattered invoices catch fire.
[05:43:07] <[DM]> On the bright side it wasn't dark anymore.
[05:44:13] <Lien> Lien blinks, and not just because of the flames. "...Thanks?" She leans forward to check on the werewolf on the floor below
[05:44:44] <[DM]> It's not moving, and on fire.
[05:45:11] <[DM]> Then the skin writhes.
[05:45:51] <Ellis> Ellis barely flinches as flames roar past her. Traveling with Zeni's clearly desensitized her. "Needed a shot." She copies Lien, peering down at the dead werewolf. If it is dead.
[05:46:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa quickly moves down to Lien's position.
[05:47:30] <[DM]> The flaming fur rips apart.
[05:47:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa fires a crackling shot of energy at the body just in case.
[05:48:18] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, seemingly surprised that the thing died even faster than she expected.  "Huuuu... I was really wondering why you seemed a bit nervous while on the roof, Ellis, I half thought you were going to run away again or something.  See?  Nothing to worry about~"
[05:49:59] <[DM]> Bugs pour out of the skin, devouring the flaming fur as they carry away chunks, exposing the unclothed and savagely burned merchant beneath and revealing a long splinter embedded in his shoulder.
[05:50:49] <[DM]> Alyssa's follow up bolt blasts it free, as the insects crowd around the splinter and begin pulling it towards the tear in his skin.
[05:50:59] <Lien> Lien's eyes widen. "You put out the fire on the attic," she snaps at Alyssa and drops down to the floor below.
[05:51:06] <Lien> *in
[05:52:12] <Zeni> ".... Did she just jump down another floor? Oooof.... Ooooooooooof...."
[05:53:16] <Ellis> "Wh--I'm pretty sure he's dead?" Ellis blinks in confusion. "Okay."
[05:53:33] <Lien> On the floor below, she lunges for the splinter. If the bugs want it, chances are it's important.
[05:53:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks back at Ellis. "Please put out the fire." and joins Lien.
[05:55:56] <Zeni> Zeni relights her torch, starting yet another fire. :I "Well -someone- put out the fire."  She starts looking around for the best way down, strolling towards the balcony.
[05:56:24] <[DM]> Lien grabs hold of the splinter, the scarab dangling off it before the horde of insects rush up her legs.
[05:59:02] <Alyssa> "Lien the stick!" Alyssa holds out her hand.
[05:59:57] <Lien> Looking back at Alyssa, Lien hesistates only for a second before grabbing onto the one live scarab and tearing it off the stick, then handing both to Alyssa. "Do that teleportation thing?"
[06:00:10] <Lien> *splinter
[06:00:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa disappears immediately upon touching the splinter in a puff of silvery mist. Reappearing 30ft away and breaking into a run. "Please find the farmer's daughter before the mansion collapses from the fire!" Alyssa shouts as she runs.
[06:02:20] <Ellis> Ellis scowls darkly before following the other two down the hole into the attic and attempting to extinguish Zeni's handiwork.
[06:02:40] <Zeni> Zeni blinks in confusion once more as she watches Alyssa, still oblivious to the beetle problem.  "Is someone putting out the fire ye-- Oh, good."
[06:06:09] <Lien> With Alyssa and the splinter out of the way, Lien jumps out of the swarm of bugs. A long step puts a chunk of burning floorboard between her and most of the bugs, with her between the fleeing girl.
[06:06:53] <[DM]> The insects advance, then stop as their eyes watch the fire.
[06:07:06] <[DM]> Then with a grinding noise they're in the floor.
[06:08:36] <Alyssa> As Alyssa runs she yells out the maid's name, hoping to catch her attention.
[06:09:00] <Zeni> "... Put out the fire? Help put out the fire, oaf!  Unless we're just going to let the place burn?  In that case, let's go get the maid.  Ooof, but all the treasure..."
[06:09:37] <[DM]> Behind the swarm, the corpse of Goodsky blackens from the flames, the odd tear still gaping on his back.
[06:10:19] <Lien> "...Yes, fine." Watching the swarm disappear into the floorboards, Lien takes off her jacket and tries to put out the fire, starting with Goodsky's corpse while watching and listening for signs of where the bugs are going.
[06:11:52] <[DM]> They seem to be advancing in Alyssa's direction, though as Lien approaches the corpse, she sees spiders on the other side of the gap, staring back.
[06:12:29] <Lien> Lien stares back to see if they'll do anything.
[06:13:13] <[DM]> Spiders cross her vision as the tear stitches itself closed, the merchant's corpse bubbling from the flames.
[06:13:42] <Lien> Lien clicks her tongue in frustration and continues batting at the fire.
[06:14:53] <[DM]> After a moment's struggle, the body is extinguished, though  the carpets and tapestries are burning merrily.
[06:15:08] <Lien> On to put out those!
[06:16:13] <Zeni> "This wouldn't be taking so long if you two had gotten started earlier!  Geeeeze...." Zeni lectures from her place on the roof, still hesitant to hop down herself.
[06:16:44] <Lien> "So help!"
[06:17:30] <Alyssa> "BETHANY!" Alyssa yells as she jobs down the corridors and hallways.
[06:17:58] <Ellis> Ellis mutters a few choice suggestions of things Zeni can occupy her time with as she stamps out more fires.
[06:19:13] <[DM]> Alyssa runs down a corridor to emerge in the great hall...where she gets a good look at six wolves prowling.
[06:19:16] <[DM]> They look up.
[06:19:26] <[DM]> Two of them are fucking huge.
[06:20:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa utters an incantation as she feels her legs get more toned and tight and bolts off at twice her speed, moving smoothly around the walls using sheer momentum if she has to make sharp turns.
[06:21:37] <[DM]> Howling echoes through the corridors and Alyssa very suddenly returns back where Lien is trying to put out the fire on the carpets.
[06:22:25] <Alyssa> "Where's Bethany?" Alyssa barely pants. "Also, I found a pack of huge wolves prowling.
[06:24:42] <Lien> "Who's Bethany? Back up to the roof, I'll boost you."
[06:24:58] <Lien> Lien offers a foothold to get Alyssa back to the attic.
[06:25:29] <Alyssa> "The farmer's daughter who works here. Did you all see her when you're inside? Who the hell lets big wolves indoors?!" Alyssa climbs up to the attic.
[06:26:19] <Lien> "Oh. There's fortified closets downstairs where the servants lock themselves up at night. A maid told us. If she works here, she should be safe until morning so long as the house doesn't burn down."
[06:26:37] <[DM]> Around the party, the house continues to burn down.
[06:26:53] <Lien> "So long as we can stop the house from burning down."
[06:27:38] <Ellis> Ellis continues to be the only person trying to stop the house from burning down.
[06:28:41] <Alyssa> Alyssa notices Ellis and quickly joins her.
[06:29:04] <Alyssa> "I came here to rescue a farmer's daughter. Of course I want to go back with her in my arms."
[06:29:40] <[DM]> The bigass wolves finally catches up.
[06:30:39] <Zeni> Zeni remains at the edge of the hole in the roof, still hesitant to jump down. :I
[06:37:01] <Lien> Meanwhile, on the lower floor, Lien keeps fighting the fire until the wolves show up. She throws a dart at the leading giant wolf as a parting present, then backs up and leaps through the ceiling back onto the attic with practiced grace.
[06:39:45] <[DM]> The dart glances off the wolf as Lien buggers up to the attic.
[06:41:09] <[DM]> The wolf lopes forward, furious as it leaps over the burning carpet...misjudges the hole in the attic floor and leaves a wolfhead imprint in the wood with a thump.
[06:42:07] <[DM]> Alyssa meanwhile, just a moment too late, discovers beetles pouring out of the attic floor, crossing the now fire-free wood to swarm up her legs.
[06:42:36] <Alyssa> "What the!"
[06:43:00] <Zeni> Zeni cringes as she finally sees the swarm of beetles, "Gaaah! Being a prophet is the worst!"
[06:43:23] <Alyssa> "Burn them off me it's alright!" Alyssa looks at Zeni.
[06:45:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa backflips, still in control of her powerful speed and breaks into powerful strides to shake them off.
[06:46:01] <Zeni> "Of course it's alright!" she whines out as she raises her spell-y hand forward rather than above, immediately letting forth a gout of flame that just barely misses Alyssa, "Die, die, die!"
[06:48:51] <[DM]> The half of the swarm above the flooring char away with popping noises as the beetles boil.
[06:49:13] <[DM]> Then to add to their woes, the floor catches fire.
[06:49:15] <[DM]> Again
[06:51:06] <Ellis> Ellis saves the breath she'd need to swear at Zeni and pops a few shots off at the wolf who smacked its head on the floor. Maybe it'll get the message and bugger off.
[06:52:59] <[DM]> One bolt skids off it's skull, the other embeds on it's flank.
[06:56:59] <Alyssa> Taking aim at the wolf Ellis just shot, Alyssa takes a few steps more before firing a bolt of energy at it.
[06:57:43] <[DM]> The bolt of energy bounces off it's skull as it ducks below the hole.
[07:04:45] <Ellis> Ellis takes a more composed firing stance before continuing her volley, this time picking shots designed to throw the wolf off-balance.
[07:05:20] <[DM]> The wolf retreats under the pressure of Ellis' shots, only to yelp as it steps on burning carpet.
[07:14:46] <Lien> As if on cue, Lien crouches with her staff in one hand and swings down onto the floor below in an arc, landing in front of the retreating wolf and channeling her momentum into an overhead swing of the staff.
[07:17:00] <[DM]> The creature staggers from the staff impact, then Lien's follow up blow splits it's skull, drenching her in fresh wolf blood.
[07:17:20] <[DM]> At that, the remaining wolves down the corridor exchange glances, and then turn around and race out of there.
[07:18:02] <Lien> "...Quick learners."
[07:18:18] <Zeni> Zeni... just doesn't even know what she's looking at any more as she watches Lien jump down into the flames to hit the wolf some more.  She just sighs and walks back towards the balcony.
[07:20:10] <[DM]> The beetles swarm wildly, as the tattered remains of the swarm bite into Ellis.
[07:22:33] <Ellis> Ellis tries not to panic, smacking the bugs away with the handles of her crossbows and stamping furiously to ward them off.
[07:23:19] <Alyssa> Looking back at Ellis swatting at the bugs, Alyssa fires bolt of energy at it.
[07:23:48] <[DM]> The bolt crunches into wood.
[07:26:22] <Ellis> No help for it, then. Ellis double-taps the largest cluster of bugs she can find.
[07:26:39] <Zeni> "Just die alreadyyy!" Zeni whines as she quickly fires a firebolt at the things, missing.  "... Someone else finish them off!  We don't have time for this, we have to get all the treasure!"
[07:27:44] <[DM]> Flames intensify, undoing Ellis' hard work.
[07:29:29] <Lien> "Forget treasure, help put out the flames! Or do you want your treasure to burn?"
[07:30:23] <[DM]> The bugs finally expire as Ellis skewers the last of the lot, and their bodies roast in the flames.
[07:30:32] <Zeni> "Shush, there's too much fire now, you people delayed putting it out for two long!"
[07:30:35] <[DM]> It actually smells vaguely like chicken.
[07:31:14] <Lien> "You made more of it after it was out!" Lien turns to the fire in the corridor downstairs.
[07:32:00] <Ellis> "You really should have expected that after seeing her aim before." Ellis hops down the hole to help Lien with the lower fires.
[07:33:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa hops down and joins the rest in putting out the fire.
[07:33:13] <Lien> "See if there's a big tarp in the attic to cover as much of the fire as possible."
[07:33:56] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and finally hops down to start trying to help with the flames, though her cautious attempts at doing so don't add up to much.  She's good at MAKING fires, not putting them out!
[07:37:52] <[DM]> After about fifteen minutes of struggling and light burns, the fire finally goes out, stamped out before it could get the structure properly blazing, despite the ruined carpets, tapestries and papers.  Wolves yet howl outside, but it seems the mansion itself is clear of anything else trying to kill them. Now for the cleanup.
[07:40:21] <Alyssa> Alyss turns to Ellis. "Where's the basement hideout?"
[07:40:41] <Lien> Lien wipes sweat from her brow, breathing heavily, and goes to check on what used to be the tear on Goodsky's neck. "...How are the bug and the splinter thing?"
[07:40:58] <Zeni> The fire taken care of, Zeni paces around the attic, hesitant to step towards the burned up hole.  "Oooof... I'll find some other way down..." After letting the others know, she starts searching for the actual way down from the attic, and possibly for treasure, too.
[07:41:20] <[DM]> The splinter, now that they aren't fighting fire/for their lives anymore, looks to be a broken off bit of fang.
[07:41:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the splinter. "Could this be the fang of the original werewolf?"
[07:42:39] <Ellis> Ellis mops at her face, incidentally smearing it with soot. "Hmm? Oh, the maiden you wanted to rescue. There's someone in a reinforced closet, she probably knows where everyone is." Ellis leads Alyssa down the hallways in search of the traumatized maid.
[07:44:14] <[DM]> The closet door is scratched by claw marks, but otherwise intact.
[07:44:34] <Lien> "Can I see? And the bug? We could put it in a jar." Lien stretches out her hand for the fang and calls up to Zeni, "I'll get you down in a second."
[07:45:14] <Zeni> Zeni just starts stomping around at that as she continues to search for the right way down. :I Andfortreasure.
[07:45:36] <Lien> "If we find that maid, she'll probably know where everything is."
[07:46:15] <Ellis> Ellis knocks briskly on the door. "Hello? You're safe now." She considers that statement, then amends. "Probably. The werewolf is dead, at least."
[07:46:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa gently knocks on the closet door. "Hello?"
[07:46:32] <[DM]> A faint whimper escapes.
[07:46:47] <Alyssa> "Are you alright?" Alyssa asks with concern.
[07:49:23] <Alyssa> "I'm looking for Bethany, are you her? Do you know where she is? We've cleared the wolves inside, you are safe. Come out. I assure you that you are safe."
[07:49:40] <Ellis> Figuring Alyssa's probably got this well in hand, Ellis absconds in search of Lien.
[07:49:44] <Lien> After examining what's left of Goodski, Lien clambers back up to the attic to help Zeni look through. After seeing what she just did, Lien has motivation to turn the mansion upside down too.
[07:50:10] <[DM]> After a long moment, the closet door opens a crack, a terrified eye peering out.
[07:50:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles.
[07:50:35] <Alyssa> "Come on out, it's alright, I promise."
[07:53:13] <[DM]> The attic, unfortunately, is quite burnt, though a combined search uncovers a pouch of coins under burnt papers.
[07:53:59] <[DM]> Though removing the charred remains of the pouch reveals a small lump of gold, slightly fused together from heat.
[07:54:08] <Zeni> Zeni checks to see if Lien is looking before stashing the pouch into her pack.
[07:55:02] <Lien> Lien doesn't seem to care a lot about the gold, squinting at the papers briefly before putting them away and going for the exit to see about the rest of the house.
[07:55:09] <[DM]> Bethany creeps out of the closet, "They're gone?"
[07:55:27] <Zeni> After another quick look around, she follows after Lien with a grin.
[07:56:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods. "Those inside are dealt with, those outside wouldn't dare to venture in. Your name?"
[07:56:24] <[DM]> "Bethany"
[07:57:07] <Alyssa> "Your father sent me here to rescue you. I am Alyssa Fielding"
[08:00:15] <Alyssa> "Come follow me to the rest, we've got some time to investigate why a werewolf is here to terrorise the village before dawn, and I'll take you home."
[08:02:09] <[DM]> Advancing down the house, the study doesn
[08:02:43] <[DM]> 't add much more to the loot, aside from several pouches of gemstones and gold pieces in the table, after some forcing.
[08:04:37] <Lien> "I guess this is to be expected from a merchant. Where else could he keep stuff..."
[08:04:54] <Lien> "Bedroom?"
[08:05:15] <Ellis> Ellis peers through her glasses at the gemstones appreciatively. "Mmm? Personal chambers, yes. People like keeping important things close by."
[08:05:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa arrives with Bethany. "Looking for something?"
[08:06:06] <Zeni> Zeni just remains back, sneakily peeking about when the others aren't looking, snatching a couple of things here and there.
[08:06:22] <Lien> "Looking through the house for anything that might give more information about Goodsky. Did you find any liquor or bottles or jars?"
[08:07:21] <Alyssa> "You want liquor for?" Alyssa asks.
[08:07:50] <Lien> "Cleaning wounds. The purer, the better."
[08:10:20] <[DM]> The bedroom seems to have little of interest, aside from some rich clothing and jewellery, until Bethany joins the search.
[08:10:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a bottle out from her pack. "This is my family special. Strong stuff."
[08:11:32] <[DM]> It seems the back of the wardrobe turns out to be a hollow panel, though they had no obvious way of opening it.
[08:11:46] <Zeni> Zeni quickly gets to gathering up the rich clothes and jewelry, seeming happy enough with this.
[08:12:45] <Lien> "Ooh, that could be good. Can I?" Lien gladly takes the bottle, rips off a scrap of bedsheet, and goes about cleaning her wolf and insect bites, followed by tending to Alyssa's quite extensive wounds and Ellis's surface scratches.
[08:14:12] <Ellis> Ellis pauses, a delicate pick in either hand, and sighs in relief as the sting of the alcohol fades. "Thanks." She returns to trying to spring the secret compartment open.
[08:17:05] <[DM]> Picking at it for a moment, Ellis feels a click and a sharp sting on her hand.
[08:17:40] <Ellis> She jerks her hand back, examining the wound.
[08:18:13] <[DM]> A tiny needle is embedded in her hand.
[08:18:17] <Lien> "Damn. Let me see that."
[08:18:44] <Ellis> Plucking a handkerchief from her pocket, Ellis carefully extracts the needle, holding it up to the light with great interest.
[08:19:10] <Ellis> She seems to have forgotten the poisoned needle momentarily.
[08:19:36] <[DM]> There is a dried stain on the needle tip, evidently the dart's poison had not been renewed for a while.
[08:19:45] <Lien> "Trapped? The wound doesn't look bad."
[08:20:43] <Ellis> "Burns, but I've had worse." Ellis distractedly holds her injured hand in Lien's face for disinfecting. "Looks like an old trap, too. Bad luck, but now we know there's something interesting back there."
[08:21:01] <Zeni> Zeni was meanwhile holding up the fancy dresses she'd gathered against herself, but each and every one was well... much too large.  "Uuugh... I really need to find a good seamstress and soon..."
[08:21:15] <Lien> "Can you open it anyway or should we just force it?"
[08:24:05] <Ellis> "Let me try again once my fingers can move." Ellis flexes her hand experimentally before setting back to work, squinting over the top of her glasses.
[08:25:25] <[DM]> The second time, the lock clicks again, before swinging outwards.
[08:25:40] <Lien> "Neat."
[08:26:04] <Ellis> Ellis gently pulls back the panel, wary of any more pesky deadly poison.
[08:26:11] <[DM]> On the back of the panel, Ellis could see a simple spring mechanism for the needle trap, now empty, and...a vial of some thick liquid.
[08:26:26] <Alyssa> Meantime Alyssa asks Bethany about when the master of the house started keeping wolves as pets and other strange behavior.
[08:26:33] <Ellis> She takes the vial, frowning as she holds it up to the light.
[08:27:57] <[DM]> Behind the panel meanwhile is a thick curtain, more than able to muffle any noises.
[08:28:39] <Lien> While the others look at the liquid, Lien pushes the curtain to the side a little to look behind it.
[08:29:25] <[DM]> Ellis, after a moment's staring, concludes that it's a dose of concentrated fire-oil, which ignites explosively when exposed to air.
[08:30:31] <Alyssa> "Bethany, when did your employer started to keep wolves as pets or behave strangely? I had just been here recently so I don't know about what happened before all this."
[08:31:36] <Ellis> "It's...fire-oil. Excellent if you're an arsonist, but not something I'd keep in my bedroom, personally."
[08:31:39] <[DM]> "Two months, ago, mistress. He was strange ever since Cathy  and the others disappeared."
[08:32:06] <Lien> "...Uh. Better not drop that, then."
[08:33:01] <Ellis> "Since you asked so nicely." Ellis carefully puts the jar down somewhere safe before joining Lien in peering through the curtain.
[08:33:56] <Alyssa> "Who's Cathy? What happened?"
[08:34:17] <Lien> "I can guess."
[08:35:28] <[DM]> Behind the curtain, Lien could see a small room, with complicated glass apparatus on a bench along one wall and a stained table, mounted with straps and chains. Various vials stand on shelves, while knives and whips lay close at hand to the table.
[08:36:13] <Lien> "..."
[08:36:48] <[DM]> "Cathy was my senior. Master Goodsky said she ran off."
[08:36:52] <Ellis> Lips pursed, Ellis slips through the entrance, stalking over to examine the apparatus.
[08:37:17] <Lien> "Are these what they look like they are?" Somewhat disturbed, Lien follows through half-crouching.
[08:37:55] <[DM]> Passing through, Lien spots a chest just beside the entrance.
[08:39:53] <Alyssa> "How many others have disappeared, were they your seniors too?"
[08:40:38] <Ellis> "What do they look like?" Ellis lifts a knife with the tip of a crossbow bolt.
[08:41:32] <Lien> "The kind of thing you hear about in spook stories. About alchemists making who knows what. With people."
[08:41:55] <Alyssa> "Be a bit more specific Lien, what's those things?"
[08:42:11] <[DM]> While the glassware isn't familiar, Lien could recognize the smells. Drugs, most of them, hallucinogens, performance enhancers, and the like.
[08:42:28] <[DM]> In particular, two of the vials look familiar to her.
[08:42:36] <Lien> "How should I know? But the substances smell like drugs. Down to the last one.""
[08:43:04] <[DM]> One love potion and one water breathing potion.
[08:43:09] <Alyssa> "Doesn't fit with the werewolf thing. There's probably more."
[08:43:55] <Alyssa> Using her rapier, Alyssa lifts open the chest, getting Bethany to stand away for awhile.
[08:44:06] <Lien> Lien finds two vials and holds them up. "A... love potion, I think. And this... lets you breathe water?" She turns her head to look at the chest.
[08:44:13] <[DM]> "They all work here. Some before, some after."
[08:45:22] <Zeni> Zeni finally peeks into the room after nudging Bethany even further out of the way, "Oof, just what did you people find here? Looks... iffy."
[08:46:26] <[DM]> Inside the chest....it looks like girls....several girls...it's a bit hard to tell how many really because the parts are all mixed up.
[08:47:12] <Alyssa> Alyssa quickly withdraws her rapier to let the chest lid slam back down. "This is...."
[08:48:07] <Alyssa> Alyssa leaves the room and rejoins Bethany. "Bethany take a piece of paper and write down the names of all the girls who had disappeared as much as you can remember."
[08:48:31] <[DM]> Zeni, meanwhile, looks over the other potions. Most of them are more drugs, none of which are good for you, but she also finds a distillate of dragon's blood, and displacer skin powder.
[08:48:58] <Lien> Lien's stuck between looking angry and looking like she's about to puke. "The man won't be missed."
[08:49:51] <Ellis> "Maybe we should have burned the place down after all." Ellis lets the knife she was investigating drop.
[08:49:55] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, "What do you mean? What was in the chest?  And grab me those vials..."
[08:50:58] <Lien> "We should... give that gold and those stones to their relatives. And the servants."
[08:51:04] <Ellis> "Take a look for yourself. We haven't looted it yet."
[08:52:44] <Alyssa> "Lien, Ellis, let's do a thorough search of this room and we'll make a list of sins. A dead merchant is still a dead merchant, we need all the evidence we have to ensure that we aren't accused of being murderers, even though that man deserves every second in Hell."
[08:53:02] <Zeni> "... Why would we ever give any of the treasure away? Don't be silly.  We need it more than anyone else!  Or at least I do.  And judging by your reactions, if there's not gold in that chest, I'm not interested."
[08:53:39] <Lien> "You don't look like you do. These families are poor and lost children."
[08:54:26] <[DM]> "Mistress....Master Goodsky is Baron Telrin's bastard brother. It's over when the taxman comes. It's all over."
[08:54:30] <Ellis> Ellis shrugs at Alyssa. "We could probably be doing more useful things with our time. The townsfolk clearly know something was going on here if they tipped all of us off."
[08:55:05] <Lien> "And they couldn't do anything because of the wolves."
[08:55:31] <Alyssa> "They couldn't do anything because they're up against the bastard brother of a Baron as well."
[08:55:33] <Zeni> "There.  See?  It's all over for them anyway, so they won't be needing any of the treasure."
[08:55:52] <Ellis> Even Ellis gives Zeni a Look at that comment.
[08:56:07] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, "What?"
[08:56:27] <Lien> "They'd need the money more if anything."
[08:56:39] <Ellis> "Never mind." Ellis turns to Bethany. "How fond is Baron Telrin of his brother?"
[08:56:44] <Ellis> "Was, I should say."
[08:57:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes Bethany's hand in a reassuring grip. "We'll have to find a way to ensure news doesn't reach his brother then."
[08:57:31] <[DM]> "They exchange gifts and dine with each other every solstice for the past two years."
[08:58:03] <Ellis> "Blackmail, then. It's surely not the first secret he's had to swallow."
[08:58:48] <Alyssa> "This is why we need a proper record of our investigations here. What he did to...his staff is something we must document."
[08:59:19] <Alyssa> "But nobles don't care about such perversions, we need something that can potentially destroy their reputation or power."
[09:02:36] <Zeni> "... Well, okay, you can stick around and handle that if you'd like.  Personally I'd like to keep moving and make my way to the next town."
[09:03:47] <Ellis> "Something to destroy their reputation? Lien, you said you found some sort of love potion, right?"
[09:03:53] <Lien> "Yes?"
[09:04:15] <Ellis> Ellis raises her eyebrows.
[09:04:44] <Lien> Lien mirrors the gesture.
[09:05:14] <Lien> "I mean, if this room won't destroy someone's reputation, I don't know what will."
[09:06:13] <Alyssa> "He...had those things in that chest. Necromancy is a serious scandal."
[09:07:00] <Lien> "Exactly."
[09:08:01] <Ellis> "You need more than just the evidence for successful blackmail. You need a place to apply leverage, someone the Baron wouldn't want to know about this."
[09:08:16] <Alyssa> "Let me give the room a go over one more time." Alyssa searches for more evidence.
[09:08:41] <Lien> "So who would that be?"
[09:09:03] <Lien> "And won't the taxman see what happened anyway when he comes?"
[09:09:37] <Alyssa> "This is a secret room, and the oddity began 2 months ago. There's time to paint a perfect picture of normalcy."
[09:10:20] <Lien> "Except the one who'd want to is dead."
[09:10:27] <Alyssa> "Let us search other rooms, find a journal that he keeps or other rooms like this. We need more information in order to find out exactly why he kept those things around."
[09:10:39] <Ellis> "Barring that, threaten to implicate the taxman. It'd certainly look suspicious if all the money went missing and the place burned down when the taxman came to visit."
[09:10:54] <Lien> "Why would I want to know what he was using those for?"
[09:11:57] <Alyssa> "Because it might be connected to the reason why he had that splinter embedded into his flesh."
[09:12:26] <Lien> "I... guess so. But what does that have to do with the taxman, then?"
[09:12:37] <Zeni> Finally growing tired of being the only one not knowing what was in the chest, Zeni steps through into the crampt room and kicks it open.  ".... Ah.  Now it makes sense... but still, the treasure is ours."
[09:12:57] <Lien> "But..."
[09:13:44] <Ellis> Ellis spares Zeni a small smile. "Aren't you glad Goodsky didn't try to follow up on his obvious crush?"
[09:14:47] <Lien> "...Whatever. We should let the families bury or burn these."
[09:15:14] <Zeni> Zeni takes some moments to connect the dots, "Ohhh... Hmmn, well it's not like he would've succeeded anyway.  He burned nicely~"
[09:15:24] <Alyssa> Alyssa thinks for awhile. "The taxman answers to a higher authority, and he has to report on his tax collection efforts. If he gets no money from this household he must be able to answer for it. So if he reports something incriminating to his superior to justify the loss, the word will spread."
[09:16:28] <Zeni> "I still don't get why you all are so set on bothering yourselves with this business," she murmurs as she takes Lien's alcohol and begins pouring it over the contents of the chest.
[09:16:45] <Lien> "Okay. I don't really know about taxmen or whatever, but that sounds plausible... What are you doing?"
[09:17:09] <Zeni> "Putting them to rest!  Did we grab everything we wanted?"
[09:17:51] <Lien> "If that's what you want to do, a lot of stuff here burns a lot better than alcohol. And tastes worse."
[09:18:08] <Alyssa> "Because unlike you who can so readily move on to the next location, the implications of murder will impact the villagers. And please don't waste my alcohol."
[09:18:37] <Lien> "But it wasn't them. It was us."
[09:18:47] <Zeni> "Alcohol is gross, and it's also just about the last thing you need, oaf.  You're dumb enough as it is~" she replies as she finishes pouring it out, then drops the bottle in as well.
[09:18:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the bottle away before a significant amount is wasted.
[09:19:23] <Alyssa> "If all of us were to move on like Zeni, those left behind takes the blame for the murder. Someone has to pay the price for the baron's wrath."
[09:19:55] <Zeni> Zeni shrugs.
[09:20:34] <Alyssa> "It could very well fall on the head of Bethany, one of the surviving maids of the massacre, or it could be the town accused of rebellion."
[09:21:09] <Lien> "Can't they just tell the truth? That we did it and ran?"
[09:21:13] <Zeni> "Then she can come with us!  I always wanted a maid~" The sidles up beside Bethany.
[09:22:39] <Alyssa> Alyssa gives a weary smile. "I hope that would be the best way forward Lien, but knowing a noble's cruelty, honesty isn't always the best policy."
[09:22:50] <Ellis> Ellis frowns at that. "Maybe if they lied about who we were and where we went. And if they could be trusted not to turn on us under duress."
[09:23:39] <Alyssa> "I've already had a reputation, let it be my name that will be uttered."
[09:25:28] <[DM]> Bethany leans towards the secret room, "So, what's in there?"
[09:25:32] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 4

[06:01:59] <[DM]> With the secret room delved, Alyssa is tasked with distracting Bethany from the while the others continued to hit up the mansion's other areas.
[06:02:11] <[DM]> *from the secret room
[06:04:53] <Zeni> Zeni eventually warms up enough to even consider standing up and presses herself to do so, having thought of a couple of places to search.  "Hm.  Foulsky's a merchant, right?  He has to have at least a wagon we can relieve him of... Hmhm..."
[06:07:02] <Ellis> "If we intend to leave town soon, food would also be important." Without bothering to finish her thought, Ellis wanders off in a vaguely kitchen-oriented sort of direction.
[06:07:19] <Lien> The next obvious place is the kitchen, so Lien follows/leads the way there while still not shutting up about the bugs. "So you two believe me, right? You've seen these with your own eyes."
[06:08:47] <Zeni> "Believe you? No no, but I believe what I've seen at least.  Did you tie up that bug's jaws, like I suggested?"  Zeni stretches out a bit before following after the two.
[06:10:50] <Lien> "Yes, yes." Lien shows the little bug, its mandibles tied as tightly as she could manage at that scale with a piece of string. "Anyway, whatever these are, they can't be good, right? So I've been looking for anything I can find out. I guess the next stop is looking for whatever that fang came from, if they wanted it so badly."
[06:10:52] <[DM]> The kitchens are warm, the ovens still going  at low heat. A superficial examination uncovers another concealed closet, and a light tap on it shows it to be occupied.
[06:14:08] <Zeni> "Cooky cook, come ooouuuuttt... We've killed all the wolves and burned all the life after Mr Foulsky, it's safe now!" Zeni playfully tries to coax out the occupant, obviously not really caring whether she succeeded or not.
[06:14:17] <Zeni> life out of*
[06:15:01] <[DM]> Lien hears a faint snoring.
[06:15:16] <Lien> "He's asleep. Or she."
[06:18:42] <Zeni> Zeni smirks, immediately fetching her arcane focus and twirling it like a baton before pointing it at the blockaded door, illusory flames immediately springing to life on its surface, "FIRE FIRE, GET OUT WHILE YOU CAAAN!"
[06:19:26] <[DM]> The snoring continues.
[06:19:50] <Lien> Lien snickers.
[06:20:32] <Zeni> Zeni just sighs, looking to Ellis for ideas.
[06:20:34] <Lien> Next up, she tries just knocking loudly on the door like a normal person.
[06:21:27] <[DM]> Snoring does not stop. Truly the greatest of challenges.
[06:21:49] <Lien> "Well, it's not like they're going to die in there..."
[06:22:27] <Lien> But just for good measure, she tries again, more loudly.
[06:22:32] <Ellis> Ellis produces a crowbar from somewhere and offers it wordlessly to Lien.
[06:23:31] <Lien> "Yeah, okay." Taking the crowbar, Lien puts it in the seam and pries.
[06:24:28] <[DM]> With a bit of creaking, the latch splinters, then a fat man who couldn't possibly have fit into the space properly falls out, nearly crushing Lien.
[06:24:41] <[DM]> Still snoring.
[06:25:05] <Lien> "You know, at this point I think he deserves being left alone."
[06:25:14] <Ellis> "At least the food here must be pretty decent."
[06:25:38] <Lien> "There's lots of salt I could use to turn the wolves we killed into jerky..."
[06:26:20] <Zeni> Zeni kneels down and unceremoniously punches the cook in the god damn face.  "Wake, stupid. :I"
[06:26:43] <[DM]> "Buh?"
[06:27:04] <Lien> "You call that a punch? Sorry about that, mister. House's safe."
[06:27:15] <[DM]> He startles awake and flails about wildly for a moment, getting to his feet surprisingly quickly.
[06:27:38] <[DM]> "What's going on?"
[06:27:54] <Zeni> Zeni stands back up and glares, "Croissants!  Dozens of them! Get baking."
[06:28:22] <Lien> "The house is safe. Wolves aren't coming in, and the werewolf's dead."
[06:28:35] <Ellis> Ellis gives a little wave from over by the ovens.
[06:29:25] <[DM]> He frowns, "You killed Goodsky?" He sighs, leaning against the wall, "Probably for the best."
[06:29:47] <Lien> "I thought so too. Aside from the whole trying to kill me thing."
[06:32:23] <[DM]> "He wasn't so bad before. Assuming you weren't in his strike range."
[06:32:37] <Lien> "Before what?"
[06:33:00] <Lien> "Before being turned?"
[06:34:28] <[DM]> "How much have you found already? I knew a bit of his hobbies. Make a better dog. Hah. See where that got him."
[06:35:27] <Zeni> Zeni leaves the talking to the oaf and starts raiding the kitchen cabinets, the ones she could reach, anyway.
[06:35:32] <Lien> "We found his... secret lab? What do you mean, make a better dog?"
[06:36:02] <Lien> "Something tells me you don't mean breeding one."
[06:36:12] <[DM]> Zeni discovers a small sack of mysterious powder...oh wait it's cinnamon.
[06:37:48] <[DM]> "He was hunting some mythic beast he was going to make better guard hounds. Came back with a different kind of taste for girls."
[06:38:19] <Zeni> Zeni stashes the cinnamon and searches for more!
[06:39:03] <Ellis> "Sounds like he found it." Ellis watches the cinnamonster prowl with dismay.
[06:40:54] <Lien> Lien frowns. "I see. He'd been messing with alchemy before that though, right?"
[06:41:06] <[DM]> "Maybe. Does the vault of the wolf mean anything to you?"
[06:41:55] <Lien> "No."
[06:42:13] <Lien> "It's a vault that belongs to a wolf?"
[06:42:22] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head, drifting over to join the conversation properly.
[06:42:47] <[DM]> Nobody could remember ever hearing of the like.
[06:43:06] <[DM]> "Well, he was going to crack it open and take samples from the guardian."
[06:43:37] <Lien> "So it's something around here that he found, and the guardian cracked him instead."
[06:44:04] <Ellis> "What was the guardian guarding, anyway?"
[06:44:12] <Zeni> Zeni finishes up her search, finding little else of value, then starts to drift back towards the living room, though she remains within earshot.
[06:44:15] <Lien> "A vault, I imagine."
[06:44:38] <[DM]> "No idea, it was a fair distance away from here."
[06:45:21] <Ellis> "Well, you don't set a guardian to watch an empty vault."
[06:45:23] <Lien> "Sounds like you heard a fair bit about it from him. Do you know about where?"
[06:46:51] <[DM]> "I was his friend from childhood. Worked for him all my life, but he never did more than gripe about the damned penny pinching elves."
[06:47:34] <Zeni> "Hey!"
[06:47:41] <Lien> Lien gives Zeni a sideways glance and clears her throat a little.
[06:48:23] <Zeni> "... Don't let them know I penny pinch!"
[06:48:38] <Lien> "You were trying to keep it secret?"
[06:49:51] <[DM]> The cook looks at the rifled cupboards, then shrugs.
[06:51:48] <Lien> "Speaking of which, can I use some of that salt? Would be a waste to just let the wolves we killed rot. You could keep the rest or give it to the parents of... the girls."
[06:52:46] <[DM]> "Take whatever you want. I'm out of here as soon as the wolves leave."
[06:54:37] <Ellis> "That sounds like a smart idea, this place being what it is."
[06:55:27] <Lien> "Alright, thank you. Do you know in what direction this vault was supposed to be?"
[06:56:19] <[DM]> "Not a clue."
[06:57:01] <Lien> "Not even the direction he went out in before coming back different?"
[06:57:10] <Zeni> Zeni continues to call out from near the living room, "Do you know where any valuables might be?"
[06:58:37] <[DM]> "He had a work room in his bedroom."
[06:58:52] <Lien> "We found that one already."
[06:59:24] <[DM]> "The letters of credit in the attic?"
[06:59:42] <Zeni> "Ehhhhh???" Zeni can be heard stomping up stairs after that.
[06:59:54] <Lien> "Is that what I found up there? It was too dark to read... They're probably burned up, though."
[07:00:35] <[DM]> Zeni's sprint upstairs confirms what she already knew. They're all crushed bits of ashes now.
[07:01:16] <[DM]> "There's the cubby in the back of the stables, but I wouldn't go there if I were you."
[07:01:26] <Zeni> Zeni cries, her steps echoing her emotions as she heads on back down. "Why Foulsky why, why'd you have to burn so well..."
[07:01:44] <Lien> "I don't think it was him who burned. It was the attic that's made of wood."
[07:03:27] <[DM]> Lien could see the cook wince slightly at the talk of his friend's demise.
[07:04:03] <[DM]> "And there's his workshop in the basement. I hadn't been there since his change, but it was full of critters before."
[07:04:18] <[DM]> "Locked up and chained."
[07:04:28] <Lien> For what it's worth, Lien looks sympathetic, but she has no idea what to say to the man.
[07:07:23] <Ellis> Ellis clears her throat. "We should at least check the basement."
[07:08:09] <Zeni> "Where's the basement, anyway?" Zeni continues her ruuude calling out from the other room.
[07:09:06] <Lien> Lien nods silently.
[07:09:28] <[DM]> Lien discovers the pots of spices and honey on the table where Zeni never even looked, as well as enough ham to feed a family of thirty.
[07:09:37] <[DM]> For a week.
[07:10:06] <Lien> Lien whistles quietly and packs her find.
[07:13:45] <Ellis> Ellis follows after Zeni in the vain hope of steering her somewhere more constructive.
[07:13:58] <[DM]> The basement entrance, after a bit of rummaging around, is hidden behind the staircase, under a trapdoor. Opening it produced a strong animal smell, as well as the smell of fresh blood.
[07:15:02] <Lien> Lien puts her ear to the trapdoor to listen for any signs of movement or life.
[07:15:25] <Zeni> Zeni lights up a torch for her hearing impaired companions before stepping up near the trap door.
[07:15:32] <Zeni> seeing impaired*
[07:15:35] <[DM]> There is nothing apparent on a bit of listening, though the door is rather thick.
[07:17:07] <Lien> With the light provided by the tiny half-elf, Lien figures she might as well take a peek inside ahead of the others. Nothing's tried to eat them yet.
[07:17:36] <Zeni> "Well!  Guess it's your turn to head on down, Lie-- oaf!  Get down there."
[07:21:08] <[DM]> The basement is fair sized, the torch revealing numerous cages of all sizes lining the walls, filled with a variety of animals, from rats and rabbits to three cages of insane looking, monstrously large wolves, which throw themselves at stout steel bars.
[07:22:14] <Lien> "It... looks safe. Looks."
[07:22:17] <[DM]> As the light reveals the opposite end of the basement, Lien discovers a fresh corpse, a girl with her throat torn out, chained to the wall.
[07:22:41] <Lien> "...But not for her."
[07:24:00] <Zeni> Zeni cringes a bit and quickly shuffles behind Ellis.  "Oooof..."
[07:24:15] <Ellis> Grimacing, Ellis takes the torch from Zeni before descending to inspect the girl.
[07:26:39] <Lien> Lien's gaze travels on from the girl to the monstrous wolves and around the basement. "Should put these down. We'd be doing everyone a favor, including the animals."
[07:27:07] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and follows down after, trying to avert her gaze from the corpse as she focuses on the wolves and lifts her focus.
[07:27:29] <Lien> Seeing Ellis go nearer to the corpse to inspect it, she somewhat reluctantly follows.
[07:27:40] <Ellis> "I think you're right." Ellis nods somberly, staring at the slavering wolves.
[07:30:03] <[DM]> Looking at the corpse's state of dress and body, it looks like she was going through some more normal abuse when Goodsky transformed in the middle of the act.
[07:32:01] <Lien> "And now I'm questioning if she might have made it if we hadn't hidden and rested on the roof..."
[07:33:08] <[DM]> Looking around, under the bloodstains is the remains of a geometric shape, rendered unrecognizable by the blood, and four bloodcovered gemstones scattered on the floor.
[07:34:25] <[DM]> There is also a desk in one corner of the room, with a sack of silver, and more tools.
[07:34:53] <Ellis> "If we hadn't, we might have joined her," Ellis responds absently. Frowning, she crouches at the edge of the bloodstain. "Hmm."
[07:35:34] <[DM]> Buried under the silver is a small book, packed with dense notes.
[07:35:44] <Zeni> "I'm really not sure why we rested in the first place,  we knew what we were up against and well, he didn't add up to much, did he?"  Zeni begins demonstrating how little on the wolves as she starts hurling bolts at them, focusing on the larger one first, taking extra care not to hit anything too flammable... other than the wolves.
[07:36:25] <Lien> Lien picks up the silver and tosses it to Ellis, given that Zeni is occupied, looking at the tools and especially the booklet with more interest.
[07:36:48] <[DM]> The animals meanwhile are a mixed bag, most of them covered with stitches and scars, as well as a few slowly dying horrible patchwork of dogs and cats.
[07:36:59] <[DM]> The wolves howl as Zeni burns them.
[07:37:16] <Ellis> Ellis snags the bag out of the air before scooping up the bloody gems as well. "Can't make out what that was on the floor through all the blood."
[07:38:03] <[DM]> They furiously slam at the cages, but succeed in doing little more than toppling the cages and taking more burns.
[07:38:11] <Lien> "Looks like some kind of shape. Between that and the gems on the floor, something with magic? Maybe we could wash the blood off without washing the paint away too?
[07:39:56] <[DM]> The bars bend and twist under their assault, until the bottom of the cage finally gave way.
[07:41:24] <[DM]> Three wolves with a burning red light in their eyes spring free of the shattered cage.
[07:46:49] <Lien> Lien's head snaps around, and she quickly pockets the notes and pulls her walking staff out. "Back to the entrance!"
[07:48:23] <Zeni> Zeni very quickly makes her way back up the stair.
[07:49:50] <Ellis> "Great." Ellis snaps her crossbows free of their sheaths.
[08:01:09] <[DM]> The wolves charge the trio, frothing wildly.
[08:06:05] <[DM]> One of them plows into Lien, tearing skin, but unfortunately getting in the way of the second wolf, which hits Ellis.
[08:12:07] <Zeni> Zeni is left just looking down nervously, as the wolves attack her friends, "M-Make it out of there already!"
[08:13:40] <Ellis> "Trying!" Ellis shouts back, rolling onto her side to avoid another snap of the wolf's jaws.
[08:13:42] <Lien> Lien just barely manages to keep the second wolf away from her while she wrestles with the first and looks to Ellis, blood running down her face. "You heard her! You first!"
[08:14:50] <Ellis> "Don't be a hero!" Ellis vaults to her feet in one fluid motion before flat-out sprinting up the stairs
[08:16:33] <Lien> "Not planning on it!" As soon as Ellis is on the way, Lien pushes the big wolf aside just enough to kip up and bolts after her, a bit less deliberately graceful than back in the garden but still pretty impressive considering the big pack on her back, the walking stick, and the wolves damn near trying to sit on her.
[08:19:28] <Zeni> When Lien finally makes it out, Zeni immediately slams it shut, then shuffles back towards the front of it to look for a lock just in time for the wolf to bust through. 
[08:17:18] <[DM]> As they slam the basement door, a wolf head smashes through it.
[08:18:41] <Ellis> Ellis promptly points her crossbows at its eyes and pulls both triggers.
[08:22:28] <Lien> After catching her breath for all of a scant few seconds, Lien whips around to slam her staff into the wolf after Ellis's bolts fail to kill it, and then brings her heel down on it for good measure.
[08:23:31] <[DM]> The staff hammers the freak wolf down the stairs, leaving the other two wolves in view and they crouch to lunge forward.
[08:25:25] <Zeni> As soon as that wolf drops, Zeni raises her palm towards the hole and blasts the last two wolves before quickly vacating into the hallway.  "Oooof... Die alreadyyyy!"
[08:27:00] <[DM]> The fur chars a little, but one smashes into the hole again.
[08:27:46] <[DM]> The trapdoor, and the surrounding frame pops free of the floor, and the second wolf leaps up the stairs.
[08:32:33] <Ellis> Ellis chases after Zeni, twisting mid-flight to give the second wolf something to remember her by.
[08:33:29] <[DM]> The bolts thunk in with meaty slaps, but the wolf does not appear to give a fuck.
[08:34:39] <Zeni> The panicked little half-elf throws another firebolt at the wolf which misses and probably sets the mansion on fire, then runs down the hallway even further, towards the living room, "Warm and happy place, warm and happy place!"
[08:36:49] <Lien> Lien, now thoroughly done with risky but successful stunts, follows and slams the next door shut behind the group to slow the wolves down another bit.
[08:38:18] <[DM]> The firebolt smashes into a wall behind the wolf, starting a small fire, shortly before the fire is wolf'ed
[08:38:58] <[DM]> The door lasts about a second as the wolf meets it.
[08:42:56] <[DM]> As with the cellar, the second wolf leaps over the first to charge at the party.
[08:50:25] <[DM]> It slams into Ellis, ripping into her with a spray of blood.
[08:52:50] <Ellis> Ellis collapses, breathing shallowly and trying in vain to push herself back up off the ground.
[08:53:45] <Zeni> Zeni cringes as she watches her companion fall, turning around and tossing a firebolt at her attacker before stepping up infront of Lien, "I-I'll try to take a hit!  Or not... take a hit, but!"
[08:54:05] <[DM]> The wolf snarls as it focuses on Zeni.
[08:55:03] <Lien> Cursing, Lien grabs Zeni to dive behind a couch and grabs one of the liquids they looted from Goodsky's laboratory, quaffing it down in a hurry. Turning her head back to the wolves, she spits up a gout of fire as if suddenly vomiting.
[08:56:16] <[DM]> The bolt badly burns the leading wolf.
[08:58:40] <Ellis> Alyssa comes around the corner with sword drawn in time to see Lien spew fire over the lead wolf. Without hesitation, she levels one hand at the burnt wolf and hurls her own blast of force.
[08:59:44] <[DM]> The bolt hits the leading wolf and it goes down.
[09:00:28] <Zeni> Zeni flinches and raises her arms defensively as the blast hits, peeking out from between them to see the wolf slumped dead over Ellis.  "A-About time, silly maiden!!"
[09:02:20] <[DM]> As it's companion goes down, the final wolf charges at the last attack it could see.
[09:07:26] <[DM]> It smashes into Alyssa, drawing blood.
[09:08:16] <Zeni> With the maiden on scene, Zeni gets behind the sofa with Lien and fires off another firebolt.
[09:09:10] <Lien> Lien catches the wolf with a club across its back as it turns and charges Alyssa, then vaults the couch to blow another glob of flame at it and follow up with her staff.
[09:11:01] <[DM]> The wolf badly burned,  keels over at last as the staff shatters it's throat.
[09:11:02] <Ellis> From the ground, Alyssa brings her sword up and stabs at the wolf's belly.
[09:13:36] <[DM]> A bottle of liquid tumbles to the ground from the cut.
[09:14:07] <Lien> With the wolf finally dead, Lien drops to the ground on her behind, only to immediately stand back up and grab the nearest clean-ish cloth she can find off the living room table. With that and Alyssa's alcohol, she gets to work on Ellis's wounds without even noticing the bottle at first.
[09:14:08] <Zeni> Zeni could hardly care about Alyssa and the last wolf at this point, quickly running up to Ellis and kicking, then shoving at the dire wolf ineffectively to try to get it off of her, "Up!  Get up, Ellis, move!"
[09:14:38] <Lien> "Don't kick!"
[09:16:09] <Ellis> Ellis groans, in no fit state to move the dead wolf even if she had the muscle for it.
[09:16:30] <Lien> After binding the most profusely bleeding wounds tightly, she carefully wrestles the dead wolf off of Ellis and lifts her onto the couch she was just ducking behind.
[09:19:57] <Lien> After that, she groggily checks out the pot that fell out of the wolf while tending to her own and Alyssa's wounds, which are more than bad enough as it is.
[09:22:04] <Zeni> Zeni follows Lien and Ellis closely, looking perhaps a bit more worried than one might expect her to.   Once Lien had left to tend to Alyssa and herself, she slips down beside Ellis and starts to clean her up with minor little incantations, stroking at her hair here and there.  Still looking very worried, not knowledgable enough of medicine to know if her friend was okay now or what.
[09:23:49] <Lien> "She should be fine after this, if she gets the chance to rest it off. I'll look around the town for some healing plants after dawn... I found some wolfsbane, so there might be others growing nearby."
[09:26:56] <Zeni> The lil sorceress didn't seem too calmed by those words, scooching in a little closer and moving Ellis's head into her lap, "You should go get them now!  Nownow... Ooooof.... How do you know she's going to make it?"
[09:28:46] <Lien> "I'd get run down and eaten if I went outside in this state. Outrunning wolves is one thing, outrunning them with wounds like this is another. I treated her wounds the best way I know, and it looks like the bleeding's stopped."
[09:31:55] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Lien over her refusal to follow orders, but then just returns to cleaning Ellis up, finding beneath all that blood that Ellis -had- stopped bleeding.  She sighs and relaxesa bit, "Then... Are you two okay?  I'm still untouched, somehow... oooof..."
[09:33:40] <Lien> "No. Should be with some rest, and again I'll go looking once the wolves are gone." Lien frowns at the one pot she recovered and takes a sniff at the liquid inside. "This... looks and smells like a healing potion. But I couldn't tell you if it has any side effects. Or what it was doing in a wolf's gut."
[09:34:49] <Zeni> "... That's perhaps a little too convenient.  Did you happen to find any magical staves in them either?  Maybe some new plate mail?"
[09:35:12] <Lien> "I can look in the others?"
[09:35:27] <Zeni> in them too*
[09:37:13] <Lien> Since it's not like there's much else to do, Lien borrows a knife and goes ahead and guts the other two wolves, producing, sure enough, another pot each. "Did he... sew potions in so they could break and heal the wolves in a fight? That's a whole new kind of crazy."
[09:37:46] <Lien> "And it didn't work, obviously."
[09:40:00] <Zeni> "Eugh... Spare me the details of the disection unless you can verify they are healing potions... I'm going to try and get some rest here."  Zeni tugs a blanket out of her pack and places it over Ellis.... then tugs it over herself as well to share it, covering Ellis's face and making it look as if she's been added to the casualty list.  At least she's sharing!
[09:41:00] <Lien> "Leave her face free so she can breathe properly."
[09:46:59] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and offers a bit more of the blanket back, just enough to fold it a bit and uncover Ellis's face.
[09:53:15] <Lien> With the freak wolves dissected, Lien takes an opportunity to drag them out of the room after catching a breather and takes Alyssa down to put the animals in the basement out of the rest of their misery and recover the other zany "improvements" to the poor animals before turning in for a rest themselves.
[09:59:00] <Lien> ...Except the bunny, the doggy cat, and the raven, which she keeps and takes up to the ground floor in their cages because the bunny looks delicious I mean they look harmless and not in agony simply by existing.
[09:59:53] <Zeni> "No. No! Take those back down there or I'm setting them on fire! Put them in a room at least!"
[10:00:07] <Lien> "That's the plan."

[:<]

Session 5

[05:10:55] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------------------------
[05:12:46] <[DM]> Morning arrives, with the last of the garden fires dying down and the wolves fled to unknown parts.
[05:13:47] <[DM]> With the mansion and adjoining buildings ransacked, the party is now left with the question of what to tell the villagers, and a brief inspection finds the gate guard and the cook to be long gone.
[05:16:48] <Zeni> "Spontaneous human combustion.  It's a thing that really does happen!"
[05:17:58] <Lien> "Especially when a small mage points fire at them."
[05:18:56] <Zeni> "Willyouquitcallingme'small'already? It's not like I point out how stupid you are every time I refer to you."
[05:18:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa observes the aftermath of the fights with a sigh. She isn't getting any closer to finding information about her brothers, but at the least another town is spared from the oppression of a half-noble mad and transformed.
[05:19:48] <Lien> "You've been calling me nothing but oaf."
[05:19:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa holds Bethany's hand with quiet confidence, trying to calm the girl down and assuring her that she will be back at her father's side soon.
[05:20:13] <Zeni> "Well I can't very well help that you are one, dumby."
[05:20:28] <Lien> "Well, I can't help you're tiny."
[05:21:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks over at the commotion, and looking at Zeni, she does look tiny, especially in certain proportions.
[05:21:52] <Zeni> Just sighs and folds her arms, "Regardless.  Let's figure out just what story we're going to run with, the baron's going to be quite irate when the news reaches him."
[05:21:55] <Ellis> Ellis tries to suppress a smile at the argument. This turns out to be easier than expected considering laughter still makes her wince.
[05:23:19] <Lien> "Well, it's not like anyone but us saw it. If the villagers just say strangers went into the mansion and in the night it burned down..."
[05:23:45] <Lien> "Is there something like an elder? We could talk it out with them."
[05:24:08] <Ellis> "There was the man who pointed us in this direction. I think he'd be as good a place to start as any."
[05:24:13] <Zeni> "Raisinface seemed pretty damn elderly..."
[05:24:17] <Lien> "He did."
[05:24:54] <Zeni> "I have some business to settle with him regardless, so he should be one of our next stops, but before or after we secure horses my new fancy carriage?"
[05:25:35] <Lien> "Well, he could probably tell you where to get horses. Where are you two headed, anyway?"
[05:26:33] <Zeni> "Away from you.  But I suppose you're right, hmhm..." Zeni finally sits herself up with a yawn, glancing to her comfy place as if to offer it farewell before stepping towards the foyer.  "Shall we get going, then?"
[05:27:12] <Lien> Lien frowns and looks at Ellis instead.
[05:28:39] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs and starts pushing the wagon. "Let's push it back together."
[05:29:15] <Lien> "...What?"
[05:29:19] <Ellis> Ellis offers an eloquent shrug. "Nowhere particular, really. I suppose somewhere quiet to rest and recover before taking care of other things. And yourself? More beetle research?"
[05:31:01] <Lien> "Yes. I want to find this vault Goodsky's books talked about. If those bugs wanted the fang splinter, that's my only real clue."
[05:31:03] <Lien> "...Actually, if you're not going anywhere in particular, do you want to join?"
[05:32:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the others. "I am actually in town to find news of my brothers. After I get my information, I will move on."
[05:35:01] <Lien> "I've been looking for help ever since I left home, but nobody believes a word. You people are the first who've actually seen the bugs."
[05:35:24] <Zeni> Zeni just fires Lien an incredulous look, then glances to Ellis with a shrug before continuing out the front.  "What are you grabbing the wagon for, maiden girl?  We need my carriage!"
[05:36:13] <Ellis> Ellis lags a little behind to continue talking with Lien. "Well, I'd have had a hard time believing it before that, too. It's definitely not normal in any sense of the word."
[05:37:11] <Lien> "Hence why I'm looking. It can't mean anything good, and it's like I'm the only one who knows about it. We, now."
[05:39:04] <Alyssa> "What good would learning more about the bugs do?" Alyssa asks, curious.
[05:39:29] <Lien> "Learning what to do about them, for one."
[05:39:47] <Lien> "Or if they're harmless, learning that, but they sure don't look harmless."
[05:40:08] <Alyssa> "I do have a point of curiosity about that Guardian site mentioned. Maybe the bugs have something to do with that site?"
[05:40:46] <Lien> "That's my best guess. I haven't had any luck finding scholars or sages that knew anything."
[05:41:35] <Lien> "Honestly, this stint and you people were the best help I've had in a month."
[05:42:40] <Alyssa> Alyssa thinks for a moment. "If I help you, will you help me look for my brothers?"
[05:42:59] <Zeni> Zeni heads out to the garrage and removes the brake blocks from the carriage, sending it rolling out front beside the wagon.  She then opens up the doors to display all the fancy red velvet before flopping into the comfiest seat. 
[05:44:44] <Lien> Lien nods. "Sure."
[05:44:53] <[DM]> It is difficult to determine which seat is more sinfully comfy but after some experimentation Zeni determines that all the seats are good enough to use for beds.
[05:45:24] <Lien> Lien looks at the commotion with the carriage and tilts her head. "What are you doing? You don't even have any horses yet."
[05:45:49] <Zeni> "Mm, I know!  Get pushing~"
[05:46:19] <Zeni> "I'll use my magic from here to help push!"  The greatest of lies.
[05:48:01] <Lien> "...Who's dumb now? Just buy the horses and lead them up here."
[05:48:55] <Zeni> "You wouldn't have to push it that far, silly.  You're really dumb, so you must be really strong!"
[05:49:53] <Alyssa> Alyssa shakes her head and walks back to town to purchase horses to pull the wagon and carriage.
[05:50:05] <Ellis> "If you're that fond of the carriage, you could just stay there and rest a little more while we go get the horses," Ellis offers.
[05:51:44] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and hesitantly leaves her comfy seat, climbing back out.  "Fine, fine, let's go then..."
[05:52:15] <[DM]> In town, despite the morning, everything seems unnaturally quiet, shutters still closed and doors barred.
[05:53:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Bethany. "Let's take you home. Lead the way."
[05:58:09] <[DM]> "Um...it's out of town. Do you know where my grandfather is? I hadn't left the mansion for a week."
[05:58:42] <Zeni> "He did seem the sort to be quite fond of that gross little tavern..."
[05:59:49] <Alyssa> "I was directed towards the mansion by an old man who passed the news. Let's look for him then." Alyssa takes Bethany's hand and heads towards the contact person.
[06:01:11] <[DM]> The inn is still closed, though as the group approaches they can see an eye peek at the shutters, followed by the sounds of thumping.
[06:01:41] <[DM]> After a few minutes a bruised Petaf opens the door, the others a long distance behind him, even more bruised.
[06:01:47] <[DM]> "BETHANY!"
[06:02:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa narrows her eyes at the bruises, what the heck happened?
[06:03:21] <Alyssa> "Your bruises sir?" Alyssa raises her eyes.
[06:04:02] <[DM]> "Hit a couple of logs pretty good."
[06:05:05] <[DM]> He gives a cutting look at his fellows in the inn,  then drags Bethany gently over by the shoulder,"So the crazy bastard is done for?"
[06:05:07] <Alyssa> Alyssa fixes a glare on Petaf. "Sir?" her tone indicates that she wants the truth.
[06:05:36] <Lien> "He means he punched some wood-heads."
[06:06:23] <Zeni> Zeni blinks confusedly at the bruised up old man, his face now having acquired the right shade for a raisin.  "I see."
[06:06:25] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs and shakes her head. "The menace is over, if that is what you're asking Petaf."
[06:08:00] <[DM]> "And you got me girl back," He looks over the party, "Goodsky was alright back in the day, but after what happened lately, he had to be dealt with."
[06:09:11] <[DM]> "So, what do you young ladies do now?"
[06:10:22] <Lien> "I've found another place to go, so that's where I'm going. I need a rest first, though."
[06:10:28] <[DM]> "Don't mind those cowards, nobody would be coming down for a few days yet to know anything. Right, boys?"
[06:10:40] <[DM]> Behind Petaf is a halfhearted chorus  of agreement.
[06:11:35] <Zeni> Zeni huffs, "Do you really think Bethany is going to be safe with you once the Baron hears about Goodsky?  She'll be among the first he sees interrogated.  Tell me, what do you know of the baron?"
[06:13:23] <[DM]> "Rich and stuck up, but there are worse lords."
[06:13:37] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs. "We're outsiders, pin the blame on us since we wouldn't stay. The less you and the town gets harassed the better."
[06:14:41] <[DM]> "Was going to do that to begin with. "
[06:14:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods.
[06:15:52] <Zeni> Zeni huffs louder, "W-Well.. Well.. I... Y-You'll be sorry!" :I
[06:16:25] <[DM]> "Look, I'll even point him in the wrong direction for you. He'd eat up all the bullshit."
[06:16:39] <Alyssa> "That would be kind of you." Alyssa smiles.
[06:16:59] <Ellis> "It's not like they'll use our real names," Ellis points out, putting a hand on Zeni's shoulder.
[06:18:18] <Lien> Lien blinks at Zeni's outburst, but focuses back on Petaf, dropping her bulging pack on the ground carefully. "By the way, I found these and more in the mansion. Can you help give them to the families of the... other servants? Small comfort, but they could use it after losing children." She shows him part of the pile of hams she found.
[06:18:20] <Alyssa> "Sir, Bethany staying would just make her an easy target for reprisal. Anyone who's a direct staff of Goodsky would not escape any investigations unless you're prepared to hide her away."
[06:19:38] <[DM]> "Food is always welcome, especially food that keeps. But my girl isn't going anywhere but my farm. Everyone there died in a mysterious fire, alright?"
[06:19:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods not willing to pursue the matter further.
[06:20:42] <Alyssa> "I'd like to have a room, a warm bath and some food before I make my way out of this town. Lien, shall we discuss more about what you're intending to do next over breakfast?"
[06:21:23] <Zeni> Zeni looks over the food but doesn't immediately get any idea of how much it's worth, so she just sighs, "Silly oaf, they'll be fine.  At least keep the honey."
[06:21:55] <Lien> "Sure. Zeni wanted to get some horses, right? I could show you the rest of the ham when we buy some and lead them up."
[06:22:59] <Zeni> "Why don't we just stay at the mansion?  We pretty much own it now!"  Yes, she does want to stay at the scene of the crime.  Luxury > safety.
[06:23:26] <[DM]> "No need to buy one. I got Missus Puddle out back. You can just take her."
[06:23:34] <Lien> "Well, you can do that, if you fancy talking to the baron in the house of his dead brother."
[06:23:51] <[DM]> Bethany looks about to speak, but is shushed.
[06:24:03] <Ellis> "I fancy not being here when the baron comes calling, personally."
[06:24:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa notices Bethany. "You want to say something dear?"
[06:24:43] <[DM]> Petaf coughs, "No, it's nothing. It's just a horse."
[06:25:03] <Lien> "What's Missus Puddle named after?"
[06:25:38] <Zeni> "Boo... You people are cowards.  Aha, I always get on Ellis about her cowardice and the one time she wasn't so cowardly, she almost died~" Zeni bumps against Ellis a bit with a grin.
[06:26:19] <Ellis> Ellis pretends to wince in pain, clutching her side.
[06:27:20] <Zeni> "A-Ah! S-Sorry!" Zeni... actually falls for it, looking super apologetic and accidentally revealing once more that she might actually care about someone other than herself a little bit!
[06:27:46] <Alyssa> "A horse is worth a lot of money, let me give you something in exchange for that animal." Alyssa presses a small stack of silver pieces into Petaf's hand.
[06:28:25] <[DM]> He pushes it back, "Not unless you want to see me hanged, just take the beast."
[06:29:25] <Lien> "Well.. take one of the hams, then. Those aren't suspicious and you can dispose of them."
[06:30:04] <[DM]> "Don't worry too much.  We'll live."
[06:30:23] <Lien> "If you say so..."
[06:31:34] <Lien> "Which reminds me, I wouldn't touch the big ones, but most of the wolves we killed looked good enough to eat. That's a lot of meat, too."
[06:31:59] <Alyssa> "The fur would make nice pelts for winter."
[06:32:11] <Zeni> Zeni eventually meanders back out front for some fresh air, tiring over the stench and perhaps sulking a bit over not acquiring her maid.
[06:32:44] <Lien> "Right. Teeth and bones can be utensils. And the town was paying for wolf heads, not whole wolves, right?"
[06:35:00] <[DM]> "Food would be nice. Nobody's had much meat to eat for a while."
[06:35:39] <Lien> "Great. I can put some of the spices and honey I found to work, too."
[06:35:58] <Ellis> While Lien plans a feast, Ellis slips outside after Zeni. "Getting tired of the atmosphere?"
[06:37:05] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "That maid just walked right in there!  That dense, sweaty air is going to ruin her pretty maid uniform, booo... such a waste.  I can't believe I let myself be led into there the other night."  Zeni is worrying about the important things, of course.
[06:38:15] <Ellis> "It's not too late to kidnap her if you're that worried about her outfit." Ellis regrets the joke almost as soon as it leaves her mouth. What if Zeni takes her seriously?
[06:39:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa volunteers to help at the local brewery for a celebratory drink, and in the meantime requests for a dire wolf skull to be prepared as a buckler.
[06:39:33] <Zeni> "I.... Mm.  That might work."  Zeni was facing away at the time, leaving Ellis guessing whether she was joking or not.  "Might work indeeed...."
[06:42:04] <[DM]> The butchers helping to dismantle the wolves gives her a funny look, but does as requested.
[06:42:34] <Ellis> Ellis chews her lip for a few moments before deciding that it's probably a joke. ...Probably. "If it's other companions you want, we could do worse than those two."
[06:44:17] <Lien> Lien skins several of the wolves herself while leaving most of them whole and undivided for spit-roasting, giving advice for cutting up the others to the helpers. Clearly, this isn't the first time she's prepared wolf.
[06:45:00] <[DM]> The farmers are simultaneously impressed and alarmed at her experience with cooking wolf.
[06:45:04] <Zeni> Zeni looks over her shoulder up at Ellis, not looking too amused with the suggestion.  She incants her Message spell to her with just a hint of subtlety, "That silly ruffian was pretty useful but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't like the kind of business we get into.  As for the maiden, she seems like a bit too much of a do-gooder, but she did kind of save our hide with the wolves... Ah right, you were sleeping peacefully at the time, but she did kind of save us.  Killed the wolfy that was mauling you."
[06:45:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa brews a series of really powerful brews.
[06:46:14] <Lien> Some of the nicer pelts, Lien keeps for herself. There's no time to dry and make clothing out of them in full, but it's something to do on the road.
[06:47:58] <Zeni> "Back to the oaf, she's a bit too perceptive and wise for my tastes, a little too hard to trick.  It's as if some meta outside force compels her to be so just to annoy me, oof..."
[06:49:25] <Ellis> Ellis tilts her head in acknowledgement before responding in kind. "You might be imagining things there, but I think she won't care quite so much if she's pursuing her bug interests. Besides, remember Axe Guy? We still have to bury the hatchet there."
[06:50:38] <Lien> Lien sneezes while spicing the meat, but makes sure she doesn't do so onto the food.
[06:51:45] <Zeni> "Heh~ If I were properly rested last we met him, he probably would've burned up as well as Foulski did!  You worry too much, silly cowardly Ellis~" Zeni perhaps lets on a bit too much about her telepathic communication as she grins and nudges Ellis a bit with her elbow.  "Though I guess you're right... Hmhm... They'd make good meatshields I guess.  I don't smell any money in the direction of the oaf's silly quest, though.  The brothers, maybe?  Hmhm..."
[06:53:41] <Zeni> "Would be neat if we could drag them into fighting the baron or something, rob the tax man and his entourage~ Though that'd be a bit of work, he probably has a dozen men with him..."
[06:53:46] <Ellis> The nudge actually does hurt this time, but Ellis still feels guilty about earlier and just bites her lip instead. "Well, think of it this way. You don't build a vault and put a guardian inside if you don't have any treasure, right?"
[06:53:53] <[DM]> The smell of roasting wolf slowly fills the air, fortunately helped generously by the spices.
[06:56:11] <Zeni> "Ehhhh... seemed like more the treasure was some alchemical recipe or something dumb, though.  Boo... You're really interested in that?  There's far easier money to be grabbed, money more easily taken with our skill sets.  We should just head to <the next big town name goes here> and practice our trade some more."
[07:00:26] <Ellis> "Well, we'll think it over." Ellis sniffs the air appreciatively. "Oh, that's really promising."
[07:01:59] <Zeni> Zeni just nods in reply.
[07:02:25] <[DM]> Lien has achieved the seemingly impossible. She managed to make wolf taste good, as the townsfolk wandered nervously in for the meat.
[07:05:05] <Lien> Lien as the main cook is the first to try some of the meat once she figures it's done. "Yeah, not bad if I say so. These spices are good stuff."
[07:07:35] <[DM]> The mood is somewhat muted, though the town's kids were seen making off with two legs of wolf.
[07:08:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa joins the party with her brewed drinks, adding to the lightening of atmosphere.
[07:09:53] <Lien> Lien herself drinks in moderation and digs in with less moderation. What good is a meal if the cook doesn't enjoy it?
[07:10:36] <Zeni> Zeni hangs back a bit before rudely skipping the line and taking some of the wolf-on-a-stick before retreating back to Ellis, nibbling at it a bit.  "... Generally don't understand the fascination silly peasants have with meat, but this is okay, Iguess."
[07:11:19] <Ellis> Ellis skips out on the drinking, having lost a lot of blood earlier that day, but fairly devours her own share of food, making quiet happy noises to herself.
[07:12:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa tucks in, drinking and eating in equal measures.
[07:12:33] <Zeni> Zeni gives Ellis disgusted little glances of 'Oh, you're one of -those,' but doesn't judge her too hard, still taking little nibbles at her big piece of wolf.
[07:16:59] <[DM]> As the feast winds down over several rather awkward but enjoyable hours, the bones are picked clean, and the fires extinguished.
[07:17:39] <[DM]> Petaf, once again, approaches the group.
[07:18:28] <[DM]> "I've been doing some thinking. You're sure nothing's left inside the mansion right?"
[07:19:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa eyes the old man. "Yeah, why?"
[07:19:11] <Lien> "Relatively. I mean, we searched it once."
[07:20:32] <[DM]> "Think you can burn it? With magic. No oil or tar that can be pinned on us townsfolk."
[07:21:19] <Ellis> "I think that could be arranged."
[07:21:25] <Lien> "We almost did with us inside, so..." Lien looks at Zeni.
[07:21:19] <Zeni> Zeni whines at that, "But it's so niiice... hmmmm.... oof.  I guess we could.  I guess that would make sense."
[07:22:48] <[DM]> "We'll make ourselves scarce then. Nobody saw what happened." The rest of the feasting townsfolk fade away into the afternoon. He calls behind as he departs, "Take care of Puddles alright?"
[07:24:07] <Zeni> "In exchange might we arrange with you and some townsfolk to get some paint for our carriage?  Might not be the greatest idea to be heading around with a carriage branded with the deadman's family crest."
[07:24:58] <[DM]> "I'll leave some by the carriage. There's only black paint though."
[07:25:28] <Zeni> Zeni shrugs, "We'll make do, I guess."
[07:27:31] <Lien> Meanwhile, a bemused and amused Lien has given one of the bones to the puppy-cat to chew on.
[07:30:58] <[DM]> The cat gnaws at the rather large bone.
[07:31:24] <Lien> "Come to think of it, do you have any rabbits? There was one among the animals Goodsky had..."
[07:33:19] <[DM]> "Most of us keep a hutch. Why?"
[07:33:34] <Zeni> Zeni climbs up into her carriage and takes her seat, ready to be chauffeured back to the mansion.
[07:34:09] <Lien> "Well, I doubt I can keep a rabbit on the road. It looks like this one puts on more meat with food than normal?"
[07:35:58] <[DM]> "Weird. Worth trying out. Damned things eat a ton."
[07:36:28] <Zeni> Zeni's player pilots Alyssa up to the front of the carriage, bringing Bethany along by hand.  She kneels and kisses Bethany's hand with a wink before climbing up into the driver's seat.
[07:37:56] <[DM]> Bethany mostly looks startled.
[07:50:57] <Zeni>  And so the party ventured forth back to the mansion with Alyssa driving da carriage.  Zeni seemed happier than ever enjoying her carriage ride, humming a little tune to herself, Ellis hadn't ever seen her so happy before.  When they get to the mansion, the party loots the lab equipment,  then Lien places some array of wolf bones atop Goodsky's charred corpse before Zeni sets it alight once more.  They make their way out, Zeni going room to room starting more fires till the whole place was ablaze, aside from one one 'wing' which should eventually go up.  Zeni climbs back into her carriage and rests her chin on her arms atop the window, enjoying the view with a smirk.  "Terrible to lose such a comfy place, but it sure looks pretty when aflame~"
[07:52:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs. "I hope nothing bad happens to Petaf once we're gone."
[08:03:47] <Alyssa> Once outside of town, Alyssa spends her time recuperating from her injuries, practicing her swordplay in combination with her new buckler, practising her magic as well as brewcraft.
[08:05:29] <Zeni> Zeni spends the downtime taking the party's collected gems around town, going shop to shop trying to get the best of appraisals, demanding favors of the shopkeepers for the work her party did.
[08:06:56] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, gathers herbs from the vicinity and some of the ingredients salvaged from the lab and gets to work turning them into tinctures that should prove useful.
[08:07:13] <Ellis> Ellis mostly tries not to move around too much during the healing process. She hangs around with the others for a fair chunk of that time, watching them practice, work, and browbeat.
[08:16:09] <[DM]> The town doesn't really have an expert in gems, but after a lot of asking around, Zeni has identified a few.
[08:16:51] <[DM]> Lien's potion expedition meanwhile, is a lot more effective, the local herbs are particularly lush, practically growing like weeds to be eaten by the odd cow.
[08:29:24] <[DM]> A lot more consultation later, the stones are assessed through a mixture of guesswork and cross referencing.
[08:33:37] <[DM]> On the third day, as the party readies to set out of town, they could see a column of guards escorting another carriage into town. Oh dear.
[08:39:34] <Lien> As soon as she spots the contingent, Lien rounds up everyone else and hurries them to their ride as quickly as possible to skip town the other way. "We should have loaded one of the wagons instead... they'll notice the carriage from who knows how far away."
[08:43:45] <Zeni> "Seems they're a bit early... Oooof, I knew we shouldn't have stayed around so long!"  Zeni takes up her pack and draws out the fire-oil potion, "Let's get moving already!"
[08:45:41] <Alyssa> Alyssa hops onto the driver's seat and starts directing the horses to move out.
[08:46:48] <[DM]> The incoming group pauses for a moment to stare at the departing carriage, then continues on it's way.
[08:49:39] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and re-stashes the potion as the party carriage rounds a bend and heads out of town.  "Well, at least it wasn't the axe guy..."
[08:49:55] <Lien> "What axe guy?"
[08:50:32] <Alyssa> Alyssa clicks her tongue to get the horses to move as quickly and safely as they can, knowing that a bumpy ride with Zeni holding the incendiary potion isn't a good thing.
[08:53:05] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 6

[05:17] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------------
[05:22] <[DM]> It does not take long before a cloud of dust rises from behind the group, hidden by a rise in the road. It seems the group from before has discovered the  mansion's ashes.
[05:23] <Alyssa> "Oh for f-" Alyssa curses as she starts driving the horses faster. "It's going to be bumpy!"
[05:24] <Zeni> "Well -drive better- then, silly.  What're you upset about?" Zeni questions from her cushy seat within the carriage.
[05:25] <Lien> Lien grunts, looking out of the window. "She means we're being followed."
[05:28] <Zeni> Zeni wobbles to her feet and looks out her own window, "Oh.  They were all on foot just moments ago, I suppose they took the town people's horses?  Huuuu..."
[05:28] <Alyssa> Alyssa clicks her tongue and flicks at the reins, getting the horses to start moving faster.
[05:30] <Lien> "Probably... if I toss my oil on the road, can you light it on fire? That might spook their horses enough to let us get away."
[05:31] <Ellis> "Or at least buy us some time while they look for a way around." Ellis nods, squinting back at the dust cloud.
[05:31] <Zeni> Zeni just takes up a defensive position at her door, pushing it open and sticking her head out before taking up her arcane focus, "I can try, but hitting anything at these speeds sounds tricky!"
[05:32] <Lien> Lien nods and clambers halfway out the window to get two jars of oil out of the cargo and poises herself to toss them behind the carriage when Zeni is ready.
[05:34] <Lien> With the sorceress in position, Lien tosses both of the jars in quick succession, shattering them on the road just behind the carriage.
[05:35] <[DM]> The packed dirt of the road is soon dark with the oil.
[05:36] <Zeni> Zeni seems momentarily distracted by the wind whipping around her twintails, taking a moment to pull them aside before raising her arcane focus and casting her firebolt on the splashing oil.
[05:38] <[DM]> The firebolt skids across the oil and soon the road is full of bright yellow flames.
[05:39] <Lien> "And now we hope we didn't just start a forest fire."
[05:39] <[DM]> Behind the group on the road, the opposition becomes visible, a carriage pulled by a pair of galloping horses, with two men hanging on for dear life on top charges down the road.
[05:39] <[DM]> Crossbow bolts whip through the air.
[05:43] <[DM]> The bolts scratch the paint, except for one which sweeps up close to Lien's face.
[05:45] <Zeni> Zeni lets out a surprised little cry as she narrowly avoids a bolt aimed for her window, growling out of frustration moments later.  "Those dumb conscripts!  How are they firing and riding at once, ooof, my poor carriage!"
[05:46] <Lien> One of Lien's hands snatches the one bolt that's on target out of the air right in front of her nose.
[05:47] <Ellis> Ellis nods in wordless approval. "Counterfire, then." She leans out the window to fire her own shots off at the attackers.
[05:48] <Lien> ...And whips it around to toss it right back, arcing high towards the driver of the pursuing carriage.
[05:48] <[DM]> The bolt cruises well past, not even scratching the paint.
[05:51] <Lien> With three people trying to lean out of two windows, Lien chafes a little before decising to just climb the rest of the way out of the window and hop up onto the roof, making place for Ellis.
[05:51] <Zeni> A notably more frustrated Zeni ducks back out the window and fires a firebolt at the first chaser she sees, aiming for the rider.  "No more chipping my carriage!"
[05:54] <[DM]> Alyssa makes a sudden swervee, but the horses are too fast to avoid the vines snaking across the road, causing the carriage to skid to a halt as they nearly fall over.
[05:55] <[DM]> Behind, Zeni sets the head of the driver on fire, causing one of the crossbowmen to make a desperate save , seizing the reins in time to avoid crashing into a tree.
[05:57] <[DM]> ...but unfortunately, not enough to avoid bouncing off a large brown shape at the roadside.
[05:58] <[DM]> The new driver looks at the furious bear and whips his horses to a lather.
[05:58] <Ellis> Ellis' eyes widen. "We should be gone now."
[05:58] <Zeni> Zeni whines aloud as the carriage skids, "Why are we stoppiiiing!?"
[05:59] <Lien> Lien yelps as the sudden stop nearly jerks her off the roof.
[05:59] <Alyssa> "Gah!" Alyssa grunts as the sudden stop nearly throws her off as well.
[06:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa quickly jumps off the carriage and uses her rapier to start cutting at the vines.
[06:02] <Ellis> Ellis slides out of the window, whipping out a short blade from somewhere to help Alyssa clear the obstruction.
[06:02] <Lien> After noticing what's going on, Lien jumps off the carriage to help pull the vines out of the way.
[06:02] <Alyssa> "I don't want to tussle with a bear, not when the bear is distracted."
[06:02] <[DM]> The trio's combined efforts soon disentangle the vines.
[06:04] <Ellis> "No bears, period!"
[06:04] <Alyssa> "Yes you don't mess with bears."
[06:04] <[DM]> Behind the carriage rushes up to the fire, only to take a swerve into the treeline again, as the horses nope the hell out of the fire.
[06:05] <[DM]> This proves to be a bad idea.
[06:05] <Lien> "Less talking, more not messing with bears, please." As soon as the vines are sufficiently cleared, Lien reclaims her spot on the carriage in preparation for getting the hell out of there.
[06:06] <[DM]> There is the sound of wood being pulverized as the bear catches up to the carriage, coupled to screaming as two men die in seconds.
[06:07] <Ellis> Ellis gets back into the carriage very quickly.
[06:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa leaps to her seat and starts the horses again.
[06:08] <Alyssa> "GO!" Alyssa screams as she drives the horses to an explosive start.
[06:09] <Zeni> Zeni just stares dumbfounded for a few moments before letting out a most pained cry of despair, "But but, our taxesss!! We have to go back for themmm!" Zeni climbs part way out of her window, almost looking as if she was about to climb out.
[06:09] <Lien> "They're not ours."
[06:09] <Alyssa> "You're welcome to jump out and get the taxes, you'll just negotiate with that bear!" Alyssa yells back.
[06:09] <Ellis> "Unless you can blow up that bear, we're leaving." Ellis grabs Zeni's arm just in case she really is going to dive out the window.
[06:09] <[DM]> The bear sniffs the air, then it's eyes lock onto the party.
[06:10] <Zeni> "They are TRIBUTE to Lady Rankwitz!!  Gaaaah, we didn't wait around for days just to let them go up in bear-y flamesss!"
[06:10] <[DM]> It charges forwar, bypassing the flames.
[06:12] <[DM]> Ahead of the party is a small ditch, where the poorly maintained road had washed away.
[06:12] <Zeni> Zeni kicks at Ellis as she's grabbed, clinging to the window frame and throwing off another firebolt at the bear, "Come for us, stupid bear!!"
[06:13] <[DM]> Pulling the reins back as they cross the ditch, Alyssa somehow JUMPS the ditch without slowing.
[06:13] <[DM]> The firebolt bounces off the bear's fur, making it both hungry AND annoyed.
[06:15] <Ellis> Ellis wobbles as first Zeni's kick and then the jumping carriage throws her off-balance. She somehow manages to hang out the window and draw a bead on the angry bear.
[06:17] <[DM]> The bolts meanwhile, find purchase on it's arms, as the bear seems to reconsider pursuit that stings.
[06:20] <[DM]> The road ahead is bumpy, but the bear is soon out of sight, unable or unwilling to pursue further.
[06:21] <Zeni> "Gaaaah!! It stopped chasing, turn around, turn around!  Lien surely wants the bear's pelt or something stupid, someone take my siiiide!"  Zeni seemed to be half-considering climbing out of the window again.
[06:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa pretends that she didn't hear that.
[06:21] <Lien> "I don't need any pelts."
[06:22] <Lien> "Not from an angry bear that I can avoid." With the bear chased off, Lien swings back into the carriage through the window.
[06:23] <Zeni> "Alyssaaa!!! The stupid oaf wants bear steak to go with your dumb booze, turn this thing arounddd!"
[06:24] <Zeni> "ALYSSAAA!! We can turn the bear skull into something shiny for yooou!"
[06:25] <Alyssa> Alyssa starts singing the raunchiest song she had ever heard at the top of her voice as the carriage continues the trot.
[06:26] <Lien> "I'm starting to see what people meant when they said worldly desires only lead to despair..."
[06:26] <Alyssa> Not surprisingly Alyssa heard what Lien said. "Yes yes, that thing is despair made into tons of pure muscle and claws."
[06:27] <Ellis> Ellis just grimaces and sets about fixing her mussed hair.
[06:28] <[DM]> Bear dislodged and taxes deceased, the party takes stock of their situation at a more sedate pace, namely, where to next.
[06:30] <Zeni> Zeni remains affixed to her window, her hair a complete and total wreck, much like her emotional status.  "But the taxes... somuchgold.... uuuu...."
[06:31] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks over her shoulder as she gradually slows the horses' pace down to avoid shocking their bodies. "So we've got the locations you wanted to go, which one's the closest?"
[06:32] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, reads over the parts of Goodsky's laboratory notes she's managed to decipher for the umpteenth time. "There's three locations Goodsky was apparently looking into. We could start looking at the elven city to restock, ask around, and ditch the carriage."
[06:33] <Ellis> "If it's any help, they probably weren't in that carriage," Ellis offers to the distraught Zeni. It's tempting to laugh, but also probably liable to end with their own ride on fire. "A city would be a good place to start."
[06:36] <Alyssa> "Sit beside me Lien, direct me to the elven city."
[06:37] <Zeni> Zeni remains inconsolable at her window, not seeming to hear Lien's cruel idea at all.
[06:38] <Lien> "Okay." Assuming the silence means there aren't any objections to anything said, Lien climbs out the door and sits next to Alyssa to show her the description the notes have and cross-reference them with a map.
[06:38] <Lien> "So what was that about an axe guy you two said before we started being chased, anyway?"
[06:45] <[DM]> A slight drizzle begins, chilling the air.
[06:47] <Ellis> "There was a...minor quarrel with someone before Zeni and I met you."
[06:48] <Lien> "And that someone has an axe?"
[06:49] <Ellis> "That's about the size of it."
[06:49] <Lien> "Intuitive."
[06:49] <Lien> "Should we be worried about this axe guy?"
[06:50] <Alyssa> "And knowing Zeni, I believe the quarrel turned really sour?"
[06:50] <Ellis> "Probably not. He'd have to be crazy to hunt us down all this way."
[06:50] <Lien> "Okay."
[06:50] <Lien> "That's good."
[06:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs.
[06:55] <[DM]> Traveling on, the forest begins to to blur together as the sky darkens.
[06:57] <[DM]> Lien notices a dark smudge ahead on the road. An obstruction, barely visible through the driving rain. Looks like a log of some sort.
[06:57] <Lien> "Hold on, there's something on the road. And we're going to need a tarp against the rain anyway."
[07:01] <Lien> Leaving Alyssa to get something to cover them off the carriage, Lien hops off and walks ahead to inspect the obstruction.
[07:02] <Alyssa> Alyssa lays over a tarp but keeps an eye on Lien.
[07:03] <[DM]> As she approaches, Lien could make out humanoid shapes on the obstruction, which seems to be three stacked fallen logs.
[07:03] <[DM]> There is a nasty smell.
[07:05] <Zeni> Zeni had collected herself by now, curiously peeking ahead as best she could from her window, seeing just about nothing.  "Oof... Of course there's a fallen tree while it's all rainy and cold~"  Zeni tugs her blanket tighter against herself.
[07:12] <Lien> People near an obstruction made of stacked logs? That's a fallen tree and she's the king. Lien briefly stops, then slinks to the side of the road to approach more carefully.
[07:13] <Lien> *after going back to tell Alyssa something is fishy.
[07:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa relays the message back to the passengers in the carriage and remains an eye on Lien.
[07:14] <Ellis> Ellis perks up from a brief nap against the wall.
[07:17] <Zeni> Zeni hesitantly removes her blanket and scooches towards Ellis's side of the wagon, wanting to follow her out were she to go.  "Wet dog smell...?"  (( Assuming Lien relayed that... ))
[07:17] <[DM]> Lien gets closer enough to see hunched, furry humanoids, each holding a longbow.
[07:19] <[DM]> Gnolls, Lien had seen a few of them before, with an unfortunate taste for humans. Not very bright, but nasty in a fight.
[07:21] <Lien> Blinking, Lien briefly toys with the idea of knocking over the blockade by surprise, but instead she slinks back to the carriage to relay.
[07:23] <[DM]> The gnolls lounge about on the logs, seemingly unawares.
[07:24] <Lien> At the carriage, she sticks her head into the window. "Ambush. Looks like gnoll raiders. They've got logs stacked on the road, but they don't look like they're paying a lot of attention."
[07:25] <Ellis> "How many?" Ellis squints through the rain as though she'd be able to see anything from this distance.
[07:25] <Lien> "Hard to say. More than three for sure."
[07:25] <Lien> "Could we dash the carriage past if we just knock over the blockade?"
[07:26] <Lien> "They're sitting on it, so it would at least distract them."
[07:26] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "First wolves and a werewolf, now gnolls, why is it always doggggs?  A bear is kind of like a dog, too... Dogsaretheworst."  She mumbles this whilst petting the puppykitten.
[07:26] <Lien> "A bear is nothing like a dog."
[07:26] <[DM]> The kitten barks.
[07:27] <Zeni> "A bear is totally like a dog, stupid! I'm the sage, here!"
[07:27] <Lien> "Okay."
[07:28] <Zeni> Zeni nudges Ellis towards the door, "Well, let's get this over with, then... And quickly, I don't want to get too wet."
[07:28] <Ellis> "If we plant the fire oil, we can try shooting it from a dista--hey, cut it out!"
[07:29] <Lien> "They're just staring into the air, so we can just get the drop on them and turn the ambush around."
[07:29] <Zeni> "Oh shush, we're not wasting the fire oil this early, they're just dumb gnolls!  We need to save the fire oil for the next round of pursuers..."
[07:31] <Ellis> Ellis opens her mouth, then thinks better of it and slips out of the carriage into the rain instead.
[07:32] <Zeni> Zeni briefly hesitates before following out after Ellis, cringing as the first rain drops land on her, "Oooof..."
[07:38] <[DM]> The group creeps up under cover of rain, undetected by the gnolls until they could all get a good whiff of the stink.
[07:38] <[DM]> The barricade poses some slight difficulty, but they could see three in plain view.
[07:39] <Zeni> Zeni cringes once more over the smell, keeping Ellis between herself and the gross things.
[07:47] <Zeni> Zeni nudges Lien a bit from behind, trying to lead her forward perhaps a bit further than she would think to be wise, but she has her arcane focus at the ready and a whispy flame already burning in her palm.  The little sorceress gives Lien one last shove before throwing her hand forward, unleashing a gout of flame at the unaware gnolls, a particularly sadistic glint in her eyes~
[07:49] <Ellis> Ellis, blinking rain out of her eyes, waits for Zeni to set things on fire before shooting for the closest gnoll's thick skull.
[07:49] <[DM]> The gnolls yelp in surprise as two of them swerve out of the fire, except for the nearest, which is now steaming as it's wet fur burns. Now they smell like wet AND burnt dogs.
[07:50] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves in for the kill, lunging with her straight blade right in the gnoll's face.
[07:54] <Lien> Lien leaps right onto the barricade with a flying swing of her staff, followed by a swift elbow to the face.
[07:56] <[DM]> Under the rapid assault, the gnoll nearest to Zeni is burned, shot, stabbed and finally clubbed off the barricade into the haze of the rain, even as Lien's elbow strike misses the next gnoll.
[07:59] <[DM]> From Lien's position at the top of the barricade, she can see two other gnolls to her left, and two more on the ground below the barricade.
[08:03] <Lien> Without missing a beat, Lien immediately jumps forward to lay into the next gnoll to her left in a lightning-fast flurry of staff to the face, elbow to the gut, and kick to the knee.
[08:04] <[DM]> The staff cracks against it's face, but the gnoll rallies and intercepts the further strikes with it's shield.
[08:07] <Ellis> Ellis follows suit, cocking and firing both crossbows at Lien's target while it's still off balance from the monk's onslaught.
[08:08] <Alyssa> Moving immediately once the crossbow bolts fly towards their target, Alyssa moves into a quick strike at the same gnoll.
[08:09] <[DM]> The missiles connect as the beastman staggers, still too surprised to respond.
[08:09] <[DM]> Alyssa's strike catches on a link of armor, skittering off.
[08:12] <Zeni> Zeni momentarily pouts when flames stop pouring out of her palm, but she raises her palm up and forms a small flaming spear in it before throwing it at that pesk-ily resilient gnoll.  "Burn harder, stupid dog!"
[08:13] <[DM]> The spear is intercepted by a quickly raised shield, then the gnoll howls, lunging at Lien.
[08:15] <[DM]> The other gnoll on the barricade meanwhile rushes at Alyssa, spear sweeping in a slash.
[08:16] <Alyssa> Snapping her blade at the spear tip, Alyssa deflects the sweep clean away from her.
[08:17] <[DM]> The two gnolls down below meanwhile charge up the barricade with loping strides as they leap over the barricade to strike at Zeni and Ellis.
[08:21] <[DM]> The spear catches Zeni glancingly, drawing blood, while Ellis suffers a deep thrust, piercing her side.
[08:23] <Zeni> Zeni seems just about ready to cast a spell to deflect the blow, but part way into doing so she realizes even that wouldn't stop it, quickly ducking to the right as the spear scrapes over her left shoulder.  "Hhhhgn... S-Stupid mutt!"  Zeniplayer of course takes too long to write this and Veekie covered it already. :<
[08:23] <Lien> The gnoll's spear draws a red line across Lien's cheek, and she returns the favor by swinging her staff, followed by punching its teeth out.
[08:24] <[DM]> The gnoll snaps reflexively at the staff as it passes overhead, only to have it's neck broken by Lien in a sickening crunch as it topples off the logs.
[08:27] <Ellis> Ellis brings both crossbows down to block the spear just enough to keep it from piercing something really really vital, like a lung. She twists backwards off the spear, snapping two point-blank shots off aimed right for the gnoll's eyes.
[08:28] <[DM]> The gnoll twists out of the way just in time to get a fetching facial scar instead of an eyepatch.
[08:29] <Alyssa> Taking advantage of the twisting, Alyssa returns the favor by thrusting her rapier through the side.
[08:30] <[DM]> The gnoll shriek as she pierces it in the gut, spraying blood in a flash.
[08:37] <Zeni> Shaken by the hit she took, Zeni fires off a firebolt at the nearly dead gnoll while still trying to keep herself ready to shield herself from the one attacking her, but she fumbles and launches it right at the thing's shield.  "O-Ooof... Get this thing off of me!"
[08:38] <[DM]> The gnolls press the assault, howling gibberish in their language.
[08:39] <[DM]> There's an answering howl , much louder, from out of sight behind the barricade.
[08:40] <[DM]> Alyssa's gnoll stabs wildly, managing to puncture the barricade a few times.
[08:41] <[DM]> At the answering howl, Ellis's opponent thrusts at her, drawing blood once more.
[08:44] <[DM]> Zeni, occupied by her spellcasting, takes a  stab to the gut.
[08:48] <Zeni> Zeni lets out a pained cry from that stab, stumbling back and almost collapsing from the pain.
[08:48] <Lien> With her own attacker taken care of, Lien whips around and vaults off the barricade to deliver a diving smash to the head of the gnoll that just stabbed Zeni!
[08:48] <Zeni> "G-Get... Get out from infront of me, a-and kill this dumb thing!"
[08:51] <Lien> She follows up the blow to the head with a knee to its spine, only to whirl around and smash the edge of her hand into the temple of the one attacking Ellis.
[08:53] <[DM]> Lien's assault leaves them yelping in pain and stumbling about, leaving the one Ellis is fighting swept off it's feet.
[08:54] <Lien> And a quick swish of her foot puts it on its ass.
[08:54] <Ellis> Ellis promptly follows up Lien's attack by pointing both crossbows at the thing's head, execution-style.
[08:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa eyes her gnoll with vengeance and steps forward with another lunging strike.
[08:55] <[DM]> The gnoll only has tim to widen it's eyes in confusion before the bolts go in.
[08:56] <[DM]> Alyssa's strike meanwhile, is caught by it's shield.
[08:57] <Zeni> Zeni quickly takes a swig of a healing potion before stepping back and to the side, not looking any healthier but seeming to get a bit more of her endurance.  She lifts her palm forward once more and tries her best not to hit any allies as she lets forth another gout of flame, probablycatchingLien.  She then quickly trods off along the side of the road, back towards the carriage.  "O-Oooof..."
[08:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa clicks her tongue in annoyance, shields are annoying.
[08:59] <[DM]> The blast of flame dries Alyssa's face as her gnoll catches a blast of fire to the back and keels over, while Lien's opponent topples unceremoniously.
[08:59] <Lien> Lien breathes out and relaxes her posture with the last gnolls defeated, only to clamber back up onto the barricade to watch for whatever it is that's coming nearer.
[09:00] <[DM]> Lien notices a dark shape down behind the barricade. with one glowing red eye, fading out of the rain.
[09:00] <[DM]> This gnoll bears no weapons, but instead has long wicked claws.
[09:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa flicks her rapier to the side, getting rid of the blood in a smooth stroke.
[09:01] <Ellis> Ellis draws back both crossbows before glancing over toward Zeni. "Are you hurt badly?"
[09:02] <Lien> "...I think this is a good time for that fire-oil."
[09:03] <Alyssa> With raindrops wetting her face again, suddenly there are three more Alyssas standing shoulder to shoulder as they step forward and salute the gnoll. "Cover me." is all she says quietly to her group.
[09:07] <Alyssa> Pointing her blade at the gnoll, she utters a curse that causes her blade to glow green when facing that accursed creature.
[09:10] <Zeni> Much of Zeni's clothes were stained a darker shade of red at this point, the half-elf certainly looking a fair bit more pale than usual, though the overcast lightning didn't help there.  "I'm... not doing great, I think I might just cover you all from the carriage."
[09:12] <Ellis> "Stay in the treeline. If something goes badly you've got somewhere to run that way." Ellis shoves her glasses up her nose and huffs out a breath of concentration.
[09:13] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, shrugs out of her jacket and hands it to Zeni. "Press that on the wound, as hard as you can. I'll look at it after." Then, she follows Alyssa over the barrier, pulling out the flask of fire-oil and trowing it at the giant gnoll's head.
[09:14] <[DM]> The explosion is deafening, as it's fur chars from the high temperature explosion.
[09:15] <Lien> "Go!"
[09:17] <Lien> With her shout, Lien charges the gnoll through the dying flames, aiming a wide swing of her staff at its head and following up with knees and elbows.
[09:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa charges after Lien, leaving afterimages in her dash with her glowing blade seeking flesh.
[09:19] <[DM]> The gnoll blocks two of Lien's attacks with a growl, but can't avoid getting swept off it's feet.
[09:20] <Ellis> Ellis follows Alyssa and Lien, blasting away at the Fang while it's still flat on its back.
[09:23] <Zeni> Seeing the demonic gnoll fall does give Zeni at least a little courage, the sorceress hesitantly creeping back up along the tree line, making sure she has Lien between herself and the foul creature.
[09:24] <[DM]> The demonic gnoll lunges at Alyssa with slavering fangs, while slashing at Lien with it's claws.
[09:25] <Alyssa> Alyssa twists her hips and pivots away from the bite.
[09:26] <Lien> Lien isn't so lucky, and takes gashing wounds to her belly and chest.
[09:28] <Zeni> Zeni hesitates briefly, wavering over just what to use, not wanting to draw too much of the thing's attention.  She makes perhaps the more cowardly decision and merely throws a firebolt at the gnoll, only managing to singe it.
[09:29] <Ellis> "Hey, snaggletooth." Ellis waits for the demon to look over before gunning straight for the eyes.
[09:29] <Alyssa> Spinning on her feet, Alyssa gathers momentum for another strike, aiming for the heart.
[09:31] <[DM]> The bolts pierce it's eyes, and then Alyssa's blade lances through it's heart, producing a gout of black fluid that sizzles in the rain.
[09:32] <Alyssa> "You will no longer waylay travellers along this road fiend." Alyssa spits at her opponent.
[09:32] <[DM]> It's flesh collapses into rot and foul slime.
[09:33] <Alyssa> Alyssa flicks her rapier to her side but holds it up for awhile to let the rain do its work.
[09:34] <Lien> Lien's hand goes to her gut as the fiend goes down. Thankfully, it's not quite serious enough for anything to fall out, but it still hurts like a bitch. She hunches over with a gasp.
[09:35] <Ellis> Ellis hurries over to the monk, frowning worriedly. "Sit down, try not to move too much."
[09:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps Ellis carry Lien to the carriage while putting pressure on the wounds. "Rest, and drink a potion. I'll go check scene before we move off."
[09:36] <Lien> "I know. Ugh." Lien gladly leans on Alyssa on the way back to the carriage. "Me and Zeni need to get out of the rain. Help me bind the wounds?"
[09:36] <Ellis> Once Lien is out of the rain, Ellis trots over to check on Zeni. "Is it still bad?"
[09:37] <Alyssa> After settling Lien down, Alyssa searches the bodies of the gnolls uses her weapon to poke at the slime, hoping to find any trinkets or tokens to identify this creature.
[09:37] <Zeni> Zeni didn't seem any relieved at all as the beast fell, panting softly and squatting down a bit, using her thigh to help put pressure on her gut wound with the bundled up jacket.  "Oooof...  Quiteabitso, but even worse, it ruined my frilly clooothes... ghuuu..." Priorities.
[09:39] <Ellis> Ellis carefully starts binding Zeni's wounds. "We'll get you new ones once we get to the city. Let's get you somewhere dry for now though."
[09:41] <Zeni> Zeni huffs as she begrudgingly accepts the assistance, then leans almost all of her weight (small) on her as she hobbles along towards the carriage.  "You should really pick up a shield or something, meanie.  Defend me instead of just wielding two shooty things!"
[09:43] <Ellis> "What would I do with a shield? I'm not that strong, you know." Ellis manages to help Zeni limp back to the carriage anyway.
[09:47] <Lien> With some help in getting her own wounds, chest and belly and the scratch on the cheek, firmly bandaged, Lien checks on Ellis's job with Zeni's stab wound, or as much as she can while moving as little as possible. "Looks solid."
[09:48] <Zeni> Zeni huffs louder, "W-Well you're stronger than me!... Ithink...." she recalls previous times she'd seen Ellis's parry get overpowered, "maybe...." she then recalls a time she had trouble lifting a bag of grain, "maybenot... Maybe you are a little pathetic~"  Shewaskidding,ofcourse,but.
[09:50] <Lien> "Nobody's pathetic."
[09:51] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head, not quite managing to hide a smile. "I'm going to go help Alyssa make sure nothing else is out there. Shout if you need us?"
[09:52] <Zeni> Zeni pouts up as she rummages through her pack for another set of clothes, a warmer set.  "Well... Hurry back.  No need to search far, let's just clear the road and get going."
[09:52] <Lien> "I might shout even if I don't. Fair warning." Lien leans back to just lie down as flat as she can on the carriage floor, which elicits a wince and a whispered cuss.
[09:53] <Zeni> Zeni then closes the carriage door and pulls the curtains for privacy as she changes and no one walks in on her ever because that would be cliche anime dumb stuff and then she was changed and she's changed and she's no longer naked. :<
[09:53] <Alyssa> As Ellis walks towards her Alyssa looks over her shoulder. "You've taken some hard hits yourself, you sure you don't want to rest in the carriage?"
[09:54] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head. "It's not as serious as it looks. Most of the blood isn't even mine."
[09:56] <Lien> Lien is also in the carriage because leaving wounded people out in the rain is terrible, but she doesn't say anything. That would be tactless.
[09:59] <Zeni> Zeni just throws her bloodied mantle over Lien's face before even getting started undressing.  So tactful.
[10:06] <[DM]> The gnolls bodies prove to have little valuable aside from their spears and bows.
[10:06] <[DM]> However, the leader's tracks lead into the woods, away from the barricade. Worth investigating perhaps.
[10:07] <Ellis> "We ought to make sure that there aren't any more of them."
[10:09] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods, her mirror images nods in agreement. "Let's go."
[10:10] <Zeni> Zeni curls up with her blanket, laying across the seats she and Ellis had been sitting on before, "Huuu... Ellis is going to have to sit up front with Alyssa, or something, I'm not moving~"
[10:11] <Ellis> Ellis follows the tracks cautiously, ears pricked for the sound of any more nightmare demons barreling out of the brush to eat her.
[10:11] <Lien> By the time Zeni is done changing and starts complaining, Lien seems to be snoozing on the carriage floor without having bothered to pull the mantle off her face.
[10:12] <[DM]> The tracks lead into the woods, winding through the trees, with cracking branches sunken in the mud.
[10:12] <[DM]> A second inspection reveals bones, rather than wood.
[10:13] <Alyssa> "They...eat travelers?"
[10:13] <Zeni> ... Well, Zeni at least plucks the mantle off of Lien's face, tossing it in the pile of her other bloody clothes on the floor.  A pile the puppy cat was already cuddling up with.  And licking.
[10:13] <Ellis> "Gnolls aren't fussy about that sort of thing." Ellis grimaces.
[10:14] <Alyssa> "Poor folk. Let's look around." Alyssa readies her blade and free hand as she searches the area.
[10:14] <[DM]> After twenty minutes of walking through the rain, a stone lined pit can be seen through the trees, bloodstains and ashes all over.
[10:15] <Lien> Lien moves a little on noticing the cloth taken off her face, but quickly winces and changes her mind about that.
[10:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa holds a hand up, signalling Ellis to ready her crossbows as she takes the lead and moves forward.
[10:15] <Ellis> Ellis nods, following several feet back and keeping watch behind them.
[10:17] <[DM]> The bottom of the pit is a thick black morass, and a bloodstained basalt block rests in the middle, with a bone handle sticking out from it's center.
[10:17] <Alyssa> Curious, Alyssa grabs the handle and pulls.
[10:17] <[DM]> Gemstones are set into the block's perimeter, though in no particular pattern.
[10:18] <[DM]> Stepping into the pit, Alyssa finds herself knee deep in sludge.
[10:19] <[DM]> Dragging through the foul mess, she could feel more bones, shreds of clothing, metal bits and various wriggly things.
[10:19] <[DM]> The handle refuses the budge however, seemingly fused to the stone.
[10:19] <Alyssa> "I don't think they use this pit for cooking, what the hell is this?"
[10:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa tries to feel her way down the handle, trying to see if it's caught onto something.
[10:20] <Ellis> "Sacrifices, judging by the demon back there."
[10:21] <Alyssa> "This centerpiece seems pivotal to that sacrifice, if I...could just get it out..." Alyssa tries to feel her way around.
[10:21] <[DM]> Fumbling about, the blade's edge slices into her hand, and it suddenly comes free, exploding into flames that fill the bowl.
[10:21] <[DM]> Over in the carriage a brilliant red light can be seen filling the woods.
[10:22] <Ellis> Ellis throws an arm up reflexively before realizing the blaze is contained around the sword itself. "...Whoa."
[10:23] <Zeni> ... But Zeni and Lien were too passed out to notice it.  Zeni just flinches a bit and rolls over to face the other way on the comfy carriage bench.
[10:23] <Alyssa> "Fu-!" Alyssa yells as she feels the flames wrap around her body. Quickly uttering and repeating an invocation, Alyssa quickly yanks the blade out and wades out of the pit.
[10:24] <[DM]> The blade itself seems to be a stream of liquid, frozen in an arc, while the hilt is dark ivory, with uneven teeth facing outwards, and scenes of slaughter carved into the grip.
[10:24] <[DM]> It's also WAY too bright to look at.
[10:25] <[DM]> Faint whispers crawl across the surface of Alyssa's mind.
[10:26] <Ellis> Ellis raises her crossbows hesitantly.
[10:29] <[DM]> The hilt appears to be dragonbone, an entire large piece.
[10:32] <Alyssa> "Gah shut up!" Alyssa places her hurt hand on the side of her head as the whispers threaten to overwhelm her.
[10:33] <Alyssa> Focusing on the word blood, Alyssa grips the blade with her already-cut hand and tries to push the whispers away. "You want it, you got it, now shut up!"
[10:34] <Alyssa> Without knowing, instead of speaking in common, Alyssa uses the same language as the whisper in her head. "ENOUGH!"
[10:35] <[DM]> Contract made, the flames and whispers vanish back into the blade, leaving it merely shining a dull red rather than a brilliant bonfire.
[10:35] <Alyssa> Releasing her rapier and letting it fade away, Alyssa binds the weapon with the same pact she had made to reinforce her control over the weapon.
[10:36] <[DM]> The blade resists for a long moment, then dissolves into the pact with a sigh of relief.
[10:37] <Alyssa> Sinking to her knees, Alyssa looks at her wounded hand, glad that her toughened body withstood it.
[10:37] <Alyssa> "I'm ok now. Let's get the other stuff here and go." she pants.
[10:37] <Ellis> Ellis relaxes a little bit, although her weapons stay pointed at Alyssa for a second before dropping. "What the hell happened?"
[10:38] <Alyssa> "Dragonbone weapon, used for ritual sacrifice, I settled it down apparently."
[10:39] <Ellis> "You...settled it down? It's alive?" Ellis' trigger fingers start to itch again.
[10:40] <Alyssa> "I...yeah it feels alive but it is not alive like we are. It's just magic. Anyway let's pick up the valuables here and move on alright?"
[10:43] <Ellis> "Okay, sure. We can discuss it more once we're somewhere less...all of this." Ellis shakes her head.
[10:44] <Alyssa> Standing up, Alyssa nods. "Yeah we'll talk about this. For now let's use this as a torch to warn any stray predators away."  <Blood to Ash>
[10:45] <[DM]> The blade erupts into flames.
[10:46] <[DM]> The rain doesn't seem so cold anymore with the heat radiating from the blade.
[10:46] <Alyssa> Filling a large area with bright red light, Alyssa leads the way back to the carriage.
[10:47] <Ellis> Ellis glances back at the sacrificial pit with a dubious expression before following.
[10:47] <Alyssa> Moving towards the barricade, Alyssa lays the flaming weapon on the wet logs, letting them dry and eventually ignite. "This will drive the cold away from our bones."
[10:47] <[DM]> The trip is made with little fuss, the forest entirely silent  along the way.
[10:49] <[DM]> The logs crack and smoulder, but does not catch fire, owing to the ongoing rain. Steam wreaths the barricades.
[10:49] <Lien> Lien frowns when it suddenly gets way too bright outside.
[10:54] <Zeni> A slightly re-envigorated Zenithar awakens a couple of hours later, her attention immediately falling on the window and the odd lightshow happening outside.  She yawns and stands herself back up, stepping on Lien as she makes her way for the door, groggily peeking out to see just what was happening, her eyes widening a bit.  "... Ne, Ellis.  Is Alyssa playing with some infernal blade of the damned?"
[10:55] <Lien> "Ow!" Lien winces and mutters something too garbled to understand, but it can't have been nice.
[10:56] <Ellis> "That about covers it, yeah." Ellis nods, wincing in sympathy for Lien. "She found a sacrificial blade in the woods and took it home."
[10:57] <Lien> "...Neat? Sounds dangerous."
[10:57] <Zeni> "... And she just picked it up and... stuff?"  Zeni blinks confusedly as she watches Alyssa practice with the thing.
[10:57] <Alyssa> "It's alright, I've got it under my control. Just way too bright when in use."
[10:59] <Ellis> "And stuff. How are the two of you doing?"
[10:59] <Lien> "I can see that."
[10:59] <Lien> "Well enough to step on other wounded, apparently."
[11:00] <Alyssa> "There was this altar where this blade was stuck in the middle of. There were gemstones around the pit, and some stuff we can also take."
[11:00] <Alyssa> "Want to go back there?"
[11:01] <Lien> "I guess."
[11:01] <Zeni> Zeni just sighs, blocking the light show with one of her hands as she turns to Ellis, "Rested.  Weak, but ready to go, I guess.  Just where did she find that thing...?"  She was dressed in far more simple attire than she preferred, practically wearing peasant wear at this point.  That last pretty dress was her last one, as Ellis had seen the demise of her previous favorite.
[11:02] <Ellis> "Looks like they were sacrificing anyone who came this way."
[11:02] <Alyssa> "And they seem to have tremendous success so far, there are a lot of valuables up there. I am glad we stopped them for good."
[11:03] <Lien> "Sounds like good riddance. Are you sure that sword won't try to eat you?"
[11:03] <Alyssa> "It would have to seek approval of whoever has my soul. Infernal affairs are complicated."
[11:03] <Zeni> "Hmmmn... Well, let's go check it out at least.  Maybe the treasure will make up for the idiocy that stole that tax money from me..."
[11:04] <Ellis> "That's...reassuring."
[11:07] <Ellis> "Anyway, the altar had a few gems stuck in it and I'm sure there'd be something valuable in the ashpit if we want to sift through that."
[11:08] <Lien> "Good way to get those wounds infected."
[11:08] <Alyssa> "Or use magic and never get dirty."
[11:08] <Zeni> "Which we do.  Lead the way, I guess? With your weird torch thingy... Did you really bind that thing to yourself already?  Doesn't it seem a little cursed to you?" Zeni lectures in vainnnn.
[11:09] <Alyssa> "I already lost my soul, a little more curse is just pissing in the sea." Alyssa moans.
[11:11] <[DM]> It's late in the night by the time they make it back to the profane temple again.
[11:11] <[DM]> Not that it matters with the light.
[11:11] <[DM]> Zeni discovers the biggest pit full of crap she's ever seen.
[11:12] <Zeni> "... That... is where the loot is supposed to be...?"
[11:12] <[DM]> There is a glint of gold coin visible.
[11:13] <Alyssa> "There's gemstones." Alyssa helpfully points out.
[11:14] <Zeni> Zeni just... sighs.  She picks up her arcane focus and gets to work, covering her nose and mouth with one oversized sleeve of her ill-fitting dress as she just continuously piles sludge right beside Alyssa, "Uuugh.... This better be worth it or I'm selling that dumb sword..."
[11:15] <Lien> "I'm sure any other gnolls would be happy to take it out of your hands."
[11:15] <Alyssa> "They can fall on it." Alyssa replies, her tone slightly hard.
[11:17] <Zeni> Zeni gets less and less patient as the hours go by, purposely splashing the damn sludge up the far side of the pit as she continues to weave her magic, "G-Gaauuu... There better be something good for me in here!"
[11:17] <[DM]> As Zeni slogs through the foul muck, more bones, chunks of flesh and shredded clothing emerges, but so does a rather large quantity of coins.
[11:19] <Alyssa> While Zeni cleans the place out, Alyssa takes the time to really examine the temple and altar, trying to figure out if there's anything written or carved anywhere.
[11:19] <Zeni> Zeni couldn't find it in herself to celebrate the small coinage, but by the end she had quite the pile sitting beside her, enough to make her smile at least a little bit... despite the smell.  "My dress fund has arrived~"
[11:20] <Lien> "Be careful you don't open the wound right back up."
[11:23] <Alyssa> "Yeah, and once we're done here we destroy this place so that no more cultists come back here."
[11:24] <Zeni> "If your sword will even let you,.  You sure make a lot of strange allies for being such a valiant hero, silly."
[11:28] <Alyssa> "All circumstances. I could have been a simple brewer's daughter with three older brothers but no. Life isn't that simple."
[11:31] <Alyssa> "Instead I sought out hope, paid with my soul, didn't achieve my goal, still trying to find my brothers, living a life of travelling and seeking. It's just like that."
[11:31] <Alyssa> "But still, I am still glad that I travelled with you three."
[11:31] <Zeni> "Pulling a seething demonic sword out of a bloody altar doesn't seem quite that circumstancial, I can't help but imagine that you bumbled your way into your pact as well."   Zeni finally finishes up piling her coins into her pack.  Her coins.  Her pack.  Surely she'll share.
[11:31] <Alyssa> "That's why I have a pact. I'm an easy deal."
[11:32] <Zeni> Zeni giggles at that, "Well at least you know it~ Let'sgoalready, this place is gross!"
[11:32] <Alyssa> "Let's break this place apart!" Alyssa gets the ball rolling.

[:<]

Session 7: You Can (Not) Connect

[05:24:29] <[DM]> ----------------------------------------------
[05:26:20] <[DM]> By dawn, the rain had stopped, leaving only copious mud and dripping water.
[05:27:06] <[DM]> The barricade proves to be little more trouble, once the sodden ropes are sawed apart and the horses put to towing the logs off the road.
[05:28:11] <[DM]> Oddly enough, there's little birdsong in the morning.
[05:31:00] <Zeni> Zeni remained lounging on the comfy bench of the carriage for some time longer, even feigning sleeping some when she realized there was work to be done; cleaning up the camp equipment, etc.  Eventually she would emerge with an exaggerated yawn, "Morniiing~"
[05:31:38] <Lien> After a night spent sleeping on the floor of the carriage, feeling well would be an exaggeration, but Lien's at least feeling sufficiently up to start on getting the barricade out of the way.
[05:32:02] <Alyssa> Patting the horses down after clearing out the logs, Alyssa takes a swig of drink before hopping onto the driver's seat. "Morning, feeling better?"
[05:33:04] <Zeni> Zeni blinks as if trying to recall just what all had happened, only to frown sharply afterwards.  "My dress is ruined!  Thisisn'tokayatall, but I'll manage.  Let's hurry to town!"
[05:34:05] <Ellis> Ellis, meanwhile, looks awful, having barely been able to sleep. "Mmm. Town sounds nice."
[05:34:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods and gets the carriage moving.
[05:35:49] <[DM]> The road is clear, if quiet, as the group settles in for a long ride.
[05:40:24] <Ellis> Something finally manages to click in Ellis' mind, and she sits up a litlte straighter, blinking confusedly. "Birds. Why are there no birds?"
[05:41:06] <Lien> "The fires? Animals really hate fire."
[05:41:40] <Ellis> "They went out hours ago. I'm positive it's something else."
[05:43:31] <[DM]> Lien catches a foul stench in the air.
[05:43:43] <[DM]> Very faint.
[05:45:03] <Lien> Lien sniffs once and stops, then leans her head out of the windows to sniff again. "...You're right. There were two corpses missing. And now I can smell them."
[05:45:09] <[DM]> Very odd, as they roll down the road.
[05:45:31] <[DM]> The stench follows...in fact it's getting worse
[05:45:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa summons her weapon, this time in the shape of an elegant rapier with the signature red blade.
[05:48:43] <Zeni> "That... That smell, eugh!  That's definitely a Ghast!  Keep this carriage moving!"
[05:49:12] <Ellis> Ellis' eyes widen. "They're under the carriage, too late for that!"
[05:49:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa pulls the reins, stopping the carriage immediately.
[05:51:06] <Zeni> Zeni whiines as the carriage stops so quickly, "Gah, no!  What are you doing?  How could they possibly be under us!?"
[05:51:42] <Lien> "She's right, if the smell's this strong." With the carriage stopped, Lien throws open a door and hops out, staff at the ready. Better to not be sitting in the cabin like a tasty meal.
[05:52:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa jumps off the driver's seat. <Blood to Ashes>
[05:52:26] <[DM]_> There is a scraping sound as two horrible undead faces show up to each side of the vehicle. Managing to smell even worse than they did in life.
[06:02:59] <Ellis> Ellis draws and fires without hesitation, aiming not for the ghast's face but for the grip it has on the carriage.
[06:07:49] <[DM]> One bolt glances off a spur of bone, while the other buries itself into the monster's unthinking claws.
[06:10:19] <Alyssa> Taking a look at the claws grasping on the side of the carriage, Alyssa aims her eldritch blast at the arm, hoping to blow it off.
[06:13:03] <[DM]> The blast throws up a spray of rotting flesh all over the inside of the carriage.
[06:16:07] <Zeni> Zeni hesitates for quite a few moments before quickly picking up her light crossbow and firing out the broken window, then shifts to the bench opposite of Ellis.  "G-Get this one away from the door!"
[06:16:54] <[DM]> The bolt slams into ghast face, but it remains unfazed as the two ghasts lunge into the vehicle, clawing.
[06:18:26] <[DM]> The one lunging at Zeni manages to rip up the upholstery and the paintwork a little, but misses.
[06:19:05] <[DM]> The other claws at Ellis's arm.
[06:21:05] <Ellis> Ellis whirls and smashes the grip of her bow onto the ghast's claw, steering it into the upholstery instead of her arm.
[06:21:36] <[DM]> The upholstery is badly torn, spilling it's guts out.
[06:23:31] <Lien> Though slowed by her wounds, Lien whirls around to assault the ghasts from behind, focused as they are on the interior of the carriage over her.
[06:26:37] <[DM]_> Lein's staff blow sets it's head to wobbling, then she kicks it's head off and sends it flying into the carriage.
[06:26:47] <[DM]_> The body collapses.
[06:33:37] <Zeni> Zeni drops her crossbow and plucks a dagger from her hip in one fluid motion, quickly moving behind the ghast before attempting to dive her happy dagger into its kidney.  "Get off of her!"
[06:35:37] <[DM]> Zeni carves into the ghast like a pro, shedding more rotten flesh and bits of fur from it's guts.
[06:37:29] <Ellis> Recovering from her brush with the other ghast, Ellis drills two shots at places on the other ghast where they aren't likely to punch through and hit Zeni by accident.
[06:38:57] <[DM]> Ellis blows out a pair of ribs from the ghast's back.
[06:39:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa readies her weapon and drives it into the ghast.
[06:40:45] <[DM]> The ghast's eyes blaze red as fire roars through it's body and it's fluids boil.
[06:41:56] <[DM]> It whips around, seizing Alyssa's arm with it's talons.
[06:45:11] <Lien> Luckily, the act gives Lien the chance to get right behind it. She lunges to wrap her arm around its neck and twists the snout around until it's looking over her shoulder instead
[06:45:34] <[DM]> The head pops off with a crack.
[06:45:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa kicks the headless body off her.
[06:45:53] <[DM]> Leaving Lien embracing a disembodied head
[06:46:22] <Lien> Which she promptly drops, her work done. "How are the claw wounds? Check if any others are left."
[06:46:44] <Alyssa> Alyssa conducts a full search of the carriage.
[06:46:55] <Ellis> Ellis lets out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding and hops out of the carriage, prowling around in search of any stragglers.
[06:48:27] <[DM]> Alyssa discovers deep claw marks on the underside, where the ghasts where holding on.
[06:48:51] <[DM]> Other than that she finds a lot of...stains.
[06:48:54] <Zeni> Zeni stands there in shock for a bit, but eventually just... looks down at her clothes, then around the carriage, and whines.  "S-Stupid... gross, dumb ghasts!"  She moves to start nudging the parts of the bodies out the door, but doesn't want to dirty her shoes... so she just starts cleaning herself  up with her cantrip instead.  "Eugh..."
[06:48:56] <[DM]> Ghoul juice.
[06:52:23] <Zeni> "... Well -somebody- remove that ugly head already!"  G-Geeze..."
[06:52:41] <Ellis> After satisfying herself that no further gnolls are present, Ellis comes back and punts the head out of the carriage.
[06:53:11] <[DM]> The head bursts like a smashed melon.
[06:53:46] <Alyssa> "There's nothing else left under the carriage, except ghoul juice.
[06:53:51] <Lien> "Well. That's going to leave stains."
[06:55:12] <Zeni> Zeni just... sighs defeatedly and begins cleaning up the carriage again, plopping back down on the cleaner side as she continues.  "So... How did we not notice those things earlier? Oooof..."
[06:55:45] <Lien> "Rain and mud must have covered the stench."
[06:56:48] <Ellis> Ellis nods, leaning tiredly against the doorframe. "I guess next time we run into demons we should burn the bodies just to be safe."
[06:57:19] <Alyssa> "Yeah. Anyway rest up while I drive us towards our destination."
[06:58:24] <Zeni> Zeni flicks some of the broken glass off of the door frame with her magic, "Oof... poor carriage.  We'll have to get her fixed up nice and new at the next town..."
[06:58:31] <Ellis> "Mmm. How's the wound?" Ellis peers over at the claw marks on Alyssa's arm.
[06:58:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at her arm. "Looks fine, I'm tough."
[06:59:00] <[DM]> The ride subsequently proved to be more peaceful, with birdsong being heard ahead, even if the birds stopped behind the carriage, the stench of the dead clinging to the black painted ride.
[07:01:48] <Zeni> Zeni just glares about the carriage the whole while, unsatisfied with her cleaning; the smell was still there!  She just keeps casting her cantrip at random little spots, wanting every bit clean and new.
[07:03:13] <Lien> Lien just reclines in the carriage as it's being cleaned. She might have preferred a less gaudy mode of transportation, but her wounds give her a new appreciation for the comfort of the carriage.
[07:03:27] <[DM]> Towards noon, Zeni had finally gotten the smell out(necessitating cleaning the underside as well and crawling in the dirt to reach it), and low wooden walls loom ahead.
[07:03:27] <[DM]> A sign by the road proclaims this to be the town of Oakbridge.
[07:05:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles as she drives into civillization.
[07:07:03] <[DM]> The group is halted at the gates, while two middle aged guards look over the vehicle through the portcullis, "Fancy ride there ladies."
[07:08:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles. "Thank you sir, Alyssa Fielding here to rest at an inn for awhile before travelling out again."
[07:08:53] <Zeni> Zeni pushes open the window and peeks out as the carriage rolls to a stop, offering the guards a feigned smile.
[07:10:47] <[DM]> "State yer names and business and you can pass. Not many travelers lately."
[07:12:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks back at the carriage, waiting for the other ladies to declare since she had already done so.
[07:15:59] <Ellis> "Mallory Cullen, stopping over for the night with the rest of our group." Ellis adjusts her glasses, peering inquisitively at the guard.
[07:17:41] <Zeni> "Shandri Mayhelm, just wanting to roll on through but I suppose my partners are looking to rest.  I suppose the carriage could use some repairs and I could use some new clothes though, hm."  Zeni was speaking a lot more softly than she usually does, her entire demeanor shifting.
[07:20:09] <Alyssa> "The snoring one is Vivien Foxglove, had too much to drink."
[07:25:31] <[DM]> "Well, we gots the carpenter over by the black temple, though old Cribbins doesn't go for much fancy woodwork, or ye could see the Weaver's priests if ye could afford their attentions.  Clothes, ye want the fancy stuff?"
[07:25:38] <[DM]> Behind the chatty guard the other writes on a bit of parchment.
[07:26:20] <[DM]> The portcullis rises to the sound of badly oiled crank and pulley.
[07:26:52] <Alyssa> "Whats the Weaver?" Alyssa asks.
[07:26:58] <Zeni> "Of course, only the finest!"
[07:27:21] <Lien> Lien stirs a little at the sound of the portcullis opening, unaware of the alias foisted on her
[07:28:18] <[DM]> "Then ye wants the Weaver temple or Mistress Knots, she's got that poofy elf crap."
[07:28:56] <Zeni> "Ah, thanks!"  Zeni then quickly turns to Lien, glaring at her as if saying 'don't say a word.'
[07:29:32] <Lien> Lien answers only with a bemused and half-asleep look.
[07:29:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa drives the party into the town proper.
[07:38:25] <[DM]> Ellis notices the wall beside the quieter guard is marked with a pair of triangles, near where a stray copper and dagger are resting on a shelf. Thieves' sign.
[07:48:42] <Ellis> Ellis straightens up a little at that, frowning and wondering whether there's a good way to get Zeni's attention without, say, kicking her now that Lien's awake.
[07:51:07] <Zeni> "Sounds like we're heading for the Weaver temple, then?  Hmhmn, and maybe any shops that catch our eye on the way..." Zeni notices Ellis's awkwardness and stare, blinking confusedly a few times before humming in that familiar way, incanting her Message spell, though trying to hide doing so from Lien.  Regardless, "What is it~?" came Zeni's voice, a bit more fluttery than usual as she was still using that persona.
[07:52:10] <Zeni> Lien notices Zeni's hands moving about in the way they do when she casts a spell, her eyes locked on Ellis.
[08:02:57] <Ellis> Ellis gives Zeni a grateful look before responding over the short-lived spell. "Saw a bit of thieves' sign; we should talk privately."
[08:06:01] <Zeni> Zeni just blinks confusedly in reply before canceling the spell and settling, turning to look at the passing storefronts.  "Hmmmn... 'poofy elf' clothes..."
[07:51:00] <Lien> ----------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 8: You Do (Not) Have Time

[05:00:41] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------------
[05:01:40] <[DM]> The way to the Weaver's temple is crowded with shops, roadside stalls and warehouses, the street barely passable at all to the carriage, drawing curious eyes.
[05:02:45] <[DM]> Food, brightly colored ornaments, and other knicknacks were thrust at the window with mixed yells of prices and their quality.
[05:03:26] <[DM]> At some point a clucking on the roof indicates an escaped chicken.
[05:03:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa merely drives the carriage carefully, taking extra care not to hit anyone.
[05:04:45] <[DM]> Lien meanwhile notices a hand reach for the baggage and the bird in the confusion, the same hands that tossed a chicken up there.
[05:05:28] <Lien> Lien quickly reaches out to slap that hand on the wrist and shove the escaped chicken at it instead.
[05:05:45] <Zeni> Zeni holds the door handle to the closest door tightly, trying to make sure no one can open it.  She gives the crowd a most fake smile, quite obviously getting pretty annoyed underneath, but she's still trying to assume this different persona.  "Why would a carriage not have door locks...?"
[05:09:38] <Alyssa> "Even if it has, the mauling this poor carriage experiences would have spoiled it." Alyssa replies in a deadpan tone.
[05:10:31] <Ellis> "Oh, good. Now we can buy a...whatever that is."
[05:11:37] <Lien> "Since we're probably wanted now, we could just sell this thing and buy something less flashy."
[05:12:10] <[DM]> In the noise, Alyssa finds herself abruptly beset by a ghostly red blade.
[05:12:47] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Lien, both confused by why she had briefly hopped out and by why she would say that.  "We're not selling the carriage!  Shush."
[05:13:16] <[DM]> The blade whips across a shoulder, spraying blood then vanishes.
[05:13:16] <Lien> "But selling the carriage means money, right?"
[05:14:03] <Zeni> "We're only selling the carriage if it means we're buying a better, prettier carriage with door locks!"  Zeni demands.... while Alyssa is getting shanked.
[05:14:08] <Zeni> Priorities.
[05:14:44] <Alyssa> "What the fu-!" Alyssa shouts as she looks around for the direction for the attack.
[05:15:53] <[DM]> The crowd's noise doubles as the people in front notices blood being spilled and try to back away, only to be pushed forward by would be thieves and traders.
[05:17:14] <Lien> "What? What's up?" Lien looks to the front of the carriage, sticking her head out the window and ignoring the counterargument.
[05:17:48] <Alyssa> "We are, well I am being attacked."
[05:18:57] <Ellis> Ellis sits up straighter at that, trying to pinpoint the perpetrator.
[05:23:37] <[DM]> Ellis catches sight of a figure in a grubby robe standing behind a stall selling sausages, shadowed hood intent upon the driver's seat and not for instance, paying any attention to the kids stealing the sausages.
[05:25:22] <Ellis> "That vendor over there!"
[05:30:45] <Zeni> Zeni draws up her legs further onto her seat to get as deep into cover as she can before hesitantly peeking out to spot the vendor Ellis was gesturing at.  "Oooof, really!?  At least it isn't axe-man..."
[05:38:08] <Alyssa> "Grab him Ellis!"
[05:39:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa claps a hand on the wound and utters an invocation to herself, quickly sealing the wounds.
[05:40:50] <[DM]> The crowd mills about, and the carriage makes a whole three feet of progress before threatening to trample a fallen dumpling seller.
[05:41:14] <[DM]> The dumplings are unfortantely, destroyed already.
[05:41:47] <[DM]> The blade takes advantage of the confusion to swing around for another cut.
[05:42:20] <Ellis> Ellis keeps a close eye on their assassin. "Zeni, how far away can you put an illusion?"
[05:43:16] <Zeni> "Forever far, but only so big!  Where do you need one and what do you want it to be?  I wanted to put the crowd on fire..."
[05:45:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa in the meantime, just gets the carriage under control, while keeping an eye for the blade, ready to sidestep if necessary.
[05:47:28] <Ellis> "We need the crowd to see something's wrong. Maybe set his stall on fire so it'll look suspicious if he doesn't move?"
[05:49:09] <Lien> "Please don't do that. Someone will get trampled. You're sure it's that guy?" Lien only looks to Ellis for confirmation for a short second before bolting out of the carriage, levering herself upwards, and vaulting over the heads and shoulders of passersby who look like they can take it. At the end of the line, she catches the guy in a flying tackle.
[05:54:14] <[DM]>  Lien's maneuver goes perfectly, in a textbook tackle...causing the hooded figure to pop into red motes as she slides to a halt in sausages.
[05:58:52] <[DM]> As Lien skids past the stall, she could see a foot sticking out from under the stall, unmoving, even as the blade swings around for another crack at Alyssa.
[06:02:02] <[DM]>  Followed by a burst of scarlet light hammering down from above.
[06:04:37] <[DM]> Alyssa's sudden twist causes the burst of light to do little more than scorch the nicely padded seat.
[06:06:16] <[DM]> Looking about, Lien could see a curtain move in a nearby window, accompanying the blast.
[06:09:47] <Lien> Lien looks back and forth between the curtains and the leg under the stall. Hrm. "Hey! He's still here!" Probably.
[06:12:23] <Lien> She point up at the curtain, just to be clear, because I can't read
[06:14:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at where Lien is pointing and immediately disappears in a puff of silvery mist. Reappearing behind the curtain with her Last Blood drawn, Alyssa points it at the assailant. "If you cease your attack, we can talk, or you'll be hurt. Your choice."
[06:16:01] <[DM]> Alyssa finds herself face to hood with a robed figure in a bedroom, the door splintered from being forced. Not a familiar face, she'd have remembered such a horrible crone.
[06:17:05] <[DM]> She gazes at the blade with maddened eyes.
[06:20:02] <Alyssa> "Hey! Eyes up here. Who are you?"
[06:21:42] <Zeni> Meanwhile Zeni climbs out of the carriage and onto the driver's seat, picking up the reigns and hafhazardly attempting to get the carriage moving.  "Clear out or I'm setting this whole market on fire, stupid peasants!!"  Kind persona dropped.
[06:21:45] <[DM]> Alyssa only gets heavy breathing in return as the crone grips a leather talisman and blade.
[06:22:13] <[DM]> The merchants VERY quickly got out of the way, trampling each other in their rush.
[06:22:20] <Lien> With Alyssa disappeared into the room upstairs, Lien jumps off the sausage stand and hauls herself up to the window to sling her arms around the crone's neck from behind.
[06:22:43] <[DM]> Then the carriage smashes into a kebab stall.
[06:23:33] <Zeni> Zeni sighs... picks up a kebab... and begins raeg noming it. :I
[06:25:04] <[DM]> Lien slings around the crone's neck...and her hands lose their grip upon a wiry chest where her eyes said was the neck.
[06:26:24] <Ellis> Ellis smacks against the opposite seat with a disgruntled noise.
[06:27:21] <[DM]> The crone(?) screams out a guttural noise in a clearly male voice, "<Lord of the Hunt, hide my trail!>", then lunges out of the room, shadows leaping from the floor in a mantle.
[06:28:56] <Lien> As the man-crone flees, Lien takes the opportunity to raise her leg and kick for the one piece of anatomy she's sure will hurt, no matter what the person really is.
[06:29:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa pivots and aims for the man-crone's legs.
[06:30:19] <[DM]> The blows sink in, then the cultist ducks out of the door.
[06:31:51] <Alyssa> "Chase him, or it!" Alyssa turns and starts running.
[06:34:12] <Lien> "On it!" Lien bolts after the probably-man and quickly finds him again running down the stairs. She jumps off the top to catch him with a flying kick and follow up with two joint strikes as they tumble down together.
[06:36:52] <Zeni> Meanwhile Zeni just keeps glaring at the few remaining peasants as she raeg noms her kebab in tiny bites.  After a while she raises her arcane focus and throws an illusion of a fire storm coalescing in the air, but only a 5x5x5 one.  "Faster.  Get out of here!  Ellis, help me get this thing moving?"
[06:38:04] <Ellis> Ellis slides out of the carriage window and climbs onto the front seat, taking the reins with a dubious expression.
[06:40:30] <[DM]> Lien lands one blow, then her opponent twists away, sprinting into the kitchen, and then the footsteps change.
[06:44:29] <Alyssa> Only Lien being able to chase after that bastard, Alyssa moves back to the carriage in an attempt to regain control.
[06:44:52] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, clears the rest of the stairs in one leap and runs inexorably after the cultist.
[06:48:44] <[DM]> Lien, popping out of the kitchen window, finds a beggar in her path, while the shadow shrouded cultists makes his run for it.
[06:48:54] <[DM]> *cultist
[06:50:18] <Lien> Without stopping or showing any signs of even slowing down, Lien reaches into her pocket and throws a coin into the beggar's hand with implausible precision.
[06:50:39] <Lien> The gesture's meant to make abundantly clear that she's not about to slow down for him.
[06:51:00] <[DM]> The beggar grabs the coin and then unexpectedly athletically ducks out of the way.
[06:51:32] <[DM]> The cultist looks behind him and puts his ass in gear.
[06:52:14] <Lien> Which won't help him, because Lien's ass is already in gear, and she goes up to six.
[06:57:39] <Lien> After a too short chase, Lien gets to within arm's reach of the cultist, and that's that. Grabbing his elbow, she plants her heer in the street and pivots the man into the next house wall before restraining him.
[06:58:54] <[DM]> Lien is assaulted by some ungodly noises until a few loops of rope shuts him up. A few very clumsy attempts to stab her went nowhere.
[06:59:50] <[DM]> After a bit of struggling, Lien has his robes around his head and secured in a bag, his arms twisted together and pinned tight.
[06:59:56] <Lien> That blade, as well as anything else on him that looks vaguely like it could be used to stab her, cut the rope, or cast spells, goes into her pouch.
[07:00:53] <Lien> Then, she guides him back to the others with both hands firmly on his arms.
[07:01:43] <[DM]> Under the robes are ordinary tradesman clothes, but Lien finds a surprisingly large number of knives, garottes and lockpicks hidden in the robes, as well as two bottles of clear liquid and three foul smelling bits of leather and fur.
[07:02:30] <Zeni> Zeni and Ellis had meanwhile managed to get some control of the carriage, parking it infront of the house the crone had broken into.  Zeni was holding a kebab between each finger of the hand not holding the reins. :I  She'd offer one when Lien neared.  "Good job.  Can I burn him yet?  Heburnedthisseat, it's only fair."
[07:02:56] <[DM]> A bit of poking around finds a jagged flint blade wedged in the back of his loincloth, inside a leather sheath.
[07:02:58] <Lien> "We probably want him to tell people it was him who shot first."
[07:04:17] <[DM]> The crowd had decided that Zeni was safe enough and are now in a wide circle, except for the two restraining a swearing man in an apron to the side.

[:<]

Session 9: You Can (Not) Have All Kebab

[05:04:44] <[DM]> -----------------------------------------------------
[05:05:25] <[DM]> Lien drags her captive back towards Alyssa, where the duo finds Zeni somehow engaged in a hit and eat incident.
[05:05:53] <Lien> Lien stops for a second at that, her new friend still tightly held, and blinks.
[05:06:00] <[DM]> The kebab stall owner is being restrained by two other merchants from applying a pair of cleavers to the problem.
[05:06:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods at Lien and thumbs back into the carriage. "Put him back there. Did you remove his weapons and tools?"
[05:06:56] <Lien> "I did. What happened? I was barely out of sight for a minute."
[05:07:53] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs and waves the question to answers later. Stepping forward towards the stall owner, Alyssa flashes her best smile and presses a few silvers into his hand. "I apologise, little girl has no manners. Will this settle it?"
[05:09:07] <[DM]> Alyssa, having gotten the attention of the kebabman, has the coins tossed back in her face, "Fuck off, I want an apology from high High and Mightyness"
[05:09:12] <[DM]> "And compensation!"
[05:09:34] <[DM]> "Or I CHOP"
[05:10:13] <Ellis> Ellis gives the man a disbelieving look. Who talks like that?
[05:10:55] <Alyssa> Alyssa picks up the silver pieces and passes it back to the man again, her smile never going away. "Please sir, be reasonable?"
[05:11:59] <[DM]> The man breaks free from his restraints and hacks wildly at Alyssa.
[05:12:58] <Zeni> Zeni stares at the man with disinterest for some time, but she eventually sighs and within a flicker of a moment, she takes on her kinder persona once more.  "Sir, you can hardly blame us for our horses going awry when the crowd was being so unruly.  Yes, they knocked over your stall, but it must be worth something that an elven Emissary took pause from fleeing a dangerous situation just to take a bit of your irresistable, succulent kebabs?  You can easily spin your meager losses into a large gain."  Zeni tosses the man three silver coins, quite purposely landing them short and in the mud.
[05:13:05] <[DM]> Meanwhile, Lien notices her captive making a break for it in the confusion. A rather slow escape.
[05:13:17] <Alyssa> Hardly any blood is drawn despite the cleavers sinking in. Alyssa's voice drops to a dangerous tone as her smile fades away. "You sure you want to continue?" she glares at him.
[05:14:03] <[DM]> The kebab man is still straining forward, but his two friends gain two more helpers who begin bodily hauling him away to mutters of 'elf emissary'
[05:14:42] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, is distracted from trying to improve the situation by keeping the demon priest from getting away. Not that easy.
[05:15:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa turns away muttering an incantation to close her flesh.
[05:16:14] <Ellis> Ellis climbs off the carriage and trots over to help Lien with the priest, for all the good it does.
[05:17:47] <Lien> "Is she always like that?"
[05:18:09] <[DM]> The escape attempt is cut short and bashed a bit more.
[05:18:52] <Ellis> "You have no idea." Ellis pauses. "Well, maybe you have some idea."
[05:19:12] <[DM]> The crowd remains watching, not giving up on free street theater
[05:19:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps to tie up the escape's ankles.
[05:20:27] <Alyssa> "Let's get out of here." Alyssa sighs.
[05:20:28] <Zeni> Zeni leans back a little further in her carriage seat, just enough to fall out of view of most, where she immediately sheds that persona.  :I  "What are you three even doing out there? Tie him to the roof of the carriage already!"
[05:20:47] <[DM]> He's not making it easy, bucking about and kicking the whole time
[05:22:30] <Lien> "What would we even do with him on the carriage?"
[05:23:55] <Alyssa> Alyssa gives the man's groin a punch.
[05:24:36] <Zeni> "Bring him to the guards?  That's what I assumed you were going to be doing.  Easier than carrying him all the way there~" Zeni quite idly replies as she prods at the damaged upholstery, sulking a bit.  "Let's just get this over with, we need to go shopping!"
[05:25:00] <[DM]> Lien also sees a few people fading out of the watching crowd, presumably to inform law enforcement of a kidnapping.
[05:25:22] <Lien> "Hey! Don't do that."
[05:26:04] <Lien> "I walked him this far, we can just walk him there. People are already giving us looks."
[05:27:27] <[DM]> There certainly are a lot of interested looks.
[05:31:19] <Lien> "So where do we go to give this guy to the guards?"
[05:31:44] <Alyssa> "Yes, for magical assault and strange magic." Alyssa raises her voice slightly.
[05:32:47] <Alyssa> "Let's go to the guards and report this."
[05:33:36] <Lien> Having seen no guards other than the ones at the gate, Lien just begins walking the perp there.
[05:34:40] <[DM]> The crowd disperses after a while, the traders going back to their business and cursing the 'crazed outlanders'.
[05:35:15] <[DM]> The trip to the gate is uneventful, other than three more escape attempts.
[05:36:06] <[DM]> "Back so so-" The two guards  stare at their captive, "What?"
[05:36:29] <Lien> "I'm pretty sure this guy attacked us and maybe killed someone."
[05:36:36] <Alyssa> "I'm reporting an assault using magic. This man attacked me." Alyssa shows her cuts and bruises."
[05:37:44] <Zeni> Zeni steps halfway out of the carriage door, instead just folding her arms over the top of it and resting her chin in them.  "Worse yet, he damaged our carriage even more!"
[05:38:08] <Zeni> (instead of stepping all the way out, bluh bluh)
[05:38:55] <[DM]> One of the guards approach, largely dismissing the injuries, "Can't be that good of a killer. You came in with as many scratches."
[05:39:25] <[DM]> He grabs their captive and pulls the hood clean off, "Ezek Tanner? He's no mage."
[05:39:26] <Lien> "Well there was a corpse."
[05:40:49] <Lien> "Do you figure he's the type to like knives? Because I found a lot of them on him." Lien shows them.
[05:40:50] <[DM]> "Where?"
[05:41:14] <Lien> "Under that... stall on the main street. Uh. I could show you."
[05:42:06] <[DM]> The guard checks out the knives, "Looks finer make than he could afford, His leather is kinda shit"
[05:42:13] <[DM]> The captive jerks about some more.
[05:43:17] <Lien> "And these." She shows them the demonic symbols and the... dead rat.
[05:43:34] <[DM]> "Eurgh, throw that stink away."
[05:45:13] <[DM]> "Right." The older guard looks over the evidence, "We'll go pick up the body while  Fred there hauls Ezek to the lockup."
[05:45:14] <Lien> "Probably a good idea anyway." Lien tries describing the stand she found the corpse under as accurately as she can, given an unfamiliar town where everything looks pretty much the same to her.
[05:45:37] <[DM]> "Fred, bolt the gates, we got work."
[05:50:11] <[DM]> After way too long, the gates are closed and the party headed back to the market for the corpse.
[05:51:36] <Zeni> "Uuuuu... Come on, can't they find the corpse themselves? It's probably stinking up the place quite badly by now, let's go shoppiiiing!"  Zeni is patient.
[05:52:37] <Lien> "Corpses don't rot that fast if they weren't already noticably smelly."
[05:52:41] <[DM]> When they arrived back at the market, there is no sign of the body, nor anything more than a few brown flecks of what could be blood or sausage bits.
[05:53:49] <Lien> "Huh. Maybe I should've expected that. Does anyone normally live here?"
[05:54:27] <Ellis> Ellis crouches to inspect the bits, peering over her glasses and holding her breath.
[05:55:21] <[DM]> The guardman looks up and down the street, "Plenty, I don't see Dobson anywhere though, and his sausages are all gone."
[05:55:53] <Lien> "What did Dobson look like?"
[05:56:09] <[DM]> Ellis finds a roughly five foot by ten foot area of suspiciously clean ground, given that this is a market. Sounds like something Zeni could have done.
[05:56:13] <Lien> "Or does, for the sake of not doomsaying."
[05:56:59] <Ellis> "Hmm. Does this look funny to you? Most people wouldn't scrub a market floor unless they had something to hide."
[05:57:04] <[DM]> "Dobson? Sort of pudgy, balding slightly."
[06:00:11] <Lien> "Huh." Lien gives the area her own look, not that she expects to find much.
[06:01:44] <[DM]> Lien's search finds a small bit of reddened stone caught in the paving. Looks like a flint flake. A bloody one
[06:02:54] <Lien> "What's this?" Lien fishes the bloody flint out and compares it to the flint dagger she liberated from Ezek Tanner.
[06:03:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a look at it.
[06:03:47] <[DM]> It looks like the same stone, but doesn't match neatly to any chip in the rather battered weapon. Though that might just be the blood coat.
[06:06:17] <Zeni> Zeni eventually gets bored in the carriage and climbs out of it, wandering over next to Ellis to inspect the 'cleaned' dirt roadside.  "So at the very least he had someone willing to help clean up for him...  and an arcane spellcaster at that," she whispers, stating the obvious with a vague hint that she was trying to take credit for the discovery.
[06:09:41] <[DM]> "Looks like there's no body. No body, no case."
[06:11:18] <Lien> "There's blood here, but... yeah, no body." Lien frowns.
[06:11:44] <Alyssa> "Anyway, he has way too many knives for an upstanding citizen. Let's move on."
[06:17:50] <[DM]> "Right, move along, I'd best get back to my post."
[06:18:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa drives the carriage to the weavers' temple.
[06:18:26] <Zeni> "Hold on a second.  You said that man wasn't a mage, do you actually know of any mages in this town?"
[06:18:42] <Lien> Lien grunts in slightly frustrated affirmation and moves on.
[06:22:44] <[DM]> "There's a few of those. Sir Dracht is the big man hereabouts, does some blasting if attacked and keeps the elfs in line. There's also Mother Mils, she's the witch that does love charms and fixes accidents. Or Lionel, but he's a fake that just does that to get free beer."
[06:27:05] <Zeni> "Hmnnn... Alright, thank you.  Take care at your post and do let us know if anything else comes up pertaining to that man, we'll be in or around the market and Weaver's Temple for the next few hours."  With that, Zeni climbs back into the carriage and Alyssa does her thing!
[06:28:54] <[DM]> It doesn't take long before the carriage reaches the temple of the Weaver, and it's a difficult structure to mistake.
[06:30:19] <[DM]> The building is colorful enough to pain the eye if you look at it for too long, in addition to complicated knots and ribbons on every side, while curtains and veils fill every interior space, rippling in the breeze.
[06:31:42] <[DM]> The top of it is a large eight spoked wheel, trailing wires to the ground.
[06:32:31] <Lien> "Fancy."
[06:33:05] <Alyssa> "Nice."
[06:34:25] <[DM]> To the front, a helpful wooden signboard indicates the entrance, hidden in veils behind it, 'Temple of the Weaver.' It's painted in a simple green and red.
[06:34:49] <Zeni> "A little too fancy... Hope the clothing isn't quite that gaudy~" Zeni ponders aloud as she exits the carriage once more, stretching out a bit this time.
[06:35:19] <Alyssa> "Gaudiness is the least of your concerns I think."
[06:35:55] <Ellis> Ellis makes an agreeing noise, squinting at the signboard.
[06:36:15] <Zeni> Zeni quirks an eyebrow at that, but then just shrugs, "We'll see, I suppose.  Can't all be bad~"
[06:37:01] <Lien> "It looks nice. Probably not something I want to look at every day, though."
[06:37:27] <Alyssa> "It just means they have lots of different fabrics and dyes, I'm sure they allow you to choose your colors."
[06:38:33] <Lien> Lien suddenly pictures Zeni in the gaudiest outfit imaginable, looking like a peacock, and snorts a little.
[06:40:20] <Zeni> Zeni glares over her shoulder at Lien for just a moment before just huffing and continuing on up towards the temple.
[06:40:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa follows along.
[06:41:01] <Ellis> Ellis follows in Zeni's wake, hoping to intercede and stay Zeni's wrath with fancy clothing.
[06:41:34] <Lien> Lien closes the line, more interested in the temple and people than in the clothing.
[06:44:24] <[DM]> Inside the entrance the group is greeted by an acolyte in outlandish clothing, enormous bright yellow sleeves, a scarlet cloak and  a form fitting bodysuit with a criminally short skirt. Around her neck is a cheap copper necklace.
[06:45:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a closer look at the necklace, trying to figure out its shape and design.
[06:47:30] <[DM]> "Greetings ladies. May I interest you in our products or are you interested in converting?"
[06:49:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa raises an eyebrow. "What's converting?"
[06:50:18] <Ellis> Ellis inclines her head respectfully. "We're here to shop. New clothes, mostly, although if you've got a black choker on hand I might be interested."
[06:50:42] <[DM]> She frowns, looking up and down the group, "Follow me."
[06:51:08] <[DM]> She pushes aside a grey and blue checkered curtain.
[06:51:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs and follows
[06:51:35] <Zeni> Zeni pauses mid step ever so briefly as the acolytle falls into view, but she just flashes a  fsaccharine smile and continues on up to her.  "I'm certainly interested in seeing what your temple has to offer, but perhaps we should discuss a couple of other things first... Hmmmnn."
[06:51:38] <Ellis> Ellis ducks into the alcove after their guide.
[06:53:20] <[DM]> Inside the curtain, there is a faint rustling noise that cuts off the outside,  the acolyte gesturing at some sofas,"You seek refuge?"
[06:53:33] <[DM]> This last was directed at Ellis.
[06:53:41] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks confused.
[06:53:58] <Lien> Lien too.
[06:55:17] <Ellis> "In a sense. Answers to questions, mostly." Ellis takes a seat. "The sign at the gates might have been disturbed, so I suppose the first thing to check is whether that was a warning or a job offer."
[06:56:08] <Lien> "I have no idea what's going on. Are you a weaver too?"
[06:56:27] <Alyssa> "Those crossbow bolts are too big for sewing needles."
[06:56:53] <Lien> "Sewing isn't the same as weaving."
[06:57:12] <[DM]> "A warning. Some new people aren't following the rules. Your friends do not know?"
[06:58:10] <Ellis> "They're a little behind, but they're generally quick to catch on. These newcomers - connected to Yeenoghu, perhaps?"
[06:58:32] <Zeni> Zeni hesitates a bit before eventually following Ellis and settling beside her, firing her an only vaguely confused glance on the way over.
[07:00:01] <Lien> Still kind of confused but starting to get an idea, Lien settles for standing behind or next to Ellis and looking out of place rather than sitting down.
[07:00:49] <[DM]> "The Beastlord? He does not like cities, his followers here work only in the meat trades ."
[07:01:13] <[DM]> "They should know better than to work in this town."
[07:01:48] <Lien> "Well we were attacked by one." Lien decides this seems like a good cue to show the lady the furry symbols, which she still hasn't tossed for some reason.
[07:02:35] <Alyssa> "I did take something that was meant to exalt that Beastlord I guess."
[07:02:46] <[DM]> She looks at the symbols, nose wrinkling, "Definitely his work."
[07:03:22] <[DM]> "I'll let the word out. They won't be here very much longer."
[07:03:49] <Ellis> "The one who attacked us is in the lockup right now, but without any serious charges he'll be out soon enough. Ample time to let your people know."
[07:04:36] <Alyssa> "He...was eyeing my weapon like a crazed obsessive fella."
[07:07:15] <[DM]> She looks surprised, "Attacked you in the day? Is he retarded?"
[07:07:36] <Lien> "Maybe."
[07:07:50] <Ellis> "Fanatic, at least."
[07:08:08] <Alyssa> "Seems desperate."
[07:08:24] <Alyssa> "Can't really do much to me anyway. Too tough for his puny magic."
[07:09:05] <[DM]> She frowns at Alyssa's words, "We'll see about that one as well. Now, what weapon is this?"
[07:09:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa glances at Ellis and Lien, wondering if she had gone too far with revealing her stuff.
[07:11:01] <Alyssa> A magic circle appears in the air as Alyssa reaches in, pulling Last Blood in its original scimitar form out.
[07:12:27] <[DM]> She looks at the weapon, shaking her head, "This part is beyond me. You'll have to talk to the First Weaver here. I deal with the more...earthy subjects." She winks at Ellis.
[07:13:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa puts the weapon back. "Let me see the First Weaver then."
[07:14:53] <Ellis> Ellis smiles. "We're also here for clothes and the like - perhaps you could assist us with those while Alyssa talks to the First Weaver, if she's available?"
[07:15:15] <[DM]> "You have to understand that the First Weaver is not involved with the night work. Please do not mention it to her."
[07:15:24] <Lien> "Actually, I'm curious about this First Weaver too."
[07:15:39] <Lien> "Can I come?"
[07:15:58] <Alyssa> "Uh...what's night work?"
[07:16:54] <Ellis> Ellis shoots Alyssa an I'll-explain-later look. "Zeni, you had some sort of list in mind, right?"
[07:17:57] <Alyssa> "Ooh I'll like to have some fresh travel clothes. These are pretty much mauled."
[07:19:13] <[DM]> "If the black business is concluded, I can show you to the gallery."
[07:19:13] <Zeni> "Mm, I mean, there's not much other than repairs for the carriage and well," she shoots the acolyte's attire a slightly disappointed glance, "Clothes."  She instantly tries to hide that disappointed look with another superficial smile~
[07:19:59] <Ellis> "Well, I did have a few questions about your other visitors who weren't abiding by the rules, if that's better discussed here."
[07:20:11] <[DM]> "That would be for the best."
[07:21:05] <Alyssa> Alyssa puts an arm over Lien's shoulders. "And we'll go see the First Weaver."
[07:21:33] <Lien> "Great."
[07:30:55] <Ellis> "Now, who's causing trouble?" Ellis pauses, then amends, "Apart from us."
[07:34:30] <[DM]> "A few killings in odd places. The gaoler had an accident only yesterday, and there's a new man in his place. Aside from our more usual friends falling on their own knives.
[07:42:20] <Zeni> Zeni lightly tugs Ellis's sleeve as if asking if she could interject, but then just does so anyway without waiting for a reaction.  "So the place our cleric friend is locked up at has a new gaoler as of today?  Also, by what method are these people dying?"
[07:43:33] <[DM]> "They trip and fall from all kinds of places. Or they disappear without a body."
[07:44:16] <Alyssa> Alyssa perks up at that statement. "There was a sausage seller who died and the body disappeared."
[07:46:48] <[DM]> "That would be about the usual. Nobody important suffers."
[07:47:25] <Alyssa> "But the replacements happen quickly. Are you sure those people are locals?"
[07:49:41] <[DM]> "They live nearby, but are not townsfolk."
[07:51:09] <[DM]> "Farmers' sons, woodsmen tired of bandits, the usual stragglers"
[07:51:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods.
[07:52:12] <Zeni> "That's... still suspicious if the replacements have been exclusively just-out-of-townsfolk, I'd think."
[07:52:12] <Lien> "So picking off the weak and replacing them? Like... a predator?"
[07:52:36] <Alyssa> "Or a type of bird whose name I cannot recall right now."
[07:54:32] <[DM]> "So it is, but there can't be that many of them that can fight."
[07:55:03] <Lien> "The one that targeted us was kind of a pushover in a straight fight."
[07:56:39] <Alyssa> "Get enough of them at one time and trouble gets deadly."
[07:56:43] <[DM]> "Then you're looking at a small handful of killers, and a large pack of substitutes."
[07:56:58] <Zeni> "Did any of the other replacements take key roles?  It's sounding like we might want to stake out the jail tonight to see how the new gaoler interacts with our friend..."
[07:57:58] <[DM]> "A few innkeepers. And far too many farriers and stableboys who got kicked by a horse."
[07:58:41] <Alyssa> "You don't seem worried? Eventually you're have more foreigners than townsfolk in this town."
[08:00:10] <[DM]> "There's not enough of them to be a big problem. Interference with local interests is the biggest issue here. Sales gone, blind and deaf people not so open to a few coppers here and there."
[08:01:27] <[DM]> "And, not quite worth mentioning, but many of our younger quickfingers and acrobats are missing. The older have been attacked but got away."
[08:03:05] <Alyssa> "Reminds me of when Sweetwater folk are harrassed by increasing numbers of foreign millitia that bastard hired. Eventually some people break and stop resisting..." Alyssa mutters, her mind working back in memories.
[08:03:34] <Zeni> "Just how many have been attacked, and how many have gone missing?  How many people is this other faction supposed to have?"
[08:04:02] <[DM]> "Two dozen in all, half of which happened last night."
[08:04:12] <[DM]> "The rest over the past few weeks"
[08:05:00] <[DM]> "Most of who can hardly complain to the law."
[08:05:29] <Lien> "A whole dozen just last night?"
[08:06:43] <Zeni> "... That's quite the operation.  The ones that escaped, did they say how many attacked them?"
[08:06:46] <[DM]> "Right after some kind of light late at night."
[08:07:03] <Zeni> "Oh."
[08:07:04] <[DM]> "A signal of some sort."
[08:08:21] <Zeni> "... Are you sure? A-Aha..." Zeni gives Alyssa a glance, her gaze trailing towards her sword arm.
[08:09:32] <Lien> "...Huh."
[08:10:09] <Alyssa> "Shit..."
[08:11:19] <[DM]> "Somewhere between eight and  twenty. Some of the men were babbling about seeing double, being drunk"
[08:12:47] <Lien> "The one we fought was pretty handy with illusions, so there's probably not that many."
[08:14:44] <[DM]> "If matters get worse they'd be cleaned out publicly. Not much magic they can do to overcome all three temples working on it."
[08:15:00] <Alyssa> "This isn't the only temple?"
[08:15:02] <[DM]> "But until then we of course, cannot employ more direct interventions."
[08:28:57] <Zeni> Zeni nudges Ellis a bit, whispering "Isn't that generally where you come in? Or well, we, but~  Might be fun to be paid to put these cultists under.  Likeoldtimes.  Beforeaxeguy."
[08:35:19] <Ellis> Ellis ponders that for a little bit. "We'd have to find a good way to spin it...but you're good at that. And as long as we're getting paid..."
[08:38:38] <Ellis> Aloud, she tells the acolyte, "We might be able to arrange something that would be beneficial to both parties."
[08:45:36] <[DM]> She meets Ellis' eyes, "Oh no, not an arrangement at all. Just the usual work."
[08:47:08] <[DM]> "On to more colorful business then?"
[08:47:20] <Ellis> "It'd be nice to get back to usual work," Ellis agrees. "More colorful business it is."
[08:48:43] <[DM]> "Would you prefer to meet the First Weaver or view products next?"
[08:49:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Ellis and Zeni.
[08:49:52] <Lien> Lien does too, with the kind of look that says she's not really interested in viewing products.
[08:51:01] <Ellis> "We'll see the First Weaver now, I think."
[08:51:14] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 10: You Can't (Not) Always Get, Whachu Waaaant

[05:13:20] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------------
[05:14:33] <[DM]> Getting to see the First Weaver is a matter involving quite a bit of waiting, as the initiate vanishes behind curtains to do whatever mystery cult things they do.
[05:16:09] <Lien> It's a good thing Lien is patient. Gotta be when you spend two years in the woods without much to do.
[05:16:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes this time to send a barrage of questions about the Weaver towards Ellis
[05:18:04] <Zeni> Zeni wasn't quite as patient, slowly devolving from standing straight and attentive to leaning to one side and tapping her foot, "Gaauuu, we should've just gone shopping first.  The possibility of disappointment beats this..."
[05:19:19] <Lien> "Well, you can still go..."
[05:19:29] <Ellis> Ellis tries - patiently - to answer Alyssa's questions. Most of them, at least.
[05:20:04] <Zeni> "Rather not get lost in this loony cultist place!"
[05:20:31] <Alyssa> "Or face other cultists outside this place?" Alyssa smiles.
[05:22:04] <Lien> "It doesn't look that bad... the clerics have to find their way too, so there's probably a pattern. And you can just go through the walls here."
[05:23:15] <Zeni> Zeni huffs, "Well I've waited this long, so there better be some kind of pay off!  I don't even remember why we're meeting this lady."
[05:24:15] <Lien> "Alyssa wanted to ask stuff about Yeenoghu, right? And I want to see if she knows anything about those spiders and bugs. Weaver sounds like she might be related."
[05:24:37] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods at Lien. "Yeah, apart from the original information I'm always looking for."
[05:26:38] <Zeni> The answers only seem to contribute to Zeni's boredom and yet she stubbornly stays, "If we have to wait this long, this First Weaver better be something special."
[05:27:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa pauses for a second. "Right. Since we're private, sort of, I'll tell you all why I'm travelling. Back at the town of Sweetwater, I have lost three older brothers to conscription by the local lord. I rebelled after being punished like a pest. I'm hunting for news of my brothers. I don't know where they went after leaving the town."
[05:29:14] <Alyssa> "Maybe her outfit is fabulous."
[05:30:24] <[DM]> The curtains move as a white haired, elderly woman strides into the waiting alcove, her clothing slowly shifting in color from white to a pale blue in ripples , "Good day ladies. I am First Weaver Aksi. Initiate Bellflower said you wished to see me?"
[05:31:24] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods at the First Weaver. "Lien and I have some questions, if you would kindly answer them."
[05:31:40] <Lien> Lien nods eagerly.
[05:32:08] <Zeni> Zeni looks over her shoulder to Alyssa, blinking, "Three days of boredom on the road in our carriage and you choose to tell us here in this cult's halls?  Well, find out what you can, mm."  This dialogue should be assumed to happen befoooore First Weaver arrives. :<
[05:32:35] <[DM]> "Ask, and I will answer, if I can." The blue dissolves into green spirals.
[05:33:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks around. "Do we have somewhere private where we can speak? Preferably with walls more substantial than cloth."
[05:34:27] <Lien> "Cloth's pretty good at muffling sound."
[05:35:00] <Alyssa> "But not light, you know that light."
[05:36:40] <Zeni> Zeni appears at least slightly awestruck at first as her eyes inspect the woman's shifting, morphing attire, but quickly tempers her enthusiasm and remains quiet for now.  She didn't have any questions yet.
[05:36:59] <[DM]> "None can hear what passes here. The hangings are set so even in the next alcove, you hear nothing." The green spirals fade into orange waves.
[05:38:34] <Lien> Lien briefly looks at Alyssa and then goes ahead with her own question. "Um. The Weaver has to do with spiders too, right?"
[05:41:32] <[DM]> "Some." She looks at Lien more closely, "It's a facet that's little known."
[05:42:04] <Lien> She pulls out a collection of thread tied to two sticks that makes a mess of threads and knots between the sticks when pulled taut, vaguely reminiscent of an irregular spider's web. "Then... does this tell you anything?"
[05:43:45] <[DM]> Aksi blinks, "Where did you see that?"
[05:46:06] <Lien> "Uh... I first saw it from spiders... fixing a hole in my table. And tried to figure it out or copy it." Lien blushes a little, fully aware of the reactions to her story she's gotten in the past.
[05:47:43] <Zeni> Zeni takes to staring at Lien like she's the stupidest thing she's ever laid eyes on.  "Crafting such a dumb example probably wasn't necessary, just tell her about -both- times you saw the 'piders."
[05:48:16] <Lien> "I'm pretty sure the webs mean something, too."
[05:53:40] <Lien> "I guess... the first time I saw one of these coming out of my table." She shows the first weaver her dead bug, stumbling a bit over her words. "Then spiders came out of it, and killed it, and fixed the hole, and I thought I saw something in the pattern, so I tried copying it. Then a bit over a week ago, a whole swarm of them came out of a man's corpse, and the spiders were there again. I'm sure it means something, so if your god has
[05:54:10] <Lien> to do with spiders, I thought..."
[05:56:35] <[DM]> "All patterns have meaning. If you know how to read it" She laces her fingers together as her sleeves ripple with black dots.
[06:00:25] <Zeni> "... And to be clear, that beetle isn't actually dead.  It's temporaly locked, perhaps by some poison the spider bite afflicted upon it?  Nastything.  The beetle is pretty nasty itself, it's quite a bit larger within than it would seem.  Don'tputyourfingerin."
[06:01:16] <Lien> Lien frowns and squints at the pattern on the First Weaver's sleeves. "I don't know how that's supposed to continue."
[06:04:25] <[DM]> "You can read it?"
[06:05:07] <Lien> "I think so. Every... stich and every line?"
[06:06:16] <[DM]> "Who taught you?"
[06:07:21] <Lien> "Nobody. I couldn't ignore the patterns, and started seeing more of them when I meditated on them."
[06:09:46] <Lien> "So you know something about this, right? All this... the bugs, they can't be a good sign, right? I've been looking for answers for over a month, and you have them, don't you?"
[06:17:48] <[DM]> The priestess seems perplexed, "Perhaps the Goddess wishes your aid. The spiders you describe are the Custodians, They preserve the lines that run between the anchors. They should not be in conflict with the Scrollery however."
[06:18:31] <Lien> "The anchors? The Scrollery?"
[06:18:57] <Alyssa> "Please tell us." Alyssa looks pleadingly.
[06:22:00] <[DM]> "The beetles are the curators of the Scrollery."
[06:22:59] <Lien> "Then the Scrollery is... what, a record of things that happen?"
[06:23:01] <[DM]> "But they shouldn't be out here."
[06:24:03] <[DM]> "That no longer happen."
[06:24:25] <Lien> "Do they... eat things that shouldn't be?"
[06:25:05] <[DM]> "They need no food as you understand it."
[06:25:30] <Zeni> Sighs, "Obviously they protect things that shouldn't be released, those beetles seem to be causing them problems though."  Watch Zeni be totally wrong.  :<
[06:25:30] <Lien> "But they do have mouths. Big ones. And they bite. Personal experience."
[06:25:47] <Zeni> DELETE THAT readsomethingwrong
[06:30:05] <[DM]> "Then you must have come into contact with the lost history, unless you threaten the anchors." She frowns, then raises her arms, her cloak fading into an intricate maze pattern.
[06:31:56] <Lien> "There was a piece of a fang they were going after. I took it because I thought it might be a key to figuring the bugs out."
[06:32:21] <Lien> "But that doesn't explain why one would pop up in my hut in the forest."
[06:33:13] <[DM]> She frowns, "Show me the fang."
[06:33:40] <Lien> "Uh..." Lien digs around to show her the splinter. "I think it's from a werewolf."
[06:33:53] <[DM]> Her eyes are still on Alyssa.
[06:34:49] <Lien> Lien blinks. "Something wrong?"
[06:35:29] <[DM]> "That splinter isn't the most tainted thing here. Show yourself."
[06:35:56] <Zeni> Zeni snrrks.  Because that's an appropriate thing to do right now.
[06:36:26] <Alyssa> "I'll show it later, because that's my question. What about answering Lien's question first?" Alyssa sighs.
[06:36:50] <[DM]> "That, is not a request."
[06:38:35] <Alyssa> "Fine." Alyssa draws the weapon in it's original position from the Void. "My question is, what is this weapon for and why are the Yeenoghu cultists chasing after me for this?"
[06:38:59] <Zeni> Zeni stiffles even further laughter, "Can you believe she just plucked that thing out of a bloody sacrificial altar and bound it to herself on the spot, without inspecting it? Ahaha~"
[06:39:23] <Alyssa> "Denying Yeenoghu cultists a weapon is always a good thing."
[06:39:56] <[DM]> Her focus remains intent upon Alyssa, but the sense of threat dissipated, "Foolish."
[06:40:29] <Zeni> "There's denying a weapon and there's binding a heinously evil weapon to your already tainted soul!  You could've just done the former and not the latter."
[06:41:25] <Alyssa> "Foolish, but for a person who's already damned and little else to lose, I'm fine with this."
[06:43:19] <Alyssa> "I just want to know what this weapon is."
[06:44:08] <[DM]> "Tainted?"
[06:44:35] <Ellis> Ellis groans. Quietly.
[06:45:12] <Lien> Lien doesn't look happy with this situation.
[06:54:58] <Zeni> Seeing the First Weaver reaching her limit, Zeni wipes a couple of laughter-induced tears from her eyes and steps forward, putting on a more serious face.  "My companion's poor decisions aside, we really do need a lead on what that sword is, what it symbolizes to the cultists that are assailing your town, and any further advice you could offer about them or Yiinoguuu, or whatever his name is.  Dumb doggy ghouly god.  I also don't think you fully respected that monk's inquiry and I'd like you to reconsider that.  We may not be of the same faith and my companion might be least of the people you'd like to associate with, but between the cultists and the beetles, we are fighting, very much, on your side."
[06:59:52] <[DM]> The old priestess seems conflicted, but after a long moment sorting through Zeni's words, she sighs, "Very well, at least if the beastlord's minions are in pursuit of their lost blade, they are doing less mischief elsewhere."
[07:01:34] <Alyssa> "What is this blade for then? And I promise you they'll never regain this ever again."
[07:04:36] <[DM]> "It's a sacrificial tool, the symbol of the beastlord's prey. "
[07:04:59] <Alyssa> "The beastlord hunts dragons?"
[07:05:26] <[DM]> "Those whose blood mingle with it become prey for his hunt. An eternal chase, until the hunter corners the hunted."
[07:05:37] <Zeni> Zeni flinches awkwardly at Alyssa's words.
[07:07:39] <Alyssa> "This blade will defend dragons and those their mingle then. Would be nice to slap his cultists in the face symbolically."
[07:09:29] <[DM]> "Beware of what you touch with it. Young fool."
[07:10:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods.
[07:13:20] <Alyssa> "My questions are answered, please return to Lien's questions."
[07:13:51] <Zeni> "... Weren't you going to ask about your stupid brothers? :I  Why did you bring them up right before the meeting, if not!?"
[07:14:01] <[DM]> The matter of the blade sorted out, she turns back to the splinter, examining it. "This however, is not tainted. Ancient bone from the ancient hunter."
[07:14:15] <Lien> "So why would the bugs want to eat it?"
[07:17:14] <[DM]> "It's time has passed, most likely. But the curators should not be directly involved. Something is twisted there."
[07:17:51] <Lien> "So I was right to go looking. It's not a good sign."
[07:18:52] <Lien> "We were going to find the owner of the fang and see if we can learn something from that, but is there a way to find out more directly?"
[07:19:04] <[DM]> "Owner?"
[07:19:27] <Lien> "The werewolf the fang's from."
[07:19:35] <Lien> "Former owner, I guess."
[07:21:04] <[DM]> "It's no wolf. " The vest's colors seem to cascade into pink and yellow blossoms. "A more ancient beast than that."
[07:22:12] <Lien> "Oh."
[07:22:37] <Alyssa> "The place where the mess started."
[07:24:01] <[DM]> "As for the source. I know only one." She eyes Alyssa and Zeni, "I cannot speak of it."
[07:24:48] <Zeni> "I guess that means we can stop searching for that, at least.  Unless someone wants to invent time travel just for us.  Though I suppose I shouldn't assume 'ancient' equates to 'dead.'  Hmhm."
[07:25:07] <Lien> Lien makes a face. "What about to me alone?"
[07:26:06] <Zeni> "Sure is helpful that you're holding out on us while we're trying to sort out problems that are important to your faith.  Maybe we shouldn't take care of this town's cultist problem, if we let them settle in, they might be more forthcoming with answers!"
[07:26:17] <[DM]> "Not on this matter. " The flowers spread out with green vines.
[07:30:01] <Alyssa> "Are there other faiths operating in this town?"
[07:30:35] <[DM]> "Many."
[07:30:41] <Lien> Lien blinks at the green vines, but doesn't answer or push any further. "Huh."
[07:30:56] <Alyssa> "Let me be more specific, the major faiths operating in this town?"
[07:33:45] <[DM]> "The Black Lord, Elinah, the Beastlord, Mother Maya, and Ichal."
[07:34:56] <Alyssa> "Which ones should I avoid, apart from the Beastlord."
[08:16:10] <[DM]> "Ichal, the golden lord's knights likely slay you out of hand if you speak as freely."
[08:17:16] <Alyssa> "What are the values that Ichal upholds?" Alyssa asks, curious.
[08:18:03] <[DM]> "Might and beauty makes right. "
[08:20:07] <[DM]> "They're monster slayers."
[08:21:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa's eyes look hopeful for once. "I have made deal because I didn't have a choice then. But will dedicating myself to a faith redeem me?"
[08:21:42] <Alyssa> "I just want to know what happened to my family."
[08:21:58] <[DM]> Aksi looks at Alyssa, "At present you are more likely to be executed."
[08:22:20] <Alyssa> "What advise would you have for me?"
[08:24:21] <[DM]> "Avoid them."
[08:27:10] <Zeni> Zeni looks about to the rest of the party, as if looking if anyone else had other questions before taking a step back.  "I suppose that's all?  Time to go shopping yet?"
[08:28:00] <Alyssa> "I've passed my orders to the initiate, I'm going around looking for information on my brothers."
[08:28:26] <Alyssa> "Oh by the way, were there any conscript soldiers from Sweetwater that pass by this town?" Alyssa asks the First Weaver.
[08:30:01] <[DM]> "Soldiers come and go all the time."
[08:33:01] <Zeni> "... Kay, that's enough of those non-answers.  Let's go~"
[08:33:38] <Zeni> Zeni starts heading off on her own if need be.
[08:35:09] <[DM]> Zeni passing through four layers of curtains, is reasonably sure she's moving in a straight line.
[08:35:48] <[DM]> "What does your friend think she's doing?" Aksi doesn't seem too concerned.
[08:36:00] <Lien> "I'm not sure."
[08:36:09] <Alyssa> "She's...special." Alyssa shrugs
[08:37:25] <Lien> "She was saying just before she'd rather not get lost in here... It looks like you could learn to navigate it, but she doesn't seem the type to pay attention that hard."
[08:37:43] <Ellis> Ellis heaves a sigh. "She's not very patient. Maybe I should go look for her."
[08:38:01] <Alyssa> "Maybe years of studying magic does that to people."
[08:39:46] <Lien> Lien lifts the curtain Zeni just disappeared behind. "Shouldn't you wait for a guide first?"
[08:39:50] <[DM]> Advancing straight, she finds a room full of ropes, hanging from the ceiling above.
[08:42:27] <Zeni> Zeni blinks confusedly, "Kay, I found the old hag's sex dungeon, which way did we come from? Uuuuu..."
[08:44:12] <Lien> "Just ask her."
[08:44:41] <Zeni> Zeni does one better and just keeps wandering beyond more curtains.
[08:44:50] <Zeni> And then Zeni was lost forever and exited the campaign.
[08:45:25] <[DM]> Ignoring Lien, Zeni goes through another curtain to find a long gallery.
[08:46:17] <[DM]> Clothing line the hallway  all the way down, and an initiate(a different one) is taking a nap.
[08:46:39] <Lien> "She wanted to buy clothes... well, it's not like it's dangerous. Right?"
[08:47:10] <[DM]> Predominantly huge sleeves, capes and scarves,  as well as tiny tunics in, to put mildly, an eyescarring range of colors.
[08:47:41] <[DM]> If she wanted to look like a butterfly or peacock, she's found the place.
[08:48:09] <[DM]> "Its safe enough. Short of falling into a latrine there's little ill that could come to her."
[08:49:59] <Zeni> Zeni's eyes widen as she takes in all the vivid colors, then she lets out a smug little laugh as she folds her arms and starts wandering along the rows of clothes.  "Huuu... It would all be so pretty were it not all such a wild mix of vibrant huuuues..."  She eventually just wanders up to the initiate and stomps softly to try to wake her, folding her arms and glaring down at her.  "Ne.  Ne, no sleeping on the job!  A customer requires your service."
[08:50:28] <[DM]> "EEP!"
[08:50:43] <[DM]> "Y-yes!"
[08:51:51] <Zeni> Zeni practically cackles as a smug little grin spreads across her lips, "I don't want to search through these rainbows anymore!  Find me something black and red and only half as frilly.  Anddurable.  And self-mending, magical!"
[08:54:36] <[DM]> The initiate looks cornered, then breaks off and hurries down the hall.
[08:55:25] <Alyssa> Alyssa taps Lien on the shoulder. "I'd like to go ask around and check records for information now if you don't mind?"
[08:55:34] <Zeni> Zeni -immediately- takes the initiate's seat, crossing her legs and keeping her arms folded as she watches the initiate hustle.  "And dark red!  No pinkyness."
[08:55:55] <Lien> Lien nods to Alyssa's question and looks at the First Weaver. "Uh. For leaving properly...?"
[08:58:27] <Ellis> Ellis gives the First Weaver a polite nod before heading off in search of the shopping area. Little question where Zeni's got to, after all.
[09:00:17] <[DM]> After a moment, the initiate returns towing a rack of clothes. The first few items are crimson robes with complex black embroidery, forming winding patterns from the edges in, matched by cloaks of the same design, except with enormous pauldrons.
[09:02:37] <Zeni> Zeni only looks up for a few moments before returning to filing her nails.  "Black with -red- embroidery, geeeeeze.  Go find different ones!"
[09:05:34] <[DM]> These are followed by dresses in a wider variety of colors, close fitting on the torso, upper arms and waist, and flaring out in the sleeves and skirts. Predominantly black, they are trimmed in orange and red flame patterns, rising from the skirts and descending down the sleeves. These are matched with red hooded cloaks.
[09:09:20] <Zeni> Zeni looks up again as the rack is turned to show the other dresses.  "Hmmmnnn... hmmmmm!!..... I... suppose these might be kind of nice."  She offers the initiate a warm smile as she stands up, "Good job!"  She picks up one and holds it against herself.... only to find it was too large for her.  "................." Heartbreak.  The light leaves her eyes as she goes through the other dresses, all of them much to large for her dainty figure, till the last one....!  Which was only just slightly too large.  "Huuuu.... People are too big here."  She flips it around and holds it up to herself again, then the other way again, "Hmn... I suppose I'll try this one on~"
[09:13:16] <[DM]> The next set are much simpler, though the colors don't match the requests, being green tunic, short skirt and leggings with a choice of dark blue, green and brown cloak, all of which sport embroidery of vines and flowers, "I'm sorry miss, but these are the only self repairing clothing we have. They resist dyes, and cannot be recolored.
[09:13:16] <[DM]> Around this time, Ellis catches up to Zeni.
[09:17:00] <[DM]> Lien and Alyssa meanwhile, are guided out of the temple by an initiate as the First Weaver takes her leave.
[09:18:40] <Zeni> Zeni smirks and nonchalantly casts minor illusion on the green and blue clothes, illusory flames springing to life all over them.  "I won't be needing those, then.  Surely some sort of enchantment could be placed on this one?"  Zeni was already shrugging her way out of her peasant attire by the time Ellis had entered, getting ready to put on the dress she liked.
[09:20:49] <Ellis> Ellis blinks at the sight of the flaming tunic. "Er."
[09:20:50] <[DM]> --------------------- FUCK IT WE'RE DOING IT NOT-LIVE ----------------------------

[:<]

Session 11: You Can (Not) Level Up Ever Ever Ever, Not Ever, Nope.  You Can (Not) Take A Hint Ever Ever Ever, Not Ever, Nope.

[05:23:38] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------
[05:25:18] <[DM]> Lien and Alyssa head out of the confusing maze of curtains and veils, to look for more information. The question is, where to.
[05:30:26] <Lien> "So where to first?"
[05:30:29] <Alyssa> "Let's go back to the gate guards, if there were troop movements or soldiers coming in, surely they have their records." Alyssa tells Lien.
[05:31:51] <Lien> "True. You can as well ask them about your last name just in case too, right?"
[05:31:52] <Alyssa> With that, Alyssa leads the way.
[05:32:05] <Alyssa> "Yeah."
[05:32:50] <[DM]> The town gate is a fair distance away, but the route well traveled. Along the way they could see the market area, still in disarray from Zeni's experiment with driving, but pass thankfully unnoticed.
[05:33:16] <Alyssa> Alyssa breathes a sigh of relief.
[05:33:56] <Lien> Lien resists the temptation to whistle innocently, because she actually is innocent.
[05:34:18] <[DM]> Lien's stepping on a number of heads in her pursuit thankfully go unnoticed as well.
[05:34:47] <Alyssa> Reaching the gate guard, Alyssa flashes a smile. "Dear Sers, I would like to ask if there were any soldiers or small platoon of soliders that pass by or enter this town recently? Or anyone with the last name of Fielding?"
[05:37:01] <[DM]> The guard gives her a strange look, "Quite a few platoons heading to the border forts, but Fielding....never heard of it."
[05:37:47] <Alyssa> "Any platoons from Sweetwater?" Alyssa asks, hope rising in her, and her eyes seem on the verge of tears.
[05:40:16] <[DM]> The guard shakes his head, "They didn't stop to talk." He glances at the book of records, "Captain said we weren't to record them either."
[05:40:46] <Alyssa> Oh the sting of hope dashed like broken glass. "Why?" Alyssa asks, her lips quivering.
[05:41:19] <[DM]> He looks about and leans in, "Elves aren't to know.."
[05:42:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa digs into her pocket and takes out a small gem, heedless of it's actual value and grabs the guard's hands like a distraught relative (duh she is). "Elves aren't what? What's going on?"
[05:43:45] <[DM]> The gem disappears like magic, "What do you think moving soldiers secretly means?"
[05:43:52] <Lien> Lien taps Alyssa on the shoulder and whispers, "If the elves aren't supposed to know, that probably means they're being deployed at something the elves would care about, or against the elves."
[05:45:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa wipes a few stray tears from her face with her sleeve. "How the hell would I know about elves or what their whatever is. I don't know these things but I want to know where my brothers are!" her eyes look really wet again.
[05:47:20] <Alyssa> Looking back at the guard Alyssa asks. "They did stop over here before moving on? Which inn did the soldiers stay? Or did they camp outside?"
[05:49:27] <[DM]> "Outside, only the officers were allowed in town." He's looking uncomfortable at the weepy girl he's facing.
[05:49:55] <Alyssa> "Which inn?"
[05:52:14] <[DM]> "The Smoking Charger, and the uh..."
[05:52:23] <[DM]> "Lusty Rivermaid."
[05:53:11] <Alyssa> "Thank you. I'll go ask around. Let's go Lien."
[05:53:46] <Lien> Lien stares at the officer's hands, then nods. "Yeah."
[05:54:47] <Lien> As they're leaving, Lien whispers to Alyssa, "I think he was trying to tell us something more in hand signs, but I don't understand those. Ellis might, but..."
[05:55:10] <Alyssa> "Let's go ask Ellis, then we head to the inns."
[06:06:08] <[DM]> Meanwhile, in the temple, the initiate cringes slightly at the reaction, then sweeps up the money wordlessly, setting the dress aside with a scribbled note and nodding.
[06:06:14] <[DM]> She turns her attention to the much less scary Ellis, giving a small curtsey before scampering off to fetch more designs.
[06:08:03] <[DM]> The first appears to be a close fitting light green, short sleeved tunic, very short skirt and leggings combination, worked with a pattern of leaves and flowers in darker thread, coupled to a long brown leather coat with vine embroidery spiraling around it.
[06:08:10] <[DM]> The second is a dark blue dress, with a three layered skirt(which upon inspection, can be detached rapidly), and long, tight sleeves, with a black cloak. Spiderweb patterns in white thread dominate.
[06:09:47] <[DM]> The third is...skimpy. It's a close fitting black bodysuit with long socks, gloves and a cloak of loose stripes of fabric in green, yellow and brown.
[06:11:54] <Ellis> Ellis practically double-takes at that last outfit. "...Is this a popular trend I should know about?" She plucks at one sleeve of the bodysuit dubiously.
[06:12:35] <[DM]> "There was an elf that buys one every time she passes through."
[06:17:20] <Zeni> Zeni gives the initiate a break from her torment, eventually just wandering over and stealing the woman's chair again.  "Should try it on, Ellis~ Though I'm not sure you'd fit in it."
[06:19:18] <Ellis> "You think it's meant for someone taller?" Ellis chews her lip thoughtfully before turning back to the assistant. "Do you have leggings or something that could go underneath the second outfit? I think my friend is going to want to move around quite a bit."
[06:22:50] <[DM]> "Leggings shouldn't be a problem, but it could get in the way. Just detach the outer skirts and it should be able to move quickly." She demonstrates the simple ties that drop the two outer layers.
[06:27:48] <Ellis> "Mmm. Maybe the first one, then. She'll probably appreciate not having to collect her skirts every time there's trouble."
[06:29:48] <[DM]> She moves the first outfit to the fore, "So this one?"
[06:31:43] <Zeni> Zeni had huffed and quieted down, but she eventually spoke again.  "You aren't just shopping for Lien, right?  You need something fancier toooo, just don't become a rainbow flower thing.  Whatiswiththosedresses?"
[06:34:35] <Ellis> Ellis nods at the initiate before Zeni speaks up. "Oh, right. I guess I need something too." An awkward silence stretches for a little bit before she turns back to Zeni. "...Did you have any ideas?"
[06:35:04] <[DM]> The initiate drags out one of the Weavers' favorite butterfly dresses.
[06:38:16] <Ellis> Ellis stares helplessly at the dress. "It's very...colorful?" she manages. "But I was hoping for something a little more subdued."
[06:38:32] <[DM]> "Oh. Hmm"
[06:38:41] <[DM]> The initiate disappears behind a curtain.
[06:38:49] <Zeni> Zeni mulls it over for some time, tilting her head this way and that as she thinks, "Mmmmmeh, I suppose your regular dress is pretty enough, you could use some prettier garb to wear over your studded leather, hmhm...."
[06:42:34] <[DM]> After a moment she produces a dark blue confection with white lace, voluminous but seemingly more fit for a fancy dress party than stabbings. A bit of investigation finds it far lighter than it seems. And contains a great many hidden sheathes and pockets hidden behind the laces.
[06:44:20] <[DM]> The initiate gives Ellis a wink, as she adds a silvery fur coat to go on top,
[06:44:55] <Zeni> "... Or that, I suppose!  It'skindofneatmaybe."
[06:48:21] <Ellis> Ellis examines the new dress with great interest. "I like this. Is the fabric likely to tear, though? It seems fairly light."
[06:49:59] <[DM]> "It's a lot stronger than it looks."
[06:50:57] <Ellis> "I'll take it, then."
[06:52:13] <[DM]> "Alright, is there anything else?"
[06:52:28] <Alyssa> Alyssa shows up from behind with Lien in tow. "Had a good shopping trip Ellis? Oh and can I have a look at some clothes good for swordfights and outdoors travels?"
[06:53:25] <[DM]> "There...aren't many cloths that would handle being stabbed well."
[06:53:37] <[DM]> "I'll see what I can do."
[06:53:44] <Lien> "Well, the idea is a fight is to not get hit."
[06:53:44] <[DM]> She disappears again.
[06:54:32] <Ellis> Ellis waves at the other two. "Speaking of, Lien, I had them look into something for you and came up with this." She holds up the tunic and coat combination.
[06:56:37] <Zeni> Zeni stands herself up with an exaggerated yawn and stretch, as if Ellis had kept her waiting for centuries with her indecisiveness.  "That's so wasted on her, though~ Huuu, should just keep it for yourself as a backup."
[06:57:04] <Lien> "Oh? Huh. You didn't have to." Lien eyes the thing with some suspicion. "I guess it's not as gaudy as some of the others here."
[06:59:10] <Ellis> "You should have seen the third outfit."
[06:59:29] <Lien> "Do I want to know?"
[07:00:28] <Ellis> Ellis fishes around for a bit before producing the bodysuit.
[07:00:39] <Lien> "Ah."
[07:01:36] <Lien> "I mean, we still have some wolf pelts, too..." She looks down at her own clothing.
[07:02:43] <[DM]> She reappears with a new outfit after a while, this time a short sleeved pink shirt with a knee length skirt, decorated with tiny crystals sewn into the edges, coupled to a bright red hooded cloak and a leather belt. On closer inspection, the cloth is MUCH tougher than it looks, being about as tough as leather. "This is treated to resist cuts, and they shouldn't show up easily. And blood wouldn't stick to it either."
[07:02:50] <Zeni> Zeni wanders over to the counter and prods at her purchase some more as she waits for the others to finish up.
[07:03:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the dress and nods. "I'll take that."
[07:05:05] <Alyssa> "Oh and riding pants that fits this...theme."
[07:05:43] <Lien> Lien looks at the other dress that was being offered and blinks. "I guess if you're offering, the green one looks nice."
[07:07:37] <[DM]> The initiate messes about behind the curtains again, and produces a pair of short scarlet leggings.
[07:08:48] <[DM]> "A-anyways, if that's all, you can come pick up the adjusted outfits tomorrow morning. We'd require half the price as a deposit first."
[07:08:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa pays up.
[07:11:22] <Alyssa> "Oh Lien, you said you noticed something from the guard you want to show Ellis?"
[07:11:50] <Zeni> Zeni gives the initiate one last glare as if saying "don't mess up," before wandering off towards the exit.  Or somewhere, anyway, she has no idea how to navigate this place.  "Let's get going alreadyyy~ Don't discuss business infront of the lady."
[07:13:29] <Ellis> "Hmm?" Ellis looks from Alyssa to Lien curiously.
[07:13:31] <Lien> "Hard to say... He was fidgeting weirdly, the kind of thing that might be secret signs or something." She tries to reproduce them to the best of her ability, but the whole point is for them to look innocuous.
[07:15:39] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head. "There's 'look behind,' but the rest of them are mangled. What was a guard using those signs for, anyway?"
[07:16:31] <Lien> "We were asking about troops that came through, but he wasn't allowed to talk about them."
[07:18:01] <Ellis> "There wasn't anything behind him that jumped out, I take it?"
[07:18:43] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and steps through the drapes, wandering off into the temple.  Never to be seen again.
[07:19:03] <Lien> "I think I'd have heard that."
[07:19:37] <Alyssa> "Maybe look behind the inns?"
[07:19:47] <[DM]> Before she gets past the second curtain, the party is intercepted by Intitiate Bellflower, who leads them towards the entrance.
[07:21:40] <Ellis> "Jumped out as in--never mind."
[07:23:13] <Lien> "Oh. No, I guess not. I mean, we could try asking him again with someone who understands the signs in tow, but..."
[07:23:29] <Alyssa> "What about her?" Alyssa nods at Bellflower.
[07:23:40] <[DM]> She gets a sweet smile in return.
[07:25:41] <Alyssa> "Hey Initiate, when officers come to town, do they all stay at the Lusty Rivermaid?"
[07:26:18] <Zeni> As the group emerges outside, Zeni's reminded of something.  "Oh.  Right, mm, if you have anything valuable in the carriage, might want to take it for now, and perhaps stable the horses.  We'll be leaving the carriage here for repairs, cleaning and painting, it'll look as if neeew~"
[07:26:36] <[DM]> She spares a glance about, "That's a whorehouse, miss. Few of them stay long."
[07:27:19] <Alyssa> "I'm looking for information about my brothers who were conscript soldiers from Sweetwater. If their officers had visited that...place...I want to know if there's even a sliver of hope for some clues."
[07:27:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks uncomfortable as all hell upon knowing that its a whorehouse, but information is information.
[07:28:13] <Lien> Lien doesn't look all that surprised, considering the name.
[07:28:40] <[DM]> She raises an eyebrow quizzically.
[07:29:32] <Ellis> Ellis coughs. "I don't think most of the officers would spread information like that around when it's...a paid service."
[07:31:02] <Alyssa> "Don't men blab when they had more than enough to drink?"
[07:33:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs, shoulders slumped. "I'll just go to the other inn and ask about."
[07:35:42] <Ellis> "Someone will know what's going on."
[07:36:59] <Alyssa> "Yeah...now that I know elves are involved. Urgency has gone up."
[07:38:23] <Lien> "Why's that?"
[07:38:53] <Alyssa> "Because I know nothing about them? What if they are murderous freaks? I did not sell my soul only to find dead bodies!"
[07:39:30] <Lien> "...That's a possibility for soldiers no matter who they fight."
[07:39:59] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, looking to Lien, "What's she even talking about?  What about elves?"
[07:41:17] <Lien> "The guard said the troop movement was kept off the record so the elves wouldn't know. So they're probably moving against the elves in some way."
[07:42:44] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks as if she's going into freakout breakdown.
[07:46:40] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and places a hand on her hip, "Things hardly sound more dire for your brothers than they already were, don't be like that.  Do you really want to look like you've been crying when you walk into that whorehouse?  They might hire you on the spot~"
[07:48:48] <Alyssa> "Getting hired wouldn't do me good if those officers had long left the town."
[07:51:18] <Zeni> "... T-That was really an option to you?  Geeze~ Well, glad they're gone then."
[07:53:24] <Alyssa> "Let's just get there."
[08:09:55] <[DM]> The Smoking Charger is not very far away, though as an inn just down the road from Ichal's stark white temple, the area is fairly quiet.
[08:12:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa leads the party into the inn and heads straight for the bartender. "Hey sir, have you served any officers from Sweetwater recently?"
[08:14:21] <[DM]> The inn is clean and well lit by hanging lamps, mainly occupied by vaguely martial looking types. The bartender looks at Alyssa, "What about Sweetwater?"
[08:15:30] <Alyssa> "Troop movements, were there platoons of Sweetwater conscripts that passed by this town and their officers stayed here?"
[08:16:58] <Alyssa> "Look, I'm looking for family, I want them home."
[08:17:29] <Lien> Lien looks a bit uncomfortable at the straightforwardness and looks around the room carefully.
[08:18:31] <[DM]> "Nobody I know."
[08:18:41] <[DM]> He busies himself polishing a glass.
[08:19:28] <Lien> "A couple of the guests are listening very carefully."
[08:20:24] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods and moves away from the bar table, her knuckles cracking as her fists ball up.
[08:20:52] <[DM]> He switches to a lower voice, still polishing the glass, "Listen kid, no troops came through. No platoons anywhere near."
[08:21:33] <Lien> "Don't get angry. You can try buying some of the others a round of drunks and ask nicely. Or ask another way. Any military persons from that area come through? Purely by coincidence?"
[08:23:09] <[DM]> "None, would you like some Elderwood wine? You can afford it."
[08:24:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa palms a gold coin down on the bar table. "Elderwood? Sure."
[08:27:30] <Lien> "Sounds good. I'll have one too. Where is it from, at this time of year?"
[08:28:30] <Zeni> Seeing the other two fail, Zeni huffs and steps forward, taking on an 'it can't be helped' attitude~ "We're only making such a purchase if you at least let slide -some- information.  She's a bit distraught over her missing brothers, help us out."
[08:28:41] <[DM]> He shrugs, "I buy it from the elves", as he pours out several glasses.
[08:30:03] <Ellis> "It's a small place, right? Good vineyards, though."
[08:30:43] <[DM]> Ellis gets a shrug and a glance over her shoulder.
[08:31:33] <Lien> Lien sips her Elderwood wine and casts a glance back at the rest of the inn.
[08:32:17] <[DM]> There's a guy with a large sword beside him looking their way, trying, but failing to look unconcerned.
[08:33:37] <Lien> Lien blinks a little and tries to look as unconcerned as the sword guy is trying to look, whispering to the others, "I think he already gave us a hint. Let's not cause much more trouble."
[08:34:35] <Ellis> Ellis makes a too-little-too-late face but settles onto a bar stool.
[08:34:49] <[DM]> The sword guy meets her unconcerned look and there is a moment of awkwardness as they both fail to look casual at all.
[08:35:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs, or more a snort of impatience, and moves directly towards that big man. "Can I buy you a drink sir?"
[08:36:54] <[DM]> "Miss, for your own good, stop asking. The matter of lords and armsmen are not for delicate flowers." He takes a sip of his drink, "I already have a drink."
[08:38:27] <Alyssa> "I am not as delicate as you think I am. I am Alyssa Fielding and I am the Heroine of Sweetwater. I'm asking for my brothers, brothers whom I want home because we'll no longer be under the unreasonable yoke of them lords and nobles. I hope you can understand a sister's pain."
[08:40:04] <[DM]> He casually picks up his helm, "Sweetwater...I'm off duty so I see nobody I'm supposed to be finishing off."
[08:41:28] <[DM]> He leans back on his chair and closes his eyes, "One."
[08:41:44] <Lien> Lien taps Alyssa on the shoulder. "Please stop telling the military person you're a peasant rebel."
[08:41:53] <[DM]> "Two"
[08:42:00] <Zeni> Zeni cackles aloud and steps on out, readying her arcane focus just in case~
[08:42:12] <[DM]> "Three"
[08:42:18] <Lien> She gets up, downing the rest of her wine, and tries to drag Alyssa out with her as quickly as they still can.
[08:42:39] <[DM]> "Four."
[08:44:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa lets Lien drag her out, but she never stops glaring at that man.
[08:44:36] <[DM]> "Five, oh my it seems I drank too much and was seeing things. Right boys?"
[08:44:56] <[DM]> There's a babble of assent in the inn behind the party.
[08:46:18] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head before sliding off her bar stool and following the others out.
[08:48:26] <[DM]> Outside, the sun has begun setting, it will be dark soon.
[08:49:00] <Alyssa> Kicking a nearby empty crate in furious anger, Alyssa roars once outside the inn.
[08:49:40] <Lien> "Okay, so, almost pissing off a man with a sword aside, I'm pretty sure the Everwood wine was a hint. There's a place called that, though it doesn't have anything to do with the wine."
[08:50:56] <Alyssa> "I'm going there." Alyssa responds quietly, staring at the smashed crate pieces.
[08:51:29] <Zeni> "Gaauuuu, then why'd you give me those puppy eyes, wanting me to help out with the convincing?  Never doing that again~"
[08:52:14] <Zeni> "Let's just go prepare for the stakeout, no more of this sillyness."
[08:53:58] <Ellis> Ellis nods. "Everwood is a village. A small one, too, and near the elven border."
[08:54:52] <Lien> "So on the way to where we were going anyway?"
[08:55:02] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles sadly. "As promised, I will help your goals, let's get the stakeout over with. And I'll detour to Everwood myself if the rest of you think sticking around a rebel like me is too much to bear."
[08:55:53] <Lien> "I don't mind much either way, just maybe don't go yelling it in everyone's face."
[08:55:56] <Zeni> "... Were you just black out drunk the entire time we were in the last town?"
[08:56:44] <Zeni> "Because that would really explain a whole lot right now.  No, we don't care that you're a rebel, just shut up about it~"
[09:01:05] <Alyssa> "Let's just go ok?"
[09:01:30] <Zeni> "I already am~"
[09:01:48] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 12: You Can (Not) Keep Using This Title Gimmick Just To Bother Boz

[05:21:17] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------------
[05:23:03] <[DM]> By the time the group reaches the jail, it was getting quite dark, though torches light the entrance. All seems well.
[05:31:20] <Alyssa> As agreed, the group scouts around the building, taking note of windows, entrances and roads and paths that lead to and around the building.
[05:31:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes vantage point by teleporting to the roof of the adjacent building.
[05:35:00] <Zeni> Zeni stakes out somewhere in great, well written detail. :<  The group waits to see if they can either spot the guards do something funky or for someone to approach!
[05:37:01] <Ellis> Seeing that the building used to be a smithy, Ellis looks around for the old vent. It's probably been boarded up, but it might make a good entrance.
[05:37:12] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, stands lookout while the actual hardened criminals fo their things.
[05:40:08] <Lien> She tries looking for unpleasant-smelling holes, given that no chamberpots are being carried out the front door and the town probably doesn't have a complex sewer system.
[05:42:59] <[DM]> Lein's search discovers a strong smell of pee down one alley, facing a small door.
[05:43:53] <[DM]> Ellis meanwhile, finds a number of possible lumps on the second floor that could have been the vent, though they've all been painted enough that she can
[05:44:00] <[DM]> 't say for sure at night.
[05:52:17] <Ellis> Lien seems to have better eyes, so Ellis trots off to find her and ask her to take a look instead.
[05:54:39] <Lien> As she's doing that, Lien informs the rest of the crap exit that seems like an obvious illicit entry point. She doesn't really see an actual vent, but she does point out a very fishy stack of crates against one wall.
[05:58:13] <Zeni> Zeni tries her best to look inconspicious as she waits at her more distant vantage point, clearly bored, but not quite bored enough to set things on fire yet.  She curiously watches Ellis wander over to Lien, easily able to pick the two out in the darkness with her low light vision.  She messages her, "Find something yet?  I'mbored,soboored.... I was never good at these stake outs~"
[05:59:47] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes position at the adjacent building's rooftop, watching the backdoor.
[06:01:17] <Ellis> Ellis, lurking not far off from the suspicious crates, responds quietly to Zeni. "Well, as long as you don't start drinking to pass the time the boredom's probably better than the action."
[06:08:23] <[DM]> The group gets into position, hoping the breakout hadn't already started.
[06:16:58] <[DM]> After a long moment, Ellis and Lien notices something(other than the cat being halfway to a rat in how mangy it is), a faint metallic smell of blood.
[06:18:02] <[DM]> It's coming from inside the prison.
[06:18:18] <[DM]> And if they could smell it from where Lien was standing....that's a lot of blood.
[06:19:02] <[DM]> The cat abruptly jerks out of Lien's hands and ran off.
[06:21:28] <Lien> Lien grabs her staff and gives off a sharp whistle, then runs for the entrance she's been watching. Hopefully that will be signal enough.
[06:21:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa jumps after Lien and follows behind, drawing Last Blood from thin air.
[06:23:02] <Ellis> Ellis dashes around the other way, drawing both crossbows.
[06:24:27] <Zeni> Zeni is.... woefully out of position.  She hears the whistle and stands herself up straight in her alley, but doesn't have line of sight on anyone to message.  She carefully walks towards the side of the jail to try to get her eyes on someone.
[06:25:08] <[DM]> The side door slams open with a crunching noise.
[06:25:43] <[DM]> An enormous purple fist grips the door's rim.
[06:25:54] <[DM]> Then rips the door frame apart.
[06:27:18] <[DM]> A large red furred ape looms out of the doorway, sniffing the air.
[06:27:37] <Alyssa> <Blood to Ashes. DIE!> Alyssa spits at the creature.
[06:27:39] <[DM]> It locks onto Alyssa with a bellow.
[06:27:57] <[DM]> Night turns to day as the sword ignites.
[06:28:18] <[DM]> Out in front, Zeni finally notices the light, and the two guards running the hell away.
[06:40:36] <Lien> Lien's eyebrows go up to her hairline as she sees the new arrival, and she immediately figures not being hit by those giant fists is a good place to be. She jabs upwards with her staff while the ape is moving out of the door and hooks its ankles in mid-step with two kicks before retreating.
[06:42:05] <[DM]> The demon takes the attack without any concern.
[06:45:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa growls as three more Alyssa appear around her. "I will send you back where you belong demon!"
[06:50:10] <[DM]> Right as Ellis is about to run around the building, she can hear a few noises from the wall behind the crate. Creaking wood, barely audible compared to the rampaging demon on the other side.
[06:50:14] <Zeni> Zeni quickly makes her way towards the corner, staggering momentarily before moving back and clinging to the corner.  "A-Ah... Uhhh!   That's.... very much a Barlgura, I don't know if you two should be fighting it up close!" she cries out, hesitantly pulling her arcane focus to ready.  "Oooof.... I don't know if we should be fighting this at all!"
[06:50:44] <Lien> "Well, we can't just let it run around!"
[06:51:44] <Alyssa> "It's not leaving this building if we can help it. Do you want this loose around innocents?!"
[06:57:20] <Ellis> Ellis huffs in frustration before dashing off around the front of the building toward the much, much louder noises.
[07:04:19] <Ellis> Catching Zeni's attention, she points back the way she came. "The cultists are forcing their way out from the crates--" Her mouth drops open at the sight of the gigantic ape.
[07:05:46] <[DM]> The demon lunges forward, fists barely fitting through the door as it swats awkwardly at Alyssa.
[07:09:12] <Zeni> "... Yeah, bigger problems!  I don't know about this, it's probably after that dumb sword, maybe just have Alyssa lead it off while we go handle the cultists?  I don't like this, either way!"
[07:09:21] <[DM]> It's bite crops off the head of one of Alyssa's duplicates, then fists hammer into Alyssa.
[07:15:32] <Lien> "If you know what it is, what does it do?" With the ape straining through the door, Lien jabs at its chin and repeats her kick against its legs to put it off balance.
[07:16:20] <Zeni> "... It kind of pulverizes things and bites them in half?  Can't you tell by looking?  Why are you fighting it head on!?"
[07:17:41] <Lien> "Am not!" Her blow to the beast's knee distracts it enough for Lien to jump backwards well out of the reach of its claws. "Alyssa, hit and run!"
[07:18:36] <[DM]> The demon HOWLS at Lien's assault. badly bruising it.
[07:19:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa grunts from the punches and takes a lunging step before kicking backwards to gain some distance.
[07:22:50] <Ellis> Ellis skids to one knee, firing both crossbows as the other two get clear of her line of fire.
[07:23:04] <Zeni> Zeni face palms as she watches the two keep attacking it, growling quietly as she raises her arcane focus.  "F-Fine... Oof, little choice, then."  She takes a moment to concentrate and to, well, let Ellis attack.
[07:25:27] <[DM]> It staggers as they hit, the rage it professed before cooling somewhat.
[07:27:53] <Zeni> Seeing the beast stagger, Zeni changes her plan and just waves her arcanefocus to the side before pointing at the thing, "Rest easy, dumb brute. Oooof, you idiots got lucky!  Don't be so eager to melee such things in the future!"
[07:27:53] <[DM]> ...turning to fear.
[07:29:57] <[DM]> The demon slumps down in the door, the fight taken out of it.
[07:30:06] <Zeni> After double checking that the thing actually fell asleep, she quickly shuffles off back across the front of the jail, though only reaching the front gate.
[07:30:30] <Lien> Lien exhales a big breath. "Eager's the wrong word. Demons still die if you snap their necks, right?"
[07:32:57] <Ellis> Ellis relaxes fractionally, straightening up from her firing stance. "The summoners are on the other side of the building. Let's hit them first."
[07:36:07] <Lien> "I'll catch up!" Lien strikes the demon's neck to break it with a last decisive blow.
[07:37:05] <[DM]> The giant ape's neck breaks with a snap.
[07:37:37] <Lien> "Go, I'll catch up!"
[07:37:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa breaks into a run towards the cultists.
[07:38:01] <[DM]> It begins dissolving into a thick red sludge
[07:38:30] <Lien> With the kill confirmed, Lien dashes after Alyssa to get the cultists.
[07:39:05] <Ellis> Ellis tears off around the building again, reloading as she goes.
[07:41:12] <[DM]> As Alyssa and Zeni rounds the corner, they find the cultists having gotten onto level ground. There are nine cultists in the alley.
[07:46:03] <[DM]> Seeing their enemies appear, two of the cultists raise bone rods at Zeni and Alyssa.
[07:53:47] <Zeni> Zeni sees everything.  All the things.  Setting her sight on the nearest rod-wielding cultist, she raises her free hand high, six bright, flaming lances springing forth from her palm before individually pointing themselves at their target, then firing off one by one~  "Gau gau!"  Because that's a thing that Zenis say.
[07:55:01] <[DM]> The cultist frantically sketches out a shimmering green barrier.
[07:57:06] <[DM]> Most of the bolts strike the barrier and scatter off, plinking onto the brick walls and dirt with sizzling noises, but two of them wing the cultist, leaving holes and seared flesh under the robes.
[07:57:37] <Zeni> Zeni whiiines when she sees the familiar shield spell fly up, watching her lances scatter.  "That's my trick, stupid! Oooof..."
[07:58:20] <[DM]> The two bone rods whip down at Zeni and Alyssa, with green lightning.
[08:00:14] <[DM]> The bolt lances into Alyssa's afterimage, much to the cultist's chagrin, but the other lightning connects with Zeni.
[08:01:14] <Zeni> Zeni jumps and whines once more as her hair sparks and frizzles, getting all messed up!  This is the worst day ever.  ;;
[08:01:57] <[DM]> The one blasting Zeni suddenly grew bigger, while the other one suddenly acquired a fine beard.
[08:03:55] <[DM]> Then the priest stepped up, waving a knife as he flings power in Alyssa's direction.
[08:05:15] <[DM]> Her limbs grew stiff for a moment, then th spell fails to take hold.
[08:05:28] <Alyssa> Alyssa shakes the spell off effortlessly, her focus sharp as a blade.
[08:05:33] <[DM]> THEN the knife wielding cultists rushed the duo.
[08:06:57] <[DM]> They swing wildly, failing to do much more than cut the air, only one needing any effort to dodge.
[08:11:44] <Zeni> Zeni glares at the knify ones as they swing at her, suddenly grabbing one up and supplexing him into the cobblestone before rolling back to her feet.   She then reaches for the back of her hand and tearing off da seal that uh, seeeeals her DEMON POWERS and then she like murders them all.  But then she snaps out of her chuuni imagination and just glares at them in reality. |<  "You INGRATES don't know who you're messing with!!  I'll burn you all to ASH for ruining my hairrrrr!!!!"
[08:12:04] <Ellis> Ellis comes chasing up, sending a flurry of bolts at the jerks trying to shank Zeni while the latter is yelling.
[08:15:05] <[DM]> Ellis's bolts clips one, and takes another through the gut.
[08:20:35] <Lien> Left lagging behind, Lien picks up her pace and dashes around the corner like a bat out of hell, sizing up the situation as she runs and making a berth around the melee Alyssa is in, straight for the two mages and Tanner.
[08:21:43] <[DM]> Tanner gives Lien a horrifed look
[08:24:16] <Alyssa> Raising the impossibly bright blade, wondering how the knife-wielders could even look straight to stab straight, Alyssa pivots on her feet and stabs one of the muggers right into the heart.
[08:25:09] <Alyssa> Her bruises clear up when Last Blood is pulled out of the man's heart.
[08:25:18] <[DM]> The flames shoot through the cultist, exploding from his eyes and mouth as his empty robe crumples to the ground
[08:26:09] <Zeni> Perhaps a little over-eager to get her hair to stop standing up, Zeni dashes just around the corner.
[08:28:26] <[DM]> The cultists swing wildly at Zeni, to absolutely no effect as the lightning breaks off.
[08:28:47] <Zeni> The frustrated little half elf easily ducks away from each raised knife, then rasies her palm and lets forth a gout of flame, which quickly takes up the shape of a massive flaming fist before crashing into the two knify mooks.  "Know your place!!"
[08:30:07] <[DM]> The flames explode over the pair and they crumple in smouldering heaps.
[08:30:22] <[DM]> Tanner and his two mage buddies aren't looking very happy.
[08:32:48] <[DM]> Tanner blurs as three copies of him appear, then runs past Zeni.
[08:33:51] <[DM]> The two remaining cultists look at the party, share and nod, and a fog drops down into the alley, hiding them from view.
[08:36:13] <Zeni> Seeing the cleric run past, Zeni lashes out and conks him in the knee with her arcane focus!... And it connects!  Totally hurts, too.
[08:36:28] <[DM]> Meanwhile the other pair facing Alyssa flail madly at her with knives.
[08:41:22] <Ellis> With Zeni's attackers roasted, Ellis sprints pell-mell after Tanner, snapping off a few quarrels at the cultist's legs.
[08:45:04] <[DM]> One quarrel strikes a fake, the other draws blood.
[08:51:37] <Lien> Lien changes direction as Tanner turns to flee and doesn't slow down even when fog obscures the street, just charging straight down the street after the priest.
[08:53:29] <[DM]> Lien flips over the caltrops scattered across the ground inside the fog, just a second before stepping on them, then bursts out of the mist to see the escaping Tanner.
[08:55:58] <Lien> It takes a quick move to avoid the trap, but Lien jumps over the nails without skipping a beat and beelines straight for the man as soon as she has him in her sights again.
[08:56:35] <Lien> "Watch for caltrops!"
[09:02:02] <Zeni> "Ellis, get on the roof!  We can't let those two mages escape, they might try to climb up there to do so.  I'll head inside and make sure they don't go that way."  Zeni dashes into the front gate of the jail house.
[09:03:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa grunts from the cuts. "If you two aren't running, then stay and face me!" Alyssa spins for a strike across the neck.
[09:03:52] <[DM]> The cultist disintegrates into a shower of ashes as Zeni reaches the front gate.
[09:03:55] <[DM]> It's closed.
[09:04:27] <Zeni> ".... Ah right, guards left with the key, how helpful!"  Zeni makes her way for where the gorilla was stuck instead.
[09:15:59] <[DM]> Tanner, now finding himself pursued by a terminator, whirls about to fling another spell at Lien.
[09:18:20] <[DM]> Then he jogs around a corner and continues hauling ass, with Lien immobilized. Of the two sorcerors there is no sign.
[09:20:48] <Ellis> Seeing Lien lock into place, Ellis ignores the roof and keeps pursuing her original target, firing as she runs.
[09:24:35] <[DM]> Ellis's shots pop both the afterimages, leaving one very runny Tanner.
[09:28:38] <Lien> Lien tries to strain her muscles against the spell, but gets nothing but cramps for an answer.
[09:29:45] <Alyssa> Meanwhile, Alyssa finishes off her last attacker after a pathetic swipe.
[09:33:47] <[DM]> He somehow manages to avoid a deadly blow
[09:36:22] <[DM]> Tanner continues to bob and weave down his escape route at full speed, while Zeni finds a still living prisoner, clutching at her  when she encountered the man, who had his throat sliced open and bleeding, but somehow still alive.
[09:43:40] <Zeni> Zeni is taken aback for a couple of moments, but can't really do anything for the guy other than put him out of his misery... and dodge his bloody grasps to keep her clothes from being bloodied.  A mercifully quick bolt of flame sees to that, then she's back to looking for those mages.
[09:44:34] <Ellis> One of Ellis' shots goes astray as she rounds a corner. The second one benefits from a short alley where the hapless Tanner has nowhere to dodge.
[09:50:30] <[DM]>  Inside the prison is a charnel house, the jailer's table turned into a makeshift altar in what probably used to be the infirmary, with corpses lying everywhere, throats cut. A bloody sword is embedded in the table's top.
[09:50:35] <[DM]> Tanner is slowing slightly from his injuries, and unlikely to last long.
[09:56:02] <[DM]> Tanner keeps running, but Ellis still has him in her sights, and a clear shot.
[09:56:51] <[DM]> Zeni has no fucking clue where the sorcerors are. They have gotten away clean.
[09:56:59] <[DM]> Also ew, so much blood.
[09:59:57] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and just starts... trying to fix her hair, running her fingers through one of her twintails as the sound of dripping blood echoes around her.  "You're not going to get away, you know.  You either, beardy.  I'll see you both burned alive~"
[10:00:24] <Zeni> "It's fitting that you grew such magnificent kindling for my flame."
[10:00:46] <[DM]> Alyssa's opponent, deciding that this is a lost cause, breaks off the fighting to flee.
[10:07:05] <Ellis> Ellis squints through her glasses and fires twice at Tanner's retreating back.
[10:07:30] <[DM]> The two bolts sink in, and the bloody cultist finally drops dead.
[10:09:25] <Zeni> Zeni searches about some more, eventually sulking upon reaching the conclusion that her prey had escaped.
[10:10:11] <Ellis> Ellis stops by the body, panting slightly before kicking him over to make sure he's really dead.
[10:10:49] <Lien> Lien catches up with Ellis and the... formerly fleeing Tanner in admirable time only to find the case is already closed.
[10:13:17] <[DM]> Zeni however, finds that the demon monkey had left a patch of bright red fur behind as it dissolved.
[10:14:14] <Ellis> Ellis offers up a small shrug. "I'm not great with nonlethal takedowns, but I doubt he'll be missed too much."
[10:14:51] <Zeni> Zeni prods the fur with a stray bashed up piece of wood, glaring at it suspiciously. :I
[10:14:55] <Lien> "He won't. Let's take him and check on the others."
[10:15:03] <[DM]> The wood disappears into the fur.
[10:15:57] <Ellis> Ellis nods, heaving at the body to somewhat disappointing effect. "...Little help?"
[10:16:47] <Zeni> Zeni cringes a bit, but it piques her curiosity enough.  She gathers more scraps of wood and prods the fur to spread it out, inspecting it carefully.
[10:16:52] <Lien> "Right." Lien picks him up herself like a sack of potatoes and jogs back the way they came.
[10:20:20] <[DM]> Prodding it a bit, it seems the  fur is bigger on the inside than the outside, it's oddly fluffy, and it's only if you touch the leathery side that things vanish inside.
[10:20:27] <Zeni> Though the little half elf is quite confident it's a bag of holding, she doesn't trust it enough to truly try it out yet.  Maybe when the oaf is around and can pull her out incase it's the world's grossest bag of devouring.  :I  She attempts to appraise monkey bones!
[10:24:44] <Alyssa> Alyssa returns to the party after letting the mook escape. Deactivaing Last Blood because the night is long enough without casting an unholy red glow like an unnatural sun.
[10:25:00] <[DM]> It occurs to the group that they had better haul ass
[10:27:26] <Zeni> As soon as the party gathers, Zeni demonstrates her findings by placing the Barlgura bones into its own skin-bag-thing.  Ooooooh, ahhhhhh.  She bows.  She uses prestidigitation to clean everyone up, then off into the night they go.
[10:28:24] <Lien> Lien seems to half expect the demon skin to try to eat Zeni, but follows along without complaint.
[10:31:05] <Zeni> Zeni insists on a rather fancy inn near the weaver temple and the party settles in for some well deserved rest. :<
[10:38:47] <Zeni> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 13: Death shall pay!... For my Wand of the War Mage.  He shall receive a notarized bill of all expenses.

[05:55:27] <[DM]> ----------------------------------------------------
[06:01:59] <[DM]> The night passes fairly quietly, with neither evil cultists nor offended holy warriors trying to kill the group. By dawn, there is just birds chirping outside the window. Cheep.
[06:05:02] <Zeni> Zeni's slow to wake, sprawled out in her quite hilariously oversized bed.  One she refused to share with the oaf, forcing her to sleep in a rickety old chair, though Ellis and Alyssa have their own bed. :<  Wake, she eventually does, though, stretching out and letting out an only slightly exaggerated yawn.
[06:06:23] <Lien> Lien looks surprisingly comfortable sleeping sitting up. She didn't even snore.
[06:08:20] <Ellis> Ellis rises early...only to move the crossbows under her pillow to under the bed, at which point she goes back to sleep until a more reasonable hour.
[06:08:36] <Zeni> Moving things along in a very much game-moving way, Zeni climbs her way out from under her warm sheets and wanders to the window, glaring out at the weaver temple... and more so, their carriage right infront of it.  :I  "They didn't move it!  Oooof... did they even fix it yet?  Lazyweavers..."
[06:11:03] <Lien> Lien answers only with a small yawn, then gets up and stretches, looking around the room. Probably too small to perform her exercises in...
[06:12:19] <Ellis> Ellis rolls out of bed and sleepily starts making herself presentable with Zeni's fretting as background noise.
[06:14:21] <Lien> Without much in the way of further comment besides a friendly good morning to the party at large, Lien gets out and starts running around the house before practicing her forms. Without eating first.
[06:16:03] <[DM]> Lien attracts a few odd looks as she exercises.
[06:17:38] <Lien> ...This was easier in the forest. After some time, she finishes the exercises she can't do indoors early and goes back into the inn to do the rest and stretch before breakfast without half the town staring.
[06:18:47] <Ellis> Ellis does a few stretches along with Lien when she returns, hoping to work out some of the leftover stiffness from her recent misadventures. Happily, she seems more limber than ever. Maybe getting mauled by wolves isn't so bad after all.
[06:22:56] <Lien> After stopping short of trying once or twice, Lien finally decides she's not going to practice high kicks in here, so she drops those for the day and instead goes to feed herself.
[06:24:20] <Zeni> Zeni just stares at her partymembers like they're a bit crazy when they stretch together, eventually huffily putting her boring peasant clothes back on, then hoisting her big furry monkey bag. :<  "Let's go already.  Need to pawn off these dumb bones!"
[06:26:22] <Lien> "Pawn off is one way to talk about that stuff."
[06:27:49] <Ellis> "They're a little trickier to liquidate than gemstones."
[06:28:26] <Zeni> "A little, but I imagine the death guys will take them gladly.  What they do with them after that is none of our business, so let's gooo~"
[06:28:32] <Zeni> And so they went. :<
[06:29:32] <Lien> "I don't think they're going to be too happy with someone who talks about giving them bones as 'pawning off'..."
[06:30:36] <Ellis> Ellis leaves the still-sleeping Alyssa a note before following the others out of their room.
[06:30:53] <Zeni> "Well they don't have to know about that, do they, oaf?  Besides, I imagine Ellis will be making the trade.  Shelikesdeathwellenough.  They might even worship her!"
[06:31:31] <Lien> "Good."
[06:31:53] <Ellis> "Do what now?" Ellis catches up in time to hear the most confusing bits.
[06:34:05] <Zeni> Zeni lags behind a bit, shoving the big furry monkey bag at Ellis when she nears, "You're making the trade!  Makessensetome.  You make things dead, they'll love you."  The bag lacks in handles or anything to make it easy to hold.
[06:34:52] <Ellis> Ellis blinks, taking the chunk of demon fur before she catches on. "...Hooray?"
[06:35:33] <Zeni> "Hooray!  Hmhm, I wonder what they'll offer... Better be a wand or scepter or staff or something nice."  Zeni continues along.
[06:36:46] <Lien> Instead of interjecting more, Lien shrugs and follows.
[06:38:39] <Ellis> It's too early to argue with Zeni about the direction the day's taking, so Ellis just wordlessly follows.
[06:39:53] <[DM]> The Black God's temple is normally a half hour's walk away, passing from the rather active trade district to the poorer side of town near the western gate, with the graveyards they tend outside of the town walls.
[06:42:14] <Zeni> Zeni seems to remain in surprisingly good spirits, perhaps letting her mind wander over what wand she's about to acquire.  Littledoessheknow...
[06:43:12] <[DM]> The building is tall, dark and somber, with a waist high black fence around it, and an opening in the fence instead of a gate. It feels cold, with the ground floor made from hewn stone, looking older than the wooden spire above. Likely one of the oldest buildings in town from appearances.
[06:45:08] <[DM]> There is a lawn between the fence and the building, but for whatever reason it has broken weapons and armor pieces rusting in the grass. Here and there a few swords and spears are more whole, rusting away.
[06:46:02] <[DM]> A clear path leads from the fence to the gloom shrouded main entrance.
[06:47:00] <Zeni> Not one to take a hint ever in her life, Zeni doesn't seem to care or notice how forboding the place seems, all the way till she marches up to the front door, places her hands at her hips and actually stops day dreaming.  The slightest shiver seems to run up her spine as she looks the place over, slightly nervously looking over her shoulder up at Ellis.  "Well.  In we go?"
[06:48:53] <Ellis> Ellis nods, reaching past Zeni to pull open the door and step inside.
[06:49:00] <Lien> Lien smiles a little in spite of the atmosphere. Surely she's not thinking Zeni's reaction is funny.
[06:51:13] <[DM]> Ellis finds the door swinging open as she touches it, a figure in a white hooded robe behind it, lantern in hand, "Greetings, travelers, to the abode of the Black Lord."
[06:51:42] <[DM]> He gestures them into the entry hall, lit only by a pair of candles.
[06:52:25] <Ellis> Ellis inclines her head politely, taking care not to make too much noise as she enters.
[06:53:02] <Lien> Lien does the same and even bows slightly before following
[06:54:13] <Zeni> Zeni steps aside to let Ellis pass, only to jump and let out a soft cry of panic when the door opens on its own, accidentally thwacking Lien with her arcane focus with how quickly she draws it.  "G-Gaauu!!... Why's... thisplacesounsettling!  Answer me, creepy lantern guyyy!!!"
[06:54:46] <Lien> "Ow. Shh."
[06:57:52] <[DM]> "The grave should be feared, lady elf. Those who deal death seek my master's favor, all will feel his embrace in the end. Few meet it with the grace they prefer." Zeni finds the hood turning to face her, a pox scarred face poorly lit by the lantern from below. "What is your business with Death?"
[07:02:56] <Zeni> Zeni doesn't seem to have any trouble looking the guy head on.  On the contrary, her facial expression wavers as if she were about to stifle a giggle, but it thankfully never comes.  Because she's a diplomat, you see.  She's good at these things.  "We've done plenty of business!  I send enough people and things your way that you and your kind might owe me some favors, but I don't have any business for you at the moment.  My friend might, though.  Ne, Lien, let Ellis go, stayoutherewithme."
[07:05:19] <Lien> Lien blinks at Zeni, then gives her a look that says she's too polite to say what she thinks. "Oh, Yeah, okay."
[07:05:21] <[DM]> He looks at Zeni, sniffing slightly then giving her a slight bow, "Last night's business is yet in the back room, their bereaved yet to come."
[07:06:39] <Zeni> Zeni grins at that.  Then she hears a sound somewhere, any old common sound, but it spooks the hell out of her and she's back to shivering.  "O-Oof...  Enough flattery, go!  Do business already, Ellis."
[07:10:42] <Ellis> Ellis nods, taking a step forward to take some of the pressure off poor Zeni. "Is there somewhere more private where we could speak, perhaps?"
[07:12:13] <[DM]> "Come." The priest turns away, his candle casting dancing shadows across the patterns in the walls, as he walks past the spacious entrance hall, down the corridor, and then opens a side room, without glancing back for Ellis to follow.
[07:13:03] <Zeni> Zeni meanwhile shuffles over beside Lien.  The next sound, literally any sound, has her grabbing Lien's arm and hugging it against her side.  "Oooof!  Thisplaceisterrible," she whines out, most probably still within ear shot of the priest.
[07:14:27] <Lien> "It's just a house." Lien briefly debates patting Zeni's head to calm her down, but decides against it. She'd probably lose that hand as soon as the girl got her wits back about her.
[07:14:29] <Ellis> Ellis, still feeling faintly silly about the big furry bag, follows, peering around less out of fright and more out of reflex. It probably doesn't reflect well that she looks for valuables and egress points in a temple, but old habits die hard.
[07:14:50] <[DM]> With the priest and his lantern gone, the two flickering candles make the walls cast a series of disrturbing shadows, while the daylight from outside is only a dim arch surrounding the entrance.
[07:15:47] <[DM]> The temple's layout is straightforward, a cross shape by Ellis's estimate, though most rooms have only one or two entrances, if wide ones. Suitable for processing many dead bodies at once if needed.
[07:16:16] <Lien> "Do you want to wait down the street instead?" Lien offers tentatively.
[07:17:59] <Zeni> "Nuhuh.  NeedtobehereforEllis'ssafety, though I guess that guy's okay.  Placeisstillcreepy."  Zeni tightens her hold on Lien's arm.
[07:18:18] <Lien> "Okay."
[07:21:18] <[DM]> Ellis, after catching up to the priest, finds herself in a room with a stone slab in the middle, cutting implements hanging from the walls and a stained drain beside the slab,"This room should be sufficiently private."
[07:22:03] <[DM]> It's unusually for the temple, well lit by a lantern on the wall.
[07:23:02] <[DM]> In the better light, the priest's robe shows a sword amulet, made of black metal, hanging before a circle on the robe.
[07:29:05] <Ellis> "Apologies, one second." Ellis sets the bag down to polish her glasses on her skirt, holding them up to the lantern light with a frown. She takes a bolt out, holding it in front of the lens to peer at before putting them back on with a nod. "That should be clearer."
[07:30:17] <[DM]> The priest nods, "Expected. We may speak freely here."
[07:31:20] <Ellis> "I'm sure you've heard by now what happened in the prison last night, or at the very least heard the body count."
[07:33:05] <[DM]> "They are all here, awaiting any to name them or claim them. What of it?"
[07:35:15] <Ellis> "Not quite all of them." Ellis reaches into the bag and produces the demon's skull, held carefully in both hands. "But perhaps the Black Temple knows how to prepare these remains as well?"
[07:36:39] <[DM]> There is a hiss of withdrawn breath, "Yes, though it is rare indeed."
[07:39:21] <[DM]> The priest reaches out to touch the skull, "A true fiend, if a lesser one. We can lay this to it's rest."
[07:40:21] <[DM]> He studies the skull, "Is there any more? of the creature?"
[07:43:29] <Ellis> Ellis scoops up the fur, albeit gingerly. "It left very little behind when it was killed. Most of it...melted, I suppose."
[07:44:33] <[DM]> The priest studies Ellis, then takes the skull, "Wait here." He exits the room.
[07:47:21] <Zeni> "... Well, if we haven't heard her cry out in panic yet, I guess it really was a bag of holding.  Hm... Goodtoknow," Zeni murmurs, seemingly to herself.  She had relaxed at least a little by now, but was still holding Lien's arm as if she owned the damn thing, though she was no longer leaning at all.  Just standing up staight, holding it. :I
[07:53:01] <Lien> "...Oh. So it wasn't the house you were scared of."
[07:53:14] <[DM]> After a while the priest returns to the room, with a wrapped cloth bundle, which he lays upon the slab, spreading out five dark metal bolts, "It would even the scales. Take three."
[07:54:17] <Ellis> Ellis' eyes gleam a little bit at the sight. She leans in close to inspect the merchandise.
[07:55:20] <Zeni> "Maybe she'll come back with a staff of fire.... u////u"
[07:59:10] <Lien> "You want a staff? Is that why you're grabbing my arm like your life depends on it?"
[08:01:44] <[DM]> Ellis identifies two of the bolts, their engravings familiar from their fame. Demon slayer and dragon slayer.
[08:03:00] <Ellis> "These two, I know. Are the other three similar?"
[08:04:16] <[DM]> "They perform similar things." The priest is evidently not going to help much there.
[08:05:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa appears behind the party, after having read the note, did a bit of her homework on the faiths to be found in this town and going to the area Ellis mentioned they're going to.
[08:05:33] <Alyssa> "boo."
[08:06:56] <Ellis> Ellis gives the priest a pointed look. "To whom?"
[08:07:50] <[DM]> "To those who need the help."
[08:09:44] <Zeni> Zeni just gives Alyssa a stiff glare upon hearing her, "Not funny!  This place really is creepy!  Uuuu...."  That said, she lets go of Lien's arm before shoving it back to her, as if it needed that huffy little push in order to properly return to its owner.  "How did you find your way here, anyway?"
[08:10:59] <Ellis> "And I'm betting you'd rather they stay here, so I can't go ask an expert." Ellis frowns thoughtfully. "Three, you said."
[08:11:08] <Alyssa> "I just pay close attention to the sounds of a whiney girl." Alyssa smiles very very sweetly.
[08:14:53] <Ellis> After a little more deliberation, Ellis picks the two she recognizes and one of the ones she doesn't, pocketing them very carefully. "My thanks to the Black Lord."
[08:15:31] <Zeni> Zeni pouts, but merely turns back towards the entrance and taps her foot.  "She sure is taking her time in there... Iwonder... Maybe she'll bring a staff of frost?  Even that would be nice, as much as I hate the cold... Hmhm~"
[08:16:48] <[DM]> "You please the Lord." The priest bundles up the remaining two bolts, then ushers Ellis back to the entrance, as soon as it's clear she has no further business.
[08:18:05] <Ellis> Ellis follows the priest to the door, blinking momentarily as she steps out into the sunlight. "Oh. Hello."
[08:19:24] <Zeni> Zeni stands there facing Ellis as she extis, arms folded.  "Annnd?  What'd you get?"
[08:22:10] <[DM]> The door swing shut silently as soon as Ellis is outside.
[08:22:38] <Ellis> Ellis descends the steps and pulls out her prizes, held delicately between her fingers. "I'm not sure what I expected. They're meant for killing, of course - this one's for demons, this one's for dragons, but I'm not sure of the last one."
[08:24:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa eyes the bolts. "These are worth keeping as trump cards."
[08:24:31] <Zeni> "... And what did you trade for those, one of the bones?"
[08:25:36] <Ellis> "The skull, yes. You wanted a staff, so I thought we'd hang on to the spine. Maybe with a few other pieces we could make something that way?"
[08:26:10] <Lien> "...Are you sure you want to make something out of a demon's spine?"
[08:26:15] <Zeni> "...... You traded the skull for some poking sticks?!"
[08:26:30] <Alyssa> Alyssa raises an eyebrow.
[08:29:36] <Lien> "They sound like useful poking sticks. How deadly are we talking?"
[08:30:23] <Zeni> Zeni steps back up to the door and knocks on it, "Ne!  Priest guy, open uppp!!  You scammed my dumb friend, but I know better!"
[08:31:26] <[DM]> Zeni's knock passes into open space, the priest meeting her eyes this time, ice cold,

"If you would repeat that."

[08:31:30] <Ellis> "Mmm..." Ellis chews her lip thoughtfully. "A good solid hit in the shoulder would probably be enough to kill you. If you were a demon, of course."
[08:31:56] <Lien> "Good thing I'm not. Let's get going before she causes a scene."
[08:32:23] <Lien> "Very quickly."
[08:32:54] <Ellis> Ellis nods, seizing the back of Zeni's collar and tugging. Mostly ineffectively. "Yell at me somewhere else, please?"
[08:33:33] <Lien> Lien outright grabs a hold of her and physically hauls her away if she has to. "She doesn't know what she's saying, mister."
[08:33:48] <Zeni> Zeni hufffs, "Okay, you didn't scam her, but surely you have something nicer than poking sticks!  A wand?  A staffff? A staaaave!" she cries out as she's tugged away.  "Something for meee!"
[08:34:19] <[DM]> Zeni departs to a glare fading into the shadows of the entryway.
[08:34:50] <Zeni> Zeni whiiiines defeatedly. .v.
[08:36:25] <Ellis> "That priest is an assassin," Ellis hisses into Zeni's ear, with no trace of humor.
[08:36:33] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods. This whining is easy to trace.
[08:38:01] <Ellis> She pauses, then adds, "Not in the immediate sense, in the profession sense."
[08:39:00] <Lien> "So you just insulted a professional killer's faith. Can we get out of town today?"
[08:40:15] <Zeni> "I don't care if he's like some kind of death-serving paladin that can snipe anything for miles and has like some pet bird that talks and makes wise ass jokes all the time and stuff, we can't let him get away with this! Uuuuuu.... Mywand...."  She eventually flails and kicks Lien enough to stand on her own again, just walking with the group and glaring back at the place here and there.  "Mu... Let's get our clothes."
[08:40:48] <Zeni> "... and our cash prize."
[08:44:45] <Alyssa> "If you wish to leave town, there is a place I'd like to check out first, it's within our destination."
[08:45:38] <Lien> "A place in town?"
[08:45:59] <Alyssa> "Outside, remember the place where the barkeep referenced from a drink?"
[08:46:29] <Lien> "Oh, the town. It's only a small detour."
[08:46:51] <Alyssa> "Yeah...I'd like to go there."
[08:47:09] <Lien> "About the business with the brothers, right. Should be fine?"
[08:47:59] <Alyssa> "Thank you."
[08:48:55] <Lien> "Which reminds me." She looks at Ellis for no specific reason other than her being the most reliable person. "Do you know what 'blood of greats' might mean?"
[08:50:16] <Ellis> "As in the nobility?" Ellis frowns. "Mythical figures? Monsters? Why do you ask?"
[08:51:28] <Lien> "Cryptic advice from the First Weaver. If you were told to bring blood of three greats somewhere, what would you bring?"
[08:52:10] <Zeni> "Hm? Where are you wanting to bring me now?"
[08:58:36] <Ellis> By way of answer, Ellis pulls the two slaying quarrels back out. "Demons, dragons, devils, great beasts, and royalty jump to mind. Not just any idiot with a tiara, of course. Certain minimum standards."
[08:59:09] <Lien> "Ah. Huh."
[09:01:26] <Ellis> "...Is this something I should be concerned about?"
[09:01:32] <Zeni> "... I think I'd look good with a tiara, so if we find some idiot wearing one, let's kill them anyway."  She's only half kidding.
[09:03:26] <Lien> "Those don't sound like the kinds of things I'd want to go out gathering blood from... but there might be answers."
[09:07:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa is distracted, her gaze far out, thinking of her brothers.
[09:12:54] <Lien> And then they went to the Weaver temple, which they had been doing the entire time.
[09:14:05] <[DM]> The temple looks much the same, though on inspection, the carriage has been repaired, if not repainted, with packages inside.
[09:14:35] <[DM]> ....and the cat had gotten into one of them. Dammit
[09:16:12] <Lien> "Huh."
[09:17:02] <Lien> Lien jogs up to the carriage and extricates the cat from what's probably someone's new clothes as gently as possible.
[09:17:09] <Zeni> Zeni hurriedly steps up to inspect the repaired carriage, "Good as new!... Butnopaint.  Ooof, lazy weavers!"  Only then does she look into the carriage to spot the packages.  And what puppy cat had been doing to them.  ". . ."
[09:17:41] <[DM]> Lien finds the cat had discovered a ball of string, and is now completely tangled up.
[09:18:14] <Ellis> "Oh dear."
[09:18:25] <Lien> "Good job." She holds the cat up for the rest to see, and to assuage worries about the clothes.
[09:18:41] <[DM]> It whimpers in distress
[09:18:59] <Lien> Then, she squints at the packaging. "Uh. Huh."
[09:19:34] <Zeni> "... Stupid thing.  Birdy doesn't cause any trouble, why do you?"  Zeni climbs into the carriage to inspect the packaging.
[09:20:25] <[DM]> The rest of the packages contain the ordered clothes in neat bundles, inside waxed paper.
[09:20:36] <Lien> "Because the bird's in a cage and the cat isn't." With a sigh, Lien holds the cat with one arm and begins patiently disentangling it.
[09:21:25] <[DM]> The string is...ridiculously long and thin.
[09:22:05] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head and goes inside the second temple of the day.
[09:22:07] <[DM]> By Lien's best estimate there might be a mile or two of string, and the cat is about 600 meters in.
[09:22:38] <Lien> "...What the hell."
[09:23:45] <[DM]> The cat claws at the string unhappily.
[09:24:17] <Zeni> The little half-elf quickly identifies her new dress and hugs the waxed paper package against herself before letting out a content sigh.  "Finally... No more peasant clothesss!"  She hops back out.  "Now for our payment... Wait... What'swiththestring?"
[09:24:35] <Lien> "This says imperishable thread, do not burn. Did you order this?"
[09:26:05] <[DM]> Ellis is greeted by Initiate Bellflower once more, "Do the items meet your inspection?"
[09:27:20] <Ellis> "I think so, although a few miles of thread seem to have exploded in the carriage?" Ellis coughs.
[09:30:44] <[DM]> "Just a little bonus."
[09:32:21] <Ellis> "For those of us who aren't Zeni, would you mind telling me if there's something I should know about that?"
[09:33:15] <[DM]> "It cannot be cut or torn, simple enough."
[09:33:48] <[DM]> "Fire burns it, and it is extremely fine thread, burning as fast as the wind."
[09:33:50] <Zeni> Zeni pops open a bit of her package and sniffs at her clothes, smiling quite uncharacteristically, hardly having a care in the world.
[09:36:26] <Ellis> Ellis' eyebrows shoot up. "That's...actually quite useful. My thanks." She counts out the rest of the Weavers' payments carefully. "Oh, which reminds me, I think I left something in the fitting room. Would you help me look for it?"
[09:36:57] <Lien> Outside, Lien comes to the conclusion she's going to have to spend quite some time getting the cat out of the thread. Might as well get started now.
[09:37:05] <[DM]> "Certainly."
[09:37:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps Lien sort out the stringed cat.
[09:39:19] <[DM]> The cat is unhappy, but submits to scratchings.
[09:40:24] <[DM]> The string however, is going to take a long while
[09:40:24] <Zeni> Zeni wanders off into the temple, somehow manages to demand the assistance of one of the initiates, gets her dress on in record time and re-emerges from the temple.  Then all was right in the world.  Till Lien calls out her absolutely minimal padding, anyway. 
[09:56:15] <Zeni> Zeni wanders back down to the carriage and tugs at Initiate Bellflower's sleeve, "Ne, what about the painting?  We paid for painting!  Ofthecarriage."
[09:57:01] <[DM]> The girl seems surprised, "You didn't specify what to paint it as."
[10:03:45] <Zeni> Zeni glares.  "Well one of you messed up then, surely I told someone!  I want it painted crimson and black with gold accents, a-and a crest on either side designed after my face, with a grin!" |<  Totally an inconspicuous carriage.
[10:04:16] <Zeni> "Okayfinemaybenocrest."
[10:04:56] <[DM]> The initiate looks at Ellis for some help, "Gold paint will be more costly than your repair fees include."
[10:07:21] <Ellis> Ellis considers the pros and cons of disappointing Zeni - again - sighs, and starts doling out more money. "I suppose if we're waiting...do you have someone I could speak to who knows a fair bit about magic?"
[10:08:28] <[DM]> "You could. Weaver Whitelace knows a thing or two, but her time is quite valuable."
[10:09:24] <Ellis> "Well, I'm already spending money, so...Zeni can sort out the paint while we do that, I suppose."
[10:12:51] <[DM]> The initiate looks at Zeni and sighs just under her breath, "Very well, go through that curtain, turn left, then right, then go straight for three more curtains to find Weaver Whitelace."
[10:14:42] <Ellis> Ellis slips a few extra coins into the pile by way of apology to the initiate before ducking through the curtain and vanishing from sight.
[10:18:43] <[DM]> Ellis soon after, finds a matronly priestess working at a loom, seemingly not having noticed her presence.
[10:19:39] <Ellis> Ellis coughs politely.
[10:20:12] <Zeni> "Okayokay.  So crests are in, and how much is gold paint?  Don't you go thinking you can convince me gold paint is worth its weight in gold, I know better!"
[10:20:29] <[DM]> The priestess jumps to her feet with a start, rising to her full height a full head over Ellis, "Ahem, what is your business with me? I'm busy."
[10:21:31] <[DM]> "One gold piece and thirty silvers, and another 2 hours to the work. We'd have to send an initiate to buy it."
[10:22:04] <Ellis> "I'm sorry, but I was hoping you could help me identify this." Ellis holds up the mystery quarrel in one hand.
[10:22:45] <[DM]> The priestess peers at it, "A hundred gold for the work."
[10:23:16] <Zeni> Zeni glances towards the sun's place in the sky, "That.. works I suppose.  Just setting out before it gets dark is enough for me."
[10:24:09] <Ellis> Ellis considers for a moment, then nods and starts fishing out more money.
[10:25:45] <[DM]> The priestess scoops up the coins and then sets the bolt on a table, mumbling to herself as she studies the runes on it,  frowning, "...why do you have an Angel Slayer, young lady?"
[10:26:44] <Ellis> "A what." Ellis snatches up the bolt, squinting at the engravings in disbelief.
[10:28:26] <[DM]> The symbols lie cold and inert, though on closer study the shaft of the bolt seems to be a sliver of bone in some kind of white steel.
[10:29:07] <[DM]> "An angel slayer. A missile forged for the specific purpose of killing a divine champion."
[10:32:51] <Ellis> "That only makes the answer to your question more worrying." Ellis sets the bolt down carefully, as though it might explode. "Is this something that would work on any divine champion, good or...otherwise?"
[10:33:25] <[DM]> "Only Angels, the darker gods are not a concern."
[10:38:51] <Ellis> "That's not much relief either, I suppose."
[10:38:59] <[DM]> "Where did you get it?"
[10:41:12] <Ellis> "A priest at the Black Temple gave it to me. Small wonder he was frustratingly nonspecific as to what it was."
[10:44:05] <[DM]> "The poxed priest?" She mulls it over, then gets back to her loom, perplexed, "Thilfar must like you."
[10:48:49] <Ellis> "That was...huh. Thilfar. Okay." Ellis leans on the table unsteadily.
[10:51:10] <[DM]> "Yes. He's a little odd."
[10:52:28] <Ellis> "No kidding." Ellis picks the bolt back up between two fingers and pockets it again. "Well, thank you. I'll be going, then." She heads off back through the curtains to find Zeni and the others.
[10:53:30] <[DM]> Zeni, meanwhile, had gotten exactly what she asked for.
[11:13:15] <Zeni> Zeni insists on being there through the entire painting process, practically torturing the artisans as she makes tiny little changes to the design here and there.  The cabin section ends up painted largely crimson, the pieces holding it together painted black, with gold accents around the windows and door, then on the door itself.  Rearwindowtoo!
[11:15:33] <[DM]> As for Alyssa and Lien they're still untangling the cat when Ellis and Zeni comes out, before picking up cat and string and resuming work.
[11:17:08] <[DM]> The initiates show up after some time, and set to the tiresome work.
[11:17:43] <[DM]> By the time the paint was dry enough to board, Lien was finally done with the cat, who's now sleeping in her lap.
[11:20:56] <Ellis> Ellis wordlessly drops down to sit by Lien.
[11:21:48] <Lien> Lien looks up and raises her eyebrows in an unspoken question
[11:23:31] <[DM]> After a moment, the carriage rolls out of town, in the late afternoon light.
[11:23:37] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 14: The Magical Realm Nomming, It Begins

[05:06:09] <[DM]> ------------------------------------------------------
[05:07:29] <[DM]> Out of town, the site mentioned by the guards as the old campsite was hard to find, the terrain being rather overgrown, and the low hills not helping.
[05:11:42] <Zeni> Zeni stares out the carriage window in disinterest, whining in her usual way here and there.  "Uuuuu... Can we get going yet?  What use is finding an old camp site..."  A while later, "... Would setting it all on fire help at allll?  Might reveal the... stone.... thing, the stoney ring they make around campfiiiiires~"
[05:12:59] <Lien> "No, it wouldn't." Lien glances at Ellis as if to make sure the sorceress isn't going to actually go through with the fire plan as they try actually looking."
[05:13:35] <Alyssa> "You know...fire would reignite any leftover campfires, not hard to miss..." Alyssa muses
[05:13:49] <Lien> "No, it wouldn't."
[05:14:33] <Ellis> Ellis shrugs a little. Who can say whether Zeni will actually set things on fire? It is a mystery. She peers out the opposite window to cover more ground.
[05:14:40] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and grumbles, "It totally woooould..."
[05:14:58] <Lien> "It would destroy all the things we're actually looking for."
[05:15:27] <Zeni> Zeni grumblesmumbles even quieter, "Good.  Then we could get going."
[05:15:43] <[DM]> Searching from the carriage proves futile, but with an idea from Ellis, Lien gets the idea to go up a tree on a hilltop for a look.
[05:16:12] <[DM]> ...only to find a rather obvious enormous oblong shape in one of the swaths of long grass.
[05:17:21] <Lien> "Found it."
[05:19:21] <Lien> Lien waves the rest of the party, or at least Alyssa and Ellis, nearer to investigate the presumed former campsite.
[05:20:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps Lien comb the site.
[05:20:28] <Zeni> Zeni pouts over being left behind, eventually hopping out and trailing along side Ellis.
[05:21:49] <Ellis> Ellis trails around curiously, looking for anything left behind in the underbrush.
[05:22:21] <[DM]> The grass makes it a pain, but combing through uncovers the detritus of an abandoned campsite, a few lost knives and swords. Little of significance, except a torn scrap of map containing a lot of forest and part of a path, and a canteen of liquid with a broken twine strap.
[05:24:10] <Zeni> Zeni kicks about some broken sticks and various debris, "Seeee?  Nothing of use~"
[05:26:27] <Ellis> Ellis strains against the canteen's lid for a second before sighing and offering it to Lien.
[05:27:33] <Lien> Lien opens the canteen with a quick twist that makes it look embarrassingly easy.
[05:28:37] <[DM]> The smell of moonshine comes out.
[05:29:24] <Lien> "Booze. Small surprise."
[05:29:52] <Alyssa> "Let me take a sniff." Alyssa takes a whiff of the booze.
[05:30:35] <[DM]> Definitely a familiar smell, though apparently made with rather subpar ingredients.
[05:32:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa nearly drops the canteen from shock. "This is Fielding alcohol."
[05:32:59] <Lien> "So, confirming what we knew." Lien takes a look at the scrap of map to compare the bit of route with what the barkeep hinted at as to their destination.
[05:33:45] <Alyssa> "Only family would know how to brew it this way..." Alyssa goes weak on the knees and sits on the ground.
[05:35:41] <[DM]> Lien matches up the end point to a bit of forest a mile off from the village of Elderwood, supposedly empty, assuming the hills on the map are correct.
[05:37:17] <Lien> "Looks like they're headed to somewhere a mile from Elderwood. Empty forest, supposedly, which means it's not empty if they're going there."
[05:37:35] <Zeni> Zeni blinks confusedly, eventually tugging Ellis's sleeve and looking up at her, "What's 'fielding alcohol' and what does it mea-- oh.  Ohhhh, guess that was her name..... wait, what's your last name?!  What's... anyone's last names?!  Why is everyone so forgettable...  I don't even remember the oaf's first name half the time."
[05:37:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks divided, as much as she needs these companions to help her, she also cannot over-extend their willingness to detour their quest for hers.
[05:38:21] <Ellis> "Well, calling her that can't help."
[05:40:15] <Lien> "I'm starting to get a better idea of who's an oaf." Lien mumbles that mostly to herself before standing up. "Well, I guess that's where we're stopping on the way to elven lands? We might have to leave the carriage in a nearby town, I'm pretty sure there's not actually a road to Elderwood."
[05:43:19] <Alyssa> "Yes let's, it is still a short detour right?"
[05:44:14] <Lien> "About a day's travel there and another one back, eyeballing it."
[05:44:32] <Zeni> Zeni doesn't even react to the oafy oaf's oaf accusation, just thinking to herself for a moment.  "Does that place even have a road?"
[05:44:37] <Alyssa> "Thank you for your willingness to go so far to help me reconnect to my brothers."
[05:46:03] <Lien> "Well, I'm already dragging you along on my ride." She looks back at Zeni's question, which she technically answered before it was asked. "There isn't one on a map I've seen, but if they're moving a thousand people there, there's got to be some sort of way."
[05:46:29] <Alyssa> "A thousand men moving leaves obvious tracks. Let's carry on?"
[05:49:03] <Zeni> Zeni just nods and heads back to the carriage.  And then they had adventures.
[05:50:11] <[DM]> Departing the town and the old campsite, the group heads out down the road towards elven lands.
[05:54:23] <[DM]> The track is rather hard to find, but the carriage passes a cluster of dense bushes and missing trees, the undergrowth somewhat less unusual than the garbage buried in it.
[06:02:13] <Zeni> Zeni begrudgingly prods the oaf for her assistance in placing the tarp over their carriage while Alyssa gets the horses free.  :<  Then Zeni sets puppy cat and protocreo free.  Be freeee!
[06:02:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa prepares the camoflage tarp using existing vegetation and hides the carriage.
[06:03:06] <Lien> Lien lends her assistance in time to ask Zeni what the hell she's doing with the animals.
[06:03:43] <Zeni> "Shoo, shooo!" Zeni whines out as puppy cat happily bounces around at her feet. :<
[06:04:03] <[DM]> The cat, given it's freedom, tackles Lien and begins searching for the string
[06:04:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa motions the animals to her side and whispers to them to take care of themselves with regards to food and use the carriage as shelter until the team comes back.
[06:04:45] <Lien> Lien keeps the cat carefully away from the string and keeps it placated with scritches. "Come to think of it, we can't very well let them starve while we're away."
[06:04:58] <[DM]> The bird lands of Alyssa's head and calls out in a perfect copy of Zeni's voice, "OAF!"
[06:05:21] <Lien> Lien is unamused.
[06:05:55] <Zeni> Zeni's opinion of the bird changes entirely over the course of just a moment, "... I suppose the bird's okay."
[06:06:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles. "I have convinced the animals to take care of themselves until the team is back."
[06:06:32] <[DM]> The bird proves it by stealing a biscuit from Alyssa's rations.
[06:07:04] <Lien> "Sure looks like it."
[06:07:08] <Ellis> Ellis watches with bemusement.
[06:08:00] <Zeni> "Because you know, it's not like this forest has hungry wolves and coyotes that would totally understand puppycat's playful postures and not consider it food and stuff!  We either set them free or they come along.  Bird really should come.  I should teach it more things!"
[06:09:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa winks at the bird.
[06:10:00] <[DM]> It scarfs down the biscuit.
[06:10:15] <Lien> "They don't seem too eager to leave, so. It's not like they take up a lot of space anyway."
[06:10:39] <[DM]> "Oaf teach."
[06:10:50] <[DM]> Definitely talking to Zeni.
[06:11:59] <Zeni> Zeni glares at the thing.  She points at Lien, "Oaf."  She points at herself, "Overlord Zenithar!  Know your place, birdbrains.  Or no more teaching!"
[06:12:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods in agreement with the bird.
[06:12:45] <[DM]> "Oaflord Zenithar!"
[06:13:13] <Lien> "...Ha." Lien's unamusement turns to amusement.
[06:13:22] <Ellis> "...Let's just go?"
[06:13:24] <Zeni> ".... I wonder what crow tastes like? Oof, anyway, who else can ride a horse?  Alyssa can..."
[06:13:29] <Alyssa> "Yeah let's go."
[06:14:39] <[DM]> At this point the bush suddenly lunges at Alyssa.
[06:15:40] <Zeni> Zeni looks up to Ellis, "Can I ride with you, then? :<  You can ride a horse, right?"  She ignores the bush consuming Alyssa in the background.
[06:21:21] <[DM]> The bush drags her into it's depths.
[06:24:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa twists her way out of the bush, disappears in a puff of silvery mist whilst drawing Last Blood and igniting it on fire.
[06:25:15] <Alyssa> <You'll be fucking campfire fuel by the end of this.> Alyssa growls.
[06:29:37] <Alyssa> She positions herself behind Lien.
[06:30:02] <Ellis> In response to Zeni's question, Ellis draws and shoots over her shoulder at the latest in a long line of things attempting to eat and/or strangle them.
[06:34:12] <Zeni> Zeni takes a few moments to even process what had happened, and by then Alyssa had already escaped.   She blinks and quickly draws up her arcane focus, shifting behind Ellis, "A plant thing!! Plants burn well, right!?  Waaah, yaaaay, my time to shine!"  Totally the right reaction to being ambushed.
[06:36:08] <Ellis> "Please burn it?" Ellis shifts a little to put herself right between the hungry bush and Zeni.
[06:38:32] <Zeni> Zeni tugs Ellis's sleeve once more as she retreats back a ways, "Of course I will, but there's no need to keep so close to it, come on!"  She calls out as she quickly intones her firebolt spell, a flaming dart rising out of one palm before pointing itself at the plant and firing.
[06:40:34] <[DM]> The flame missile flies into the bush and explodes inside, causing it to light up as if by flaming eyes.
[06:41:18] <[DM]> It makes some slurping noises as it continues trying to suck on it's food that's already escaped.
[06:42:38] <Lien> Lien is briefly taken off guard by a threat she didn't see coming for a change, Lien drops the cat as gently as she can in a life-threatening situation and proceeds to take her staff to the ambusher before regaining distance with a series of kicks.
[06:43:46] <[DM]> The cat retreats to the carriage, while the bird squawks, "KILL KILL KILL"
[06:45:08] <[DM]> Lien's attacks punches holes on the wood, but doesn't really do anything to slow it as the mound lurches and bubbles
[06:47:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa gathers energy in her palm and fires it at the creature.
[06:48:09] <[DM]> The heap blocks it with a bit of trash.
[06:48:47] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a few more steps backwards.
[06:52:18] <Ellis> Ellis fires off a few more shots designed to punch holes in this thing before following Zeni's example and backing off.
[06:57:11] <[DM]> One bolt goes awry as it keeps on swirling and burbling.
[06:57:52] <Zeni> Zeni remorselessly fires off another flaming bolt at the thing, "Ehe, this thing didn't seem to count on having an actual fight it seems?  Just wanted to nom Alli and head off~"
[06:58:33] <[DM]> The fire singes some leaves.
[07:03:27] <Lien> Exhaling, Lien moves back in to smack the bush upside what might count as the head if it had one, but this time, she doesn't back off immediately, trying to bait it into opening its guard instead.
[07:05:30] <[DM]> Lien manages to bruise some leaves in her assault, but she definitely got it's attention.
[07:08:28] <[DM]> It whips out it's branches, thrusting wildly at Lien.
[07:09:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a deep breath and focuses her attention at the creature, taking in all the information of its movements and general agility. And then she takes a few more steps backwards.
[07:10:55] <Alyssa> Unstopping a healing potion bottle, Alyssa takes a swig as well.
[07:15:11] <Ellis> Ellis, more familiar with Lien's fighting style now, fires as her friend dodges the bush's hasty swings.
[07:16:37] <[DM]> The first bolt misses while the second lops off a branch.
[07:17:23] <[DM]> "<Burn!>" The bird is currently making some strange noises to everyone else.
[07:21:39] <Zeni> Zeni looks at least a little bothered with how little the bush is burning at this point, but she just annoyedly fires off another firebolt at the thing.  "Burn harder already, dumb plant!"  She then vacates a bit further back, putting her well out of range of anything ever.
[07:22:13] <[DM]> The bush is looking a little battered, but not down yet.
[07:25:06] <Lien> Lien ducks under the firebolt and then returns to full form, beating on the mess of wood like it's a training dummy.
[07:28:03] <[DM]> The plant keeps battering at Lien, like some kind of blockhead.
[07:29:11] <[DM]> Then it's roots whips out and lashes against Lien's legs.
[07:30:07] <Alyssa> With the information gained from observation, Alyssa fires another bolt of energy at the creature.
[07:31:33] <[DM]> The outer bush is ragged now.
[07:33:32] <Ellis> Ellis grimly reloads and fills the air around Lien with more bolts, gunning for what might be some kind of core.
[07:35:03] <Ellis> "Now would be a great time for more fire!"
[07:37:42] <Zeni> "Don't have to tell me!"  Zeni growls out before stepping forward and firing off yet another bolt, "Why isn't it burning up yet?!  I wanted it to catch entirely ablaze, booo!"
[07:38:46] <[DM]> Zeni's flames sink into it's bulk and then it hisses to a halt, making a foul smell.
[07:40:01] <Lien> "Well, that was fun. Not."
[07:40:52] <Ellis> Ellis makes a disgusted noise. "Alyssa, are you alright?"
[07:41:30] <Alyssa> Alyssa whispers an incantation as more bruises disappear. "That surprise lunge nearly knocked the wind off me."
[07:42:12] <Lien> "It literally ate you." Crouching down, Lien inspects the bruise on her ankle. Thankfully, it doesn't look too bad.
[07:43:32] <Alyssa> "I'll be fine, let's move on." Alyssa sighs.
[07:44:16] <Zeni> Zeni hasn't even noticed Alyssa's wounds, fixated entirely on the slumped over plant.  "Booo... Really wanted it to burn well!"  She fires off a few more fire bolts at it for good measure.
[07:44:34] <Lien> "Wet wood doesn't burn well."
[07:44:50] <[DM]> Zeni's bolts blow away more rotted vegetable, exposing a gnarled root at the core.
[07:50:54] <Zeni> The half-elf takes a few more steps forward and folds her arms, "I know what burns and doesn't, dumby.  Now go pluck that root out!"
[07:52:06] <Lien> "You don't have to tell me that." Lien pulls the root out and inspects it from all sides. "This can be made into some neat stuff."
[07:52:55] <Ellis> Ellis cranes her neck to see. "That's the animating force, isn't it? It's useful for healing potions, if you know how to make those."
[07:53:43] <Lien> "Yeah. Mix it with enough mandrake and I could get... maybe four doses out of it."
[07:54:24] <Alyssa> "If there's mandrake in this area, we can find them."
[07:56:56] <Zeni> Zeni wanders back over to Ellis, giving her a once over to make sure she didn't get hurt somehow, then tries to tug her towards the horse.  "Let's get going already~"
[07:56:58] <Lien> Lien frowns. "It's easier to just buy some. And less loud." Coming from someone who has no problem casually gathering herbs.
[07:59:12] <Lien> Wrapping the root in cloth and stowing it, Lien walks ahead to scout instead of joining Alyssa on her horse.
[08:00:10] <Zeni> "Suppose it's worth noting that the animating rune is of elven origin... I imagine that'd be obvious, but well, oaf."
[08:00:39] <Ellis> Ellis eyes the horse dubiously before climbing on.
[08:01:45] <Zeni> Zeni meanwhile just watches Ellis from beside the horse with a smile.  A nervous one.  "You can ride it, riiight?"
[08:07:51] <Ellis> "...Sure." Ellis pats the horse as though it might explode.
[08:08:12] <[DM]> The path is far from obvious, as the trail vanishes outright several times. Lien passing several small animals that flee as the rest approach.
[08:08:27] <[DM]> Odd.
[08:08:46] <Zeni> "Then... trot it back to the road, then back here?  ThenI'llclimbon."  And Zeni was suddenly in the distant past.
[08:11:16] <[DM]> With a long walk, they could see more recent signs of  travel, here and there a felled tree along the path to be sure that the army had passed through.
[08:13:40] <Lien> Lien sniffs a bit and frowns after a while of moving ahead before falling back enough to talk to the others. "Something's off. This forest is fey territory, if you ask me."
[08:13:49] <[DM]> Four hours of traveling in, the sky is getting dark, and the party had just passed a clearing full of flowers concealing the remains of a campsite.
[08:14:06] <Zeni> Zeni had first attempted to sit infront of Ellis on the horse, but sensing her extreme discomfort, she instead climbed behind her and clung to her. :<  "You should learn to ride a horse alreadyyyy~" Ancient history.
[08:14:16] <[DM]> It's of similar scale to the one in the town behind. Likely where the army was.
[08:14:18] <Alyssa> "Anymore signs of the army passing through?"
[08:14:52] <Lien> "Yes. Right there."
[08:15:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods. "We're getting closer, and we're also moving closer to fey territory..this doesn't feel good."
[08:15:35] <Lien> "If they were being secretive to mount a surprise attack or do something stealthily... I'm pretty sure they didn't get much surprise."
[08:18:40] <Lien> "It's getting too dark to see well... let's make camp here, since it's already there. We can take a look around while we're setting up."
[08:20:10] <[DM]> The cat meanwhile, has gone to check out the flowers.
[08:20:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa observes the cat.
[08:20:32] <[DM]> After a moment it barks and starts digging.
[08:21:45] <Zeni> Zeni yawns, "Feyfey... Fey burn well enough, but I didn't remember this being part of the plan.  If Alyssa's brothers wandered into fey land I doubt we'll find them~"  The sorceress idly uses her presti to move the dirt back into the hole puppycat's digging.
[08:22:07] <Alyssa> Alyssa joins the cat.
[08:22:40] <Ellis> Ellis gladly gets off the horse and starts prowling around to make sure their campsite is safe. Fey really are the worst.
[08:23:42] <[DM]> The cat isn't really effective at digging, but Alyssa soon uncovers a rotted skull, some of the flesh still clinging to it, though the root growing through it's eye certainly says a thing or two.
[08:24:02] <Alyssa> "There's a skull here..."
[08:25:57] <[DM]> Ellis discovers more bodies, near the skull, though they're buried neatly in a row.
[08:26:25] <[DM]> No signs of violence on the bones, after closer examination.
[08:27:28] <Ellis> She frowns and beckons Lien over. "Hey, look at this."
[08:28:04] <Lien> "Hm?" Lien walks over to take a look.
[08:30:28] <Ellis> "More bodies, but...actual, proper graves, and they didn't die from injury. Poison, maybe? Disease? Starving?"
[08:33:01] <[DM]> A closer examination uncovers a common point in each corpse, a small sharp flint.
[08:33:21] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Ellis as she wanders off, leaving her on the horse without offering to help her down. :<  She eventually manages to climb down, wandering over to the others, looking to the graves in disgust, but remaining quiet.
[08:33:42] <Lien> She frowns at the sight. "The flowers look normal... though they shouldn't grow this fast, if the corpses are still fresh."
[08:34:38] <Ellis> "Wait." Ellis squints, then leans in, pointing at one of the flints without actually touching it. "See this? Maybe that's why there's no mark."
[08:36:58] <Lien> "...Huh."
[08:38:27] <Alyssa> "Sacrifice? Arrow wound? Poison?"
[08:39:18] <Ellis> "Poison. Think blowdarts, throwing needles, that sort of thing." Ellis straightens up, staring fruitlessly into the dark. "Which is not very comforting."
[08:39:56] <Alyssa> "We need to comb this area and find more evidence.."
[08:40:23] <Lien> "Right. In an open clearing, they were on a silver platter for arrows in the dark, I guess."
[08:40:30] <Zeni> Zeni joins Ellis in looking into the darkness, though less cluelessly, "Doesn't mean they were shot here, they were just burried here.  They were probably poisoned on the way here, or perhaps ahead... then brought back here after retreating, hmhm."
[08:41:04] <Lien> "If they'd been poisoned on the move, there wouldn't be the remains of there campsite here."
[08:41:16] <Lien> "Also, we're being watched."
[08:41:54] <Ellis> Ellis snaps her crossbows out without a second thought, stepping up in front of Zeni. "Where?"
[08:42:07] <Zeni> ".... Oh.  Was imagining their allies had survived and burried them."
[08:43:10] <Lien> "I'm not sure." Lien looks around, and says a bit more loudly, "We've no ill intent."
[08:43:56] <[DM]> Lien still sees nothing but a faint, directionless flicker of motion.
[08:45:10] <Lien> She follows the movement with her gaze as best as she can. "I don't think they're hostile. Um. Hello."
[08:48:35] <[DM]> "#Trample the flowers not.#" The faint whisper goes in Sylvan, then repeats again in Elven, "#Touch not the wood.#"
[08:50:15] <Lien> "#We won't. No harm so long as we leave them alone?#" Lien scoops up the puppy-cat into her arms, just in case, before translating for the others. "We're supposed to leave the flowers alone."
[08:50:33] <Zeni> Zeni nudges Ellis as she steps out from behind her.  "#Not trampling the flowers was obvious, but what wood?#" the half-elf murmurs out in tired, unpracticed elven.
[08:50:47] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods.
[08:51:17] <Ellis> Ellis warily lowers her weapons. "No cutting down trees, no fires."
[08:51:25] <[DM]> "#Blood to water the flowers.#"
[08:51:45] <[DM]> "#Bone to make trees grow strong.#"
[08:52:11] <[DM]> "#Come in peace and leave in peace.#"
[08:52:42] <[DM]> "#Come with violence and leave in pieces.#"
[08:53:08] <Zeni> "#So setting a campfire is out of the question, then?  Just to be clear~#"
[08:53:37] <Ellis> Ellis groans, but, you know. Quietly.
[08:53:53] <Lien> Lien makes a face.
[08:53:56] <[DM]> "#Dead wood knows no pain. Fallen leaves their gift.#"
[08:54:24] <Lien> "#Noted.# Just don't burn any living plants, I guess."
[08:54:30] <[DM]> "#Take that which is offered,  upon the stone they burn.#"
[08:56:39] <Zeni> "#I'd hoped you'd be so understanding.  My thanks.#"  Zeni gives the figures a tired curtsy before pulling out her backpack from her bag of holding... just to sit on it. 
[08:57:29] <Zeni> "#Might you be willing to show yourself?  Perhaps we could talk.  Or trade.  Does something shiny pique your interest?#"
[08:57:43] <[DM]> "#No fang or claw will find your sleep. To dawn your beauty rest.#"
[08:57:57] <Lien> "#Thank you.#" With a nod to the fey, Lien nods to Ellis to help gather dead wood for a fire.
[08:58:40] <Ellis> Ellis inclines her head politely before joining Lien in a careful hunt for kindling.
[08:59:43] <Alyssa> Alyssa proceeds to set up camp according to the special requirements and instructions.
[09:03:21] <Zeni> Zeni pouts and digs out an extra shiny copper, casting a minor illusion to get it really gleaming.  "#Really not interested~?#".... She seems so sure of herself that they're quicklings.
[09:04:51] <[DM]> "#Steel gleam, gold glitter, but we'd rather see water.#"
[09:08:33] <Zeni> "#... Guess you aren't quicklings, then, booo~#" Zeni pouts, then waves her hand at the mote of light she'd been using to brighten the coin, the mote shimmering off before erupting into a cascade of illusory water.  "#Can't say I recall what fey gardens and has such an adoration for water... so mm, thanks for the 'advice,' we'll be making camp now.#"
[09:09:12] <[DM]> Zeni only get strange echoing titters in reply.
[09:16:09] <[DM]> ------------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 15: Epic Loot: Staff And Two Globe-- wait what

[05:33:39] <[DM]> -----------------------------------------------------
[05:34:36] <[DM]> Dawn filters in through the clearing, the perfume of flowers filling the air. There is quiet however, where there would normally be birdsong.
[05:35:37] <[DM]> Near the campfire are a few skinned rabbit, berries and a flask. The bird and cat were already starting on the first rabbit, raw.
[05:40:01] <Lien> Lien nods at the offerings and looks around before bringing the remaining rabbits to safety. She sets one of them over a fire for a hearthy breakfast and inspects the berries and the flask while it cooks, as well as getting out part of the honey and some bread and cheese to leave behind as a return gift.
[05:41:52] <[DM]> The berries are a mix of wild berries, mostly raspberries, though only enough for a handful each. Safe to eat for sure. A taste finds them to be a bit too sweet.
[05:42:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa keeps her berries for flavoring in her brews.
[05:42:39] <Zeni> Zeni is a bit slower to wake than usual, and of course the very first thing that comes out of her mouth is a frustrated whine, "G-Gaaauuuu....!  Camping is the worst thing ever!"  She achingly climbs out of her sleeping bag and stretches and whines and cracks and whiiiines~.... and eventually settles beside Lien at the fire. :I  "... Did you go hunt those for us already?  Geeze."
[05:42:40] <[DM]> The flask meanwhile, is carved from wood, the contents are...wine, a rather familiar smelling one at that.
[05:43:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes another whiff from the flask.
[05:43:24] <Alyssa> "Where...where did they get this flask?"
[05:44:01] <Lien> "No, the fairies left them for us. Rules of hospitality." She nods at the bread, honey, and cheese next to the fire. "I set that aside to leave as a gift in return."
[05:45:40] <Alyssa> "The alcohol inside is a family brew, undiluted at that." Alyssa's voice shakes a bit.
[05:46:29] <[DM]> The wine isn't aged, but of good quality, must have been made in the past few weeks at the latest, with better equipment than an army camp could have.
[05:46:32] <Lien> "Huh. Maybe your brothers left it, or the fairies grabbed some from the soldiers?"
[05:46:55] <Zeni> "... That's dumb. :<  Surely it was just an offering to us."  Zeni eyes the gifts, luckily not seeming to identify the honey as something expensive.
[05:47:35] <Lien> "No. That's how these things work. Don't nobles do something like this too?"
[05:47:37] <Alyssa> "The quality of this brew is not only fresh, but made properly as well. Uh..can you talk to the faeries?"
[05:48:28] <Lien> "...If they're still here. Otherwise, it's tough to find them on their own turf. Usually they find you."
[05:49:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes out one bottle of her own brew, one she carried with her before she left Sweetwater. "Faeries! I am a brewer as well. In exchange for this bottle of my finest, please tell me who and where did you obtain the drink in the flask from?"
[05:49:51] <Zeni> Zeni growls and glares at Lien, seemingly thinking the girl was making a slight at her, but then seeming to think she was too dumb to have done it on purpose and ignores it. :I  "It's still silly~"  The half-elf starts brushing at her twin tails as she waits for the rabbits to cook.
[05:50:45] <Alyssa> "Can one of you translate what I've said to whatever language they know please?"
[05:51:04] <Zeni> Of course she wasn't patient enough to make that wait, and eventually starts nibbling up her portion of the berries.  And then Ellis's portion as well.  That's what she gets for oversleeping.
[05:52:10] <Lien> Lien declines to answer Zeni's accusation of silliness and instead looks at Alyssa. "Well, yelling's one way to get their attention." She raises her voice and calls out in Sylvan to nobody in particular, "#To any listening, my friend has a question and offers her finest brew in return for an answer.#"
[05:53:14] <[DM]> The woods are silent, in every tongue.
[05:54:32] <Zeni> Zeni elbows Lien, "You know diplomacy is my job, dumby..."  She clears her throat and calls out, "#Ne, silly invisible trickster things!  The merry-making brewer lady here has some questions about this wine flask!  She'll trade some of her finest for any information on this flask.#"
[05:54:37] <Lien> "...Doesn't look like anyone's here, or they don't feel like answering. We could wait for them to come back, at best."
[05:56:21] <Lien> "Diplomacy like calling the death god's priest a dealbreaker, right."
[05:56:52] <[DM]> The silence stretches on for a while longer, until the rabbits are about done, "#Hospitality given, hospitality taken.  Finest wine spared the fate of despoilers.#"
[05:57:55] <Alyssa> "What was that?" Alyssa asks.
[05:58:51] <Zeni> "Shush.  He did rip Ellis off!  We could've gotten so much more..." <---- Way before the sprites reply.
[05:58:52] <Lien> "I guess they had them make wine as restitution for trampling the flowers, in place of death."
[06:00:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa heaves a major sigh of relief and sets the bottle down with Lien's offering. "This means the army is allowed to proceed. We can continue to track them down."
[06:02:05] <Lien> "Mmhmm. Good news, at least." Lien smiles and finally takes the rabbits off the flame to eat, biting into a leg with gusto.
[06:03:24] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes her other two bottles and sets them before her. With a smile she opens the bottle previously slightly used and uses a little of the alchohol to wash the berries, perforate the skin with fine needles and pushes them into the bottle, adding the juice and flavor to the drink.
[06:05:10] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Lien as she just digs in, "Shouldn't you be serving others first?  Youreallyareanoaf."  She seems a bit hesitant to carve into the rabbit and break off a leg for herself... but eventually does so, slowly nibbling at her own leg and quickly losing her appetite with its origin so apparent.  ".... Ooooof.... "
[06:05:20] <[DM]> "OAF!"
[06:05:52] <Lien> "I took them off the fire. Just take what you'll eat." Naturally, she speaks with her mouth full.
[06:06:55] <Zeni> Zeni looks to lien in disgust for a while before just standing up with a huff, starting to pack up her sleeping bag.
[06:07:30] <Lien> Looking after the sorceress, Lien shrugs. More for herself.
[06:09:33] <Alyssa> After creating the new drink, Alyssa settles down for breakfast.
[06:10:31] <Zeni> Zeni wakes Ellis and pokes and prods her over to the fire, making sure she eats, then pokes and prods her over to the horse to strap their packs to it. :<
[06:17:09] <Alyssa> After everything is settled, Alyssa joins Lien to carefully clean up the area before leaving.
[06:17:57] <Zeni> Zeni attempts to take the reigns of her and Ellis's horse this time.  God help them.
[06:19:42] <Lien> After cleaning off what used to be Zeni's share of the meal (though not before offering some to Ellis and Alyssa), Lien buries the bones and the fire and breaks camp with Alyssa before once again leading ahead of the party.
[06:20:18] <[DM]> Breaking camp, the party advances further along the twisting trail that the army had left. The route is punctuated by bushes torn apart by dozens of axes, with alarming frequency.
[06:21:33] <Zeni> "... If your brothers are traveling with this many idiots, I really worry for them.  Even I know not to go swinging axes here~"
[06:22:15] <[DM]> At least until Lien spots a bush where it shouldn't be.
[06:22:23] <[DM]> On a tree. Embracing a skeleton.
[06:22:41] <Lien> "Hold. Weird thing." Lien signals for the others to stop.
[06:23:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa stops.
[06:23:27] <[DM]> The bush rustles as it orients upon the party, then rustles again to settle into a lump with it's prey.
[06:23:34] <Alyssa> "I pray the army learns that if they piss off the natives, by the time they're at their destination it won't be an army left."
[06:24:01] <Zeni> Zeni has a tiny bit of trouble getting her horse to stop, but it eventually follows the example of Alyssa's horse and stops beside it.  "Whoawhoaalready, stop, dumb thing!"
[06:24:28] <[DM]> "OAF"
[06:25:45] <Lien> "It... It's got a skeleton, but it doesn't look too interested in us? Move on, but keep an eye on it."
[06:26:38] <[DM]> The cat meanwhile has decided it likes being on Zeni, instead of at ground level where all the bushes are.
[06:27:30] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods. "Let's quickly move on."
[06:27:55] <Zeni> Zeni has more than a little difficulty keeping the cat and controlling the horse, whilst glaring at the creepy bush thing.  "... Yes, preferably -around- the thing rather than -by- it."
[06:30:44] <[DM]> At this point Zeni spots another rune of animation as she glances down to deal with the cat.
[06:30:49] <[DM]> A rune cut into stone.
[06:31:32] <[DM]> A misshapen lump of rock under a cluster of leaves.
[06:34:35] <Zeni> "Ne.  Alyssa.  Hop off, now.  Draw your sword and stab this rock.  Now.  Imeanit.  It's an animation rune."  Zeni shoves puppy cat onto Ellis and takes up her arcane focus, immediately firing a flaming dart down at the stone, probably barely marring it.  She moves the horse away a little bit.
[06:35:06] <Lien> "Huh? For the thing up there, you mean?"
[06:35:19] <Alyssa> "Rock?" Alyssa looks at the spot and concentrates on the object, willing a vibration strong and powerful enough to break it apart.
[06:35:21] <Zeni> Ellis would of course also fire her crossbows at it.
[06:38:38] <[DM]> The flames glance off the rune leaving a scorch mark, while Ellis's shots leave a deep crack as one bolt embeds in the rune itself.
[06:41:03] <[DM]> Then Alyssa's vibration rip through the bushes to expose three more sets of runes, all cracking under the sonic assault.
[06:44:37] <Alyssa> "Zeni! Fire at all the targets!"
[06:49:46] <Zeni> The little half elf blinks confusedly, "What did you even do?  I said stab it, not electrify it!  Why would electricity affect stoooone!?" Zeni shoves Ellis as she hops off the horse in a hurry, moving a ways further back before turning back to the stones.  "Keep those things away from me!" she cries out as she raises her arcane focus, murmuring an unfamiliar incantation as Lien, Ellis, and their equipment suddenly double in size.
[06:52:10] <Alyssa> Satisfied with the trial run of this brand new spell. Alyssa raises both hands as she concentrates on the same spot. "Come to me the fury of thunder!" and claps her hands together hard.
[06:57:10] <Alyssa> Drawing Last Blood from empty space, Alyssa ignites her blade. <Blood to Ashes>
[06:58:59] <[DM]> The blast leaves the leading monster visibly cracked, the rune barely holding together.
[07:00:55] <Lien> After briefly stumbling in surprise at the sudden size-up, Lien gets her bearings and lunges forward to spear the leading stone monster with her staff. Splitting rocks with her bare hands is probably easier when she's twice as big as normal.
[07:02:34] <Ellis> Ellis blinks in confusion before adjusting her aim to compensate. Crossbows aren't great at punching through solid rock, but the animation rune is still a weak spot.
[07:02:36] <[DM]> As it turns out, big or small, rock is still rock. She leaves some more of it cracked.
[07:02:48] <Lien> ...Or so she thought. As it turns out, her balance and center of gravity are significantly off now, and all she gets in is a decent kick to the thing's chest.
[07:04:00] <Zeni> "... How hard is it to hit a rock!? Gaaauuuu, just keep them over there and away from here at least!"
[07:04:23] <[DM]> "GAUUUU!"
[07:04:35] <Lien> "I'm not normally twelve feet tall!"
[07:05:08] <[DM]> The bolt clips the monster, but it's undeterred.
[07:06:09] <[DM]> Then they cast off the bushes, the three in the back spreading stone wings and flying forward.
[07:06:30] <Lien> "What."
[07:07:31] <[DM]> The stone monster's teeth miss Lien, but it's claws rake her across her shoulders.
[07:07:46] <[DM]> Meanwhile at the rear, everyone got a gargoyle of their own!
[07:11:35] <[DM]> In a wild flurry of surprisingly swift attacks, the creatures managed to lay a few scratches on Alyssa and Zeni.
[07:12:12] <[DM]> Then the cat jumps off Zeni to chew on the offending gargoyle's head.
[07:12:22] <[DM]> It actually left a few scratches.
[07:15:43] <Zeni> Zeni seems more surprised by the puppy cat's valiant assault than by the gargoyl managing to scrape her, the little half elf quickly retrieving the furball before moving to the side and letting forth a gout of flame upon her gargoyle and the one behind it.  "To the side, Ellis!"
[07:18:56] <[DM]> The gargoyles ducked to the side at the same time, getting only lightly seared.
[07:20:13] <Zeni> "Tsh.  At least I didn't miss!"
[07:21:19] <Alyssa> Parrying the first hit but taking a punch to the shoulder on the second, Alyssa grunts from the impact but thrusts Last Blood towards the creature with anger.
[07:22:57] <[DM]> Alyssa pierces clean through the stone, leaving a molten hole in the monster.
[07:24:38] <Lien> Gaining a bit of ground from the monster, Lien broadens her stance to try her luck again with more stable footing, jabbing at the gargoyle that scratched her first to test it.
[07:25:57] <Lien> No such luck.
[07:26:55] <Zeni> Zeni face palms -hard-.  "W-Whyyy.... I took that spell just for you, idiot, and you can't hit a tree let alone a stoooone!"
[07:27:40] <Lien> "Moving is hard like this!"
[07:28:16] <Alyssa> "Bad choice..."
[07:29:26] <Ellis> Despite being twice her size, Ellis somehow comes out of Zeni's inferno and the gargoyle's attack unscathed. She ducks under a wild swing, pulling both triggers at once when she gets a clear shot at the rune.
[07:30:33] <[DM]> One bolt sinks into a tree, the other into it's head.
[07:33:54] <[DM]> The gargoyles continue to bite and claw mechanically.
[07:36:15] <[DM]> Zeni meanwhile found that her new clothes are bloody now as it rips into her shoulder with a bite.
[07:40:39] <Zeni> Zeni growls out of frustration and raises her palm again, letting out another gout of flame.  "I enlarged you two so that you can keep these things off of me and what do you doooo? Just flop around uselessly!  Auuuu, I can't believe I wasted a known spell like this!"
[07:41:44] <[DM]> This time the flame catches them full on, blackening the rune on their heads, and a good bit of the greenery is now crispy.
[07:43:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa pivots and spins again, using the momentum of the punch fuel her next thrust. This time aiming for the rune.
[07:44:03] <[DM]> The gargoyle ducks under the thrust, avoiding deanimation.
[07:47:27] <Lien> Finally, if much too late for her tastes and everyone else's, Lien seems to get her bearings and lands a string of attacks on the gargoyle facing her that takes care of it for good.
[07:48:30] <[DM]> The stone splinters as it deanimates, tumbling to the ground like the rock it is.
[07:48:58] <Lien> Without missing a beat, she turns to flank the monster attacking Alyssa between herself and the other girl before the one she just killed is done hitting the ground.
[07:54:39] <Ellis> "Give me a break," Ellis grumbles before firing a rapid volley of shots, aiming to catch the gargoyles mid-flight.
[07:59:18] <[DM]> Ellis's shot smashes the rune on one head, rips through another's wing to shatter on the ground, and punches a finger deep hole in the last.
[07:59:50] <[DM]> The last monster seems to reconsider, taking wing.
[08:00:58] <[DM]> Zeni and the cat swipe simultaneously at it, getting in each other's way as it gains height.
[08:02:07] <Zeni> Zeni howls in frustration and sends a fire bolt sailing after the gargoyle, only dinging its wing.  "Die, die already, diiiiiiie!!!"
[08:02:50] <Alyssa> Alyssa raises a fist towards the airbourne gargoyle. "GET DOWN HERE!"
[08:03:52] <[DM]> Alyssa's blast of power punches through one wing.
[08:03:57] <[DM]> Gravity did the rest.
[08:04:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa's wounds heal from the kill.
[08:05:38] <[DM]> The cat meanwhile has settled down, licking Zeni's blood off it's paws  from where it got splashed.
[08:05:51] <[DM]> "DOWN"
[08:06:55] <Zeni> Zeni glares at puppycat, picking it up by the scruff before plucking up her canteen and pouring it out on her valiant body guard.  "No one drinks my blood, dumby. ;< Bad!  Bad hero!"
[08:07:16] <Ellis> Ellis sighs, rubbing at her shoulder where the lucky gargoyle almost certainly left a bruise. "You're sending mixed messages, aren't you?"
[08:10:02] <Zeni> The half-elf just huffs as she continues cleaning puppycat, wiping her own blood off with her fancy new dress, then using her presti for extra thurough cleaning.  She then delivers it ear scritches and belly rubs.  "Ooof... What's wrong with you people!?  You're supposed to keep things off of me!"
[08:10:56] <Lien> With a grunt, the still supersized Lien sits down under a tree and looks at her scratch. It's not bad, but that was more frustrating and exhausting than it had to be. "Let me see that wound."
[08:16:49] <Zeni> Zeni frowns sharply over the couple of scratches and snags on her fancy new dress, but just continues cleaning up her own blood before drawing her long bell sleeve back and showing her arm to the giant oaf.  "Oof... This is your fault, you're huge!  You were supposed to grab them and hold them baaack..."
[08:17:18] <Lien> "It would have helped to know that beforehand."
[08:18:16] <Ellis> "Or to know...most things beforehand." Ellis starts gathering up stray bolts, kicking over chunks of the formerly animate in the process.
[08:18:50] <Lien> Lien shows extra care in looking at and cleaning the wound to avoid accidentally making something worse with her elongated limbs, though all it really needs is some water to wash it. "It's nothing serious, luckily."
[08:19:15] <[DM]> Behind where the gargoyles came from is a large flat piece of rock, collapsed and overgrown.
[08:19:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa investigates the large flat piece of rock.
[08:21:25] <Zeni> The little half-elf glares at Lien even as she helps her, "Is that bushy creature still around or can I return you and Ellis to your normal sizes?  Dun like being towered over by you."
[08:21:30] <[DM]> It's deeply embedded into the ground, but faint shapes can be seen in the stone surface.
[08:21:50] <Lien> "...Sure? Not that that would change anything."
[08:23:21] <Alyssa> "A bit of help here?" Alyssa grunts.
[08:23:37] <Zeni> She pouts, "I thought you two would do better if you were larger!  Not bumble around like idiotsss... muuuu... Just keep an eye out for that thing, don't want it sneaking up when I'm hurt like this."
[08:23:50] <[DM]> The bush is still cuddling it's skeleton.
[08:25:06] <Lien> "It's not that simple. I can't just suddenly be twice as tall and keep on like nothing happened. My reach is off, my balance is off, my positioning is off, my chest hurts when I move." Looking up, she strides over to the thing Alyssa found and helps with it after blinking a few times.
[08:25:49] <[DM]> The stone resists for a moment, then pops free from the earth with the ripping of roots and a spray of loam.
[08:26:35] <[DM]> Below is what looks like an old temple, collapsed for ages.
[08:26:45] <Lien> "...Huh."
[08:27:16] <Zeni> Zeni washes her arm off before bandaging it up and letting her sleeve back down, then returning to petting poor wet puppycat.  "At least you care. |<"  She picks it up and follows after the party.
[08:27:17] <Alyssa> "Curious thing...let's go down and take a look."
[08:27:50] <Ellis> "...Huh." Ellis comes over from her work. "What's this now?"
[08:27:55] <Lien> "Sure. Un-large me so I'll fit?"
[08:29:32] <Zeni> Zeni looks suspiciously around for the bush creature before releasing her concentration on the spell, sidling up next to Ellis as she shrinks, as if trying to use her for cover.
[08:30:12] <[DM]> Inside, there is a sense of peace...except for Zeni and Alyssa who feel vaguely itchy instead.
[08:30:38] <[DM]> Robed skeletons lie collapsed, some pinned under pillars, others crowded around the stairs.
[08:30:50] <Zeni> ... Something does go a bit wrong with the spell, though.  For Lien, anyway.
[08:31:16] <Lien> "?" Lien looks down. "What are you doing now?"
[08:32:28] <Zeni> Zeni doesn't react, not even thinking Lien is talking to her, still clinging to Ellis's side and looking suspiciously about.  "Uuuu... Why don't we burn the bush?  It sounded creepy the way Lien described it..."
[08:32:54] <Lien> "Zeni? Hey, what's with this?"
[08:33:51] <Ellis> Ellis peers distractedly into the temple entrance.
[08:34:23] <Ellis> "There aren't any bush monsters inside here. Probably."
[08:35:09] <Zeni> Zeni blinks confusedly at Lien, not even sure what she's looking at before suddenly flustering a bit.  "I... I don't know!? When did you stuff melons under your clothes!?  W-Weirdo oaf..."
[08:35:45] <Zeni> "OAF!"
[08:35:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa unconsciously scratches at her arms.
[08:36:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles as the bird addresses Zeni.
[08:36:51] <Lien> "Never! What are you doing? I thought you were ending your spell thing!"
[08:37:55] <Zeni> "I did, stupid.  Drop the melons already!  It's embarrassing."  She sidles a bit further behind Ellis.
[08:38:55] <Ellis> "What?" Ellis turns around...then keeps right on turning. Or tries to. Zeni using her for cover against the wrath of Lien isn't helping.
[08:39:10] <Ellis> "...Zeni, what did you do?"
[08:39:31] <Lien> "There's no melons anywhere here!"
[08:42:42] <Zeni> "S-Shut up!  She's stuffing her bra o-or wraps or whatever she wears!  Why would I make hers bigger?! If I could do such a thing I'd make my o-own bigger!  Cutitoutalreadystupidoaf!"  Zeni leaves Ellis's side, shoving at her a bit as she does so, wandering a bit further into the odd temple before stopping and shivering as the itchiness hits her.  "G-Gah... What is this place?"
[08:44:33] <Lien> "So you messed up?" Lien walks awkwardly into the temple, supporting herself with her arms, though she doesn't feel anything off. "Looks like a temple. Nicer place than I'd have expected, here."
[08:46:05] <Zeni> "It... itches.  Oof.  And it just feels... gross and dumb, oddly holy and stuff... Gaaah, I'd wait outside but you idiots didn't kill that bush!"
[08:46:33] <Ellis> Ellis refrains from commenting and follows Lien into the temple. At least in the dark no one can see her face redden. "I don't feel anything. Maybe you just walked into a spiderweb?"
[08:50:18] <Zeni> Zeni fishes a torch out of her bag and lights it up with a firebolt, taking another step further before stopping again.  ".... Y-Yeah, no."  She turns around and shoves the torch into Ellis's hands, "You go investigate if you don't feel anything, I'm not going a step further!"
[08:52:11] <Lien> "If you're feeling itchy in a holy place, stopping for a prayer instead of just going outside might not be the worst of ideas." The light shows Lien clearly still bothered by her new problem, but she's making an effort to ignore it and hope it wears off on its own. That's what magic does, right?
[08:52:59] <Ellis> Ellis takes the torch, sighing a little. "I guess I can look around. Scream if you need me?" She trots off, hopping over a skeleton.
[08:55:37] <Zeni> Zeni huffs as she watches Ellis and presumably Lien explore further, standing arms folded beside Alyssa, watching her idly scratch.  "You're feeling that too, right?  Ooof... this place is terrible.  And by terrible I mean good, I guess.  Toogood."
[08:56:27] <Lien> Lien grunts and grumbles and follows behind Ellis.
[08:57:44] <[DM]> As they move inside, the skeletons they pass crumble to dust from the disturbance,  it's been buried for a long time.
[08:59:43] <[DM]> At the very end, is unmistakably the remains of an altar. Copper and silver decorations hang corroded to complex green and black traceries, it must have been rather elaborate once upon a time.
[09:02:27] <Lien> "I've never seen something like this before."
[09:02:49] <[DM]> Untouched by age however, is a wooden staff, suspended between two corroded prongs, impossibly balanced there. The haft itself is a delicate rose colored wood, the grain forming pleasant waves, with a solid silver cap at one end, and two wing shaped prongs  on the other, an orb of clouded crystal suspended between the wings.
[09:05:34] <Ellis> "This is ancient stuff. Older than most human cities...I think they were worshipping an angel outright."  Ellis glances awkwardly down at her bolt pouch.
[09:06:13] <[DM]> A closer observation finds the wings to be pure silver, detailed down to the feather, and tiny lines of some script running down the pinions.
[09:06:16] <Alyssa> "Interesting..."
[09:06:48] <Lien> "And now it's just crumbling? That's kind of sad."
[09:09:38] <Ellis> Ellis nods, leaning a little closer to the staff. "This is in perfect condition, though."
[09:10:18] <Lien> Lien mirrors her, forgetting her plight for a while, and reaches out to touch it slightly. The best idea.
[09:11:15] <[DM]> Lien feels a wave of fatigue wash over her as something runs out from her touch. The crystal sphere flares as lightning awakens inside it's depths.
[09:11:32] <[DM]> Then the remains of the altar crumbles to dust below the staff.
[09:11:35] <Zeni> Zeni meanwhile remains at the entrance, tapping her foot, holding her five-silver arcane focus tightly to herself as she itches, looking about warily.  "Hurry up in there..."
[09:11:43] <Lien> "Oof. Maybe that wasn't the best idea."
[09:12:03] <[DM]> Under the altar, two bronze crowns of simple design lie in the debris.
[09:13:00] <[DM]> Which isn't quite as important as the statues down the hall turning to dust as well.
[09:13:08] <[DM]> Given that the statues were propping up the roof.
[09:13:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa grabs the crowns and runs. "RUN!"
[09:13:24] <Lien> "Uh."
[09:14:07] <[DM]> There's a deep groaning in the stone, which shortly after, becomes a rustling as dirt and dust pour down from the roof.
[09:14:11] <Lien> In a snap decision, Lien grabs the staff and bolts for the exit, still managing to cover ground better than anyone else.
[09:15:17] <Zeni> ... The party would of course find that Zeni had already fled without waiting for them even a moment, standing at the top of the stairs and glaring at them as they emerge.  "I told you that place was bad!  Soverybad."
[09:16:17] <[DM]> As Alyssa and Ellis escape the pit, the rest of the old temple collapses, producing a plume of dust that blasts into the party's back(and Zeni's face)
[09:17:39] <Zeni> Zeni isn't that stupid!  She ducks to the side as the plume escapes. ;<
[09:18:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa clears the stairs and looks back at the crowns in her hands.
[09:19:25] <Lien> Lien coughs in the dust and ascents last, carrying the recovered staff in one hand.
[09:19:37] <Zeni> The crowns catches her eyes more than the staff does, "What are those?  And what did you do down there?!"
[09:20:08] <[DM]> The crowns are nowhere near as impervious to age as the staff, their decorations eroded by a crust of patina.
[09:20:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa uses her sleeve to rub at the crown.
[09:20:40] <Lien> "Good question."
[09:21:14] <Ellis> Ellis huffs out a breath, wiping the dust of ages off her glasses. "I guess that was the only reason the place was still standing. Like I said, ancient."
[09:21:40] <[DM]> Seems to be a paired set however, one with squared blocks at the top, and the other with coiled shapes. A rubbing doesn't do much good.
[09:26:18] <Zeni> Zeni uses presti to clean up the crowns as best she can, eventually reaching for the coiled-shapes one to inspect it a bit further.  "Iwantthisone.  Also what's with that weird staff?... Wait... staff....?!  You found a staff down there?!"
[09:26:36] <Lien> "I guess we did."
[09:27:23] <[DM]> The dirt comes off, but the crown remains a not very recognizable bit of bronze.
[09:28:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs and hands the crowns off to Zeni if she is drooling over them.
[09:29:31] <Zeni> "What kind of staff is it?" Zeni questions as she reaches for it.  Obviously it belongs to her, all loot belongs to her!
[09:30:20] <Lien> Lien raises the staff well out of the smaller girl's reach. "The kind you're not touching yet. Before that, what about this? You did this, can you fix it? Will it go away by itself?"
[09:31:19] <[DM]> The clouded crystal arcs in lightning, sparking back and forth.
[09:31:51] <Ellis> Ellis squints at the crowns Zeni's taken possession of. "...I've got nothing. They meant something, though, because the temple was keeping them safe. I'm not sure from whom, though...it might have even been the original owners."
[09:34:16] <Zeni> Zeni whines and jumps for the staff, grabbing for it, "Hey!  No!  A staff is definitely a caster thing, let me have ittt!  I don't care about your stupid bosom, that's your own problem!" .... Though she did fluster slightly with them being right in her face.  She moves as if about to swat at them to try to knock whatever was under that shirt out, but hesitates, "You really didn't stuff anything in there?  I dunno... Enlarge is a pretty simple spell."
[09:35:36] <Lien> "The only one who stuffs anything in their clothes is you. Why would I do that, anyway?"
[09:35:58] <[DM]> "Bosom!"
[09:36:26] <Lien> Lien cringes.
[09:38:06] <Zeni> Zeni opens her mouth to reply, only for her jaw to drop as her cheeks flush.  "I-I do no such thing, stupid, stupid bimbo oaf!!!" she cries out before swatting Lien.  Things jiggle.  They are real!...... Zeni's world shatters.  "G-Gaaaaahhhh!!!!  This is the worst!"  The half-elf drops the crowns and retreats to the side to sulk.  For forever.
[09:38:31] <[DM]> "Bosom oaf!"
[09:38:41] <Alyssa> Alyssa prepares the carriage and laughs at the bird.
[09:39:25] <Ellis> Ellis very seriously considers taking a page from Lien's book and running off into the woods to become a hermit.
[09:39:33] <Lien> "We can worry about the staff later. Let's not stick around here too long. And hope this wears off."
[09:40:56] <Zeni> Zeni has to be coaxed out of her despair for quite a while before eventually joining Ellis on their horse, her gaze hallow and lifeless.
[09:41:29] <[DM]> The bird pats her on the head with a wing.
[09:41:32] <[DM]> "Oaf"
[09:41:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa erupts in laughter.
[09:42:16] <Zeni> Zeni tears the bird to shreds.  In her imagination.  In reality she just simmers.  Lifelessly.
[09:42:31] <[DM]> The cat meanwhile, just curls up in her lap instead.
[09:43:05] <Ellis> Ellis takes the reins this time, awkwardly reaching back to pat her on the shoulder. Only once, though. More is probably risking the hand.
[09:45:43] <Zeni> Zeni bobs along lifelessly behind Ellis, a crown threaded onto each of her twin tails.  Zany touhou headgear acquired. 
[09:46:31] <Lien> Lien looks drained enough herself, both from the touch of the staff and from her magic complication.
[09:46:42] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 16:  Titles are dumb and so are you :< And so is that staff.

[06:15:14] <[DM]> The forest is eerily silent after the destruction of the temple, the tingling fading along with the peace.
[06:17:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks around, the itching has stopped.
[06:18:25] <Lien> Lien looks around and nods to the bush still hugging its skeleton. "Well. So much for that temple. Let's keep moving. No telling when that thing will get hungry again."
[06:18:58] <[DM]> At least, save for the contented murmuring of the bush in the tree as it does whatever to the corpse.
[06:19:36] <Ellis> "Or when something else will." Ellis glances around, concern written on her face. "I don't like this sort of quiet after the last time."
[06:20:30] <Lien> "Right. Let's get away and find a clearing or something to get our bearings."
[06:21:04] <Zeni> Zeni glares in the bush's direction for some time before just huffing, "Well you idiots did just ruin some old icky holy place.  Getting out of here sounds like a good idea."  She nudges Ellis towards their horse.
[06:21:42] <Ellis> "What did I do?" Ellis protests while being propelled toward the horse.
[06:22:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs as she continues riding.
[06:24:09] <Zeni> "I don't know, I couldn't stand being in there!  But you did something and now the place collapsed, possibly releasing some ancient evil.  I'd applaud you were it not for the silence.  Nowgetonalready!"
[06:25:28] <Lien> "I don't think we did. It was crumbling as it was."
[06:26:52] <Ellis> "Besides, if there was some ancient evil in that crown you're wearing, how would we tell?"
[06:31:28] <Alyssa> "We could only tell if she is behaving strangely."
[06:31:35] <[DM]> The trail is difficult to spot, but fresh bootprints point the way. Looks like people came through not two hours ago.
[06:32:34] <Alyssa> "Looks like we're behind the group by 2 hours. Let's keep going." Alyssa helpfully points out, breathing a little heavily from the anxiety and excitement.
[06:34:48] <Lien> "Don't rush it too much. We just got out of a fight, and an army doesn't move quickly."
[06:35:35] <Alyssa> "I...yes. Thank you for reminding me."
[06:46:13] <Lien> As the group takes a break along the way to rest and inspect their findings, Lien looks up just when she's settled down to meditate. "Come to think of it, if this army is making some sort of move against the elves, might they see Zeni and think she's a spy?"
[06:46:33] <Alyssa> "She's with us, so she's alright?"
[06:47:07] <Lien> "You're a rebel, I'm a hermit who knows the fey, and Ellis is... she's probably fine."
[06:47:26] <Lien> "But that's not obvious. Maybe if she just hides her ears?"
[06:47:31] <Ellis> "...Thank you?"
[06:47:51] <Alyssa> "The army left before my rebellion."
[06:48:12] <Lien> "Oh. But anyway, who knows. It just came to mind."
[06:48:14] <Zeni> "No, she's right, but well... This dress does have a hood.  Idon'tlikeit, but it does."  She hesitantly drags it up and over her head, just tucking her twin-tails forward. :<
[06:48:49] <Alyssa> "So what do you suggest when we make contact with the army?"
[06:49:41] <Zeni> "I haven't gave a thought to it, I've just been eagerly waiting to watch you mess up like at that bar in town.  It's going to be hilarious!"
[06:50:16] <Lien> "I'm not sure. Try to get a look from a distance and find your brothers, for starters? We might be able to sneak in and talk to them once they make camp for the night."
[06:51:34] <Zeni> Zeni eventually settles down beside Lien, looking her staff over.  Don't get any ideas, nick.  This isn't a futa doujin.  Yet. 
[06:51:48] <Zeni> You drunkard.
[06:52:39] <Alyssa> "I can disguise myself as well."
[06:59:23] <Zeni> Zeni eventually pulls the staff into her lap, tracing over its details with a finger as she goes over old memories of drooling over magical staves of legend, "It really is a rare one... But what precisely it is... I'm drawing a blank.  I guess it's one of the ones I was less interested i-- ...... No............ No!!"  Zeni's eyes widen and she tosses the thing towards the camp fire.  "... No way!  Aaaagggghhhhh!!!"  She double facepalms and draws her knees up against her face.  "... It's... totally useless....!"
[07:00:32] <Lien> After her own meditation, Lien looks it over again. "It's a striking staff. A perfectly balanced one at that. And... really powerful."
[07:01:27] <Alyssa> "Powerful? How?"
[07:01:30] <Zeni> Zeni whines and despairs, "Nuh uh... It's just some dumb thundery thing, oooof... The books said it was lost, so that lines up, at least..."
[07:01:54] <[DM]> the fire licks the silver and the smoky quartz orb seem to shift, lightning dancing between them
[07:02:08] <Lien> "Thunder and lightning. There's some symbolism about the split between mortal and divine in the carvings, but I can't read them."
[07:02:47] <Alyssa> "Interesting. At least it's safer than Last Blood. What's this staff's name?"
[07:03:01] <Lien> Lien picks it out of the campfire. "If you think it's so useless, you don't mind if I take it, right?" She blinks at the question. "No idea."
[07:04:10] <Zeni> Zeni suddenly stands to her feet, shaking a tiny fist towards the heavens, "G-Gaaaauuuu!!! Why is everyone but me getting special thiiiings!?"  Her hood almost falls all the way off.
[07:04:31] <Lien> "Must be karma."
[07:04:58] <ProtoCreo> "KARMA!"
[07:06:01] <Zeni> Zeni just glares at Lien, her eyes ever so slightly watery, "S-Shut up!  Those with ambition deserve nice things!"  She then picks up a rock and flings it at not-Creo.
[07:06:20] <Alyssa> "Oafs don't get nice things I guess." Alyssa shrugs.
[07:06:46] <Lien> "Greed and entitlement just make you miserable in the end. Case in point."
[07:07:00] <Lien> She sounds a tiny bit smug.
[07:08:19] <Ellis> Ellis tries to look sympathetic. She really does.
[07:08:49] <[DM]> The bird flaps away, landing on top of Alyssa. "Oaf?"
[07:08:59] <Zeni> Zeni just sighs and growls at once, glaring at Lien once more.  "We'll see in the end, dumby."  With that she just starts packing things back on 'her' horse.
[07:09:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles and nods.
[07:09:38] <Alyssa> "Yes. Oaf"
[07:10:17] <[DM]> It pats Alyssa on the head,"Oaf!"
[07:10:47] <Ellis> Ellis stifles an undignified noise.
[07:10:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa laughs.
[07:10:52] <Zeni> Zeni picks up puppycat and gives it an extra heavy dose of petting, at least it still loves her.  Kind of.  :<
[07:11:25] <Lien> Suddenly, Lien's head snaps around. "Shh. Someone's nearby."
[07:11:31] <[DM]> It licks her hand.
[07:11:41] <Alyssa> Last Blood appears in Alyssa's hand.
[07:12:00] <Zeni> "Shall name you Vanilla, for you are the sweetest little thing, and s-shhhh!  I'm naming the thing and bonding with it.  Don'tcare."
[07:12:29] <Zeni> .... Though she does skulk down and release the thing, taking up her arcane focus.
[07:14:13] <Lien> Whispering, she stands up and leaves the staff with their horses. "Sounds like someone from the army." Slowly and silently, she moves in the direction of the noises to try and get a look.
[07:16:02] <Ellis> Ellis carefully ducks behind a thick patch of undergrowth, methodically slotting a bolt into each of her weapons.
[07:16:25] <Zeni> Zeni glares at the staff, skulking over to it before shoving it into her fancy designer bag of holding.  Totallysneakylike.
[07:16:56] <[DM]> Lien, prowling forward, spots two men in green advancing cautiously. The older one seem to be signing furiously at the younger.
[07:21:31] <Lien> Lien stares at them for a few long moments, then slinks back to quietly signal for the others to hide and put out the fire, holding up two fingers and mouthing 'human'.
[07:21:40] <Lien> She's probably less efficient at this than the trained soldiers, alas.
[07:22:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa blends into the shadowy foliage.
[07:23:07] <Zeni> Zeni slips behind the horse and engulfs herself in a minor illusion, a bush slowly fading into existence around her.
[07:23:29] <[DM]> Zeni by some freak stroke of luck, sees Vanilla opening her mouth to bark.
[07:24:09] <Zeni> Zeni snatches Vanilla up, covering her mouth. :I
[07:25:05] <[DM]> A muffled 'arf' came out.
[07:27:14] <[DM]> Ahead, Lien could see the scouts poke around for a bit, then turns back.
[07:28:16] <Lien> She follows after them for a short distance to make sure they're actually going back.
[07:29:04] <Lien> After confirming the same, she doubles back to give the all-clear.
[07:30:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa remains hidden.
[07:31:16] <Lien> Still keeping her voice low, Lien informs the others, "They're going back now. Looks like a scouting party from that army, so they must be close."
[07:31:28] <Alyssa> "How many?"
[07:31:54] <[DM]> A closer look from Lien shows the rest of the group, a completely fed up looking old man, a young man out cold on the ground in a small puddle, four men in green cloaks and the rest in dull chainmail
[07:32:52] <[DM]> Each armed with a crossbow, the men in green and the older man with axes and the rest with spears.
[07:33:56] <Zeni> Zeni shuffles up to Lien, bringing her bush with her.  "Is this the part where we send Alyssa in and watch the fireworks?"
[07:34:11] <Zeni> The bush has fall-colored twin tails. :3
[07:36:37] <Lien> "One who looks like the leader, four scouts, five who look like rank and file. If we follow them, they might lead us straight to the army's camp."
[07:37:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods. "Let's do that then."
[07:37:16] <Lien> "Which raises the question of what you even want to do when you get there. Magic sword or not, fighting an army would be stupid. Are you just going to sneak your brothers out?"
[07:38:03] <Alyssa> "No, I just want to know they're alive and safe. And if they want to leave, I'll help them leave. If not, I'll just warn them to not get involved with the elves. I just feel that this is a death mission."
[07:38:33] <Alyssa> "I mean, remember those bodies buried under the flowers? This is bullshit!"
[07:38:54] <[DM]> The patrol moves off into the woods, two men hauling the unconscious one while trying not to touch the wet clothes.
[07:39:10] <Lien> "Okay. Don't shout. Then let's just find them and sneak into their camp at night."
[07:39:15] <Zeni> "No, that was stupidity.  Who marches into fey lands and starts messing up the foliage?"
[07:39:46] <Ellis> "Be fair. It's not knowledge that most people will ever need."
[07:40:16] <Alyssa> "Alright alright. I'll calm myself down."
[07:40:31] <Zeni> "... Really? I mean, everyone should know at least that much..."  Zeni settles back down and pampers Vani some more.
[07:41:31] <Lien> "Pretty useful if you're going into elf land anyway. I think they're moving, let's follow." Lien leaves the others to pack up their things as she goes ahead to follow the scouts and guide the party.
[07:41:41] <[DM]> Vanilla wriggles in her grip, while the bird looks up and opens wide again.
[07:41:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves her free hand to the bird and clamps the beak down.
[07:42:15] <Alyssa> "Hush. You will get your turn later."
[07:42:23] <[DM]> "-maf"
[07:43:41] <[DM]> The patrol route meanwhile zigzags and meanders a lot.
[07:44:14] <[DM]> After about an hour, they stop at a small stream.
[07:44:28] <[DM]> There is a loud splash.
[07:45:46] <Zeni> Zeni keeps her arcane focus at the ready, swishing it and messaging Lien when she stops, "What is it now?"
[07:46:20] <Lien> "They're stopping at a river. Probably to rest and wake one of them up."
[07:48:12] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, conveying the message to the others.  "These guys could be days away from the main camp, is following them really worth it?  The main party's path is still there..."
[07:49:19] <Alyssa> "I reckon scouts don't venture too far from the main camp."
[07:58:18] <[DM]> A moment later, observation confirms it, as they take out what looks like biscuits and jerky
[07:58:18] <[DM]> The guy climbing out of the water isn't getting any.
[08:02:38] <[DM]> As Lien edges closer, one of the men in green snaps a word and the food is set down, crossbows wound, "Who goes there?"
[08:03:18] <Zeni> Zenibush creeps along silently, snrrking when Lien gets caught.  She's still a ways behind her.
[08:03:41] <Alyssa> Alyssa creeps up closer and stealthily.
[08:05:51] <Lien> Lien freezes in place, knowing she can outrun crossbow bolts in the forest, in a pinch. Maybe they'll figure it was just a cat? Of course they will. That would be convenient.
[08:09:00] <[DM]> A flurry of crossbow bolts rip through the undergrowth.
[08:09:57] <[DM]> One, by pure dumb luck, clips Lien.
[08:10:30] <Lien> No it doesn't, because she catches it by the tip before it does.
[08:11:25] <Lien> Seeing that they're clearly more interested in shooting than confronting her, Lien bolts in a direction perpendicular to where the rest of the party actually is.
[08:11:35] <[DM]> They stop and listen further. "Damned elves."
[08:14:33] <[DM]> The group remains wary as they pack up their meal and head upstream, not even pausing to let the wet guy dry off.
[08:17:38] <Lien> Lien grunts as she gets back to the party, looking unhappy. "They didn't follow, but now they're obviously listening for pursuers."
[08:20:06] <Zeni> Zeni huffs, "Are we still following these idiots then?"  She idly maneuvers her bush illusion onto Lien, shaping it to fit her.  Before giving it a smily face.
[08:21:03] <Lien> "Well, it's that or backtrack to the path we were originally following and hope there's no scouts keeping an eye on that."
[08:25:38] <[DM]> Alyssa's approach very nearly turns her into a porcupine.
[08:26:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa stands up, hands up in the air not holding any weapon (Last Blood is sheathed at her belt). "Whoah whoah hold up!"
[08:27:12] <Zeni> The slightest, quiet cackle can be heard from afar.  By Alyssa, probably not by the scouts.
[08:29:19] <[DM]> The soldiers draw their crossbows, taking aim as their leader gaze at her, "What the fuck is a brat like you doing in this deathtrap?"
[08:30:10] <[DM]> "Fffuck"
[08:30:33] <Alyssa> "I'm a messenger and I got lost, and I saw you guys sneaking about so I snuck after you. Hey you got crossbows, calm down ok?"
[08:30:40] <[DM]> A snigger escapes the back rank, earning a kick.
[08:31:16] <[DM]> "What message?"
[08:32:36] <Alyssa> "It is a message from Sweetwater meant for soldiers John, Paul and George Fieldings, their parents miss them."
[08:33:27] <[DM]> "Whoever, you are, miss. Go back to your elf masters."
[08:34:42] <Alyssa> "I don't serve any elf."
[08:34:53] <Alyssa> "I just want to deliver the message and get out of this damn place."
[08:34:59] <Alyssa> "Please."
[08:37:33] <[DM]> "Get lost. Last warning."
[08:46:11] <Alyssa> With her hands still up, Alyssa looks at the Sergeant once more time, eyes still determined. "Look, I'm an adventurer tasked with this quest. People miss their families and I miss my family too. How the hell you think I manage to find your group all the way out here? I'm just here to verify a few things, and if you want a task or serve from me for this favor, it's a fair trade."
[08:47:18] <Alyssa> "And to proof that I am from Sweetwater and I am tasked by the Fieldings family, here's a pure bottle of their alcohol which was payment for me."
[08:48:18] <[DM]> The sergeant spits, and waves the still moist private forward to take the bottle.
[08:49:49] <[DM]> The young man takes a sip, "Its the good stuff they had when they joined, sarge."
[08:49:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa passes the bottle to the private. "Do you know John, Paul or George Fieldings sir?" She asks the soldier when he takes the bottle.
[08:51:16] <[DM]> The crossbows go down, "The elves got them. Probably dead now. I TOLD them sexy girls in the river was bad news."
[08:51:34] <Alyssa> "Where were they last seen?" Alyssa nearly screams.
[08:54:12] <Zeni> Zeni gets bored.  Silly humans and their peacemaking ways. .v.  She starts playing with her illusory bush, shifting it into the shape of a shambling mound, quite very obviously tempted to make it creep up on Alyssa to spook the soldiers.  Zenigrins.
[08:54:24] <[DM]> " Who the fuck," "FUCK!"...the sergeant gives the bird a glare, upon which it takes cover behind Alyssa's head, ", believes a bunch of naked girls in the river, in the middle of this godsdamned forest, could be anything good?"
[08:55:00] <Alyssa> "Where is that river? Where were they last seen, please tell me where!" Alyssa pleads.
[08:55:45] <[DM]> "And now we're almost out of food after the tree rats stole the food, and no booze." He spits again, "You're looking at it"
[08:56:12] <Alyssa> "Here? How long ago did they disappear?"
[08:56:55] <[DM]> "A month. Along with anyone who could hold a tune without a bucket."
[08:57:24] <Alyssa> "Anyway, thank you so much for the information, enjoy that bottle. I'll start searching the area." Alyssa bows.
[08:57:25] <Lien> Lien puts a hand through the illusory bush to stop Zeni from trying anything that would be retarded. Her intention is to put it on her shoulder, but she gets the top of the elf's head instead.
[08:58:04] <Alyssa> "Need a token of their belongings, I don't want to go back empty handed."
[09:00:02] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and drops the illusion, nudging Lien with her elbow. ;<
[09:00:11] <[DM]> Alyssa gets a narrowed gaze, "And how do you plan on getting out? The captain went out with our best and came back in five pieces. Nothing further than a mile before you just die."
[09:01:07] <Zeni> "Maybe because she's a really bad liar and there's more of us adventurers!"  Zeni calls out.  As best as she can before she's muffled, anyway.
[09:01:39] <Lien> Which Lien summarily does with a second hand on her mouth.
[09:01:58] <Alyssa> "You mean I can't even backtrack? I just go by the way I came in should be fine innit?"
[09:03:29] <[DM]> "You think we hadn't tried? Our best woodsmen came back just fine from backtracking. Hung from the flagpole by their feet. Didn't even care to kill them."
[09:04:17] <Alyssa> "Fuck." Alyssa looks at the river. "Wait...are you guys seperated from the main camp or are you guys scouting for the exit?"
[09:05:33] <[DM]> "The camp's just up the river." He holds up a sack, "We're collecting acorns for flour and hunting the damned squirrels."
[09:09:15] <Lien> "There's no way they can gather enough acorns to feed an army unless someone's leaving just enough for them to stay alive. Same with the quirrels. The fey are playing around," Lien whispers to Ellis and Zeni
[09:10:39] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves slowly towards the river, trying to peer about. "Alright. Thanks for the information. I'll begin my search now."
[09:10:40] <Ellis> "That's...honestly, not too surprising." Ellis sighs.
[09:10:43] <Zeni> "That much wasn't obvious in the first place?  The mooks would be long dead if the fey wanted it."  Zeni is sage, don't tell her things!
[09:17:27] <Zeni> Zeni skulks back to their horses, starting to move them towards the river, though further up it, away from Alyssa and the scouts.
[09:23:48] <[DM]> The patrol group sighs as they leave, "At least we have wine now."
[09:31:10] <Lien> In an attack of empathy for the soldiers being played with by the fey, Lien lets go of Zeni to move forward and call out to the leaving patrol, "Admitting defeat and asking directly to be let go would be a good first step to leaving."
[09:32:07] <[DM]> "Hah, yeah right."
[09:32:20] <Zeni> "Don't mind her, she's just an idiot!  Fight your way out, tooth and nail!"
[09:32:58] <[DM]> "Another couple of months and it will be."
[09:33:15] <Lien> "It's how they work. They're stealing everything you like and leaving you just enough bad food to keep you almost starving. Don't you think it's weird to keep finding enough acorns to feed a whole army? You need to break the pattern."
[09:33:43] <[DM]> Lien gets a wave as they march off
[09:34:14] <Lien> Lien frowns and shrugs. Can't do more than offer advice from experience.
[09:34:19] <Zeni> "The smallest ones are the most vicious, they feed primarily on vital organs!"
[09:34:38] <Lien> "Stop lying."
[09:35:49] <Zeni> Zeni just cackles as she leads the horses towards Alyssa.

[:<]

Session 17:  The worst of ideas are sometimes the best.

[06:10:01] <[DM]> -------------------------
[06:10:37] <[DM]> Following the river downstream proves to be easier said than done, as the forest near the water was heavily overgrown with trees and reeds making for a thick tangle.
[06:14:31] <[DM]> Alyssa pokes through the tangle as she hunts for a path that doesn't involve losing track of the river or wading through the water.
[06:14:33] <Zeni> Zeni looks vaguely annoyed here and there, the temptation to burn down some of the shrubbery obviously mounting, but she knows better than that.  "Oooof... Why are we doing this, again?  Alyssa's brothers are probably happy serving those nympho nymphs and stuff!"
[06:15:28] <[DM]> There was none, but a bit of strangely shaped wood was stuck tight in some bushes.
[06:16:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the strange wood. "What's that?"
[06:17:25] <Lien> "Looks like wood." To follow up on her unhelpful reply, Lien doubles back to check out the wood in question.
[06:18:55] <Lien> She pokes at the underbrush with the new staff, parting the thicket to get a better look.
[06:19:02] <[DM]> A bit of squared oak sticking out of the bush emerges after some poking, the remainder hidden.
[06:19:21] <[DM]> Then more aggressive beating reveals a prow.
[06:19:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps Lien take a closer look.
[06:19:44] <Lien> "Looks like a boat. Made of wood."
[06:21:11] <Alyssa> "I think it's a sign, that that's the only way to find those nymphs?"
[06:22:16] <[DM]> Pulling more bush off reveals a lot of mud and some bones in a rather large boat.
[06:22:22] <Lien> "Would it even float? It looks like there's a bush growing through it."
[06:22:25] <Zeni> "... Well, we weren't finding another path and I suppose it's better than wading through mud and water... Doesn't exactly sit right with me, thooough.  Fey love tricks like this."
[06:22:35] <[DM]> Its been there a while.
[06:22:55] <Ellis> Ellis makes a noncommittal noise. "I'd be more comfortable walking. It'd be one thing if this weren't fey territory."
[06:23:22] <Lien> "Same. Even if it looks incredibly old, we don't know who might think it belongs to them."
[06:23:28] <[DM]> There does not seem to be any intact oars or sail, just some rotted rods.
[06:23:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods and walks over to the riverbank. "Nymphs! I wish to talk to you, please talk to me?"
[06:24:13] <[DM]> The river burbles.
[06:24:49] <Zeni> "Hmf... Yeah, we would just be floating down the river without any real way to control the boat.  Not exactly safe, considering what we already know.  Let's keep searching for another way around...?  I'm not wading through mud!"
[06:24:57] <Alyssa> "Please speak to me, I am looking for my brothers John, Paul and George Fieldings. Please talk to me?"
[06:27:25] <[DM]> Things remain quite peaceful, especially the rather blocky looking skull. Dwarf maybe.
[06:28:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks back at the group, wondering what's their plan.
[06:28:34] <Lien> "If we really wanted a boat, I'd rather try building a raft than rely on a decrepit boat we found in the middle of nowhere. Let's keep looking."
[06:29:20] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "Your brothers are in a better place, Alyssaaa, why are we bothering with this?  Let's just get out of fey land alreadyyy..."
[06:30:19] <Alyssa> "Don't give me that bullshit as if you never had family!" Alyssa snaps.
[06:30:22] <Lien> "We were going into an elf city anyway, so it's not like we'll be out of fey land there..."
[06:33:17] <Lien> With plans to make a raft as plan B, the group forges on with Lien trying to make the way this time.
[06:33:42] <Ellis> Ellis' eyes dart between Zeni and Alyssa, concern written on her face before she heads to the front to keep watch while Lien navigates.
[06:34:03] <[DM]> Lien's search is more fruitful, as she uncovers what looks like an animal track, bushes trampled along the river, hidden by the trees.
[06:34:16] <[DM]> Looks like boar.
[06:35:46] <Lien> "There's a trail. This looks good. It'll steer clear of bad footing and makes moving easier."
[06:36:02] <Alyssa> Suppressing her anger at Zeni's whining, Alyssa forges ahead.
[06:36:23] <Ellis> "But do watch where you step."
[06:36:26] <Lien> "And keep your eyes open. This hasn't been used in a while, there might be preadators nearby."
[06:37:48] <Lien> Cautiously, Lien leads the way along the dirt track.
[06:38:27] <[DM]> The track is bumpy, narrow and uneven. As well as bug infested, but heading downriver is easy, with a spot along the route that proved to be a muddy cove by the water. The boar had evidently enjoyed the bathing spot a lot.
[06:39:47] <Zeni> Zeni hesitantly climbs down from her horse and follows just a bit behind the others, tugging the horse along the narrow path.
[06:40:15] <[DM]> About an hour's walk down, there's a bit of shattered bushes, with torn chainmail, two broken spear shafts and numerous bolts stuck in trees.
[06:40:51] <Lien> "Hm."
[06:41:32] <Lien> "Guess hunters from the army got the trail's maker."
[06:41:59] <Lien> "Had to be pretty desperate to hunt a boar that big..."
[06:42:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa keeps Last Blood ready in her hand, just in case.
[06:43:23] <Lien> As a matter of routine, Lien inspects the site before looking for a route to keep going now that the boar trail is evidently over.
[06:44:55] <[DM]> Here, the river forks, not visible, but still audible, while the trees here are sparse and spindly.
[06:46:20] <[DM]> With a little luck they could just push on through the trees.
[06:46:35] <[DM]> The light is getting dim however.
[06:46:51] <[DM]> Between late afternoon and the tree cover.
[06:47:02] <Zeni> "Well, at least it lead us out of the thicket.  Let's keep going, I guess?"  Said the dark-seeing half-elf.
[06:47:21] <Lien> "River forks and it's getting dark. Camp here?"
[06:48:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods.
[06:50:28] <[DM]> The clearing made by the boar's last stand is, with some work, a serviceable campsite.
[06:50:40] <Zeni> "... I guess.  Boo, was hoping we could camp out in another field of pretty flowers."
[06:50:58] <[DM]> Once the pointy stuff was picked out.
[06:52:33] <Zeni> Zeni does a fair share of the work, setting up the camp site.  She kicks some stones over into a loose circle and tosses some broken branches into it before setting them alight, then settles down sitting on her backpack beside it.
[06:54:27] <Ellis> Ellis finds a dry spot nearby for resting, already blinking sleepily.
[06:55:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes watch first.
[06:56:09] <Lien> Lien, too, looks unusually sleepy, and drifts off immediately when she settles down to sleep after eating.
[06:56:45] <Zeni> Zeni flops to her bedrest.  Majestically.
[06:56:50] <[DM]> As the night grows darker, Alyssa catches sight of a flicker of scarlet at the edge of her sight.
[06:57:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa tries to take a look at it.
[06:58:08] <[DM]> Wind whispering unintelligible words, a closer look finds nothing in that direction.
[06:58:09] <Alyssa> Standing up, Alyssa peers harder.
[06:58:17] <Alyssa> "John? Paul? George?"
[06:58:34] <[DM]> Another flash of red. Cloth?
[06:58:58] <[DM]> Its hard to make out through the trees.
[06:59:11] <Alyssa> Concentrating a bit, Alyssa makes Last Blood glow a little bit.
[07:02:16] <Alyssa> Lifting her blade, Alyssa steps closer to the flash of red.
[07:02:21] <Alyssa> "Hello?"
[07:02:44] <[DM]> The brilliant red light drives the shadows back...upon which Alyssa realizes the red couldn't possibly have been in her sight before. It was too dark for that.
[07:02:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa shakes her head and returns to camp.
[07:03:21] <[DM]> Approaching the flash, she could hear faint sobbing, carried by the wind.
[07:03:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa snaps her head back towards the sobbing. "Hello?"
[07:04:33] <[DM]> The sobbing continues for a moment, then fades away as the wind changes.
[07:05:36] <Alyssa> Alyssa returns to camp.
[07:05:41] <[DM]> The remainder of Alyssa's watch proves uneventful.
[07:12:38] <[DM]> Lien, on her turn, makes out a bit more.
[07:13:12] <[DM]> A humanoid figure passing between the trees, wearing brilliant red robes.
[07:13:42] <[DM]> The weeping seems to have words, but remain incomprehensible.
[07:14:35] <[DM]> But most importantly...she's definitely getting closer.
[07:14:43] <[DM]> Very very slowly.
[07:18:16] <Lien> Yawning, Lien unhurriedly but firmly wakes up Ellis, who's next in line to keep watch. Early, but she'll forgive her.
[07:20:18] <Zeni> Zeni snoozes peacefully, curled up on her side in a posture perhaps a bit too similar to Vanilla's, who lays beside her.
[07:20:54] <Ellis> Ellis blinks up at Lien. "Mmm? Is it time already?"
[07:21:20] <Lien> "If only." Lien points in the direction of the ghost. "Do you see that?"
[07:22:03] <Ellis> Ellis sits a bit more upright at the sight. "I really wish I hadn't, but yes."
[07:22:44] <Lien> "Elf ghost. I'm sure she knows we're here, but it looks like she's looking for something that's not us. She might settle for blood if she doesn't find it, though."
[07:24:21] <Lien> "She's saying something, but I don't understand it."
[07:25:16] <Ellis> Ellis tilts her head. "'Tieril, come back to me,' she's saying. 'Thief, return my sunshine to me.'" She pauses, then adds "Oh. She's...also saying something about flaying skin, scattering blood, turning skulls into hats. So."
[07:25:34] <Ellis> "Not a nice forlorn ghost."
[07:28:23] <Lien> "Great. She's coming closer, so we need to not be there when she gets here or get her to go somewhere else. I don't suppose they teach you to ward off vengeful ghosts in the city?"
[07:29:53] <Ellis> "I don't spend too much time around people who've been dead this long." She looks worriedly up at Lien. "I don't think she's going to get any calmer...do we want to try talking?"
[07:30:40] <Lien> "If she's playing coy, she's not completely irrational, but how do you even talk to a crazy ghost?"
[07:33:46] <Ellis> "Good question. She sounds pretty easy to set off. It's not like we can just tell her 'oh sorry, Tieril's not here' and point her in the right direction."
[07:34:16] <[DM]> Vanilla by now, had woken up and is trying to burrow into Zeni for shelter.
[07:35:40] <Lien> Lien looks at Zeni, who... at least doesn't hesitate with words, then looks away. "She'd probably call this Tieril fellow a moron to the ghost's face..."
[07:35:41] <Zeni> Zeni murmurs a few unintelligible words as she slips her arms around the puppycat, cradling it against her ever so ample bosom.  Vanilla doesn't take bludgeoning damage, no, shut up.
[07:37:05] <[DM]> The bird too had woken and is trying to hide, muttering softly to itself, "fuck, fuck, fuck"
[07:37:22] <[DM]> A chill spreads through the clearing, as a faint mist rises.
[07:37:23] <Ellis> "...Probably." Ellis sighs quietly. "It's either me or her if we want to talk with the thing, though."
[07:38:25] <Lien> "If all else fails, we have to exorcise her the hard way or run. These kinds of ghosts can scream loud enough to kill people."
[07:39:04] <Ellis> "Maybe we shouldn't risk it?"
[07:39:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa wakes up with a yawn. "What now? Is that red dress back?"
[07:39:57] <Zeni> Zeni pouts and bundles up in her bed roll some more, perhaps we-waking Vanilla as she tugs her tighter against herself.
[07:40:16] <Alyssa> Alyssa could hear Vanilla mew out in pain from being pressed against a brick wall.
[07:40:57] <Alyssa> "What's wrong? Is the red dress back?"
[07:41:26] <Ellis> "'Thieving serpent, I'll rend your wings,'" Ellis translates, grimacing.
[07:41:41] <Lien> "The red dress is a ghost. We need to get moving."
[07:42:05] <Lien> "Thieving serpent?" Lien catched herself glancing at Zeni, but for a change she couldn't have been the culprit.
[07:42:06] <[DM]> Zeni takes a bite to her boob.
[07:42:10] <Lien> *catches
[07:43:21] <Zeni> Zeni cringes and whines in her sleep, stirring slightly in the moments there after.... but then she drifts right back off.  Takes more than that!
[07:43:48] <[DM]> The sobbing pauses briefly for laughing, then back to sobbing after a tiny scream.
[07:44:39] <Ellis> Since it's looking increasingly as though there's no help for it, Ellis goes over to shake Zeni's shoulder.
[07:44:44] <Lien> "Why's she screaming like a rabbit now? Sounds like she's getting crazier." Out of patience now, Lien expedites the process of waking Zeni up with her foot.
[07:45:45] <Lien> "...Oh. That wasn't her. Rabbit just died."
[07:46:56] <Alyssa> "Is it just me or is the ground freezing?" Alyssa rubs her arms.
[07:47:09] <Zeni> Zeni's peaceful, almost angelic sleeping face immediately shifts into a demonic scowl as Ellis wakes her, glaring at her from behind heavy eyelids.  "Oooof.... If it's -you- waking me, I trust it's important...?"  She yawns, her expression softening as she sits up, prying Vanilla off of herself.  "Why's it so cold...?"
[07:47:52] <Ellis> Ellis grimly points over at the ghost.
[07:48:22] <[DM]> An acrid scent drifts through the air, followed by a scream of rage....and then both fade away to sobbing.
[07:48:37] <Alyssa> "She's definitely pissed off."
[07:48:40] <Ellis> "'So red, like your hair, darling...' Tieril had red hair?"
[07:49:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Zeni. "You responsible for that?"
[07:50:49] <[DM]> "*Come back~"
[07:51:12] <Alyssa> <This is some bad shit.> Alyssa mutters under her breath.
[07:51:21] <Lien> "What's that smell?"
[07:51:47] <Zeni> Zeni rubs at her eyes a bit, her vision a bit blurry for some seconds more before focusing.  "Um...  You know, you guys probably should have woken me earlier.  Uuuu..."  Zeni stands herself up, tiredly twirling her arcane focus as she brings it to bare.  "Can we just burn it down and go back to sleep?"
[07:52:04] <[DM]> "*I'm so cold, so cold...*"
[07:52:50] <Zeni> "*I can fix that~*" Zeni tiredly replies, though probably not loud enough for the ghost to hear.
[07:53:47] <Lien> "We were trying."
[07:54:20] <[DM]> The banshee breaks into song, a lovely one about the summer, in elven.
[07:54:45] <Zeni> "..." Zeni just looks annoyed with the thing.
[07:55:43] <[DM]> She is however, getting closer.
[07:55:46] <Zeni> "So... What's this ghost all upset about?"
[07:55:53] <Lien> "Come on, let's be elsewhere before the ghost gets really crazy. Whatever she's looking for might be nearby too, and it doesn't sound pleasant."
[07:56:24] <Zeni> "What's unpleasant about crimson hair!? Uuuu... I don't want to find another camp site..."
[07:56:38] <Alyssa> "Go tell her to move somewhere else to moan then?"
[07:57:12] <Lien> "She's been talking about a thieving serpent with wings, apparently."
[07:58:39] <[DM]> There is another scream from the undergrowth, as the song is interrupted by a snarl, "*This isn't hot enough! More!*"
[07:59:44] <[DM]> "*Where are you~*"
[08:00:55] <Ellis> "She's upset because she lost someone named Tieril. I think she loved him."
[08:02:31] <Zeni> Zeni just assumes someone told her about Tieril and what not!  She then huffs arrogantly and starts tucking her dress in various ways, making it look remotely like a uniform with the help of her disguise kit, then tucks her twin tails into a hat she somehow pulled out of nowhere.  She tugs at her own ears a bit to make them stand out a bit more, "Hm... Hmhmhm!  Did anyone catch what her name was?"
[08:03:14] <Lien> "What are you doing?" Lien has already started waking the horses to get going.
[08:03:17] <[DM]> "*I See You!"
[08:04:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs as she readies her weapon. "Looks like game is up."
[08:04:59] <[DM]> The ghost is more visible now, her res dress dripping as hee blond hair flutters in a breeze that isn't there.
[08:05:04] <[DM]> *red
[08:05:38] <Alyssa> <Blood to Ashes!>
[08:05:56] <Zeni> Zeni's grin quickly shifts into a slightly caught-off-guard smile upon hearing the ghost, but she continues.  "*A-Ah... Of course you do, my dearest.*"  Her man voice is so convincing!  She takes a hesitant step forward, "*The ages have treated you well.*"
[08:06:19] <Lien> "What."
[08:06:30] <[DM]> The ghost glides forward as Last Blood ignites,"*Such heat! It must be you my love!*"
[08:07:18] <[DM]> "*Have you given up that hussy to come back to your Ilytheen?*"
[08:07:37] <Alyssa> <What the fuckity fuck are you talking about?> Alyssa growls
[08:08:53] <[DM]> The ghost glides up to stroke the flaming sword with a finger, ignoring her fingertip boiling away, as she sniffs the air.
[08:10:19] <Zeni> "*Upon hearing of your fate, Ilytheen, I placed her in a shallow grave.  She wasn't remotely worth the loss of you.*"  Zeni struggles, her eyes perhaps a bit wider in panic than she should be.  She waves her arcane focus to the side as she murmurs a quick cantrip, the flames on Alyssa's sword suddenly shifting into floating little flamy hearts.
[08:10:57] <[DM]> Her cold fades away, leaving a well endowed ghost in a dress dripping with blood, making a seductive pose, "*You're not him. He died.*"
[08:11:26] <Lien> "Can we go? Right now?"
[08:12:59] <[DM]> She brightens, "*You must be his son!*" She glides up close to stroke Zeni's face.
[08:14:10] <Ellis> Ellis takes a step closer to Lien, purely for tactical purposes and not at all because she's entertaining the idea of grabbing her friends and making a break for it.
[08:14:16] <[DM]> "*That's fine too! That wyrm stole your daddy's gift to me....*"
[08:14:40] <Zeni> Zeni goes all shifty eyed, looking to Ellis in a bit of panic, then back to the ghost.  "*M-Mm.  I heard much of my father's mistake.  T'was why I put that wench away for him, for us.*"
[08:15:03] <Lien> "I can't tell if Zeni is about to die or not," Lien whispers to Ellis.
[08:16:27] <[DM]> "*Yes, yes, yes!*" She embraces Zeni as Vanilla escapes, stroking her back, "*Have you seen a black lizard? As big as a horse?"
[08:18:00] <[DM]> "*I smell it, but it hides! The wretched thing.*"
[08:19:31] <[DM]> The ghost seems visibly saner now.
[08:19:40] <Zeni> Zeni flinches and half pulls away as she's embraced, but thinks better of it, not wanting to enrage the thing as it's in her face.  "*I... can't say that I have.  What would be the significance of this creature?  Odd that you would bring it up when I've been searching for you for so long.*"  Her voice is a bit shakey with panic, but she maintains her fanciful elven dialect.
[08:19:56] <[DM]> The bird is still muttering nonstop "fuck"
[08:20:10] <Ellis> "I can't tell if we're about to die or not," Ellis whispers back.
[08:20:30] <Alyssa> "Looks entertaining. Maybe Zeni found her husband?"
[08:21:05] <Lien> "What are they even talking about?"
[08:21:12] <Alyssa> "I got no idea."
[08:22:25] <[DM]> "*Find its lair, darling, and auntie Ilytheen will take care of it. *" She looks Zeni in the eyes, then swoops in for a freezing kiss, "*A teaser my dear, I can find your taste anywhere~*"
[08:24:14] <[DM]> The ghost glides back into the night, "*Now I must search~*"
[08:27:00] <Zeni> Zeni pulls back as the ghost moves in for the kiss, but she couldn't quite make it away.  She flusters up a storm as she muffledly growls, barely able to keep herself from flailing at the damn thing!... But she makes it.  "Uuugghhnn.... W-What is with this ghoost!?"  She huffs and... starts cleaning off the blood as the ghost leaves, "*That was a cruel tease... Fine, I have searched for you for so long, what's another bit longer?  I'll find the lair, Ilytheen, then you and I must settle some things.*"
[08:27:37] <Lien> "What is going on?"
[08:28:02] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs and prepares the horses.
[08:29:34] <Ellis> Ellis keeps quiet and lets Zeni decide what explanation, if any, she wants to offer. Zeni's suffered enough for one night.
[08:29:36] <Zeni> "Shutup.  Uuugh, you better not have been watching too closely, weirdo!  She says there's a big lizard's lair somewhere here, let's try to find it in the morning..." Zeni flops back down into her bedroll, still cringing here and there as she goes over what just happened.  "Gaaah, that was the worst idea!"
[08:30:19] <Lien> "A big lizard."
[08:30:50] <Alyssa> "A...wyrm?"
[08:31:31] <Zeni> "It has a lair and it has her shiny precious, draw your own conclusion."
[08:32:05] <[DM]> The ghost is now singing cheerfully in the distance.
[08:32:35] <Lien> "That doesn't sound like a good idea."
[08:32:37] <Alyssa> "So we're wyrm-slaying now. Cool."
[08:32:52] <[DM]> If you pay attention, you'd notice its a really sappy love song in elven.
[08:33:29] <Zeni> "It sounds like a good idea when she's offering to slay the thing.  Now let me sleep, stupid.  Uugh... the quicker I can wash -that- from my memory, the better."
[08:35:24] <[DM]> Sleep comes fitfully, but eventually dawn breaks.
[08:36:30] <[DM]> Zeni wakes to find a dead deer hanging from a tree nearby, twisted into a heart shape.
[08:36:48] <[DM]> Looks like breakfast is delivered
[08:37:48] <Lien> Lien sleeps in, exhausted from the last day. Probably.
[08:38:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa wakes up to cut the deer down and cook it.
[08:38:30] <Zeni> Zeni doesn't look like she's had any additional sleep at all, heavy bags hanging under her eyes.  "Oooof... Someone fetch that offering," she whines out as she hurriedly gets the fire going anew, sitting even closer to it than she usually does, yet still shivering here and there.  Or maybe it was shuddering.
[08:42:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa serves up breakfast tavern style.
[08:43:03] <[DM]> The deer at least, seems to cook nicely, though the meat is a bit on the cold side.
[08:44:33] <Zeni> The little half-elf piles more and more wood, making more of a bonfire than a campfire.  She idly plays with the flames, shaping them to have silhoettes of tiny burning people.  This brings a slight grin to her face.  Her and the ghost were made for eachother! <3
[08:44:51] <Lien> Though Lien's late to wake up, she at least looks well rested. Clearly, she's used to sleeping in terrible conditions.
[08:45:31] <Ellis> Ellis is quieter than usual, which is a feat. Her appetite is undiminished, though, and she attacks the plate like she hasn't eaten in days.
[08:45:34] <Alyssa> "Let's eat and keep moving. I want to know that my brothers are alive and safe at least."
[08:49:45] <[DM]> The morning search reveals little, except that the river is foul and empty of fish.
[08:49:46] <Zeni> Zeni picks at her food a little bit here and there, but seems to derrive more sustenance from watching the tiny people suffering in the bonfire.  "Mm... Let's find that lair, might have something nice beside the ghost's shiny."  She snuffs the entire bonfire with the wave of one of her swooshy sleeves, then starts packing up.
[08:50:28] <[DM]> It also empties into a hole in the ground, thickly overgrown in a mat of vegetation.
[08:51:06] <[DM]> If you came across it at night...even Lien doubts she could see it until it was too late.
[08:51:36] <[DM]> And the ghost certainly couldn't see it.
[08:54:57] <Zeni> "... Well, I guess that looks a bit lair-y, but having water running into it seems a bit strange.  If it is a dragon, it's a black one, means we should smell acid or something like it."
[08:55:15] <[DM]> Upon closer examination there were claw marks and bleached rock near the hole.
[08:55:19] <Lien> "I did smell acid last night."
[08:55:42] <Zeni> "Thennn... I suppose... we're on the right track?  Uuuu, where's that ghost now?!"
[08:55:52] <Lien> "I guess."
[08:57:18] <Zeni> "*Ily-theeeeen!*" Zeni calls out, making sure her clothes and hair are properly tucked as she does so.  "Gaaah, why am I doing this..."
[08:57:40] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs. <Blood to Ashes.>
[08:58:05] <Alyssa> DELETE ABOVE
[08:58:47] <Ellis> Ellis peers doubtfully into the hole. One hand slips into her bolt pouch, checking to make sure the dragon-slaying quarrel is still there.
[08:59:36] <veekie> Lein spots the ghost in the shadow of a tree.
[08:59:46] <veekie> She's waving.
[09:00:11] <Lien> Lien looks around, casting her gaze over the water and half expecting a dragon to pop out any second. On seeing the ghost, she points her out to Zeni. "There."
[09:01:57] <Alyssa> "Looks like we're going to fight a dragon. Let's get ready."
[09:02:13] <Zeni> "... If she's so weak that she can't manifest in the light of day, why are we even bothering? Oooof..."  Zeni hesitantly steps over towards the tree, keeping herself out of what she estimates to be pouncing range.  "*I've found the lair, dearest Ilytheen.  Will you lead the way into there?  Scout for us, at least.*"
[09:04:19] <[DM]> The ghost's face flashes through a strange sequence, then pops out into the sunlight, gives Zeni a chilly glomp, and passes through to fade through the mat of vegetation.
[09:05:03] <[DM]> "*Wheeeeeee~*" The sound echoes into the distance.
[09:06:01] <Ellis> Ellis shudders. "I don't like your new friend much."
[09:06:41] <Zeni> Despite her best efforts to remain composed, Zeni brings her arms up defensively as the ghost glomps her, "G-Ggaaah!!... *W-We really need to set some ground rules!  You're much too cold... At least let me warm you up first before you go doing things like that.*"  Zeni huffily returns to the others, then passes them as she peers into the cave.  "You think I do!?  Uuuu... I have to figure out some way to make her truly despair, once she's no longer of use."
[09:07:28] <Lien> "Me neither. Rope." After leaving the ghost plenty of space to go ahead, Lien takes the end of a rope to climb down ahead of those who need solid footing.
[09:11:08] <[DM]> Below the mat of vegetation is a dripping tunnel the size of a wagon, the fouled river thundering down.
[09:11:50] <Lien> "Looks safe enough," Lien calls up. "We're going to need light. Don't fall."
[09:12:13] <[DM]> Insects fill the air, while from the noise its a fair sized waterfall.
[09:13:09] <Zeni> Zeni tosses down a torch to Lien without even telling her before starting to climb down herself.  She's a bit slow... why's she going second!?
[09:13:41] <Ellis> Ellis follows Lien down the rope, head tilted away from the disgusting river spray.
[09:15:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa follows.
[09:15:52] <[DM]> Descending, Lien could see the river terminate in a large pool below, just at the edge of the light, throwing up foam.
[09:16:34] <[DM]> A rocky shore is a short distance away, overgrown with large tangled fungi.
[09:17:32] <[DM]> An acid smell is faintly in the air, as the cave narrows to a large tunnel which the river blasts through, past the island.
[09:17:49] <Zeni> Zeni shoves the torch into Lien's hand as she steps infront of her to peer into the darkness.  The torch is of course giving off little heart-shaped flames. <3
[09:18:03] <[DM]> In the distance, there is a scream of rage.
[09:18:13] <Lien> "That's the ghost and the dragon."
[09:18:57] <[DM]> The torch abruptly burns blue as ears bleed. The buzzing insects fall silent and plummet into the water below.
[09:19:25] <Ellis> Ellis claps her hands to her ears, wincing as they come away with flecks of blood.
[09:19:29] <[DM]> Then a high pitched scream echoes through the tunnel.
[09:20:32] <Lien> Lien groans and grits her teeth, clasping one hand to her ear and listening for other noises. Such as of battle.
[09:20:34] <Alyssa> <That fucking hurts!> Alyssa grunts.
[09:21:06] <Zeni> Zeni whines aloud and quickly covers her ears, "G-Ggaaah!  That.... That idiot... Ooof...  Let's hurry then, if the dragon's chomping on her then it's not chomping on us.  Ideal time to attack..."
[09:22:01] <[DM]> There is a roar that abruptly tapers off into a whimper.
[09:22:33] <Lien> "Fine." Grunting, Lien breaks into a run towards the end of the hall, staff at the ready.
[09:23:05] <Alyssa> <Blood to Ashes> Alyssa chases after Lien
[09:23:21] <Zeni> Zeni follows after, a slightly worried expression touching her face.
[09:23:46] <[DM]> The smell of the acid remains strong, as a liquid sound fills the tunnel with a sharp scent
[09:24:44] <Ellis> Ellis brings up the rear, crossbows out.
[09:29:58] <[DM]> The dragon roars, echoing through the cave
[09:34:15] <Zeni> Zeni shifts behind Ellis once the dragon enters her sight, shoving her forward slightly as she casts that strange spell again.  Once more Lien and Ellis spring to double their usual height!  Hopefully they're more used to it this time around.  "Defend me better this time, no missing!"
[09:35:14] <[DM]> Inside...the banshee is maddened, her face twisted into a maniacal smile as she looks at Zeni with brief incomprehension, and laughs, hair flying wildly while a dark aura rises.
[09:35:48] <[DM]> The dragon meanwhile is cowering as it retreats towards a large pool of water.
[09:35:53] <Zeni> "... And keep -that- thing away from me too, I mean it!"
[09:37:38] <Zeni> "*Dearest Ilytheen, keep that thing away from me!  You'll have your precious heirloom back as soon as we strike it down.*"
[09:39:14] <[DM]> "*Hehehehahahahahahaha!*" The banshee flies forward to embrace the dragon's head.
[09:41:01] <[DM]> Where her claws make contact, the dragon's flesh rots off.
[09:41:54] <Alyssa> Three split images of Alyssa appear around her as she moves closer to the dragon, stopping at the edge of the pool.
[09:43:26] <Alyssa> EDIT ABOVE - STOPPING ADJACENT TO DRAGON
[09:44:18] <[DM]> The dragon, wanting no more banshee in itsbface, leaps for the pool in the back.
[09:45:52] <Alyssa> Alyssa attempts to swipe at it but it missed by an inch.
[09:47:01] <[DM]> Despite Alyssa and Ilytheen raking at it, it dives into the water edge, sending splatters sizzling around the pool.
[09:50:38] <[DM]> The river rises in response, causing geysers of foul water to slam through the entire cave.
[09:53:48] <[DM]> Everyone, save Zeni and the ghost, are blown off their feet by the surge.
[09:55:38] <[DM]> "*Pathetic creature, those tricks don't work on Ilytheen the White!*"
[09:58:11] <Zeni> "*N-Nor Zeni the Red!  Stupid thing, getting my dress all messy... I-I mean uniform!"  Zeni hastily checks to make sure her hat remains on tight.
[09:58:57] <Ellis> Dripping wet, Ellis gets back up on one knee, carefully slotting the dragon-slayer into one crossbow. She hesitates, waiting for a good opening.
[10:00:23] <Lien> Lien jumps back to her double-sized feet and charges the dragon, swinging the butt of her staff at its head.
[10:01:12] <Lien> As it hits its head right between the horns, a deafening thunder fills the cave.
[10:02:18] <[DM]> The dragon is briefly crosseyed as Lien impacts it.
[10:06:28] <Lien> She follows up with a pair of sweeping kicks that narrowly avoid getting her splashed with acid, hooking its skull under her knee to pull it forward and off balance.
[10:07:34] <[DM]> The dragon stubbornly retains its footing as it gets concussed.
[10:08:08] <Alyssa> "Ellis! Shoot it between the eyes!" Alyssa yells.
[10:09:35] <Ellis> Why settle for that when you can aim for the eye itself? Ellis braces her arm and takes the best shot she can get while the dragon is still reeling from Lien's assault.
[10:15:20] <[DM]> The missile sinks into its eye, causing the entire orb to ignite in brilliant white flames, filling the cave with an agonized roar.
[10:17:02] <[DM]> The banshee rushes forward again, raking at the remaining eye.
[10:18:33] <[DM]> The dragon shuts it's eye just in time.
[10:19:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa rushes forward with Last Blood blazing it's reddish light. And with a straight line, plunge it's blade into the dragon.
[10:21:32] <[DM]> The blade skitters off its scales.
[10:22:14] <Zeni> Zeni glances back and forth between the dragon and the banshee as she raises her palm, a flaming dart forming above it.  She throws it at the dragon but, being so distracted, it completely misses and fizzles in the water beside it.
[10:22:40] <[DM]> The water lights up with an oily flame.
[10:24:44] <[DM]> Cornered with no escape, the wyrm turns to rend at the horrible nightmare assaulting it.
[10:29:25] <[DM]> Its bites and claws rip through misty flesh, but the undead monster merely screams maniacally.
[10:33:52] <Lien> Spinning the staff around, Lien swings the silver prongs at the base of the dragon's skull while it's busy biting the banshee.
[10:35:42] <Lien> A jolt of lightning leaps from the orb between the prongs into the dragon's head as the blow connects, and she follows up with two kicks to its neck.
[10:37:42] <[DM]> The lightning rips through it into the water as a strange smell fills the air, causing the flames on the water to burn blue.
[10:37:53] <Ellis> Ellis follows the flurry up by filling the air with bolts, ruthlessly gunning for the charred husk of an eye.
[10:40:03] <[DM]> The bolt flies through the opening...and hammers into a stub of metal embedded inside. Light blazes through its eyes and mouth as it wails and collapses into the liquid.
[10:41:34] <Zeni> Seeing the dragon fall, Zeni quickly slips back closer to Lien and eyes the banshee, holding her arcane focus tightly, seeming to wait to see what she will do.  "*The beast has fallen, Ilytheen.  What was it that you were after?*"
[10:41:46] <[DM]> With the wyrm dead, the ghost casts about the cavern, frantic.
[10:42:44] <[DM]> "*My precious!*" Then she leaps into a pool.
[10:44:01] <[DM]> A long moment later, she emerges with a complex looking bronze orb, emanating a soft glow.
[10:45:52] <Zeni> Zeni nudges Lien towards the ghost, stepping closer herself but trying to keep Lien between her and the thing.  She wears an all-too-fake smile, "*Is that it, then?  What's the significance of that?  It wasn't my father's, was it?*"
[10:46:17] <Lien> Lien steps aside. She's washing her hands of this.
[10:47:35] <Ellis> Ellis stalks over to the acid pool, peering into the depths with some amount of satisfaction. Also to ensure the thing's really dead, because old habits die hard.
[10:47:37] <[DM]> "*He gave this to me!*"
[10:48:02] <[DM]> The ghost is shimmering now, with a still maddened smile.
[10:48:30] <Alyssa> Alyssa joins Ellis in the search.
[10:48:32] <Zeni> "*Oh?  I don't recall hearing about that...*"  The half-elf quickly siddles back behind one of Lien's legs, shooting her an annoyed glance.
[10:48:56] <Lien> Lien evades again.
[10:49:13] <[DM]> The red runs off her dress into a puddle, as the ghost fades into sparkles.
[10:49:26] <[DM]> Leaving the still hovering orb
[10:51:04] <Ellis> Ellis glances over. "Is...that it? Is she gone?"
[10:51:17] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and kicks Lien before stepping up to the hovering orb.  "*Are you leaving, then?*"
[10:51:18] <Lien> "I guess."
[10:52:36] <Lien> Between her increased size and Zeni barely being able to throw a punch, Lien doesn't flinch and instead looks around the cave. If the ghost dove into that pool to retrieve the globe...
[10:55:52] <Lien> She walks up to the pool the banshee dove into and tests its depth with her staff.
[10:58:33] <[DM]> The pool isn't very deep, but it extends a short distance under the floor before emerging somewhere.
[10:59:33] <Lien> "Hm. Looks like she got the thing from here..." Lien takes a deep breath and dives under to find the other "side" of the pool.
[11:00:37] <Zeni> Zeni hesitantly steps up and prods at the orb with her arcane focus. :<
[11:00:45] <[DM]> Lien pops up on the other side to find a literal carpet of coins, mostly a little crushed in a dragon shaped imprint.
[11:01:09] <[DM]> Its even lit by a thin shaft of sunlight leaking in.
[11:01:34] <[DM]> The orb meanwhile, bobs in the air as Zeni pokes it.
[11:02:28] <[DM]> At the end of the carpet, directly under the sunbeam, is a few items.
[11:02:45] <Zeni> She then snatches it and growls, "*Ilytheen!  You didn't make me search all this time only to disappear forever as soon as you got your trinket, right!?*"  Just about the rudest she'll ever sound when speaking Elven.
[11:02:59] <Lien> Lien's eyebrows just about fly off her head. She briefly considers whether Zeni would have a heart attack or accidentally bury herself in coins, and then considers if that would be a bad thing. Shaking her head, she goes back and pokes her head out of the water. "I found something. I think Zeni will like it."
[11:05:35] <[DM]> A ring of ivory and black metal, a long staff seemingly made of ice and a flowing knot of water and mist, a large iron band of metal...and a dark metal grip shaped like bone, with long, limp tentacles coming out the end.
[11:06:30] <[DM]> The orb makes Zeni get goosebumps, but no yandere ghost appears.
[11:07:22] <Zeni> She huffs and stuffs it into her bag before stepping up to Lien, "What is it?  Bring it here, I'm not getting in that water!"
[11:09:11] <Lien> "Can't." She lets a handful of gold coins clatter on the ground. "Too many of them."
[11:11:28] <Zeni> Zeni's eyes fly wide open.  She hurriedly tugs the cords to remove what parts of her dress she could, stuffing them into her bag before quickly climbing down into the pool.  It was quite obvious from the start that she couldn't swim very well, but she tries her best!  "Under there??  Oooof..."
[11:12:25] <Lien> Lien rolls her eyes where Zeni can't see and says nothing.
[11:12:36] <[DM]> Zeni comes out coated in filthy smelly and revolting water....to discover the gold
[11:12:42] <[DM]> And silver.
[11:12:47] <[DM]> And gems.
[11:17:30] <Zeni> Zeni quickly doggy paddles her way over to shore and just about dives into the coins, but she doesn't waste any time at all as she begins manically picking out each platinum piece she could find, not even focusing on the nifty items!  She's never even remotely seen this much money befooore!   Rather than exstatic she just looks a wee bit crazy, perhaps a bit like the ghost did when she was after her precious.
[11:20:31] <Lien> Following into the hoard cavern again, Lien gives the little half-elf a look that's part exasperation and part pity.
[11:22:23] <Ellis> Ellis' head pokes up above the waterline before too long, glasses held in one hand. She climbs out of the pool, polishing them as best she can with everything wet before donning them and making a small noise of shock.
[11:23:55] <Alyssa> "Shall we camp out here for awhile?"
[11:24:10] <Alyssa> "Zeni's not leaving until she ransacked everything in here."
[11:31:23] <Zeni> Zeni seems to tire herself out just from the task of picking up the platinum, finally slowing to a stop and sitting up there on the largest pile of gold, still a bit wide eyed and manic but having at least recovered half of her composure.  "I'm... suddenly so adoring of dragons!  I've hated them for forever, but now I love them and we must hunt more of them!"  Makes perfect sense.
[11:32:48] <Lien> "That's not adoration."
[11:33:50] <Zeni> "You..." her eyes flutter half-way closed as her cheeks grow a tinge rosey, "Y-You wouldn't understand..."
[11:34:23] <Lien> "Murdering for money is pretty easy to understand."
[11:37:23] <Zeni> "Gaaauuu, and I was so fixated on that banshee that I didn't even hit the thing!  Really wish I'd shown it some of my affection before it died so pathetically...  Just didn't want that dumb ghost showing me any of -her- affection, oof, gross."  She leans back down and starts pulling more of the coins around herself, seemingly trying to turn her gold pile into a gold throne... pile.
[11:40:04] <Lien> Sighing, Lien surveys the rest of the room and looks up at the gap in the ceiling, muttering to herself, "She's more dragon than the greediest dragon I've ever heard of..."
[11:40:54] <[DM]> A brass(which looked like gold) mug with jade inlays in the shape of rather lurid figures.
[11:40:54] <[DM]> An ivory statuette of a strange animal, rearing with a thick spiked caraspace, finely fanged teeth and rending claws. It has a tiny figure of a knight artfully attached to it's claws.
[11:40:54] <[DM]> A bronze crown of leaves and flowers.
[11:40:54] <[DM]> A golden birdcage with delicate electrum filigree of sporting animals.
[11:40:54] <[DM]> Two ridiculously ornate robes with gold threaded arcane patterns.
[11:40:55] <[DM]> A silver necklace with a mounted star sapphire.
[11:40:55] <[DM]> And to top it off, what looks like an expensive casino set, with two silver worked velvet masks, four ivory dice, and a silver chased dice cup, wrapped in a pair of silk cloths
[11:46:24] <Zeni> Zeni collects up both ornate robes and the crown, dragging them over to her 'throne' before plopping down for a rest.
[11:47:17] <Bozwevial> "...huh." Ellis trudges past Zeni's gold heap to pick up the staff, examining it with curiosity. "I'm a little surprised you didn't beeline for this, Zeni."
[11:50:03] <Zeni> "Then you forget why I started adventuring in the first place, silly.  All this is whyyy~!" she gestures towards the riches, "I mean, of course I want to become more powerful, but riches buy power so easily~"  She slumps and sighs contently, smiling.
[11:51:51] <Bozwevial> "Oh, so I can keep this warmage staff?" Ellis hefts it in one hand experimentally, swinging it around in mimicry of one of Lien's swings.
[11:53:03] <Lien> Lien glances at the swing and comments, without really thinking about it, "Your form is horrendous. And that's not balanced for striking."
[11:54:09] <Zeni> Zeni tilts her head far back, looking at Ellis upside down as her twin tails pour down the pile of gold.  "... S-Shush, of course that's mine.  Shouldn't you be digging out that dragon's parts for the scales and tendons and stuff?  Andblood."
[11:56:41] <Bozwevial> Ellis frowns, dropping the staff onto the pile with a clatter. "Mmm." She stalks away, diving back into the pool.
[12:00:02] <Zeni> "I didn't mean now or anythiiing, take your time!  R-Relax and stuff... we're going to be here a while."
[12:00:58] <Lien> "Hm?" Lien raises an eyebrow and looks after Ellis before following her curiously. It's not like Zeni is going anywhere soon.
[12:03:18] <Zeni> And that's where Lien was wrong, as that frown did strike Zeni a bit.  She hesitantly follows after, using her cantrip to clean herself off afterwards. :<  "How are we even going to do this?  I mean you two are still big and stuff, but it's heavy."
[12:07:23] <Bozwevial> Ellis climbs out of the pool in the main room, pacing over to the edge of the acid and looking a hell of a lot gloomier than normal.
[12:09:10] <Lien> "Um..." Lien looks at the glum Ellis with an insecure expression. "I didn't mean to put you down, I just talked without thinking... Or is there something specific with you and dragons?"
[12:09:51] <Zeni> Meanwhile Zeni is inexplicably beaming, twirling her watery-staff around as she steps beside Ellis.  She begins cleaning some of the acid away, "Mm?  Something wrong?"
[12:11:35] <Bozwevial> Ellis shakes her head, but the fact that she doesn't stop staring into the pool doesn't lend a lot of credibility to the gesture.
[12:12:09] <Lien> "So yes." Meanwhile, Lien gets distracted by Zeni, looking at her as if the sky had just turned green.
[12:13:48] <veekiemobile> also a reminder for lien to check on the pets and mounts topside
[12:14:03] <veekiemobile> they're safe for now, but not forever
[12:14:41] <Zeni> Zeni giggles, so characteristic!  "Ellis never likes to admit anything's wrong despite always wearing her heart on her sleeve!  Though that heart's rarely like beating or showing anything, it's always there!"  Makes sense.  "I cleaned off the acid!  Let's tug this thing onto shore.  Together!"  She shoves a rope into Lien's hands.
[12:15:00] <Lien> "What."
[12:15:25] <Bozwevial> Even Ellis is jolted out of her funk by that. "What."
[12:16:25] <Zeni> "What?  We can do it!  We just need to pool our strength.  Anything's possible with teamwork!"  Smile smile beam beam, kira kira.
[12:17:07] <Lien> Lien eyes the staff suspiciously.
[12:17:26] <Bozwevial> Ellis points both crossbows at Zeni.
[12:18:16] <Lien> "Wait, I think I like her better this way."
[12:18:51] <Zeni> Zeni blinks and tilts her head, "Mm?  Did you want to play?  You should save that for after we tear out this dragon's innards!  Will be much more fun when we're bathed in blood!"
[12:19:03] <Lien> "I take that back."
[12:19:23] <Zeni> Smile smile, kira kira.
[12:19:38] <Bozwevial> "Are we sure that ghost didn't, I don't know, possess her?" Ellis squints, all suspicious-like.
[12:19:48] <Lien> "Maybe."
[12:20:50] <Lien> "Or maybe all that money just broke her."
[12:21:20] <Zeni> Zeni giggles once more, "Come on!  Let's do this, We Can Do It!  Tie the tope around it's horns already!"
[12:22:03] <Lien> "But the horns would break off. You'd have to tie something around most of the body."
[12:23:02] <Zeni> Zeni turns to Lien, smiling smiling.  "Did you just second guess me?  Ehe, you might want to reconsider that!  Tie the rope already, silly oaf!"
[12:26:21] <Lien> With a monk's patience, Lien ties a rope around the horns as instructed, and pulls... only for the horns to break, because that's how things work! "See?"
[12:27:43] <Zeni> "You did it wrong!  You were supposed to threat it around the thorns more to spread the weight, uuuu... Don't we have that unbreakable string?"
[12:28:18] <Lien> "Yes, but that doesn't change that horns are small. We can tie it around the neck and forelegs."
[12:28:34] <Zeni> Zeni begins cleaning up the dragon some more, assuming a little more of it was pulled out of the acid.  "Then go for it."
[12:31:01] <Bozwevial> With the bickering back again, some of the tension leaves Ellis' shoulders. She looks over Lien's work. "Maybe we could rig up a pulley?"
[12:31:39] <Zeni> Zeni's head tilts the other way now, "Did you want the whole thing...?"
[12:31:51] <Lien> Sighing, Lien works to tie the string around the dragon's neck and forelegs. "That might make it easier, though if we pull together with that enlarging spell, we might get it out straight."
[12:33:26] <Bozwevial> "Well, let's just try that then."
[12:34:39] <Lien> And so they do! And then Lien works to take it apart like she would a game animal according to Ellis's requests.
[12:41:10] <Bozwevial> Ellis helps Lien carve the thing up, separating it into the pieces she expects are most likely to be useful.
[12:42:45] <Zeni> Zeni has fun coloring her watery staff with the blood while the others attend to the more serious work.
[12:43:47] <Bozwevial> Ellis does, however, catch a little of the thing's blood in a tiny vial that she pockets...not quite surreptitiously, but not obviously either.
[12:45:51] <Lien> Lien raises her eyebrows at Ellis questioningly. She saw. Of course she did.
[12:46:21] <Bozwevial> Ellis grimaces, making a tell-you-later face.
[12:46:26] <Bozwevial> It's a very expressive face.
[12:46:37] <veekiemobile> Zeni finds that the staff remains pure water despite the blood.
[12:46:42] <veekiemobile> Weird.
[12:50:46] <Lien> Lien makes a very specific okay-I-won't-push-and-feel-bad-for-prying face in response.
[12:51:09] <Zeni> Zeni pouts a bit over that, but merely twirls it before putting it away.  "Hmhm... The skull has to be worth something, right?  And the claaaws... Maybe? I don't know~"
[12:51:16] <Lien> "What are we supposed to do with all this, anyway? Dragon blood is a drug, isn't it?"
[12:57:56] <Bozwevial> "It is, but this might be...well, flooding the market. We might create a bunch of addicts."
[12:59:09] <Zeni> "That's the spirit!  Then we'll be filthy richer!"
[12:59:13] <Lien> "That's what I was thinking. I don't want to walk into a town and start a drug ring."
[12:59:42] <Lien> "Leaving aside that not being what I'm traveling for, it would be wrong."
[12:59:58] <Bozwevial> "There are plenty of other uses, of course. It's a rare substance for good reason."
[13:00:19] <Lien> "Yeah. I can think of a few things."
[13:02:36] <Zeni> Zeni eventually gets bored and heads back to the hoard room, making a fire circle out of coinage before placing down her bedroll, cheerfully humming the whole while.
[13:20:23] <Zeni> ----------------------------------------------------

[:<]

Session 18: In which Lien turns into a total asshole and we mourn the death of seiyuu Kenji Utsumi.  Again.

[06:10:07] <[DM]> After much fooling around, the party is now left with the realities of getting a couple of thousand pounds worth of coins and dragon parts. Particularly with many of the parts being more valuable than coin.
[06:10:34] <[DM]> All that up a waterfall and across a forest.
[06:13:17] <Zeni> Zeni, being the lazy thing she is, has more or less settled for the least effort option; coins!  Mountains of them all packed into her bag of holding and all the saddle bags, leaving little room for anything else.  She seems content enough with this.  No one would dare tread upon her dreams, would they?
[06:14:07] <Alyssa> Alyssa tries her best to preserve the parts and pack them into her pack.
[06:21:54] <Zeni> Zeni berates Alyssa and gets her at work condensing the blood. :<
[06:36:36] <[DM]> Aftee hours of smoking and drying, they now have just over a thousand pounds of loot and meat.Progress!
[06:37:19] <Alyssa> "There's enough jerky to feed even that army." Alyssa muses
[06:38:59] <Alyssa> "We could keep the choice bits, but there's more than enough here for us."
[06:41:24] <Zeni> Zeni berates and whines at Lien as she dumps the coins out of the saddle bags! .v.
[06:41:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs as she packs the more important stuff away.
[06:41:59] <Lien> Seeing their saddlebags filled with the one thing that's heaviest and not going to rot, run away, or be carried away, Lien dumps their contents on the floor.
[06:42:43] <Zeni> Zeni remains contently smiling as tears dribble down her cheeks.  Lien is a monster.
[06:43:16] <Lien> Frankly, my dear, Lien doesn't give a damn.
[06:43:24] <Lien> In fact, she looks mildly unhappy about something.
[06:44:39] <Ellis> Ellis looks up in bemusement from considering which of the tendons is best suited to turn into bowstrings. "Something wrong?"
[06:45:48] <[DM]> A few stray butterflies orbit Zeni.
[06:46:07] <Zeni> Zeni returns to the campfire and starts shaping it into the form of Lien burning in agony before growling and swatting at it with her staff.
[06:46:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa stands up after packing the things away, she looks at the crack in the treasure room. "Do you think...we could get through that crack?"
[06:46:50] <Zeni> "No.  Vanilla could, but us?  Don't be silly."
[06:47:19] <[DM]> It does not seem likely unless they could turn into liquid metal or oil.
[06:47:43] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the pools of acid. "Could we use these acid to burn the rocks away?
[06:48:39] <Zeni> "Why are you wanting to open up an additional entrance to the treasure hoard room...? I'm not followiiing, the main entrance is simple enough."
[06:49:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks back at Zeni. "If you have another way up the waterfall with that mountain of coins you have..."
[06:50:41] <Zeni> "... I fail to see what's so difficult about tying a rope to each bag and having the horse pull it up?  Uuuu... Lien dumped my coins though, getting the dragon gunk up there is not my problem anymore."
[06:51:20] <Lien> Lien shakes her head at the inquiry. "I keep hoping I might find something important or another hint here, but there's nothing."
[06:51:28] <Alyssa> "Yeah, and if you whine about it to the soldiers they'll happily take it for you."
[06:51:50] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Lien. "Do you need more time to look over this cave?"
[06:53:08] <Lien> "No, I don't think there's anything here. And if the acid isn't eating through the floor it won't eat through the ceiling either, in any case."
[06:53:09] <[DM]> The cave continues to be damp, aside from the dry bit that smells of burnt fungus from the smoking.
[06:53:46] <Alyssa> "I think the fey in this forest might have more information you're seeking for. And they have my brothers as well. Let's get you what you want."
[06:55:36] <Lien> Lien grunts in vague agreement.
[06:57:04] <[DM]> Getting back to the waterfall they entered from is no great difficulty, but with more time in the waterfall chamber, it seems to branch off into more underground streams and tunnels.
[06:59:13] <Lien> "Huh. There's more tunnels around there... probably used by whatever the dragon was keeping as pets."
[07:00:25] <[DM]> There's a horn like sound somewhere in the tunnels.
[07:00:57] <Zeni> "... Really feels like we should've checked those before laying down for rest, but it worked out well enough.  We're coming back for my coins, though, so I guess we can poke around then... or not."  She glares towards the source of the sound, "Ordefinitelynot.  H-Help me climb this dumb rope alreadyyy!"
[07:03:02] <Lien> "It'll do you good to learn to climb a rope without help."
[07:03:30] <[DM]> This was followed by a sound resembling a large fart as Zeni ascended, acquiring three sparrows in her hair, being on good terms with the butterflies.
[07:03:53] <Lien> "That... doesn't sound all that threatening."
[07:05:00] <Zeni> ".... Eugh.  Let's get out of here before the smell wafts up."  She swats at some of the butterflies and sparrows, grabbing her tentacle rod and wielding it threatening at them. :<  Doing so piques Vanilla's interest.
[07:05:53] <[DM]> The birds each perch on a tentacle, singing.
[07:07:19] <[DM]> The climb is tricky, especially when there are soggy thumping noises, groaning, and six more honks.
[07:10:46] <Zeni> Zeni just sighs and hurries her way the rest of the way up, glaring back down here and there.  "Eugh.. Leaving my coins in the company of clooowns, curse you Lien!... C-Curse you after you stop holding the rope for me.  Pull me up alreadyyyy!"
[07:11:18] <[DM]> The birds each take up a twintail, keeping them off the spray.
[07:11:47] <[DM]> The last one parks on her forehead. Tweet.
[07:12:31] <Ellis> Ellis stifles a very undignified noise.
[07:13:54] <[DM]> After the ordeal, they emerge on the surface, where the horses are giving the party a reproachful look.
[07:13:55] <Zeni> Zeni finally raeg swats at the one on her forehead, then at the other two.  "Y-You're not taking my pride, my magnificent twin tails for nesting materiiiaaalls! Aaaugh...."  She then raeg climbs the rest of the way up and glares at Lien.  Happily.
[07:14:23] <Lien> If nothing else, that display has markedly improved Lien's mood.
[07:14:53] <[DM]> The birds evade, though Zeni nearly falls off the rope.
[07:16:48] <Ellis> Ellis gingerly approaches the horses and awkwardly pats them in consolation. At arm's length, of course, because horses are still weird and vaguely threatening.
[07:17:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa gets up and makes a beeline for her horse.
[07:17:23] <[DM]> As Zeni emerges from the pit, the horses cheer up and begin prancing.
[07:17:34] <[DM]> Seriously freaky.
[07:19:01] <Zeni> ".  .  .  Maybe there was a reason I was hesitating to check out this staff," Zeni murmurs with a smile.  "Oof... I'd demand to ride one, but I don't want to smell like dragon meat... Let's get going."
[07:32:56] <Alyssa> With Alyssa taking the lead, the party navigates quickly back to the fork.
[07:35:54] <[DM]> The area goes from stinking swamp and brambles to pure water and forest over several hours of travel. Insects thr size of Vanilla buzz through the air.
[07:37:21] <[DM]> Zeni had acquired a trail of butterflies, squirrels and small birds behind her.
[07:38:14] <[DM]> From the look of the water flow slowing and broadening. A lake perhaps?
[07:38:43] <[DM]> It couldn't be the sea.
[07:41:28] <Zeni> Zeni seems to slow a bit, looking around warily.  Smiling.  "A lake sounds about right for finding the nymphs... be on the look out.  What are we even planning to do?  Oof, walking here without a solid plan..."
[07:41:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves towards the edge of the lake, cups her hands over her mouth and starts yelling. "GEORGE! PAUL! JOHN!"
[07:41:51] <Zeni> Zeni cringes.
[07:42:10] <Zeni> "Why not call for the nymphs too, while you're at it?  Maybe the greater fey as well?"
[07:42:10] <Lien> Lien shrugs. It's not like she has a better plan.
[07:42:42] <Alyssa> "GREAT NYMPHS! FAIREST OF THE FAIR! A FAIR MAIDEN SEEKS HER LOST BROTHERS WITH HER BROKEN HEART! PLEASE SPEAK TO ME!"
[07:43:31] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Alyssa as if attempting to set her on fire with her gaze alone.  While smiling.  A corner of her lips tugging to the side a bit, in annoyance.
[07:44:02] <Ellis> Ellis stares around, shifting from foot to foot uneasily.
[07:44:03] <[DM]> About right then a tongue whips out of the water and wraps around Alyssa.
[07:47:30] <Zeni> "... I... You know, it's painful being right all the time."  Zeni quickly shuffles away from shore and behind one of the horses.
[07:53:33] <Lien> Though even she didn't see the tongue coming, Lien reacts quickly, snapping around to jab her staff into the base of the frog's tongue and following it up with a kick to the jaw.
[07:54:04] <[DM]> "HONK?!"
[07:58:00] <Zeni> Zeni twirls her new cloth-wrapped staff and nearly drops it when the cloth slips a bit, but she recovers and quickly summons up a flaming bolt before sending it the frog's way.  "As much as I'd love to watch Alyssa face the consequences of her stupidity alone, getting nommed up by a toad is too shameful a way to go even for her!"  Smile smile.
[07:59:07] <[DM]> The frog recoils with a croak of distress.
[07:59:52] <[DM]> Then five more tongues whip out, two upon Alyssa, and three on Lien.
[08:01:06] <[DM]> Two more leap out of the water, get tangled in riverweed, and fall prone behind Lien instead of on Zeni.
[08:10:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa disappears in a puff of silvery smoke from the tongue and reappears a distance away. Raising her palm at the frog, she furiously spits a curse and creates a sphere of sudden loud ringing noise to crack painfully.
[08:13:18] <[DM]> The frogs croak as blood bursts from their head, but all remain alive.
[08:19:12] <[DM]> Alyssa and Lien are caught in sticky tongues.
[08:21:34] <Zeni> "... I take back what I said.  Lien, break free and lets get out of here!"
[08:22:26] <Ellis> Ellis draws and fires in one smooth motion, gunning for the bloodiest frog's bulbous eyes.
[08:26:16] <[DM]> The first bolt goes through the eye and emerges from the back of its head as it croaks it's last, while the second frog is punctured in the throat. Its throat is big enoigh to take it though.
[08:32:29] <Zeni> Zeni quickly shuffles a ways back into the tall grass before turning back around and raising her staff high, six flaming spears forming in the air around her before sailing off at the frog holding Lien.  "Duck, oaf!"  The spears catch a couple of butterflies and sparrows on the way.
[08:34:05] <[DM]> The smell of roast frog fills the air.
[08:34:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes aim at the last frog and chucks a ball of crackling energy at it.
[08:35:23] <[DM]> The frog explodes. Since it was tangled in Lien at the time, she's drenched in sizzling toad juice.
[08:35:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa's bruises lighten up a little.
[08:38:23] <Lien> Not that she's ever given an indication of caring about dirt. Batting the now loose tongue away from herself and steps away from the other frogs, maneuvering to put them all in a line away from her. Twirling her staff in a circle, she thrusts it forward and conjures a bolt of lightning from the orb at its tip through all the frogs.
[08:41:29] <[DM]> Returning the favor, the frogs tangled with Alyssa swell and burst, while one of the nearer frog managed to leap out of the beam in time.
[08:44:05] <[DM]> The two frogs that survived the lightning decide that they've had enough of this shit and leap for the water.
[08:46:17] <[DM]> The last pair have little sense, deciding to  go after the smallest prey as they leap to their feet and tongues whip at Zeni
[08:46:55] <Lien> Lien strikes out without thinking, spearing one of the fleeing frogs as it goes.
[08:47:12] <[DM]> The frog goes flying.
[08:49:18] <[DM]> The two frogs snare Zeni with their tongues, binding her tight as they tighten.
[08:53:07] <Zeni> Zeni panics as the two frogs come at her, hurriedly throwing up a flaming shield that manages to deflect one of the tongues, but the other pierces straight through the center of it to grapple her delicate frame.  She quickly moves her hands to the frog's maw, desperately trying to hold it away, "G-Get it off, get it off alreadyyy!!"
[08:56:59] <Ellis> Ellis turns her crossbows on Zeni's attackers now, ignoring the little voice from the ring that suggests she just watch instead. Maybe it's just the reincarnation spell really wanting to be used!
[09:03:03] <[DM]> The bolts sink into one amphibian, producing a spray of blood.
[09:04:12] <Lien> Were Lien a worse person, she might have voices telling her to just watch independent of any rings. But she isn't, so she just follows up on Ellis's attack with a combined jab and elbow drop.
[09:05:39] <[DM]> Lien's jab sinks deep into the frog, slamming into it's beating heart.
[09:09:31] <Zeni> Growling, Zeni brings a fist back and, after a quick incantation, brings forth a massive flaming fist to swipe across the two leeewd amphibians assaulting her.  "E-Enough, die, burn you stupid thiiings!!"  She's smiling.  Why not?  The frogs might be happy, too.
[09:11:39] <Zeni> Any butterflies that remained are wiped out in the backblast.
[09:12:15] <[DM]> One frog has the fluids boil inside it, while the other manages to throw her aim off.
[09:12:59] <[DM]> Then tentacles whip up, along the tongue, to probe the frog.
[09:15:51] <[DM]> The frog goes rigid as it flail at the muffled barking at the end of the tentacles.
[09:16:03] <Zeni> Zeni cries out in panic as tentacles suddenly join the fray, but relaxes... slightly, upon seeing them hit the frog rather than her.  She looks at Vani in astonishment, then smiles, "G-Good girl!"
[09:17:55] <Alyssa> <Blood to Ashes> Alyssa charges at the frog with a forward thrust of her blade.
[09:19:33] <[DM]> The frog shrieks as the blade sears a path through.
[09:20:50] <[DM]> It seems to consider the food...considers the tentacle and the fire.
[09:21:04] <[DM]> Then jumps away.
[09:22:27] <[DM]> With a splash, it's gone.
[09:25:55] <Alyssa> Alyssa lowers her blade and dismisses the flames. She looks back out on the lake, hoping for some signs.
[09:26:53] <Zeni> Zeni pants, glaring at Lien, "W-Why didn't you smash it, why did you let it get awaaay!? U-Uuuu... Those stupid creatures...."  She then glares at Alyssa, "And you.  What's wrong with you!?  C-Calling out like that... ooof....  Let's just march back to the carriage and get out of here, shouldn't meet fey when we're so banged up..."
[09:27:41] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a seat at the edge of the lake. "I can rest here. I'll not leave until I see the nymphs."
[09:28:52] <Lien> Lien perks up, then rolls her eyes a little. "At least it sounds like they enjoyed the show."
[09:29:01] <Zeni> "Yes, rest right by the water from which all the frogs came, probably within range of the two that escaped."  Zeni huffs and marches back to the horses, seemingly trying to judge whether she can climb up on one.
[09:29:20] <Zeni> "... Don't tell me..."
[09:29:21] <Ellis> Ellis tilts her head toward Lien. "Oh, we have an audience?"
[09:29:28] <Lien> "We do. I can hear them."
[09:30:16] <Zeni> "Euuugh...."  Zeni face plants against one of the horse's neck as she leans against it.  "Great timing..."  Yet she's smiling.  This staff just makes Zeni creepy as hell.
[09:30:30] <Alyssa> "What did they say?"
[09:31:02] <Lien> "Clapping and laughing. And... hell if I know."
[09:31:44] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs.
[09:32:02] <[DM]> Zeni meanwhile acquires a few bees
[09:33:23] <Alyssa> "What can we do next?"
[09:34:34] <Zeni> "You're the genius wanting to see the nymphs, you figure it out~"  Said the lead diplomat.
[09:38:36] <Alyssa> "I figured it out. Zeni start tucking your shirt in and hide your tails. Time for you to masquerade again." Alyssa smiles.
[09:38:58] <Alyssa> "Here we are 4 women, in a lake of nymphs wanting men."
[09:39:52] <Zeni> "Not happening.  And if you ask again, I'm setting you on fire."  Smile smile, sparkle sparkle.
[09:40:28] <Alyssa> "Pleeeeease?" Alyssa bats her eyelashes.
[09:40:59] <Zeni> Zeni sends a fire bolt flaming just past Alyssa's face without a moments hesitation.
[09:41:54] <Lien> "Stop that."
[09:42:29] <Ellis> "I'm sure they find it very entertaining."
[09:43:34] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and drags a torch out of one of the saddle bags before stepping over and stuffing it into Alyssa's hands.  "Hold this up high."
[09:43:52] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the torch up high.
[09:45:31] <Lien> "What now?"
[09:46:53] <Zeni> Zeni sends another fire bolt Alyssa's way, hitting the torch perhaps a tad closer to Alyssa's hands than she intended, but it still lights up.  :<  She then sets about shaping the flame, first making it explode into flaming hearts before a fist suddenly thrusts forth, the arm rippling with muscleses!!! It pushes down as a similarly muscular man climbs up out of the torch, wielding an amazingly awesome curley mustache and tiny piece of curly hair atop his bald head, then flexessss.
[09:47:01] <Zeni> This will totally work.
[09:49:30] <Zeni> ... Thinking a tad better of it, she changes the color of the flame to blue.  "I guess they don't really like fire... hmhm..." She then just starts changing its hue again and again, rainbow muscle man of awesome!  What's not to love!?
[09:52:50] <[DM]> Crickets sound
[09:52:55] <Zeni> ".... Okay, they aren't interested.  Let's head back to the carriage~"  Zeni drops her concentration and the muscle man fades into the air, RIP.  Much like his voice actor. ;___;
[09:57:56] <Lien> "Maybe we can get their attention with shiny stuff or the drugs?"
[09:58:19] <Alyssa> "I have the drugs with me." Alyssa reaches into her pack.
[09:58:42] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Lien for that, "Don't go giving her id-- Stop that!  Now!  G-Gaaauuuu!!! Just show them a gem or something, stupid!  Don't waste my drugs!"
[09:59:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes out some of her processed drugs.
[09:59:25] <Lien> "I'd sooner dump them in the river than let you start a drug market in a city, anyway."
[10:00:07] <Ellis> Ellis sits down to watch with mild interest.
[10:00:13] <Alyssa> "We've got that really beautiful robe with arcane tracings."
[10:00:31] <Zeni> Zeni's jaw drops, the staff fails to keep her happy here.  "Just how dumb are you?  Don't offer them the drugs."
[10:01:01] <Lien> "If you think you know something, spit it out instead of just saying things."
[10:01:07] <Zeni> "I did already!!"
[10:01:17] <Zeni> "You idiots just don't listen, everrrr!"
[10:01:43] <Lien> "No you didn't. You just insulted everyone, like always."
[10:02:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes out some of the gems she has with her and places them besides some of the drugs. "There you go."
[10:02:38] <Zeni> "I said 'SHOW THEM A GEM."  Zeni just throws her hands up in the air, then grabs the horse reins and starts trying to lead them away.
[10:02:47] <Alyssa> For a gesture of good faith, she takes out the wooden container with the alcohol her brothers made and places them beside the other offerings.
[10:04:23] <Lien> Lien rolls her eyes and mutters something her master told her not to say as a kid, then turns around to listen. "I'm looking, 'whitespray'."
[10:05:25] <[DM]> The prints stop, and new ones move towards the water.
[10:05:40] <Alyssa> "Wait!"
[10:05:44] <Lien> "This seems like a good time to make your offer."
[10:06:24] <Alyssa> Alyssa gestures to the stuff she took out. "Please let me see my brothers, I want to know if they are safe and sound and I want to take them home. Please"
[10:08:46] <[DM]> There is a splash as something got smashed into the water, "Whitespray you iiidddiotttt!"
[10:10:12] <Alyssa> "Whitespray? Please help?" Alyssa pleads, tears already streaming down her cheeks.
[10:13:06] <[DM]> The water churns
[10:13:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa adds another gem to the pile of items.
[10:14:00] <Lien> "Just offer them a whole bunch gems."
[10:14:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods and adds a few more.
[10:16:15] <[DM]> After a moment, another voice chirps in, like tinkling water,"Those good looking guys are having a great time! Mmm! Th-blupblupblup"
[10:17:50] <[DM]> Another splashing later it resumes, "They're doing six of us every day!"
[10:18:40] <[DM]> "The Lady took most for her own use. Spoilsport."
[10:19:48] <Alyssa> "I would still like to see them please. If they are with the Lady, I would like to have an audience with her."
[10:24:44] <[DM]> "You wish! Lady Elinah doesn't have time for the likes of you. mmmf" "Idiot! We aren't supposed to say Her name on this side of the invisible line! " "YOU're the idiot!"
[10:28:03] <Alyssa> "Alright alright, may I please see George, Paul and John Fieldings? They are brewers that you had taken just recently. This bottle here is a drink made by them."
[10:29:06] <[DM]> "Oh! The nectar makers!" This voice is warmer, mature.
[10:30:12] <[DM]> "The George has a nice bum. We could only keep one..."
[10:31:34] <[DM]> "For their service, a year and a day of toil. Then blessings they have, boons their spoil."
[10:32:04] <Alyssa> "I am Alyssa Fieldings, their sister. I have endured a long and hard journey to find my brothers, to know that they are alive and safe, away from the oppressive conscription. May I have a short word with them? I offer you gifts."
[10:36:42] <[DM]> "Mortals take their words so lightly." There is the sound of wrestling and splashes,"For your offerings, your words may be taken, your responses fetched."
[10:39:18] <Lien> "Then we have no way of knowing the responses are their actual answers."
[10:40:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods. "Tell them that I am very very grateful beyond words that they are safe and sound. Tell them mother, father and I miss them so so much. After they leave, please avoid trouble and head back home. I will return shortly to ensure that nobody conscripts anyone ever again."
[10:41:37] <[DM]> The splashing quietens, as three gorgeous and very naked fae appear in the water, two younger and bruised, one more robust, and all blindingly beautiful,"Our word is our bond, mortals."
[10:43:08] <Zeni> Zeni peeks from afar with the horses, flustering slightly.  And smiling.  What a creeper.
[10:43:34] <Lien> "Will you relay everything verbatim and in full?"
[10:44:13] <[DM]> One of the younger nymphs dives into the lake, vanishing as her companion moves forward to scoop up four gems, sniffing at the dragon's blood.
[10:44:38] <[DM]> She pokes a finger into it.
[10:44:47] <Zeni> Zeni watches in horror.
[10:46:01] <Zeni> "S-Stop!  Don't try that!  It's poisonous to fey!!"
[10:46:16] <Lien> "It's dragon blood."
[10:46:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa holds out a hand. "Hang on, that's dragon's blood-based drugs."
[10:47:44] <[DM]> "Eek!"
[10:47:53] <[DM]> *splash*
[10:49:03] <Ellis> Ellis groans, not so quietly.
[10:49:16] <[DM]> "D-dragon?!" The older nymph facepalms,  then plucks the gems from the water,"That's not poisonous."
[10:49:37] <Alyssa> "Alright.."
[10:49:38] <[DM]> "Rather fun even."
[10:50:05] <Lien> "I thought she might want to know before putting it in her mouth."
[10:50:13] <Alyssa> "So what are my brothers' response?"
[10:50:18] <Zeni> Zeni quickly heads over and tugs Ellis's sleeve hard before trying to tug her back to the horses, very much intending to vacate the premises at this point.
[10:50:42] <[DM]> The younger nymph reaches forward again, but is grabbed by her hair."Not now Whitespray."
[10:51:54] <[DM]> "The defiler is dead hmmhmmm."
[10:52:18] <Ellis> Ellis puts a calming hand on Zeni's arm. "It's probably alright. This should be wrapped up soon. ...I think."
[10:52:55] <[DM]> "Eh, the Lady never liked him anyway."
[10:53:42] <Lien> "I can see why."
[10:56:33] <[DM]> There is a splash, then the departing nymph appears with a clamshell, which she opens, producing George's voice "Oh, Alyssa, that's nice of you, but I like it here...."
[10:59:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa wipes tears from her eyes, relieved. "Wait till you're out and I drag you back to mother."
[11:00:05] <Zeni> Zeni can't even bring herself to laugh, just looking at everyone like they're the dumbest things ever. :I!

[:<]

Session 19: Laura Was So Out Of It She Forgot To Post A Log

[06:09:52] <[DM]> The nymphs make off with a pair of gems and a dose of Dragon's blood each, still horsing around, they fade from sight.
[06:11:09] <Lien> Lien looks after the leaving nymphs and then at Alyssa. "If this is really good enough... I guess we're done here?"
[06:11:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa gives a sigh of relief, wiping the last few tears off her eyes. "I'll come back after a year to take my brothers home. But beyond that, I am done. I'll devote all my time and energy to your task."
[06:13:00] <Lien> "Okay."
[06:13:09] <Zeni> ". . .  That's really good enough for you!?  We came all the way out here just for that?!... You know they're charmed, right?  Ooooof... I don't even care though, let's get out of here!"
[06:14:45] <Alyssa> "They are safe, and they are alive. And there's an agreement to let them ago after a period of time. That's fine enough for now."
[06:15:10] <Ellis> Ellis stands back up, dusting herself off. "I thought you'd be happier, Zeni."
[06:17:37] <Zeni> "Just frustrated that we came all the way out here in the first place... though I guess it did get us that dragon's hoard.  Are we just heading back to the carriage then, or what?  We'll need to make a second trip to get the rest of the loot."
[06:19:34] <Lien> "One trip was bad enough. We can just leave most of the corpse. If you really have to bring every last coin, the horses should be able to carry them if we walk."
[06:21:38] <Alyssa> "If you want to liberate the army, let's be delicate about it."
[06:28:40] <Zeni> And so our brave murderhobos-- adventurers went back to the cave then bumbled their way to the army camp, bestowing upon them immense piles of dragon jerky, then disappearing as quickly as they had arrived.  They fetch up all of the silver coins ever and begin hoofing it back to the carriage, their poor horses straining under the weight.
[06:37:45] <Lien> Lien makes sure to leave instructions to always have people, ideally more than one, watching the meat. Maybe they'll listen to that more readily.
[06:39:20] <[DM]> The meat is recieved with immense gratitude. Lien's instructions are recieved with a slightly maniac look, and it was
[06:40:03] <[DM]> probably the first time they had rather grubby men fully prostrate themselves bowing.
[06:40:15] <[DM]> Except maybe Zeni.
[06:51:42] <[DM]> The way back to the carriage however, was oddly quiet. The skeleton cuddling bush was gone, and their tracks gone as if it was never there.
[06:52:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps with the pack up.
[06:53:20] <[DM]> The campsite near the flowers remain impeccable, though with the glowing orb, there is no reason to stop for the night if they wished to press on.
[06:53:45] <Zeni> Like Zeni would need some silly glowing orb.
[07:01:09] <[DM]> Hours slogging through the night later, the carriage is dimly visible through the trees.
[07:03:27] <Lien> Lien stops when she sees the carriage, doing a double-take. "...There's someone in a black cape and hood on the carriage," she whispers.
[07:03:45] <Zeni> Zeni looks to Ellis.
[07:04:12] <Ellis> Ellis sighs deeply. "More of this...ugh. Can you make out any details?"
[07:04:33] <Lien> "Too dark. And I think whoever it is sees us."
[07:04:54] <Alyssa> "Hostile?"
[07:05:47] <Lien> "I can't think of a lot of reasons someone would hide on top of a carriage..."
[07:06:57] <Lien> "...He's off now. Coming." Lien raises her staff in a defensive stance, tracking the figure.
[07:06:58] <Alyssa> "Too dark..." <Blood to Ashes!> Alyssa lifts her blade up and ignites it's beacon.
[07:07:14] <Zeni> "Well obviously he isn't -hiding.-  If he's who we think he is, hiding never was quite his stye."
[07:10:12] <Lien> "Well, fine then. Hey! Who's there?" Lien calls out to the approaching figure. Whoever it is, he has to know the gig is up.
[07:10:14] <Zeni> Zeni nudges Lien forward a bit as she draws her cloth-wrapped staff, quickly encanting a spell before her and Ellis sprout to double their size.  "Don't let him near me!  And drink your potions!"
[07:12:16] <Alyssa> "Enemy of your's?"
[07:13:36] <Zeni> "That wasn't obvious?"
[07:16:53] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs, "Easier to count who's not your enemy."
[07:17:39] <[DM]> A deep voice cuts through the night, "Justicar Lorakh, Arsonist of Greyswire, Murderers of Goodsky, Rebel of Sweetwater. Traffickers with fiends, justice comes for you."
[07:18:51] <Ellis> Ellis responds by pulling her crossbows out from behind her back and shooting the dark figure twice in the chest.
[07:19:46] <Alyssa> "The what?" Alyssa turns to look back at Ellis and Zeni before the dual-twang of the crossbows snaps her attention back.
[07:20:48] <[DM]> The bolts hit with the thunk of striking well padded metal.
[07:20:59] <Zeni> "Feh.  That pig sty only burned up because you saw it fit to attack us in the middle of that tinderbox of a bar, stupid!  Their blood is on -your- hands, not ours!"
[07:24:55] <Lien> Lien briefly gives her traveling companion a certain kind of look before slipping the arm ring she'd taken off for the journey back on and rushing to meet their assailant, butt of her staff first.
[07:25:15] <[DM]> "Burned by foul sorcery!"
[07:26:01] <Alyssa> "What's wrong with rebelling at Sweetwater!" Alyssa shouts.
[07:26:20] <Lien> She interrupts his litany with a staff to the face, followed by a ringing thunder that shakes the trees.
[07:28:05] <[DM]> The impact rocks him slightly but doesn't slow him much. "The order of lord and vassal is sacred, your rebellion threatens civilization itself!"
[07:29:41] <Lien> Seeing that he isn't shutting up at all, she follows up with a kick to the shin and retreats back into a defensive position before he can react.
[07:30:50] <Alyssa> "That lord is foul, cruel, corrupt and sadistic. That sacredness is not worth any respect! If you wish to defend that, you're as bad as he is!" Alyssa retorts, her weapon at the ready.
[07:31:31] <Zeni> "Don't bother.  He's as stubborn as he is stupid."
[07:36:39] <[DM]> The Justicar fixes his gaze upon Lien, a rectangular shape on his weapon blazing to life as he makes a straight line for Zeni, "Stand aside in the name of the Lawbringer!"
[07:38:18] <Lien> "I don't stand aside for madmen, however much she deserves it."
[07:48:12] <Alyssa> Alyssa goes for a stab but misses.
[07:49:10] <Alyssa> Pivoting on her dominant foot, Alyssa goes for another strike with her flaming blade.
[07:53:17] <[DM]> The blade cuts into the armor, but the blaze doesn't do more than scorch him slightly.
[07:55:39] <Zeni> Zeni quickly runs right past the paladin and moves behind Lien again, quickly drawing out her tentacle rod before thwacking the strange apendages at the paladin!
[07:56:40] <[DM]> He goes wide eyed at her unexpected mode of attack,"Witch! What are you doing?!"
[07:58:35] <Zeni> "... You know, it is a bit awkward now that I think about it, but it's not like you deserve any better than to die in such a humiliating way!  Now keep away from me or there'll be more of that!"
[07:59:15] <Ellis> Ellis takes advantage of the confusion to pivot on one heel, pumping two rapid-fire shots into the Justicar's (hopefully unprotected) back.
[08:00:05] <[DM]> The back, like last time, was just as well armored.
[08:00:32] <[DM]> One bolt draws blood but the other simply skids off.
[08:07:10] <Ellis> Ellis lets her breath hiss out in frustration, dropping to one knee to reload.
[08:08:45] <Lien> Lien jumps forward as the hunter turns around, driving her staff's point into his stomach just as he faces her again.
[08:09:58] <Lien> Feeling it skid off, she quickly pulls back and instead gets him with an elbow strike to a pressure point just under the shoulder.
[08:11:12] <[DM]> Lien gets a grunt, but little more than that. Damned armor.
[08:11:32] <Lien> A grunt's good enough for her. That means it worked.
[08:13:04] <[DM]> Lorakh glares balefully at Lien as he touches the bolt's damage. The bleeding stops.
[08:13:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the opportunity to snap her blade at the hand, hoping to cripple it.
[08:15:22] <[DM]> The blade cracks his gauntlets to a hiss of pain, "You."
[08:16:08] <Alyssa> "Leave and you won't be hurt anymore." Alysse pins her gaze on the paladin.
[08:17:33] <[DM]> "Justice is relentless. Righteousness prevails, you'll never understand, rebel scum, consorter of demons!"
[08:18:20] <Alyssa> "I'm going to stop convincing you to leave. Prepare to die." Alyssa's gaze hardens.
[08:18:48] <Zeni> Zeni peeks out from behind Lien to thwack the paladin once more with the strange tentacles, barely manage to stifle her cackling.
[08:19:57] <Ellis> Ellis rolls her eyes, not even waiting for Lorakh's wound to seal fully before trying to rip it open again.
[08:20:47] <[DM]> He isn't very hurt by the tentacles, but more disturbed.
[08:21:55] <[DM]> The bolt on the other hand DOES hurt
[08:23:58] <Lien> Lien follows up immediately with another closing strike that misses, followed by a pair of knee kicks that open him up for her to retreat again. She's in her element, clearly.
[08:27:27] <[DM]> The justicar raises his axe as it blazes with azure light and whips in a vicious arc even as  he discorporates...and Ellis finds herself with the axe whipping at her back.
[08:37:34] <Ellis> Ellis hits the ground in a heap without so much as a pained noise.
[08:38:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa's eyes widen as Ellis drops. "YOU!"
[08:39:14] <[DM]> "Thus falls all lawbreakers."
[08:39:41] <Alyssa> "You will not leave this alive!" Alyssa spits at the justicar as she charges towards him and strikes as the magic of her curse settles upon him.
[08:46:45] <Zeni> The humor Zeni was finding in giving the paladin his lashings immediately disappears as she once more watches her friend fall, the little half elf growling as she clenches her fists tight on her staff, "I'll... I'll be carving your innards out tonight, JUSTICAR!"  But this would have to wait.  Zeni quickly plucks a health potion from her dress and dashes straight for the paladin, but stops short, popping the stopper and dumping the contents past Ellis's lips.  Because healing totally works like this in fantasy land.  She then very briefly tries to drag her away, but gives up with a whine before retreating back beside Lien.
[08:51:27] <Ellis> Ellis' eyes snap back open as the edges of her wound start to knit back together. She rolls back to her feet, scrambling outside the justicar's killzone and firing a hasty shot. Her other hand dips to her belt and tears another one of the healing potions free for her to gag down.
[08:53:38] <Lien> Lien is immediately present, appearing from the side like greased lightning with a sideways blow and a new flurry of kicks.
[09:00:15] <[DM]> "Justice comes upon swift wings!" His movements speed up as he swings at Alyssa.
[09:00:51] <Alyssa> <Fuck your wings!> Alyssa roars back
[09:04:02] <Alyssa> Alyssa blocks the axe's downward stroke, but the enormous force breaks through and cuts downwards, spraying her blood.
[09:04:21] <Alyssa> Screaming with rage at the pain, Alyssa lunges forward for her counterattack.
[09:05:37] <[DM]> The lunge is hammered groundwards, scorching the leaves with the parry.
[09:09:20] <Zeni> Zeni dashes to the side to place the others out of  her line of fire before ragefully waving her staff to the side, an immense flaming fist forming beside her before running through the paladin.
[09:12:45] <[DM]> Surprised by the switch from tentacles, he takes it full in the face.
[09:15:15] <Ellis> Ellis capitalizes on the paladin's new burns, twirling both crossbows around her trigger fingers as she levels and fires straight for his mouth, now that it's momentarily stopped spouting scripture.
[09:17:45] <[DM]> The bolts rip past his face, leaving nasty scars.
[09:20:30] <Lien> Scars he won't get to lament, as Lien capitalizes on the opening to catch him in the throat with her staff's prongs, and a zap and a blinding flash of lightning end the fight.
[09:21:03] <[DM]> The paladin topples over, out cold.
[09:21:47] <Ellis> Ellis sags a little, relief etched across her face. "...ow."
[09:22:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves over the knocked-out paladin and delivers a quick death.
[09:23:16] <[DM]> The body seems to glow as the last strike sinks in.
[09:23:41] <[DM]> It flares up in pure white flames.
[09:24:04] <Lien> Lien stares.
[09:24:33] <Ellis> Ellis, who had been considering letting herself kick the justicar in the ribs, hops back a step in alarm.
[09:24:53] <[DM]> The corpse crumble to ash as the blade drinks in the white flames greedily.
[09:24:58] <Lien> "Why would you give the killing blow with the demon sword?"
[09:25:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa stands by the pyre looking at Last Blood. <Don't you fucking dare!>
[09:26:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa dismisses the blade into the ether.
[09:26:42] <[DM]> The crimson light roars up enveloping the white as both are swallowed by the wielder.
[09:26:54] <[DM]> Howling springs up through the woods.
[09:27:28] <[DM]> Then silence and darkness once more
[09:27:53] <Zeni> Zeni had drawn a dagger and approached the corpse, a slightly manic look on her face as she watches the body disappear with ash.  "... I was going to have fun with him and you went and ruined it... Ooooof.... Elliiiis...." she drops the dagger and stumbles over to the woman, hugging her in what is probably a rather painful way. 
[09:28:52] <Alyssa> Alyssa keels over from the convergence of both energies.
[09:29:20] <Lien> "If it helps, I wouldn't have let you torture him." Lien pries the clingy half-elf off the lady who just got her back slashed open to examine and clean the wound carefully and check on Alyssa.
[09:29:41] <Ellis> Ellis makes a faintly concerned noise, dropping both crossbows and awkwardly patting Zeni's back. Truly a master of social interactions, this one.
[09:30:59] <[DM]> Alyssa seems fine aside from the axe wound, though the ground beneath the paladin's ashes is charred with a fang mark.
[09:31:27] <Zeni> Zeni growls and glares at Lien, but eventually relents and lets her do her work.
[09:32:09] <Alyssa> Alyssa gets up after a few moments. "I'm alright, look through his belongings."
[09:32:53] <Zeni> Zeni does less looking and more kicking-around-the-guy's-ashes.
[09:33:11] <Zeni> ... Though she eventually thinks better of it and collects some up.
[09:33:28] <Zeni> If she can't desecrate the body, she can surely do something horrible to the ashes.
[09:34:10] <Ellis> Ellis allows Lien to look at the wound with only minor wincing. "So how bad is it?"
[09:35:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves away from the party and chants a few incantations to fortify her body. Summoning Last Blood, Alyssa takes a closer look at it, seeing if there are any changes.
[09:35:28] <Lien> "The bad news is I'm surprised you're not dead. The good news is you're not dead. If you feel lightheaded or breathing gets hard, let me know."
[09:37:20] <Ellis> "I guess I should have expected it. I was a few days overdue for near-fatal injuries." Ellis rolls her shoulders experimentally.
[09:37:41] <[DM]> The blade looks much the same aside from a pinkish tint to the rapier towards the tip, and some silverwork on the hilt., though there is a sense of satisfaction from it.
[09:39:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa dismisses the blade back with a sigh. She will take the time to examine it more later.
[09:43:50] <Zeni> Zeni dotes on Ellis perhaps a bit too much before getting to setting up camp, getting quite the roaring bonfire going now that they're out of fey territory. :<
[09:45:40] <Lien> Meanwhile, Lien gets on quietly stitching Ellis's wound and applying herbs. Thank you, Lien. We all really appreciate having a healer on board, Lien.
[09:46:14] <Zeni> Zeni tears down the carriage's tarp and folds it up before placing it over one of benches; she's not going to let Ellis stain the new furnishings with her blood! :I
[09:46:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa concentrates on settling the horses down and getting ready to make camp and set ready for journey.
[09:48:16] <[DM]> As Zeni gets the door open, there is a thunderous explosion.
[09:48:38] <Lien> Glancing at Zeni's doings, Lien quietly ushers Ellis away from the carriage... before the explosion hits.
[09:48:58] <Ellis> Ellis quite obviously thanks Lien for her work. She's a hired killer, not a boor! Or tries to, before the explosion.
[09:49:10] <Zeni> . . .
[09:52:02] <Zeni> Zeni pauses and blinks as she stares at the device.... but then just goes back to stashing the tarp.  "He really did think himself clever... Not so clever now, are ya~?"  She shakes the vial of ashes. 
[09:52:46] <Lien> Lien declines to comment and just sticks to her work.
[09:53:09] <Alyssa> After the prep, Alyssa moves over to the fang mark and studies it.
[09:58:40] <Zeni> And so the brave murderhobos camped out and rested and did cute moe things to the wounded.  And all was well. 

[:<]

Session 20: Laura stops giving much a damn about editing the log edition!

[06:18:36] <[DM]> The night, with the Justicar disposed of, passed quietly. The noises of the forest reflect the silence of animals in the presence of greater predators, except for a number of oblivious moths which had taken to orbiting Zeni.
[06:20:35] <[DM]> When dawn finally came, it was little brighter, under an overcast sky.
[06:22:02] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the reins at the carriage and drives the vehicle onward towards the elven town.
[06:22:12] <Zeni> Zeni rests peacefully, sprawled out on one bench of the carriage; the opposite of the one she usually does.  She let Ellis use that one, because she is truly the most kindest person ever.   ToEllis.
[06:23:51] <[DM]> The moths depart, and Zeni acquires little birds along the  way.
[06:24:08] <Ellis> Ellis stretches as best she can inside the carriage every so often during the journey. Zeni's being very kind, even if she did put a tarp down beforehand.
[06:24:52] <Lien> Lien just sits on top of the carriage, among all the amassed cargo. Good thing she's well used to awkward seating arrangements.
[06:25:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa retains the comfort of the driver's seat.
[06:28:50] <Zeni> Zeni's awakening is heralded by a great many tinkling of coins as she sits up and stretches out, starting to yawn, but interrupting herself when she swats at a couple of the orbiting birds.  "Eugh... staff... no more of this nonsense!"
[06:31:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks back at the group. "Can someone check under the carriage quickly?"
[06:32:00] <[DM]> The bird sing while the cat frolics on her.
[06:32:24] <Lien> Lien thinks that worry is unwarranted, but she clambers down the side of the carriage to check anyway, without asking Alyssa to stop it.
[06:32:36] <Alyssa> The bird sits on the glowing orb mounted beside the driver.
[06:32:55] <[DM]> No animals approach the orb.
[06:33:03] <Zeni> "I'll get right on that~" Zeni calls out before snatching Vanilla up and flopping back down onto her coin pile with her.  "Nofrolicking.  Bad."
[06:33:56] <Alyssa> The bird decides to sit on Alyssa's head instead.
[06:34:09] <Ellis> "Are you going to teach a puppy not to frolic?" Ellis watches curiously.
[06:34:10] <[DM]> Below the carriage, Lien finds a squirrel. It stares at her.
[06:35:06] <Lien> While hanging onto the side of the carriage upside-down, she gives the squirrel a nut.
[06:37:13] <Zeni> Zeni briefly glares Ellis's way before her gaze softens, "Well it's going to stop one way or another~  I have to purge this accursed... happiness inducing quality from this dumb staff!"  Smile smile.
[06:37:16] <[DM]> Left wing
[06:37:16] <[DM]> By the compact of ancient times
[06:37:16] <[DM]> The gates of heavens ring shut
[06:37:16] <[DM]> The gods defy the balance
[06:37:16] <[DM]> Right wing
[06:37:16] <[DM]> By the chains of destiny's bind
[06:37:17] <[DM]> The gates of hell slam close
[06:37:17] <[DM]> The fiends enforce the pacts
[06:37:18] <[DM]> Staff
[06:37:19] <[DM]> The breakers of balance confined
[06:37:19] <[DM]> The fivefold door thunders
[06:37:20] <[DM]> The bridge of realms burn white
[06:37:21] <[DM]> Orb base
[06:37:21] <[DM]> The celestial sphere reflected, the path clouded.
[06:37:52] <[DM]> The squirrel inspects the nut. Then nibbles at it experimentally.
[06:38:39] <Ellis> "We could always just see if someone wants to trade, you know."
[06:39:34] <Lien> Smiling, Lien lets it have the nut and climbs back up to the top. "Everything fine."
[06:40:51] <Zeni> "Why yes, I'm sure the first trader we find in elf land will just love trading over their staff of power for this silly thing~... Though, I suppose the happiness-inducing quality might actually be quite valuable, were we able to find the right trader.  Hmhm..." Smilesmile.
[06:41:32] <[DM]> "Tweet"
[06:42:41] <Zeni> Zeni growls and sits herself up once more, wielding Vani threateningly at the bird to chase it out the window before closing it behind it.
[06:43:05] <[DM]> Vanilla licks the bird
[06:43:07] <Alyssa> Alyssa draws Last Blood and admires the lightening of its ominously red color at the tip of the blade.
[06:43:26] <Alyssa> She admires the silver tracery around the handle and hilt.
[06:43:40] <[DM]> The bird allows itself to be washed by the cat.
[06:44:30] <Ellis> Ellis blinks in bemusement. "That's...um. That's odd."
[06:45:44] <Zeni> Zeni... briefly despairs before tossing Vani onto the rolled up mass of dragon hide between herself and Ellis, then just snatching up the bird and tossing it out the window as originally planned.  Happynoyed like.
[06:45:58] <Lien> Looking over the edge of the roof at the scene, Lien snickers. "Not so much considering she's supposed to behave like a dog."
[06:47:58] <Ellis> "Well no, it's just that I've never seen birds sit by while a cat licks them before. Is that normal where you're from?"
[06:49:05] <Lien> "She's not a very big cat? I've seen a wolf adop a fawn before..." Lien trails off and sniffs the air. "Goblins."
[06:49:05] <Lien> "She's not a very big cat? I've seen a wolf adop a fawn before..." Lien trails off and sniffs the air. "Goblins."
[06:49:30] <Alyssa> "Time to get bloody again." Alyssa sighs
[06:49:50] <Zeni> "... That dire wolf attack back then really did do a number on you, didn't it?  You know this 'cat' was an experimen--...."  Zeni sighs and starts to sit herself up more properlike.  "We can't just ride past them?"
[06:52:26] <[DM]> The bird suddenly takes flight
[06:53:09] <Lien> She looks ahead. "Roadside, five to a side, got bows. We probably could."
[06:54:50] <Ellis> "So not friendly welcoming committees, then." Ellis frowns, cocking one crossbow before turning to the next. "How far out from town are we? The elves wouldn't be happy about this, I imagine."
[06:57:14] <[DM]> Now that they know, the goblins can be seen, just barely, in the bushes, with an ambush.
[06:58:30] <Lien> "I think we're about on the border? They're probably camping just outside elf land."
[07:02:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa waves a hand at one side of the road, aiming an explosion of ear-piercing sound to catch the most goblins possible.
[07:07:33] <[DM]> Four goblins keel over, bleeding from their eyes and ears, leaving one slightly bigger goblin reconsidering his prospects.
[07:09:19] <[DM]> The other side, apparently too stupid to know better, charge the carriage.
[07:11:24] <[DM]> Rusty swords hack away as they swarm over the side and through the windows, jabbering nonsense.
[07:13:39] <Zeni> Zeni hastily throws up a flaming shield to deflect the goblin's slashes, glaring at them. :I
[07:14:40] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a strike that fails to draw blood.
[07:14:43] <[DM]> One of Alyssa's goblins was surprisingly quick as it swept the blade in a crude backswing
[07:16:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa twists her hip and dodges the swing.
[07:17:22] <Zeni> Zeni throws open the nearest carriage door, perhaps trying to knock away some of the goblins with her meager strength, butprobablyfailing.  She holds her staff high and just waves her hand to the side, murmuring a quick incantation as a light haze settles in over the attackers.  Sleepspell!
[07:18:12] <[DM]> The bird meanwhile squawks"Yuck!!!"
[07:19:38] <[DM]> The two goblins at Zeni's window falls asleep, one toppling inside and nearly onto her.
[07:20:56] <Zeni> Zeni quickly backsteps, barely resisting the temptation to kick the downed goblin in the head. ;<
[07:21:17] <Lien> Lien bats away the one straggler targeting her and hops down from the carriage to start bashing in goblin heads.
[07:23:45] <Lien> She downs the one that attacked her with a quick strike, then plants the butt of her staff in the head of one of the goblins attacking Alyssa and reserves a high kick for the last one left conscious on this side of the carriage.
[07:24:53] <[DM]> Heads shatter and goblins fly.
[07:25:28] <[DM]> The carriage will need scrubbing(thank the gods for prestidigitation)
[07:25:47] <Zeni> Zeni watches in horror as goblin juices splatter the side of the carriage, "D-Drag this one out before you splatter it, oaf!" 
[07:26:08] <[DM]> "OAF!"
[07:26:31] <Lien> "Busy! Do it yourself!"
[07:27:30] <Ellis> Ellis lunges across the carriage, popping out of the window to send a flurry of shots at the tenacious goblin still nipping at Alyssa's heels.
[07:28:36] <[DM]> The shots go wide.
[07:29:50] <[DM]> The goblins still in the bush yells something, then vanishes into the forest(except to Lien who sees it buggering off really fast)
[07:31:55] <Alyssa> <Blood to Ashes> Alyssa whips her rapier in a cross slash against the goblin trying to stab her.
[07:32:41] <[DM]> The goblin, amazingly, parries.
[07:33:19] <[DM]> It yells the same thing and then dives into the bushes, moving like a snake.
[07:34:46] <Lien> Lien looks after the bravely fleeing goblins, then jumps back down to haul the two sleeping goblins out of the carriage now that she's not busy beating up other goblins and boot them back into the forest.
[07:36:47] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Ellis for some moments after she manages to miss the goblin leader, "Have you gone soft?  Can't stand taking the life of a goblin after having yours almost taken again?  Huuu... Watch and learn anew, Miss Assassin!"  Zeni twirls her cloth-wrapped stave and very quickly forms a flaming bolt before sending it sailing.
[07:37:06] <Zeni> ... Setting some dry shrubbery on fire.
[07:37:21] <[DM]> The shrubbery burns merrily.
[07:37:21] <Zeni> ....... Zeni growls and curses.  Happily.
[07:38:02] <Lien> Add putting that shrubbery out to Lien's chores once she's set the unconscious bandits on their asses.
[07:39:15] <Ellis> Ellis gives Zeni a Look before climbing wordlessly out of the carriage to assist Lien.
[07:41:09] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and uses one of the sleeping goblins for target practice.  So helpful.  She eventually starts cleaning up the carriage with her cantrip... and goes ahead and extinguishes the fire before it gets too large.
[07:41:46] <[DM]> The sleeping goblin spills boiling goblin all over.
[07:44:33] <[DM]> As a sign of the battle being over, Vanilla has a squirrel on her head.
[07:47:10] <Zeni> Upon finishing cleaning up, Zeni scoops up Vanilla and berates the squirrel to not mess with the mentally handicapped. :<  Then she returns to her coin pile and closes the doors and windows, "Enough of this smell, let's go alreadyyy~!"
[07:47:49] <[DM]> The squirrel moves onto Zeni's head instead.
[07:48:40] <[DM]> It chitters to the crow.
[07:52:06] <Zeni> Zeni fumes.  Happily.
[07:52:32] <Lien> With the fire put out, Lien climbs back up to the carriage roof so they can be on their way.
[07:53:14] <[DM]> As soon as the goblins are disposed of, the carriage continues down the road, as the branches over the path grow thicker, cutting out the sunlight to a dim twilight despite it being just past noon.
[07:58:23] <Zeni> The little half-elf sighs as the canopy darkens the road, setting her cheek into her palm with her elbow against the door.  "<Elves... Ellllves... Really, I've hardly met any other elves other than my mother.  I've read plenty, but I'm still not quite sure what to expect of them.  Trying to pretend to be a full elf might be dumb, hmhm...  Still sounds fun, though.>"   She grins~
[07:59:05] <Zeni> ... Obviously taking to Ellis, as she's the only other one that can speak elven.
[07:59:44] <Zeni> talking, too
[08:00:04] <Lien> "I think we just passed the border."
[08:01:13] <Ellis> "<Is that the story you're going with? Not that we'll probably have too much trouble, but I don't know how they usually react to humans. Or half-elves, for that matter.>"
[08:01:56] <[DM]> The road is fairly smooth for all that it seems overgrown.
[08:05:00] <[DM]> After an hour's travel, the road forks, and a faint rustle is the sole warning(except to Lien) as an elf drops from the canopy onto the carriage with a thump, "Humans. State thy business."
[08:05:28] <Zeni> "<I've heard mixed things about their reactions to half-elves, my mother always told me I'd be fine but... not so sure.  I'm short enough and my ears seem a fair bit longer than the average half-elf's, so I'll just go with the more fun option, I think.>"  This happened far before the random visitor arrived. :<
[08:06:05] <Lien> Lien knows to expect the visitor, but she still blinks a few times and inserts an "uh" before replying.
[08:10:35] <Zeni> Zeni throws open  the carriage door and hangs out a ways, staring incredulously at the elf.  "<They're bodyguards.  Care to hop on off and not pester us needlessly?>"
[08:11:24] <Lien> "We're traveling to visit Nettlebloom City an--" She cuts herself off as Zeni speaks up. She'd regret not talking faster had she any idea what the half-elf just said.
[08:12:27] <[DM]> Zeni suffers a moment of intense scrutiny"<Human, do not play games with me.>" He nods at Lien, "Nettlebloom city, on what business?"
[08:14:21] <Lien> Still blissfully ignorant of what the elven words mean, Lien tries, "We're... looking for information on a human alchemist and passing through to explore places called Brightstone Valley and the Echo Grotto."
[08:15:25] <Ellis> Ellis winces at the sentinel's comment, half expecting another giant flaming fist to go sailing through the carriage roof.
[08:15:27] <Zeni> Zeni stares for a few minutes longer before huffing and returning inside, digging through her bag for her disguise kit.
[08:15:38] <[DM]> "..." The elf is silent, as he swings down to the side of the carriage, "The name of this alchemist?"
[08:16:36] <Lien> "Um. Goodsky."
[08:17:42] <[DM]> Lien gets an intense gaze as the elf examines the carriage.
[08:18:05] <Zeni> Zeni continues digging through her bag of holding, repeatedly pulling out expensive treasures by mistake in plain sight of the elf while continuing to dig for her disguise kit.
[08:19:02] <Zeni> And continuing to dig for her disguise kit, dont' forget that part.
[08:21:57] <Ellis> Ellis relaxes fractionally after a little bit of elf-scrutiny.
[08:24:11] <Ellis> After the silence stretches on a little too long for comfort, she offers "Goblins tried to ambush us not too far from the border. Is that common, or were they just newcomers?"
[08:29:40] <veekiemobile> "Vermin, of no consequence. Your human patrols grow slack. Be they occupied to no good purpose?"
[08:30:51] <veekiemobile> He looks inside, and raises an eyebrow,"My word, you got all this with the carriage?"
[08:34:34] <Zeni> Zeni props her feet up atop the giant roll of scaly dragon hide in response to the elf's inquiry, pausing her search for her disguise kit for now.
[08:36:15] <Ellis> "No wonder the goblins were so eager, is it? I think the sooner the humans resume their patrols, the happier everyone will be."
[08:37:26] <veekiemobile> "Adventurers." He looks he wishes he could spit without looking crude, "If it is the damage your Goodsky's greed had wrought that you seek."
[08:39:08] <Lien> "He came back changed, and we're looking for the thing that changed him."
[08:40:18] <veekiemobile> "The Vault of Beasts. He convinced a"
[08:40:36] <veekiemobile> number of foolish youths to lead the way."
[08:41:15] <Lien> "Do you know where it is? That could narrow the search down."
[08:43:35] <Zeni> Zeni snrrks.
[08:44:22] <veekiemobile> "If you seek the Hunter, ask where your fool had. You have the same incentives." He produces a quill and scroll, "So, traders in antiquities, four humans, one cat, one crow, one squirrel, six butterflies."
[08:45:19] <Lien> "Huh?"
[08:49:35] <Lien> "Oh. Okay."
[08:50:56] <Lien> "So which way goes to Nettlebloom?"
[08:52:04] <veekiemobile> "Left to Nettlebloom, right to Thornriver."
[08:52:28] <Lien> "Okay. Uh, thank you."
[08:52:43] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods and drives to Nettlebloom.
[08:52:45] <veekiemobile> The elf doesn't bother taking his leave, simply stepping back and fading into the leaves.
[08:53:22] <Zeni> "Elvesareterrible."  Zeni folds her arms.
[08:54:26] <Lien> Lien stops herself from murmuring what she's thinking in reply as she watches the elf retreat before turning back to face forward.