Author Topic: Logs  (Read 13281 times)

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Re: Logs
« Reply #20 on: April 28, 2015, 01:22:18 AM »
Session 21: Laziest Editionnn

[05:20:22] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------------
[05:23:33] <[DM]> The carriage bumps and rattles through the forest, sunlight cut off but for thin, gleaming golden shafts piercing the canopy. The road seems well worn at least, the roots crossing the road flattened and smoothed by travels.
[05:26:16] <[DM]> As night approaches, the road ahead grows thick with flowers in sculpted hedges.
[05:26:33] <Alyssa> Alyssa whistles a happy song as the drives the carriage, a song she used to sing when she was a little girl back at home.
[05:27:19] <[DM]> Ahead, the road splits into a five way fork, even as the carriage passes an invisible boundary.
[05:27:23] <Zeni> Zeni idly toys with her disguise kit, seeming to have gone the opposite direction now, her sharp ears hidden inside her fluffier-than-normal twin tails.  She grumbles something here and there, obviously still annoyed over -something.-
[05:28:21] <@Lien> Lien, on the other hand, is in a good mood for the first time in a while. She pauses to check the map again as they come to the five-way fork.
[05:29:15] <[DM]> The forest melts away as they reach the fork, hedges turning into delicate stone structures, rising to tower height in as they twine around great trees. Elves fade into view, walking, chatting, but keeping a clear space around the carriage.
[05:31:46] <@Lien> "Oh." She puts away the map again and instead takes in the sights.
[05:35:58] <Alyssa> "Where are we headed to Lien?"
[05:36:03] <@Lien> She crawls to the front of the carriage's roof to hop down on the driver's bench next to Alyssa. "Let's look for a place to stay first things. Then we can find someone to show us to the Vault."
[05:36:04] <Zeni> Zeni climbs over the mess of rolled up dragon hide to sit beside Ellis, getting herself a better view of what lays ahead.  "Hmmmnn... Were you interested in trying to get anything else done here, Ellis?  Or are we just going on this dumb vault adventure?"
[05:36:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods and drives the carriage to the nearest inn.
[05:37:55] <Ellis> Ellis, put on the spot, looks around guiltily. "Um. I...can't think of any pressing business to take care of here. At the very least, nothing that would conflict with Lien's interests."
[05:38:57] <[DM]> Inns catering to outsiders are somewhat difficult to find at first...at least until Lien makes the rather obvious conclusion that the place with a large stable attached is probably it
[05:42:02] <Zeni> Zeni pouts, "I could've sworn there was another reason I wanted to come this way, but I'm drawing a blank right now.  I was hoping your answer would jog my memory, nope~  Offloading some of the bulkier treasure would be nice I suppose.  I do wonder if any of those crowns we found hold any significance..."
[05:43:53] <Alyssa> "You could wear them and claim some noble heritage I suppose."
[05:44:30] <Zeni> "I do have noble heritage, dumby."
[05:45:15] <Alyssa> "I see..." Alyssa nods to herself.
[05:47:05] <@Lien> "Anyway, let's get some rest and ask around. If the border guard was right about everyone knowing where the Vault is, we could be heading there tomorrow."
[05:47:17] <[DM]> At Lien's prompting, the carriage rolls up to the large building with attached stables. There's a stableboy....human it seems.
[05:50:06] <@Lien> Lien greets the stableboy like she would an adult and hops off to stretch now that they're finally off the road.
[05:50:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa tosses a gold piece at the stableboy. "Help us out lad."
[05:51:08] <@Lien> Lien raises her eyebrows and blinks.
[05:51:13] <[DM]> Alyssa gets a frown as the coin vanishes from the air, as the kid sets about leading the carriage indoors, and getting the horses in order.
[05:51:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa's eyes widen.
[05:52:04] <@Lien> "That's not a kid." Lien says this as though she's surprised Alyssa didn't notice.
[05:52:18] <Zeni> Zeni blinks in confusion herself.
[05:52:51] <@Lien> "He's a halfling. Can't you tell?"
[05:53:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa leans towards Lien's ear. "What's a halfing?"
[05:54:17] <Zeni> Zeni uses every tiny little bit of her willpower to keep herself from guffawing at the poor short creature, managing to just give a poker face.  That creature would presumably be ensuring the safety of their stuff, afterall.
[05:55:33] <@Lien> Lien whispers back, "Nonhuman. They don't get any taller."
[05:58:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods, blushing. "Sorry, Sweetwater doesn't get much visitors if at all."
[06:03:55] <Zeni> Zeni steps after the halfling, emanating smugness to the others but somehow not showing the little one any of it.  "Ne, stableguy, just to let you know.  I've kept meticulous count of each and every item inside our carriage... let's not let any of those counts change too much in the night, understand?"  Smile smile, kirakira.  "I'll be checking back regularly to recount~"
[06:04:17] <[DM]> Zeni gets a dirty look...and a nod.
[06:05:55] <Zeni> Zeni rejoins the others, sleepily clinging to Ellis's sleeve as she steps on in~
[06:08:10] <[DM]> The inn itself is tastefully furnished in the human style, rounded tables and seats coupled to the familiar counter, with the difference of a bored elf behind it instead of a bored human. Bit pudgy for an elf.
[06:08:34] <Ellis> Ellis goes to shake Zeni off in case she needs her hand free to draw before sighing and letting the half-elf be.
[06:12:51] <[DM]> The innkeeper raises an eyebrow at the mixed group coming in, but doesn't speak, simply pointing to a list of prices.
[06:13:19] <Zeni> Zeni releases Ellis and steps to the front, "Best suite, please."  She starts digging through a small coin purse stuffed full of gold~
[06:13:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes an appreciative look at the list of drinks.
[06:18:11] <Zeni> Zeni stares at the list, dumbfounded for a few seconds before glaring up at the elf.  "I have the money but these prices are stupid."  She attempts to flip the list around to see if there's a non-ripoff version on the other side.
[06:20:03] <[DM]> The other side is blank, as he speaks in a bored manner, "The finest ingredients, and chefs beyond human renown."
[06:21:49] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and places down enough for two rooms.  "We'll see about that."
[06:22:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a seat at the bar. "I'll let my friends settle in, let me have a glass of your finest."
[06:22:49] <Ellis> Behind Zeni, Ellis gives the innkeeper an apologetic look.
[06:25:13] <Zeni> Zeniordersfewd.  The fewd was gud.  Then she sleeps.  And checks on the carriage in the middle of the night.
[06:26:59] <[DM]> The food was indeed good, if a little extravagant. There was little reason to throw in three kinds of exotic meats, myriad spices and six types of fruits aside from justifying the price gouging.
[06:28:37] <@Lien> Lien just springs for a regular room and enjoys having one to herself without caring much about the price. It's not like she does a lot else with the silver, other than going out to try and procure some mandrake root.
[06:29:41] * Ellis (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
[06:30:13] * Bozwevial (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[06:30:18] * Bozwevial is now known as Ellis
[06:30:44] <Alyssa> After the drink, Alyssa goes for a regular room.
[06:35:45] <Zeni> And so by abusing the power of love and the threat of copious amounts of flame, Zeni manages to organize a watch for their carriage, Ellis first, Zeni second, Lien third, Alyssa not trusted due to probably being drunk and what not.
[06:45:35] <[DM]> Morning comes without anyone raising a fuss, with the rooms luxurious(and Zeni's room decadent and seemingly designed for an orgy once she looks in the cupboards)
[06:46:55] <Zeni> Zeni blinks and... closes the cupboards.  Thenopensthemagain.  Thenclosesthem. :I
[06:47:01] <Zeni> Sanity checking herself.
[06:48:14] <Zeni> Zeni at least freshens up a bit before beelining for the carriage, checking it thuroughly.
[06:48:16] <@Lien> Lien spends her watch practicing forms and purging herself of bad thoughts more than paying attention to the coins. Someone standing near the carriage will do a good enough job of keeping would-be thieves away by itself, she figures.
[06:48:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa spends her watch training her footwork and strikes by the carriage, careful not to make much noise or damaging anything.
[06:49:16] <Ellis> Ellis takes a slightly more straightforward approach and just sits in the carriage with her crossbows trained on the doors when her turn comes, then immediately retires to her room and is out like a light.
[06:49:50] <Alyssa> EDIT TO MORNING EXERCISE
[06:51:08] <Ellis> Come morning, Ellis drags herself down, blearily going in search of someone to push money at until food arrives.
[06:52:14] <Alyssa> After her morning shower, Alyssa heads down to the tavern hall and orders breakfast, wondering if there are any serving girls she could talk to.
[06:52:27] <[DM]> At morning, the inn is slightly more populated, a trio of overdressed humans talking in low voices over their morning drink, and an young blue haired elf with a platter of cheeses sitting in a corner on her own. Curiously, no servants are to be seen.
[06:52:49] <[DM]> Just the one bored elf doing all the cooking and serving.
[06:54:09] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves to the elf and smiles. "Good morning."
[06:54:19] <Zeni> Satisfied with the safety of her loot, Zeni heads back in to catch breakfast, eyeing the blue haired elf curiously.  A long lost strangelycoloredhair sister!?
[06:55:07] <Ellis> Ellis, meanwhile, gives the room exactly enough scrutiny to make sure it's not full of hired assassins before focusing on breakfast instead.
[06:55:52] <[DM]> Alyssa's greeting meets bright green eyes, "Greetings of the dawn."
[06:56:22] <Alyssa> "Uh..Greetings of the dawn. I'm trying to find guides to an ancient ruin. Do you know any guides we could hire?"
[07:00:04] <@Lien> Lien momentarily doesn't have her quest on her mind, instead having the simplest breakfast the inn offers, knowing it will be equivalent to an unnecessarily fancy one anywhere else.
[07:00:27] <[DM]> "Ancient ruins, Riathielle knows them well." She gives Alyssa a solemn look, "Great dangers lie on this path, and many blessings used to ward off evil spirits."
[07:00:57] <Alyssa> "Where can I find Riathielle?" Alyssa's eyes lit up.
[07:03:27] <Alyssa> "Oh...right...uh. Can we interest you in guiding us to a particular ancient ruin?"
[07:04:14] <[DM]> "Name the ruin, and the price be given."
[07:05:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks around for Lien and motions her over.
[07:06:17] <@Lien> Lien looks up with her mouth full and comes over. "Oh. We're looking for the Vault of Beasts."
[07:07:00] <[DM]> "Err...."
[07:08:14] <Zeni> Zeni nibbles her own piece of cheese near by, watching with half interest. 
[07:08:32] <[DM]> "The Vault you say....."
[07:08:42] <@Lien> "If you don't want to go, we'll find someone else. That's fine."
[07:09:29] <[DM]> She unconsciously nibbles on some of her hair, "A most dangerous expedition, these days...what purpose doth thou seek?"
[07:10:33] <@Lien> "Investigation, I guess. We only need to get there, so you don't have to go with us all the way."
[07:11:07] <[DM]> "...Four hundred gold is the price for the guide you seek."
[07:11:51] <@Lien> "I was told I could walk up to any youth and get a guide there if I wave some money around. That doesn't sound like a four hundred gold price."
[07:12:01] <Zeni> Zeni grins as she watches the elf squirm, then just laughs when she lists her price.
[07:12:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Lien. "We need to find the right merchants for some...currency conversion and equipment purchase as well. Four hundred gold will cover those trips as well?"
[07:13:05] <@Lien> "That's way too much."
[07:13:23] <Ellis> Ellis frowns over at the elf but doesn't cut in just yet.
[07:13:41] <Alyssa> "And yeah, it's quite much too."
[07:15:12] <[DM]> "...L-look, the Vault has been disturbed. It's not safe there."
[07:15:34] <@Lien> "I figured that much. Like I said, you don't have to come all the way."
[07:16:00] <@Lien> "Actually, what if you just show us the way on a map?"
[07:17:15] <[DM]> "The maps don't show the edge paths, and only the People may pass them."
[07:17:31] <Zeni> Zeni eventually finishes off her cheese after many tiny nibbles, then looks to Ellis and rolls her eyes.  She steps out into the street and starts approaching youths, trying to find a different guide, speaking polite perhaps-overly-formal elven as she does so.
[07:21:33] <[DM]> Zeni does not acquire a guide to the vault, but a passing matron pointed her towards where she could spend her ill gotten gains...two shops, a jeweller's(Zabine's Lights) and an enchanter(Master Deirfirr).
[07:24:35] <@Lien> "The People as in elves?"
[07:27:50] <[DM]> "All the People that matter."
[07:28:14] <@Lien> "Translate that for a human, please?"
[07:28:37] <Zeni> Zeni steps back in and prods Ellis to follow her, "I found a couple of leads, you two can follow or you can stay here with the charlatan, just don't let her scam you too hard~"
[07:29:48] <Ellis> Ellis casts a longing look at her food but reluctantly gets up from the table to stand behind Zeni.
[07:31:19] <[DM]> "Say that again half breed." Riathelle's facade cracks under Zeni's provocation, as she rises to her full height(only a hair taller than Zeni) "I'm no charlatan. Only the suicidal would approach the Vault now, with the beast loose. Try as you will none will take it for less than fifty gold, save for the mad."
[07:31:52] <@Lien> "Is that an offer? Fifty gold?"
[07:32:03] <[DM]> "...ah"
[07:32:21] <[DM]> She goes the shade of Zeni's hair now that the human merchants are staring too.
[07:33:52] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs.
[07:33:53] <Zeni> Zeni grins.  "I'm not sure she's even worth that much if she's so easily flustered.  Anyway, I suppose 40 would be okay, come along Ria-tell~"
[07:34:24] <Ellis> Ellis smiles ever so slightly from behind the sorceress.
[07:34:33] <[DM]> The red goes deeper.
[07:36:17] <Zeni> ... Zeni heads out, fully expecting her to follow. :3
[07:36:37] <@Lien> "So does that thing with the People mean a half-elf could pass the paths too if she knows them?"
[07:37:17] <[DM]> There is a strange frustrated noise as the elf flips her cheese platter over and stalks after Zeni.
[07:44:10] <Zeni> Zeni deftly redoes her disguise on the go, straightening out her twin tails and redoing the epoxy on her ears to fold them sharper than usual.
[07:45:31] <[DM]> Over at Master Deirfirr's place, the shop smells vaguely sulfurous as Zeni passes the curtain of beads in the place of the door. A platinum blond elf is sanding a stick of some wood, while a short bearded gnome with glasses is occupied screwing a lens into a wire frame.
[07:50:13] <[DM]> They don't seem to have noticed Zeni yet
[07:50:59] <Ellis> Ellis peers at the gnome's work with considerable interest.
[07:52:34] <Zeni> Zeni steps right up, holding up her bag of holding before dragging out a dragon skull, innumerable coins tinkling as she hoists the damn thing out and places it on the counter.  "<Ne.  I'd like to talk about some craftswork~"
[07:52:36] <Zeni> >
[07:54:54] <[DM]> The elf stops his sanding at the sound of coins, Zeni hears a sharp intake of breath as he sees the skull, "<Good day milady! What do you wish of the humble Deirfirr?>"
[07:57:20] <[DM]> The gnome meanwhile, amiably makes room for a fellow tinkerer, noticing her gaze.
[07:57:43] <Zeni> Zeni smiles, "<I'd like to commission the crafting of a carriage, this skull belonged to a black dragon we slew just days ago.  I imagine you can tell about what size the rest of the bones are, by the size of the skull?  If not, they're out front on my current carriage.  I hear the skull can be made into something quite fancy, too.  Does this work interest you?>"
[07:58:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes interest in any nearby tomes, arms and armor.
[07:58:36] <@Lien> Lien mostly looks mildly curious and bored, checking out the random contraptions while careful not to touch anything.
[07:59:51] <Ellis> "Decorative lighting?" Ellis asks after a moment. "Or something more practical?"
[08:01:58] <[DM]> "<Oh yes, of course!>" The mage studies the skull, "<Quite fresh. This would make good work. Fifty platinum pieces for the parts and the work. Quite the minor fee for the honor of working with one of your deeds, presuming you have the dragon's hoard as well. >"
[08:03:15] <[DM]> "<If you throw in the copper you found with the hoard, my servant here would include some of his works. Dragon graced copper has certain properties I would like to study.>"
[08:04:29] <[DM]> "<We would of course, perform any repairs for the special mechanisms whenever you stop by, though if the enchantments are broken, they would require more materials to repair.>"
[08:04:59] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, but smiles all the same.  "<I half expected you to pay me for the honor of working with such pristine parts, but I suppose that's a fair price... -if- you could, perhaps, help me break that hoard down into more portable pieces.  As for the copper, sure.  A tinkerer is interesting... Has he been crafting any firearms?>"
[08:07:02] <Zeni> The tinkerer*
[08:07:49] <[DM]> "<Firearms? Nothing so crude and foul smelling. Kierbal, bring me the launcher.>" The gnome rolls his eyes where only Ellis could see as he shuffles off to the back room.
[08:09:18] <[DM]> After a moment, he reemerges with a wheeled platform, carefully dragged out. A ballista.
[08:09:33] <[DM]> A ballista with an ammunition rack.
[08:09:51] <[DM]> And some complex clockwork..
[08:09:53] <Zeni> "<We'll take it.  Mount it on the carriage.>"
[08:10:58] <Ellis> Ellis' eyes widen visibly at the sight. "Oh my."
[08:11:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods approvingly.
[08:11:36] <@Lien> Lien places her face in her palm.
[08:13:02] <[DM]> "<Glad to see the reaper meets your approval>"
[08:15:25] <Alyssa> "Zeni can you ask if they have any magical light armor that protects very well?"
[08:19:22] <Zeni> Zeni quite cheerfully pulls out five sacks that each hold a thousand silver pieces, then one sack holding all the copper, placing them before the enchanter.   "<Do reconsider the -fire-arms thing, I know they're smelly and a bit of a bother, but once entire armies start using them it'll truly be a revolutionary thing.  You'll want to be on the leading edge of such weapon manufacturing.... Oh, and, I doubt that's as much copper as you were expecting, so.>"  She passes over another pile of silver coins.
[08:20:26] <Zeni> ... And when she gets a chance, she does ask about the magical armor. 
[08:20:30] <[DM]> "<It'd never catch on.>" The mage takes each sack/pile and pours them into a funnel near the wall.
[08:22:02] <[DM]> A dial spins around as the coins go in, "<Alas, for the best armors, they are snapped up as soon as they're made, unless you have the materials for it.>"
[08:22:59] <Zeni> "<There's more than enough dragon hide, but she probably wants something lighter... I guess that will have to wait.>"
[08:23:22] <Zeni> Zeni looks to Alyssa and shakes her head 'no.' :<
[08:23:32] <[DM]> "<Dragonhide for a servant? You indulge them too much.>"
[08:24:50] <Ellis> Ellis walks around the 'reaper' appraisingly, shooting the gnome a sympathetic look at the last comment.
[08:25:13] <Zeni> Zeni giggles, "<I figure its the only way she's going to survive the week with how obtusly she runs into danger~  Maybe its just her time, then.  But ne, can dragon hide really be made into something really light?>"
[08:27:21] <[DM]> An expressive conversation is carried out in rolled eyes and shrugs.
[08:32:15] <[DM]> "<It can be flayed to the right thickness, but you'd need some rare focusing crystals and threads to boot.>"
[08:32:17] <Zeni> "<About what I thought, mm.... Oh, I heard the dragon skull itself could be made into some kind of fear-inducing ward, would you be capable of crafting that and affixing it to the carriage?>"  Zeni starts offloading ten more sacks of silver coins, actually starting to breath a bit heavy by the end of it.
[08:33:28] <[DM]> "<Of course, there's no better use than to terrify barbarians out of your way for one of those. Aside from some golem work, which I regret, is not my expertise>"
[08:33:46] <Zeni> "<... Hm, I'll keep an eye out for such things, then.  Mind trading these silver for platinum and gold?>"
[08:35:19] <[DM]> "<Gladly!>" The coins go into the counting machine as he visits his strongbox and extracts a pouch of platinum.
[08:35:58] <@Lien> Lien watches Zeni haul money in blissful ignorance of the discussion. It's probably too much to hope the sorceress has decided to forsake all worldly possessions, though
[08:37:43] <Zeni> Zeni sighs out of relief as she packs away the far smaller change, "<Thank you so much, couldn't fit all of that in my bag and it was making me a bit nervous, going around with all that~  And where should my servants drop off the dragon parts, just haul them straight in or do you have a back workshop?>"
[08:38:21] <[DM]> "<Just drop them by the door, nobody's so crass as to steal in broad daylight.>"
[08:39:32] <[DM]> "<And the Little Folk can't lift something that big.>"
[08:41:11] <Zeni> Zeni looks over her shoulder to Lien and Alyssa, seeming confused for a moment whether she should drop her facade or not, "O-Oafs!  Go unload all those gross dragon parts, get that soggy hide out of the cabin of the carriage first!"  She gives them a 'look' trying to tell them its just for show, for the shopkeep.
[08:43:18] <@Lien> For show, Lien's ass. She rolls her eyes a little and goes to haul in the catch.
[08:45:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa gives Zeni's bum a light smack before walking out the shop and helping Lien unload the stuff.
[08:45:56] <[DM]> Dierfirr gives Zeni a Look
[08:46:08] <[DM]> It said 'I'm not judging' while judging.
[08:47:36] <Ellis> Ellis actually winces at that.
[08:48:12] <Zeni> "<.... I'll be right back.>"  Zeni remains smiling, though her cheeks are slightly flushed.  Both sets of them, I guess.  She turns and smiles smiles her way outside.   The door way lights up with the color of flame.
[08:49:03] <Zeni> Zeni steps back in after having given Alyssa a good roasting.  Lien can do the hauling.  "<Thank you for your patience...>"
[08:49:06] <Zeni> Smilesmile.
[08:50:13] <[DM]> The look isn't any better.
[08:51:33] <Zeni> "<What, do I have to flay her before your eyes before you'll drop that disgusting notion?>"  Zeni pouts. :<
[08:51:53] <[DM]> "<It is none of my business, milady>"
[08:53:49] <Zeni> Zeni quickly recovers her composure, "<I suppose that leaves the discussion of time.  I know not to rush a true artist, but could you give me an idea of how long it'll take?>"
[08:54:07] <Ellis> Ellis makes a sympathetic face, but doesn't pat Zeni on the shoulder or anything. That'd probably just make things worse!
[08:55:16] <[DM]> "<A week of work, most likely. >"
[08:58:04] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, "<That's quick... Well, don't rush yourself, but a week would be great.  Hm... I suppose that's all, as far as business goes.  I was wondering if you might know anything about the Vault of Beasts?  I happen to have some business there...>"
[08:59:35] <Zeni> DELETE ABOVE
[09:00:56] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, "<That's quick... Well, don't rush yourself, but a week would be great.  Hm... I suppose that's all, as far as business goes.  I'll probably be gone for the next few days, but I'll be checking in every so often there after.  A pleasure doing business~>"  She curtsies.  I think.  Do elves curtsy?  I don't know.  She does what an elf would do.
[09:01:35] <Zeni> She sweeps out all coooooolly,
[09:03:31] <Ellis> Ellis follows the eccentric rich definitely-an-elf out.
[09:03:32] <Zeni> Zeni debriefs the others once they're outside and at least remotely out of ear shot, "So.  I commissioned a new carriage to be built from the bulk of the dragon parts and I purchased that nifty launcher thingy after seeing the sparkle it put in Ellis's eyes, huhu.  Light armor's a no-go for now, we'll have to find some better materials for it."
[09:04:29] <Zeni> "Oh, annnd~ I cashed in a lot of the silver, so no more worrying about storing it in the carriage...."
[09:05:42] <Zeni> Zeni looks quite smug as she talks about all this right infront of Ria-tell.
[09:05:55] <Alyssa> "And we have our guide, so are we good to go to the Vault?" Alyssa responds cheerfully, not feeling much of the sting the burning was intended for.
[09:06:07] <@Lien> "Sounds like we are."
[09:06:40] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "Really?  Not even a little praise?  That carriage is going to be amazing!  Huuu..."
[09:07:02] * [DM]_ (~veekie@E3E77C82.A7AB36C8.F332BEB1.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[09:07:05] <Alyssa> "I can't be impressed unless it can drive itself." Alyssa uses her deadpan voice.
[09:07:40] * [DM]_ is now known as veekie
[09:08:22] <Zeni> The definitely-elf huffs, "No worries about that, I'll replace you with a real chauffeur soon enough."
[09:08:43] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs. "That's nice."
[09:09:35] * [DM] (~veekie@E3E77C82.A7AB36C8.F332BEB1.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[09:10:04] <Ellis> Ellis smiles a little bit. "You did a good job. It's a pity we won't have it when we go searching, but you can't have everything, I guess."
[09:11:39] <Zeni> Zeni returns to acting smug for a moment, nodding along with the praise~ "Alright then!  Um.... To the Vault, I guess?  Might as well get this done with."
[09:12:00] <veekie> -----------------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #21 on: April 28, 2015, 01:22:48 AM »
Session 22: Relatively on time!

[05:10:46] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------------
[05:13:05] <[DM]> The path Riathielle leads them through winds through the streets, exiting at a rather disused road out of the city.
[05:14:32] <[DM]> Much like the way in, the trees cut out much of the available sunlight, leaving the tunnel of trees in a green-brown twilight.
[05:15:59] <[DM]> The journey is long, winding and dull, though Zeni acquired some cheeping birds and squirrels to liven things up.
[05:16:58] <Zeni> Zeni sidles up to Riathielle as they walk, trying to direct her orbiting avians to pester her. :>
[05:17:48] <@Lien> Lien, in a turn of events that largely undermines this attempt, seems perfectly happy feeding and petting the birds and squirrels.
[05:18:14] <[DM]> Riathell frowns at Zeni's rather unexpected popularity with wild animals, but happily feeds a squirrel some nuts.
[05:19:32] <Zeni> Zeni fufu's, because that's a word, wearing a perpetual smug smirk as she keeps at Ria's side.
[05:22:09] <[DM]> Hours of riding later, the  carriage draws up at twin pillars of some dark stone, plain enough to pass unnoticed unless you knew they were there.
[05:22:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa left the raven with the carriage and just follows the party along being wary of her surroundings.
[05:22:29] <[DM]> Riathelle looks to the group. "Are you certain?"
[05:22:36] <@Lien> "Yes."
[05:22:45] <Alyssa> "We're already here, let's keep going."
[05:23:39] <[DM]> Grimacing, she lays her hands on the pillars, one after another, then gets on. "Just drive between them."
[05:23:50] <Ellis> "..." Ellis looks less certain about the prospect than Lien by far, but keeps any comments to herself.
[05:23:59] <Zeni> Zeni just nods as she pets Vani a bit more, having her tucked in snuggly inside one of her wide sleeves.
[05:25:27] <Zeni> ... But then she notices the pillars as Ria touches them.  "I... er.... That's not what I was imagining, I was picturing a hole in the ground.  What will we find through this 'gate' if that's what it is?"
[05:26:10] <@Lien> "Alright. Let's go. Does anything bad happen if you touch them in the wrong way or order?"
[05:27:52] <[DM]> She turns to Lien, frowning. "Nothing."
[05:29:42] <@Lien> "Okay. Just in case we get split up or something."
[05:29:58] <[DM]> "If we're split up you'd be stranded."
[05:32:22] <Zeni> "... Hm, alright then.  Let's?""
[05:32:47] <@Lien> "Okay." She stands ready and alert and nods to Alyssa to drive through.
[05:33:06] <[DM]> Passing between the pillars seem to change little. merely more forest, more  tree tunnels.
[05:33:16] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the lead, with the deactivated Last Blood in her hand.
[05:36:35] <[DM]> The path smooths out after a few moments, and they are met with a junction, the path branching and heading upwards, downwards and turning off to the right out of sight.
[05:37:21] <[DM]> Despite the denser tree cover, it seems almost brighter, things sharper.
[05:37:30] <Ellis> A vague frown crosses Ellis' face as the carriage passes through the pillars.
[05:37:54] <[DM]> Riathelle looks at the junction then points to the upward path.
[05:38:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa continues to lead the way.
[05:38:33] <@Lien> Lien sniffs and frowns, looking around, but doesn't say anything, instead keeping her eyes and ears peeled.
[05:38:35] <Alyssa> With Riathelle.
[05:40:30] <Zeni> Zeni pats Ellis, still seeming cheerful despite their odd choice of path.  "What's the worst that could happen?  We'd just be stuck here forever~"
[05:41:06] <[DM]> The upwards path levels out at another junction, the trees here sparser, though the sky still remains hidden. A right turn, spiraling in a wide arc, then headed down once more.
[05:41:58] <[DM]> The trees in this part are scarred, old claw and fang marks all over them.
[05:42:12] <[DM]> Some of the marks are the size of the carriage.
[05:42:41] <Zeni> Zeni shifts a bit uneasily upon seeing that, holding Vani a little more snuggly in her sleeve.
[05:43:05] <[DM]> Riathelle motions the carriage to a halt, "It should be just a little further down the road, at the sky reflecting pool.
[05:43:07] <[DM]> "
[05:43:13] <@Lien> "The more we keep going, the stronger the whole forest smells of musk. Is that the monster too?" She looks at the marks in passing, but every one just makes her pay more attention to the surroundings.
[05:44:10] <[DM]> "No monster." Riathelle disembarks, and settles to lean against a tree, "I will go no further."
[05:44:29] <@Lien> "Okay. What do you mean, no monster?"
[05:44:52] <[DM]> "You'll find out."
[05:46:04] <Ellis> Ellis gives Lien a get-a-load-of-this-guide look before climbing out herself.
[05:46:06] <@Lien> "Fine." Lien turns to walk in the direction she indicated, staff at the ready.
[05:47:13] <[DM]> Ten minutes walk ahead, the trees thin out to a clearing, many animal tracks leading off it.
[05:49:10] <Zeni> Zeni bounces back and forth between Ellis and Lien as they walk, not sure which would keep her most safe were something to suddenly dive for her, and very gladly letting Alyssa take point. :<  "Ooof.... What are we doinggg... Why are we here again?  Who cares about what did -that- to Foulski~"
[05:50:14] <@Lien> "Because the beetles wanted that piece of fang, so there might be some kind of clue to them here." Speaking of which, she takes that fang out to look at it again here.
[05:50:43] <[DM]> The pool is filled with the clear blue sky, which Lien glances up to check.
[05:50:51] <[DM]> Lien abruptly stops moving.
[05:51:37] <Zeni> Zeni had conveniently looked away just before Lien stopped, stepping beside Ellis and looking up at her, "We aren't even being paid for this... Whatarewedoing?"
[05:51:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks around for signs of darkness or shadows touching Lien.
[05:52:39] <Ellis> Ellis stops in her tracks. "Lien?" she asks, a note of worry creeping into her voice.
[05:52:53] <[DM]> Alyssa glances about, glances UP, and then freezes in her tracks.
[05:54:18] <@Lien> Lien doesn't answer, only staring.
[05:55:12] <Zeni> Zeni looks to Lien, then to Alyssa, then -almost- looks up only to very quickly stop herself and tug Ellis's arm, "Dont'!"  She looks to her in panic, "D-Don'tlookup."  She looks back to the other two, inspecting them carefully.
[05:55:40] <Ellis> "Yeah, I got that..." Trailing off, Ellis puts one hand over Lien's eyes in case breaking eye contact is enough.
[05:56:21] <[DM]> Lien blinks, suddenly finding a hand in front of her face.
[05:57:12] <Zeni> Zeni quickly steps over and tippy toes up to cover Alyssa's eyes. :<
[05:57:19] <@Lien> She blinks again, then screws her eyes shut and shakes her head. "Don't look up."
[05:58:32] <Ellis> "What did you see?" Ellis resists the mounting primal urge to look at the sky.
[05:58:50] <@Lien> "I..." More blinking. "Uh. I don't remember."
[05:59:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa snaps out of it
[05:59:51] <Alyssa> "What the..."
[06:00:08] <Alyssa> "That wasn't a sky."
[06:01:09] <@Lien> "What? What then?" Lien looks at the pool again, but knows better than to look up this time.
[06:01:18] <Zeni> Zeni yanks Alyssa down as soon as shes freed, "Don't look up again!"  Obviously she has to tell her this.
[06:01:28] <Alyssa> "A huge web spanning across what should be sky, but threads of something over nothing."
[06:01:51] <Ellis> Ellis paces around the others, eyes darting rapidly around the forest in case someone was taking advantage of their distraction.
[06:02:11] <@Lien> Lien suddenly feels tempted to look up again.
[06:02:40] <Alyssa> "You've dealt with the spiders and their ilk before. Let's move on away from the "sky" "
[06:04:01] <@Lien> "Then..." Lien wrinkles her nose and looks around. "Hold this for a second." She holds out the piece of fang for someone to take.
[06:04:21] <[DM]> Zeni feels a sharp pain as one of the happy frolicing squirrels stop frolicking.
[06:04:33] <[DM]> And leaps for her throat.
[06:04:36] <Alyssa> Alyssa holds onto the fang.
[06:04:44] <Zeni> Zeni shivers a bit, put at unease by how close to freezing up she was herself.  She attempts to drag Ellis a bit further back from the pool.
[06:06:10] <Zeni> Zeni cries out in surprise, but is pretty quick to react as she ragefully conjures up a bolt of flame and fires it at the thing at once.  "G-Gaaauuuuu!!"
[06:06:46] <Zeni> She pants softly in the aftermath, then quickly heads back down the path the way they came, hesitantly checking on Vani.
[06:07:24] <[DM]> The squirrel blurs, as it moves out of the way of the fire.
[06:09:15] <Alyssa> <By the Chosen's might, all shadows fled. Blood to Ashes!> Alyssa intones as she steps forward for a quick double stab at the squirrel.
[06:11:02] <[DM]> The blade bites into the squirrel, rendering it all to a cloud of expanding ash, as Last Blood flares.
[06:11:20] <[DM]> Then one of the sparrows RIPPLES.
[06:11:50] <Alyssa> <Last warning!> Alyssa growls
[06:12:27] <[DM]> It swells in size, claws expanding with beak, and eyes lighting up with a crimson glow as it flies forward.
[06:13:46] <[DM]> Alyssa's shoulder is torn at  in a flyby slash.
[06:14:04] <Alyssa> "That does it!"
[06:18:34] <Zeni> Zeni looks about in panic as she tries to piece together just what is happening, then lifts up her wrapped up puppy kitten and very simply makes a break for it back the way they came, hugging Vani tightly. :<
[06:19:23] <Zeni> Vani's probably eyeing the blood dribbling down her neck.  Zeni hugs her tighter to hold her away from it.
[06:21:04] <@Lien> Lien jumps into action, dashing past Alyssa to slam her staff into the bird's side in a spinning motion.
[06:22:07] <[DM]> The bird flies off, thumping to the ground with a broken neck.
[06:22:10] <[DM]> *RIPPLE*
[06:23:59] <@Lien> Immediately, she grabs Alyssa's arm and pulls her to retreat away from the body, to the edge of the clearing.
[06:25:40] <Ellis> Ellis catches Lien's meaning and follows suit. Just because this thing's only hijacked animals up until now doesn't mean it'll keep doing that.
[06:27:08] <[DM]> The corpse of the bird twitches, as it bursts in a spray of gore, releasing a swarm of vermin, rolling forward towards the party.
[06:27:31] <Zeni> When the others find Zeni again, she has Vanilla swaddled in a blanket and she's treating her own neck wound with some disinfectant, fantasy disinfectant, still looking a bit shaken up.  "Oooof..."
[06:29:39] <@Lien> Lien's head snaps around. "Zeni! Bugs! Fire!"
[06:34:03] <Zeni> Zeni shivers anew as she watches the shining black carpet begin coming their way, shoving Vani into Lien's arms before standing herself up tall and holding her staff high.  An almost unnumerable amount of her characteristic flaming spears light the air above her before filing together into one immense lance and turning towards the approaching swarm before firing off, incinerating the two birds on the way before smashing into the ground with a large explosion.  She probably says some magical words too.  They aren't 'Tiro Finale.'
[06:34:11] <Zeni> Sadly.
[06:36:56] <[DM]> The explosion chars the grass from the clearing, and produces a large cloud of steam as the pool boils away, revealing a tunnel beneath it, and twisted scraps of metal where the pool was.
[06:37:36] <[DM]> The insects meanwhile, had just barely avoided the flames, losing half their number to it.
[06:38:13] <Zeni> ... Zeni snatches Vani back from Lien and runs a bit further back.  "Gaauuu....!"
[06:38:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa points a finger at the remaining mass of beetles and causes a loud explosion.
[06:39:26] <[DM]> The blast shreds beetles, leaving a tattered swarm still at the ready.
[06:41:19] <@Lien> Lien moves in immediately after the sonic explosion to stomp and beat the remaining beetles.
[06:42:18] <[DM]> The beetles splatter under her feet.
[06:42:21] <[DM]> *RIPPLE*
[06:43:55] <Alyssa> "Head for the cave!" Alyssa dashes
[06:45:40] <@Lien> Lien didn't actually need to be told that, as she was already en route to the cave on her own initiative. At least in the rock there won't be bugs coming out of the soil. Probably.
[06:46:41] <Zeni> Zeni just can't quite figure out what she's looking at  as she watches Lien and Alyssa run to the cave.  She looks to Ellis, then back at the path they'd came from, then back to the cave.... and......... very, very, very hesitantly makes for the cave with the others.
[06:46:43] <[DM]> A bloody, scene is just inside, human heads and limbs, chewed upon in the cave.
[06:47:35] <Ellis> Ellis follows Zeni protectively in case something tries pouncing on her again while she's distracted.
[06:47:45] <@Lien> As she steps inside, Lien immediately takes a step back and covers her nose.
[06:48:32] <[DM]> A flash of orange and black becomes visible as SOMETHING motors out of the cave lightning fast and leaps upon Alyssa.
[06:49:16] <Alyssa> Alyssa easily sidesteps the pounce.
[06:52:49] <@Lien> "Alyssa! Give the fang back!"
[06:53:16] <Alyssa> "It's ok! I'm fine...still!"
[06:54:29] <@Lien> "I didn't ask that!"
[06:54:37] <Alyssa> With flaming rapier, Alyssa takes two quick stabs at the SOMETHING that leapt at her.
[06:55:35] <[DM]> The tiger moves like greased lightning, leaving afterimages as it evades the strikes.
[07:01:08] <@Lien> Lien moves nearly as fast, snapping her staff into the creature's side in two swift strikes follows by a flurry of kicks.
[07:03:15] <@Lien> The staff strikes miss, but she manages to hook its legs and turn its momentum on it to drive it into the ground.
[07:05:01] <Ellis> Ellis lunges forward not a second later to pump several bolts into its belly.
[07:08:11] <[DM]> The beast seems to falter for a moment as the bolts sink in.
[07:09:20] <Ellis> Fixing the creature with a steely gaze, Ellis backs out of Zeni's line of (possibly literal) fire.
[07:09:35] <@Lien> Stepping back from the prone tiger, Lien extends her hand to Alyssa gain "Give me the fang! I want to know if they're after it!"
[07:09:39] <@Lien> *again.
[07:10:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa reaches out and passes the fang back to Lien.
[07:10:17] <Zeni> Zeni watches Ellis do so, hesitating some, glancing between her and the beast before just.... turning and running again, dashing back for the path.  "V-Vani's the only thing it can leap to next!"
[07:10:52] <@Lien> "Why did you even bring the cat?"
[07:11:06] <Zeni> "She'smyguardian!"
[07:11:11] <[DM]> Vanilla barks at the tiger.
[07:12:59] <[DM]> Lien's staff flickers weakly with lightning as the tiger's flesh ripples under it's fur.
[07:13:42] <[DM]> The wounds seal up as it swells in size, it's fangs lengthening.
[07:13:47] <Alyssa> "Your staff!" Alyssa points out
[07:14:32] <[DM]> It's gaze fixes upon the barking cat.
[07:15:01] <[DM]> Then it charges Zeni.
[07:16:02] <@Lien> Lien's staff whips after it in the blink of an eye, connecting with the beast's rear with a deafening thunderclap.
[07:17:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa whips Last Blood across the beast's face as it charges past her.
[07:19:13] <[DM]> Taking the severe blows, it bats at Zeni with a claw.
[07:23:07] <Zeni> Zeni practically shrieks as the blow takes her by surprise, turning and giving the creature a firy glare as she considers her options, one hand taking up a healing potion.  One of the stronger ones she pilfered off of Lien.
[07:27:57] <Zeni> Zeni quickly quaffs the potion then raises her staff shakily, looking to Lien before incanting a spell, the woman suddenly bursting to twice her size.  "G-Get this thing off of me, now!! I need to bring Vani away and it knows it!"
[07:32:32] <@Lien> Lien steps back to adjust her balance after nearly hitting her head on the ceiling, then takes out and chugs a vial of potion quickly before catching the beast in a flying tackle.
[07:36:33] <Alyssa> "Try silvered bolts like last time Ellis!" Alyssa yells as she spins on her waist for two flaming slashes.
[07:38:06] <[DM]> The tiger flares up and is consumed by flames.
[07:38:56] <[DM]> Last Blood pulses, and Lien's staff flames to full blaze.
[07:39:09] <[DM]> And Zeni finds her arms suddenly MUCH heavier.
[07:40:14] <[DM]> Vanilla swells up....then flickers.
[07:40:24] <[DM]> And flickers.
[07:41:40] <[DM]> The cat continues to grow, but twisting and warping between features.
[07:41:58] <[DM]> The eyes dim and swell alternately.
[07:43:45] <Zeni> A most sorely defeated expression slowly sinks into Zeni's face as she desperately clings to the creature with her slender arms, as if trying to hold it 'in' from growing, her head slowly tilting down as she starts to lose hope.
[07:47:40] <Zeni> The little half-elf lets go as the poor puppycat continues to grow, taking a few steps back as she shakily lifts her staff~
[07:50:00] <@Lien> Watching the Vanilla-beast grow and grow, Lien doesn't even really think of going 'told you so'. She just dashes towards the creature and Zeni to go past it and drag her further away. If it grows large enough to get stuck in the hallway...
[07:54:49] <Zeni> Zeni swishes her cloth wrapped staff to the side, climbing over Vanilla's hind quarter to peek beyond, glaring at Lien.  "Hold her!  I don't care what it takes, hold her and keep her in the cave.  E-Ellis, dont shoot her yet!  But... if that's what it comes to, do so with haste..."  Zeni incants yet another new spell, illusory flames suddenly lighting up the figures of Ellis and Lien before very suddenly invigorating them.
[07:55:29] <[DM]> The expanding bulk is making it VERY hard to get past.
[07:55:40] <[DM]> Especially the way the limbs keep changing.
[07:55:55] <Zeni> "Please keep her like this for a... a minute!  A minute, tops!  If she... doesn't.... if her mind doesnt clear up, then we'll have to put her out of her misery."
[07:56:43] <@Lien> "We've had enough trouble for the last... less than a minute!"
[07:57:02] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a lunging stance, Last Blood at the ready. <Show me what you've got.> she whispers to Last Blood
[07:57:21] <Zeni> "And you'll have more if you defy my orders," Zeni replies gravely.
[08:00:20] <Zeni> NO HASTE |< NEVER HASTE |< CONCENTRATION SUCKS |<
[08:00:26] <Ellis> Ellis swears...but holds her fire, instead dashing for one of the few remaining gaps between the Vanilla-beast and the exit.
[08:00:45] <[DM]> Vanilla's form stabilizes, fur hardening to scales, tail lengthening, hind legs thickening and head forming an enormous, oblong shape even as the forelimbs shrink.
[08:00:47] <Alyssa> Alyssa makes a run for it too
[08:01:02] <[DM]> Ellis gets RIGHT past between the newly stabilized form.
[08:02:06] <[DM]> The cave rumbles with a deep, deafening roar.
[08:03:01] <@Lien> "Hold that for a minute, she says."
[08:03:32] <Ellis> "Zeni..." Ellis scrambles to her feet warily.
[08:04:45] <@Lien> If she trusted Zeni more than she does, she might go for the delay anyway. Alas. Her staff strikes out in a blur, hitting with a series of strikes and punches to the base of the head, where the monster's head meets its neck.
[08:05:08] <Zeni> Doubt crosses Zeni's face as she looks on, watching the poor thing's form warp, "It... It should have some kind of stabalized mind if we wait a tiny bit more!!  We might be able to reason with it!... Her... Her!  With Vanilla!.... I... Uuuu.... what am I doing.... she's all ugly nowww!"
[08:05:21] <Alyssa> Already right up to the beast, Alyssa spits a curse at it and swings twice.
[08:07:42] <Alyssa> And she backs off after striking twice
[08:09:25] <[DM]> Last Blood beats, once, twice, thrice.
[08:09:35] <[DM]> The blade begins pulsing like a living heart.
[08:09:53] <@Lien> "Uh. Put that away. Now."
[08:10:08] <Zeni> "... Is Alyssa stabbing her?"
[08:10:26] <[DM]> The wounds meanwhile, seem to be minor to the monstrous lizard.
[08:11:28] <[DM]> The eyes clear out then go scarlet as the beast goes on the attack.
[08:12:15] <[DM]> An enormous jaw slams down at Alyssa.
[08:12:27] <[DM]> The tail sweeps at Ellis.
[08:13:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa steps back from the jaws.
[08:13:38] <[DM]> The crunch of rock shattering in it's teeth is not reassuring.
[08:17:41] <Ellis> Not able to duck out of the way in time, Ellis twists with the blow, eating a fair amount of dirt in the process but coming out with no broken ribs.
[08:20:10] <Alyssa> Moving backwards to avoid the jaws, Alyssa points two fingers at the creature and lets fly two bolts of arcane energy.
[08:21:13] <@Lien> Now that it's started attacking in earnest again, Lien lays into it with strikes to the head and throat.
[08:21:18] <Zeni> Zeni shuffles a bit further out of the entrance, looking worriedly at the creature, holding her staff at the ready, looking quite hurt by these turn of events.
[08:21:36] <[DM]> One bolt goes wide and smashes into the ceiling where Zeni could see, the other clips out a scale with a spray of thick blood.
[08:22:54] <[DM]> Lien's kick renders it crosseyed as it wobbles in place.
[08:25:48] <@Lien> "You're... you're in violation of compact?" Lien feels like she should be referring to the staff, but it just ends up coming out really lame and insecure.
[08:25:55] <Ellis> "Zeni!" Ellis shouts over the noise, drawing back both crossbow strings. "Do you have a plan?"
[08:29:06] <Zeni> "I... I know what it is, I recalled just as it grasped Vani, and there's a fair chance it'll grow intelligent enough to be reasoned with if we let it mutate enough, but.... but I'm not sure we'll actually succeed.  M-Maybe if there's still some scrap of Vanilla in it, oooof...."  Zeni remains there, her crimson hair lifting and flickering like flame as she holds her spell at the ready.
[08:29:52] <[DM]> The beast wobbles on, rippling again.
[08:31:22] <@Lien> "It gets stronger every time, too!"
[08:31:24] <[DM]> Scales and blood rain down as it shrinks down to merely very big...and the orb of the staff flares to a blinding light.
[08:31:44] <Alyssa> "What the hell is that glow trying to tell you!" Alyssa yells
[08:32:15] <[DM]> Wings rip from it's back as it condenses.
[08:32:59] <[DM]> It raises a clawed hand forward...then stops.
[08:33:31] <Zeni> Zeni just looks very, very confused as her face crests the top of the creature, while it shrinks.  ".  .  ."
[08:33:40] <[DM]> The cave speaks, "-by"
[08:33:40] <[DM]> "-pact"
[08:33:47] <[DM]> It coughs.
[08:34:01] <[DM]> Choking on something.
[08:34:09] <@Lien> Lien steps back, the staff in a defensive position, but waits.
[08:34:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa readies Last Blood in a defensive stance.
[08:34:37] <[DM]> A wet lump of flesh thumps to the floor, the remains of the monster's tongue.
[08:35:39] <Zeni> ".    .    ."
[08:36:53] <[DM]> A musical tongue fills the air, along with a guttural one in a triple voice. "<Abyssal/Sylvan/Unknown>By the Compact we abide, keeper of the balance. Mortal hands hath wrought, mortal hands stolen.<>"
[08:37:55] <Alyssa> <What was stolen?>
[08:40:13] <@Lien> "<The... the one who breached this vault has already paid for it.>"
[08:41:21] <Zeni> Flame slowly starts to coalesce in the air beside Zeni as she tearfully glares at the strange creature, her staff shakily raising. "<Sylvan>Give her back...</Sylvan>"  Totally a good time for this.
[08:42:13] <Zeni> <Elven>
[08:44:32] <@Lien> "<Is... this what was stolen?>" She pulls the shard of fang out of her clothes again to show it to the beast.
[08:45:09] <[DM]> "<Triple>What was asked is given. </Triple>" It's eyes go from crimson to silver mirrors, as the shard flares to a scarlet flame, crumbling to ash"<Triple>The ancient bonds fail. The night weakens. Every dawn tears at the Compact.</Triple>"
[08:45:26] <[DM]> "<Triple>Ask, and the balance redressed.</Triple>"
[08:48:08] <@Lien> Lien blinks at the wording, then looks at Zeni. Then back at the beast. Then at Zeni again. Back to the beast. She thinks it over for a good while before saying, "<I think she'd like the last host you took back.>"
[08:54:07] <[DM]> "<Triple>We do not understand. We never have understood.  We never will understand. What is asked is given. </Triple>" The mutated body crumbles into geysers of blood, flesh and bile, leaving a very drenched kitten, "<Triple>Guardian of balance, keeper of the scales, preserver of time. The keepers keep that which they should not. The wyrm will leave the labyrinth. The spiral path falls into the light. </Triple>"
[08:54:18] <[DM]> The cave pulses.
[08:59:40] <[DM]> There's an even deeper rumble of a roar.
[09:00:34] <Zeni> Zeni's flames dissipate as she shakily steps forward and plucks Vanilla up, not knowing what to expect; was she alive?  Was her mind in tact?  Is she a super kicken rad shape-shifter now!?!?!  She disregards the mess for now as she scoops her little pet up and hugs her tightly, nibbling her lower lip as she looks about, just not knowing what to make of anything else.
[09:00:35] <Ellis> Ellis hasn't understood a word of this, but what Lien did seems to have worked and she's not about to question it. She scoops up the bloody kitten and shoves it into Zeni's arms. "Come on, let's get out of here now."
[09:00:38] <[DM]> *THUM*
[09:00:53] <[DM]> *THUM**THUM*
[09:01:09] <@Lien> "Yes." She shoos everyone else ahead of her and makes haste for the entrance.
[09:01:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa makes a run for it.
[09:01:35] <[DM]> *THUM**THUM**THUM*
[09:01:41] <Zeni> Zenileavesquicklyenough, wobbling here and there.
[09:02:27] <[DM]> There's a scream of tearing stone as the group flees.
[09:03:01] <[DM]> The staff is now as bright as Last Blood at it's peak.
[09:04:37] <[DM]> As the group legs it back to the carriage, an enormous, scaled column rises up , smashing stone and dirt as it passes.
[09:07:51] <Zeni> Zeni diligently cleans up Vani with her cantrip, stroking behind her ear as soon as she gets it clear. :<
[09:09:46] <[DM]> Back at the carriage, they find Riathelle inside the carriage, a bloodied sword  in hand, and a lot of dead squirrels and birds littered around the window.
[09:10:54] <@Lien> As they get back to the carriage, Lien is hit with the realization that she could have asked nearly anything from the beast, but locked up and spent it on being nice to someone who won't appreciate it. It's a small wonder she gets together the presence of mind to stop Zeni from cleaning Vanilla the easy way and instead cleans the cat carefully herself, to collect as much of the blood as she can into a small vial.
[09:12:03] <Ellis> Ellis manages to restrain herself from rounding on Lien and demanding to know what the hell happened in front of their erstwhile guide. She settles for cleaning herself off and gingerly examining her side for bruising.
[09:12:59] <[DM]> Riathelle flinches as Zeni returns with Vanilla.
[09:15:21] <Zeni> Zeni wordlessly enters the carriage with Vanilla in her arms, the two quite thuroughly coated in blood despite the little mage's best efforts.  She sits in her usual spot and pets her bloody kitten, not even paying Ria a single mind, "Goodpuppy~  You came back!  And... that'sthemostI'vewantedofyou."  She's still blissfully unaware of Lien's sacrifice.
[09:16:01] <[DM]> Vanilla whimpers
[09:16:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa had an inkling of what happened, though she really wanted to go back to the vault and look around.
[09:17:12] <[DM]> Riathelle, then goes around to the horses, and feeds each a potion, silently leading the carriage away.
[09:18:43] <@Lien> Lien, on the other hand, looks glum more than anything. At least she got one thing she needed.
[09:19:32] <Alyssa> Alyssa sits on top of the carriage and looks at Last Blood, wondering what happened.
[09:22:12] <[DM]> -----------------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #22 on: May 08, 2015, 12:22:29 AM »
Session 23: Justy realizing her forgot to do the summary reminded me that I forgot to do the loooog

[05:11:13] <veekie> ---------------------------------------------
[05:12:37] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[05:17:57] <[DM]> The carriage barely reaches the first fork on the way back when something goes wrong.
[05:18:33] <[DM]> For starters, Lien's staff begins casting  a pale blue-white glow once more, dimly.
[05:19:19] <@Lien> After the encounter at the Vault of Beasts, Lien looks to be in a glum mood, staring silently at the vial of blood she washed off the cat and herself before putting it away. The extent of her conversation-making is asking Riathelle about the places called Brightstone Valley and Echo Grotto, which she is in the middle of when she notices the glow. She looks at it quizzically and with a definite note of concern.
[05:20:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa contemplates Last Blood laying on her lap as she drives the carriage.
[05:23:01] <Zeni> Zeni seems quite content, napping so peacefully after such a bizarre event, leaning on Ellis perhaps a bit too much as she does so.  Vanilla is, of course, held tightly in the half-elf's arms, quite possibly to her dismay.
[05:25:43] <Ellis> Ellis, still not in the general loop, gives the staff a look of faint dismay. "...Should it still be glowing? You don't look pleased."
[05:26:01] <[DM]> Riathelle answers absentmindedly, looking worriedly at the moonlit sky visible through the leaves in the canopy as she guides the carriage into a downward left fork,"Brightstone Valley is an enormous geode, worn open to reveal the crystals within, Echo Grotto...is where wise ears can hear the spirits."
[05:26:42] <@Lien> "I don't think it should be."
[05:27:32] <[DM]> Moonlight illuminates the junction ahead.
[05:29:02] <@Lien> "...The leaf cover should be way too dense for moonlight." Lien looks up.
[05:29:12] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks back into the carriage. "Anything wrong?"
[05:29:51] <[DM]> The moon is wobbling, the usual gleaming orb iridescent as the ground ahead.
[05:30:44] <[DM]> The pale light fizzes as bubbles rise off it.
[05:31:08] <Ellis> Gently, Ellis takes Zeni's shoulder and shakes her awake. "Hey, wake up. I think there might be trouble. ...Lots of it."
[05:31:25] <[DM]> Riathelle looks at the junction "Uhhhh"
[05:31:50] <Alyssa> "If you want to say something now guide, spit it out now."
[05:32:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa stands up from her driver's seat, Last Blood at the ready.
[05:32:04] <[DM]> "T-that's not supposed to be happening."
[05:32:51] <@Lien> "Well, what is happening?"
[05:33:09] <[DM]> The junction ripples, and the lush grass heaves as slime and teeth and eyes boil out of it.
[05:33:21] <Zeni> Zeni is even slower than usual to stir, but she wakes up quickly enough after doing so, first glaring at Ellis, then seeming to recall that Ellis knew better than to wake her needlessly.  "Ooof... What is it?"
[05:33:34] <Alyssa> "We're under attack!" Alyssa shouts
[05:34:07] <[DM]> Last Blood's pulsing quickens.
[05:34:36] <[DM]> And then there is a beautiful song.
[05:36:53] <[DM]> The beauty shatters for the reality of horrific garbled screaming and howling for all but Zeni and Ellis, who continue to be captivated by the beautiful song of the moon.
[05:41:37] <Alyssa> "Lien! Grab the reins!" Alyssa yells as she directs the carriage to move away from the slime monster and fires two bolts of energy at it.
[05:42:45] <Zeni> Zeni's gaze loses clarity as the song reaches her, seeming to enter a deep daze.
[05:44:46] <[DM]> Alyssa's directions are promptly heeded by the horses....who gallop...on the spot.
[05:45:52] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the ponies incredulously. "Dammit." <Blood to Ashes>
[05:46:52] <[DM]> The slimes advance, burbling and wailing as they spit out eyes at the carriage, both front ant inside as they reach Alyssa and Riathelle.
[05:48:26] <[DM]> The eyes melt away, stealing Alyssa's sight with them.
[05:48:37] <[DM]> Then the slimes attack.
[05:49:06] <Alyssa> "Ahh!"
[05:52:49] <[DM]> Riathelle shrieks as she climbs up to the carriage roof, avoiding the slime trying to get intimate with her. Alyssa, bereft of her vision, had her first warning of personal space invasion being a cold clammy feeling of teeth, tongue and eyeballs tearing at her flesh.
[05:55:01] <Ellis> Ellis' fingers lie nervelessly on Zeni's shoulder throughout the chaos, her attention still turned upward as the mesmerizing moon-song continues.
[06:02:08] <@Lien> Lien, after a delayed reaction, shoots out of the carriage like greased lightning to catch the attacking slimes from what passes for behind. She hooks the one chasing their guide with her staff to pull it off and kick it away with a well-aimed kick before giving the one struggling with Alyssa a similar treatment.
[06:06:24] <[DM]> Riathelle's pursuer literally goes flying as Lien kick the horrible thing into a tree, where it thwaps with a wet burbling, though Alyssa's opponent manages to get a good grip onto her and avoid sent flying.
[06:06:58] <Alyssa> Feeling the gripping on her, Alyssa goes for a downward thrust twice with the pulsing Last Blood.
[06:10:45] <[DM]> The blade sinks deep into it's rubbery flesh, with a throbbing as gouts of searing red-white flames vent from it's numerous mouths.
[06:12:00] <[DM]> The creature's twisted howling intensifies, as it lays into Alyssa with maddened, slimy fury
[06:13:49] <Alyssa> <Fuck off!> Alyssa grunts
[06:15:15] <[DM]> Alyssa's world fills with a beautiful silvery crooning, occupying all her senses.
[06:17:30] <[DM]> Zeni and Ellis meanwhile snap to a rude awakening as the beautiful song they were listening to turns out to be some kind of horrible wailing.
[06:19:11] <@Lien> With one attacker slammer into a tree, Lien turns around to lay into Alyssa's assailant.
[06:22:25] <@Lien> The beats that one to... more of... a pulp and jumps off the carriage to get the other one with a full-on flying kick and followup.
[06:22:38] <[DM]> The staff hammers into the creature, meets Last Blood still embedded inside, and then a geyser of lightning and fire shatters it into gobbets of burning goo
[06:24:03] <Zeni> Zeni launches to her feet (yes, she can stand up fully straight within the carriage, no, she is not happy about it) with an aggravated growl when the song finally releases her, looking to Ellis with a touch of worry before setting Vanilla down and swinging out the closest door, staff raised.
[06:24:44] <Zeni> ... Only to be hit with a spray of goo.
[06:24:49] <[DM]> The kick hammers the other slime flying again, as Lien feels something crumple like wet cloth in her advance.
[06:25:57] <Ellis> Ellis snaps out of her reverie in time to see Lien beating the living hell out of a churning nightmare. Without pause for thought, she draws and sends three bolts whistling past the monk's ears before the thing's hit the ground.
[06:29:28] <[DM]> The bolts sink in and the blob quivers to a halt.
[06:29:46] <[DM]> The staff however, is still shining, slowly getting brighter in fact.
[06:30:31] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the staff worryingly. "There's more? Guide! What's wrong with this blasted place?"
[06:30:38] <[DM]> With the ground back to bare earth, Riathelle wastes no time simply jacking the reins and setting the carriage moving.
[06:30:41] <Zeni> Zeni siiighs, "Was that all of them...? Gaauuu, you didn't even need to wake me afterall..."  She starts cleaning herself up with her cantrip.
[06:31:27] <@Lien> Lien looks up at the moon, catching up with the moving carriage on foot. Is it still wobbling?
[06:31:39] * Bozwevial (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[06:32:25] <[DM]> The leaves are rapidly growing over the gap, but it seems the moon is mostly moonlike.
[06:32:47] <Alyssa> Alyssa catches the reins and gets the horses to stop.
[06:33:04] <[DM]> A howling comes from behind.
[06:33:49] <[DM]> The horses obey, despite the elf giving Alyssa a dirty look, "Are you INSANE?"
[06:33:51] <Zeni> ... Zeni quickly pops back inside and closes her door, grabbing up Vani and nestling up with a blanket. :I
[06:33:53] * Ellis (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[06:33:58] * Bozwevial is now known as Ellis
[06:34:20] <Alyssa> "We won't be here if we are sane, what's going on! Tell us!"
[06:34:55] <Alyssa> Alyssa gently guides the horses to start moving
[06:35:05] <Alyssa> and quickens their pace gradually
[06:36:05] <[DM]> There's a powerful smell of sulfur.
[06:36:25] <[DM]> "JUST MOVE DAMMIT!"
[06:36:41] <Alyssa> Growling, Alyssa directs the horses to move to top speed.
[06:36:42] <[DM]> There's a wash of heat as the back of the carriage catches fire.
[06:36:49] <Alyssa> "What the hell is behind us?"
[06:36:54] <[DM]> "HELL!"
[06:37:01] <Alyssa> "BULLSHIT!"
[06:37:08] <Alyssa> "Lien what the heck is behind us?"
[06:37:40] <@Lien> "She's right. Keep- What" Lien flinches as the carriage catches fire and looks back. "Hell! Go faster!"
[06:38:15] <Ellis> Ellis ducks back inside the carriage as the air floods with heat. "Faster would be better!"
[06:38:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa whips the reins
[06:38:51] <Alyssa> "Shoot it or something, I'm driving!"
[06:38:57] <@Lien> Leaning over the edge of the roof, she yells at Ellis, "Fire-breathing hounds! Could use some crossbow bolts!"
[06:39:38] <[DM]> An eager howl pierces the night.
[06:39:45] <@Lien> And some blankets. Those would be a good idea too. Lien starts beating at the flames with whatever they have on the carriage roof.
[06:40:14] <Zeni> ... Zeni ducks back out and quite easily extinguishes the flames with little more than a disappointed glare. :<
[06:40:36] <Ellis> "You didn't bring me along for my looks!" Ellis obliges the lady, loading fresh quarrels and taking a few potshots at the infernal pursuit.
[06:46:34] <[DM]> The winding path does not make it any easier to get a straight shot, as the hounds close in.
[06:47:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa focuses on driving smoothly, trying to sneak a peek at Last Blood's pulsating, whether it has lessened or not.
[06:47:30] <[DM]> Last Blood seems to have calmed down somewhat.
[06:48:15] <[DM]> ...which would be a bit of a problem seeing as there's a tangle of roots up ahead and she JUST barely manages to jump the horses over it, while the hellhounds flood around the roots.
[06:49:30] <[DM]> A straight downward slope appears ahead.
[06:52:06] <@Lien> On the roof, Lien starts twirling her staff in preparation while muttering something to herself.
[06:53:10] <Ellis> Satisfied that she's got the range right, Ellis aims her next three shots to catch the hellhound mid-stride.
[06:53:25] <Zeni> And back inside, Zeni's frustratedly searching for her crossbow in the bag of holding, not thinking she'd need it again after getting the tentacle rod.
[06:53:37] <[DM]> As the carriage enters the straight slope and the hound flood down it...roots explode from beneath them, even as Ellis punts the hellhound into the mass.
[06:54:26] <Alyssa> "Downward slope ahead, grab something!" Alyssa yells back
[06:55:07] <@Lien> Lien blinks at that sudden development, still twirling the staff in wait for a good shot.
[06:55:14] <[DM]> Half the hounds snap and snarl as they all suddenly clump up in a line, unable to move.
[06:57:21] <@Lien> Seeing the opportunity, Lien turns the twirl into a half-circle sweep of the staff and stops the motion pointing at the line of dogs. A line of lightning sprouts between the staff's orb and the tangle of roots, going right through the hounds.
[06:59:03] <[DM]> Pained yelps fill the night as the hounds fry.
[07:00:50] <[DM]> The carriage rolls on down, as only four hounds continue to give chase, three tied up and one too dead to chase anything.
[07:01:03] <[DM]> The corpse melts into a thick tar like substance.
[07:01:44] <Zeni> Zeni finally manages to pull out her crossbow, but by the time she leans out to take aim, the chase is largely won.  She goes for a shot anyway~ Pew~
[07:02:18] <[DM]> The bolt hits one straight between the eyes...and glances off with sparks.
[07:03:01] <Zeni> Zenisighs.
[07:03:29] <Alyssa> "Where are we headed to now?" Alyssa looks at the guide
[07:04:16] <[DM]> "Just keep going, those things are too fast to go anywhere but full speed!"
[07:05:08] <[DM]> The path takes an abrupt left turn as a crevasse appears ahead, while the hounds crash through brambles like...well, Lien.
[07:05:18] <@Lien> After that shot, Lien settles down on the carriage roof to reassess the situation, muttering something in Sylvan again.
[07:06:47] <[DM]> Alyssa's desperate attempts to turn is to little avail as the carriage bounces off a small rise, soars...and then drops into the mist filled chasm.
[07:07:05] <[DM]> Howls fill the air as the hounds leap after them.
[07:07:54] <Ellis> Ellis nearly drops her weapons as she clings to the window frame for dear life.
[07:09:37] <@Lien> Lien, on the other hand, lets go of the roof and spreads her limbs wide, reaching out to the wall of the chasm to slow her fall.
[07:12:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa, on the other hand, disappears in a puff of silvery mist and reappearing safe on the ground, Last Blood at the ready to finish off any straggling hounds.
[07:13:32] <[DM]> There's a shattering crash as the carriage meets the dirt below, the wheels exploding, as the hellhounds crash to the dirt around the wreckage.
[07:14:20] <[DM]> Then Lien drops lightly on top of the carriage like it was nothing.
[07:14:34] <Zeni> Zeni swings back into the carriage just in time for it to turn steepily in a way it... shouldn't, her eyes widening as she finds herself in free fall with the carriage around her, then suddenly crying out in pain as she impacts the 'front' side in the crash.
[07:14:36] <[DM]> The horses, fortunately, survived, but would require medicine to avoid laming.
[07:15:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa slams onto the ground with a grunt.
[07:16:49] <@Lien> After landing with only a light tap, Lien whirls around with the staff in a defensive position, ready to attack the hounds if they get back up.
[07:21:31] <@Lien> Without missing a beat, as the only one unfazed by the fall, Lien jumps down from the carriage to drive her staff prongs first into a hellhound's neck.
[07:22:34] <[DM]> The hellhound crumples into black ooze as Lien shatters it's spine.
[07:22:47] <[DM]> The second fares no better.
[07:23:05] <@Lien> She immediately pushes on to lay into the remaining hellhounds.
[07:25:13] <[DM]> Lien crushes the remaining two in the time it takes to draw breath, leaving black tar and sulfur burning a hole in the ground.
[07:26:58] <Ellis> Ellis pops out of the carriage sporting a bleeding scratch on her cheek but ready to fight...only to discover that Lien's already obliterated the remaining hellhounds. "Oh."
[07:27:22] * Alyssa takes out her healing potion and goes to her horse, letting her beloved animal drink it
[07:28:22] <@Lien> Two heartbeats pass, one with Lien assessing the situation to confirm all the hounds are dispatched, and a second looking up where they came from to check nothing else is coming down. Then, she turns around to look at the carriage. "Wounds? How are the horses?"
[07:28:26] <[DM]> The chasm seems to be completely dark, aside from the tiny seam of patchy light from above.
[07:28:35] <Zeni> Zeni groans as she crawls her way out of the wreckage of their carriage, Vanilla biting and tugging on her sleeve to help her.  "Eugh... What happened?"
[07:28:58] <[DM]> There's more animal noises above, but nothing else seems to have followed them down here.
[07:30:40] <Ellis> Ellis carefully helps Zeni to her feet, trying not to pull too hard in case she's broken any bones. "I think we're not being chased. That's about the only good news." She pokes her head back into the carriage in search of their guide.
[07:31:11] <@Lien> "Can someone light a torch? Or the glowball?"
[07:31:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa taps the tip of her finger on the tip of Last Blood.
[07:32:45] <[DM]> Riathelle looks a little concussed, but otherwise well.
[07:32:51] <[DM]> Beyond huddling in a corner.
[07:33:13] <Zeni> "I'm fine, I'm fiiine!... Mostly..." Zeni still takes the offered help, wobbling forward a bit.  "I knew we needed to hire a real chauffeur!  And you silly humans need to develop dark vision already."
[07:34:13] <[DM]> "<Elven>How could this get any worse....</Elven>"
[07:35:16] <Alyssa> Alyssa puts Last Blood into her scabbard.
[07:36:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves to the glow orb and activates it
[07:36:39] <Zeni> No Alyssa doesn't
[07:37:54] <Ellis> "<We'll be fine. Just...get some rest for now.>" Ellis isn't sure that sounds particularly comforting, but oh well.
[07:38:03] <[DM]> The glow orb shimmers to life, casting a chilly glow and setting the mists dancing.
[07:39:01] <[DM]> The chasm winds in a straight line up and down both ends, filled with greenery somehow despite the darkness.
[07:39:52] <Zeni> Zeni glares Alyssa's way, "Sure, show the rest of the hounds where we are.  We could just stay down here and rest, be better prepared to face the long walk that way."
[07:40:58] <@Lien> Lien takes advantage of the bit of light to check on the horses, followed by the humans.
[07:42:50] <Ellis> Ellis stares at the foliage with some trepidation. "I don't know that we want to walk that way. Normally those kinds of plants eat bugs, but they're also normally not ten feet tall. And the other direction...those leaves are crystal. They'd slice our legs to ribbons if we weren't extremely careful."
[07:45:52] <Zeni> "Well that's fun.  Setting them on fire probably isn't a good idea without some sort of exit strategy...  What are our other options?"
[07:46:45] <Zeni> "Have Lien carry us up the cliff?"
[07:46:47] <@Lien> After taking care of their second horse, Lien looks up at the plants Ellis points out, moving to tend to the others next. "We can always try to climb back up and find the path again. Uh... there's a cave over there. Looks excavated by something big."
[07:47:14] <Alyssa> "If your staff isn't glowing, that means nothing mean and big is nearby."
[07:47:24] <Zeni> "No it doesn't."
[07:47:32] <@Lien> "No, it means nothing like that monster or those hounds is nearby."
[07:49:09] <Ellis> With the glowball providing a little extra light, Ellis examines the carriage to see how bad the damage is, although it's without much hope of being able to repair the thing.
[07:49:20] <Alyssa> "Right. Shall we stow the horses and carriage in the cave and assess our situation?"
[07:49:37] <@Lien> "Not without knowing what's in the cave. It looks old, but you never know."
[07:50:07] <Alyssa> "We do need shelter though. There's no telling if the hounds will go the long way and attack us on both flanks
[07:50:11] <[DM]> Most of the damage was to the wheels and axel, which could be replaced if they had some wood in the right shape and durability.
[07:50:59] <Zeni> "... I'd favor climbing back up, honestly.  'Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.'"
[07:51:59] <@Lien> "We can't exactly take the horses up that way, though... nor through those crystal plants, really."
[07:52:22] <Ellis> "An old cave just means it's been around longer for something to make its home."
[07:54:10] <Alyssa> "I wouldn't want to leave my horse behind too."
[07:54:38] <@Lien> "For now, we can rest here and take a look around to make sure nothing's going to eat us. We might be able to bushwhack through those plants?"
[07:58:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa brings the two horses together and gently pats them on the neck, letting the party see them float slightly off the ground. She climbs up on her horse. "Ellis could you get on the other horse and stay up as lookout while I ferry the rest of us up?"
[07:59:02] <[DM]> Ria continues drawing circles in the dirt.
[08:04:37] <@Lien> Lien looks over her shoulder. "What are you doing?"
[08:05:26] <Alyssa> "The horses can lift us over the chasm. I have the magic for it."
[08:05:49] <Zeni> Zeni drags the bench cushions out of the carriage, placing them beside Ria before just flopping down and taking up most of the space on them herself, wrapped snuggly in her blanket.  "Nightyyy."
[08:07:15] <[DM]> "Wondering how things will get worse." Ria remains focused on the ground.
[08:08:06] <Ellis> Ellis sighs, fatigue creeping into her voice. "It might be safer to let things die down and continue on when we're rested...but we should at least know what to expect from that cave. Lien, can you come with me and help scout?"
[08:08:44] <@Lien> "Well, we've survived so far." Looking at Ellis, she nods.
[08:11:20] <[DM]> Riathelle doesn't give much of a response as they turn their attentions to the cave.
[08:12:52] <[DM]> The cave is dry and bare, odd for a place as filled with life as this.
[08:15:06] <[DM]> The stone itself is stacked in rippling flows, glittering faintly in the light of the orb.
[08:16:33] <[DM]> The further onwards the duo presses on, the warmer and drier it gets, though the tunnel begins branching.
[08:16:43] <[DM]> Still no signs of life.
[08:17:18] <[DM]> The orb at least, seems to be functioning normally, indicating their location consistently.
[08:18:13] <@Lien> "I guess it looks clear..." Lien looks at Ellis questioningly.
[08:19:08] <Ellis> "It doesn't sit well with me." Ellis puts a hand gingerly on the tunnel wall, running her fingers along the rock. "But if there's anything here, it's pretty far in."
[08:20:19] <Zeni> Zeni meanwhile has an uncooperative Vanilla pinned against herself as she gets back to resting~ 
[08:20:30] <@Lien> "No life at all isn't a great sign when the outside is teeming with it. It looked excavated from the outside, but looking at the walls in here, it would have to have been some kind of magic, maybe."
[08:21:42] <Ellis> "It might explain the plants, at least."
[08:21:47] <[DM]> Vanilla licks Zeni''s face thoroughly.
[08:22:48] <@Lien> "Right." She looks around the branches in the tunnel.
[08:24:53] <@Lien> "Wait." Lien does a double-take at some of the glittering stones. "...These aren't all rocks."
[08:25:07] <[DM]> *Glitter Glitter*
[08:25:44] <Ellis> "Hmm?"
[08:26:18] <@Lien> She points out several of them. "They're... looking at us."
[08:26:22] <[DM]> "<Syl>Hmm?</Syl>"
[08:26:39] <[DM]> *Glitter*
[08:27:52] <Ellis> "...they're alive?" Ellis warily takes a step backwards.
[08:29:25] <@Lien> "I think so? I don't know a lot about rocks that stare back." In looking around again, she's distracted by the sudden little voice. "<Hm? What's up?>"
[08:30:10] <[DM]> "<Syl>Shiny</Syl>"
[08:31:12] <[DM]> "<Syl>Rock head. HMPH</Syl>"
[08:31:43] <@Lien> "Oh." She looks at Ellis again. "Well, it doesn't look like anything's trying to kill us, but something knows we're here now."
[08:31:54] <@Lien> "Probably."
[08:32:16] <[DM]> "<Syl>More Shiny!</Syl>"
[08:33:07] <Ellis> Ellis watches, torn between fascination and wariness. "What are they saying?"
[08:33:53] <@Lien> "The rocks? That's not the rocks." She frowns a little and looks down one of the tunnels. "<What's down there?>"
[08:34:31] <[DM]> "<Syl>Shiny!</Syl>"
[08:34:58] <@Lien> "'Shiny' is what."
[08:35:31] <[DM]> "<Syl>Rockhead</Syl>"
[08:35:53] <Ellis> "It's not wrong, I guess."
[08:36:55] <@Lien> "Fine. Let's check out this way? <And please stop pulling my hair.>""
[08:38:25] <[DM]> The living rock seems to increase down the tunnel, in neat parallel lines as the temperature rises to uncomfortably warm.
[08:38:42] <@Lien> "Okay, maybe this isn't a great idea."
[08:38:48] <[DM]> Here, is a pair of stone pillars, off in a nook.
[08:39:11] <[DM]> And further on, a longer tunnel, lit by a dim red glow.
[08:41:25] <Ellis> "I don't like the looks of that much."
[08:45:53] <Ellis> "It's not lava, though. The light flickers too much for that..."
[08:46:24] <@Lien> "Well, it feels hot enough to be."
[08:49:35] <Ellis> The thought occurs to Ellis to examine the pillars, since there hasn't been much sign of actual construction up until now.
[08:50:21] <[DM]> They look awfully similar to the pillars used to enter this....path thingy in the first place, though with a thick coat of dust.
[08:51:19] <Ellis> Ellis wordlessly taps Lien on the shoulder and points.
[08:51:39] <@Lien> "What about them... oh. Oh. Ask Riathelle?"
[08:52:09] <Ellis> "Mhm. I don't want to stick around much longer."
[08:53:09] <[DM]> "<Syl>Extra shiny rockhead!</Syl>"
[08:54:48] <@Lien> "<We're going to rest a little and talk about it and then look at it all together, okay? We've still got some honey back at camp.>"
[08:55:32] <[DM]> "<Syl>Okay!</Syl>"
[08:58:22] <Ellis> Ellis opens her mouth to ask any of a dozen questions, then shuts it.
[08:58:50] <@Lien> Lien looks at Ellis with raised eyebrows, not really thinking about how the scene must look.
[08:59:33] <Ellis> "So what exactly are you talking to, then, if not the rock?"
[08:59:51] <[DM]> Meanwhile Lien's hair gets Fancy
[09:00:43] <@Lien> "Oh." She lifts a strand of hair that's currently being braided by invisible hands. "I found her in the carriage. She's been following us along, I guess. Helped with the hounds, too."
[09:02:20] <[DM]> "<Syl>Hi!</Syl>"
[09:02:27] <Ellis> "The vines?" Ellis frowns, but more out of curiosity this time.
[09:02:52] <@Lien> "Yeah, probably. She's getting some honey for that one. And she just said hi."
[09:03:44] <Ellis> "Tell her hello, then. And also thank her for that, I suppose."
[09:03:52] <[DM]> A small butterfly winged girl in a sparkly dress appears on Lien's head, waving. Then vanishes again.
[09:05:40] <Ellis> Ellis blinks, but waves all the same.
[09:06:39] <@Lien> "So. Yeah. I didn't say anything because I didn't think it was important. And because Zeni was pretty creepy with the other pixies we saw."
[09:08:41] <Ellis> "It's a little bit important, I'd think?"
[09:09:53] <@Lien> "Maybe a little with the vines thing, yeah."
[09:17:06] <Ellis> "Mmm." Ellis walks silently for another minute or so, then: "Back there, in the cave...what happened? With the beast and everything, I mean. It stopped attacking us to talk to you, but you didn't look happy at the end."
[09:18:56] <Ellis> She watches Lien, a little concerned.
[09:20:22] <@Lien> "Hard to say. It was apparently angry about Goodsky taking that fang, and I guess is that staff is for enforcing a pact to leave the mortal world alone, because I managed to convince it to leave after giving the fang back? It said a lot of ominous stuff that I either didn't understand or already sort of knew."
[09:26:15] <Ellis> "So not good news, then. What about when we get out of here? Echo Grotto, Brightstone Valley? Are those your next stops?"
[09:27:41] <@Lien> "I don't know. The First Weaver told me about a place, but she said I need, uh, blood of three greats to go there. That's why I asked about that."
[09:31:37] <Ellis> Ellis digests that for a little bit. "...Can I ask you something personal?"
[09:31:47] <@Lien> "What?"
[09:34:14] <Ellis> "What made you decide to come here, chasing after all these scraps of hints and clues that just lead to more questions? I know it's important to you, I'm not questioning that, just..." She shrugs, helplessly. "I guess I don't understand why."
[09:41:30] <@Lien> "Because..." Lien makes a 'how do I even say this' face. "Something big is obviously wrong, and someone has to fix it, right? But nobody else even believed anything was wrong. Maybe I'm the only one who can."
[09:41:53] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #23 on: May 09, 2015, 01:51:12 PM »
Session 24: ~

[05:11:48] <DMmobile> -------------------------
[05:13:20] <DMmobile> The way back from the blazing hot cave is strange. Lien could swear the number of tunnels changed, as well as the caves themselves.
[05:14:57] <DMmobile> Fortunately the driftglobe is unerring in finding their way back, even if the duo passed through some strange caverns along the way.
[05:18:13] <Lien> Once out and finished with the heart-to-heart with Ellis, Lien tries to poke their guide out of her depressed trance. "We found something that looks like one of those secret ways we took to get here. Do you know where that could lead?"
[05:18:54] <DMmobile> The stones continue to glitter
[05:20:38] <DMmobile> "T-there shouldn't be a way here.
[05:20:38] <DMmobile> ...how did you know?"
[05:20:57] <Lien> "How did I know what?"
[05:21:27] <DMmobile> "How to recognize one."
[05:21:53] <Lien> "Uh. It looked like the pillars we went past?"
[05:22:35] <DMmobile> She makes a face.
[05:22:49] <Lien> Lien looks mildly confused.
[05:23:43] <DMmobile> "It probably beats whatever is above"
[05:23:59] <DMmobile> Hellhounds howl above, in the distance
[05:25:00] <Lien> "Well, it's in a cave system that might be alive. Know anything about that?"
[05:25:41] <DMmobile> "...that does not sound good."
[05:26:43] <Lien> "There were crystals that I'm pretty sure were looking at us, and the caves were different when we were coming back out. And got really hot around those pillars."
[05:26:54] <DMmobile> "But I've never heard of a Way through the caverns."
[05:27:23] <Lien> "Nothing tried to eat us, at least."
[05:27:56] <Zeni> Zeni smiles in her sleep despite being more than a little battered and bruised.  Evil staff.
[05:29:08] <DMmobile> "That's good. The shadow paths are seldom subtle when it comes to hostility"
[05:31:53] <Lien> Lien looks up and crosses her eyes a little as if trying to look at her own forehead. "Hm." She looks at Ellis as she walks to the carriage to check for the honey and other fragile cargo. "Can you wake Zeni and ask about it? Maybe she knows something. Hot and unpleasant sounds like it's up her alley."
[05:34:02] <Ellis> Smiling a little, Ellis walks quietly over to Zeni and tries to wake her up as gently as possible. "Zeni? We need to ask a few questions."
[05:37:54] <Zeni> Zeni instantly stretches as she's pestered, Vani practically performing the same stretch at the same time as her 'bed' moves beneath her.  The half-elf almost seems about to relapse into sleep in her new pose when one of her wounds tweaks and wakes her with a start~ "Auuugghh!..... Whaaat?!" ;~;
[05:38:32] <Zeni> "Questions surely can wait... Uuuuu...." she rubs at her eyes.
[05:39:11] <Ellis> Ellis flinches. "...Are you okay? Should I get Lien to come look at that?"
[05:40:23] <Zeni> ". . . Maaaybe, but resting probably would be sufficient.  Oof... So what did you two find?  You seem unharmed, so that's a good sign."
[05:42:23] <Ellis> "A lot of stuff we can't quite explain." Ellis tells Zeni about the sweltering cave system and the pillars they found, though she makes sure to omit any mention of Lien's new friend for Zeni's own good.
[05:59:57] <Zeni> The little sorceress continues to rub one eye as she looks to Ellis in confusion with the other while she explains, but bits and pieces begin to form together in her mind, her one eyed gaze gaining clarity as the woman goes on.  She eventually interrupts Ellis with an exaggerated yawn and extra stretching before propping herself up on her side, on one elbow, "So... Sounds like you found a bunch of earth elementals in the cave.  Massive and motionless in your presence, but they moved once you two went further in.  As for the heat, there are many options, earth and fire elementals have never gotten along too well so it would seem a bit weird that they'd be there with the earthies, but~  There's Salamanders, and Thoqqua, and.... and well, other things too.  It should've have gotten -too- hot unless you were right next to them though, so I'm... not sure.  Whatever was causing the heat, though, has a fairly good chance of being less than friendly when compared to the earthies.... Hmhm.... Well, that was a good bedtime tale, thaaanks~"  Zeniflops.
[06:03:27] <Zeni> ... And then whines out in pain as she manages to get another wound aching again. 
[06:04:06] <Ellis> Ellis makes a thoughtful noise, absently patting Zeni's shoulder as she gets to her feet. She heads back over to Lien, tapping the monk's shoulder politely. "Zeni thinks the cave was full of earth elementals playing at being statues. The heat could be any number of things, salamanders or thoqqua or what have you, but it's probably not as benign as the earth elementals."
[06:06:23] <Lien> "Living rocks and rockheads. Makes some sense." Consulting Riathelle again, she asks if that gives any clue as to what might be on the other side of the capital-W Way.
[06:07:03] <[DM]> Riathelle has the grace to look embarassed, and muttered under her breath, "I was sleeping through that class okay."
[06:15:39] <Zeni> Not having drifted back to sleep just yet, Zeni once more lets out an exaggerated whine~ "I knew she wasn't worth the money!  So merrily leading us in here, touching the gate with her greedy fingers and yet not even knowing the most basic thing about these stupid paths!  Uuuuu..." Zeni props herself up once more while during her rant, glaring at Ria before easing up her gaze when looking back to Ellis.  "So, the gate.  The gate above was likely powered by the fey, and they brokered some kind of agreement with the elves to let them open it, but this down here is obviously the cauldron of the elements... That gate should open with a sufficiently large blast of elemental power.  And I'll happily apply such a thing if you just lest me rest!"
[06:16:33] <Lien> "That doesn't really answer what I wanted to know."
[06:17:43] * veekiemobile (~veekie120EF6D8.C13F75BD.319EB5BB.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[06:18:34] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "Well obviously it'll move us closer to the elemental planes, how close depends on just how deep that cave lead you two, but I imagine just some border region..."
[06:20:14] <Lien> "So it's as likely to lead us somewhere completely different as get us back to Nettlebloom."
[06:22:25] <Ellis> "Thanks, Zeni. At least we know what our options are now, sort of." Ellis rests her chin in her hands, thinking. "I wonder if the hellhounds are going to move on eventually?"
[06:23:43] <Zeni> "Well, thanks to a certain someone its pretty safe to say all the paths above are flooded with hellhounds, those are the only gates that'll take us directly back to the real world.  Higher gates might take use to heaven, hell or outer planes, these ones below go to elemental.  I'm too sleepy to make a real judgement call right now, but this gate might be the safest."
[06:40:56] <Zeni> Zeni blinks tiredly at the others before eventually flopping back down.  "Wake me again and I'm dragging you down with me~"  Instasleep.
[06:42:02] <Ellis> "I wouldn't object to resting for a little while. The carriage isn't going anywhere, but the hellhounds might."
[06:43:07] <Lien> After some more waffling before settling on sleeping on it, Lien takes the first watch and falls asleep like a rock as soon as her turn is done.
[06:49:42] <[DM]> Ellis's first warning that something was wrong was when she found a vine whipping around her mouth.
[06:52:41] <Zeni> Zeni remains blissfully unaware as a vine whips about beside her, missing her dainty figure.  Maybe being small isn't so bad afterall!.... Is a thought she'd never have.
[06:53:18] <[DM]> Lien and Alyssa wake to undulating vines wrapping around them, gagging them instantly as they crush.
[06:53:57] <Alyssa> "Urk!" was the only sound Alyssa could make
[06:54:02] <Ellis> At the vine's first touch, Ellis ducks out of its grasp, hands flying to her weapons. "Wake up! Trouble!"
[06:56:07] <Alyssa> "MMmm!" "Mmm!" was Alyssa's wide-eyed response.
[06:57:29] <Zeni> Zeni drags Ellis down under her blanket, as promised.  u////u  She thinks to, anyway, but instead quickly sits up as she notes the flailing vines all over the place.
[07:02:43] <Ellis> The instant she has bolts readied, Ellis fires at the vines trying to throttle Alyssa in the hopes of tearing enough away to cut her free.
[07:05:21] <[DM]> The bolts largely fly wide, with only one landing a hit, and certainly not discouraging the personal space invasion.
[07:10:29] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, doesn't bother struggling. Instead, her elbow finds a tangle that might pass for the plant's face, and she maneuvers herself and her attacker into a position designed to make a grappler regret their life decisions.
[07:13:11] <[DM]> The vines go flying as Lien rips them free, though her attacks are far from as decisive as they would normally be.
[07:13:16] <Lien> After a confusing tangle of blows and misses, Lien is on her feet, picking up her staff and retreating, and her assailant is very briefly in the air.
[07:14:52] <Alyssa> Alyssa disappears in a puff of silvery mist, reappearing above the vines entangling her with the flaming Last Blood in her hand striking down in two strokes.
[07:17:07] <[DM]> The cluster of vines erupt into a merry blaze, hissing shrilly before crumpling
[07:23:16] <[DM]> The other cluster of vines lunge at Lien, to little effect, while Alyssa, sword deep in the other vine, is beset from behind as it snaps around her, while Zeni is betentacled, much to her distress. The two swiping at  Ellis meanwhile, tangle with each other.
[07:26:58] <Zeni> Zeni raises up a flaming shield to deflect one set of tentacles only for another to catch her from behind.  She panics and flails about, eventually managing to grab her tentacle rod and slap back at the thing, "Getitofff~!"
[07:28:13] <[DM]> The tentacles whip right back and squeeze at the squeezing vines.
[07:30:07] <[DM]> And suddenly the vine creature grappling zeni was a very confused looking puppy.
[07:32:14] <Zeni> Zeni almost falls to the ground when the tentacles holding her suddenly disappear, wobbling backwards and almost stepping on the puppy in the process, looking at it in such terrible confusion. ". . ."
[07:35:50] <Ellis> Inwardly cursing her luck, Ellis squares off against the vine creature attacking Lien instead, setting herself carefully in a shooter's stance as she fires.
[07:37:44] <[DM]> The bolts sink in, severing a number of the major vines as they rip clean through the viney mass.
[07:42:20] <Lien> With the opening created by Ellis, Lien kicks her staff up into her hands and gives it the rest before returning the favor.
[07:43:47] <[DM]> Lien's attack rips out the central stem of the vine, and it shrieks as sap spurts out and it crumples to a heap.
[07:46:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa struggles in vain against the creature wrapped around her.
[07:50:44] <[DM]> The creature too struggles in vain, but while Zeni is staring dumbfounded at the puppy, the second vine coils around her again.
[07:51:13] <Zeni> "Aauugh!  Damn pupppyyyy!!"
[07:52:27] <[DM]> Ellis, preoccupied with other targets, finally gets snared by her own foes.
[07:58:31] <Zeni> Zeni once more flails at the tentacles holding her with her her own tentacle rod!  "Gaaauuuu I just want to sleep, whyyyyy!?!?!" Whap, whap, whap~
[07:59:06] <[DM]> The vines continue trying to lash at her
[08:00:39] <Ellis> Ellis thrashes against the entangling vines, kicking frantically in search of an opening to wriggle out.
[08:05:42] <Lien> Lien, luckily, is right there! She rips the vines off Ellis the hard way with her staff.
[08:08:10] <[DM]> The stricken vine bursts into a geyser of sap as Lien rips out it's stem with blunt force.
[08:09:17] <Lien> Then, she just kicks the other one straight up.
[08:09:47] <[DM]> The second one rips apart in midair from the force of the blow, leaving Ellis free of vines.
[08:10:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa disappears from her entangled foe in another puff of silvery mist, appearing behind it with Last Blood lunging hungrily towards it.
[08:11:25] <[DM]> Alyssa clips it and chars off an entire side, though it remains mobile
[08:11:44] <[DM]> Meanwhile in the distance "HELP! AUGH!"
[08:12:42] <Lien> Lien's head snaps around to Riathelle's shout. "Soon!"
[08:15:21] <[DM]> Alyssa's opponent whips around her arm again, pulling close.
[08:15:49] <[DM]> Zeni somehow manages to hold off the crushing vines.
[08:17:35] <Zeni> Zeni glares at Lien from her grappled up state, holding her staff as hard as she can against the tightening vines, "I could've ended this long ago if you'd just gotten them off of me firstttt!"  She sighs and grabs her tentacle rod, just thwacking at the one holding her in vain again.
[08:18:39] <[DM]> Zeni's tentacles rip big chunks out of the vine beast, but it yet stubbornly holds on.
[08:23:56] <Ellis> Ellis nods her thanks to Lien, shaking the stray tendrils off her arm. She exhales as she sights down both bows and fires at the core of Zeni's attacker.
[08:26:00] <Ellis> The click-click-click of her triggers sounds as she sprays fire over the remaining vine monsters.
[08:26:01] <[DM]> In a burst of bolts, Ellis takes out in order, Zeni's opponent, Alyssa's opponent, and Lien's booted foe which was still inching slowly towards her.
[08:27:18] <Zeni> Zeni growls and thwacks her fallen assailant an extra few times with the tentacle rod as it drops her.  "Bad, worst!"
[08:27:29] <Lien> With the remaining attackers wiped out, Lien's free to come to Riathelle's help and deal with the vines assaulting her.
[08:31:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa assists by firing two blasts of magic at the remaining vine monster.
[08:32:28] <[DM]> The vines are annihilated under the sudden assault, leaving a shellshocked elf on the ground as the vines stop moving.
[08:32:34] <Ellis> And with that, Ellis walks over to the remaining puppy and shoos it away from Zeni...before leveling a hand crossbow and shooting the thing. Better safe than sorry!
[08:33:06] <[DM]> The puppy explodes in a spray of blood, reverting to a large tentacle vine.
[08:35:00] <[DM]> Which promptly expires as the next three bolts go in.
[08:35:32] <Zeni> Zeni pants softly in the aftermath, sending firebolts into the fallen heaps of vines.  She totally covers Vani's eyes so it doesn't have to see the puppysplosion. :<  Young innocent Vani.
[08:36:50] <[DM]> The area seems to quiet down, having exterminated the carnivorous plants.
[08:36:59] <[DM]> Aside from all the sap all over the place.
[08:38:20] <Ellis> "So," Ellis says, adjusting her glasses, "I don't think we should go through the underbrush."
[08:38:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Last Blood, wondering what it thinks of the sap.
[08:38:37] <Alyssa> "Not unless they were all set on fire beforehand."
[08:39:01] <[DM]> Last Blood had not even quickened it's throbbing.
[08:39:16] <[DM]> As far as the sword was concerned it was being used for bushwhacking.
[08:40:33] <Zeni> "I'd be up for arrganging that if only I could get some rest... Oooof... I feel even less prepared to make any decisions.  Should we try to rest in the cave, with the earth elementals?  I don't knoooow..." She sighs and starts cleaning herself of sap, then starts on Ellis.
[08:40:37] <Zeni> arranging*
[08:41:25] <Alyssa> Alyssa quietly starts leading the horses to the cave.
[08:41:47] <Lien> "Maybe. It didn't look like the things in there gave a damn about us."
[08:42:08] <Alyssa> "No plants in that cave means these things won't follow us in there."
[08:43:54] <Zeni> Zeni looks back to the plant that had been turned into a puppy, firing an extra firebolt into it.  "Oof.... And just what turned that plant into a puppy!?  That was more than a little weird... I'msotiiired..."
[08:45:40] <Lien> "No, it doesn't. But it might mean they wouldn't notice us as easily."
[08:48:19] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, wraps her blanket around herself and starts dragging the carriage's cushions over towards the cave.  "No one knows about the puppy thing...? Uuuuu..."
[08:53:33] <Lien> Lien looks away innocently and starts gathering the stuff to relocate to the cave entrance.
[08:55:17] <Zeni> As soon as Zeni gets both cushion benches dragged into the cave, she just flops back down to rest, hugging Vanilla tightly and staring at Ellis.  "Really? You don't know about the puppy thing?" she yawns and closes her eyes.  "Probablyfey...."
[08:56:14] <Zeni> "Neither you or Lien are acting surprised, meanies~"
[08:57:50] <Ellis> Ellis glances back at Lien, guiltily. "I didn't want to say anything in case it started messing with you...or wake you up again and ruin your rest." She smiles faintly. "Too late for that now."
[08:59:57] <Zeni> Zeni barely audibly murmurs, "Don't keep things from me, meanie~" before drifting off.  Taking up both carriage benches as well as she can.
[09:00:08] <Zeni> Annnnnd then they slept.
[09:00:23] <Zeni> Annnnnnnnnnnnd then they woke. >:
[09:02:35] <[DM]> Sleeping this time goes uninterrupted, though there are shuffling noises outside the cave, and the tunnels leading in seems to have changed in the night.
[09:04:03] <Zeni> "Okay.  So.  Above this chasm is probably all hellhounds for forever.  Seas of hellhounds!  Maybe.  If Alyssa really did dumbly start the wild hunt.  With her thick skull.  There's still a possibility to find a gate back to reality down here in the chasm, but that means more of those... those.... v-viney plant things."  She shudders~ "So... That leaves us with the option of attempting to open the gate to this border elemental planes.  Such border planes should have at least a few exits back to reality, but how far away and how dangerous the journey is hard to say.  It should be largely an earth elemental plane, so it should be mostly safe, but not entirely so..."
[09:04:37] <Alyssa> "That wasn't a Wyld Hunt, and that wasn't me. Stop lying."
[09:08:04] <Zeni> Zeni glares daggers at Alyssa, "That was almost certainly the start of the Wyld Hunt and I don't think anyone else here stabbed Last Blood into that... thing, killing it multiple times.  When that was super obviously the wrong thing to do.  When we had plans in place, items expended to avoid you having to stab it.  Andyetyoudid."
[09:10:05] <Alyssa> "Firstly, you don't know for sure there's a Wyld Hunt that Last Blood will call. And secondly, shut the hell up." Alyssa retorts, getting angry.
[09:12:11] <Zeni> Zeni just looks away from Alyssa, "So.  What do you two feel about our options?"
[09:14:46] <Lien> "Looks like it's pretty much either the cave or the crystal plants."
[09:16:06] <Ellis> "And we saw how the plants went. We can probably expect more of the same along that path."
[09:18:29] <Lien> "Probably not the exact same things, but..."
[09:19:30] <Zeni> "Well.  We're right here at this gate... and I'd imagine there would be another gate on the other side.  Perhaps we can peek inside this one, see what we're up against, then decide further?"
[09:19:47] <Lien> "Maybe."
[09:20:55] <Zeni> Zeni looks to Ria, "How likely would you think there would be another set of those stone pillars on the other side of the gate?  Have you only ever interacted with that -one- gate?"
[09:21:27] <Zeni> .... She does so with a bit of a cheerful, reassuring smile.  She's a nice girl sometimes!
[09:22:45] <[DM]> The elf rouses from her stupor, reflexively grabbing for something around her throat, and finding only air, "D-done right, with the proper blessings, the gate can be reopened from either side. "
[09:22:47] * Alyssa (~Alyssa94BA2BB7.CB48A196.6339BCF.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[09:25:10] <Zeni> Zeni... pouts.  She steps over to the elf and kneels down beside her before placing her staff into one of her hands, holding the hand closed around it with both of hers.  "Cheer up.  We're going to get out of this well enough~" Smilesmile.
[09:25:49] <[DM]> Riathelle seems confused for a moment, "Of course, we will be. Nothing's killed me yet."
[09:25:55] <Zeni> ... she then headtilts, "I'm not sure the real world will be much better when we finally get there and find the wild hunt in action, but...!"
[09:25:59] <[DM]> Her face is a complicated expression.
[09:27:26] <Zeni> Satisfied with that, Zeni stands back up to face the others.  "So.  Mm.  Gate on the other side... I think we should peek through.  Any outright disagreement...?"
[09:27:39] <Lien> "Sure."
[09:28:10] <[DM]> "You can't just peek through, the gate must be reactivated for the way back and then it must close before the reverse passage is possible."
[09:28:50] <Zeni> Zeni blinks as she looks over her shoulder and down at Ria, "Well how long does it take to close?"
[09:29:35] <[DM]> "Ten minutes to half an hour. The shadow paths aren't that crowded."
[09:30:59] <Zeni> "Well... that should be fine.  I'm really wouldn't expect to meet anything other than more listless earth elementals on the other side.  Pecuiliar that its so hot near the portal, though...."
[09:32:05] <[DM]> "It'll be fine. "
[09:34:44] <Zeni> Zeni suddenly breaks into her high class elven out of nowhere, "<Does that sound like a fine plan, silly Puppy maker?>"  She looks around towards the cracks and corners of the place.
[09:35:21] <Zeni> ... With perhaps a bit too much paranoia.
[09:35:34] <Lien> "What."
[09:37:16] <Ellis> "<I think you want a different language,>" Ellis responds with a sigh.
[09:38:11] <[DM]> Riathelle is giving Zeni the 'did she lose her marbles' look
[09:38:12] <Zeni> Zeni taps her foot as she awaits a reply, pouting.  "Boo..."
[09:39:28] <Lien> Lien makes an odd face.
[09:40:51] <Zeni> She eventually looks to Lien and her odd face.  Then slowly glares.  |<  "You talk to it, then!  You can speak fey-speak, right?!  Sylvan, whatever!"
[09:41:12] <Zeni> "T-Things don't just poof into puppies out of nowhere, it has to be stalking us!"
[09:41:33] <Zeni> "Gaaauuu, what did you hide from meee?!" She looks to Ellis now.
[09:42:34] <Ellis> Ellis looks distinctly uncomfortable, not meeting Zeni's eyes.
[09:42:38] <Lien> "Stalking doesn't sound right, but... well, close enough."
[09:44:48] <Zeni> "Then talk to iiiiiitt! Stop making it seem like I'm crazyyyyy!"  Her hair flicks and flits about like flame~
[09:45:55] <Lien> Lien makes another face and looks up again, not that it makes a difference. "<What do you think about that passage?>"
[09:46:25] <[DM]> Zeni abruptly smells skunk.
[09:46:29] <[DM]> Only Zeni.
[09:48:39] <Lien> "She says 'shiny'."
[09:48:48] <Zeni> Zeni suddenly straightens up, stiff as a board with a disgusted look on her face, her twin tails really starting to lift and float like flame~ "T-Talk to it and tell it to stop that right now, g-gaaaauuuu!!!"  She turns to their camp fire and works her own minor magic, causing the fire to errupt into the air and glaring threateningly all around.  At once.  All the places!
[09:49:07] <[DM]> Now it ALSO smells like poop.
[09:49:38] <Zeni> ....
[09:50:13] <Ellis> "Stop...what?"
[09:51:38] <Zeni> Zeni plugs her nose, but it doesn't help.  "E-Euugh... " her eyes well up with tears as her rage simmers down into defeat, "You don't smell that? It's playing tricks.... uuuu..." She backsteps to lean against the wall, escaping the horrid smell at the same time, gasping for air when she does.  "Worst... Fey are the wooorst...!"
[09:52:07] <[DM]> Flower petals drift around Zeni.
[09:53:19] <Zeni> She pouts and works her own illusion, setting alight each petal.  "Mu... I know how to defeat her, she's lucky I'm so kind... So she says its shiny.  Nothing else...?"
[09:53:44] <Lien> "Also called them rockheads, but we know that."
[09:54:06] <Zeni> "And she has made no comment on the heat?"
[09:54:57] <Lien> Lien pauses briefly, then sighs a little. "...No."
[09:55:46] <[DM]> The petals, meanwhile turn to dry leaves, still raining down.
[09:57:12] <Zeni> "Mrf... Well, a bit worrying that part, but I'll try to inspect things a little closer once we actually get to the portal.  Seems like our best bet for now though, so... let's head down there and give it a shot?"
[09:57:24] <Lien> "Sure."
[09:57:39] <[DM]> -----------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #24 on: May 17, 2015, 12:30:35 PM »
Session 25: Unbolded Title Edition

[16-05:09:29] <[DM]> ----------------------------------------------
[16-05:09:59] <[DM]> Headng down into the caverns was uneventful as the first  time, though the rocks were rather too nosy for their own good.
[16-05:10:29] <[DM]> The route was different from the first two times Lien passed through, but  the orb guided them perfectly nonetheless.
[16-05:10:56] <[DM]> Before long, the heat returned, drying the air with it's intensity.
[16-05:11:53] <Alyssa> "If we have any wet laundry, this is a great place." Alyssa looks around
[16-05:13:50] <Zeni> Zeni had quite obviously thought that Ellis and Lien had been overreacting about the heat, "Geeze... Why didn't we sleep down here?  I mean not right here here, but a little further up and it would've been so pleasant~"  She gets to work investigating just a touch more.
[16-05:18:29] <Zeni> Zeni peeks down towards the flickering rocks, but... prefers to not explore in that direction, ending up just heading towards the gate.  "Okay.  So..." she takes her staff back from their elven... elfen... elven.... elfen guide, watching for any changes as she does so.  "Are we ready to go?"
[16-05:18:57] <Lien> "We're not getting any readier."
[16-05:19:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a fresh grip on her weapon and nods.
[16-05:21:51] <Ellis> "Go for it." Ellis glances around out of habit. Just because nothing in the cave has tried to kill them yet...
[16-05:23:04] <Zeni> Zeni leads the others back a short ways before twirling her staff in her usual showy way and beginning science!  She creates a mere bolt of fire and sends it sailing at the gate.
[16-05:27:10] <[DM]> The pillars drink in the heat, but remain the same.
[16-05:32:01] <Zeni> "Hm~ Well!  There's no kill quite like overkill~ Stay back."  The little sorceress steps forward and incants that new spell again, innumerable spears of flame coalescing in the air above her before sliding together into one immense lance, making the heat in the cavern even more unbearable.  She sends it sailing towards the gate. :<
[16-05:34:25] <[DM]> The spears fade away before they impact. The silence of the earth is broken by a deep vibration, as Riathelle takes a moment to make sure that Zeni isn't shooting any more, to check the pillars.
[16-05:35:22] <[DM]> After a moment, she steps aside "You may pass through."
[16-05:36:58] <Zeni> Zeni shivers ever so slightly, as if she actually didn't want to hear those words.  "W-Well then.  Lien, lead the way?"
[16-05:37:50] <Lien> Lien makes a face and leads the way without argument.
[16-05:39:23] <Zeni> Zeni stows her staff inside her bag of holding, "Well... we didn't hear any screams of agony from the other side.  Yet.  Who's next?"
[16-05:40:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa follows the party.
[16-05:40:39] <Zeni> And, after a few more moments hesitance, they go through the portal.  Withthehorses.
[16-05:42:06] <[DM]> The orb's light is almost blinding here, the cave here rough crags of golden metal, leading away in a tunnel. The heat is intense, painfully so.
[16-05:42:31] <[DM]> Riathelle stumbles through last, not enthused about heading into the unknown.
[16-05:47:34] <Zeni> The one-two punch of intense heat and gooooold widen Zeni's eyes like never before, then quickly start to dry them out.  "Eugh... O-Okay, out of this cave and towards the -earthen- side of this plane... I guess we're even closer to the fire side than I thought."
[16-05:47:43] <[DM]> The oppressive heat saps strength away rapidly, though Zeni and Ellis, possibly from overexposure to fire, are merely sweating heavily instead of feeling drained.
[16-05:48:17] <Zeni> She knows better than to get excited by gold in such a place.  Slightly better.  Ever. So. Slightly.
[16-05:49:42] <Lien> "Yeah, quickly. Where to?"
[16-05:49:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa begins panting.
[16-05:50:15] <Zeni> Zeni grabs up the orb and heads onward, "Out!"
[16-05:51:44] <Zeni> To be cleeear she also has out her old plane wolden arcane focus.
[16-05:51:56] <Ellis> Already feeling the heat, Ellis hurries after Zeni.
[16-05:54:18] <[DM]> Further down the cave of metal, the heat continues unabated, though the metal changes from golden to  a more reddish shade as they move onwards, leading into a small cavern with a smooth silvery column of metal in the middle, rising through a hole in the ceiling. Two other tunnels lead away, one descending, the other turning right out of sight.
[16-05:56:20] <Zeni> Zeni blinks in confusion, then quickly heads for the cave turning right.... but then thinks better of it.  "Gaauuu, is up and down still the same thing here?!  Oof..."  She experimentally checks a few feet down each cave to see which is cooler...
[16-06:02:21] <Zeni> Zeni only seems more confused after heading down the downward path.  She pauses for a few seconds as her mental cogs spin and whirr, finally clicking, "This way.  For now.  Ithink..."
[16-06:04:39] <Ellis> Ellis can't feel any difference between the paths, but she follows anyway, trusting Zeni on matters of heat.
[16-06:05:18] <Zeni> The little half-elf experimentally takes a step -onto the wall- of the cave as she continues on.  Finding purchase, she just continues on walking on the wall, peeking over her shoulder with a small smirk to make sure the others noticed. 
[16-06:06:42] <Zeni> Her hair seems to follow her own personal bubble of gravity, twin tails still hanging towards her feet.
[16-06:09:13] <Lien> Lien doesn't seem to find it very amusing.
[16-06:11:17] <Ellis> Ellis' eyebrows fly up. It's not the weirdest thing she's seen traveling with this group, though. It's probably not even the weirdest thing she's seen this week. "Is that a new trick of yours?"
[16-06:12:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa rolls her eyes.
[16-06:12:23] <Zeni> "Nope, just the nature of this place... Try it yourself."
[16-06:13:48] <Lien> Lien, who at least can run along walls, tries it walking instead.
[16-06:13:51] <Zeni> "It's what I meant about 'up and down' possibly not being the same thing, the fact we've always comfortably taken for granite."
[16-06:16:12] <Zeni> the same thing they've always been*
[16-06:21:38] <[DM]> 'Down' the tunnel  the heat seems to intensify, as the walls go from reddish to silvery.
[16-06:22:19] <Zeni> Annnnnnd as the heat intensifies, Zeni turns on her heels and starts heading back the way they came.
[16-06:23:22] <Ellis> "Should the ground be getting...softer?" Ellis frowns.
[16-06:24:13] <Zeni> Zeni shudders at a thought, "Sinking into molten metal doesn't sound fun.  Let's check the other way first..."
[16-06:29:59] <[DM]> The other tunnel winds onwards, and the walls appear to be some grey metal, scarred and cracked.
[16-06:30:15] <[DM]> The heat is no less oppressive here, but at least it's not getting any worse.
[16-06:30:40] <[DM]> Rubble litters the entire passage.
[16-06:30:48] <Zeni> "This way seems a bit better.  Scarred and cracked is what I expect of the earthen side."
[16-06:38:08] <[DM]> *Click*
[16-06:38:29] <[DM]> Zeni's boots contacts a pebble, which bounces off, striking sparks.
[16-06:38:54] <[DM]> There is a bare moment before instincts honed by a lifetime of making explosions that she REALLY should get out of the way.
[16-06:39:10] <[DM]> Then the tunnel ahead explodes.
[16-06:39:46] <Zeni> Her eyes widen, stopping in her tracks.  Then blinking.  A lot.
[16-06:40:24] <[DM]> Streaks of sparks run out in lines, expanding as they strike pebbles and bounce, forming a crisscrossing pattern of exploding lines, as pebbles are flung into the air...and slam down HARD into the nearest surface, exploding again.
[16-06:40:48] <[DM]> Fortunately, Zeni and Lien got out of the way before the pebble storm reached unavoidable levels.
[16-06:41:15] <[DM]> Each bounce, is a flash of brilliant, blinding white light.
[16-06:41:44] <Zeni> Zeni turns on her heels with the loudest sigh she can muster.  "Okay.  The other way seems better, then."
[16-06:41:46] <[DM]> After a moment, the storm dies down, to an acrid smell as the explosions burn out.
[16-06:42:27] <Lien> "...Can it explode again after exploding or is it burned out now?"
[16-06:43:34] <Zeni> Zeni stops... turns back around and takes a closer look.
[16-06:48:06] <Zeni> "Oof... Okay, so this tunnel is raw magnesium.  And the gravity is such that shuffling pebbels around can cause sparks...  So we can continue this way if none of us do anything stupid, like try to jump."  The sorceress drags a more tattered up blanket out of her bag of holding and starts to cut it up with a dagger, wrapping two bits of it around her boots before offering scraps to the others.  "Alternatively we could try igniting all the magnesium...." she looks to Lien with such a cheerful smile, "But I imagine someone might not like taking such chances?"
[16-06:48:43] <Lien> "So no."
[16-06:50:04] <Zeni> She head tilts, "'No' to which part?  Would you rather head down towards elemental fire?"
[16-06:51:35] <Alyssa> "Raw magnesium means after ignition there's nothing left for us to walk on yes?"
[16-06:51:48] <Lien> "What about the third way there?"
[16-06:52:02] <Zeni> "Well, there has to be something under the magnesium.... And what third way?"
[16-06:52:05] <Lien> "The one that went up, with the pole."
[16-06:52:58] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, "I thought that column filled its hole tightly.... Am I wrong?"
[16-06:53:13] <Lien> "Looked big enough to go through, in a pinch."
[16-06:53:40] <Zeni> Zeni siiighs and starts heading back there.
[16-06:53:43] <Lien> "I didn't think we could go up there, but since we can walk on walls here..."
[16-06:58:07] <Zeni> And so the party tries walking up the silver column. :<
[16-06:58:35] <[DM]> The column, as it turns out, is no less hot than the tunnel leading down, though thankfully the metal seems to be some kind of steel.
[16-06:59:23] <[DM]> The party's boots begins to smoulder slightly as they step onto the column.
[16-07:01:24] * Alyssa (KiwiIRC94BA2BB7.CB48A196.6339BCF.IP) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
[16-07:01:48] * Alyssa (~anonymous94BA2BB7.CB48A196.6339BCF.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[16-07:01:52] <Lien> "So we've got one path that gets hot enough to melt the walls a little, one path that will explode all around us if we mess up, and one path that has a really hot column?"
[16-07:03:51] <Zeni> Once walking far enough up the column, Zeni attempts an odd acrobatic maneuver to jump to the wall going along the column, making sure she does this infront of Lien and Ellis so that she can be caught.  :<
[16-07:06:03] <[DM]> Zeni jumps...but before reaching the walls, she finds herself growing immensely heavier as soon as she leaves the column...and barely orients herself in time to land on the column feet first.
[16-07:06:31] <[DM]> It's painful, but it beats slamming into something that hot face first.
[16-07:06:48] <Lien> Lien just jogs back down the column and walks up the walls instead. "This way's our best bet, I think."
[16-07:07:25] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and lazily reaches towards Lien from the column. ;<
[16-07:07:43] <Lien> Lien looks at her, without reacting.
[16-07:08:40] <Lien> "What do you want?"
[16-07:08:44] <Ellis> Ellis follows Lien along the slightly more sensible route, inasmuch as going this way was sensible at all.
[16-07:09:04] <Zeni> "Drag me to that side already! .v."
[16-07:10:08] <Zeni> "... Please."
[16-07:10:35] <Lien> "You know just walking is easier, right?" She reaches out anyway. If Zeni absolutely has to do it the impractical way...
[16-07:10:44] <[DM]> Also, unnoticed, Vanilla checks out the pillar with a paw, then scampers back up Zeni.
[16-07:11:12] <Alyssa> Alyssa follows
[16-07:11:44] <[DM]> Zeni feels ridiculously heavy as her feet leaves the pillar, and then suddenly she's falling towards Lien.
[16-07:11:50] <Zeni> Zeni huffs and takes Lien's hand with both of hers, before taking a tiny hop.
[16-07:15:42] <Lien> Lien grabs Zeni as she falls and catches her in a solid carry with her arms under the half-elf's shoulders and knees.
[16-07:18:43] <Zeni> Zeni briefly panics as she falls, even letting out a soft cry, reacting little as Lien finesses the catch only to instantly growl and flail after ending up held like that!  "B-Bad, why!?  Bad, dumb oafff!" She struggles her way down and, if she manages to get there, stomps her way up the wall.
[16-07:19:25] <Lien> Lien unceremoniously dumps her on her feet as soon as Zeni starts struggling. "You wanted to be caught."
[16-07:20:32] <Ellis> Ellis buries her face in her hands. "We're all going to die."
[16-07:20:57] <Zeni> "If I wanted to be caught like that, I'd have reached for Ellis!  Gaauuuu...."  Stomp stomp~  At least these walls aren't raw magnesium, right?
[16-07:21:40] <[DM]> The heat is unrelenting as the tunnel continues upwards, though the metal of the ground changed from reddish gold to dark grey, while above their heads, the steel column grows nearer and nearer.
[16-07:21:57] <[DM]> After a long walk, the ground cools significantly.
[16-07:22:22] <[DM]> No longer metal, but crystal veined with metal.
[16-07:23:13] <[DM]> There is a slithering noise ahead.
[16-07:24:24] <[DM]> Looking forward, the column continues on through the air into the distance, while the tunnel ends in a cavern opening, a bluish purple light cascading through the now pure crystal tunnel.
[16-07:25:19] <Zeni> Zeni's sigh of relief over the relenting temperature would quickly be silenced as she heard that sound, signaling the others to stop.  "Oaf...? Seeing any better now?"
[16-07:27:45] <Lien> "My eyes still feel like they're being roasted, so no."
[16-07:29:46] <Zeni> "Well... Back to the column or do we want to explore this area?  I'm not sure what to make of it, this certainly wasn't what I was expecting."
[16-07:30:23] <Lien> "Well... at least it's cooler, so we might be on the right path? Ish?"
[16-07:30:27] <Zeni> "The way the magnesium was, was more what I expected.  With a surface.  A dry one."
[16-07:30:51] <[DM]> The temperature seems to rise again, as they talk, a red glow visible through the crystal moving towards the tunnel.
[16-07:31:07] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "Yeah.  Well, hope that sound isn't anything too ominous--...."
[16-07:31:38] <Ellis> "You had to say it," murmurs Ellis, squinting off into the distance.
[16-07:31:48] <Lien> Lien groans.
[16-07:32:59] <Zeni> The little one sighs and shifts behind Lien.  "Well.  I won't be able to do much to this thing... And Alyssa, don't bother activating the sword, it's immune to fire if it is what I think it is..."
[16-07:33:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs.
[16-07:33:51] <Ellis> "It's...some sort of serpent? But it has arms. And a big weapon." Ellis frowns.
[16-07:33:55] <Lien> "What are the odds it'll leave us alone if it is what you think it is?"
[16-07:35:13] <Zeni> Zeni perks up just a little bit, "Well it isn't what I thought it waaas... Hm."
[16-07:38:21] <Ellis> "A salamander, actually. Tough, usually a bit arrogant. Probably won't speak any mortal language." Ellis grimaces. "Not a very good thing to tangle with in close quarters."
[16-07:40:17] <[DM]> A vaguely reptilian head pops up over the lip of the tunnel, hissing and crackling as it's colors shift through shades of red.
[16-07:40:22] <Zeni> "If only that staff were a staff of frost afterall.  Welp~ I doubt it wants to talk, so good luck peoples!  I'll be cheering for you!"
[16-07:41:06] <[DM]> It's glowing body becomes visible as it looms over the tunnel entrance, filling most of the space.
[16-07:42:19] <Lien> Lien bites back something about letting Zeni and the salamander talk it out as kindred spirits.
[16-07:42:21] <[DM]> The red lights shift as it stares at the party, toying with the large smouldering hammer.
[16-07:43:20] <Ellis> "I think the glow is its way of talking. I don't speak it, but..."
[16-07:43:51] <Zeni> "I think it said it wants to cuddle!"
[16-07:43:57] <Zeni> She's very confident in this.
[16-07:46:34] <Ellis> "No, it's just surprised. I think we interrupted its work - see the hammer? It's smithing something."
[16-07:51:07] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "Well... I guess we could try communicating back?"  Zeni quickly incants a cantrip, lighting the tip of her arcane focus and quickly incanting yet another cantrip to cool the flame enough not to damage it much.  She then experimentally shifts through hues, hoping not to accidentally say something terrible just yet, then once more comfortable.... "<Hi!  You smith?  Show us you smith, we show brighter.  Brighter item.  Brightest.>"
[16-07:52:03] <[DM]> It gives Zeni a very very odd look, then slithers away slowly, casting a look back.
[16-07:54:19] <Ellis> "That's a good sign. Probably. It's a little weirded out by you, but I think it wants us to follow for a proper discussion. As best we can have one, anyway."
[16-07:54:58] <Zeni> Zeni lets out a most arrogant huff before following after the thing, giving it a lot of room.  "I'll have it coiling about my fingers soon enough~"
[16-07:55:06] <Lien> "Does that mean we might get to rest, too?"
[16-07:55:11] <Zeni> "... That would probably hurt.  A lot."
[16-07:55:30] <Zeni> "Why rest here? The air is still as hot and dry as before..."
[16-07:58:47] <Lien> "Not as much as it was down there."
[16-08:03:04] <Lien> With the matter of relative temperature settled, the party follows the salamander!
[16-08:03:51] <[DM]> Following the Salamander, the heat remains relentless as they cross the large crystalline cavern, , heading for a side tunnel while the creature snarls out some kind of harsh clipped words.
[16-08:04:37] <[DM]> Interestingly, crystalline columns rise out of the ground here, leaving vision poor, but here and there niches can be seen carved out of the platforms.
[16-08:06:20] <[DM]> The salamander slithers on, then up a ramp, into a small cave cut into a pillar, as a raven flaps into the cave. Within are a number of scaled leather clad shelves, of a wide range of sizes, as the salamander settles onto one of the larger, glowering at the bird, which perches in the middle.
[16-08:07:08] <[DM]> The bird snaps out responses in the same clipped tongue, before turning it's gaze to the party.
[16-08:10:07] <Zeni> Zeni remains at the entrance to the cave, looking a touch disgusted as she glares at the bird.  "Another wise one..."  She raises her flaming arcane focus and attempts a little more communication, "<Smith?  Hammer?  We am very need big spoon.  Powerful spoon.  The powerfulest.>"  She hasn't grasped fire-speak very well yet....
[16-08:11:12] <[DM]> The bird, surprisingly enough,, snorts in Common, "Oh give it a rest, mortals. Your pitiful attempts to speak my master's tongue is just painful to watch."
[16-08:11:33] <Lien> Lien checks if it's safe to do so before taking a seat somewhere that's as not-too-hot as possible while still following the conversation.
[16-08:11:54] <[DM]> The seat is surprisingly, actually cool, somehow.
[16-08:12:19] <[DM]> Relative to the whole place at any rate, since it's about as warm as her skin.
[16-08:13:06] <[DM]> It spits out a brief exchange in the unknown language, "Your praises are effusive, but quite excessive for a first meeting."
[16-08:15:36] <[DM]> "Now, the important question, wanderers."
[16-08:15:42] <[DM]> "What the fuck are you doing here?"
[16-08:15:45] <Zeni> The little half-elf flusters out of embarrassment, glaring a bit harder at the bird.  "I imagined that'd be coming.  I don't talk to servants though, Lien!  Tell the feather brained scrap of flesh over there that we wish to inquire whether this 'master' is a smith or not!"
[16-08:16:03] <Lien> "Talking to people through other people is rude."
[16-08:16:48] <[DM]> The bird bristles.
[16-08:17:24] <Zeni> Zeni disregards whether Lien follows along or not, standing tall and confidently.  Arrogantly.
[16-08:17:36] <[DM]> It jabbers with the salamander in the other language again.
[16-08:18:01] <Lien> "And insulting someone who can tell his master you said whatever he wants is..." She doesn't say stupid. But she's thinking it.
[16-08:18:59] <Zeni> "A servant had better obey its master's desire for translation unless it wishes to see itself incinerated."
[16-08:19:23] <Ellis> Ellis grimaces. "Maybe we should save this discussion for later?"
[16-08:20:18] <[DM]> The group loses track of the bird for a moment....
[16-08:22:31] <[DM]> Zeni abruptly feels a sharp beak pierce her in the collar bone, and a burning heat from the wound as the bird flaps past her and back to it's perch, the salamander dismissively still at it's shelf.
[16-08:23:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs. "We have arrived here to escape pursuit, and also to decide the final fate of a certain cursed item."
[16-08:26:17] <Zeni> Zeni cringes as the blow lands, but after a moments weakness, manages to remain standing tall.  Simmering.
[16-08:27:15] <[DM]> The bird watches Zeni, licking it's bloodied beak slowly.
[16-08:27:52] <Lien> In spite of everything, Lien flinches when the bird spears Zeni and moves to check on the wound.
[16-08:28:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa regards the bird with serious eyes.
[16-08:28:20] <Ellis> Ellis' hands fly to her crossbows, but when Zeni doesn't explode in retaliation, some of the tension leaves her.
[16-08:29:18] <Alyssa> "Pardon my companion." Alyssa follows up
[16-08:32:35] <Lien> Checking the wound for anything unusual, Lien whispers to Zeni, "Maybe it wants you to apologize?"
[16-08:34:24] <Zeni> Zeni simmers, quietly growling, getting louder and louder.  "Alright.  That won't be tolerated."  She grabs up her staff of elemental water and quickly incants a spell.  Ellis would suddenly explode with vigor while Lien might just feel a touch more normal than she has been.  "Grind that little shit into paste for me.  We'll figure out the salamander in a moment."
[16-08:35:21] <Lien> Lien frowns. "You provoked the raven, so no."
[16-08:36:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa inspects her nails.
[16-08:36:06] <[DM]> The raven looks at the party, then gabbles further to the Salamander.
[16-08:36:09] <[DM]> "Weak"
[16-08:36:22] <[DM]> "Slaves you will be!"
[16-08:36:35] <Lien> "What."
[16-08:36:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa perks up at the word Slave. Last Blood ignites as she takes two swipes at the fucking bird.
[16-08:37:40] <Ellis> Ellis swears profusely, completing her draw this time.
[16-08:41:56] <Alyssa> While swinging, Alyssa's hateful gaze pierces into the bird, enveloping it with her curse.
[16-08:42:42] <[DM]> The first blow meets curiously resistant flesh.
[16-08:43:26] <[DM]> The second rips the bird in half, revealing a bat winged creature as it boils away into a cloud of smoke.
[16-08:50:43] <Lien> Seeing the salamander is moving to attack in spite of the bird being destroyed, Lien lunges forward to spear its chest with her staff's butt with blinding speed, an immediate about-face from her reaction to Zeni's order.
[16-08:53:26] <[DM]> Lien's blow sends a wave of heat back at her, burning her hands slightly, but it seems the elemental's pressure points still are close to the same spot. It reels.
[16-08:54:42] <Lien> It connects with a crack of thunder that booms all the louder for the enclosed space, and Lien flinches away from the heat, hopping back and twirling the staff before arresting its motion in a thrust towards the salamander. A lightning bolt jumps from the staff to the point she hit on its chest.
[16-08:55:58] <Ellis> Ellis has no particular desire to get closer to the salamander. Under Zeni's spell, she manages to get four shots off before the thunderclap has stopped ringing in her ears.
[16-08:56:07] <[DM]> The lightning rips through the elemental, causing flames to bleed from the  creature.
[16-09:02:04] <Lien> As Ellis's bolts hit the salamander, Lien stares it down, her thinking invigorated by the spell, if nothing else. "He's submitting. Or trying to, if he could move."
[16-09:02:59] <Zeni> "Isn't that too bad?"  Zeni raises her tentacle rod up high, "Being so weak is so unforunate, isn't it?"
[16-09:03:40] <Alyssa> "If it truly wishes to stop fighting us, I am willing to end my hostilities. Slaver or not, I'll not stop to its level."
[16-09:04:11] <Zeni> "Beat it to within an inch of its life first.  Then we'll see what it's willing to offer."
[16-09:04:46] <Alyssa> "It has to drop it's weapon first."
[16-09:04:47] <Lien> "He's already close."
[16-09:11:11] <Lien> Seeing Zeni strike out too late to stop her outright, Lien frowns and lowers the sorceress's staff with hers. "He's already giving up." Virtue of Zeni's spell, she gives her a bop on the head that looks painfully fast on the outside but slows down to be barely noticable on contact.
[16-09:12:15] <[DM]> After a moment, the paralysis fades and the enormous hammer slams into the ground.
[16-09:12:29] <[DM]> The Salamander goes fully prostrate.
[16-09:13:02] <Alyssa> "Do you have any slaves?" Alyssa asks in both Common and Abyssal.
[16-09:13:07] <Zeni> Zeni growls... but lowers her staff and rod, "Fine.  And you idiots would really do better listening to me a little more, I was obviously acting!  I'm not usually -that- rude... Often."  The little sorceress takes a quick look around the place, searching for metal shackles.
[16-09:14:40] <Lien> It sure fooled Lien. Unsure how to follow up without an interpreter ready, Lien places her foot and the prongs of her staff on the hammer and looks around.
[16-09:14:54] <[DM]> The room is bare, aside from the shelves, as the creature glances up at Lien.
[16-09:16:04] <Zeni> Seeing nothing of use, Zeni stomps up to the prostrated Salamander, not so subtly taking a detout to hide partially behind Lien.  She lights up her arcane focus again, signing~
[16-09:16:41] <[DM]> The Salamander looks at Zeni in clear puzzlement.
[16-09:16:45] <Lien> She looks back, but she has no idea how to communicate with it. The lighting wasn't too successful before, but it's not like she's got anything better.
[16-09:17:30] <Zeni> She points at Alyssa, pointing the flame at her sword, "<Smith!!!>"  She points at the hammer, "<Hammer!!!>"
[16-09:18:43] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves to the shelves and starts searching.
[16-09:19:05] <Lien> With no other resort, Lien tries the one other language she knows, Sylvan, not that she expects results.
[16-09:19:07] <[DM]> The shelves are as bare of anything as the leather covers were.
[16-09:19:50] <[DM]> Sylvan gives as little results.
[16-09:20:23] <Zeni> Zeni facepalms.
[16-09:20:27] <Zeni> Zeni facepalms hard.
[16-09:20:47] <Lien> As a shot in the dark, she tries showing the salamander her knots, expecting no more than from her try of the fey language.
[16-09:20:48] <Zeni> She puts away the damn flame and takes out her normal staff, then quickly incants her old illusory spell.
[16-09:21:07] <Zeni> She creates an illusion of an anvil and a hammer striking it, forging a sword. 
[16-09:21:17] <[DM]> The salamander frowns(as much as she could tell from it's face)
[16-09:21:48] <[DM]> The illusion got a better result however, as it gets back up and slithers out of the nook, giving Lien a strange look.
[16-09:22:17] <Zeni> Zeni stomps after it, holding her tentacle rod at the ready. |<
[16-09:22:21] <[DM]> It makes some strange gestures.
[16-09:22:29] <Lien> Lien shrugs and follows. So long as it gets results...
[16-09:22:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa picks up the hammer and follows.
[16-09:23:43] <Ellis> "It's...fetching someone?" Ellis frowns. "I think it wants us to wait here."
[16-09:24:33] <Lien> "Oh." Lien slaps her face and shakes her head before reaching for water for the extieth time and drinking deep. "Damn this heat."
[16-09:24:43] <Zeni> "I don't know... why we would ever just wait here."
[16-09:24:47] <[DM]> Constantly casting concerned looks back at the group, it slithers away. Slowly, like it's worried about being misunderstood.
[16-09:26:02] <Ellis> Ellis folds her arms and watches it go patiently.
[16-09:26:19] <Zeni> Zeni stomps after it!.... Till the heat becomes too much, just watching the thing from there.  Slowly shuffling back to Ellis's side.
[16-09:27:16] <[DM]> After about an hour's wait, the elemental is back...with a giant crystal spider in tow.
[16-09:27:48] <Alyssa> "What is that?" Alyssa speaks in Common and Abyssal.
[16-09:28:25] <Lien> Lien tries to be as economic as she can with the water while drinking like it's sweetest ambrosia. She abruptly stops when the spider comes in, looking at it with oddly hopeful eyes.
[16-09:28:26] <[DM]> The spider whips out a tiny but complicated looking web.
[16-09:28:31] <Zeni> Zeni stands tall in the face of the new creature!  Behind Ellis.
[16-09:31:06] <Lien> Lien leans forward enough to nearly fall off the shelf she's sitting on, then rummages in her things for some strings. She twists and weaves them between her fingers as well as she can to show the spider.
[16-09:33:05] <[DM]> The spider twists the web into a new pattern, hissing at the salamander.
[16-09:35:02] <Lien> Lien chuckles a bit when she squints to read the knots better, then turns back to looking slightly concerned as she weaves a new pattern herself.
[16-09:36:02] <[DM]> The web crisscrosses and loops a little as everyone else looks on.
[16-09:38:47] <Ellis> Ellis glances around a little awkwardly, but the two weavers seem to be getting on alright. It's not like there's much else to do here, and wandering around sounds like a tiring proposition in the heat.
[16-09:40:21] <Lien> After that exchange, Lien speaks up to update the others. "Okay, they can show us a way back." Then, she continues sign-weaving.
[16-09:40:50] <Alyssa> "What about the slaves that the salamander has?"
[16-09:40:58] <Alyssa> "Does he have any magical items?"
[16-09:42:21] <[DM]> A complicated three dimensional knot structure is emerging.
[16-09:50:55] <Lien> Lien takes an increasingly long time reading the more complex patterns and tries her best to keep pace with only two arms and ten fingers. She ends up holding some string between her teeth, too, as a crutch.
[16-09:52:07] <[DM]> The salamander meanwhile seems to be somewhat sulky over at the side.
[16-09:52:15] <[DM]> Possibly from being ignored
[16-09:58:06] <Lien> Lien, meanwhile, is almost meditating now, her hands moving to form responses in thread without taking her eyes off the spider's threads. She might be said to be hanging on the spider's lips if the spider had lips.
[16-09:59:26] <Zeni> Zeni leans against Ellis more and more, matching the rate at which she's getting bored of watching.  She eventually wanders off to play patty-cake with the Salamander.  From a safe distance.
[16-10:04:39] <[DM]> The salamander does not deign to respond. It looks away in a manner very familiar to Ellis(Zeni having never looked in a mirror)
[16-10:05:56] <Zeni> Zeni growls and quickly crafts an illusion that floods the salamander's vision, showing the two happily playing patty keki together. :<
[16-10:11:57] <Zeni> At a moment when Alyssa is paying the least attention, the half-elf wanders over to Lien and nudges her, disrupting we knot-ing just a tiny bit.  "Ne, ne.  See if you can pry any info on any weapons we might be able to get for Ellis or Alyssa.  A replacement for Alyssa, she'd be more willing to give up that dumb cursed sword so we can destroy it."
[16-10:13:15] <Lien> Lien flinches surprisingly hard as she's jarred out of her concentration and looks quite irked at the interruption, but she starts weaving a new message from scratch.
[16-10:14:25] <Zeni> Zeni smiles.
[16-10:17:45] <[DM]> After a moment the spider stops to hiss at the salamander, in a hurried exchange.
[16-10:23:49] <Lien> On reading the response, Lien says to the others, "The salamander grants one piece from its collection to the victors."
[16-10:26:23] <Zeni> Zeni tilts her head, "Well... What does it have?"
[16-10:27:16] <Lien> "He'll show us, I figure."
[16-10:28:06] <Zeni> "And then we'll kill him off and take everything?  He is evil.  And a slaver."
[16-10:28:35] <Lien> "Won't stay dead and is apparently the type to keep grudges."
[16-10:29:34] <Zeni> "Ehhhh? Was so sure his kind -did- stay dead... Well, depends on what he has."
[16-10:30:09] <[DM]> The salamander and the spider makes a long exchange, seemingly agitated.
[16-10:30:13] <Lien> Lien by now knows better than to comment on that being the deciding factor.
[16-10:33:11] <Lien> "It wants to list the stuff instead of showing it directly, because it's suspicious we might take them all." And it's not exactly wrong to, she doesn't add.
[16-10:34:49] <Zeni> Zeni sighs, "Wellokay.  On with the listing then?"
[16-10:35:41] <Lien> She squints and reads the knot-forms off one by one. "Figurine that conjures a messenger bird, ring of protection from the cold, amulet of warding from scrying, javelin that transforms to flames, gauntlets of superior might, and a circlet of blasting flames"
[16-10:39:03] <Zeni> "... But we so badly want all of those things!  Uuugh, it's probably that dumb spider stopping him from showing off all his treasures at once, I know his kind..."
[16-10:39:29] <[DM]> Zeni feels the pressure of eight eyes looking at her.
[16-10:39:38] <[DM]> Weaving something.
[16-10:40:56] <[DM]> It looks away.
[16-10:45:46] <Lien> "I'm pretty sure it can at least tell what you mean."
[16-10:49:02] <Zeni> "Then it knows you snitched on it! Oof, but maybe we can trade in the evil sword afterall and get that scrying warding ammy..."
[16-10:49:19] <Zeni> "As well at the weapon for Alyssa, if that would even work for her."
[16-10:50:23] <Lien> "Do we really want to trade that to an evil metalworker?"
[16-10:51:46] <Zeni> "No, but I want that amulet!"
[16-10:56:52] <Lien> Lien hangs her head, sorely tempted to just smash the damn sword right then and there.
[16-11:02:39] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #25 on: May 23, 2015, 08:35:17 PM »
Session 25.5: Headaches, Disconnects and Heartbreak

[23-05:19:52] <Zeni> The group decided to get the gauntlet, but Zeni doesn't lose hope on getting her amulet, demanding Lien translate as she enthusiatically weaves elaborate stories about the group's miscelaneous treasure, The Ivory Statuette of Total Annihilation, The Tyrant's Casino Set of Amazing Wonder +5, The Twin Crowns of Somerandomelfenname.  Her excitement surely lends aid to the translation!
[23-05:21:47] <@Lien> Lien rolls her eyes a little and weaves a very simple message compared to what Zeni said.
[23-05:43:22] <[DM]> An exchange across webbing and hissing goes on for a while, before the spider spins a message to Lien as the Salamander slithers off, grumbling.
[23-05:43:56] <@Lien> "He's taking the deal."
[23-05:45:28] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods.
[23-05:46:04] <Ellis> Ellis, having given Zeni a few pieces of bargaining advice on the items (which were immediately inflated into not-entirely-lies), looks up from fiddling with one of her tools and the tiny vial full of blood. "That's good. Right?"
[23-05:47:17] <@Lien> Lien shrugs. "It doesn't sound like a useful thing to have but at least it's less junk to carry around?"
[23-05:48:19] <Zeni> Zeni does her future BBEL celebration dance, which seems to include more than a little jumping up and down excitedly between Ellis and Lien.  "Of course it is!  I mean, I bet that dumb axe guy sought out scrying assistance at least once.  This'll make it much harder to track me down!"
[23-05:48:49] <@Lien> "So instead they'll track her down and you with her."
[23-05:49:17] <Ellis> Ellis grimaces. "Wonderful image."
[23-05:49:54] <[DM]> After about half an hour, the salamander returns with three objects in hand.
[23-05:49:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa chuckles.
[23-05:50:04] <Zeni> "Ehhh? Ellis generally goes unnoticed, and it's not like she and I will be together forever.  Maybe."  She head tilts, "Possibly?"
[23-05:50:31] <Zeni> "She tends to almost-die a lot, so... being realistic...?"
[23-05:52:28] <Ellis> Ellis sighs, not entirely sure what she was expecting.
[23-05:52:40] <[DM]> One is an odd necklace of black iron thorns, braided around a strange angular shape, hanging between long fingered clasps, seemingly forged from nothingness.
[23-05:53:07] <Zeni> Zeni's grinning teasily more than a little, but her attention immediately shifts to the treasure as its broguht in.
[23-05:56:28] <Zeni> Zeni takes up the necklace and dons it immediately, just a touch too cheerful to be tying such a thing around her little neck.
[23-06:01:46] <[DM]> The other is a pair of gauntlets, made entirely of weathered silver and traced throughout with large gemstone insets along each joint, forming strange patterns on the back of each gauntlet, with parallel lines on each finger and ringing softly as the salamander approach.
[23-06:05:23] <Alyssa> Something goes "doki" in Alyssa's heart as she lays her eyes on the gauntlets. Picking up the weathered yet still delicate silver and gemstone-studded gauntlets, she wears it immediately.

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Re: Logs
« Reply #26 on: May 30, 2015, 02:03:13 PM »
Session 26: Asplosion.

[30-05:04:51] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------
[30-05:07:44] <[DM]> With new acquisitions in hand, the group follows Cyimiris towards where Lien was assured they might find an exit from this plane.
[30-05:08:54] <[DM]> The path leads up  one of the taller spires in a field of spiked brass, as they wind around the metal while the spider skipped ahead, presumably to wait at the top.
[30-05:09:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa wears the gauntlets as she moves with the party.
[30-05:11:29] <[DM]> A chiming sound fills the air as the gauntlets adjust to their new owner. To a rhythm, but annoyingly just a bit off key all the time.
[30-05:12:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa snaps her fingers, attempting to create a new sound if that's possible.
[30-05:14:00] <[DM]> In place of the expected snap, there is a loud ringing.
[30-05:16:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa taps a finger on one of the spiked brass.
[30-05:19:20] <[DM]> The chiming remains the same, though the volume changes.
[30-05:21:28] <@Lien> Lien looks up curiously.
[30-05:21:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa summons Last Blood and holds handle on one hand, and blade with another.
[30-05:23:26] <Alyssa> With great strength, Alyssa drives the flat of the blade downwards, the middle of it down on her knees.
[30-05:26:42] <[DM]> The chiming peaks, then harmonizes for an instant with the impact. Heat scorches Alyssa's hands and legs as the rigid material cracks slightly.
[30-05:27:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa grunts in pain and drives the blade down again.
[30-05:27:53] <Zeni> Zeni applauds.  Tiniest little claps.
[30-05:28:57] <[DM]> A spike of heat surges as she smashes down again, ringing piercingly. The scarlet blade cracks, exposing a white crystalline material in the core.
[30-05:31:34] <Alyssa> Alyssa shows the white material to the rest.
[30-05:31:44] <Alyssa> "Want to guess what's inside?"
[30-05:32:50] <Zeni> "... Not in particular, more smashing would be nice!  You can hand it over to Lien if you'd like, it sounds like it kind of hurts."
[30-05:32:54] <@Lien> "I can't imagine it's anything good."
[30-05:38:15] <Alyssa> Determined to break the blade apart and see what's really inside, Alyssa tries again
[30-05:44:23] <[DM]> The blade finally shatters,, releasing a sphere of blue-white heat, pouring over Alyssa and expanding in a thunderous blast as the ground melts.
[30-05:44:56] <[DM]> The gauntlets sing out in perfect harmony  as howls fill the air.
[30-05:46:53] <@Lien> Lien barely sees, or perhaps hears, it coming and manages to get jump from her position halfway out of the blast's range before she's scorched, flinging her stowaway to safety.
[30-05:47:17] <Alyssa> "GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Alyssa screams as she falls to her knees, on bluish-white flames.
[30-05:47:52] <Ellis> Ellis flinches, which proves to be a healthy instinct, as she's already moving when the brass under her feet starts melting.
[30-05:49:41] * [DM]_ (~veekie@Rizon-4D1B832E.jb02-home.tm.net.my) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[30-05:50:12] <Zeni> Zeni's caught entirely off guard somehow, crying out sharply as the sudden explosion sends her tumbling to the ground.  She's at least quick to pull out one of the healing potions and quaff it.
[30-05:50:35] <[DM]_> Vanilla is flung off Zeni, and consumed by the blast with a surprised bark.
[30-05:52:11] * [DM] (~veekie@Rizon-4D1B832E.jb02-home.tm.net.my) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[30-05:53:21] <Zeni> As soon as Zeni can see reasonably well again, she scampers over and scoops up Vanilla, inspecting her.  "Everyone alright...?"
[30-05:55:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa remains on her knees, grunting in pain. She takes out a healing potion and drinks it down quickly.
[30-05:56:07] <[DM]_> Where Vanilla fell...was a small humanoid feline, badly burned, eyes glowing red.
[30-05:56:29] <[DM]_> Looking extremely confused.
[30-05:57:06] <[DM]_> She barks.
[30-05:57:10] * [DM]_ is now known as [DM]
[30-05:58:17] <Ellis> Ellis looks up from a dismayed inspection of her dress and blinks. "Uh."
[30-05:58:32] <[DM]> That is however, less of a problem than the molten globs of brass scattered across the area.
[30-05:58:40] <Zeni> Zeni stops mid scamper-crawl, staring wide-eyed.  ". . ."
[30-05:58:51] <[DM]> Brass shouldn't be shifting and getting legs.
[30-05:58:56] <[DM]> Nor teeth.
[30-06:00:30] <Zeni> The half-elf finally breaks her gaze away from the weretiger looks to the others, only then noticing the brass globs.  She quickly scoops up Vanilla and stands herself back up, then moves  to get behind Lien were that an option.
[30-06:01:14] <[DM]> The first one takes shape proper, raises it's head to the sky and howls from newly formed throat.
[30-06:02:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa draws her rapier, hoping this helps.
[30-06:02:40] <@Lien> Alarmed at the one-two punch of dangerous developments, Lien readies her staff.
[30-06:08:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks down at her feet.
[30-06:08:51] <[DM]> A long fragment of red crystal is embedded into the melted brass, sinking slowly.
[30-06:09:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa grabs the red crystal and pulls it out.
[30-06:09:43] <@Lien> "Too many. Let's run."
[30-06:10:11] <Zeni> "I have to agree there.  Would making you larger help here at all? Carry us off or something!"
[30-06:10:28] <Alyssa> "Make me larger. Quickly."
[30-06:10:50] <Alyssa> DELETE ABOVE
[30-06:11:05] <Alyssa> "Ellis, Zeni, grab onto me and hold on!"
[30-06:11:25] <@Lien> "Don't need to be big to carry you." To avoid any further argument, she just scoops up Zeni and carries her like a sack of potatoes as she starts running.
[30-06:15:00] <Ellis> Ellis doesn't need much convincing to run, sprinting after Lien with, sadly, not nearly as impressive results. Being mundane is suffering.
[30-06:16:17] <Zeni> Zeni whines over being handled in such a way but has little say in the matter unless she wants to be dropped entirely.  "Faster Ellis!  What are you doing, Alyssa!?"
[30-06:17:14] <Alyssa> "It's a stupid decision to break the damn blade here. Run! I'll find the shards so that nobody else can get it!"
[30-06:17:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa begins to look around quickly.
[30-06:18:29] <[DM]> Alyssa spots the white crystal...in the puddle that now has a neck and teeth.
[30-06:18:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa decides to risk it and punch downwards to get to the crystal.
[30-06:21:08] <[DM]> The blow connects, as Alyssa grabs the chunk.
[30-06:21:50] <[DM]> Lien's search for the fairy is fruitless, dammit, now's not the time to be invisible...
[30-06:22:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa pulls back her arm, ripping the crystal out.
[30-06:25:59] <@Lien> Lien barely looks back as she simply vaults off the edge of the crater before noticing her own little friend is missing. When she doesn't see the little fairy, she tries several sharp whistles, without slowing down.
[30-06:27:12] <[DM]> There's a few tweeting noises. in reply.
[30-06:28:21] <[DM]> A second search identifies the source of the noise, a faint blur on top of a small rock.
[30-06:29:51] * Ellis (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
[30-06:30:19] * Bozwevial (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[30-06:30:27] * Bozwevial is now known as Ellis
[30-06:34:40] <[DM]> Alyssa's redoubled search effort finds the twisted metal lump that used to be the hilt.
[30-06:44:49] <Zeni> Zeni keeps Vanilla held tightly as she's carried over Lien's shoulder, trying to wrap the strange little were-thing in a small blanket, still not sure what to make of it.  "Alyssa, breaking the sword should have been enough, get out of theeere!"
[30-06:48:28] <Ellis> Ellis glances back over her shoulder, grimaces, and keeps going. It looks really, really unpleasant back there.
[30-06:50:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa backs off from the formed foe in front of her and moves towards the lump of hilt, making a grab for it.
[30-06:52:37] <Alyssa> Once she grabs the hilt, she bursts off with speed away from the area.
[30-06:54:23] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, continues on her course with Zeni slung over her shoulders, making a small detour to hop up a rock and scoop up the little blur on top of it. Then, she jumps right off that rock again, safely stowing the fairy in her clothes for the time being.
[30-06:55:21] <[DM]> Vanilla pulls free from Zeni almost with trivial ease as she charges the still forming hounds, barking her head off.
[30-06:55:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Vanilla running past her and shakes her head. "Oh for fuck's sake"
[30-06:55:53] <Zeni> Zeni groans, "W-What are you doing, randomly going climbing!?  Just get us up that rope-- .... V-Vanilla!?!?"
[30-06:57:09] <[DM]> The molten metal sizzles, as her claws rip into the hound but fails to bite it.
[30-06:57:44] <Alyssa> "Vanilla return!"
[30-06:58:54] <[DM]> With Vanilla up close, the hound of Yeenoghu attacks the catgirl instead of Alyssa, ripping into her with it's teeth.
[30-06:59:24] <Zeni> "Vanilla, bad!  Vanilla, come!! V-Vanilla..."
[30-06:59:38] <[DM]> It's bite rips into fur...and the flesh closes right up behind.
[30-07:08:29] <Zeni> Zeni winces as she watches the hellish hound tear into Vanilla, instantly tearing up and ripping her staff down from her back as she tries to focus enough to cast despite being carried in such a rough way.  Flaming spears appear all around Lien before very hastily arcing off into the molten hound assaulting the party's new token catgirl!
[30-07:09:26] <[DM]> Vanilla's prey explodes as Zeni's bolt rips into it, liberating a shadowy spirit, as she directs the remainder over to the next forming one, blowing it's new legs off again.
[30-07:09:38] <[DM]> The shadow howls and dives into another puddle.
[30-07:10:04] <Alyssa> "Vanilla return!" Alyssa yells again.
[30-07:10:19] <[DM]> Vanilla barks enthusiastically.
[30-07:10:50] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes out a piece of jerky and dangles it.
[30-07:11:00] <[DM]> That got the kitty's attention
[30-07:15:31] <[DM]> Vanilla gets back on all fours as she lopes towards the jerky.
[30-07:16:01] <Zeni> Zeni rips out her rations, but she lacks any kind of meat in hers.  She sighs and just keeps calling out for Vanilla to chase after them!
[30-07:16:17] <[DM]> This was a bit of a bad idea on her part as two of the hounds leap onto her.
[30-07:17:01] <[DM]> One of them bears Vanilla to the ground even as the other is literally thrown off.
[30-07:18:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa aims at the hound bearing down on Vanilla and fires two blasts at it while shouting. "Vanilla here!"
[30-07:19:21] <Zeni> Zeni struggles and flails at Lien, trying to get her to drop her as she hastily calls up several more flaming spears.  "We're not leaving her, stupid oaf!"  She sends them sailing once more.
[30-07:20:11] <[DM]> The blasts of power shreds the creature on top of Vanilla into a splatter of brass.
[30-07:20:25] <[DM]> The shadow appears again, howling.
[30-07:20:33] <Alyssa> "Come quickly!" Alyssa waves the jerky.
[30-07:21:53] <[DM]> Vanilla meanwhile, runs into one JUST forming ahead of her. She rips the head off without pausing and keeps going for the jerky.
[30-07:23:31] <[DM]> Three more leap at her this time, two swatted off with a bark of annoyance while the other crushes her down again.
[30-07:24:41] <[DM]> Meanwhile the shadows that leapt into fresh puddles are bulking up again.
[30-07:28:49] <Zeni> Low on ideas and strained of her ability to concentrated on the arcane, she kicks at Lien's head with her thigh, "Put me down and go get Vanilla already!! She's endured enough!"  In desperation Zeni incants a different spell, a haze appearing over the newly forming hounds, blurred by the intense heat.
[30-07:30:23] <[DM]> Two of them slumps over, no longer growing.
[30-07:32:04] <Zeni> Zeni perks up a bit upon remembering something, quickly diving into Lien's pack and ripping out bits of ham and dragon jerky, "Vanillaaaa!!  So many treats for you, get up get up!"
[30-07:36:37] <Ellis> Ellis whips around and runs backward for a few seconds - just long enough for her to aim a few shots at the still-soft brass joints of the hound attacking Vanilla.
[30-07:38:22] <[DM]> The bolt smashes into the hound and it, to a confused whine, goes flying off Vanilla
[30-07:39:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa aims at the bubbling pools of forming hounds and fires off an explosion of thunderous sound.
[30-07:42:07] <[DM]> The pools explode.
[30-07:42:16] <[DM]> The gauntlets hum merrily.
[30-07:42:54] <[DM]> Some kind of horribly offkey truimphant march.
[30-07:43:25] <@Lien> Lien finally drops Zeni on her feet and runs to meet Vanilla, who's hopefully now again escaping.
[30-07:43:44] <[DM]> the shadows pull free of the shattered puddles.
[30-07:45:45] <Zeni> Zeni wobbles terribly upon being set down, between being so burned and being ran all that way.  Seeing all those shadows fleeing at once and not yet near any new puddles, though, she tries the last tactic again.  "Oof... Stop finding new bodies alreadyyy!"  She whines out before incanting, an arcane haze appearing over the shadows in mid flight.
[30-07:46:12] <[DM]> The shadows abruptly stop moving. Simply hanging in the air.
[30-07:46:43] <Zeni> "Alyssa!  Hit them now!  Blast them!"
[30-07:47:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa aims and fires her energy blasts.
[30-07:47:03] <Zeni> "Withmagic!"
[30-07:47:53] * @Lien (~Paul@Rizon-1C9EC7CA.adsl.highway.telekom.at) Quit (Quit: Leaving.)
[30-07:49:57] * Jm2c (~Paul@Rizon-1C9EC7CA.adsl.highway.telekom.at) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[30-07:50:22] <Zeni> Zeni tiredly spools up a firebolt as she continues to wobble and pant.  It actually seems quite a bit larger than it has in the past, despite her exhaustion.  She sends it off, the flaming bolt wobbling as well as it sails through the air but it somehow manages to strike true against one of the shadows.
[30-07:50:33] <[DM]> Vanilla seeing that there's a lack of obstacles between her and the jerky....runs right past Lien and towards Alyssa, even as two of the shadows are torn apart by the eldritch blast.
[30-07:50:51] <[DM]> At this point, Ellis notices a rope poking her in the head.
[30-07:51:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa tosses the jerky into Vanilla's waiting jaws. "Come on!" and starts running.
[30-07:51:41] <[DM]> Vanilla, fed, rekittenifies.
[30-07:51:52] <Zeni> Zeni tiredly shakes the jerky she stole at Vanilla before hobbling off towards Ellis.
[30-07:52:18] <Jm2c> Feeling slightly miffed at having been sent to fetch the cat for nothing, Lien darts right back the way she came.
[30-07:52:33] <Ellis> Convenient, that. Ellis grabs the rope and starts pulling herself up, hand-over-hand, without waiting to be told.
[30-07:53:02] <[DM]> Meanwhile, back at the crater, the hounds melt back into puddle form.
[30-07:53:24] <[DM]> The liquid shifts, as the pools merge.
[30-07:53:37] <Zeni> Zeni gives Ellis a strange look before just stepping onto the rope and trying to walk up it.  "Grab her, Lien!"
[30-07:55:09] <[DM]> The rope offers poor footing, as Zeni slips off standing on what is effectively a ledge an inch across.
[30-07:56:39] <Alyssa> Alyssa scoops the kitten up and grabs the rope.
[30-07:56:43] <Zeni> Zeni falls on her sore bum and pouts, just grabbing hold of the rope and trying to climb from there. :<  "I thought it would be stronger, like crystal!"
[30-07:57:04] <Jm2c> Lien is last up the rope, but still fastest. "Why would it be crystal? It's a spidersilk thread."
[30-07:57:53] <[DM]> As they get onto the rope, they could see the hounds approach again.
[30-07:58:03] <[DM]> Well...hound. It's pretty big and metal.
[30-07:59:18] <[DM]> All the same, Cyimiris reels the group up to the ceiling, leaving them safe for now.
[30-08:00:13] <[DM]> The spider coils the webbing together, as it shoos the group along, parallel to the steel shaft.
[30-08:01:03] <Jm2c> Lien finds it a bit difficult to reply while walking in a cramped space.
[30-08:01:55] <[DM]> The cavern rumbles as the massive wolf of brass and fire howls, while the group scurries into a tunnel.
[30-08:02:02] <Zeni> Upon stepping onto the ceiling, Zeni pilfers Vanilla out of Alyssa's arms andthanksheralot, then swaddles the kitten in her blanket to try to keep her from running off again.  This is an appropriate thing to do just after escaping a giant molten metal hound.
[30-08:02:25] <[DM]> Vanilla is perfectly satisfied to just chew on jerky.
[30-08:02:42] <[DM]> Even as a purritto.
[30-08:03:27] * Jm2c is now known as Lien
[30-08:03:36] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Lien
[30-08:06:30] <Zeni> Zeni stumbles along, sore and exhausted despite having been carried most of the way.  "Oof... Okay... Well, that was certainly better than unleashing the Wild Hunt, but I suppose we should've been a bit more careful than that."
[30-08:07:47] <Zeni> Alyssa totally pulls off an "I told you so" right here.
[30-08:08:02] <Ellis> Ellis sighs quietly, busying herself tucking loose hair back into place and cleaning herself off.
[30-08:08:04] <Zeni> Zeni groans, then sighs, "YeahIguess."
[30-08:08:11] <[DM]> The howling continues to echo through the tunnels, to the addition of squeaking and groaning metal everywhere, as well as a musical ruckus.
[30-08:10:45] <[DM]> Before long, the temperature, FINALLY, blessedly drops.
[30-08:11:38] <[DM]> This part of the area was merely the heat of a desert noon instead of the door of a forge.
[30-08:11:46] <Zeni> Noticing Ellis cleaning herself up, she uses her cantrip to quickly assist her as thanks for reminding her to clean herself off as well.  "Well... Does this tunnel actually lead towards where we want to go, Lien?"
[30-08:12:40] <@Lien> "I imagine so, or she wouldn't be leading us there. It is getting cooler."
[30-08:12:57] <[DM]> It also smells bad.
[30-08:13:55] <@Lien> "Apparently there are mortals here, so they should know a way."
[30-08:14:28] <@Lien> "...Oh. Goblins."
[30-08:14:36] <Zeni> The sorceress cleans herself up next, whining when she uncovers her singed eyebrows... but she gets over it and cleans Vanilla next, then Lien and Alyssa.  "I thought she might have just lead us into here to hide or something.  Ooof..."  Her staff keeps the area around her even more pleasant, feeling like a fresh breeze, though it doesn't help with the smell.
[30-08:14:51] <[DM]> After a moment, the smell eases.
[30-08:17:14] <Ellis> "Lovely." Ellis' face remains unhappy. "I don't suppose they're the friendly kind."
[30-08:17:36] <@Lien> "We'll find out?"
[30-08:17:45] <Ellis> "Probably."
[30-08:18:39] <[DM]> Gutteral noises rise as an incredibly ugly head pokes over a barricade, waving a staff and jabbering.
[30-08:19:00] <Zeni> "I won't be much use till we get some rest, but that's probably a bit obvious... hopefully they're not hostile, why would the spider lead us to them if they were?"
[30-08:19:13] <[DM]> It looks at them, squinting.
[30-08:19:56] <Zeni> Zeni stares nonplussedly at the thing.  Too tired for this.
[30-08:19:59] <[DM]> It jabbers a bit more to the goblins behind.
[30-08:20:26] <@Lien> Lien makes an oh-this-is-super-awkward face.
[30-08:21:26] <[DM]> Another goblin gibbers and hisses at the first one, seems like some kind of animated debate.
[30-08:22:18] <[DM]> A second staff pokes up and is waggled at the first goblin.
[30-08:25:45] <Zeni> Zeni groggily incants a spell, a shimmering bright ligh appearing above her before shaping into a vaguely portal-like shape, showing within the portal blue sky and green foliage.  "Maybe this gives a hint...? I don't knooow!"
[30-08:26:31] <@Lien> "I think they're arguing over whether to kill us all or whether we're too dangerous to try that. Maybe convince them of the latter."
[30-08:27:33] <Alyssa> Alyssa snaps her fingers hard.
[30-08:28:25] <Alyssa> Alyssa claps her hands hard, trying to get the gauntlets to ring out to grab the two goblins' attention.
[30-08:28:48] <[DM]> Riathelle turns around and runs down the tunnel.
[30-08:29:34] <[DM]> A howling sound picks up inside the cave as Cyimiris joins her.
[30-08:30:28] <@Lien> "Uh."
[30-08:30:58] <Ellis> "God." Ellis stares straight up at the ceiling. "Dammit."
[30-08:31:33] <[DM]> Rocks, arrows, and a chicken flies through the air at the party.
[30-08:33:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa spins her rapier to deflect three before one grazes her.
[30-08:36:17] <Zeni> Zeni winces as the rocks hit her, giving a deathglare to the goblins above before refocusing on the shaman.  "Murdering the talky ones should make the other reconsider... Sotiredthough!"
[30-08:36:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa charges to bolts into between her palms and fires them at the Shaman.
[30-08:37:22] <[DM]> The Shaman pulls one of his hapless followers into the path of the bolt
[30-08:38:10] <[DM]> The poor bloke is badly hurt, but still alive.
[30-08:41:39] <Ellis> The arrow that lodges in her shoulder hurts, but Ellis isn't nearly pained enough to keep her from sending three bolts hissing from her crossbows at the shaman's head.
[30-08:43:08] <[DM]> Goblin after goblin meet the shots,  as the shaman exhorts the rest of his minions, even as he conveniently disappears behind the line of sight by switching places with a minion.
[30-08:45:15] <[DM]> Three goblins take his place, shot by shot, as one falls from an unfortunately lethal shot.
[30-08:48:35] <@Lien> Lien, mildly tired of the shaman's shit, jumps over the barricade and the goblins' heads in three steps to land in front of the shaman's face just as she completes a figure-eight spin of her staff and finishes it with a thrust directly at the goblin's chest.
[30-08:49:42] <[DM]> The shaman grabs another minion and pulls it in the path of the lightning.
[30-08:50:18] <[DM]> ...except it rips through minion, shaman, and then the nine goblins behind him, and a ramshackle shrine.
[30-08:50:25] <[DM]> The shaman falls dead.
[30-08:50:59] <[DM]> Weapons clatter to the ground.
[30-08:51:21] <[DM]> Lien, to her surprise, is surrounded by a circle of prostrated goblins.
[30-08:51:40] <[DM]> The sorcerer is still on the wall, holding a hand to his face.
[30-08:51:51] <@Lien> "Uh."
[30-08:52:14] <Zeni> Zeni remains nonplussed as she calmly pets Vanilla, "Yes, yes, you're their new Chief, just slaughter them and let's move on..."
[30-08:53:19] <Alyssa> "Get them to tell us the exit."
[30-08:53:21] <@Lien> "No." Looking a bit lost, she decides to point at the sorcerer. "You. You speak common?" Who knows, maybe he does.
[30-08:54:06] <Zeni> Zeni takes a couple steps back the way they came before calling out down the tunnel, "Cowardly, useless guide!  It's safe now, come back!"
[30-08:54:45] <[DM]> Zeni finds Riathelle cowering in a nook in the wall a bit down the tunnel, the spider weaving something at Zeni.
[30-08:55:13] <[DM]> The sorcerer flinches, then prostrates himself as well.
[30-08:55:52] <@Lien> "That didn't work."
[30-08:56:40] <Alyssa> <Does anyone here understand Abyssal?> Alyssa asks, in Abyssal.
[30-08:57:01] <Zeni> The half-elf groans, "ehhhh?.... Liennn!  The spider wants to play cats craddle with you again."  Zeni sighs and pushes her staff against Ria.  "You really should give us our money back at this point, but come with us, dumby.  We've dragged you this far along, not about to let you die here."
[30-08:58:27] <[DM]> The sorcerer mumbles to the ground "<Great lady, this humble one does."
[30-08:59:46] <[DM]> Riathelle peeks out of the nook, "They're going to kill us all and sacrifice us to their god"
[30-09:01:14] <[DM]> Now that Lien got a good look at the numbers...the three hundred odd goblins would have given them a bit of trouble, especially if they all threw rocks. Good thing they're cowards.
[30-09:01:56] <Ellis> Ellis, having long since given up, stows her weapons and starts tending to the arrow in her shoulder as best she can one-handed.
[30-09:02:17] <Zeni> "... Well yes, they wanted to, but that was before that oaf kicked off the shaman's head and became their new god.  Stand up already!  I can't drag you.  What were you thinking, assuming goblins would kill us?  You've seen what we've fought up till now, silly."  Zeni fishes for one of Riathelle's hands and tries to tug her to her feet, then gives the spider a shrug.  "Liiennnn...."
[30-09:02:36] <Alyssa> <You are in the presence of Lien the Herald of Thunder and Lightning, she will be your new God.> Alyssa replies
[30-09:02:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa turns to Lien. "The sorcerer speaks Abyssal, I'll be your translator.>
[30-09:03:01] <[DM]> The spider gives up waving rope at Zeni and bodily picks up the rather abused elf with a shrug.
[30-09:03:17] <[DM]> Given that it had eight legs, it was a pretty good shrug.
[30-09:03:19] <@Lien> Lien gives Alyssa a look. "You're not telling them anything weird, are you?"
[30-09:03:31] <Alyssa> Alyssa smiles. "No I'm not."
[30-09:04:28] <Zeni> Zeni blinks as she watches the spider pick up the woman, giving her a suspicious glare before continuing back to the others.
[30-09:04:34] <@Lien> She is so. "Well, first of all ask him if they know a way back to the material plane."
[30-09:05:23] <Alyssa> Alyssa turns back to the sorcerer and looks at him. <SHE asks if you have a portal or a way back to the material plane."
[30-09:06:54] <[DM]> "<There is the rainbow abyss, O Great Lady From the chasm we go.>"
[30-09:07:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa frowns. <What is this rainbow abyss, describe it.>
[30-09:08:05] <[DM]> "<You jump in, you lucky, you come out good place, much food. You no lucky, you come out many pieces.>"
[30-09:08:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa rolls her eyes at Lien. "There's an exit, but it's a random plane. We either end up home, or we end up somewhere worst."
[30-09:08:52] <Alyssa> <Are there other exits from this plane?>
[30-09:08:58] <@Lien> "I... guess it's more than what we had before?"
[30-09:09:29] <Alyssa> "Go check with the spider and see if there was any miscommunication. I'll deal with this goblin."
[30-09:09:49] <[DM]> "<Great Lady, outside we die fast.>" The goblin gives her a rather insubordinate look.
[30-09:10:05] <Ellis> "Wonderful," Ellis mutters, tugging the arrow out with a quiet hiss of breath.
[30-09:10:18] <Alyssa> <If you follow our edicts, you will live long and prosper.>
[30-09:12:26] <[DM]> "<Yes, Great Lady, we serve and obey>"
[30-09:12:30] <Zeni> Zeni looks increasingly confused as she rejoins the others, eyes widening when she sees the massive hoard of goblins bowing to Lien.  "... Um... What's Alyssa telling that thing?  And Lien!  Talk to the spider already.  Or whatever you do with it."
[30-09:12:43] <Zeni> Lien's now a god, still gets bossed around by Zeni. :<
[30-09:12:45] <@Lien> "I don't know, I don't understand a word."
[30-09:14:04] <@Lien> "So what did he say specifically?"
[30-09:14:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods. <Obey your God, be temperate, be clean, end oppression, encourage liberty. Educate and endow yourselves.>
[30-09:14:29] <Alyssa> "He said he will serve and obey."
[30-09:14:38] <[DM]> "<What is clean?>"
[30-09:15:39] <Alyssa> <Clean is to keep yourself and your place organized, tidy and free from grime, dirt and dust.>
[30-09:16:20] <@Lien> "Uh. Eat properly, drink a lot of water, be nice to people, no live sacrifice, exercise frequently, wash regularly and be temperate?"
[30-09:16:35] <[DM]> "<Tidy?>" The sorcerer is looking increasingly confused, "<Great One, this one cannot understand>"
[30-09:16:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa translated Lien's edicts to the sorcerer.
[30-09:17:04] <Alyssa> "You gotta teach them proper hygiene, nutrition and basic decency Lien. They cannot comprehend."
[30-09:17:24] <@Lien> "Or maybe it's because you're trying to tell him in a demon language..."
[30-09:17:41] <Alyssa> "It cannot be helped, we don't have time to teach it Common."
[30-09:18:07] <Zeni> Zeni remains too tired for this, wandering over to Ellis and cleaning up her wound with her cantrip before just leaning against her.
[30-09:18:15] <[DM]> Riathelle listens in intently, then gabbles hesitantly to the goblin.
[30-09:18:33] <[DM]> The goblin looks shocked.
[30-09:19:19] <[DM]> And very distressed.
[30-09:20:10] <[DM]> Riathelle sighs and replies to Lien, "They think it's obscene."
[30-09:20:28] <@Lien> "Which part?"
[30-09:20:44] <[DM]> "Washing, even if they had enough water."
[30-09:20:58] <[DM]> "I advised them to use sand to scour themselves in penitence."
[30-09:21:11] <Alyssa> <Resist oppression, resist Yeenoghu, is that simple enough?>
[30-09:21:14] <@Lien> "Oh. Well fine, then they don't have to do that. That works too."
[30-09:22:16] <Ellis> Understanding it's futile to protest being used as a pillow, Ellis lets Zeni lean. "Did I miss something, or are we actually trying to reform them?"
[30-09:22:41] <[DM]> The sorcerer pales, "<No fight great ones!>"
[30-09:22:46] <@Lien> "Well they asked for orders."
[30-09:23:01] <Alyssa> <No fight, Just avoid them.>
[30-09:23:15] <[DM]> Alyssa gets an incredulous look.
[30-09:23:31] <[DM]> The goblin turns to Riathelle again, gabbling.
[30-09:23:47] <@Lien> "What are you even telling them?"
[30-09:24:03] <Alyssa> "That Yeenoghu is a bastard son of a fuck cunt."
[30-09:24:06] <Ellis> "How about 'Don't shoot travellers unless they deserve it'? That sounds like a start."
[30-09:24:15] <Zeni> "Don't know, don't caaare, we should just go find the portal and leave them behind to sort the goblins out."
[30-09:24:26] <[DM]> "They can't resist Yeenoghu, or even avoid him. They live in just this cave and wherever they hunt on the other side of the portal."
[30-09:24:45] <[DM]> "Unless you want them to just starve at the beastlord's disfavor."
[30-09:24:53] <Alyssa> "Fine, tell them to live long and prosper and remember us because we will be back."
[30-09:25:09] <@Lien> "No we won't. Just leave it at that stuff and we can be on our way."
[30-09:25:11] <[DM]> "Goblins live for just over a decade."
[30-09:26:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs.
[30-09:26:22] <Alyssa> "Let's just move on."
[30-09:28:28] <Zeni> Zeni relieves Ellis of pillow duty as she steps back up to Lien and Alyssa, "Get them to show us the portal, then."
[30-09:28:45] <Alyssa> <Show us the portal.>
[30-09:31:15] <[DM]> After a long gabbling exchange, the sorcerer stops groveling and leads them towards the ruins of the shrine.
[30-09:31:33] <[DM]> "<Inside>"
[30-09:32:22] <Alyssa> "Inside the ruins of the shrine."
[30-09:32:44] <@Lien> "Oh. Hope I didn't wreck it."
[30-09:33:11] <Alyssa> <Is the portal still working?>
[30-09:33:26] <Zeni> Zeni stares at the fallen structure, "You better not have..."
[30-09:34:32] <Zeni> The half-elf also wanders back over to the spider, taking hold of Riathelle's wrist and trying to tug her down from the spider's hold.  "The spider isn't coming with, right? I doube it'll fit in there."
[30-09:35:06] <@Lien> "I'm pretty sure she lives here, so why would she?"
[30-09:36:19] <Zeni> "I don't know what you've been talking about with her!"
[30-09:37:00] <@Lien> Lien weaves a thanks and goodbye to the spider before getting on clearing a path through the rubble.
[30-09:37:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa instructs the sorcerer to get goblins to clear the rubble with Lien and her.
[30-09:38:07] <Zeni> Zeni gives one of the spider's legs an awkward patting before she heads off. :<  She then shoves the staff into Ria's hands, as if it were her life support system.
[30-09:42:28] <[DM]> After a bit of struggling with the really awkward shape of the wall with Alyssa and Lien working at cross purposes, Zeni SOMEHOW tips the roof over to smash into a nearby cart.
[30-09:42:56] <[DM]> The gauntlets ring out in a defeated noise.
[30-09:43:29] <[DM]> Right before the destroyed altar is a large pit of swirling colors....
[30-09:43:41] <Zeni> Zeni huffs victoriously before stepping on up towards the pit.  Only Lien would have noticed that it was Vanilla that reached up and pawed the roof to send it tipping before deftly tucking back into her purrito.
[30-09:43:32] <[DM]> -----------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #27 on: June 06, 2015, 12:10:07 PM »
Session 27: AsplionER.  And terrible horror, poor Alyssa.

[06-05:21:51] <veekie> -------------------------------------------------
[06-05:23:32] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[06-05:25:09] <[DM]> With the rubble cleared off the portal, the party comes to a decision pont, whether to brave the portal first, or to rest here, in a relatively safe, and non roasting part of this plane.
[06-05:25:27] * Jm2c is now known as Lien
[06-05:26:27] <[DM]> The portal itself appears to be a pitch black chasm, with the rubble falling in leaving streaks of prismatic light as they whirl into the endless depths.
[06-05:27:32] <Ellis> Ellis eyes the rift with some trepidation, absently kicking a pebble in. "Looks...unsafe."
[06-05:27:56] <Alyssa> "This is the exit."
[06-05:28:24] <[DM]> The pebble turns into a streak of light as it spirals away, accelerating before vanishing, leaving only the rainbow afterimage behind.
[06-05:29:50] <Zeni> "I suppose I did expect to see sunshine, rainbows and trees on the other side of the portal... but... this is probably fine.  Maybe."  The most reassuring statement ever.  "I'm going thennn, enough of this place!"  Zeni steps forward and prepares herself to make a leap of faith.
[06-05:31:22] <@Lien> "Weren't you tired out just before?"
[06-05:32:46] <Zeni> Zeni stops in her tracks, looking over her shoulder at Lien, "And you expect me to sleep among those smelly goblins?"
[06-05:33:17] <@Lien> "What if there are more of those plants on the other side? Would you rather sleep among those?"
[06-05:33:46] <@Lien> "The people tentacle ones."
[06-05:34:11] <Alyssa> "I'd rather rest here first, who knows what else we'll face at the other side too."
[06-05:34:51] <Zeni> The half-elf cringes at that mental image, taking a careful step back from the portal.  "Ooof... Alright, but we're setting up camp in here... after I clean it up a lot, eugh.  What exactly did their rituals entail....?"  She glares at Riathelle (sp?), "Don'tanswerthat."
[06-05:35:45] <Zeni> Zeni sets about using one of her cantrips to clean up a good wide area, keeping Vanilla tightly swaddled the whole while.
[06-05:36:37] <[DM]> Vanilla had discovered a bone at some point and is gnawing at it.
[06-05:37:31] <[DM]> Riathelle, her face still blank, boots a bit of rubble. A goblin sized skull rolls over.
[06-05:39:52] <[DM]> Resting goes well enough, with the goblins keeping a respectfully terrified distance. from the party as they take their rest.
[06-05:41:07] <[DM]> About just over eight hours into their rest, there's an alarmed jabbering over by the cave entrance.
[06-05:41:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa gets up immediately, drawing her rapier.
[06-05:42:09] <[DM]> The goblins agitatedly jabber at Riathelle, who's sleeping in a fetal position.
[06-05:44:23] <Ellis> Ellis, frowning deeply, goes over and shakes Riathelle awake without much ceremony. "I think they want to talk to you."
[06-05:44:24] <Zeni> Zeni snoozes, half atop the last remaining carriage cushion, half in her bedroll.  The lavish life.
[06-05:44:57] <Alyssa> <Sorceror! What is this jibber jabber?>
[06-05:45:05] <@Lien> Lien taps a goblin who was winding up to kick her awake on the shoulder and calmly shakes her head.
[06-05:45:51] <[DM]> The goblin jabbers some more, fully prostrated as Riathelle wakes with a jolt.
[06-05:45:56] <[DM]> "Wha?"
[06-05:47:00] <@Lien> "They're excited about something. Translate?"
[06-05:47:20] <@Lien> "I've got a hunch what it is."
[06-05:47:43] <[DM]> "Uh...'old god revenge, new god help'"
[06-05:48:40] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs. "Ok let's get cracking."
[06-05:48:51] <@Lien> "That was my hunch. Let's go." She looks to the goblins to show the way.
[06-05:49:11] <[DM]> The goblins part before the group.
[06-05:49:33] <[DM]> The orb is humming as they head to the cave mouth, and a piercing howl fills the air.
[06-05:49:40] <Zeni> Zeni is left behind, sleeping, seemingly having a pretty good dream too. "O-Oaf...!"
[06-05:50:07] <Zeni> .... Okay Zeni wakes and joins the others.
[06-05:50:42] <[DM]> The cloudy crystal rumbles. as the cave rattles.
[06-05:51:01] <[DM]> Enormous teeth can be seen at the other end of the tunnel.
[06-05:51:36] <Ellis> "Lovely." Ellis grimly pulls back the string on one of her crossbows.
[06-05:51:52] <[DM]> There is a sudden breeze blowing out of the tunnel.
[06-05:52:14] <Zeni> "... Tell me again, why aren't we just running into the portal?"  Zeni raises her staff, fire flitting into existence above her.
[06-05:52:28] <[DM]> Then the breeze reverses.
[06-05:52:50] <@Lien> "They'd just follow us and then we're in terrain we don't know!"
[06-05:53:28] <Zeni> "T-They?  It seems its still in that big fooorm!"  Zeni clings to Lien's side.
[06-05:55:37] <@Lien> "It, then!" She stands to the side of the tunnel entrance and glances in to see what happens next, in case there's a bad surprise waiting.
[06-05:57:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa charges two orbs on her palm and fires them in a blast down the tunnel.
[06-05:57:39] <Zeni> Zeni growls, her little flame quickly growing into a bolt before she sends it sailing right between the sets of teeth at the end of the cavern.  "This better do -something!-
[06-05:58:29] <[DM]> The goblins, fear overridden by curiousity, crowd behind the barricade(which had been rebuilt), peering at the teeth
[06-06:00:38] <[DM]> The wind grows icy abruptly, and both Zeni and Alyssa duck back past the mouth of the cavern as their attacks draw blood....
[06-06:01:39] <[DM]> Then an enormous burst of cold rams through the tunnel, through the barricade, and froze some twenty goblins on the spot.
[06-06:02:04] <[DM]> The rest broke and started running around screaming.
[06-06:02:53] <[DM]> The tunnel is filled with mist, and the party unable to see what happened to the big teeth.
[06-06:09:25] <@Lien> "...Who's got that gland? The one from the dragon!"
[06-06:09:47] <Zeni> "I-I do!"  Zeni quickly fishes it out.
[06-06:10:29] <[DM]> Only Alyssa has a moment's notice as a dark shape looms within the mist, approaching rapidly.
[06-06:10:36] <@Lien> "Pass it to me, I'll check down the tunnel."
[06-06:11:35] <Zeni> Zeni shoves the thing into Lien's hands and quickly moves back.  "Be careful!"
[06-06:12:02] <Alyssa> Forming a ring her forefinger and thumb, Alyssa whistles sharply as she points at the location with the dark shape and lets the sound explode there.
[06-06:13:49] <[DM]> Then heads burst from the mist, one wolf head each on a long serpentine neck lashing out at each of the party, and another  lunging for the frozen goblins.
[06-06:15:11] <[DM]> The goblins shatter
[06-06:15:33] <[DM]> Shades pour from the frozen corpses and sink into it's body.
[06-06:15:52] <[DM]> The heads howl in triumph.
[06-06:16:03] <[DM]> As more and more of them sprout from it's neck.
[06-06:18:23] <Zeni> Zeni shuffles even further back, behind Ellis.  She can barely see Lien even from this distance, but she sees enough of her.  With a quick invocation, the monk and the assassin flash with illusory flames, invigorating them.
[06-06:18:57] <Zeni> --No move kthx
[06-06:22:45] <Zeni> Zeni shuffles infront of Ellis, not leaving range of the Hydra's many heads.  She also deploys the kitten.  Kitten is deployed.
[06-06:23:38] <[DM]> Vanilla takes ONE look at the hydra and swells up.
[06-06:23:49] <[DM]> Barking wildly.
[06-06:24:49] <Ellis> Ellis' arms snap up in double arcs of magical fire to greet the offending beast head with a spray of bolts.
[06-06:28:45] <[DM]> The beast recoils, hissing as the bolts wing it.
[06-06:32:23] <@Lien> Lien takes the gland, and as soon as the ghostly flames burn, her arm moves fast enough to hear, lobbing the gland at its chest where the body transitions into countless throats.
[06-06:34:47] <[DM]> The beast sweeps a head over to the projectile, snapping at it on reflex
[06-06:35:04] <[DM]> The gland goes into it's gullet as it bursts.
[06-06:35:40] <[DM]> Lien is treated to a FASCINATING view of the heads, down to the neck joint, rotting off.
[06-06:35:54] <[DM]> Even as the individual heads issue pained howls.
[06-06:36:35] <Alyssa> "Ready to hit the dark spirits that emerge!" Alyssa warms the group
[06-06:37:32] <[DM]> The body collapses as a massive cloud of howling spirits burst free.
[06-06:38:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes aim at the cloud of spirits and begins blasting.
[06-06:41:26] <Zeni> Zeni invokes her immense flaming lance as quickly as she can, the whole thing coalescing in the air above at once before she sends it into the cloud of spirits, catching the bulk of them as well as some of the trail.
[06-06:41:31] * [DM]_ (~veekie@6A0F3640.A6B80318.C600B0DB.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[06-06:44:33] * [DM] (~veekie@6A0F3640.A6B80318.C600B0DB.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[06-06:44:41] * [DM]_ is now known as [DM]
[06-06:46:16] <Zeni> ^ Zeni didn't go yet.
[06-06:47:39] <@Lien> Seeing the scores of spirits rise, Lien takes her staff in both hands again and takes off down the tunnel, swinging it in a blurring figure-eight as she runs. As she skids to a halt, the staff's prongs swing downward to release a deafening burst of thunder and lightning up and down the tunnel.
[06-06:49:08] <[DM]> Unholy spirits are torn apart in an explosion around Lien as the lightning rips down the tunnel, sending relieved gasps as divine lightning and thunder obliterate them in a blinding silver flash.
[06-06:49:24] <[DM]> The goblins, as one stop panicking, and fall to the ground in prayer, chanting.
[06-06:51:32] <[DM]> Riathelle meanwhile just collapses on a rock, "What the fuck."
[06-06:52:14] <[DM]> The winter-wolf-hydra appears to be quite dead, it's blood pooling from the stump of it's neck, where the acid burned a chasm through the stone.
[06-06:52:38] <Zeni> Zeni thwacks Riathelle with the happy staff.   "Maybe you should start worshipping her like your kin are!"  She collects up Vanilla, shoving a piece of stolen jerky in her mouth to try to calm her.
[06-06:53:13] <[DM]> Vanilla escapes the jerky, and goes after a bit of severed neck.
[06-06:53:30] <[DM]> She begins chewing at it, still in tiger form.
[06-06:53:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa gets to work skinning the hydra.
[06-06:53:51] <Ellis> Ellis just shakes her head, applying palm to face much as the sorcerer did.
[06-06:53:51] <@Lien> Still brimming with vitality, Lien blurs up and down the tunnel to make sure nothing is left before returning to the corpse. After looking at it briefly, she opens a vial and gets some of the oozing blood.
[06-06:54:39] <[DM]> Much of the skin is quite ruined by the acid, but Alyssa still manages to recover some, mostly  from it's rear.
[06-06:54:44] <Zeni> Zeni stares at Vanilla, unamused by this form of hers, but not about to try to lecture the thing. 
[06-06:59:20] <Zeni> The sorceress patiently waits for Vanilla to finish eating and shrink back down before collecting her up again, cleaning her off.  "No more tiger form!  Bad, scary."
[06-06:59:39] <[DM]> Vanilla licks Zeni.
[06-07:02:12] <Zeni> "Alright, well.  That was a thing... I'm going back to bed, enjoy your worshippers you silly oaf~!"  Hard to please.  Zeni heads back for the portal.
[06-07:02:41] <@Lien> "I thought she was the first who wanted to get out of here..."
[06-07:03:03] <Ellis> "I don't understand anything anymore." Ellis sighs heavily.
[06-07:04:27] <Alyssa> Stashing the skin, Alyssa finds a quiet corner to examine the white shard more closely.
[06-07:06:03] <Zeni> Zeni gathers up Lien's and Ellis's bedrolls, stacking them with hers to make it extra comfortable before flopping down to rest again, holding Vanilla tightly.
[06-07:06:10] <@Lien> Meanwhile, Lien finds herself pressed by goblins that worship her and don't understand a thing she says. At a loss for anything else to do, she figures she might as well teach them her exercises and stretches.
[06-07:06:57] <@Lien> With Riathelle as a translator.
[06-07:07:11] <[DM]> The goblins, quite reverently obey.
[06-07:07:34] <[DM]> Some of them repeat whatever Lien says as if it were divine prophecy.
[06-07:08:20] <Ellis> With everyone else occupied, Ellis settles down with a few of the tools from her pack and the black dragon sinews to start preparing them for use as high-tensile bowstrings.
[06-07:10:14] <[DM]> The goblins are very helpful with the sinews meanwhile. Some of them reverently offer up the use of their grimy, but perfectly good workshops..
[06-07:11:32] <Ellis> Ellis gratefully accepts, though she surreptitiously wipes the seat off before making herself comfortable.
[06-07:16:32] <@Lien> As the goblins are practicing what she's taught them, Lien watches Alyssa inspect the remains of last blood and approaches her. "If the blade's shard isn't evil and soul-eating anymore... can I have that? I know a good use for it."
[06-07:20:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks back at Lien. "It isn't by itself evil and soul-eating anymore, but Yeenoghu can always corrupt it again. What do you have planned for this?"
[06-07:21:05] <@Lien> "I can use it to finally get some better answers, I think. The First Weaver gave me the hint."
[06-07:21:24] <Alyssa> "Blood of three greats?" Alyssa raises an eyebrow.
[06-07:22:02] <Zeni> Zeni mumbles in her sleep, "Then why didn't you ask for the other... the other heart's blood.... zzzz...."
[06-07:22:13] <@Lien> "Yes, that."
[06-07:22:59] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes out a clean roll of cloth and wraps the blade shard with it before handing it to Lien. "It's yours then, as promised I'll do my utmost to support you on your journey for answers."
[06-07:23:24] <[DM]> Zeni meanwhile finds goblins helpfully supplying cushions, which Vanilla takes one sniff and bats away into the portal.
[06-07:23:38] <@Lien> "Thank you. Maybe with this I'll finally figure it out."
[06-07:23:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa shrugs. "You helped me back then with my brothers, my turn." she smiles
[06-07:35:34] <[DM]> The resting this time is uninterrupted, except for Lien's observation of goblin sculptors banging away at a sculpture.
[06-07:39:05] <Zeni> Zeni finally wakes, way over rested at this point.  Her head snaps to the smelly cushions that were far enough away that Vanilla didn't get rid of them, instantly pulling her stave out from under the bedroll and firebolting the things.  "Ooof... Ooooaf..." she rubs her eyes, "Are we going yettt?"  The half-elf climbs up and searches for the others.
[06-07:42:06] <@Lien> Lien, well and done for a while now besides for the meditation and exercise, sighs. "We are."
[06-07:43:09] <[DM]> Lien, to her misfortune, discovers the goblins are pretty much utter shit at the meditation part.
[06-07:43:23] <[DM]> They end up brawling  with each other.
[06-07:44:08] <Ellis> Ellis emerges from one of the workshops, tucking the last of her tools back into a pouch and giving the brawl a wide berth. "I see you've made an impression."
[06-07:44:45] <@Lien> Well, it's a kind of exercise, anyway. Lien isn't really up for trying harder to teach them when she could be saving the world, not that putting up with the goblins' quirks is much worse than putting up with Zeni.
[06-07:45:35] <Alyssa> Once the party is ready to leave, Alyssa takes the lead and goes through the portal first.
[06-07:46:18] <Zeni> Zeni stumbles her way for the others, deciding to just call out to her from there, her slightly endearing but very whiny voice echoing so clearly through the caverns.  "We're goooing.... we'regoingright?  Come heeere, we're goooiiing!  Wego... Maybe we should send a gobbo first, and have it repor-- let's just go..."
[06-07:46:19] <[DM]> Alyssa feels herself accelerate as she falls, spinning faster and faster as she plunges down , casting off light.
[06-07:46:28] <Alyssa> "Whoaaaaaaaah!"
[06-07:46:40] <Zeni> stumbles her way for the portal*
[06-07:46:49] <[DM]> Everyone above could see the rather violent acceleration and rotation before she vanishes into the light at some point.
[06-07:47:29] <Zeni> Zeni stares...... "Alyssa wenttt, it didn't look too fun.  Oaf go next!"
[06-07:48:15] <@Lien> "Fine." Lien actually does so, but not because Zeni told her to.
[06-07:49:30] <Ellis> Not that Zeni would ever believe that. Ellis steps close to the edge of the portal with extreme distaste.
[06-07:50:20] <Zeni> Zeni nonplussedly staaares as she watches Lien, then looks to Ellis before hopping in herself.  "I'll send a firebolt back if its safe!"
[06-07:51:05] <[DM]> Zeni finds herself begin spinning, and plunges down into the abyss.
[06-07:51:23] <[DM]> She spins wildly as she descends.
[06-07:51:33] <Ellis> "I could walk away right now and no one would ever know," Ellis murmurs to herself before stepping out over the abyss and letting herself fall.
[06-07:52:26] <Zeni> Zeni holds Vanilla -very- tightly.
[06-07:53:03] <[DM]> Ellis is mid spin when suddenly the portal straightens as a pinch of golden dust rain down, changing it to a gentle descent.
[06-07:55:59] <[DM]> On the other side, Alyssa finds herself spinning and twisting as she slams into lush grass...and red gore.
[06-07:57:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa hurls chunks.
[06-07:57:53] <[DM]> As her vision clears, she could see a pair of strange beasts, chewing on a goblin head.
[06-07:59:30] <[DM]> They drop the head and let out a piercing screech.
[06-07:59:44] <[DM]> Then lumbers towards Alyssa.
[06-08:00:09] <Alyssa> Alyssa gets up and readies a stance.
[06-08:03:21] <[DM]> Lien, thankfully, lands on her feet in the blood.
[06-08:03:32] <[DM]> Not so thankfully, she finds herself staring down two monsters.
[06-08:04:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa could barely get on her feet before one creature sends her to her afterlife.
[06-08:04:42] <[DM]> She arrives just in time to see a monster take Alyssa out with a brutal slash and bite.
[06-08:04:53] <[DM]> It turns to Lien and charges her.
[06-08:09:23] <[DM]> Beak and claw swipe her with a spray of blood.
[06-08:09:50] <@Lien> Blindsided, Lien is scraped by its claws and beak before she manages to back off and retaliates with two jabs of her staff followed by kicks to the beak and throat.
[06-08:13:19] <[DM]> The owlbear groks in confused pain as it staggers and it's mate SHRIEKS in rage.
[06-08:14:04] <[DM]> Zeni drops in to see the batshit raging owlbear charge across the clearing and at Lien.
[06-08:16:56] <[DM]> Luckily the monk is JUST a bit too far away.
[06-08:17:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa gets up, pain wrecking her senses.
[06-08:21:55] <Zeni> Zeni's eyes widen as gore fills her field of vision, watching her horribly bloodied companion pull herself out of the mess, then quickly turning her head to the stunned owlbear beside her.  She quickly moves the opposite direction of lien, flaming spears springing into existence around her as she moves, then throws them all at once at the horrid creature.
[06-08:25:37] <[DM]> The spears plunge into the bloody creature and it explodes, scattering Zeni and Alyssa with owlbear chunks as her final bolt gows on to scorch it's mate in the rear.
[06-08:25:52] <[DM]> *goes
[06-08:26:05] <[DM]> It does not look happy.
[06-08:26:27] <[DM]> At this point Ellis drops in.
[06-08:26:48] <[DM]> To find blood all over the place and a raging she-owlbear screaming  at Zeni.
[06-08:27:29] <[DM]> Lien's staff flickers to life again
[06-08:27:49] <Ellis> Ellis promptly pulls out her crossbows and starts shooting at the owlbear before she's even hit the ground.
[06-08:27:53] <[DM]> Owlbears don't have red eyes, do they?
[06-08:29:27] <@Lien> Lien's eyes widen, and after a second, she processes what this likely means. "Careful! It's possessed!"
[06-08:30:32] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the remaining creature with glowing red eyes and fires two blasts to it's face.
[06-08:32:01] <[DM]> The blasts hit the eyes, which crack, and begin leaking scarlet flames.
[06-08:34:01] <[DM]> Then it SHRIEKS and moves in a flash of unnatual speed, straight for Zeni.
[06-08:36:14] <[DM]> Claws slash across her face even as the follow up attacks bounce off invisible barriers.
[06-08:36:49] <Zeni> Zeni very hurriedly throws up a flaming shield, the Owlbear's initial claw piercing it, but the shield hardens just in time for the next two attacks.  She cringes as the pain wracks her, dropping Vanilla.
[06-08:37:58] <[DM]> Vanilla ROARS as she goes full tiger and attempts to eat the owlbear's face.
[06-08:40:03] <[DM]> Vanilla slams into the monster and leaves twin bleeding lines on it...but fails to push the larger beast down.
[06-08:42:34] <@Lien> With its back turned on her, Lien jumps  to put it down for good... only to be interrupted by Vanilla. After only a moment's hesitation, she finishes her charge with a leap and lays into the owlbear's back with her staff.
[06-08:44:08] <[DM]> The staff audibly breaks some probably rather important bones, but it's STILL moving. What the hell.
[06-08:49:59] <Zeni> Zeni seems at least a little relieved to have Vanilla there attacking the thing, her fire shield flickering out.  "S-Someone knock it away, o-or something!"
[06-08:50:10] <Alyssa> Charging up energies again, Alyssa fires two more bolts.
[06-08:50:40] <[DM]> The bolts go wide. VERY wide.
[06-08:52:42] <Ellis> Ellis releases another round of shots aimed at the owlbear's - knees? - to throw it off-balance and give Zeni some room to escape.
[06-08:55:55] <[DM]> The bolts sink in and  bursts through from the back...as howling red flames burst from the wound and the creature FINALLY drops dead..
[06-08:56:40] <[DM]> The clearing is blood drenched
[06-08:57:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa drops to her knees in agony. "Someone get a sample of that bastard's blood."
[06-08:57:34] <@Lien> Lien breathes in relief, then in confusion. "Why?"
[06-08:57:44] <Alyssa> "Didn't your staff glow?"
[06-08:57:47] <Zeni> Zeni lets out the world's loudest sigh of relief, just dropping there on the outskirts of the clearing among some lusher vegetation, some only stained by her own blood.  "E-Everyone alright?  Ugh... That was just.... notgood."
[06-08:58:33] <@Lien> "That just means it was Yeenoghu. Possession or something."
[06-08:59:22] <Alyssa> "I swore on whatever is left of my soul that Yeenoghu will face my vengeance." Alyssa mutters.
[06-09:00:57] <[DM]> Looking around properly, the clearing is in twilight, with branches spanning overhead...
[06-09:01:17] <[DM]> Then Riathelle drops in, finds herself knee deep in gore and faints dead away.
[06-09:01:40] <@Lien> "Let's go find a safer place to camp."
[06-09:01:57] <Ellis> "Cleaner would be nice too."
[06-09:02:05] <Zeni> Zeni softly pants as she draws up her long, loose sleeve, quickly cleaning up her gash before Vanilla can get a lick.  "You can carry me, then."
[06-09:02:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa pushes herself up and follows the group.
[06-09:03:53] <[DM]> Three wide paths lead away from the clearing, with about a dozen small trails. Looking about, there is a clear pond, reflecting a starry sky.
[06-09:04:57] <@Lien> "If you want to rest in the middle of all this... gore..." Lien frowns at the pool and looks up at the sky bexond the branches.
[06-09:05:00] <@Lien> *beyond
[06-09:05:56] <Zeni> "Just let me catch my breath, dumby."
[06-09:05:57] <[DM]> Only dim formless twilight can be seen here. The air smells woodsy, ancient and feral.
[06-09:06:58] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #28 on: June 18, 2015, 09:19:28 PM »
Session 28: A reminder for Justy to post the summary edition

[13-05:26:59] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------
[13-05:28:58] <[DM]> With the owlbears dead, the party seems to be still in another otherworldly realm. If a more familiar one.
[13-05:30:58] <@Lien> Seeing the starry sky reflected in a pond when it's still twilight, Lien looks to their guide. "So we're back on the shadow paths?"
[13-05:31:03] <[DM]> The clearing does not seem like any part of the shadow paths they had  been near previous, but the three paths leading out of the clearing seem likely to lead to somewhere that does.
[13-05:31:49] <[DM]> Two tracks leading up a slope while a third leads down. Numerous smaller paths stream out in all directions.
[13-05:32:26] <Zeni> "Well...  At least there's no hell hounds around here now."  Zeni slumps with exhaustion against a tree, looking up to the sky.  "But we're all in rough shape again," she looks to Alyssa with a slight wince, "Very rough... Do we just try to rest again or will that just be giving the hellhounds, if they're around, time to track us down?  Maybe we could go back through the portal..."
[13-05:32:56] <Alyssa> "Let's just go elsewhere safer and rest." Alyssa winces.
[13-05:33:52] <@Lien> "How fast do you figure we can find a way to the mortal world from here? If we can get there without getting attacked again, that would be the safest place to rest."
[13-05:35:20] <Zeni> "Going back with the gobbos sounds safest, you have to agree, but uugh... I don't want to endure them anymooore."
[13-05:36:36] <[DM]> Riathelle, having 'recovered' from the shock of the owlbears, is looking at the trails leading away blankly.
[13-05:38:19] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and achingly pushes herself up before wandering over to Riathelle and plopping down beside her, leaning against her a bit much while she pushes her staff into one of her hands.  "Relaaax already, we're going through a lot more than you have, silly."
[13-05:39:14] <[DM]> "You are insane."
[13-05:39:50] <[DM]> Theres a trill of music as something touches down on Zeni's head.
[13-05:40:46] <Ellis> Ellis picks her way through the gore to examine the trails leading away from the portal's landing site.
[13-05:41:33] <Alyssa> Alyssa inspects her gauntlets as she follows the party, limping away.
[13-05:41:50] <Zeni> Zeni chuckles, hugging Ria's arm against herself and offering her shoulder a nuzzle, "You're the one with the thousand-yard stare right now, we're just doing what we have to in order to get out of this situation.  Why don't you?  I'd call -that- insanity.  Do what you can to at least get us out of here~"
[13-05:43:47] <Zeni> The half-elf idly uses her cantrip to clean up Riathelle a bit, then turns her head up to try to look at what landed on her... but of course that doesn't quite work.  "Go hide in that oaf's shirt again, silly fairy! :I"
[13-05:45:29] <[DM]> Zeni just finds a twintail sweeping at her nose.
[13-05:45:49] <[DM]> Then it's gone again, jingling
[13-05:47:12] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and strokes her hand through her twin tail as she guids it over her shoulder, though her fingers repeatedly catch in singed tangles.  "Oof... I need a bath so badly.  So what are we doing?"
[13-05:47:17] <Zeni> guides*
[13-05:48:47] <@Lien> Lien makes a face, still looking at Riathelle. "Do you think you could find another gate from here once you get your bearings? Then we'd finally be out of this mess."
[13-05:50:21] <[DM]> Riathelle looks at the tracks, "It's one of the two upwards routes, I think."
[13-05:51:14] <@Lien> "It's a start."
[13-05:55:34] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and stands herself up, stretching out and regretting it moments later as her wounds ache.  "Ugh... Alright.  Enough resting, let's sneak up one of these paths."  Zeni looks back and forth between them a couple of times before just choosing one at random and standing by it, looking to the others to follow.
[13-05:57:20] <Ellis> "I think the owlbears took this path frequently." Ellis straightens up, brushing her hair out of her face habitually. "It might be safe to follow now that they're dead."
[13-05:58:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa checks the tracks so see if there's more than one mated pair frequenting this path.
[13-06:00:15] <Zeni> Zeni shrugs and heads for the path Ellis looked towards, putting on her hood for once as she heads up the path a short ways, then looks to Lien.  "Lead the way?"
[13-06:00:41] <Alyssa> "Let's go, I concur on the safety."
[13-06:00:47] <[DM]> Alyssa's search reveals a dearth of any other predators in the area, aside from a well digested trio of wolves.
[13-06:01:12] <@Lien> "Yeah, yeah." Lien does as asked!
[13-06:03:52] <[DM]> The path leads upwards, and then twists around, looping to what was somewhere probably above the clearing they were in.
* Retrieving #CrackOfDawn modes...
[13-06:06:37] <[DM]> The path crosses a number of bushes, with clearly visible berries, even as Alyssa's gauntlets shifts to a jaunty, but still off key tone.
[13-06:07:14] <[DM]> At this point, a blue rabbit crosses the path.
[13-06:07:23] <Zeni> "Maybe you can power up your gauntlet by teaching it how to sing -on- key..."
[13-06:08:44] <Alyssa> "Let me tap a tune on your staff, it might sing happily." Alyssa replies in an off-key jaunt.
[13-06:09:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa collects the berries as she passes by.
[13-06:09:46] <Zeni> Zeni stares at the rabbit, the temptation to sick Vanilla on it rising, but she merely keeps low and keeps skulking along.
[13-06:12:48] <Zeni> Zeni then signals for the others to stop, "Lien."
[13-06:13:19] <@Lien> "What?"
[13-06:14:46] <Zeni> Zeni lifts her bundled little Vanilla, kissing her on the head and keeping her hidden within the blanket before suddenly lifting the purrito overhead and throwing it at the blue bunny with all of her puny might!
[13-06:16:05] <[DM]> Vanilla drops onto the VERY surprised rabbit.
[13-06:16:33] <Zeni> Zeni grins.  Hesitantly.  Somehow you can grin hesitantly, apparently.
[13-06:16:58] <[DM]> The rabbit's skin bursts open even as Vanilla grabs on.
[13-06:17:01] <@Lien> "What the hell are you doing?"
[13-06:17:06] <[DM]> And then it swells.
[13-06:17:12] <[DM]> And swells.
[13-06:17:26] <[DM]> Unfortunately for the disguised giant, Vanilla grows with it.
[13-06:17:26] <Zeni> "Outing a dumb trickster!..................... Uh......"
[13-06:17:37] <Zeni> "............"
[13-06:17:41] <@Lien> "Uh."
[13-06:17:45] <Zeni> Zeni looks up and up....
[13-06:19:49] <[DM]> Vanilla hangs on as she reflexively rips out a large chunk of flesh.
[13-06:19:50] <Zeni> Zeni's grin quickly disappears from her face as she watches the two actually fight, "A-Alyssa!  Chug!"  She raises her staff.
[13-06:20:10] <Alyssa> "What the hell..." Alyssa grumbles as she chugs
[13-06:27:59] <@Lien> Lien quickly regains her bearings, figuring the giant isn't friendly in the least, and sprints forward to jab at its knees and feet and put it off balance.
[13-06:29:52] * Ellis (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
[13-06:30:18] * Bozwevial (~Boz@Rizon-AE79E3A.midsouth.biz.rr.com) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[13-06:30:24] * Bozwevial is now known as Ellis
[13-06:36:00] <Zeni> "Lay down your weapon, dumby!  We foiled your silly plan and have already taken a large chunk out of you, don't make us finish you off for no reason!  Drop your sticks and turn back into a bunny, then we'll call off the attack cat!"  The most well written persuasion ever.  Very persuasive.  It totally understands common.
[13-07:02:05] <Alyssa> <Stand down!> Alyssa yells.
[13-07:02:31] <@Lien> As fast as she moved in, Lien is back with the others while the giant is left to reel.
[13-07:03:39] <Ellis> Ellis growls something deeply profane under her breath.
[13-07:04:22] * [DM]_ (~veekie@267F8DDD.C13F75BD.319EB5BB.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[13-07:06:37] <[DM]_> Lien's assault staggers the giant, followed by a piercing fullisade of whistles from the air nearby.
[13-07:06:55] * [DM] (~veekie@64C00C73.A6BDC0F0.C600B0DB.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[13-07:07:06] * [DM]_ is now known as [DM]
[13-07:08:40] <[DM]> The giant grimaces as it goes from blue to purple with anger.
[13-07:08:51] <[DM]> A deep bass roar fills th air.
[13-07:09:06] <Zeni> Frustrated by her diplomacy attempt not seeming to phase the thing, Zeni throws a firebolt at it!  It misses as hard as her diplomacy.  She cries.
[13-07:10:09] <[DM]> Alyssa's gauntlets echo the roar, with a twist.
[13-07:11:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at her gauntlets with a strange expression, takes a few steps back and channels arcane energies through her hands in two blasts.
[13-07:14:09] * Creo (CAW@Rizon-AA1AA5AB.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) Quit
[13-07:14:15] * Creo (CAW@Rizon-AA1AA5AB.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[13-07:15:15] <[DM]> Glitter sprays through the air and...very abruptly, the giant is a bunny again.
[13-07:15:33] <[DM]> More whistling fills the air.
[13-07:17:01] <[DM]> The rabbit hisses...then runs off into the bushes.
[13-07:17:32] <[DM]> Vanilla looks at the empty space where the bunny was, forlorn barking.
[13-07:18:36] <Ellis> Ellis stares for a little bit before shaking her head and holstering her crossbows. "Well, that could have gone much worse."
[13-07:19:09] <@Lien> "I didn't know Sylvan had that many cuss words."
[13-07:19:17] <Zeni> Zeni stares for a while before eventually running up and patting Vanilla, trying to get her to revert.  "Y-Yeah... Sorry about that.  Didn't expect the trickster to be an actual danger."
[13-07:20:01] <@Lien> "...You threw a cat at someone you didn't think was dangerous?"
[13-07:20:06] <@Lien> "I mean, it worked out, but."
[13-07:20:45] <Zeni> "I thought it would be funny!  They were trying to trick us, so I tried to trick them back, and..... Okay, well, that was a pretty bad idea.  But we made it!  Let's continue on..."
[13-07:21:43] <@Lien> "...Oh. Wait, hold on. Apparently giants are supposed to guard paths people shouldn't go down?"
[13-07:22:05] <@Lien> "Or, that kind of giant specifically?"
[13-07:22:24] <Alyssa> "What kind of path specifically?"
[13-07:22:34] <@Lien> "This kind of path."
[13-07:23:04] <Zeni> "... So we should go choose a different path?  Oooof, I knew mine was the right one!"
[13-07:23:16] <Ellis> "So did we come from the forbidden area or leave it?"
[13-07:23:33] <Zeni> "Oh.... That would make sense, I guess."
[13-07:23:40] <[DM]> A long drawn out whistle fills the air.
[13-07:23:41] <@Lien> "The clearing didn't look very forbidden..."
[13-07:24:13] <Ellis> "Neither did the other one, until you looked up."
[13-07:25:22] <Zeni> Zeni sighs.  "So will the little fairy orwhateveritis tell us which way is best, or...?"
[13-07:26:09] <@Lien> "I'm asking." Lien answers the whistles with some of her own.
[13-07:30:07] <@Lien> "...Looks like it's both. We came from the forbidden area, but that way is also forbidden. The others probably too. So, best to just haul it and don't spend too long in one place."
[13-07:31:49] <Ellis> "Let's get going before we attract more attention, then."
[13-07:32:03] <Zeni> "Well, let's just say low and try to sneak our way past any further threats..."  Zeni pulls her hood a bit lower and starts heading up once more.
[13-07:32:13] <Zeni> stay*
[13-07:33:05] <[DM]> The gauntlets are ringing in a triumphant march.
[13-07:33:32] <@Lien> "We're not going to sneak much of anywhere with that background music."
[13-07:34:49] <[DM]> Pressing onwards, there's a fork in the road, branching three ways, One leads upwards, while the other two seem to be level.
[13-07:35:03] <[DM]> The owlbear tracks continue down one of the level paths.
[13-07:35:59] <@Lien> Lien looks at Riathelle. "Still going up?" She then repeats the question to her tagalong, just in case.
[13-07:36:36] <Zeni> Zeni stands by the -other- level path, the one without the owlbear tracks.   Take the wildcard, follow Zeni!
[13-07:37:21] <[DM]> She flinches as another rabbit skips past, in a healthy brown color, "Level path. I think."
[13-07:37:36] <@Lien> "Which one?"
[13-07:37:48] <[DM]> "Um...."
[13-07:39:19] <@Lien> "The other guide says up is more fun, so probably not up."
[13-07:40:40] <Zeni> "Up is towards the conceptual planes, I imagine we're on the right level to get back towards reality now.  Question is whether we follow the owlbear tracks or not.  Their territory might be safer from other predators, but I would also guess it to be unlikely to lead right back to the gate we need."
[13-07:40:45] <[DM]> "I have no idea."
[13-07:42:03] <@Lien> "If anything, it probably ultimately leads back to their lair. So that sounds plausible."
[13-07:45:17] <@Lien> "So let's go there."
[13-07:46:22] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and waits for Lien to lead on before following behind her.  "Remember to stay looow..."
[13-07:48:53] <[DM]> Marching on, the path seems to grow more...vague. Here and there the trees broken.
[13-07:49:13] <@Lien> "Is this a good sign or a bad one?"
[13-07:49:58] <Ellis> Ellis shrugs. "Hard to tell, sometimes."
[13-07:50:17] <[DM]> One tree seems to have been used to sharpen claws.
[13-07:50:32] <[DM]> Big cat perhaps?
[13-07:52:02] <Zeni> Zeni's pace slows considerably.  "Well this path obviously isn't safe..."
[13-07:52:50] <@Lien> "Nowhere here is very safe."
[13-07:53:23] <[DM]> There is a chuckle, off the path to the left. Behind the group.
[13-07:54:06] <[DM]> Another, ahead, to the right.
[13-07:54:48] <@Lien> Lien's head snaps around to the source of the first chuckle, then the second, but she doesn't stop walking.
[13-07:55:12] <[DM]> A giggle, from the back, to the right.
[13-07:55:35] <Zeni> Zeni grasps Lien's shirt and follows along, glancing around in complete paranoia.  "Ooof..."
[13-07:56:05] <[DM]> Lien passes a long thorn sticking out of a tree.
[13-07:56:43] <Ellis> Ellis draws her crossbows without breaking stride, eyes darting around in search of possible lines of fire.
[13-07:59:15] <Ellis> "Manticore spine," she murmurs, drifting up to Lien's side.
[13-07:59:58] <@Lien> "Yes."
[13-08:00:07] <Zeni> "How fun... Now is that your pet fairy harassing us, or....?"
[13-08:00:33] <@Lien> "No."
[13-08:01:25] <[DM]> Jingling noises ring out unsteadily.
[13-08:01:28] <Zeni> "We really should have gone back and rested with the goblins... This makes no sense, what we're doing, oof."
[13-08:01:55] <Zeni> "And those damn dinner-bell gauntlets really aren't helping.  Want to store those in my bag of holding or something?"
[13-08:02:02] <Zeni> "So that we can actually sneak..."
[13-08:04:17] <[DM]> "Hehehehehe."
[13-08:04:31] <[DM]> This time it was on the path behind.
[13-08:04:36] <@Lien> "Well, it's moot now."
[13-08:05:09] <@Lien> "Keep walking, be ready, don't show fear."
[13-08:06:36] <[DM]> "Little kittens wandering where they don't belong." From their right this time.
[13-08:07:54] <[DM]> "Rules are for fools, that's the great one's song."
[13-08:08:17] <[DM]> Left. This time.
[13-08:08:24] <@Lien> "So like you?"
[13-08:08:55] <Alyssa> "What song? The song from my gauntlets?" Alyssa replies
[13-08:10:16] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and marches along straight behind Lien, still holding onto her shirt as if readying to try to judo throw her in the way of any oncoming danger.  "Little kittens that will soon find themselves burned to ashes if they show themselves."  Zeni unbundles Vanilla and perches her on her shoulder.
[13-08:11:09] <[DM]> From behind, "The sovereign's freedom, the hunters roam. The Titan wanders after so long."
[13-08:12:27] <@Lien> "Since when do manticores speak in half-rhymes?"
[13-08:13:34] <Ellis> Ellis doesn't bother replying to the rhyming stalker, instead maintaining a frosty professional silence.
[13-08:14:47] <[DM]> There's a hissing intake of breath from behind, and a FOURTH voice, melodious instead of feral, echoing, "Why indeed, even pets must have style."
[13-08:17:09] <Zeni> Zeni continues to just keep staring at Lien's back, nervously nibbling her lower lip as she hopes to just coast on through this encounter. 
[13-08:17:15] <[DM]> "Shall we dance, little mortals? Should I hear you sing?" There's a chuckle, echoed by the manticores, "Ah, but the beastlord showed disrespect, such rudeness in seizing my little birds. And so I have a conundrum."
[13-08:18:51] <Alyssa> "If your enemy is the beastlord, perhaps we can be allies?" Alyssa suggests.
[13-08:19:03] <@Lien> "I'd rather not dance. We just want to get back to our world."
[13-08:19:19] <[DM]> Riotous laughter fills the air.
[13-08:19:52] <[DM]> Insane laughter.
[13-08:21:36] <[DM]> "Such interesting sights your lives are."There's a pause, as music washes over and through the group, "Would you sell your soul for power? "
[13-08:22:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa swallows.
[13-08:22:34] <[DM]> "Can you sell it twice?"
[13-08:22:50] <Alyssa> "I have nothing left to sell for. But surely pledges carry as much power?"
[13-08:24:26] <[DM]> "Pledges bear much power, but only as much as the ones bound are worth."
[13-08:24:33] <[DM]> "Worthless."
[13-08:24:42] <[DM]> "WorthLess"
[13-08:25:05] <[DM]> "WORTHLESS. AH. AHA."
[13-08:25:39] <@Lien> "I wouldn't. Let's keep going."
[13-08:25:59] <[DM]> "Shall we Game?"
[13-08:27:04] <[DM]> "Cat and mouse. Ring around the roses. Or perhaps...the game of kings."
[13-08:27:43] <@Lien> "Will you sic your pets on us if we refuse and let us go if we agree and win?"
[13-08:28:54] <[DM]> "Am I not entertained?"
[13-08:30:47] <@Lien> "I don't know."
[13-08:31:33] <[DM]> "Should you win the game, you, of course, may depart." The breeze picks up, "Upon my Name, the Prince of Tawny Eyes, am I bound."
[13-08:42:19] <Zeni> Zeni tugs Lien's sleeve and whispers into her ear, "So.  Cat and mouse of course means just sicking his minions on us.  Ring around the roses... I think he'd want to cast a plague upon us, and if we survive, we win.  Game of Kings is of course War, I think we could swing having your army of goblins fight his army of chimeras as satisfactory."
[13-08:43:28] <@Lien> Lien whispers back, "Well, if it's just the manticores we could probably take them, this isn't good terrain for them. But it's not just them, is it?"
[13-08:44:45] <Zeni> The little sorceress clutches her staff and makes a familiar hum, finally letting Lien in on what it means when her voice rings out in her mind.  "<I suppose it might not be just them, mm.  Either way we could feign getting our army of goblins, rest up in there and then come back better capable of handling any of these scenarios...>"
[13-08:49:00] <[DM]> "Ten"
[13-08:49:10] <[DM]> "Nine"
[13-08:49:30] <[DM]> "Eight"
[13-08:50:09] <[DM]> "Seven."
[13-08:50:58] <[DM]> "Six"
[13-08:51:26] <[DM]> "Five."
[13-08:52:00] <[DM]> "Four"
[13-08:52:47] <[DM]> "Three"
[13-08:52:47] <[DM]> "Two"
[13-08:52:50] <@Lien> Lien pulls out a bottle and downs the contents in one gulp. "Fine, cat and mouse."
[13-08:53:53] <[DM]> "Here kitty kitty kitty~"
[13-08:54:05] <[DM]> The manticore pads forward, licking it's lips and purring.
[13-08:59:46] <@Lien> After a pause, Lien steps forward. "Oh, so just one."
[13-09:00:53] <[DM]> "Let the game, BEGIN!"
[13-09:00:57] <[DM]> ----------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #29 on: June 27, 2015, 01:15:34 PM »
Session 29:

[20-05:26:17] <[DM]> ----------------------------------------------
[20-05:26:31] * Jm2c is now known as Lien
[20-05:27:00] * Bozwevial is now known as Ellis
[20-05:28:39] <[DM]> The forest is silent as the fae lord made his pronouncement.
[20-05:29:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa readies her weapon.
[20-05:30:31] <@Lien> But not for long. Barely a heartbeat after, Lien slams her staff's butt on the ground to a deafening roar of thunder. When the dust settles, she's made a break for the wood's edge, leaving behind a trail of broken undergrowth and a persistent, annoying ringing.
[20-05:30:52] <Zeni> Zeni drags Alyssa's arm down from the readied position, "We can't interfere, silly.  It's just Lien and that cat."
[20-05:35:51] <Zeni> Zeni cheers so very enthusiastically for Lien as she heads off, "Don't die, smelly oaf!"
[20-05:35:55] <[DM]> The manticore yowls in pain as it's master looks on, then flicks it's tail at Lien as it takes off and gives chase.
[20-05:41:52] <Ellis> Ellis watches with some concern, barely flinching even as Lien's staff ruins her hearing.
[20-05:42:22] <@Lien> The three spines find Lien with implausible accuracy and seemingly hit her quite badly, though her hand whips back just in time to turn one that was headed right for her head into a strafing blow instead. Redoubling her pace, she slips the ring off her arm and disappears behind a thicker cluster of trees.
[20-05:45:22] <[DM]> The Manticore purrs, "Where arrreee youu  hiding, ehehehe"...then it's tail whips again as it whips through the woods, evading tree trunks as it slings RIGHT at Lien again.
[20-05:46:07] <Zeni> Zeni cringes violently as she watches those thorns sink into Lien, looking to Ellis and tugging her sleeve as she murmurs that familiar cantrip.  "<Alright, she's not making it.  What's our plan?  We seem a little... a liiiittle in over our heads.>"
[20-05:47:17] <[DM]> The spikes thunk into the bushes, foiled by the dense undergrowth, but the flying beast is ALMOST within claw's reach now, "This game is too easy, masturrr"
[20-05:48:28] <Zeni> "<You still have your two stronger healing potions, right?  Lien, rest her soul, gave each of us two of them?  I wonder how many Alyssa has left...>"
[20-05:49:10] <Ellis> "<You're telling me. As long as we don't bore him, I think we can drag it out. Possibly.>" Ellis resists the urge to draw on the fae while he's distracted watching the game.
[20-05:52:34] <@Lien> "-turr-" Right as the manticore finishes its crooning, Lien digs her heel into the undergrowth, an empty potion flask thunking into the soil, as she drives her staff's butt backwards into the beast's face like a piston!
[20-05:52:52] <[DM]> "Rowr?!"
[20-05:54:38] <@Lien> The thrust connects with a spark and another deafening boom.
[20-05:55:11] <[DM]> The manticore's skeleton became briefly visible as Lien literally rams a bolt of lightning down its mouth.
[20-05:56:13] <@Lien> Immediately, Lien whips around and starts beating the would-be hunter about the head like she's learned to do with wolves many times.
[20-05:57:30] <[DM]> Concussed and confounded, the manticore got  even more concussed and no less confounded.
[20-06:00:11] <@Lien> Which is just the opening Lien needs. Though bleeding, she presses on with a staff strike to the jaw from below followed immediately by a hit to the head on the return swing and a swift kick to the temple.
[20-06:00:30] <Zeni> Zeni's eyes widen a bit as she watches, raising her hands and giving a tiny applaud, a smug smirk spreading across her lips.  Thankfully she knows better than to show said smirk to the fae right now.
[20-06:02:54] <@Lien> The final kick cracks its skull against a tree and leaves Lien's foot bloody and the manticore limp.
[20-06:03:05] <Ellis> Ellis watches the brutal reversal with no small pleasure - but keeps an eye on the Prince just in case.
[20-06:03:54] <[DM]> The fae quirks a leafy eyebrow, giving out a slow, measured clapping.
[20-06:04:46] <[DM]> "As the cats should learn..." His hands reaches out to caress the two manticores remaining, "Cornered mice bite."
[20-06:04:48] <[DM]> *CRACK*
[20-06:05:06] <[DM]> The two drop to the ground, neck twisted all the way round.
[20-06:07:18] <[DM]> "You have done well little mice, and earned free passage." He looks at Lien, "And a gift, for the amusement you have wrought."
[20-06:07:58] <@Lien> Carefully pulling the one spine that lodged itself in her side to avoid breaking it off, Lien slowly returns to the path. "Oh?" She didn't find the game very fun.
[20-06:09:32] <Zeni> Zeni barely manages to restrain herself, every part of her wanting to act as pompous as possible about her minion defeating the fae's!  But she just grins slightly, looking to the fae expectantly... before quickly running over with a bandage for Lien, though she probably has plenty.  "Youshould'vebeenmorecareful."
[20-06:10:03] <[DM]> Lien abruptly finds the creature behind her, having somehow appeared from the tree, caressing her chin as her eyes fill with the forest.
[20-06:10:36] <[DM]> To the others, Lien simply stands frozen for a moment.
[20-06:12:28] <Alyssa> "What the?" Alyssa looks around
[20-06:15:52] <Ellis> Ellis takes a step forward, hands flying to her weapons.
[20-06:18:44] <Zeni> Zeni stops mid-step in her rush over with the bandage, glaring at the fae.  "She's -my- minion!  Step away!"  The half-elf releases the bandage for one hand, swinging her staff to ready.
[20-06:19:42] <Zeni> from one*
[20-06:20:54] <@Lien> After the moment's stop, Lien blinks, then slumps on top of Zeni.
[20-06:21:42] <[DM]> The fae merely reaches out and grabs the staff with a wooden grip, examining it, "Interesting."
[20-06:23:36] <[DM]> He licks the staff, nods to himself, then pets Vanilla on the head before fading into the trees.
[20-06:26:17] <Zeni> The half-elf panickedly catches Lien, growling and glaring furiously as she struggles to hold the woman up for a few moments only for her legs to very simply give way beneath the weight, but this isn't an anime so Zeni pivots and just lets Lien drop gently to the side.  "What did you do?!"  But when she looks back for the fae, he's no longer there.  "Oof... O... kay... Um..."
[20-06:28:11] <Ellis> Ellis watches the fae disappear into the woods, making sure they're alone before kneeling to check on Lien.
[20-06:29:36] <Zeni> "Did either of you figure out what that -thing- was?  I couldn't quite remember anything like it..."  Zeni gets to work bandaging the unconcious monk as best she can (poorly).
[20-06:32:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa examines Lien. "You alright?"
[20-06:33:04] <@Lien> Lien doesn't answer, for the moment.
[20-06:33:33] <@Lien> After a few minutes, she comes to and makes a "did you get the number of that carriage" expression.
[20-06:34:12] <Alyssa> Alyssa pinches both cheeks and pulls like an anime.
[20-06:35:00] <@Lien> "Bluah!" That, at least, gets her back to wakefullness, and she slaps away Alyssa's hands.
[20-06:35:48] <Zeni> Zeni sighs out of relief upon watching Lien wake.  "Alright... well... what are we doing?  Is resting -here- an option now?  I don't want to end up in such a dumb position againnn..."
[20-06:39:49] <@Lien> Lien rubs her head and blinks. "If he gave us that safe passage, that should include resting here... but he can only enforce that if he's around. He isn't doing what he's supposed to be doing in the first place, so... who bandaged these?" She blinks again, this time frowning at the bandages.
[20-06:41:25] <Zeni> Zeni seems quite proud of her shoddy work.  She even tied a bow!  "What do you mean he's not doing what he's supposed to?"
[20-06:42:00] <@Lien> "The name he said. Prince of Tawny Eyes. That's a big shot. He shouldn't be bothering with random mortals."
[20-06:42:18] <Alyssa> "Something called his attention here then."
[20-06:43:01] <Ellis> "Something to do with the portal? Or recent events, more likely."
[20-06:43:08] <@Lien> "Or he's going off the leash just like that titan and the bugs."
[20-06:44:05] <Alyssa> "He licked your staff, you wanna check to see if there's any damage?"
[20-06:44:37] <@Lien> "...Ew."
[20-06:44:45] <Zeni> ".... Yeah..."
[20-06:44:47] <Alyssa> "Like I said, check it."
[20-06:44:50] <@Lien> She doesn't think there's any damage, but checks it anyway.
[20-06:45:20] <[DM]> It does not seem damaged, though there's a coating of what seems to be nectar.
[20-06:45:43] <Zeni> Zeni hurriedly drags her bedroll out from under Lien when she leans up to check the staff, then starts making camp.
[20-06:46:20] <Zeni> She moves a large stone to where her the bedroll was.
[20-06:46:35] <Zeni> Thebedrollwasbeingusedasapillow.
[20-06:46:41] <Alyssa> "I think you keep some of that nectar as a sample."
[20-06:50:04] <@Lien> Lien doesn't look terribly happy about either the nectar or the removed bedroll, but shrugs and scoops some of it up while the rest seemingly cleans itself, then sets to inconspiciously removing, discarting, and re-tying the bandages.
[20-06:52:15] <Ellis> Ellis isn't fond of using this exact spot to camp, but goes along with it for the time being.
[20-06:52:36] <Alyssa> Alyssa prepares camp.
[20-06:54:16] <Alyssa> After camp is prepared, Alyssa proceeds to the dead manticores. "Ellis, you want the spines for bolts?"
[20-06:55:47] <Zeni> "Anyone know if it's safe to let Vani feast on those things?  It's getting harder and harder to restrain her..."
[20-06:56:03] <Ellis> "They're very useful for that, yes. Thank you."  Ellis helps to gather the spines.
[20-06:58:41] <Alyssa> Alyssa cuts some choice cuts for Vanilla.
[20-06:59:35] <[DM]> Vanilla eats a piece....then you are treated to the sight of a kitten trying to vomit.
[20-06:59:59] <@Lien> "Now we know."
[20-07:00:48] <Zeni> Zeni eventually relents and lets Vanilla down to feast, flinching and glaring in the direction of each scream she hears.  "Oof... well, we should be fine to rest at least a little while, but actually sleeping doesn't seem like a good idea.  I'mlayingdownanyway,though." 
[20-07:01:39] <@Lien> "Sounds like the animals are back, so you could just let her hunt?"
[20-07:02:03] <[DM]> Vanilla is attempting to frolic with a rabbit.
[20-07:02:08] <[DM]> Master hunter, that one.
[20-07:02:40] <@Lien> "Never mind."
[20-07:03:59] <Zeni> Zeni just smirks.
[20-07:04:23] <Ellis> "I could go see about finding food, if you like," Ellis offers.
[20-07:04:49] <@Lien> "We should still have some rations left... And it sounds like he's taking the safe passage seriously, at least."
[20-07:05:30] <Alyssa> "He's causing those screams?"
[20-07:05:37] <@Lien> "That's my guess."
[20-07:07:38] <Zeni> "... That's somehow comforting." 
[20-07:09:25] <@Lien> "Not very, considering he's killing who knows who or what. Let's catch a break and then move on quickly."
[20-07:10:37] <Zeni> "Not our problemmm~  What are the chances there's other well meaning people wandering here right now?"  Zeni kicks back.
[20-07:11:05] <@Lien> "Not low enough to be comfortable."
[20-07:11:20] <Zeni> ... As the slow realization dawns on her that there might in fact be people investigating whatever caused animals to go berserk a short while back.
[20-07:11:45] <Ellis> Ellis looks at Zeni meaningfully. "Do you want to give him long enough to start finding the experience boring?"
[20-07:11:46] <Zeni> .......... But she's Zeni, so she just shrugs and rests peacefully for now.  How does she sleep at night?  Perfectly.
[20-07:13:52] <Zeni> "Fair point, but despite how strange behavior he's still a fae, I'm pretty sure he'll stick to his word... for now.  If we don't rest -too- long.  So relax alreadyyy!"
[20-07:14:12] <Zeni> despite his strange*
[20-07:20:14] <Zeni> And so the party took a short rest and nothing bad at all happened to them.
[20-07:21:09] <@Lien> Everything is okay forever.
[20-07:21:47] <[DM]> An hour passes, and other than Vanilla going off and dragging  some kind of unidentifiable lump of four legged meat back at some point, nothing disturbs the party's rest.
[20-07:23:41] <@Lien> Lien doesn't look very relaxed or very healed, but she's already chomping at the bit to keep going.
[20-07:24:44] <Zeni> Despite looking better off, Zeni doesn't want to leave her bedroll.  Ever.  "Maybe Vani can turn into a tiger and I can ride herrr... oooof"
[20-07:25:20] <[DM]> Vanilla barks at Zeni, face covered in mystery blood.
[20-07:25:25] <[DM]> At least it's still red.
[20-07:25:56] <Zeni> "... Nevermind.  I'mup, I'mup.  Scary little thing..."
[20-07:26:15] <Zeni> Zeni packs up her bedroll in record slow time.
[20-07:27:31] <Zeni> She uses her cantrip to clean Vanilla up before snuggly tucking her into a purrito.
[20-07:28:08] <[DM]> Vanilla lickes Zeni's face, then sneezes, and the group is good to go.
[20-07:28:20] <[DM]> The track ahead is peaceful.
[20-07:28:52] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and cleans herself up before nuzzling the kitten's head down further into the blanket.
[20-07:29:19] <[DM]> Aside from the various animals littered all over the place, which have been crushed, rent with thorns, ripped into small chunky bits and in one case, it's head ripped off and its neck used as a hose.
[20-07:29:43] <Alyssa> Alyssa raises an eyebrow, impressed.
[20-07:29:48] <@Lien> Lien frowns.
[20-07:30:38] <Zeni> Zeni barely manages to resist gagging at a couple of points, using her cantrip to clean the path ahead of blood and bile.  "Ugh."
[20-07:31:53] <[DM]> On the bright side, the red black abd purple trail makes it pretty clear which paths lead out.
[20-07:32:25] <[DM]> Riathelle faints(again) at this point.
[20-07:32:44] <Alyssa> Alyssa carries Riathelle with her.
[20-07:34:06] <[DM]> The path winds up, then down, and then circles leftwards in three full loops before they arrive at a pair of pillars once more.
[20-07:36:21] <Zeni> Never one to take walking long distances too well, Zeni's softly panting by the time they reach there, immediately glaring at Riathelle as soon as they stop.  "Is she going to be of any use...?  Scammer elf lady, we're heeere!  Wakeupwakeup..."
[20-07:36:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa pinches Ria's cheeks.
[20-07:37:14] <Zeni> Zeni steps up and leans against one of the pillars with an exhausted sigh.
[20-07:37:35] <[DM]> Zeni feels a hum ripple through her.
[20-07:38:59] <@Lien> Lien waves the other two away from the unconscious elf. "Zeni, try touching them with your hands. Left, then right."
[20-07:40:05] <Zeni> The half-elf leans forward, giving the pillar a quizzical look... then does as Lien says.  "You mean we didn't even need her in the first place!?"
[20-07:40:44] <@Lien> "I wouldn't have seen how she did it if she hadn't been along."
[20-07:41:04] <@Lien> "And I'm not sure if half is elf enough, she never gave me a straight answer."
[20-07:41:30] <Zeni> "Uuuuu... we would've figured it out..." Zeni looks expectantly between the pillars.
[20-07:43:03] <[DM]> The hum starts up again, as she touches one pillar, subtlely different...then the second touch causing a burst that leaves her body ringing like a bell. To her alone.
[20-07:46:20] <@Lien> "So did it work?"
[20-07:46:49] <Zeni> Zeni winces over the sensation, but recovers soon enough as she looks to the others.  "Mmhmm.  Hurry through.  All at once, no going one at a time like last time.  I'll still go last, but immediately after the person before me.  Let's leave this place behiiind..."
[20-07:48:03] <@Lien> Lien goes through first.
[20-07:48:10] <Ellis> "You won't hear me complaining." Ellis steps up to the portal and follows suit.
[20-07:49:18] <Alyssa> Alyssa follows after.
[20-07:49:40] <Zeni> And Zeni goes last, carrying Vanilla with her, not even taking a glance back.
[20-07:50:33] <[DM]> The other side is yet more forest, but here, the night sky can actually be seen, rather than merely glimmers of light through trees.
[20-07:50:56] <[DM]> There does not seem to be a path here, though one side of the forest seems more sparse.
[20-07:51:55] <Zeni> Zeni pouts, "I suppose this isn't the way we came, didn't look familiar on the other side..."
[20-07:52:17] <@Lien> "The way we came had a path, so no."
[20-07:52:20] <[DM]> More usefully, it smells like a normal forest..of trees and poo.
[20-07:52:30] <Alyssa> Alyssa activates the glow orb.
[20-07:53:08] <Ellis> "Well, the plants don't look murderous. That's a good sign."
[20-07:56:21] <Zeni> "... Well.  This does look like the same kind of forest, just the border of it?  That elf town better not be too far of a walk..."
[20-07:59:38] <@Lien> "We can't really know in the middle of the night, in the middle of the forest. That way's sparser, so we might get out and get our bearings better."
[20-08:01:19] <Zeni> "But... that definitely isn't the direction of the elf tooown!  Uuuu... I don't want to walk anymore than I have to.  Though I guess we have no real way of knowing where we are."
[20-08:02:00] <@Lien> "You'll have to walk that much."
[20-08:03:04] <Ellis> "It's better than waiting for a point of reference to find us, at least."
[20-08:09:42] <@Lien> "Yeah. Let's go." Lien leads the way to avoid anyone breaking their leg because they stepped in a ditch.
[20-08:11:02] <Zeni> Zeni spends a brief period of time trying to prod Vanilla to take on her tiger form, using illusions to try to demonstrate, receiving only confused licking and barking in return for her troubles.  She sighs and just marches on.
[20-08:16:50] <[DM]> Out of nowhere, Alyssa feels Riathelle go rigid, then stops moving.
[20-08:17:20] <Alyssa> "Stop! Riathelle just went stiff!" Alyssa cries out
[20-08:17:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa feels Riathelle all over, trying to find wounds.
[20-08:19:16] <Zeni> Zeni blinks, "Did she finally kick the bucket?  She was hanging on by a thread for so long..."
[20-08:20:33] <Alyssa> "Ow!" Alyssa yells out.
[20-08:21:09] <[DM]> This proved to be a bad idea when a bite comes out of thin air, as a pale spider materializes.
[20-08:24:30] <[DM]> The spider prompty dematerializes after another attempt at biting Alyssa.
[20-08:24:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa deflects the bite with a backhand.
[20-08:28:50] <Zeni> Zeni initially moves to Lien's side as she watches the thing pop into existence, but then distances herself and just gets ready to evade if it comes for her.  "Ugh not one of these..."
[20-08:30:22] <@Lien> Lien raises her staff defensively, watching for it to materialize again the way it did for Alyssa.
[20-08:30:40] <Ellis> Ellis balances on the balls of her feet, ready to spring to either side if ghostly spiders come a-biting.
[20-08:32:54] <Zeni> Zeni looks to Alyssa, "Just get ready to dodge when it decides to phase into existence again, you can't attack it till it does so!  A-And its poison is paralytic... I'm sure you pieced that together."   
[20-08:33:39] <[DM]> After a far too long moment, the spider appears again. This time behind Zeni as it lunges while she talks.
[20-08:35:48] <Zeni> Zeni spins and slips to the side as the horrid creature lunges for her.  Like a cool person.
[20-08:37:14] <Zeni> Zeni attempts to fling a firebolt like a similarly cool person, but it only sails off into the air like cool person fireworks.
[20-08:38:41] <@Lien> Lien takes the chance to move in and club the spider clean to next week.
[20-08:42:30] <Ellis> Ellis, who's been waiting for a good shot, puts a bolt through a few of the horrendous spider's eyes.
[20-08:43:12] <[DM]> The spider screeches horribly, then collapses, leaking pale blue fluids.
[20-08:44:38] <Zeni> The sorceress quickly shifts back to avoid leaking spider goop, "Oof...  Was that all?"
[20-08:44:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa cuts the spider open to check for valuables.
[20-08:45:04] <[DM]> There does seem to be more webs hanging in the trees, with no sign of whether they're occupied.
[20-08:45:51] <Ellis> Ellis eyes the webs suspiciously. "Check on Riatelle, Lien? I'll keep an eye out for more."
[20-08:46:11] <@Lien> "Let's keep going and give those nets a wide berth." Lien checks on Riathelle, to make sure the unconscious person isn't dying from paralytic poison.
[20-08:46:56] <[DM]> Riathelle...doesn't seem to be breathing, even though her eyes are still wide open and quivering slightly.
[20-08:47:46] <Ellis> "Alyssa, see if you can pry a few of the fangs loose for me?"
[20-08:47:51] <Zeni> "Make sure to carefully remove the spinnerets, Alyssa.  Ellis might want those for making bowstrings."  Zeni carefully steps back with Ellis, keeping a mote of flame floating beside her at the ready.
[20-08:47:57] <Ellis> "But, you know, be careful."
[20-08:48:08] <Ellis> "They're poisonous."
[20-08:49:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa secures her gauntlets, draws out her daggers and goes to work.
[20-08:50:57] <@Lien> "Never mind the stupid spider. Put her down. Right now." Rather than mess around with a dead icky spider, Lien trickles a herbal antidote down her throat and starts ventilating the elf mouth to mouth.
[20-08:55:25] <[DM]> After a long, tense quarter hour of life support, Riathelle coughs, as she regains the use of her lungs.
[20-08:55:54] <[DM]> Zeni meanwhile, spots a few things moving here and there, outside the circle of light, but they do not approach.
[20-08:59:02] <Zeni> "There are more creatures out there..."  Zeni lifts her staff with one hand as she draws a torch with the other, setting it alight before making it burn as brightly and intimidating as possible with her cantrip, wicked flames climbing high into the night.  "Let's hurry along, just carry her again!"
[20-08:59:25] <@Lien> "She's fine now, get going and watch out in case she stops breathing again."
[20-09:00:44] <Alyssa> Alyssa piggybacks Ria and moves on.
[20-09:01:15] <[DM]> Pushing on through the thinning forest, while the gauntlets chime in with a jaunty, off rhythm tune, the party eventually breaks out of the web infested part of the forest, onto rocky ground overlooking a valley as the sun rises.
[20-09:02:24] <[DM]> A brilliant blaze of golden light washes over them as they look upon a valley lined with enormous crystals jutting out of the walls and floor, mixed with a carpet of lush grass.
[20-09:03:15] <Zeni> "Pretty... Not what I was hoping to see at all, but pretty.  What are the crystals.....?"
[20-09:03:33] <[DM]> It soon becomes too bright to look directly at as the sun crests the valley's lip.
[20-09:03:42] <@Lien> "...I guess I could think of worse sights to run into. Looks like we're pretty far out of the way, though."
[20-09:04:36] <Zeni> "That damn fae probably lead us to -that- portal on purpose."
[20-09:05:28] <@Lien> "Maybe. But I think I know where we are now. One of the places in Goodsky's diary was called Brightstone Valley. That looks pretty brightstone, yes?"
[20-09:05:45] <Alyssa> "I guess we had a shortcut. Poor Ria though."
[20-09:08:18] <Alyssa> Just for fun, Alyssa takes out the white core crystal, trying to see how it plays with the brightstone-reflected light.
[20-09:08:18] <@Lien> "There should be a way back to Nettlebloom from here, at least... but we'll have to wait until it's evening again before climbing down."
[20-09:08:42] <[DM]> It looks like white crystal.
[20-09:09:51] <Zeni> "There better be a cabin somewhere around here.  And a kind person to sell us a horse or two.  I don't want to walk anymoooore!"
[20-09:10:19] <@Lien> "Does it look like anyone lives down there? Walking is good for you."

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Re: Logs
« Reply #30 on: June 27, 2015, 01:17:09 PM »
Session 30:

[27-05:07:56] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------
[27-05:08:51] <[DM]> As the sun rises, the valley becomes increasingly unbearable to look at directly as it only grows brighter.
[27-05:10:42] <[DM]> The slope, visible for a brief moment, before it got too bright to look at directly, is rocky, and grass covered, while the valley itself is lush but bare of trees, or for the matter, any plants higher than waist level.
[27-05:11:35] <[DM]> No matter where they look, somewhere a sunbeam stabs into eyes.
[27-05:12:21] <Zeni> "Did you really mean that?  About waiting till sundown.  I mean yeah it's a little bright, but... Okay its a little more than birght, but...."  Zeni sighs,  "Alright, well!  I could use another nap anyway.  Are we resting right here or?"
[27-05:13:42] <@Lien> "Let's go back a ways behind the treeline or we won't be getting an eye shut. Or rather, it won't make a difference whether we do."
[27-05:15:50] <Zeni> She pouts, already having taken her bedroll halfway out of her bag of holding, but quickly shoves it back in and leads the way.  "I guess you're right."
[27-05:17:45] * @Lien (~Paul@Rizon-DE3DB375.adsl.highway.telekom.at) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[27-05:19:08] <Zeni> And so the brave party bravely heads off behind the treeline to bravely have a nap nap because the shiny is too shiny.
[27-05:19:24] * Jm2c (~Paul@Rizon-7BC493EB.atnat0027.highway.a1.net) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[27-05:19:38] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Jm2c
[27-05:19:51] * Jm2c is now known as Lien
[27-05:25:55] <Alyssa> "Let's not go there yet, let's set up a tarp and rest here, those grass aren't growing taller for a lethal reason." Alyssa cautions
[27-05:27:08] <Zeni> "I do have the tarp for the carriage, yeah.  Should be fiiiine~"  And so Zeni starts setting up camp.
[27-05:28:05] <[DM]> The grass is tall and apparently neatly trimmed along the top, setting up camp largely involved stamping down a patch of the grass to put up the tent.
[27-05:28:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa cuts a circle patch of clearing.
[27-05:30:06] <[DM]> The grass, surprisingly enough, does not get up and attack, and camp is made in the early morning.
[27-05:30:32] <Alyssa> Alyssa does not trust the grass and remains on guard.
[27-05:32:08] <@Lien> Lien does trust the grass since there's already someone who doesn't and lies down to get some rest.
[27-05:32:31] <[DM]> About three hours in, vigilance pays off, as the grass ripples against the wind.
[27-05:32:55] <Alyssa> "We're being watched." Alyssa warns the group
[27-05:34:30] <Alyssa> "Lien!" Alyssa calls out.
[27-05:35:06] <@Lien> Lien is immediately sitting up and looking about. "What?"
[27-05:35:32] <Alyssa> "There's something or somethings out in the grass. It's rippling against the wind."
[27-05:38:42] <Zeni> Zeni slowly crawls out from under the tarp, staring at Alyssa in annoyance.  "Well tell them to go away alreadyyy!"
[27-05:39:06] <Alyssa> "You can get rid of grass faster than I do. Why not you try it?" Alyssa points ahead for Zeni.
[27-05:41:12] <@Lien> "Scales and feathers. Two sides." Lien points in the directions she can spot their intruders from.
[27-05:46:00] <Zeni> Zeni groggily drags herself a bit further out, starting to sit up but quickly ducking down when she feels heat upon the top of her head.  "Really?  What is i-- Oh.... Well alright then."  Zeni drags her staff out and raises it just a bit, a massive flaming lance coalescing all at once above the half-elf before she sends it sailing.  Seems she's getting better at casting this spell!
[27-05:48:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa brings two fingers to her lips and whistles hard, creating a thunderous blast of sonic energy at the other spot.
[27-05:50:28] <[DM]> Zeni's fireball is devastating as it scorches an enormous patch of grass clear, revealing three  dead...giant lizard-chicken things.
[27-05:50:44] <[DM]> And three more still hissing at her.
[27-05:51:08] <[DM]> Alyssa's blast is less effective, revealing only three miffed monsters.
[27-05:54:38] <Zeni> Zeni blinks in confusion, "Well we have dinner figured out!"  She covers Vanilla's muzzle to try to hide the scent of well cooked chicken.
[27-05:55:22] <[DM]> Vanilla wrinkles her nose at the smell and exhibits no interest in eating the things.
[27-05:55:30] <[DM]> Or even biting them.
[27-05:58:17] <Zeni> "They're lizardchickens!  I read about them in a book somewhere!"
[27-05:58:23] <Alyssa> "Cockatrice!" Alyssa yells
[27-06:00:18] <Alyssa> "Be wary of it's bite!" Alyssa warns
[27-06:04:06] <Ellis> Ellis squints calmly through the smoke before snapping off three shots in rapid succession while the cockatrices are still at range.
[27-06:05:09] <[DM]> Ellis shoots one dead, and wounds another, but they're still oncoming.
[27-06:05:46] <[DM]> ...and then the ones on the right burst out of the grass and assault the party in a rush.
[27-06:08:37] <Zeni> "Lizardchickens -are- cockatrices, dumby.  Geeze!"  Zeni huffs, quickly throwing up a flaming arcane shield as the lizardchickens rush her and deflecting each and every attack with a grin.
[27-06:13:32] <[DM]> Two of them get past RIGHT as Zeni was getting smug, while another pecks Alyssa in the ankle and in the rear.
[27-06:14:24] <[DM]> Zeni feels numbness rising up her leg.
[27-06:17:49] <Zeni> Zeni cringes and growls, "Alyssa!  Get out of the waaay!"  Another flaming lance gathers from the smoke and embers above the half-elf's head, quickly pointing itself in a direction not far from the warlock.
[27-06:18:54] <Alyssa> Alyssa gets out of the way.
[27-06:21:16] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, quickly crawls around the pack engaging Zeni and Alyssa and spins the staff low over her head before ending the movement in a thrust pointing straight down the line of cockatrices.
[27-06:23:13] <[DM]> Two of them convulse as the lightning hit them dead on, then drop dead, smouldering.
[27-06:23:28] <[DM]> The other four just barely avoid a direct hit, surviving. For now.
[27-06:25:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa decides to withdraw, moving away from the two cocks engaging her.
[27-06:27:21] <Zeni> With Alyssa out of the way, Zeni lets the fireball fly, its explosion ending just infront of her face.
[27-06:28:20] <[DM]> Piercing shrieks ring out as the monster birds fry.
[27-06:29:25] <[DM]> The last bird is looking at the group, at it's smoking and foul smelling relatives....and run away into the grass.
[27-06:30:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa fires a twin bolt at the escaping cock.
[27-06:31:13] <[DM]> Alyssa clips the creature as it makes a break for it.
[27-06:32:06] <Ellis> Ellis heaves a sigh. "Well. That could have been much worse."
[27-06:32:46] <Zeni> Zeni sighs in relief as the numbness leaves her frail legs, watching the other bird run off before plopping right there in the grass.  "Alright.... That was all, right?  I'm going back to... to...." and then Zeni was asleep in the bright mid day.  :<  Never underestimate her lazy sleepiness power.
[27-06:33:03] <[DM]> Zeni finds the petrification to be largely superficial. A bit of her sin is stone, but it'd probably flake off in a day or so.
[27-06:37:57] * Moirai (~veekie@Rizon-B70C70AC.jb02-home.tm.net.my) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
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[27-06:38:26] * veekie (~veekie@Rizon-B70C70AC.jb02-home.tm.net.my) has joined #CrackOfDawn
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[27-06:39:34] <veekie> The rest of the rest is uneventful, though the grass rustles a few more times, nothing approaches the foul smelling heaps near the campsite.
[27-06:40:22] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[27-06:40:39] <@Lien> Lien, ironically, also finds it easy to fall right back asleep, on account of being used to sleeping wherever.
[27-06:41:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa sleeps, contemplating on getting her soul back.
[27-06:42:41] <[DM]> By the time the group was fully rested, the sun is low in the sky, the valley still dazzlingly bright, but no longer searing.
[27-06:47:43] <Zeni> Zeni wakes a bit earlier than usual, sitting herself up and staring at the stone layer of skin on her legs and feet, looking more than a little pouty about this outcome.  "Who gets to carry me?" she looks to Ellis with a slight grin, but then looks to Lien, knowing her to be the better option.  "You'll need me to guide you down into the valley anyway, you silly humans can't see in the dark~"
[27-06:49:21] <@Lien> "We have a glowing light."
[27-06:50:18] <Zeni> "And I'm sure you'd love to see its interaction with those crystals."
[27-06:50:30] <@Lien> "Fine."
[27-06:51:05] <Zeni> Zeni griiins, reaching up towards Lien.  "On your back!"
[27-06:52:45] <@Lien> "The higher, the better, right?" Lien crouches down, grabs on to Zeni's legs, and lifts her up for a shoulder ride.
[27-06:53:44] <Zeni> The half-elf whaps at Lien, "Not this waaaay!  Facing forwaaaard!  G-Gaaauuuu..."
[27-06:54:15] <Ellis> Ellis watches in bemusement. "Oh dear."
[27-06:58:20] <Ellis> A thought occurs to her, and she plucks some of the long grass up. "...What if we just wove some of this together into an eyeshade? It won't win any fashion awards, but it would cut down on the light considerably."
[27-06:59:46] <@Lien> "That sounds better."
[27-07:08:39] <Zeni> Zeni attempts to fashion some swag for herself, failing miserably before just staring at Ellis expectantly, demanding she make her some with her gaze. :<
[27-07:09:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes some blades of grass and fashions some crude shades for herself.
[27-07:10:06] <Ellis> Ellis, partway through cobbling together her own impromptu hat, resignedly plucks up more grass.
[27-07:11:11] <[DM]> Equipment on head, the trip down the valley is...if not easy, at least unlikely to break any necks.
[27-07:12:37] <Zeni> Zeni manages to climb her way down to ride Lien's back rather than her shoulder, slipping her arms loosely around the monk's neck and resting her chin firmly on her shoulder. 
[27-07:13:37] <@Lien> Lien, though not happy about, this, is resigned to her fate. At least the half-elf isn't heavy or obtrusively big.
[27-07:13:38] <[DM]> The climb would have been difficult for Zeni, but her trusty steed deals with it well enough.
[27-07:15:14] <Ellis> Ellis follows with little trouble. Having to carry Zeni might have been tricky, but thankfully the sorceress seems to have settled on Lien as her personal conveyance.
[27-07:15:34] <[DM]> And by the time the sun is on the horizon, the group is at a brook in the valley proper, where the grass waves gently. A small hut could be seen downstream, studded with slabs of crystal, while upstream there's a small streamer of smoke in the distance.
[27-07:16:53] <Zeni> Zeni could be seen and felt moving her little stoney legs without much trouble here and there, very satisfied with not having to make the climb herself. :>
[27-07:29:38] <@Lien> Looking up, Lien nods to the smoke in the distance, "People."
[27-07:31:08] <Zeni> "Well lead the way alreadyyy~"
[27-07:31:38] <@Lien> Grumbling, Lien does so.
[27-07:32:44] <[DM]> The water is sparkling clear, as they see the fish lazily swim along the stream. By the time they reach the campfire, it's night proper, the moon glowing faintly through overcast skies.
[27-07:33:25] <[DM]> There, Lien could see two elves in leathers, and some animal roasting over a fire.
[27-07:33:27] <[DM]> Hunters.
[27-07:34:13] <@Lien> Lien waves to them from a fair distance away.
[27-07:35:10] <[DM]> She sees a returning wave, though the elves pick up a few things at their sides as the party approaches.
[27-07:36:44] <Alyssa> Alyssa waves as well, with both hands.
[27-07:38:51] <Zeni> "<Don't worry, we're just adventurers!>"  Zeni calls out in elven with a grin, knowing full well that that would never calm the commonfolk.
[27-07:40:05] <[DM]> "<Adventurers. Good day>" The elves don't seem to be matching their words with actions, what with the weapons they're holding, "<What brings you to these parts?>"
[27-07:42:13] <@Lien> Lien, having no idea what they're saying, watches apprehensively as Zeni does the talking, not a small bit worried that she might call them cheats or criminals.
[27-07:44:25] <Zeni> "<Got a little turned around in the woods and ended up emerging just beside that annoying crystal place,>" she replies before kicking up one of her stoney legs, "<And well, ran into a little bit of trouble.  Can't say I'm familiar with these parts though, do you happen to know the way back to Nettlebloom?>"  Zeni shifts a bit, pulling herself up to rest her chin atop Lien's head, trying to make herself look 'above' the silly hooman carrying her.
[27-07:45:25] <Zeni> -annoying* shewouldn'tsaythattostrangers
[27-07:46:34] <@Lien> Lien frowns very deeply. "On second thought, we should go."
[27-07:46:54] <[DM]> "<What sort of trouble?>" They get to their feet, "<Would you partake of our hunt?>"
[27-07:48:16] <[DM]> Theres a faint red glow in their eyes now, matched by Lien's staff.
[27-07:48:45] <Alyssa> <Yeenoghu, I should have guessed.> Alyssa growls
[27-07:49:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the initiative and strikes with her weapon before they could start.
[27-07:49:11] <Zeni> Zeni stares nonplussedly for some time before raising her staff with a sigh.  "Could still knock them out and hope they recover to give us directions..."
[27-07:49:12] <Ellis> Ellis promptly draws on both of the elves.
[27-07:56:03] <[DM]> The grass abruptly blossoms with thorns and howls.
[27-07:57:16] <@Lien> "They're just possessed, if we can just keep them from killing us without killing them-" She drops Zeni to the ground before lunging forward with a thrust of her staff.
[27-07:59:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa summons a blunt training rapier, one made of metal and hits just as hard.
[27-08:00:36] <[DM]> The staff wielding elf abruptly crumples as Lien hits him in the neck,  and the red light escapes his eyes.
[27-08:02:24] <[DM]> The swordwielder catches the follow up strike on his blade.
[27-08:02:34] <@Lien> She follows up with a strike at the other, which misses, and settles for burying an elbow in his chest.
[27-08:06:00] <@Lien> "There... do you see those threads?"
[27-08:06:33] <Ellis> "What?" Not at all assured by Lien's behavior, Ellis does, at least, pull her shots and aim for the feet instead of the heart.
[27-08:07:23] * [DM] (~veekie@Rizon-B70C70AC.jb02-home.tm.net.my) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
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[27-08:10:14] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[27-08:10:43] <[DM]> One bolt is cut from the air in a stunningly fast swipe of his blade, but the other bolts clip the elf.
[27-08:11:02] <@Lien> "What what?"
[27-08:12:17] <Ellis> "What threads?" Ellis spares Lien a look of mixed concern and...well, more concern.
[27-08:12:45] <@Lien> Lien returns the same kind of look.
[27-08:15:13] <Alyssa> "They have strings on them?"
[27-08:16:34] <@Lien> "Yes? You don't see? They're right there."
[27-08:17:39] <Zeni> Zeni stares at Lien nonplussedly before looking over her shoulder to Ellis, "Maybe whatever is posessing the elves is after her too?  Idon'tknow."
[27-08:18:01] <@Lien> "It's Yeenoghu. Because they're hunters."
[27-08:18:56] <Alyssa> "Pfft I knew that."
[27-08:19:19] <[DM]> The sword wielding elf blurs as he rushes at Alyssa, eyes streaming fire.
[27-08:22:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa dodges two blows and lets the other two graze on her unnaturally tough flesh in order to step in and execute a pair of slashes with the blunt rapier.
[27-08:24:35] <[DM]> The first is evaded with absurd speed, even as the second clips him.
[27-08:29:19] <Zeni> Zeni withdraws back to Ellis's position, putting herself infront of the markswoman before slinging a firebolt the elf's way.
[27-08:30:58] <[DM]> The flames strike dead on, even as his companion moans, "Ellric, what was that?"
[27-08:31:14] <[DM]> *< >
[27-08:32:35] <[DM]> 'Ellric' meanwhile, looks maniacal and not at all responsive.
[27-08:33:23] <Zeni> Zeni glances the fallen elf's way before fixating back on the other.  "<You two were posessed by Yeenoghu.  Stay down, we're still trying to subdue your friend.  Tie yourself up somehow if you want to be extra helpful, you might become posessed again.>"
[27-08:33:52] <@Lien> "What are you-" Lien gives Ellis a 'you're being weird' frown before being distracted by Zeni just shooting the elf with fire. She goes for a pair of thrusts like the attack she sent the staff wielder's way, going for curious winging blows to the neck rather than proper hits.
[27-08:39:15] <[DM]> The first blow  causes the flaming eyes to dim, and the second seems to cut him down like a puppet.
[27-08:39:30] <[DM]> He crumples to the ground, insensate.
[27-08:40:06] <@Lien> "It's... it should be fine, now. They're not getting possessed again just like that."
[27-08:41:05] <Zeni> "How do you know?  And what was all that about 'threads?'"  Zeni steps up to the staff wielder, crouching down beside himorher.
[27-08:41:33] <@Lien> "I broke them. See?" She points at their throats, where there is nothing.
[27-08:42:20] <Ellis> "You broke..." Ellis stares flatly at Lien, then kneels to examine the comatose elf's neck.
[27-08:42:30] <Zeni> "<Now that we've saved you two from being Yeenoghu's posessed slaves for all eternity oruntilyou,youknow,die, care to tell us the way to Nettlebloom?>"  She smiles so cheerfully!
[27-08:42:41] <Ellis> After a few moments, she looks up. "There's nothing here."
[27-08:44:22] <[DM]> The staff wielder manages to stagger up to a sitting position, "<Gladly, if you would tell me what the FUCK just happened? Why does one of the Three want you dead bad enough to simply take me?>"
[27-08:44:33] <@Lien> Lien gives Ellis a look like she'd just said there's no grass around here. "If you say so. ...More importantly, we're going to have to be really careful near civilization if Yeenoghu can just possess any hunter anywhere at the drop of a hat. That can't be pleasant even if you're cut off."
[27-08:44:50] <[DM]> Alyssas gauntlets interrupt again, with a victorious tune.
[27-08:45:09] <Alyssa> Alyssa frowns at her gauntlets. There must be a way to tune it.
[27-08:46:19] <[DM]> This only gets weirder when the grass starts singing back.
[27-08:46:50] <Zeni> Zeni grins slightly nervously, "<Well we might have come across his accursed sacrificial sword, carried it to the elemental plane and well, snapped it in two.  That might have something to do with it, but we're just not sure yet.  Now Nettlebloom waaas....?>"  Zeni glances each way, stroking a slightly frizzled twintail out of her face and over her shoulder.
[27-08:47:33] <[DM]> "<You what>"
[27-08:48:00] <Ellis> Ellis groans quietly.
[27-08:48:06] <Alyssa> Curious, Alyssa moves towards a grass patch and snaps her fingers.
[27-08:48:25] <@Lien> Lien, not understanding a word of the conversation, looks on in confusion.
[27-08:48:42] <[DM]> There is a discordant chiming, met by a raspy singing.
[27-08:49:29] <[DM]> He grounds his staff, "<That was sacred.>"
[27-08:49:29] <Alyssa> Alyssa tries a combination of finger snapping and clapping her thighs
[27-08:49:44] <[DM]> "<In the right hands, it would have saved the world.>"
[27-08:49:47] <Zeni> "<Did I mention that if we hadn't destroyed his sword, he may have used it to enact a prophecy that could have quite possibly caused just a minor apocalypse?  Nettlebloom, please.  Also, know anywhere we might be able to fetch some horses?  Still having some... problems.>"  Zeni taps one of her stoney ankles with her translucent staff.
[27-08:50:00] <Ellis> Ellis groans. Loudly.
[27-08:50:11] <Alyssa> "Zeni, ask the elf why is the grass singing back, and whether he knows this tune."
[27-08:50:23] <Zeni> "I just want the way to Nettleblooom!"
[27-08:50:52] <Alyssa> "Ask!"
[27-08:51:17] <Zeni> "I aaaam!  I want a baaath, I want horses, I want our new carriaaaage!"  Totally the right time to be tantruming.
[27-08:51:28] <[DM]> The gauntlets ring with a barrage of chimes, to a warbling whistle. Most musicians would be weeping at this point.
[27-08:51:57] <@Lien> "...Ellis, can you ask instead? I don't understand what they're saying, but this can't be productive."
[27-08:52:39] <[DM]> The druid slumps down. He's got a headache and it just  got worse.
[27-08:53:15] <Ellis> "<Look.>" Ellis cuts across Zeni's plaintive whines. "<Can we discuss this when the grass isn't...warbling? Why IS it doing that, actually.>"
[27-08:53:32] <Alyssa> Alyssa tries to support the druid by holding him by the shoulders. "You alright?"
[27-08:56:20] <[DM]> "<I...what the fuck IS the grass doing?!>" The druid staggers to his feet as he helps heft his unconscious companion, "<Help me, we're fucking out of here, WOAH!>"
[27-08:56:26] <[DM]> He falls over from the exertion.
[27-08:56:50] <@Lien> That, at least, Lien notionally understands. She steps forward to catch the elf's fall.
[27-08:56:54] <Alyssa> "Welp, you cracked them on the head too hard Lien."
[27-08:57:15] <@Lien> "I didn't hit their head. Are you alright?"
[27-08:57:29] <Zeni> "<Can you seriously just point us in the direction of Nettlebloom...?>"
[27-08:58:22] <[DM]> "<This a...way~>" He keels over again. Unconscious. Now you have THREE immobile elves.
[27-08:58:51] <Ellis> Ellis throws up her hands and stalks off, kicking a tuft of singing grass in the process.
[27-08:58:53] <@Lien> Lien sighs. "Let's make another two stretchers."
[27-08:59:46] <@Lien> "And don't kick the grass, please."
[27-09:00:19] <Zeni> "I just don't see why we should bother.  He barely managed to cough out the way before collapsing!  He almost left us with no directions!  Just leave themmm!"  Zeni starts trying to climb up Lien's back.
[27-09:01:09] <@Lien> Lien drops her. "You don't leave unconscious people alone in the wilderness."
[27-09:03:57] <Zeni> Zeni actually semisortof tears up over being dropped, looking devestated, "I'm not walking like thiiiis!"  She demonstratively hobbles on her stoney legs, exaggerating how difficult it is just a hair.
[27-09:04:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa carries one of the elves easily over her shoulder.
[27-09:06:09] <@Lien> "Fine, I'll carry you again when we've made a stretcher so we can carry the other one."
[27-09:07:20] <Zeni> "But they'll slow us dooown!  Uuuuu...."  Too long without a comfy carriage bench, this is the result.
[27-09:08:54] <[DM]> After hauling the elves along...it's a long trek down the valley and out into normal, not spider infested woods, and nearly dawn by the time the party gets out of the field of light. The valley is gorgeous from here, without being painfully bright, as the sun crests one end and it becomes a river of gold.
[27-09:09:50] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #31 on: July 04, 2015, 11:36:03 AM »
Session 31:

[04-05:15:18] <[DM]> ----------------------------------------------
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[04-05:21:23] <[DM]> As the brilliant golden river of light behind in the valley fades away while the party heads back into the woods, apparently not following any path but the druid's still pained directions cutting across apparently identical forest.
[04-05:23:23] <[DM]> As he recovered enough to take a look at the other two unconscious elves the party had in tow, he groaned.
[04-05:24:10] <[DM]> Then the druid put a bit of linen over Riathelle's face quickly as he checks on his companion.
[04-05:24:30] <[DM]> "Don't let Ellric see her. He's still sore."
[04-05:25:52] <@Lien> Lien is about to take issue when the druid explains. "What... oh. Okay." As the party stops for a rest, Lien brews some bark tea for the elves, or at least the one that's awake, and checks on them herself as well.
[04-05:26:13] <@Lien> "Did she cheat on him or something?"
[04-05:27:03] <Alyssa> Alyssa rolls her eyes.
[04-05:27:06] <Zeni> Zeni snrks.
[04-05:27:18] <[DM]> "Worse. He bought a fatigue relief drug off her."  The elf grimaces, "It was a suppository made of ghost fire peppers."
[04-05:27:50] <@Lien> "..." Lien gives the unconscious Riathelle an flat stare.
[04-05:28:24] <Ellis> Ellis looks vaguely horrified at the notion. "Suddenly I feel less sympathetic, somehow."
[04-05:29:36] <Zeni> The little sorcerous helps herself to Lien's bedroll, doubling it up with her own before flopping down to rest.  "Well he won't have to worry about her anymooore, I think her mind has snapped at this point; she hasn't spoken at all in a while."
[04-05:30:39] <Ellis> "A lot of that right now is the coma."
[04-05:31:37] <[DM]> The druid looks at the party, at the butterflies orbiting Zeni, at Alyssa's humming  gauntlets and then at Lien, commenting dryly, "I can't imagine why. Name's Hircolri."
[04-05:31:53] <Alyssa> "Alyssa Fielding from Sweetwater."
[04-05:33:37] <@Lien> "I'm Lien."
[04-05:34:29] <Zeni> Zeni grins when looked towards, "Zenithar."
[04-05:35:01] <Ellis> "Ellis." She gives a vaguely friendly smile, hands preoccupied shuffling and reshuffling her cards.
[04-05:35:17] <@Lien> She titls her head. "Is something wrong with my eyes?"
[04-05:35:52] <Zeni> "Going by the strange things you were saying last fight, probably, yes."
[04-05:36:11] <@Lien> "I wasn't saying anything strange..."
[04-05:36:41] <[DM]> "Unless human eyes started glowing recently. Yes." He peers in deeply, then breaks off contact, shaking his head.
[04-05:36:43] <Alyssa> "You're seeing threads."
[04-05:37:28] <Ellis> "Eyes. Right." Ellis leaves unspoken the thought that glowing eyes aren't the only thing wrong with the hermit.
[04-05:38:16] <@Lien> "Huh. Now that you mention it." She doesn't seem as alarmed or surprised by this information as she maybe should be.
[04-05:39:36] <Alyssa> "What are these threads, what color and what do they look like?"
[04-05:40:11] <@Lien> She checks them in her reflection in a scoop of water, more with the air of someone looking at something they never really thought about than of someone whose eyes didn't use to glow.
[04-05:40:19] <[DM]> "Odder things have happened." The druid shakes his head dismissively, "What about the beastlord's fang? Wholly lost?"
[04-05:40:51] <@Lien> "We've got parts of it, I guess."
[04-05:41:23] <Alyssa> "I snapped his other fang if you must know." Alyssa replies dryly.
[04-05:45:03] <[DM]> He grimaces, "Then you must pray that the last night never comes. For it is final blood, fire and soul that reignites the ashes."
[04-05:45:45] <@Lien> "The end of the world not coming is the idea."
[04-05:45:48] <Alyssa> "That's very vague, could you be more specific?"
[04-05:46:11] <[DM]> "All things end."
[04-05:46:21] <Zeni> "Yeah, yeah~  If you saw how bad it was getting you probably would have snapped it too, we made the best decision we could with the information we had."  Zeni rolls in bed to face the other way.
[04-05:47:11] <[DM]> "Why? The blade is inert without a wielder, and the gnolls that were favored by it too weak to use it on anything of significance."
[04-05:47:30] <Ellis> One of the cards slips out of the deck mid-shuffle. Ellis grimaces, scooping it back up as she listens to these no-doubt dire prognostications.
[04-05:47:45] <Alyssa> "The gnolls were dead."
[04-05:48:10] <[DM]> "Obviously."
[04-05:49:16] <Alyssa> "The last wielder of Last Blood is me, and Last Blood is no more." Alyssa replies
[04-05:50:01] <@Lien> Lien looks at the druid. "The parts are still here, if that's what you're worried about. We didn't just discard them and haven't done anything with them yet."
[04-05:51:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Lien, wondering why she's telling a stranger that much. "Is there a way to purify the blade?"
[04-05:51:49] <Alyssa> "Or repurpose it."
[04-05:53:41] <[DM]> He rubs at his forehead with a finger, "The blade's purpose was always defined by the hand that wielded it."
[04-05:53:52] <[DM]> "Always."
[04-05:54:13] <@Lien> "Well, maybe it should've have been put in gnoll hands then."
[04-05:56:05] <Alyssa> "If I have my way, it would be plunged into Yeenoghu's heart."
[04-05:56:07] <[DM]> "They would have done little with it. Short sighted, the lot of them."
[04-05:56:24] <@Lien> "That pool full of blood didn't look like little."
[04-05:57:34] <[DM]> "Nothing that matters on the grand scheme of things. Innocents die to heat the blade, champions of the light to reclaim it, at tragic loss, then to bring the light into the darkness. To fight the final night."
[04-05:58:12] <Alyssa> "I have something else that would bring the light. That blade is not required anymore if that's the case."
[04-06:02:12] <[DM]> Alyssa only gets a snort in exchange. "May I see the parts?"
[04-06:02:27] <@Lien> Lien remains skeptical. "That doesn't sound like something the Beastlord could pull off..."
[04-06:02:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Lien. Taking out the core and hilt, she shows what she has to the druid.
[04-06:03:48] <[DM]> The elf bends in close to smell it, frowning. "Brimstone?"
[04-06:03:58] <@Lien> Lien returns the look, but says nothing about the remains of the blade before Hircolri comments on the other parts.
[04-06:04:40] <@Lien> At the druid's question, she makes eye contact with Alyssa again and shakes her head.
[04-06:05:08] <Alyssa> "My turn to have something in my eyes?" Alyssa raises an eyebrow
[04-06:07:18] <Zeni> Zeni continues to feign disinterest as she watches Ellis shuffle her cards, slowly seeming to drift off towards sleep.  Didn't they just rest?!
[04-06:07:45] <[DM]> "Nevermind. I can see why you did it now. Hellfire had gotten in somewhere." He shakes his head, "And some other taint."
[04-06:07:59] <@Lien> "Some other?"
[04-06:09:20] <[DM]> "I don't know what touched it, but the only thing still pure enough is the soul at the heart. Such blazing hate in it."
[04-06:09:34] <[DM]> "Unyielding steel."
[04-06:10:08] <Alyssa> It is Alyssa's turn to look at Zeni.
[04-06:10:32] <Alyssa> "How many things have gotten in now? Please be specific." Alyssa asks
[04-06:13:37] <Zeni> "I don't know, you were the dumby doing the stabbing, shouldn't you have a proper count?" Zeni tiredly replies with a hint of sarcasm; obviously she knows, but probably isn't wanting to tell the druid.
[04-06:13:41] <[DM]> "I am blessed with a taste of the beastlord's works, and it does not work for precision." The elf seems to take on a feral cast in a trick of the light for a moment, "Whatever it is, the blood is a maelstrom of power. The soul is pure, but of such transcendent hate. The metal..."He shakes his head, "I don't know metal."
[04-06:18:34] <Alyssa> "The soul will be my light. It's hate will be redirected back to Yeenoghu. I don't know if you're on the Beastlord's side or not, and I cannot absolve myself of my responsibility as the last wielder of Last Blood, but Yeenoghu will never have his desire. Not while I still draw breath."
[04-06:20:08] <[DM]> The druid breaks down laughing, startling his companion, who wakes groggily as he reaches reflexively for his weapon, before setting the blades back down. "Who do you think it hates more!?"
[04-06:20:41] <Alyssa> "You tell me. What I know now is that he hates me."
[04-06:21:07] <@Lien> "Why do you say it's metal? Looks like ivory to me."
[04-06:21:39] <[DM]> "It bears no hatred for the beastlord. It was a hunter of men."
[04-06:24:12] <[DM]> Hircolri lightly touches the soul shard, and the fragments of the hilt, "It looks like ivory, but there is no life or death within it. Only hardness."
[04-06:24:39] <Alyssa> "So your definition of metal is something hard but isn't alive or dead?"
[04-06:24:43] <@Lien> "Huh. Is it supposed to be that way?"
[04-06:26:19] <[DM]> "I've never seen the whole blade, but the hilt has been changed."
[04-06:26:25] <Alyssa> "It clearly is dragonbone, why would it be any different?"
[04-06:27:30] <[DM]> "How would I know?"
[04-06:29:13] <Alyssa> "So the end of the day, what has a broken Last Blood do for the Beastlord? Nothing anymore right?"
[04-06:31:33] <[DM]> Alyssa gets a flat stare.
[04-06:32:16] <Alyssa> "Don't just stare at me, tell me!"
[04-06:36:38] <[DM]> The other elf was just getting up as Hircolri takes out a piece of parchment, scribbling with a stick for a time, then getting up, "Ellric, we need  to go now."
[04-06:37:01] <[DM]> "Who're these people?"
[04-06:37:43] <[DM]> "Nobody you need to See." He begins dragging the bigger elf off.
[04-06:38:19] <@Lien> Lien waves.
[04-06:38:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at the rest. "So was breaking Last Blood a good thing or a bad thing?"
[04-06:39:51] <@Lien> "Still a good thing. Can't put my finger on it, but I don't buy the plot."
[04-06:40:32] <Zeni> "I don't really care what some smelly druid says, it was undoubtedly a good thing."
[04-06:40:47] <Alyssa> Alyssa sighs and keeps the items back into her pack safely.
[04-06:40:52] <Alyssa> "Let's move on."
[04-06:40:59] <[DM]> The parchment seems to be a pretty rough map, sketched and left there.
[04-06:44:52] <[DM]> Unfortunately, the map is simply too scant on detail for anyone who wasn't already very familiar with the area, and the party, after crossing a brook that  wasn't on the map, is lost, somewhere in the forest.
[04-06:47:02] <@Lien> Lien looks unamused by this turn of events, but not too despaired, considering how she's familiar with this kind of situation. Once they realize they're lost, she clambers up the tallest tree they can find and scans the canopy for hints.
[04-06:49:27] <[DM]> From her vantage, Lien could see the line of extra lushness crossing an odd ripple in the forest canopy. This, she concluded, was probably one of the big elven roads.
[04-06:50:09] <@Lien> She calls down, "There! I think there's a road in that direction. From there, we can just follow that."
[04-06:50:19] <Alyssa> "Let's go."
[04-06:51:32] <[DM]> The trip is uneventful, except as the brook nears the road, Lien could hear bees. Quite a lot of bees nearby.
[04-06:53:19] <@Lien> "That sounds like a lot of bees. Shouldn't they move bees away from roads...?" She trails off, patting her head, and sighs.
[04-06:53:58] <Zeni> "Mm.  Bit strange, lets walk beside the road to get a bit further away from them?"
[04-06:54:53] <[DM]> The buzzing intensifies after a moment. Why are the bees on the move?
[04-06:54:54] <@Lien> "I think Sparkle's gone off to steal honey..."Lien looks around as they get on the road. If there's this many bees, they shouldn't be hard to spot.
[04-06:55:43] <Alyssa> "So we're going to have a swarm of bees coming after us soon yes?"
[04-06:56:19] <@Lien> "I hope not."
[04-06:56:31] <Zeni> "Why are you keeping that annoying little thing around anyway?"  Zeni sighs and takes up her staff.
[04-06:56:39] <Alyssa> "Let's assume yes." Alyssa sighs.
[04-06:56:41] <[DM]> A badger bursts out of the bushes and runs for its life, a beehive on it's back.
[04-06:57:11] <[DM]> Fortunately, it was running down the side of the road that  didn't have the party on it.
[04-06:57:37] <@Lien> "What."
[04-06:58:16] <@Lien> Lien whistles.
[04-06:58:20] <Alyssa> Alyssa throws a ball at the badger.
[04-06:58:29] <Zeni> Zeni stares in disbelief for some time before snrking and walking back towards the road.  "Well..."
[04-06:58:49] <[DM]> THEN a giant swarm of bees burst out from the trees.
[04-07:00:18] <Zeni> ....
[04-07:00:21] <Zeni> Zeni runs.
[04-07:00:36] <@Lien> "The brook! In there!"
[04-07:00:49] <Zeni> "Lien carry me!"
[04-07:00:53] <Alyssa> Alyssa jumps into the brook.
[04-07:01:25] <[DM]> The thrum of very very angry bees fills the air as they look for the criminal badger.
[04-07:01:26] <Zeni> Zeni slowly turns in a wide arc as she runs through shrubbery before eventually diving into the brook.
[04-07:01:50] <@Lien> In the bustle, Lien only half complies, simply half-dragging, half-shoving Zeni into the water.
[04-07:01:59] <[DM]> Ellis gets a good look at the nearly solid black and yellow cloud swivels towards the party, having lost the badger.
[04-07:02:30] <@Lien> Shortly after, she hits the brook herself.
[04-07:02:40] <Ellis> Ellis wastes little time in leaping into the water after that.
[04-07:04:55] <[DM]> The bees hover over the shallow brook as the party does their best to hold their breath.
[04-07:05:55] <[DM]> After some panicked flailing around underwater, the nearby reeds are revealed to be not hollow at all...but Zeni manages to snag a hollow branch, if a filthy one.
[04-07:06:01] <[DM]> Enough for her!
[04-07:07:50] <[DM]> So Zeni was breathing happily as the others grew increasingly blue while the bees hummed menacingly.
[04-07:08:19] <Zeni> Zeni eventually offers to share the hollow branch. :<
[04-07:10:23] <[DM]> After a long, tense and wet moment,  the bees depart.
[04-07:11:42] <@Lien> Lien is the first to surface again and gasp for air. A little annoyed at her pet fairy now.
[04-07:11:48] <Alyssa> Alyssa surfaces.
[04-07:12:24] <Ellis> Once the swarm has departed, Ellis emerges, glaring around ineffectually through water-covered glasses.
[04-07:13:51] <@Lien> She looks into thin air and asks it what's up a bit sullenly, following an invisible tug at her hair.
[04-07:13:52] <Zeni> Zeni emerges with an exaggerated gasp, immediately lighting up a flame and using it to dry herself off.  Being such a good person, she dries off a handkerchief first before offering it to Ellis, before continuing with drying herself.  "Well.  That was a thing.  A really dumb thiiing..."
[04-07:16:42] <[DM]> Lien, finds, not far away, where a mostly intact, if empty beehive had fallen in the grass.
[04-07:17:17] <@Lien> "On the bright side, there's a ton of honey here?"
[04-07:17:41] <[DM]> There'res a bit stoved in which looks like a badger desperately kicked it before jumping into the water.
[04-07:18:30] <[DM]> Picking it up, theres only a few straggling bees in the crushed bits, but it has the weight of a lot of honey.
[04-07:19:24] <@Lien> Carefully, to avoid getting stung after going to the trouble of not getting stung, Lien opens it and peeks inside. Maybe there's some good to this mess, at least.
[04-07:19:36] <Alyssa> Alyssa picks the bees off using her gauntlets.
[04-07:20:39] <[DM]> The smell of rich, wildflower honey comes out of it. Good stuff...though not  quite worth dealing with all the pissed off bees.
[04-07:20:47] <Ellis> Ellis silently accepts the proffered handkerchief and dries her glasses off before wringing her hair out and trying to tie it back out of the way.
[04-07:21:15] <Zeni> Zeni had given up on her flamedrying by now, having remembered the dry towel she kept in her bag of holding, using that to dry herself instead.  "Well.  Bottle it up already and let's go!  Orjustleaveit.  Getting to Nettlebloom before sundown would be nice."
[04-07:22:06] <@Lien> Lien didn't need to be told that and is already on it.
[04-07:23:42] <[DM]> Meanwhile, in their panicked escape to the river, Riathelle had woken up at the shock of hitting the water, and is now a mess in the corner, spluttering, "Why me...."
[04-07:24:45] <@Lien> Lien tries to pat her back and offer her some honey, for want of any better consolation. "We'll be back in Nettlebloom soon."
[04-07:25:29] <[DM]> She looks at the road despondently...then brightens up, "So it is! CIVILIZATION!"
[04-07:25:37] <[DM]> The elf runs off with surprising speed.
[04-07:25:50] <Alyssa> Alyssa chases after her.
[04-07:25:52] <Zeni> "Maybe this is a good point to leave her behind? How dangerous could it be here?  Will be a little awkward walking into town with that sobbing, gibbering wrec--"
[04-07:26:01] <Zeni> "....."
[04-07:26:10] <@Lien> "Careful! Don't stumble and break your neck a mile from home."
[04-07:27:02] <@Lien> "Also, we should enter the city at night, if Yeenoghu's going to pounce on any opportunity to possess someone and attack us..."
[04-07:28:08] <Zeni> "Mm, I was thinking about that too.  Sure makes things tricky..."
[04-07:28:20] <[DM]> She promptly trips about two hundred feet down the road and faceplants into a bush, with the muffled complaint,  "I hate nature"
[04-07:28:56] <@Lien> "Should an elf be saying that?" Lien offers her a hand when she catches up.
[04-07:29:57] <[DM]> She takes it reluctantly, "It's trying to kill me, I should return the favor.""
[04-07:30:13] <Ellis> "That's the spirit."
[04-07:30:38] <Zeni> "Shall I get started burning down this forest then?  Hm, maybe after we conclude our business in Nettlebloom..."
[04-07:30:53] <Alyssa> "Let's just go back. I
[04-07:30:55] <@Lien> "Please don't."
[04-07:30:58] <Alyssa> 'I'm eager to move on."
[04-07:32:20] <[DM]> It's only a few hours travel before the city is visible, upon which the rather battered elf revives, "Now! I want additional compensation for abuse, above and beyond all reasonable suffering."
[04-07:32:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa raises an eyebrow amused.
[04-07:32:47] <@Lien> "Sounds reasonable."
[04-07:34:38] <Zeni> "That's not coming out of my moneys.  We paid you too much for the terrible services you offered in the first place!"
[04-07:37:05] <@Lien> "How much do you want?"
[04-07:40:16] <[DM]> "Three hundred gold.
[04-07:40:18] <[DM]> "
[04-07:40:49] <Zeni> Zeni just laughs and keeps walking.
[04-07:42:46] <Alyssa> "Ten gold no more no less miss con-artist." Alyssa looks sternly.
[04-07:44:08] <@Lien> Lien, unfortunately, has no idea how much services are worth, so she looks at the others, minus Zeni who wouldn't even give her the fifty if she had her druthers.
[04-07:47:43] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head. "That's an absurd demand, even considering the circumstances, and I think you know that. Fair rate would be closer to two hundred, so we'll say a hundred and fifty. That ought to be enough for you to do well for yourself. Maybe buy something to relieve your fatigue."
[04-07:48:17] <@Lien> "Or invest it in living off something other than shoving ghost peppers up people's bums."
[04-07:49:19] <[DM]> "...okay. I'll take while I can find."
[04-07:50:22] <@Lien> "I can cover that out of my pocket, I guess."
[04-08:01:28] <Zeni> Zeni spends perhaps a bit too much time cleaning herself up, brushing her hair and setting up her disguise, jokingly practicing her voice to in preparation for speaking her dialect of elven.  "Alright... So.  Lien, think this will work?"
[04-08:03:14] <@Lien> "I don't know..." She swiftly and mercilessly points out several flaws that... shouldn't be a hindrance unless she runs into another Lien.
[04-08:03:52] <Zeni> Zeni pooouts, adjusting the flaws; of course she'd made her ears a bit too pointy.
[04-08:04:25] <[DM]> To top off the disguise, Zeni finds herself covered in a fine layer of glitter.
[04-08:04:30] <@Lien> "It'd definitely fool another banshee?"
[04-08:05:00] <Zeni> The half-elf straightens out her strange amulet and huffs, turning on a dime and heading down the road.  "You better hope I can!"
[04-08:05:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa nearly rolls on the floor laughing.
[04-08:05:57] <@Lien> "I'd rather you not, actually."
[04-08:06:47] <Ellis> Ellis follows ruefully, knowing that she'll have to shoulder the brunt of Zeni's huffing.
[04-08:07:33] <[DM]> Inside the city, things seem normal enough. No berserking elves suddenly assaulting Zeni and Ellis.
[04-08:09:18] <Ellis> Ellis first makes a quick stop to buy crossbow bolts; her stock is rapidly declining.
[04-08:11:09] <@Lien> Meanwhile, outside, Lien enjoys some bread and honey with Sparklestar. It's no mystery household fairies want to be paid in that if you've ever had it after a stressful day.
[04-08:12:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa contemplates her life and her choices while waiting, sipping her own brew.
[04-08:13:03] <[DM]> The shopping trip goes uneventfully, though the bird had learned a number of elven swears by now, and the carriage is looking positively decadent.
[04-08:14:30] <[DM]> The ballista on the top seems to be in good working condition, though Ellis does not fancy firing that inside the city.
[04-08:15:03] <Zeni> Zeni tests out her disguise at the first store where Ellis restocks on bolts and, confident enough after that success, makes straight for the craftsman's shop.  She beams upon seeing the carriage, looking just about ready to jump for joy as she clings to Ellis's side.  "It's perfect in every way!  Other than you know, being subtle, but that's what your new toy is for."
[04-08:24:24] <Ellis> Ellis spends a little bit of time admiring the workmanship (and, incidentally, familiarizing herself with the thing for the next time she inevitably needs to kill something big and slavering).
[04-08:25:27] * [DM]_ (~veekie@D5EA5A0.98BB6BF5.C600B0DB.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[04-08:25:40] <Zeni> Zeni cheerfully drags Ellis off to one of the fancier inns, throwing a huff when they take issue with her human companion and managing to get her way.  Without a roll.  Take that, Veekie. :<  The little sorceress eventually makes her way to the bath, settling down for a nice long soak after pouring perhaps a bit too much bubbly powder into the hot water.
[04-08:26:07] * [DM] (~veekie@D5EA5A0.98BB6BF5.C600B0DB.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[04-08:27:12] <[DM]_> About halfway through the soak. The amulet sends a searing spike of pain through Zeni.
[04-08:27:27] <[DM]_> And then another, and a third.
[04-08:27:58] <[DM]_> Outside the city gates, Lien notices the bushes moving....
[04-08:32:53] <Zeni> Zeni cringes at first, then flails as the pain courses through her, knocking the contained of bubbly soaps into the bath with her as she cries out in pain.  "GGGAAAH!  E-Ellis!!"  After a few more seconds of pained screaming, she's left panting and wide eyed as the soap explodes around her.  "T-That... I think that was my amulet... it's looking for us!  U-Ugh... I'mokaythough."
[04-08:33:00] <Zeni> container*
[04-08:33:03] <[DM]_> ---------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #32 on: July 18, 2015, 12:27:11 PM »
Session 32

[05:12] <[DM]> Jackals burst out of the  undergrowth, immediately lunging at  the duo in a swarm.
[05:13] <Alyssa> "Oh fuck me."
[05:17] <@Lien> Lien, half expecting something like this, is on her feet in a heartbeat, swinging the celestial spindle in an arc once to get room before slamming its butt into the ground to a deafening thunderclap.
[05:21] <Zeni> Elsewhere, with the pain having subsided, Zeni sits there for some moments as the suds rage around her.  "... Nothing came after us, did it?"
[05:24] <[DM]> Howls of pain and collapsing fills the woods, ringing out.
[05:24] <Ellis> "Don't relax just yet." Ellis eyes the door with considerable suspicion. "That amulet went off for a reason."
[05:24] <[DM]> Alyssa isn't spared, her ears taken out by the thunderclap
[05:27] <[DM]> The survivors charge Lien and Alyssa, singing hypnotically in a dirge.
[05:31] <Zeni> Zeni climbs out of the bath and throws a towel around herself while suds fill the room, using her staff to feel her way towards the door before quickly exiting and slamming the thing shut behind her before using her cantrip to uncover her face.  "Wasn't it always rather instantaneous before?  He would generally posess some creature we were right beside, right?  But who knows how often he was looking in on us, oof..."
[05:34] <Ellis> "I wouldn't put it past him to try a new tactic. False sense of security, etcetera. It's what I would do." Ellis prowls ahead of Zeni, crossbows held at her sides but still ready.
[05:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa parries a blow that nearly went for her stomach while two swings caught her, one almost scoring too deep. Disappearing in a puff of silvery mist, she appears beside Lien and taps her head with her foot while snapping her fingers at the mob of creatures that swarmed her just. Causing a loud sharp explosion to rock that area.
[05:40] <Zeni> "I think you give him too much credit calling anything he does a 'tactic,' he seems pretty simple minded... Just tunnel visions on one thing and ragefully goes after it."  Zeni uses her cantrip to remove the suds from her hair, then quickly ties it up into twin tails before taking a defensive posture with her elemental water staff again.  Priorities.
[05:42] <Alyssa> Still bleeding from her ears, Alyssa readies her weapon, still tapping Lien sharply with her foot.
[05:42] <[DM]> The jackals drop quite dead.
[05:43] <[DM]> Which is when the remainder of the beasts burst out of the undergrowth to lunge at Alyssa.
[05:46] <Alyssa> <Fuck you Yeenoghu!> Alyssa growls in Abyssal.
[05:49] <Alyssa> Growling at the one that bit her, Alyssa stabs at it's face twice.
[05:51] <[DM]> The first thrust penetrates through it's jaw, up and into it's brain, then pulling out, Alyssa manages to cut the throat of a second on her second pass.
[05:52] <[DM]> Lien's staff brightens as the remaining four Jackalweres bulk up.
[05:54] <[DM]> THen they lunge again, jaws snapping furiously
[05:58] <Alyssa> "Argh!" Alyssa screams as the battlefield smells of her blood. "Wake the fuck up!" Alyssa yells in frustration as she slashes across Lien's thigh as the arching swing tries to take a Jackalwere by the face.
[06:00] <Alyssa> DELETE ABOVE
[06:01] <Alyssa> "Alyssa cries out in pain as her blood splatters out of her wounds. Spinning her blade for two strikes, she ends her pivoting by punching downwards with her fist onto Lien's stomach. "WAKE THE HELL UP!"
[06:03] <[DM]> The gauntlets sing happily, unheard by anyone except the one being punched.
[06:03] <Zeni> Zeni waits at the ready for a fight for some time before eventually sighing and easing up.  "I don't think anything's coming our way.  If my amulet worked, then it doesn't know where I am and I have doubts that you would be its top prioritiy.  It's probably tunnel visioned on either Alyssa for having those sword parts or Lien for annihilating its hydra thingy."  The half-elf turns and heads back towards the bathroom.
[06:04] <[DM]> Unfortunately, the toughened monsters remain standing, despite being maddened by their wounds.
[06:04] <@Lien> Lien sputters and coughs as she is awakened as roughly as it gets, but at least she's back in the land of the living and the fighting for their lives.
[06:05] <Ellis> Ellis mulls that over, following Zeni back just in case. "In that case, shouldn't we check on them?"
[06:06] <@Lien> In moments, she is back on her feet, snapping her staff up for a one-two strike to the temples of two of the monsters, first one, then the other.
[06:07] <[DM]> Her second swing goes wide, but the first takes out the already wounded Jackalwere.
[06:08] <Alyssa> "Welcome back." Alyssa pants as she gets into a back to back position with Lien.
[06:11] <Zeni> "Well I'm not about to race through town wearing a towel!"  Zeni opens the door and does perilous battle with the soap suds as she makes her way in, grabs her dress, then fights her way out before slamming the door shut again.  She casually puts it on despite being coated in soap bubbles, then just starts cleaning them away with her cantrip once she's dressed.  "Let'sgo."
[06:11] <[DM]> The beasts surge forth once more, attacking the duo furiously.
[06:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa feels faint, but remains strong on her feet. She roars uncharacteristically and goes for a crazy swing and a punch to the face.
[06:17] <[DM]> The beast is shaken, but not stirred.
[06:19] <@Lien> Which Lien sets out to change with a series of thrusts aimed at the nose.
[06:20] <[DM]> The monster reels back, it's senses overloaded.
[06:21] <@Lien> After a thunderclap in the thing's face, she ships immediately around to smack another one of them right in the stomach.
[06:22] <[DM]> The beast, even under Yeenoghu's possession, goes crosseyed.
[06:22] <[DM]> The remaining monster redoubles it's efforts on taking down Alyssa SOMEHOW in a frenzy.
[06:24] <Alyssa> Alyssa rams her gauntlets at the jaws to deflect the bite.
[06:24] <[DM]> The frenzy works against it, snapping frequently upon empty air.
[06:24] <[DM]> And then it ate a fist.
[06:24] <Alyssa> Alyssa redoubles her efforts to take out that mad beast.
[06:24] <[DM]> The gauntlets ring out merrily.
[06:25] <[DM]> The attacks draw blood, but fail to take it down.
[06:26] <Zeni> Zeni arrives down at the carriage with Ellis in toe, but stops as a realization strikes her.  "... Neither of us are any good at piloting this thing, are we?  Neither of us can very well -race- this thing through town... Oooof..."  The sorceress pats one of the horses and pleads for it to be a good horsie before climbing up and attempting to take control.
[06:26] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, goes for the now staggering beasts with crackling lightning and a lot of staff to the face.
[06:28] <[DM]> The monster collapses, out cold.
[06:29] <[DM]> Meanwhile, Zeni's wild ride somehow avoided trampling anyone, mostly by dint of everyone leapiing out of the way and a close call with a fruit stand.
[06:30] <Ellis> Ellis hops up onto the other horse, following in Zeni's wake. There's a pretty sizable path for her to take advantage of.
[06:30] <[DM]> Lien's second strike leaves the creature staggering. Almost down, but not quite.
[06:30] * Retrieving #CrackOfDawn modes...
[06:33] <[DM]> Then her staff blazes to life again, as the two fallen jackalweres gasp their last.
[06:33] <[DM]> The last one SWELLS again, putting on muscle and bulk.
[06:35] <[DM]> Help does not seem forthcoming as it takes a swing at Alyssa, emanating a fetid bestial stench.
[06:36] <Alyssa> Alyssa deflects it away, a grimace on her face.
[06:37] <Alyssa> Summoning her strength, Alyssa drives into the creature, trying to plunge her blade deep into the creature's heart, with a punch for a good measure.
[06:39] <[DM]> The blows sink in, but meats solid resistance.
[06:41] <@Lien> Lien, after getting some space, immediately follows up with a series of strikes at its chest.
[06:45] <Zeni> Soap bubbles still crinkling in her hair, Zeni tugs the reins perhaps a bit too hard as the horses and carriage scream to a stop just outside the camp.  She leaps to her feet, motes of flame flashing into existence above her as she takes up her staff.  "I knew you idiots would be in trouble!"
[06:45] <[DM]> Lien's blows thump into the dense slabs of muscle on the freakish monster.
[06:46] <[DM]> It bat Lien aside, and then rips into Alyssa again.
[06:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa deflects the second swipe with her gauntlet.
[06:47] <Alyssa> DELETE ABOVE
[06:50] <Ellis> Ellis dismounts quickly, sending three bolts whistling toward the creature before both feet hit the ground.
[06:50] <Ellis> *Delete above
[06:54] <Ellis> Ellis doesn't dismount like Zeni, instead grabbing the mounted siege crossbow and wheeling it around to face the creature, straining with the effort. She pulls the firing arm twice, bracing against the kickback.
[06:59] <[DM]> The heavy bolts go poorly, one impaling a tree, and the other skewering a shoulder.
[06:59] <[DM]> The beast glares at Ellis.
[07:01] <Zeni> "Well it was your first time trying it, I'm surprised you hit it at all!"  Zeni raises her staff, the motes of flame bursting into lengthy spears that independently orient themselves towards their target.  "Should be good enough!"  She sends them flying.
[07:04] <[DM]> The bolts impact with a sizzle, but amazingly enough the monster is STILL going.
[07:04] <[DM]> If somewhat crispy.
[07:05] <Alyssa> Alyssa screams as she drives herself forward.
[07:05] <Zeni> "... O-Or not.  Someone finish it off!"
[07:06] <Ellis> Swearing profusely, Ellis plants her feet on the carriage roof and shoves the weapon back around toward the monster.
[07:06] <[DM]> Alyssa's blows ring out off key, but it remained bloodied and frenzied.
[07:07] <@Lien> Lien does not scream or throw herself at anything. She just twirls her staff and plants herself right in front of the beast, ending the swing pointing up at its chin and into the sky.
[07:08] <[DM]> With the roar of a thunderclap, the head is blown off, flying into the bushes.
[07:09] <Alyssa> Just to be safe, Alyssa plunges her fist into the creature's chest and rips out it's heart.
[07:09] <Zeni> Meanwhile back at the hotel, the pink bath suds have flooded the entire suite and started to flood into the hall.  This contrasting image doesn't ruin the mood at all.
[07:10] <[DM]> The gauntlets play out a jaunty, triumphant tune.
[07:10] <[DM]> If only Alyssa could hear it
[07:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa roars in triumph and takes a bite out of the heart.
[07:11] <Zeni> Zeni huffs victoriously, as if she'd done all the work, though her smugness does subside a bit as she starts to notice the rest of the bodies around the camp.  "Yeesh... He really did tunnel vision on you two.  He didn't send anything after us."
[07:12] <Zeni> "Other than well, searing pain."
[07:12] <Alyssa> DELETE ABOVE
[07:12] <@Lien> "I guess so."
[07:14] <Zeni> "And bath soap."  Zeni nods sagely.
[07:14] <[DM]> Lien's staff's glow seems to flicker, fading, then turns crimson as Alyssa rips out the heart.
[07:14] <[DM]> Sulferous smoke rises out of the corpse.
[07:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa throws the heart onto the ground and stabs it.
[07:14] <Zeni> "Annnnyway... I didn't finish my bath, so we're heading back into town.  Are you two coming along--"
[07:15] <@Lien> "...Why would you..."
[07:15] <[DM]> Scarlet wings shake themselves loose from the smoke, as the staff dims to a warm red glow.
[07:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa stabs at the wings.
[07:16] <[DM]> "Good day adventurers." A serpentine tail flicks the stab out of the way as Alyssa feels fire roar up within her, dropping her to her knees, "Now, now Alyssa, is that anyway to treat your debtor?"
[07:16] <Zeni> "... Alyssa's really set on fulfilling -some- kind of prophecy, isn't she?"  Zeni stares blankly.   "Destroy one and she's looking for another."
[07:16] <Alyssa> "Argh."
[07:16] <Zeni> "................"
[07:16] <Ellis> "Grand." Ellis scowls at the latest arrival, such as it is. Why couldn't she have stuck to shooting people from rooftops?
[07:16] <@Lien> "What."
[07:17] <Zeni> Zeni's jaw drops.
[07:17] <[DM]> A superhumanly sexy fiend of some sort  lounges upon the swollen corpse, "I'm here to collect."
[07:17] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks up from her knees. "Eva..."
[07:18] <Alyssa> "Collect...what... You already took my soul."
[07:19] <[DM]> "As you lot seem to be the incurable, do-gooder types I would even give you the proper motivation for it." She smiles, "All things fall apart, and the Elder things awaken. We of the Hells must enforce the pacts."
[07:21] <@Lien> "What."
[07:22] <Zeni> Zeni manages to lift her jaw, then folds her arms and glares at Alyssa before averting her gaze and huffing.  Totallynotjealous.
[07:22] <[DM]> "You can read your staff, gazer upon the infinite. It tells you our roles."
[07:22] <@Lien> "Right. What does that have to do with collecting anything?"
[07:23] <[DM]> "I hold her soul, and it is of little value to me, if much to her."
[07:24] <[DM]> "So here I come, in an exchange of values."
[07:26] <[DM]> She refocuses upon Alyssa, "I require of you, three things for your soul. A soul of pride and wrath. A star of the firmament. And most importantly of all..." She spreads her wings dramatically, "...someone to visit the Heavens and ask them WHAT THE FUCK THOSE SELF RIGHTEOUS PRICKS ARE DOING ABOUT THIS."
[07:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Lien and shakes her head. "Not worth my soul. And for anyone to give you that will be bound for eternal damnation."
[07:28] <@Lien> Lien looks relieved at that answer.
[07:28] <Alyssa> "There's enough mistakes riding on my soul already and I will not allow any more!" Alyssa looks at Eva with determination in her eyes.
[07:29] <[DM]> The devil's eyes flame briefly at the last request, as she calms herself, "Any soul of pride and wrath, I'm not picky, but yours is too limp to forge the primordium spark."
[07:29] <[DM]> She gets up close to Lien, peering into her eyes, "Look into the sun and see for yourself."
[07:30] <Ellis> Ellis studies the demon with a hint of curiosity. Even for this lot, the visitation has taken an odd turn.
[07:32] <Zeni> Zeni drops to sitting in the carriage bench, staring disinterestedly at the demon with her chin in her palm.  Totallyfeigningdisinterest. 
[07:33] <@Lien> Lien leans away from the demon lady with a skeptical expression. "I'm on my way to confront the custodians about it."
[07:35] <[DM]> The fiend waves her off dismissively, "Of little consequence. They lack the passion to do anything more than run after disasters. What use is bailing out a boat with a shark in it?"
[07:37] <@Lien> "Killing the shark won't help you if there's still water in the boat."
[07:40] <[DM]> "It does if you plug the hole with the shark." The grass shrivels, drying up through the woods as the trees creak and grow brown.
[07:41] <Ellis> "What an awful metaphor."
[07:42] <@Lien> "That's a terrible way to plug a hole."
[07:42] <[DM]> "Mortal." She sniffs at Ellis, gesturing at the corpses, "Do you know what the angels do?"
[07:44] <Ellis> "I've never had reason to be involved in their affairs." Ellis resists the temptation to sniff disdainfully in return.
[07:45] <Zeni> Zeni sighs impatiently, "Just let us know how you'd like us to 'plug the hole with the shark' and leave us to consider it.  If you won't even let us know the method by which that might work, then we're not going to bother trying to figure such a silly thing out."
[07:45] <Alyssa> Alyssa sniffs disdainfully.
[07:47] <[DM]> "Only a soul of unending pride and wrath can endure being infused with the celestial light and the infernal heat, in a shell of elemental fire." She looks at Zeni again, "You don't have anything near enough fire."
[07:50] <Zeni> "Like I'd offer up my soul for such a purpose in the first place.  Yeenoghu's will do just fine,"  Zeni impassively replies, though probably a bit obviously raging for multiple reasons below the surface.  Obvious to the demon, anyway.
[07:51] <@Lien> "What, are you trying to repair the sun?"
[07:51] <[DM]> "With a heart that won't break under the pressure." She frowns at Lien, "Not you. You'd put it out for sure."
[07:52] <@Lien> Lien blinks. "Is that a compliment?"
[07:53] <[DM]> "If the earth or sea fails, you'd be the first up."
[07:54] <@Lien> "What... oh."
[08:02] <Zeni> "Right.  Well.  We'll consider it, now if Alyssa has nothing else we'll be on our way."
[08:04] <Alyssa> "Just don't give anymore souls to her. And if my soul is limp, it just means she sucks at soul-scouting. I know my worth."
[08:06] <[DM]> "Well...I'm also open to 'other' deals" She leans back, thrusting her chest at Zeni, "Want some?"
[08:06] <Zeni> All the flames.
[08:06] <@Lien> Lien gives Zeni a vaguely tempted sidelong glance, but doesn't say or do anything. "That kind of thing should be done voluntarily. I'll find the Heavens like you said-" She interrupts herself and fails to suppress a snicker.
[08:08] <Alyssa> Alyssa looks at Zeni with disappointment in her eyes. Is her secret desire that...weak?
[08:09] <Ellis> Ellis glances over her shoulder. Maybe she can sneak away before the inferno starts.
[08:10] <Zeni> Zeni's twintails flick about like flame as they float into the air above, sounding of firecrackers as the last remaining soap suds explode.  "If I wanted to end up like some dumb booby bimbo I'd have gone and become a h-hermit or somethiiing!" she whines out, making just about zero sense as she takes up the reigns and whips them perhaps too hard.
[08:11] <[DM]> Zeni swerves RIGHT into a tree, destroying it and getting the carriage stuck halfway through a second as the horse omplains.
[08:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa runs to her horse to calm it down.
[08:12] <Zeni> Just as planned.
[08:12] <@Lien> Lien runs to check on Zeni, which probably doesn't do her mood any favors.
[08:12] <Alyssa> Alyssa shoots a glare at Eva. "Nobody is giving anymore souls to you, if you really want, just take me, leave my friends alone."
[08:12] <Ellis> Nearly jolted off the carriage, Ellis decides to climb down before Zeni somehow makes it explode.
[08:13] <[DM]> "I already own you Alyssa." The internal heat flares up again, "I could just MAKE you, if I wanted."
[08:14] <Alyssa> Alyssa draws her weapon, eyes hot at the devil. "So what?"
[08:15] <Alyssa> "If you want a scrap let's do it. Stop trying to tempt my friends."
[08:15] <[DM]> "So I could do this." Alyssa's weapon reverses, leaning against her neck, "Or this", She finds the blade swiveling towards Lien.
[08:16] <[DM]> "But I like them spirited." Alyssa's limbs return to herself, "And the pacts are clear"
[08:23] <@Lien> Lien looks slightly tempted to answer with a length of stick, but she relaxes when Alyssa returns to her own control.
[08:25] <Ellis> Ellis warily paces forward, brow furrowed in thought. "These Elder things you mentioned. Explain?"
[08:26] <[DM]> Eva strides towards Zeni, then strokes her kitten, "You've met one."
[08:27] <Ellis> "I thought so. How many others are there?"
[08:27] <[DM]> "What would you pay for that knowledge?"
[08:28] <Ellis> Ellis shakes her head. "I suspect your price is more than I'm willing to pay, somehow."
[08:28] <Zeni> With the carriage now stuck atop several shattered stumps, Zeni sits there still shaking the reigns and trying to get it going.  "Uuugh...  Can we please get going before I do something even more stupid?"  Motes of flame still spark all about the little sorceress, who's at this point refusing to look towards the demoness despite feeling her presence so close, causing her to tremble slightly.  Vanilla is sitting atop the carriage a couple of feet away from Zeni, nuzzling into the demon's petting hand.
[08:30] <[DM]> "Contrary to popular opinion, we take more than souls. Souls are only taken when the price cannot be met, or if the individual has no worth beyond it."
[08:31] <Alyssa> Alyssa could feel anger welling within her.
[08:34] <Ellis> "I doubt you value coins, frankly. What would you demand for that information when odds are good I could find it for free elsewhere?"
[08:34] <Zeni> Zeni's frown stiffens.
[08:36] <[DM]> She looks at Ellis, "Debt collection services. You ply the trade of ending lives. Some debts are past their due."
[08:38] <Ellis> "Only the desperate or the extremely stupid take on a job without asking for details."
[08:40] <[DM]> She smiles like a snake, "Clever girl. Some contractors have taken it upon themselves to cheat the final price through undeath."
[08:40] <[DM]> "Vampire."
[08:44] <Ellis> Ellis inhales thoughtfully. "Tricky, for certain."
[08:44] <[DM]> The succubus continues rubbing Vanilla, the kitten not resisting.
[08:57] * veekie (~veekie@D5EA5A0.98BB6BF5.C600B0DB.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[08:58] * [DM] (~veekie@D5EA5A0.98BB6BF5.C600B0DB.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[08:59] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[09:01] <@Lien> "...Do you have a specific vampire in mind?"
[09:01] <Ellis> Ellis shoots Lien an odd look.
[09:02] <[DM]> "A rather specific one. A former human by the name of Anders, last sighted in the town of Telos. He has since moved on."
[09:04] <@Lien> "That's far out of our way."
[09:05] <[DM]> "I can be very patient."
[09:05] <@Lien> "I'll think about it?"
[09:06] <[DM]> "So, do you forfeit your soul, Alyssa dear?" She refocuses upon her primary target, "Relinquish all further claims?"
[09:06] <Ellis> "The vampire won't be dying any time soon, after all. Which is rather why you'd want us involved."
[09:09] <Alyssa> "No soul for another soul, another task and I can consider."
[09:09] <[DM]> "So you would take two of the tasks, but not the third?"
[09:15] <Alyssa> "Sending me to heaven in this state is basically a death sentence, creating a task that is bound to fail is not a deal I would make, nor will I give you a soul of pride and wrath for mine. I will take the task of the firmament."
[09:15] <[DM]> "I believe in uncertain dooms." She pokes at Lien's still faintly glowing staff, "You have a pass to enter."
[09:16] <Alyssa> "Don't be daft, the inhabitants of Heaven would immediately set upon me who carry the taint of hellfire."
[09:19] <Zeni> Zeni simmers and simmers, climbing down off the other side of the carriage to put more space between herself and the demon. :I
[09:20] <[DM]> Eva shrugs, "If you assume them to be 'daft' perhaps"
[09:22] <Alyssa> "Fine, heaven and star, no soul for you, these two tasks in exchange for mine back."
[09:22] <[DM]> "Two tasks out of three, for two thirds"
[09:22] <Alyssa> "What else would you accept for the one third left."
[09:23] <[DM]> "At the right time, at the right place, you will be asked."
[09:23] <Alyssa> "Provided I still retain the rights to reject or ask for an alternative."
[09:25] <[DM]> "You may always choose the means of your doom." She releases Vanilla from her petting and turns to Zeni, chest thrust out, "Do you wish to make up for your lack of pride or not?"
[09:33] <Zeni> "I'm not in the least bit interested in making any deals with you.  Such a pathetic demon, you can't even make your servant cough up that soul she's carrying in physical form, and you expect me to want to make a deal with you?  Let your betters know I might be interested."
[09:34] <[DM]> The succubus dissolves into smoke and fire as she smiles, "Good, good. Savor it. I will be watching."

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Re: Logs
« Reply #33 on: July 18, 2015, 12:43:28 PM »
Session 33
[18-05:34:44] <[DM]> -------------------------------------------------
[18-05:36:04] <[DM]> With the area littered by blood, torn flesh and the scent of brimstone, the party is left to consider the freshly departed succubus...and the scene of what looks like a successful demonic summoning.
[18-05:36:40] <[DM]> Given how Zeni had driven, some elves would be coming to check soon, assuming they weren't already there
[18-05:37:13] <Alyssa> "Do we have our next destination planned? Lien?" Alyssa sheathes her rapier and looks at the sage.
[18-05:37:34] <@Lien> "Yes. Grey Forest."
[18-05:38:06] <Alyssa> Alyssa nods as she jumps to the driver's seat and grabs the reins. "Let's go, we cannot risk staying here and letting people know we've got a demon summoned here."
[18-05:39:34] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and climbs into the carriage's cabin, where all her worries of demons disappear as soon as she takes a seat.
[18-05:44:08] <[DM]> Zeni does not let the stump the carriage is lodged on pose a problem, as the vehicle rips through the remains of the tree, and starts haring off into the woods.
[18-05:44:13] <[DM]> In a random direction.
[18-05:44:35] <Ellis> Ellis gazes around at the carnage with a small sigh before boarding the carriage as well, before Zeni can steer it off into the aether.
[18-05:45:03] <@Lien> Lien catches up, hops on, and buries her face in one hand.
[18-05:45:46] <Alyssa> Alyssa shakes her head and guides the horses onward
[18-05:46:38] <Zeni> With the carriage freed where she got it stuck, Zeni huffs triumphantly before climbing atop the carriage, then swooping in through one of the doors and taking her usual spot with a slightly smug grin.
[18-05:57:34] <[DM]> After Alyssa reclaims the vehicle from Zeni crashing around, the carriage plunges into a river, chugging north downstream.
[18-05:57:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa is totes impressed with the amphibious capabilities.
[18-05:58:03] <[DM]> The horses are not very happy about it, but keep going.
[18-06:00:15] <Alyssa> Alyssa whistles soothingly to the horses.
[18-06:00:20] <[DM]> Riding through the night, Alyssa steers it off the river, bouncing down a hill and then faces a waterfall, around dawn.
[18-06:01:51] <[DM]> According to the map, there should be a tunnel behind the waterfall, which leads in the general direction of the grey forest.
[18-06:02:04] <[DM]> There is a complication however.
[18-06:02:34] <[DM]> The 'logs' in the river, who're pretty convincing.
[18-06:02:38] <[DM]> Except to Lien
[18-06:05:04] <Alyssa> Alyssa starts backing up the carriage
[18-06:08:27] <Zeni> Once warned of the danger, Zeni makes sure the carriage's totem is properly activated then makes for a window with staff in hand.
[18-06:09:20] <@Lien> "If they attack, we could probably lose them if we just speed through and get into the tunnel before they can move. Assuming the map is right about the tunnel."
[18-06:09:53] <Ellis> "Has it been wrong so far?"
[18-06:09:58] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes a deep breath and whispers to the group. "Hold onto your butts."
[18-06:10:23] <Alyssa> When the rest of the party bunkers down, Alyssa gives the reins a quick snap. "GO GO!"
[18-06:12:47] <[DM]> The carriage rushes across the water, then hits the waterfall's downspout, goes spinning...and rams a log.
[18-06:13:14] <[DM]> Plus side, the crocodile Alyssa rammed is pretty dead.
[18-06:13:18] <@Lien> "It hasn't, but tunnels can collaps-" Lien shuts up when the carriage starts moving, then sputters as things do not go according to plan.
[18-06:13:24] <[DM]> Minus, the other 15 of them are coming.
[18-06:19:16] <@Lien> Lien whispers something nobody can quite understand. In entirely unrelated news, I'm sure, the weeds floating in the water seem to conspire against the hungry crocodiles, wrapping around jaws and tails as if they had a mind of their own... and those near the now dead crocodile ripple oddly.
[18-06:21:56] <[DM]> The reptiles suddenly find themselves tangled in the weeds as the weeds weave into netting.
[18-06:22:04] <@Lien> At the same time, she leans out of the carriage to scoop up that weird ripple nearer the carriage.
[18-06:25:22] <Ellis> Ellis ducks out of the other window and pulls herself up onto the roof, wheeling the carriage's mounted ballista around to face the nearest of the crocodiles and pulling the huge firing arm.
[18-06:28:16] <[DM]> The massive bolts plunge through thick scales and clouds the water with blood.
[18-06:28:26] <[DM]> One more crocodile down.
[18-06:28:42] <[DM]> The blood shimmers scarlet
[18-06:28:54] <Ellis> Only fourteen more to go! Ellis despairs inwardly.
[18-06:29:36] <[DM]> The crocodiles put on mass as they plunge forward,  growing bigger as they rip through the weeds.
[18-06:29:41] <[DM]> Faster too.
[18-06:35:46] <Zeni> Zeni leans just far enough out the window that her fireball won't singe the carriage, lobbing two flaming spears into the mass of crockodiles in quick succession.
[18-06:46:30] <[DM]> The fire's intensity is such that half of the crocodiles are simply boiled alive in the water, releasing a savory smell.
[18-06:47:32] <[DM]> Vanilla looks up from the carriage, then considers what looks like a large amount of blood broth.
[18-06:49:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa spurs the horses onward.
[18-06:49:46] <Ellis> Ellis covers her face with one arm against the backwash of heat.
[18-06:49:50] <[DM]> The carriage somehow manages to reorient and hits the water curtain again,  skidding into the dark water of the pool behind the waterfall.
[18-06:50:05] <[DM]> Lien's eyes flare momentarily, illuminating the cave.
[18-06:50:13] <[DM]> Then they go back to normal.
[18-06:57:20] <[DM]> As the carriage goes through the tunnel, the wall of water parts, revealing crocodiles, the size of the carriage.
[18-06:57:38] <[DM]> The leading pair lunge for the tail of the vehicle.
[18-07:00:58] <Zeni> Zeni throws up a flaming shield to deflect the first alligator, but she doesn't even spot the second one from her angle.
[18-07:05:43] <Alyssa> Alyssa throws the reins to Zeni as she lifts herself off the driver's seat and backflips to put herself between the carriage and the lunging crocodile, if the carriage gets caught everyone is in trouble, better her than everyone.
[18-07:06:39] <@Lien> Lien is about to move to intercept the second crocodile when Alyssa beats her to it by flipping out. Her eyes widen.
[18-07:07:19] <Zeni> Zeni isn't even looking when the reins whap her in the back of the head, turning to look in horror to see Alyssa gone and no driver.  She quickly climbs up to take charge!  "Alyssa got eaten or something!? Where did she gooo!?"
[18-07:07:34] <Alyssa> "Go!" Alyssa looks at the departing carriage as the jaws of the reptile close in on her
[18-07:07:38] <[DM]> Alyssa is yanked off the back of the vehicle by the crocodile's jaws.
[18-07:07:54] <Alyssa> "Fly you fools!"
[18-07:09:16] <Alyssa> Alyssa grins as frost coats the crocodile's jaws as she disappears in a puff of silvery mist back on top of the carriage.
[18-07:10:47] <@Lien> And just in time, as Lien spins her staff and thrusts it at the nice, convenient line of crocodiles filing into the cave to the tune of a bolt of lightning going through them like a shaky hand connecting the dots.
[18-07:12:49] <[DM]> The bolt of lightning rips down the crocodiles, causing the leading croc to stagger and keel over, but the rest are bloodied, and more importantly, NOT DOWN.
[18-07:13:52] <[DM]> The gauntlets are ringing a way too cheerful tune, even as another chiming splutters damply.
[18-07:14:16] <Ellis> Hair still standing on end from the lightning bolt's passage, Ellis takes that as her cue to crank the firing arm again and fire two more bolts into a carriage-sized maw.
[18-07:16:26] <[DM]> Ellis's bolts fly into two colossal maws and they topple.
[18-07:21:40] <[DM]> The carriage, then catches onto gravel and crunches through solid ground, rolling out of the way as the remaining megacrocs rip at their dead companions.
[18-07:22:43] <Ellis> Ellis pats the ballista fondly. "Atta girl."
[18-07:23:03] <Zeni> Zeni sighs out of relief, patting Alyssa on the shoulder before climbing back down into the carriage.  "Goodjob.  Notsogoodjob running into the wall outside the waterfall, but you found it the second time!" 
[18-07:23:12] <Alyssa> Alyssa winces in pain as she resumes driving. "Nice one. Ow:
[18-07:23:59] <[DM]> The tunnel is cramped enough that the carriage keeps scraping across rock and throwing off sparks as the rocks are crushed, but otherwise uneventful, aside from the odd crushed stalagmites.
[18-07:24:08] <[DM]> Vanilla however, is pawing away at Zeni.
[18-07:24:19] <@Lien> Lien crawls over the back of the carriage, careful not to have any close encounters of the rocky kind, to check on Alyssa. "Where did you get bit?"
[18-07:24:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa leans to a side to reveal teeth marks along her thigh.
[18-07:24:55] <Alyssa> "It's superficial, I'll be alright."
[18-07:25:10] <@Lien> "You're right. That's good."
[18-07:25:30] <Zeni> Zeni gives Vanilla a confused look, but then smiles and digs some jerky out of Lien's bags while she's away looking at Alyssa.
[18-07:25:49] <Zeni> She doesn't even attempt to hide the fact that she's doing this from Ellis.
[18-07:27:07] <Ellis> Ellis doesn't even bother tipping off Lien. Nothing else gets past the monk, her weird episodes lately notwithstanding.
[18-07:28:20] <[DM]> The lighting is poor, and the tunnel winding, forcing the carriage to slow down and thread through the tunnels.
[18-07:28:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa activates the gloworb to illuminate their path
[18-07:28:40] <[DM]> Navigation is a pain, but progress steady for seemingly timeless hours.
[18-07:29:18] <@Lien> Without even looking back, Lien comments, "Don't feed her so much jerky all the time, she's going to get fat. And make sure she drinks a lot, that stuff is really salty."
[18-07:30:27] <[DM]> Until, hours down the road, Lien spots something enters the light in an instant.
[18-07:30:52] <Zeni> "I know~" Zeni replies, pampering the hell out of Vanilla with ceaseless stroking and scratching.
[18-07:32:57] <[DM]> Thin tendrils whip past most of the group, coil around Zeni and yanks her right out of her seat and into the darkness.
[18-07:34:32] <Zeni> Zeni screams as she's yanked straight through the carriage window.
[18-07:42:07] <@Lien> Lien, in the blink of an eye, bats the tendril aimed at her away with a flat backhand and immediately jumps after Zeni to lay into whatever just kidnapped her.
[18-07:43:22] <Alyssa> Alyssa leans left and right as the tendrils missed their mark
[18-07:45:08] <[DM]> Lien's attacks are about as effective as punching rock.
[18-07:49:45] <Zeni> Zeni hastily incants an unfamiliar spell as she struggles against the teeth and tentacles, annnd... it does just about nothing.  She whines and desperately tries to dig for a healing potion.
[18-07:52:19] <[DM]> The tentacles shoot out again, this time reeling Lien into its embrace.
[18-07:53:36] <Ellis> Ellis, flattening herself to the carriage roof, manages to avoid the creature's grasp with equal parts skill and blind luck.
[18-07:53:47] <[DM]> The stupid creature bites down on Vanilla's head.
[18-07:54:22] <[DM]> The kitten is decapitated, but continues flailing.
[18-07:56:53] <Alyssa> Stepping up from the driver's seat, Alyssa whips two slashes and a punch at the abomination.
[18-07:58:41] <[DM]> Most of the blows simply strike sparks off it's hard surface, but one stab catches a kink.
[18-07:59:33] <Ellis> Seeing that more pinpoint accuracy is required, Ellis abandons the ballista and draws her weapons of choice, rapid-firing at what looks like a seam in the rocky flesh.
[18-08:00:50] <[DM]> More sparks come out, but to no effect.
[18-08:01:34] <[DM]> And then the decapitated cat ROARS, as Vanilla expands, RIPS it's mouth open and then reattaches her head, but not before trying to bite it in the tongue.
[18-08:02:22] <[DM]> Her teeth strike sparks.
[18-08:02:33] <[DM]> "Arf?!"
[18-08:07:55] <@Lien> Grapples by the tendrils in ways she isn't trained to turn around on her attacker, Lien maneuvers and turns enough to twist them into knots.
[18-08:09:21] <[DM]> They don't seem to mind being knotted however.
[18-08:14:01] <Zeni> Zeni desperately grabs at the base of two tentacles, trying to tear them wide to reveal a fleshy weak point between them.  "S-Shoot it here, o-or somethiiing!"
[18-08:15:52] <[DM]> The roper wriggles.
[18-08:16:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa deflects a tentacle with her gauntlet.
[18-08:17:22] <[DM]> Frustrated, it takes another bite out of Vanilla.
[18-08:18:21] <Alyssa> Alyssa tears into the roper again with a flurry of attacks.
[18-08:19:24] <[DM]> It's actually starting to bleed now.
[18-08:21:02] <Ellis> Giving up the other spot as a bad job, Ellis sidesteps another tendril before firing a three-shot volley for the spot Zeni indicated.
[18-08:26:40] <[DM]> Ellis's shot go in perfectly, as if in tune with some bloody god of murder as it rams through a vital point, and the subsequent bolts split the crack open wider. Purple ichor bursts out, all over Zeni.
[18-08:27:04] <[DM]> It screams at last, making the cave reverberate.
[18-08:30:13] <Ellis> Grinning mirthlessly, Ellis slaps another bolt into her crossbow and fires again in a single fluid motion.
[18-08:31:40] <[DM]> It screams again. It knows fear.
[18-08:32:41] <[DM]> Vanilla sniffs the purple liquid...then plunges into the hole to get at the meaty parts.
[18-08:33:58] <[DM]> Vanilla finds her tiger head hard to get into the hole, so she promptly goes kitten and dives deep
[18-08:37:04] <[DM]> This of course, ensures Zeni is coated with purple blood.
[18-08:37:56] <Zeni> Zeni's still many times more horrified by her own blood than by all the purple slime all over her.  "F-Finish it off already!  O-Ooof..."
[18-08:38:42] <[DM]> The roper is still screaming, but given that Alyssa's gauntlets are giving off that tasteless jingle, it probably just hadn't realized it yet
[18-08:39:40] <Ellis> Hopping down from the carriage, Ellis helps to cut Zeni free from the mess of tentacles and blood with the shorter blade she keeps for emergencies.
[18-08:40:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa moves in to help Vanilla finish the job, and to cease that screaming.
[18-08:40:32] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, is busy ripping herself free from the still twitching tendrils.
[18-08:42:41] <Ellis> "How bad is it?" Ellis eyes Zeni's wounds with as critical an eye as she can manage. She's not exactly a professional, but there's an awful lot of blood.
[18-08:43:15] <@Lien> "I'll take a look just as soon as I can get out of these."
[18-08:45:13] <Ellis> "Oh, right." Ellis leaves Zeni to the rest once she's mostly free, moving to help the others.
[18-08:45:20] <[DM]> After a while, the screaming stops as Vanilla's bloody head pops out of the creature's mouth, having 'fetched' something.
[18-08:45:47] <Alyssa> Alyssa pats Vanilla's head and retrieves the item.
[18-08:46:09] <@Lien> Finally free, Lien examines Zeni's wounds. "Pretty bad."
[18-08:46:12] <Zeni> When Ellis is half way into cutting Zeni free, the little sorceress suddenly disappears, leaving purple muck and a lot of her own blood to fall to the ground where she was.  A short few seconds later, Zeni dismisses the spell and re-appears sitting against the cave wall a short ways away.  "N-Now it works... Oof.  That spell is far too undependable."  She continues cleaning herself up, hesitantly lifting a severed bit of her dress to peek at the terrible gashes the thing's teeth left across her entire torso.  "Definitely need something better than that..."
[18-08:46:17] <[DM]> It's a hilt of some odd crystal.
[18-08:46:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa holds it against the gloworb's light for a closer look. "Vanilla, dig in and see if you can find something else."
[18-08:46:59] <[DM]> Pulling it out of the roper, it seems to be an excessively long and wide longsword, just barely within the size, made entirely of crystal.
[18-08:48:10] <[DM]> Vanilla turns and pops back inside for another game of Fetch
[18-08:49:33] <[DM]> After a moment she shows up in the crack she came in through, with a very very slimy shield of black steel.
[18-08:52:26] <Alyssa> Alyssa pats the cat's head and retrieves the shield, passing it to any nearby party member.
[18-08:52:30] <[DM]> Vanilla barks and then dives back inside again.
[18-08:53:20] <Zeni> Zeni applies pressure to as many of her wounds as she can while she hobbles over to the carriage and climbs inside, putting up the windows and locking the doors.  She's decidedly uninterested in loot today. :<
[18-08:53:50] <@Lien> Lien insists on bandaging those, obviously.
[18-08:54:14] <[DM]> She emerges with a golden rod, decorated with flames patterns and topped with a large ruby.
[18-08:54:48] <[DM]> Vanilla looks around.
[18-08:55:00] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes the rod and passes it to Zeni
[18-08:55:07] <Alyssa> "Anymore in there Vanilla?"
[18-08:55:35] <[DM]> Vanilla seems too distracted in the presence of the rod.
[18-08:55:55] <[DM]> She starts rolling around the ground.
[18-08:56:51] <Alyssa> Alyssa gently takes the rod away from Vanilla.
[18-08:57:08] <[DM]> It takes some persuasion for the kitten to let go.
[18-08:57:20] <[DM]> After a while she plunges back in again.
[18-08:59:37] <Zeni> Zeni stares at the rod as it's passed to her, seeming to instantly recognize it.  "... You just -found- that inside that dumb thing?"  She takes it up and flops back down on -her- bench inside the carriage, not seeming to care that she was bleeding all over it.
[18-09:02:40] <[DM]> Finally...
[18-09:03:22] <[DM]> Theres agitated motion inside the roper.
[18-09:03:27] <Zeni> Zeni sighs and hugs the rod, slightly smiling despite her status.  Even Zeni huffyness can't overcome having -two- items in her posession that make her happy.
[18-09:05:34] <Ellis> Ellis approaches the thing warily. "..."
[18-09:06:05] <[DM]> A clawed paw hammers out of the side, gripping a gleaming steel axe.
[18-09:07:05] <Alyssa> Alyssa holds the axe and pulls.
[18-09:07:29] <[DM]> Serrated feather edges, and a sunburst in the middle are very pretty...except it just chopped at Alyssa.
[18-09:09:27] <Alyssa> Alyssa whips around and attempts to disarm the weapon from Vanilla.
[18-09:11:07] <[DM]> Alyssa punches off the axe, leaving a pained barking inside.
[18-09:11:27] <Alyssa> "Zeni use magic to lift and keep the axe, do not touch it."
[18-09:11:35] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps Vanilla out.
[18-09:12:04] <Zeni> "You overestimate my telekinetic abilities... by a looot."
[18-09:12:24] <[DM]> Vanilla is in catgirl form now, and very very upset as she swats at the dead Roper.
[18-09:13:33] <Alyssa> Alyssa takes out a piece of thick cloth and wraps the axe up quickly.
[18-09:13:45] <Alyssa> "Someone check the Roper for more stuff."
[18-09:15:39] <@Lien> "Fine." After seeing to Zeni's wounds, Lien takes a more brute-force approach to breaking the loot pinata.
[18-09:15:59] <Zeni> Zeni achingly climbs out of the carriage, cleans Vanilla up with her cantrip, then distracts her with the new rod before leading her into the carriage for cuddling. :<
[18-09:16:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa passes the bundled axe to Ellis for safekeeping.
[18-09:18:25] <Ellis> Ellis, left to her own devices, ties the bundle shut and stows it under a seat in the carriage, then takes a seat on the roof of the carriage again, dangling her legs over the side while she fiddles with one of her tools and the glass vial she's carried around for some time now.
[18-09:19:41] <[DM]> Lien's peeling it open takes quite a bit of effort, but inside, theres three yellow pearls, and two pink, as well as  2 purple gems, a chip of pure black crystal and 2 green rocks
[18-09:20:28] <[DM]> Digging deeper reveals a scattering of platinum and gold, as well as flakes of digested metal.
[18-09:21:04] <@Lien> Lien is a lot less interested in these, but Zeni would yell at her if she didn't pick them up, so.
[18-09:21:38] <Alyssa> Alyssa examines the metal flakes
[18-09:21:59] <[DM]> Looks like former coins.
[18-09:22:11] <[DM]> Silver probably.
[18-09:29:46] <Zeni> "New rules.  -Never- riding along with the carriage windows down!  And the door has to be locked, a-and I should get a harness to anchor myself to the bench, a-and... oof... I just odn't want to experience that again."  Zeni plays with Vanilla, bapping her with the rod here and there.
[18-09:31:19] <Alyssa> Alyssa helps clean up the site and set up camp.
[18-09:35:47] <Alyssa> While resting, Alyssa attunes to the sword and occasionally taps it with her gauntlets.
[18-09:39:09] <Zeni> Of course Zeni attunes her rod, seeming more than a little tempted to test it out, but she's far too sore and tired and just ends up falling asleep with a bit of a creepy grin.

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Re: Logs
« Reply #34 on: July 25, 2015, 12:51:54 PM »
Session 34:

[25-05:10:04] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------
[25-05:11:22] <[DM]> The tunnel smells rancid, and Alyssa's new sword and gauntlets are making an unholy, off-key racket in the tunnels, echoing up and down.
[25-05:11:29] <[DM]> The bats had already fled.
[25-05:14:56] <@Lien> In spite of the racket, Lien meditates and sleeps just fine.
[25-05:15:19] * Lauras is now known as Zeni
[25-05:16:10] <Alyssa> Alyssa delves deep in a meditative state, trying to attune much much deeper into her brand new contract weapon and gauntlets, trying to find out the murmurings or make sense of the tunes.
[25-05:16:18] <[DM]> With Alyssa's experimentation, the tunes change, but to no discernable pattern and still not at all peaceable to listen to and the way they're just very nearly on-key but not there is grating on the minds of everyone else, but for Lien.
[25-05:16:40] <Zeni> With the doors now properly locked, windows up, and misc items barricading the way, Zeni settles down for some much needed rest.
[25-05:16:47] <[DM]> More importantly, they're cleaning out the rats and roaches as well at this point with a skittering.
[25-05:17:18] <[DM]> Vanilla whimpers and tries to burrow into Zeni
[25-05:17:40] <Ellis> Ellis, locked out of the carriage and bereft of whatever inner calm Lien has, calmly contemplates murder.
[25-05:22:28] * [DM] (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
[25-05:23:23] * veekie (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[25-05:23:52] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[25-05:28:04] <[DM]> Alyssa feels a tug at her shape as she compresses...but after a moment the pressure goes away.
[25-05:30:11] <Alyssa> Alyssa wonders what's happening to her attunement, and she tries even harder to pierce the mystery of her items!
[25-05:30:49] <@Lien> Lien blearily wakes up for a moment to look around and stuff something invisible under her clothes in an act of mercy.
[25-05:34:36] <[DM]> The crystal feels burning hot, with a painful intensity as Alyssa attempts to make contact.
[25-05:38:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa stops making contact.
[25-05:38:51] <[DM]> The rest of the rest stop passes peaceably enough, with no horrible gribblies for a change.
[25-05:39:00] <[DM]> And then it's time to go once more.
[25-05:45:02] <@Lien> Come time to move on, Lien is rested and serene.
[25-05:45:33] <Zeni> The others learn of Zeni's awakening once she starts cheerfully singing some non-sensical elven song to herself, one she's clearly forgotten most of the lyrics to, replacing the missing words with variations of "doot doo dooo."  What happened to Zeni...?
[25-05:47:33] <[DM]> The carriage rolls on down the tunnel, turning at Alyssa's guidance, and passing through spongy fungal patches here and there.
[25-05:51:41] <[DM]> The carriage rams through a number of larger patches, crushing them to a fine dust that scatters through the air.
[25-05:55:46] <@Lien> "...Oh. Don't inhale that stuff. Drive more carefully." Lien has everyone put cloth around their mouths and noses, just in case, and gathers a small patch while instructing Zeni not to use any fire near these.
[25-05:56:17] <[DM]> As the dust scatters across the carriage, bouncing off the vehicle, the powder hits the two riding outside.
[25-05:57:27] <[DM]> The parts struck immediately frost over.
[25-05:59:18] <Zeni> Zeni looks as if she'd been asked to stop her own heart from beating, but pouts and nods as she tightens a piece of cloth around her face, like a bandanna.  Then goes right back to cheerfully singing.
[25-05:59:43] <@Lien> Lien looks up from scraping off the frost suddenly. "Something's there."
[25-06:00:11] <Alyssa> "Run or stay and fight?"
[25-06:01:36] <@Lien> "Keep moving, but not too fast."
[25-06:01:52] <Ellis> Ellis frowns out the carriage window after the thing she saw moving.
[25-06:02:51] <[DM]> The carriage rolls on, carefully  avoiding the lumps of fungus.
[25-06:03:49] <Zeni> Zeni re-barricades the doors, pushing misc items in the way of the window, right infront of Ellis's face.
[25-06:06:27] <[DM]> This is opportune, as the blurs rush towards the two riding outside.
[25-06:16:50] <Ellis> Ellis pokes her crossbow through a hole in Zeni's makeshift barricade and greets their visitors with three rapid twangs of dragon sinew.
[25-06:20:55] <@Lien> Lien answers the rather obviously hostile onrush with precautionary measures in the form of subduing strikes to what looks like the head.
[25-06:21:32] <[DM]> Ellis's shot goes through the blur and strikes at a feline form behind it, the blur fading as it yowl in pain.
[25-06:22:38] <[DM]> Lien passes through  the blur like it wasn't there and then hammers into it's head, causing the monster to stop moving.
[25-06:24:11] <@Lien> With the monster behind dazed, Lien leaves it behind to get the one Ellis shot with a strike to the head as well.
[25-06:25:31] <[DM]> The monster doesn't even get to start moving before Lien makes it crosseyed as well
[25-06:25:48] <@Lien> She finishes the treatment with a swift kick for good measure.
[25-06:27:25] <[DM]> This is when Lien finds an evil blurcat leap out from cover and whips at her with tentacles.
[25-06:28:31] <[DM]> Another meanwhile, appears seemingly out of nowhere and pounces on Alyssa.
[25-06:28:56] <@Lien> Lien being Lien, she catches one of the tentacles behind its spurred pad in a grip promising a bad time, though she doesn't manage to avoid the other.
[25-06:32:49] <Alyssa> Alyssa deflects the first blow but takes the other.
[25-06:36:51] <Zeni> Zeni hesitates for a bit before lighting up her flaming spears.... inside the carriage, right beside Ellis's face.  "Scoot back!"  She thensends them throw the narrow hole, straight at the beast Ellis had already maimed.
[25-06:38:48] <Ellis> Ellis twitches back from the spell so violently she nearly cracks her head open on the seat.
[25-06:39:55] <[DM]> The gauntlets and sword burst into song.
[25-06:42:57] <Alyssa> Alyssa spits a curse at the beast that just attacked her and launches into a full flurry of attacks.
[25-06:45:54] <[DM]> The beast screeches as she drives her blade deep into it's side.
[25-06:49:36] <Ellis> Face in slightly less danger of catching fire, Ellis pops back up to the murder hole to catch her target off-guard with three neck shots.
[25-06:53:20] <[DM]> The displacer beast yowls and attempts to lunge for Lien despite it's concussion, then slumps over with a confused look in it's eyes.
[25-06:54:25] <Ellis> Ellis pokes her head out of the carriage to aim the third shot at Lien's other victim.
[25-06:56:36] <[DM]> The stone of the cavern ripples, the fungus rippling into a leathering red sheet and the stone spikes growing yellow-white.
[25-07:09:32] <@Lien> Lien's gaze snaps up at the same time, and she crouches low, spinning her staff. Then, against all expectation of what a martial artist would do with a wild beast attacking her, she thrusts the tip upwards and sends a bolt of lightning through the monster and the cave ceiling.
[25-07:11:05] <[DM]> Scarlet liquid drip down the cavern walls, along with dense shreds of meat.
[25-07:14:42] <[DM]> The surviving beasts howl and rush once again, their blurring motion restored, one assaulting Lien and two dogging Alyssa.
[25-07:17:28] <[DM]> Perhaps thrown off by SOMETHIING, the creatures swing wild, repeatedly.
[25-07:23:02] <Zeni> Zeni quickly opens the door to the carriage, pops out, fires a flaming dart at one of the creatures assailing Alyssa and pops back in, closing the door.  The paranoia, it is a thing.
[25-07:23:45] <[DM]> Zeni's shot hits an afterimage, keeps going, and scores another bleeding hole in the wall.
[25-07:26:01] <Alyssa> Alyssa concentrates as her gauntlets start beating off like a ticking clock, slowing the beasts and the cavern wall down.
[25-07:30:40] <[DM]> A clock missing a beat, at least.
[25-07:32:29] <Ellis> "...We should leave. Yesterday." Ellis underscores the urgency of this statement by snapping off three rapid shots at her freshly-slowed victim.
[25-07:36:53] <@Lien> "Agreed." Lien punctuates her own statement, meanwhile, by punctuating the skull of the displacer that's still attacking her with her staff.
[25-07:41:36] <[DM]> The beast lash out as if in slow motion, tentacles ripping through the air.
[25-07:49:24] * veekie (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[25-07:50:42] <Alyssa> Alyssa readies herself and dives into another flurry of attacks
[25-07:51:58] * [DM] (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[25-07:52:06] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[25-07:59:15] <[DM]> The blows sink in with bloody vigor, spraying reddish purple gore all around, but refusing to go down.
[25-08:02:12] <Ellis> Ellis walks her crossbow across all three remaining targets, spreading her fire around to try and disrupt the blurs for someone else to capitalize on.
[25-08:03:14] <[DM]> Ellis's first shot  punch deep into it's chest, and the beast keels over.
[25-08:06:49] <Zeni> Zeni goes for a repeat of her previous performance as she throws her door open and pops out at once, motes of flame already flickering about her.  She rapidly kindles them, each mote sparking into a spear that starts flying before even fully coalescing! :<<
[25-08:11:34] <[DM]> Lien is faced with a common sight.
[25-08:11:49] <[DM]> A monster exploding into a gory mess over her. Again.
[25-08:12:53] <Zeni> Zeni ducks back into the cabin and slams the door before even seeing if she killed the things.
[25-08:13:01] <@Lien> At this point, Lien is jaded towards monsters exploding all over her, so she just bolts to help Alyssa with the last one, flying at its head with a flurry of staff and knee strikes.
[25-08:14:36] <[DM]> The beast ducks and weaves like a pro.
[25-08:15:16] <[DM]> Then it's eyes flame to life.
[25-08:15:53] <[DM]> Fur ripples with disturbing movements under it's skin as it swells and accelerates.
[25-08:16:41] <@Lien> Lien cusses. It's kind of a tame cuss, but that's still something coming out of her.
[25-08:17:08] <[DM]> Alyssa and Lien are faced with a giant displacer beast, it's head brushing the roof, as tentacles burst from it's sides, ravening teeth emerging.
[25-08:17:36] <[DM]> And then it moves to attack
[25-08:21:22] <[DM]> Alyssa is gripped by the tentacles and twisted, shredding apart in a spray of blood.
[25-08:21:36] <Alyssa> Alyssa didn't even have time to scream.
[25-08:26:35] <Zeni> Zeni cringes as she hears an ominous thud against the roof of the carriage, "What happened???"  Zeni pops out the opposite door, not seeing Alyssa and instead seeing the enraged beast.  "Ugh..."  She glances between Lien and Ellis, incanting a spell before the two of them find themselves enwreathed in illusory flames, invigorating them.  "Finish it off!  Alyssa didn't fall off, did she?"
[25-08:31:16] <Ellis> "Give me a break," Ellis groans, having seen much more than Zeni. With Zeni's magic making her every movement feel light and effortless, she puts a small storm of bolts into the air before the first one's even reached the displacer beast.
[25-08:40:25] <@Lien> Lien is immediately present to follow up, smashing into the giant beast's head with her staff.
[25-08:40:38] <[DM]> The bolts hammer into it's flesh one after another, sinking deep into it's flesh, but against all reason it keeps going.
[25-08:46:21] <[DM]> Fist, staff and kick alike smash into impossibly resilient bulk, though the organs within seem to be messed up now.
[25-08:48:11] <Zeni> Zeni pops out the furthest door, cringes violently as hot blood immediately dribbles onto her face, then growls before throwing an extra bright fire bolt at the creature.  "Die already!"
[25-08:49:24] <Zeni> Shequicklyducksbackinside.
[25-08:51:18] <Ellis> Ellis' tongue pokes between her teeth as she sights along the crossbow. Eyes, throat, ears, mouth - well, if there's a choice, why not take every single option? She fires, again and again and again.
[25-08:55:19] <[DM]> Ellis's first shot flew through an eye, sinking deep as the creature slumps....and then she continues filling it with bolts in the other eye, the heart, the throat and several where the kidneys should be.
[25-08:55:54] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, drops her staff where she stands and rushes to check on Alyssa.
[25-08:58:25] <Ellis> "Check on her," Ellis orders unnecessarily, stalking over to the beast's still-warm body. Having had quite enough of this, she cuts its throat with her own, very definitely mundane sword. And then cuts the throats of the other displacer beasts, just to be safe.
[25-08:58:31] <Ellis> Professionalism.
[25-08:59:12] <@Lien> Lien is already doing that and settles for just trickling a potion down Alyssa's lips after not knowing where to even start treating this mess.
[25-09:00:13] <Alyssa> Alyssa coughs up blood and some potion as her eyes slowly open. That fucking sucks
[25-09:01:55] <[DM]> The smell of blood and ash fills the air
[25-09:02:52] <Zeni> Zeni hesitantly peeks back out with a cloth held up to catch the dripping blood, eventually climbing her way up next to Lien as she watches her work on Alyssa, looking more than a little concerned.  She jumps when Alyssa coughs, staring in surprise.  "Geeze... I wasn't aware someone could lose that much blood and still make it, I wasn't even aware people had that much blood in them!  Alyssa, oof..."  She starts to reach higher up, but then just pats her ankle instead, not wanting to scooch into the blood to pat her head.
[25-09:03:04] <Ellis> "How is she?" Ellis looks up from her task with concern.
[25-09:03:06] <Alyssa> "Ugh...sometimes I wonder why I want to stay alive..." Alyssa groans
[25-09:03:35] <Alyssa> "Someone's gonna drive, I can't feel my body."
[25-09:04:14] <@Lien> "Bad. Don't talk, I think that's making more blood come out." Lien keeps working grimly, going for essentially a brute force approach to patching her up. There's so much damage here she might as well just bandage everything.
[25-09:06:06] <Zeni> Zeni uses her magic to start cleaning up the blood, helping Lien where she can.
[25-09:06:39] <@Lien> She does leave gaps open for the eyes, mouth, and nose, though.
[25-09:07:39] <Ellis> Ellis watches for a minute, expression blank, before starting to pace up and down the tunnel, feeling rather useless. Eventually, she whirls on her heel and stabs the giant beast in the gut, growling in frustration.
[25-09:07:55] <[DM]> Clunk. She hits something.
[25-09:08:50] <@Lien> And alcohol. Not just for cleaning the wounds but to dull the pain.
[25-09:08:56] <Alyssa> Alyssa shivers uncontrollably in pain as her skinless body gets bandaged by linen
[25-09:09:20] <Ellis> That gets her attention. Curiously (but with some caution - the axe is still fresh in her mind), she heaves at the blade, carving open a wider gap in the thing's belly.
[25-09:09:41] <[DM]> A mass of bones, skin and fur drop out.
[25-09:09:44] <[DM]> A hairball?
[25-09:11:26] <Ellis> Ellis gingerly prods the thing with her foot before realizing that the thing can't possibly be alive any more.
[25-09:12:21] <Ellis> She starts poking at it with the sword, trying to break the clump apart.
[25-09:12:26] <[DM]> The ball crumples apart, and elfin skull falling out with a number of unusually large rat skulls and other bones.
[25-09:12:47] <@Lien> After making sure any healing potions won't just seep right back out, Lien starts dosing Alyssa with potions. Slowly, because as much as she needs at once would be more than her body has blood right now, but surely.
[25-09:13:16] <[DM]> Inside is also two silvery metal items still strapped to thin bones, and a quiver around what looks like a former hip.
[25-09:13:57] <Zeni> Once Alyssa's properly mummified, Zeni starts cleaning herself up, then Lien before continuing on to sterilize the carriage.  She raids Alyssa's backpack for alcohol bottles to store the beast blood in.
[25-09:15:02] <[DM]> Both on closer inspection, appear to be of faerie work, with delicate traceries of vines and the moon over them.
[25-09:15:38] <[DM]> The quiver is tastefully ornamented by opals cut into moons, and golden leaves.
[25-09:15:52] <Ellis> Brushing the stray bone and fur aside, Ellis removes both from their former owner's mortal remains and holds them up to examine them properly in the light of the glowball.
[25-09:16:13] <Zeni> Zeni fails to clean up the blood splattered upon Lien's chest, refusing to look that direction let alone focus upon the area long enough to incant her spell.  Very serious roleplay.
[25-09:16:32] <[DM]> The bracers meanwhile are marked by numerous birds  clinging to the vines.
[25-09:17:16] <[DM]> As ellis watches, the leaves on the quiver sway and shift.
[25-09:17:52] <[DM]> The bracers, as she touches it, sing out in a beautiful, clear tone.
[25-09:24:17] <Zeni> After seeing Ellis linger in one place a bit long, Zeni hops down to check on her, blinking when she spots the two items.  "Where'd you find th-- Iiick... Okay, that answers that."  She starts cleaning them up.
[25-09:25:23] <@Lien> With Alyssa finally somewhat on the road to healing, Lien strips off her own outer layers for Zeni to clean and starts looking after her own wounds.
[25-09:28:23] <Ellis> "Everything around here seems to eat people whole." Ellis gives Zeni a better look at the things.
[25-09:29:58] <Zeni> Zeni glances towards Lien when she hangs her clothes off the back of the carriage for her to clean (and asks her to do so), then double takes and flusters, the quietest growl escaping her lips.  "I'm busy!"  Zeni spends extra long cleaning Ellis's gear, even manually polishing a bit of the the Bracer with her sleeve as she tries to recover her composure.  "I mean... not entirely necessarily, they probably went in in parts, but.  Oof.  Yeah, I'm more than a little eager to get out of here; where's this hermit taking us anyway?"
[25-09:31:05] <@Lien> "To the Grey Forest. I mean, you don't have to keep coming along if you don't want, but..."
[25-09:35:00] <Zeni> Zeni cringes when Lien replies, having thought she was whispering quiet enough.  "Ugh, but... I don't know!  We really should look for something more... profitable to do on the way to these objectives.  I-I mean, we're finding some nice things, but it'ssodangerous."  The little sorceress eventually wanders back towards the carriage, averting her gaze the whole while till she's standing right infront of the hung clothes, cleaning it up in a hurry.  "So who's going to try driving?"
[25-09:35:53] <Zeni> "You can put Alyssa on my bench for now."
[25-09:35:55] <@Lien> "I can give it a try." Lien looks back in the direction they came from and frowns. "Let's get moving, anyway. Get Alyssa on one of the benches, and be careful."
[25-09:36:05] <Ellis> "But nothing. You're not traveling alone; someone'll wind up cutting you out of these things." Ellis shakes her head ruefully, suppressing the beginning of a tiny smile.
[25-09:36:11] <[DM]> *crack*
[25-09:36:16] <[DM]> *grind*
[25-09:37:32] <@Lien> Lien sits down in the driver's seat and gets ready to spur the horses on as soon as they're ready.
[25-09:37:54] <Ellis> "...what was that?"
[25-09:38:26] <@Lien> "Don't know, but I'd rather not find out."
[25-09:38:43] <Zeni> Zeni hurries into the carriage, recklessly dragging Alyssa down inside.  Such a good companion.
[25-09:38:49] <[DM]> The horses are eager to be off and the carriage rattles to life.
[25-09:38:58] <[DM]> Is the ceiling getting lower?
[25-09:39:03] <[DM]> ---------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #35 on: August 01, 2015, 01:42:56 PM »
Session 35: Just how many times does she have to die till killed!?!?!

[01-05:06:40] <[DM]> ------------------------------------------------
[01-05:07:30] <[DM]> Pebbles rain down as the still bleeding cave begins to tighten, oppressive heat surging through the stone.
[01-05:07:40] * @Lien (~Paul@Rizon-3A998E52.adsl.highway.telekom.at) Quit (Quit: Leaving.)
[01-05:08:07] * Jm2c (~Paul@Rizon-3A998E52.adsl.highway.telekom.at) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[01-05:08:40] * Jm2c is now known as Lien
[01-05:08:45] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Lien
[01-05:08:51] <Alyssa-> Alyssa grunts in pain as she drives the horses faster, her wounds not closing in time.
[01-05:11:04] <@Lien> Don't listen to Alyssa, she's delirious from blood loss. Lien is the one driving, spurring the horses as fast as they will go. Good thing the carriage is a lot tougher now.
[01-05:15:27] <[DM]> The carriage stumbles, smacking through a dense patch of mold, littering the carriage with small fragments, and blasting Lien with a cloud of freezing spores.
[01-05:16:32] <[DM]> The bigger problem however, is the mold near the cave wall swelling rapidly.
[01-05:17:36] <Zeni> WIth her bench taken up by Alyssa, Zeni is experimenting with ways to claim as much of Ellis's bench as possible with her tiny figure, because that's what Zenis do.  Veryserious.
[01-05:19:36] <@Lien> Lien coughs violently as frost forms on her clothes, pressing on.
[01-05:23:51] <@Lien> She quickly pops the cork off a potion vial and downs the whole thing in one go.
[01-05:25:09] <Zeni> Hearing the violent coughing worries Zeni at least a little bit.  She sits up and cracks open a window, "Doing alright out there?  I think we need to go faster... Thisdoesn'tllooktoogood."
[01-05:26:11] <Zeni> Zeni raids Lien's backpack for some spare potions, pulling out four thin vials and eyeing Alyssa.  "Maybe we can get Alyssa up, to help drive?"
[01-05:30:17] <[DM]> Lien, properly motivated, wrenches the carriage into a halting motion out of the now burning hot tunnel, though at the cost of smashing into another cluster of mold. At least the horses seem protected by whatever's covering the carriage.
[01-05:32:18] <Alyssa-> Alyssa coughs as the potions are stuffed into her at once and bursts out of her bandages.
[01-05:32:35] <Zeni> Zeni spends half a minute trying to remember the directions for safely using healing potions in rapid succession, but then just shrugs and starts pouring them into Alyssa's mouth.
[01-05:33:02] <Alyssa-> Alyssa rushes forward to the driver's seat and grabs the reins as she throws Lien back into the carriage.
[01-05:37:25] <Alyssa-> DELETE ABOVE
[01-05:37:34] <Alyssa-> Alyssa plops herself beside Lien and holds the reins.
[01-05:39:03] <[DM]> The horses swerve again, this time avoiding the clusters of mold, just in time for the ground to begin glowing red and the tunnel behind to flood with mold clumps.
[01-05:39:36] <[DM]> ...which became the smaller problem as the roof came down behind the carriage with a crunch of stone and very very big teeth.
[01-05:41:26] <[DM]> Heat surges as it makes a tremendous choking noise.
[01-05:44:13] <[DM]> The carriage rolls on, as with a quick glance behind, it makes to spit something forward.
[01-05:45:26] <[DM]> Alyssa yanks the reins JUST in time to dodge a huge wad of expanding mold flying past.
[01-05:50:34] <[DM]> Rushing forward, the carriage rumbles past the expanding mold, which is a good thing  when the jaws behind open again, this time heat rising dramatically.
[01-05:55:26] <[DM]> Alyssa yanks the reins abruptly as the horses scream, driving the carriage up the left wall in an unbalanced swerve as a red-white beam of intense heat rips through the center of the tunnel, striking the mold and causing it to expand explosively, filling the tunnel with freezing powder even as the carriage crashes back down on the level.
[01-05:56:07] <[DM]> And then Lien realizes the shreds of mold left on the carriage are growing from the intense heat.
[01-05:57:14] <@Lien> She blinks on realizing this and immediately climbs off the driver's bench and back over the carriage to scrape the mold off, alerting Ellis to the same.
[01-05:58:40] <Ellis> Ellis follows suit, scrambling out of the carriage to help clear away the rest of the mold.
[01-05:59:10] <Zeni> Zeni does her part, using her cantrip to try to clean up what she can.  "What's even happening with this stupid caaave?!"
[01-06:01:37] <Zeni> "Lien!  Get inside already and heal up!"
[01-06:02:28] <[DM]> The freezing mold is far from safe to scrape off, causing frostburn to the desperately working cleaning crew as more mold lands on the hot ground and start growing.
[01-06:07:07] <[DM]> This is a problem when another beam of red-white liquid fire lances down the tunnel, dimmed by the brown mold. Lien and Alyssa happen to be behind the carriage when it impacts, but Zeni and Ellis are not so fortunate.
[01-06:08:59] <@Lien> Even though she's shielded by the carriage, the heat is enough to give Lien the rest with the spores of mold left on her clothing, and she passes out on the driver's bench.
[01-06:11:09] <Zeni> Zeni cries out in pain as the scalding hot fluid hits her, ducking behind the carriage door and quickly drawing out her last healing potion, but seeing Lien downed... She instead very quickly climbs out the door and pours the potion past her lips, then tries very hard to drag the monk into the carriage.  "No dying, dumby!"
[01-06:11:37] <@Lien> Lien groans as her consciousness returns. "I'm surprised you care."
[01-06:11:46] <Ellis> Ellis bites back a scream as she flattens herself to the roof of the carriage, bits of her dress bursting into flame.
[01-06:11:46] <[DM]> Behind, there is a tremendous choking noise as something with a furnace stomach ingests the mold by accident.
[01-06:12:22] <[DM]> There is a soggy noise as the tunnel shakes.
[01-06:12:50] <[DM]> Then a soft sound of spongy material expanding and a wet tearing noise.
[01-06:14:17] <Zeni> Zeni glances back and forth between Lien and the mess of things happening not too far behind the carriage, looking just a touch crazily worried about all the things!  "J-Just get insiiide!"
[01-06:22:38] <[DM]> The carriage continues at a breakneck pace down the tunnel, which is thankfully bare of the deadly mold and whatever the fuck that was.
[01-06:25:01] <Ellis> Ellis beats out the still-flaming portions of her clothes before slumping back down, resting her face against the carriage roof for a moment.
[01-06:27:03] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, relieves herself of anything that might still have mold on it and rests on the floor of the cabin for a change.
[01-06:29:48] <Alyssa-> Alyssa slumps back on the driver's seat with a sigh.
[01-06:30:12] <[DM]> The rest stop is thankfully peaceable, aside from the point where Zeni realizes the back of the carriage took a nasty scorch that got through the protective enchantment.
[01-06:31:23] <Zeni> Zeni flops onto her bench sigh a sigh, "Well... That was different.  Corrupting hunters and animals is one thing, randomly... bringing a cave to life, to get after us, is another... Ooof.  We need to resolve this Yeenoghu thing faster, else we aren't going to make it through too many more encounters like these past ones."
[01-06:31:30] <Zeni> with a sigh*
[01-06:32:10] <Alyssa-> "I think breaking Last Blood is bringing more trouble to you all than it's worth."
[01-06:32:54] <Ellis> "Are we sure that's what happened?" Ellis' head appears upside-down in the window. "Or was the cave already some massive creature?"
[01-06:33:08] <Zeni> "I don't want to hear that from you, dumby."  Zeni rolls onto her back, "If you hadn't been stabbing everything possible with it we never would've had to deal with more than a few dumb cultists!"
[01-06:33:28] <Alyssa-> "I want to go home..." Alyssa sighs
[01-06:34:44] <@Lien> "No, I think she's right. The cave did come to life."
[01-06:41:38] <Ellis> "That's...it doesn't make sense, though." Ellis shakes her head. "Yeenoghu doesn't have that sort of power. Meat and bone, yes, but not stone...wait." She looks at Lien. "Something happened. After you hit something invisible. That's when the cavern changed."
[01-06:43:12] <@Lien> "Yeah. I figured that would make it disappear like it does when you hit those leashes, but I guess it didn't."
[01-06:44:03] <Alyssa-> "Are you seeing something we don't?"
[01-06:45:34] <@Lien> "Don't I often?"
[01-06:46:41] <Alyssa-> "I know..."
[01-06:46:59] <Ellis> "Yes, but usually they're things like people sneaking up on us. Not...collars, or threads, or what have you."
[01-06:47:29] <@Lien> "Well, they're right there. Same difference."
[01-06:48:06] <@Lien> Lien does not seem to consider it anything remarkable.
[01-06:49:08] <Alyssa-> Alyssa passes the paladin's soul to Lien. "Keep it safe."
[01-06:49:41] <@Lien> "Uh. Okay?"
[01-06:49:54] <Ellis> "They're not right there for us, but...you don't seem any less sane than usual. If that's any consolation." Ellis frowns.
[01-06:50:36] <@Lien> Lien gives Ellis a "you're being weird" look, but doesn't bother arguing.
[01-06:51:10] <Ellis> Ellis returns the look with interest, having had lots of time to practice it on Zeni.
[01-06:52:23] <[DM]> The rest is thankfully uninterrupted by carnivorous bats, invisible slimes or honey stealing fairies.
[01-06:53:23] <Zeni> Zeni staaaares at the soul as its passed to Lien, "Why would you... what...?"
[01-06:55:08] <Alyssa-> Alyssa shrugs. "I feel it's appropriate."
[01-06:55:19] <Alyssa-> Alyssa looks up at the sky, contemplating.
[01-06:56:05] <Alyssa-> "You know... If I don't make it out of this alive. Can you all do me a favor please?"
[01-06:56:58] <Alyssa-> "Once a year and a day is up, and my brothers are released, could you all see to it that they get back home safely?"
[01-06:57:00] <Zeni> "You aren't supposed to say those words when on an adventure, dumby.  And that soul totally should go to me, that creeper was stalking Ellis and I for forever!"
[01-06:57:39] <Alyssa-> "If Lien wants to give it to you, she has the choice." Alyssa shrugs. "But yeah please,  get my brothers home if I cannot be back there for them."
[01-06:57:43] <@Lien> "No, I agree, you're the last person who should be holding the soul. And yeah, I will. But you'll be fine."
[01-06:58:43] <Alyssa-> Alyssa nods. "Thanks."
[01-06:58:57] <Zeni> Zeni pouts.
[01-07:01:11] <[DM]> The carriage rolls down  the tunnel to the soft  chiming of bells, passing through colorful rock formations.
[01-07:04:26] <Zeni> Zeni... Zeni notices something.  Lien totally notices her noticing -something- as she glances in the monk's direction, but she just looks away and starts looking over the colorful rocks.
[01-07:04:45] <@Lien> Lien looks up. "What?"
[01-07:05:25] <Zeni> "Nothiiing~"
[01-07:06:44] <Ellis> Ellis touches Lien's shoulder. "You heard that, right?" she murmurs.
[01-07:06:46] <@Lien> She absently waves her hand over the soul crystal as if shooing away invisible flies and packs it in her clothes securely before getting out some of the new honey.
[01-07:07:56] <@Lien> "Hear what, Sparkle? Of course."
[01-07:11:29] <[DM]> The carriage continues on for hours more, long, dismal tunnels, though here and there littered with bones, the way is clear of any beasts that wanted a piece of them.
[01-07:11:48] <[DM]> Aside from something squeaking as it was crushed under the wheels of progress.
[01-07:12:46] <Zeni> With everyone properly healed, Zeni drags Lien into the carriage and locks the doors, pulls up the windows.  Not getting ropered ever again!
[01-07:13:32] <Alyssa-> Alyssa continues driving, deep in thoughts.
[01-07:16:22] <[DM]> As the party nears the exit, the tunnels brighten, as a bit of sunlight gleam through a dense curtain of vines ahead.
[01-07:17:25] <Alyssa-> Alyssa leans back. "We're almost out."
[01-07:18:09] <Zeni> "Yaaay... Let's all agree to never take such a long cavern path again!"
[01-07:20:53] <Alyssa-> Alyssa gets off the carriage and moves to the vines, cutting them down to clear the way.
[01-07:26:42] <[DM]> The sword cuts through the plants with a cheerful tune, askew from the gauntlets, then jangle to a confused note as the blade catches onto something.
[01-07:27:17] <Alyssa-> Alyssa takes a closer look.
[01-07:36:31] * [DM] (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[01-07:38:55] * [DM] (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[01-07:47:20] <[DM]> Alyssa's blade cuts through the vines with ease, despite the resistance, causing the curtain of plants to crash down in a cascade of splinters.
[01-07:48:05] <[DM]> This is when she notices the grey webbing tangled up and sticking to her blade. Very thick ropes of silk.
[01-07:49:38] <Zeni> Zeni lays across her comfy carriage bench without a care in the world, letting Lien and Ellis share the other.
[01-07:57:41] <Alyssa-> Alyssa tries to pull away.
[01-08:00:32] <Alyssa-> Alyssa continues to cut away.
[01-08:06:01] <Alyssa-> Alyssa goes back to the carriage and drives on.
[01-08:08:04] <Zeni> The party passes a half-orc wielding a greatsword, but with their driver still in good healthy, they just pass her by and keep going.  RIP.
[01-08:10:30] <[DM]> Going through the opening was complicated by one factor. The lights suddenly went out.
[01-08:10:56] <Alyssa-> "What?"
[01-08:11:00] <@Lien> "What."
[01-08:11:22] <Zeni> Zeni strokes Vanilla, confused by the other's confusion. 
[01-08:11:42] <Ellis> "What."
[01-08:12:18] <[DM]> This is immediately followed by a much more troubling problem. Arrows zip through the air.
[01-08:12:59] <Alyssa-> Alyssa draws her blade, trying to find the source of the arrows.
[01-08:15:33] <Zeni> Zeni strokes Vanilla, blinking in confusion in the arcane darkness.*  "What'd you drive us into now?!"
[01-08:16:02] <Alyssa-> "Arrows!" Alyssa shouts back as three of them hits her.
[01-08:23:27] <Alyssa-> Alyssa slumps down as three arrows penetrate her.
[01-08:26:20] <[DM]> More arrows zip through the darkness, largely pinging off hard leather but some with meatier sounds.
[01-08:31:12] <Zeni> No longer hearing Alyssa and feeling the carriage slow down, Zeni waits for the volley of arrows to end before darting out the door and climbing into the driver's seat, feeling around for the reigns and tugging them away from Alyssa's lifeless hands before whipping them.  "Get us out of heeere!"  She baps the dragon skull, because thats obviously the 'on' button.
[01-08:36:22] <[DM]> The carriage rips out of the darkness with an ominous aura as one of the two spiders with an elf torso drops it's bow and leaps for the trees in the dim sunlight under the canopy.
[01-08:41:21] <Ellis> Ellis draws her hand crossbow and fires out the window as soon as Zeni pulls the carriage out of the darkness. Elf torso means it has elven vital spots, right?
[01-08:42:23] * [DM]_ (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[01-08:44:36] * [DM] (~veekie@Rizon-289F4AA0.klj01-home.tm.net.my) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[01-08:48:33] <@Lien> Lien slams the carriage door open and bolts out as soon as light returns to the world, charging at the half-spider to slam into it with a flurry of blows.
[01-08:49:14] <[DM]_> Ellis's bracers ring  out in song as her bolts lash out, clipping a spidery leg to little effect.
[01-08:52:32] <[DM]_> DELETE above outcome
[01-08:53:00] <[DM]_> The bracers sing out as  the bolts plunge deep into chitinous flesh, as if guided.
[01-08:57:22] <[DM]_> The drider fleeing is soon out of sight, weaving through the trees, the other however, trades bow for sword as it savages Lien.
[01-09:00:06] <@Lien> Unfortunate positioning due to never having thought something with a spider's lower body and a humanoid's upper leaves Lien unfortunately open, and twin sword blows obviously sever something important and she sputters, staggers, and slumps.
[01-09:04:49] <Zeni> Zeni scrambles as she searches herself for a last potion, not finding any.  She instead climbs atop the carriage and snatches the party's last small healing potion off of Ellis, then climbs back over and pours it into Alyssa's mouth.  "Live, dumby, driiive!"  She then draws out her staff, looking to Ellis before casting a now quite familiar spell.  Ellis feels her actions quicken!!!1
[01-09:06:15] <Ellis> Oddly calmed by the bracers' song, Ellis resists the temptation to dart in to Lien's aid immediately, instead lining up careful shots to bring the murderous drider down.
[01-09:10:49] <[DM]_> The bracers continue to sing, in a dirge-like tone, as the bolts sink into the creature recoiling as a shot passes it's face.
[01-09:11:24] <Alyssa-> Alyssa leaps to where Lien is and takes two swings at the drider that just felled the hermit.
[01-09:13:57] <[DM]_> The drider meanwhile, finding it's prey, goes into another slashing frenzy, abusing it's height and speed to press the Alyssa.
[01-09:17:52] <[DM]_> There's a merry chiming that tapers off.
[01-09:20:18] <Ellis> Ellis cocks her head to one side, then abandons her nice, distant position to dash toward the fight. Tugging the cork out of her last remaining potion, she pours it down Lien's throat with little time for ceremony. The monk might splutter a bit, but she should survive.
[01-09:22:07] <Zeni> Only upon noticing Ellis dash forward does Zeni finally notice that Lien had fallen.  "Not you too!  G-Get uppp!"
[01-09:22:46] <@Lien> Sputter Lien does, but her eyes also open and flick around, upon which she immediately jumps to her feet and rejoins the battle, holding a hand out to motion Alyssa to get back.
[01-09:23:52] <Ellis> Ellis barely has time to sigh in relief before her crossbow flicks upward, pumping shot after shot into the drider's underside.
[01-09:25:57] <[DM]_> Black blood pours out from the hole as the drider staggers.
[01-09:34:34] <Zeni> Not seeing the other Drider, Zeni hops back down into the carriage to take cover.  "Where is it?  G-Get over here and in the carriage, no more taking chances!"
[01-09:37:03] <[DM]_> Out in the trees, there is a horrible noise.
[01-09:37:48] <Ellis> "...oh dear."
[01-09:38:48] <[DM]_> A howling-chittering-screaming as something recieves a very screwed up surge of power.
[01-09:39:15] <Ellis> "...We should leave."
[01-09:39:23] <Zeni> Zeni cringes.  "Yes."
[01-09:40:21] <@Lien> After a brief whistled exchange, Lien puts her palm to her face and nods. "Yes, let's."
[01-09:40:56] <[DM]_> A chitinous paw bursts from the trees as a massive abomination of a scaled massive drider with paws in place of legs and a mutated mass of spikes for arms.
[01-09:41:06] <[DM]_> It's screaming a lot
[01-09:42:01] <Zeni> "Alyssa get us moving!"
[01-09:42:37] <Alyssa-> Alyssa jumps onto the carriage. "Get in!"
[01-09:42:47] <Zeni> Zeni battens down the hatches, all of them.
[01-09:42:57] <[DM]_> The monstrousity sweeps it's arms, throwing off a rain of razor sharp clawed webs.
[01-09:51:22] <Zeni> Hearing Alyssa thud against the carriage once again, Zeni hurriedly climbs out to take up the reigns once more, quite used to seeing her poor companion bloodied and down at this point.  "You really need to take a rest..."
[01-09:51:51] <Zeni> Zeni baps the totem!
[01-09:53:04] <@Lien> Lien, deciding that standing and fighting is a bad idea here, takes the unconscious Alyssa into the inside of the carriage and starts administering care as they get going.
[01-09:53:26] <[DM]_> The carriage...does not get anywhere.
[01-09:53:40] <Ellis> Ellis follows suit, firing parting shots to discourage the abomination from giving chase.
[01-09:56:14] <[DM]_> The bracers continue to sing, haltingly.
[01-09:58:12] <[DM]_> Ellis's shots gouges a deep hole into it's face. Spiders pour out of the gap.
[01-09:58:36] <[DM]_> It screams in dissonant terror.
[01-09:59:18] <Zeni> Zeni hurriedly whaps at some of the webbing, motes of flame flickering all about her as she panics.  "Help me cut us free, Lien!  Elliskeepshooting!"
[01-10:00:59] <[DM]_> The abomination screams at itself for a bit, then lashes out with it's lumpy hands again.
[01-10:06:26] <Ellis> Ellis isn't fast enough to duck the blow and goes sprawling. Coming up, she snaps off three more shots at the thing without any real hope of killing it soon. "Drive. Drive!"
[01-10:06:49] <Zeni> After helplessly smacking at some webbing and not doing much, Zeni whips the reins again to try to get the carriage going.
[01-10:11:00] <[DM]_> Ellis's shot slam a path from it's face to where it's heart should be, as it bleeds black fire, dribbling down and crawling away screaming.
[01-10:13:53] <[DM]_> It shakes off the injuries and leaps off the ground, skips off the trees, and slams it's body at the carriage.
[01-10:16:59] <[DM]_> Zeni, SOMEHOW, keeps the carriage upright, but the vehicle skids sideways from the impact.
[01-10:18:37] <@Lien> With Alyssa tended to, at least, Lien, against all better judgement, clambers out of the carriage door and attacks their all too insistent pursuer.
[01-10:19:07] <Ellis> "Why, why, why is this thing not dead yet?" Ellis punctuates her sentence with point-blank shots, aimed wherever the spiders are most thickly flowing.
[01-10:19:21] <Zeni> Zeni shrieks as she just barely manages to keep the carriage balanced on two wheels for a ways before slamming the thing back down on the road, "Idon'twanttodriveIdon'twanttodrive I don't want to be outside with this thiiiiiiing!!!"  Zeni whips the reins -hard-.  The Animal Handler-est.
[01-10:21:42] <[DM]_> The combined assault  seems to stymie it for the moment, as  legs are crushed into black pulp.
[01-10:21:50] <[DM]_> It screams a lot again.
[01-10:22:14] <[DM]_> A seam cracks across it's face vertically.
[01-10:24:25] <[DM]_> The horses gives Zeni a look like they want a union.
[01-10:24:52] <[DM]_> The monster continues to wail as the fur peels off.
[01-10:25:53] <Zeni> Zeni threateningly conjures motes of flame just above each of the horse's asses as she furiously glares at them.
[01-10:27:06] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, is pretty much just kicking in a let-go-let-go rythm.
[01-10:27:12] <Ellis> Ellis, sensing potential weakness, pounces. Metaphorically. She actually just aims for the seam, pulling the trigger as fast as she can.
[01-10:29:11] <[DM]_> Ellis blows the entire head off, even as Zeni REALLY motivates the horses.
[01-10:29:57] <[DM]_> The carriage lurches into a full out gallop, as the outer shell of the beast sloughs off.
[01-10:30:41] <[DM]_> The fur blasts off in a haze of toxic purple fumes, rolling out as a spider shrieks out.
[01-10:33:28] <Ellis> "Oh, f--" Ellis breaks off, coughing furiously and throwing a hand over her mouth and nose.
[01-10:34:12] <@Lien> Lien coughs and covers her mouth, clambering back into the carriage to cover the unconscious Alyssa's too.
[01-10:35:48] <Zeni> Zeni's swirling motes of flame seem to deter most of the gas, though she coughs a couple of times.  She whips the reins harder yet, "Go you useless... things!"
[01-10:36:24] <Alyssa-> Alyssa's complexion was already purplish with blackened veins.
[01-10:39:07] <[DM]_> ------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #36 on: August 15, 2015, 11:05:03 AM »
Session 36: No More Wild Ride Pls

[05:15] <[DM]> --------------------------------------------
[05:17] <[DM]> Alyssa's last breath enters her body through the coils of venomous smoke, and Lien's first sign of something wrong is a sudden surge of heat and the stench of sulfur.
[05:19] <[DM]> A coil of crimson hell fire erupts from her body in a seeking coil, scouring across her body and belongings.
[05:21] <@Lien> Lien is still trying to save what she can when her companion's body bursts into fire. Her first thought is to put it out on instinct, but she immediately jumps away when it comes for her.
[05:23] <[DM]> Lashing about wildly, the flame darkens as it fails to find whatever it's looking for, and intensifies to a blinding black flash as it expands, leaving blackened ashes as it consumes the warlock's body in runes of fire.
[05:25] <[DM]> After an eternity, the flames die out, leaving blackened shapes seared into the carriage.
[05:29] <Zeni> Zeni stands there pouting, perhaps a bit too close to the flames, hands on her hips.  "So... She died after all that?!  -After- all that, not duriiing!  That doesn't make any sense..."
[05:32] <[DM]> A cacophony erupts from the trees in every direction as howls and roars blend into satisfied laughter.
[05:33] <@Lien> Lien stares with an expression that looks like she might be about to cry, then looks around at the laughter, suddenly tempted to beat up every predator within half a mile.
[05:33] <Ellis> Ellis watches the smoldering runes in something close to shock. "There's not even anything left we could bury."
[05:36] <Zeni> The little sorceress shudders at that, hurriedly stepping up to the carriage for cover, but stopping as she spots the clumps of ash upon her bench.  "Sadly there is.  Why'd she have to die on -my- bench!?  G-Geeze... And all these scorch marks!  This'll take forever to clean... Why'd she have to die like that?" :I
[05:37] <@Lien> "You can ride on the roof if it bothers you."
[05:39] <Zeni> Zeni draws out a bleached white canvas bag and starts carefully moving the ashes with her cantrip.
[05:43] <[DM]> Zeni finds that however she gathers the ash, the burn remains, seared into the leather by supernatural flames
[05:44] <Zeni> The half-elf  takes her time, at least showing some care there as she gathers up the ashes of her fallen companion, plopping down on her bench with the bag tightly sealed in her lap once she finishes.  She gives the burns a few blasts with her cantrip, only lightening them slightly, then huffs.  "I don't think she'd appreciate being buried or scattered out here, so... Should we just get going?  Oof..."
[05:45] <@Lien> "We should. Let's find a town or something on the way.
[05:47] <Zeni> "Would you like to carry the ashes, Lien?  I don't think she'd have wanted me to, and she did entrust you with that... thing.  Andyouvolunteeredtohelpherbrothersandstuff."
[05:48] <@Lien> "Yes."
[05:50] <Ellis> Ellis collapses onto the opposite carriage bench, listlessly taking care of the injuries she sustained in their flight from whatever the drider became.
[05:50] <Zeni> Zeni seems hesitant to hand them over despite offering, as if thinking last minute about what she could gain by keeping them, but not thinking of much, she carefully hands them over.  Zeni summed up.
[05:52] <@Lien> Lien grabs them out of Zeni's hands without ceremony with some animosity at the hint of hesitation.
[05:53] <Zeni> Zeni seems shocked by the animosity!  Totally undeserved.  She huffs, "Well?  Go get driving then, dumby."
[05:54] <@Lien> Lien answers with a grunt and does so.
[05:56] <Zeni> Zeni stands herself up and places a blanket across the burned up bench, then plops down right beside Ellis in her usual presonal-space-invading way, hugging the woman's arm against herself. :<
[06:03] <[DM]> The air splinters and fractures, hairline cracks spreading out in a web from Lien as she looks out.
[06:05] <[DM]> An intricate sixteen spoked spiderweb of smoke and gossamer forms, barely visible in threads of mist leaking.
[06:08] <@Lien> Lien frowns as she looks about, paying no heed to those developments, and keeps driving on a new course.
[06:09] <[DM]> This would be rather alarming to the rest as Lien proceeds to drive straight into trees, without a single shock of impact, as the carriage passes between trunks and through the roots.
[06:10] <[DM]> Somehow, constantly missing them and finding the perfectly carriage sized gaps.
[06:11] <[DM]> Meanwhile, at Ryla's campsite, the ground just fell out from under her, replaced by a black carriage, and her campfire continues blazing merrily on top as it starts riding along the treetops.
[06:12] <Ryla> Ryla sits on top of the carriage with a =_= expression.
[06:12] <[DM]> "<Syl>Wut</Syl>"
[06:12] <Ellis> Ellis is mostly ignoring what's going on outside the carriage. She lets Zeni have her arm. It's not like she needed that to patch up her wounds or anything.
[06:13] <Ryla> "<Syl> What trickery is this again. </Syl>"
[06:13] <Zeni> ".... Ne, Lien... Lien, ne, where are you driving us?  Why'stheresomuchsky, so suddenly."  Zeni tightens her hold on Ellis's arm.  "Are you driving us up a mountain?  Butit'sflat."
[06:14] <@Lien> Lien looks up absently like someone roused out of boring routine activity, only find their new passenger. She stares.
[06:14] <[DM]> "<Syl>Bestride!</syl>" An impossibly cheery but invisible voice rings out from somewhere. "<Syl>Woo~!</Syl>"
[06:15] <Ryla> "<Syl> Miss Fairy, kindly tell me who's ride I am on. And where are we going?" </Syl>"
[06:15] <Zeni> ". . ."
[06:15] <Ellis> "What." Ellis' head jerks up from a dangerously sleepy nod.
[06:16] <[DM]> "<syl>Best driver, should have changed to Lien long ago</syl>"
[06:17] <Ryla> Ryla leaves the campfire burning and looks over at the driver's seat. "Uh...hello?"
[06:17] <Zeni> Zeni finally relinquishes Ellis's arm as she stands up and takes a look out the window, firmly holding an inner railing going across the doorway.  ".   .   ."
[06:17] <[DM]> The carriage is going on treetops, but it's getting dimmer as Lien drives on, leaping from branch to leaf without disturbing either.
[06:18] <Ryla> Ryla sighs as she sprinkles some animal feed into the campfire, concentrating on stretching her senses out to detect the presence of animals. If she is in fey realms, they wouldn't be around.
[06:19] <@Lien> "...I'm sorry, can you put out that fire? You'll scorch the carriage. Also, you sure picked a weird camping site."
[06:20] <Zeni> ".    .    ."  Zeni sits right back down and re-attaches herself to Ellis's side.  "Just what burned up with Alyssa?  I think... I think we're having some sort of... collective hallucination?  I... my head!"
[06:20] <[DM]> There's a cat in the flat elf girl's dress, and a bird looking at the passing scenery curiously.
[06:20] <Ryla> Ryla gets shocked out of her reverie and kicks out the fire. "Ah you're responding. Hello, where are you taking me?"
[06:20] <[DM]> Strange, the surroundings are almost bare of animals despite being in the forest.
[06:20] <Ryla> Ryla senses two animals in the carriage and starts meowing.
[06:20] <[DM]> And despite it being just past noon, the world is too dim.
[06:21] <@Lien> "I don't mean to take you anywhere, I think we just picked you up by accident."
[06:21] <Ryla> <Cat> "Uh, where are we? What's going on? </Cat>
[06:21] <@Lien> "Sorry about that."
[06:21] <[DM]> Enthusiastic barking returns.
[06:21] <Ryla> "Are the horses spooked? Why don't you stop and get your bearings?"
[06:22] <[DM]> "<Dog>Strange things always happen. Just enjoy the show</Dog>"
[06:22] <Ellis> "...Maybe just rest your eyes for a minute." Because that'll definitely help with the meowing stranger on the roof and the - okay, who let the dubiously lucid person drive anyway?
[06:23] <Zeni> Zeni tightens her arms around Vanilla and Ellis, nearly crushing them with her rippling loli muscles that Ryla can apparently see. :< Or not.
[06:24] <[DM]> Outside, the world starts getting dull and greyed out.
[06:24] <Ryla> "Do you know where you even are now? This isn't the mortal plane!"
[06:24] <Ryla> "Look around you!"
[06:25] <@Lien> "Uh, to answer the question. We're going to the nexust of thread, I guess. I can let you off once I find a good point."
[06:25] <Ryla> Ryla starts chirping. "<Bird> Hey Raven! Lend me your senses please! I have nuts and dried fruits for you.</Bird>"
[06:26] <Ryla> "Are you going to the place where the hole in the sky is raining shards of glass?"
[06:26] <[DM]> "Fuck" The bird speaks perfectly  workable Common.
[06:26] <@Lien> "Uh. I'm not sure what it's like there, but I hope not. Raining glass sounds dangerous."
[06:27] <@Lien> "Also, why are you making animal noises?"
[06:27] <Ellis> "This is not the most unusual thing about our situation, Lien!"
[06:28] <Ryla> Ryla takes a firm seating position and attempts to link consciousness with the raven.
[06:28] <Zeni> "Not nearly!  Make her go away and get us back on solid groooound!"
[06:28] <@Lien> "You're right. I messed up somewhere to have someone riding along by accident."
[06:28] <@Lien> As a small mercy, she starts navigating back down to ground level to regain her bearings and let their passenger off safely.
[06:30] <[DM]> The ground is strange, dry and hard rather than leafy and damp like forest soil should be.
[06:30] <[DM]> The trees pale and white.
[06:31] <Ryla> Ryla leaps off the carriage, half drawing her massive blade as she looks around, half plate not gleaming under any light. "Do you know where we are right now?"
[06:31] <[DM]> Total silence reigns outside.
[06:31] <Zeni> Zeni springs to her feet and locks the carriage doors.  Bad neighborhood, strange stranger!  "Okay.  Okay... Now.... what's going on!?  Who's that person atop the carria--.... that person, who is she, why were we flyiiing!?"
[06:31] <Ryla> Ryla turns around to peer at the driver and into the carriage, removing her helmet.
[06:32] <Ryla> "I was camping alone and the ground gave way. And I find myself on top of your...pretty impressive carriage."
[06:32] <@Lien> "Hm." Lien pulls the carriage to a stop once it's safe to do so and hops off, looking around. "We're in the Gray Forest. I wanted to get my bearings somewhere the threads are less thick, but I guess I picked you up on the way. Sorry."
[06:34] <Ryla> "Were you ambushed and fled to this realm by accident?"
[06:34] <@Lien> "Or... well. More like not really somewhere. But we're close to the Gray Forest."
[06:35] <Ryla> "What's your business with the Gray Forest?"
[06:35] <[DM]> It looks the same in all directions as the carriage stops the impossible ride. Maybe it's the rabbit hole she drove through earlier.
[06:35] <Ryla> "Also you all look really hurt. This is safe ground for now. Do you have enough food and water?"
[06:36] <@Lien> Lien's shoulders slump. "We do. A quarter too much now, really."
[06:36] <Zeni> Zeni staaares, just not sure what to make of this stranger -- or anything else.  "And we aren't sharing!"
[06:37] <Ryla> Ryla frowns. "A quarter?"
[06:37] <Ellis> "...Can we put a hold on that issue for the moment? What do you mean by 'not really somewhere?'" Ellis fixes Lien with a severe look.
[06:38] <[DM]> There's no sunlight peeking through the leaves here, no light at all, just a pale visibility.
[06:38] <[DM]> No heat, no cold.
[06:43] <@Lien> "Well... Um." Lien scratches her head. "Say, an apple can be red or green, right, and you can put it here or there." She gesticulates. "So it's got a color, and it's got a where. If you had a jug of water, that doesn't really have a color, right, but you can still put it here or there. This place sort of has a color, but it doesn't really have a where."
[06:43] <Ryla> That totally fucking went over Ryla's head like a rocket.
[06:43] <Zeni> "..... Really."
[06:44] <Ellis> Ellis frowns thoughtfully. "...Then how can it be close to the Gray Forest?"
[06:44] <Zeni> Zeni angrily, and a bit loudly, whispers to Ellis, "I knew we should've ditched this whole journey several stops ago!"
[06:44] <Ryla> Ryla looks up at the sky, trying to find a hole in them.
[06:45] <[DM]> The sky is grey and uniform as the eye can see.
[06:46] <@Lien> "Because all the threads from here go there, so we can get back easily. We're trying to find a place that has a lot of where, so I figured we could rest somewhere without a lot of where and get our bearings, so we don't get lost. I could barely see the forest for the trees when we came in."
[06:47] <Ryla> Ryla's head hurts. "Ok, just rest. I think you're delirious. Just rest."
[06:47] <@Lien> "I'm not delirious."
[06:47] <Zeni> "Yesyouare."
[06:48] <Ryla> Ryla looks at Ellis and Zeni. "Ryla Yarjerit, I bear no ill will."
[06:48] <Ryla> "Please help your companion to her rest."
[06:48] <Ellis> "There might be some merit to what you're saying, but please don't take it personally when I say you sound like you've got a fever."
[06:49] <@Lien> "I've never been good at explaining, but that's a bit harsh."
[06:51] <[DM]> After a moment's talking, it becomes somewhat more noticable, Lien's eyes are glowing dimly here, the sole shred of sunlight.
[06:51] <Ellis> Ellis waves off Ryla impatiently. "It's not the quality of the explanation, it's...everything you're saying is fundamentally alien. And you're acting like it's patently obvious. I'm concerned, that's all."
[06:52] <Zeni> Zeni looks back to Ryla, arms folded, "I'm sure the random b-being we picked up while crossing planes o-or whatever Lien just dragged us through is totally a benign, not-terrible trickster!  Or something.  Stay away from our carriage and we won't have any trouble."  She takes her seat again.
[06:52] <@Lien> Lien tilts her head. "What's so alien about there being a where like there is a color?"
[06:53] <Zeni> "Just shut up already!  You're hurting my headdd!"
[06:53] <Ryla> Ryla takes note to remember Zeni.
[06:54] <Ellis> "It's the absence of a where that's impossible, but Zeni's right. We can discuss this later." Ellis sighs the deepest of sighs.
[06:54] <@Lien> "Well, alright."
[06:57] <Zeni> Zeni drags out a couple of blankets that she totally didn't steal from that last inn they stayed at, then bundles up beside Ellis, simmering.
[06:58] <@Lien> Lien takes the first watch, preferring to be alone for a bit.
[06:59] <Ellis> Ellis doesn't argue, instead leaning on Zeni and staring off at the far carriage wall. Eventually, she just falls asleep.
[07:06] * Ryla (~anonymous@94BA2BB7.CB48A196.6339BCF.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[07:06] * Ryla (~anonymous@94BA2BB7.CB48A196.6339BCF.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[07:09] <[DM]> First watch passes silently, Lien stares out at the trees all the same no matter the distance.
[07:10] <[DM]> Unnerving in a way, but certainly quiet, except for some snoring who'd never admit to it.
[07:14] <@Lien> Lien spends her time staring out at the landscape. It's calming in its own way, and she meditates on it and herself until the time for Ellis's watch comes.
[07:17] <Ryla> Ryla wakes up at the same time as Ellis, shrugs and takes the watch with her.
[07:19] <[DM]> The trees are spaced further apart  than Ellis and Ryla remembers, the silence lighter, and the darkness more aware.
[07:19] <[DM]> The light stares.
[07:19] <Ryla> Ryla looks around. "Feel it miss?"
[07:20] <Ryla> "This oddness."
[07:20] <Ellis> "Mmm." Ellis makes a wordless noise of assent. "I don't like it here. It's like being behind the scenes of a play."
[07:21] <Ryla> "What's a play?"
[07:21] <@Lien> Lien sleeps the sleep of the just, seemingly not worried at all.
[07:22] <Ellis> "...you know, that's not even the oddest question I've heard today. People pretend to be the characters in a story and act it out."
[07:24] <Ryla> "Strange custom, but I guess it is what it is."
[07:24] <Zeni> Ellis having deftly escaped her embrace, Zeni clings to Vanilla instead, almost strangling her.  Moe.
[07:25] <[DM]> Vanilla, smooshed, sleepily shifts to a larger form and sleeps unsquashed.
[07:25] <[DM]> Zeni however, is getting pretty squashed by the rather heavy weretiger.
[07:26] <Ellis> "It's like the whole place is watching us." Ellis glances down at the carriage. "And Lien would probably have something to say on that score if she were awake."
[07:26] <Zeni> She appears to be okay with this for the moment.  While she's sleeping.
[07:27] <Ryla> "Why are you in these parts of the woods to begin with? Were you all travelling merchants?"
[07:28] <Ryla> Ryla notes the armaments. "Adventurers?"
[07:29] <Ellis> Ellis waggles her hand noncommittally. "It's complicated. Lien has...something she needs help with. And one of our other friends did, too, until earlier."
[07:30] <Ryla> Ryla frowns. As evasive as the fae, and not as straightforward as the orcs. "Tell me more."
[07:34] <Ellis> So, with nothing else to do during her watch, Ellis regales Ryla with an edited version of events, leaving out some small, trivial details. Such as her entire history before meeting Zeni, the paladin's soul in Lien's pocket, and the like. You know, little things.
[07:34] <Ryla> "I am sorry with your companion's death."
[07:35] <Ryla> "I was raised by bears, and picked up by an orc warband when I was 10. I left them just recently. Plagued by dream-visions of a terrible disaster, I'm trying to get to the bottom of it."
[07:36] <Ellis> "...I'm sorry, I must have misheard. It sounded like you said you were raised by bears."
[07:36] <Ryla> Ryla shows the bear claws and fangs she had collected for accessories. "Yes, raised by bears."
[07:38] <Ellis> "...Well. You speak very well, considering that."
[07:40] <Ryla> "Had to learn fast."
[07:40] <Ryla> "I'm better with Orc."
[07:42] <Ellis> "Can't speak a word of that. But if you're looking for help with visions...I guess Lien's the one to talk to, and Zeni knows quite a bit about disasters and magic. I just know bits and pieces of things here and there, really. All I'm really good at is marksmanship."
[07:43] <Ryla> Ryla nods. "I will talk to Lien after her fever passes. And I suspect she's hurt bad by the death of your companion."
[07:44] <Ellis> "It's still fresh. I'm not even sure it's really sunk in for me."
[07:45] <Ryla> "It is not easy, even when part of an orc warband."
[07:46] <Ryla> "I noticed that Lien is not handling the reins well. Was your companion the driver?"
[07:47] <Ellis> Ellis gives a tiny snort of laughter. "She's either the best or the worst driver I've ever seen. At least Zeni only drove into a kebab stand, not out of...location entirely. But yes, she was."
[07:49] <Ryla> Ryla sighs. "Alright. Since I have no idea where to start on my own journey, and you are missing a driver, I would not mind joining you all until I find something else to draw my attention away from."
[07:49] <[DM]> The silence rests.
[07:51] <Zeni> Muffled sounds could be heard from the carriage as Zeni stirs and finds herself smothered by giant weretigerpuppy.  She struggles and pushes and bites till she surfaces from the fluff, but then just strokes Vanilla once she could breath normally.  "Goodvani,keepingwarm..."
[07:53] <[DM]> Zeni gets licked on the face.
[07:54] <Zeni> Zeni didn't need her top layer of skin anyway.
[07:55] <Zeni> "I'm up, I'm uppp!  Elliisss...."
[07:56] <[DM]> Zeni heads out of the interior, to where the darkness is sitting beside Ryla.
[07:56] <[DM]> It waves.
[08:00] <Zeni> Zeni blearily stares, arm slung over Vanillatiger as she leans on her a bit too much.  "Ellis...?"  She blinks a few times, then drags her staff off of her back, looking to Ryla as motes of flame spark into existence beside her, "What did you do to Ellis?  Trickster..." She tiredly murmurs, sleepily trying to make sense of things.
[08:01] <[DM]> Chill fills the air as it speaks, then plucks a bit of color off the bench and licks it away to grey.
[08:03] <[DM]> It points Zeni, beckoning as it licks it's darkness.
[08:04] <Zeni> The motes burst into actual flame, half to counter the chill, half as a threat.  "Someone wake Lien and make this thing make sense," the half-elf mutters in tired frustration.  "Liennn!"
[08:05] <@Lien> Lien answers with a "I'm still asleep" grunt.
[08:05] <Ryla> Ryla springs into action at Zeni's voice. Drawing her blade.
[08:05] <Ryla> Drawing that huge ass blade.
[08:06] <Zeni> Zeni flips around and stabs her staff back into the carriage at Lien, presuming she was sleeping on the other bench.
[08:06] * Bozwevial (~Boz@Rizon-6AA34712.lightspeed.rlghnc.sbcglobal.net) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[08:07] <@Lien> That gets a groan. "What?"
[08:07] * Ellis (~Boz@Rizon-6AA34712.lightspeed.rlghnc.sbcglobal.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[08:07] * Bozwevial is now known as Ellis
[08:08] <Zeni> "Come look at this...? Iunno, darkness is sitting there and I'm about to burn it if you can't make sense of it."  Sleepytalk.
[08:08] <[DM]> The darkness glides towards Zeni as Lien wakes, speaking.
[08:13] * veekie (~veekie@88DF825C.39A19300.C600B0DB.IP) has joined #CrackOfDawn
[08:14] * [DM] (~veekie@88DF825C.39A19300.C600B0DB.IP) Quit (Ping timeout: 240 seconds)
[08:15] * veekie is now known as [DM]
[08:25] <Zeni> Before she even fully turns to face the darkness again, her motes are already crackling in an unfamiliar way.  Zeni raises her palm, focuses her motes, and utters a few words before an incredibly bright cascade of fire-tinted lightning erupts forth and into the darkness.
[08:26] <[DM]> The lightning ruffles the darkness as it passes through.
[08:27] <[DM]> UNDO LAST TWO
[08:29] <Zeni> Sensing the thing move, Zeni quickly darts towards the back of the carriage, placing Vanillatiger between herself and it before condensing her motes and sending one bright flaming bolt into the darkness.  "Keep that creepy thing away from me!"
[08:30] <[DM]> The flames pass the darkness, leaving it unruffled.
[08:35] <@Lien> Lien takes some seconds to wake up before she finalls grabs her staff and comes out of the carriage like oiled lightning for all her still not much better aches, piling onto the darkness to drive it away.
[08:38] <[DM]> The staff blows rip through t he semisolid darkness, leaving holes in it.
[08:42] <@Lien> She follows up with an elbow strike and a kick that also propels her away from the living darkness.
[08:43] <[DM]> Lien's hands rips into the  darkness with a sticky, cloying sensation as it bleeds color.
[08:43] <Ryla> Ryla growls like a bear as she blasts her way towards the darkness, taking a double slash with the glowing blade.
[08:50] <[DM]> The light carves through the darkness, leaving a ragged edge of green and brown.
[08:51] <Ellis> Ellis' head whips around as her hand blurs to draw, rapid-firing at the strange dark shape.
[08:52] <[DM]> '<Syl>Lost beyond all places, lost to all time. The emptiness yawns, and devours it's mind.</syl>'
[08:55] <Ryla> Ryla looks back at Ellis. "Was that you?"
[08:56] <[DM]> The darkness is torn but closes up as the bolts punch through it's substance.
[08:57] <[DM]> Then it is behind Zeni, night reaching for brilliant hair.
[08:57] <Zeni> Zeni shudders before anything even touches her.
[08:59] <[DM]> Color, life itself is torn from her hair in a flash of brilliant red, but the darkness loses it's grip and the stolen color scatters as her hair pales.
[09:09] <Zeni> Zeni violently cringes as her crimson is taken from her, panicking and dashing forward a short ways before turning and all-but instantly conjuring a large flaming lance before sending it sailing just past the darkness, where it explodes and silhouettes.
[09:11] <Zeni> silhouettes the thiiiiing!
[09:11] <[DM]> The sudden wash of scarlet flames flood through the darkness.
[09:12] <[DM]> It reaches at Zeni once more, then scatters, patches of color returning in a ring around Zeni, of greens and browns.
[09:14] <[DM]> The silence is gone, as is the light. Nothing is watching.
[09:14] <@Lien> Lien heaves a breath. "That wasn't a nice thing to wake up to. I think it'll reform in a day or so, but we're good for now."
[09:14] <Ryla> Ryla takes a deep breath as adrenaline leaves her body slowly. Stabbing the brightly glowing greatsword onto the ground, she searches the spot where the enemy scatters.
[09:15] <[DM]> Interestingly the ground is once more loamy and lush, rather than the bare, stone like consistency.
[09:15] <Ryla> Ryla investigates the surroundings.
[09:16] <[DM]> As far as the eye can see, nothing is looking back.
[09:16] <Zeni> Zeni all but instantly drops against Vanillatiger upon seeing the thing scatter, clinging to her.  "Uuugh... I just woke up and I already need a rest again, I'm not bleeding but whatever it did hurt so much..." she whines as she nuzzles at Vanilla.  Does she not notice her now-kind-of-pink hair?
[09:17] <@Lien> "I really need some more sleep. I don't think anything will bother us soon, but we can get going again in a few hours."
[09:17] <[DM]> Vanilla plays with the new shade of dangly toy.
[09:19] <Zeni> Despite it being her watch, Zeni tiredly climbs back into the carriage, dragging Vanitiger up with her before using her as a bed. 
[09:19] <Ellis> "What was that thing, anyway? It took the...the color out of Zeni's hair, I think." Ellis doesn't look as confident as Lien that they won't be attacked again.
[09:19] <[DM]> Vanilla obligingly shifts to a very plush tiger.
[09:21] <[DM]> Nothing happens as Lien catches up on her sleep.
[09:21] <@Lien> "Sort of a gap where someone was supposed to be, I think. Someone who wandered too far out, and that's what they left behind. And don't worry, we're not too far, or we wouldn't have run into it."
[09:21] <[DM]> Nothing listening.
[09:24] <[DM]> Nothing is seen and nothing makes a sound when Lien rouses from her additional beauty sleep.
[09:26] <@Lien> Finally well rested, Lien stretches and starts looking in a direction that looks exactly the same as every other direction, climbing up a tree for better vantage.
[09:28] <Ryla> Ryla helps Lien by supplying her information from the ground and her experience.
[09:31] <@Lien> "There we go, I can see it." Lien deftly hops down from her tree and onto the driver's bench, getting everyone moving back towards somewhere.
[09:32] <Zeni> Zeni wakes and spends far longer brushing her hair than usual, emerging looking like a bit of a mess, her usually shiny and silky hair frizzled.  "Oof... W-Wait!  Tell us where you're taking us this time!  Whatisthisplaceevennn?"  She hurriedly piles back into the carriage with Vanilla.
[09:33] <[DM]> The carriage takes a different path, down and out and through the trees. The mistake was clear, it was not the rabbit hole, but the squirrel's that leads the way.
[09:33] <@Lien> "To where we were going in the first place. I said half a dozen times I was just driving out here to get a better view."
[09:33] <Ryla> Ryla takes her seat on top of the carriage.
[09:33] <[DM]> The carriage drives into the wood, and nothing follows.
[09:34] <[DM]> ----------------------------------------------

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Re: Logs
« Reply #37 on: August 16, 2015, 05:56:43 AM »
Session 37: Pls No More Riderino

[15-05:10:12] <[DM]_> --------------------------------------------
[15-05:11:29] <[DM]_> The squirrel hole is surprisingly spacious here, as pale ghostly wood fades to rich browns and reds, before emerging at ground level, back at probably normal woods.
[15-05:11:59] <[DM]_> The only white and grey are wispy  nets of spiderwebs dangling from the treetops.
[15-05:14:02] <Zeni> Zeni fails to look any relieved over the return to normality, staring out the window in complete unamusement.  "No more taking us on non-normal... paths, or whatever that was!"
[15-05:15:27] <[DM]_> This does not help Zeni's state of mine when the carriage proceeds to ride on a wisp of spidersilk as thick as a hair.
[15-05:16:11] <@Lien> "Fine," Lien says, even as she brazenly steers the carriage over spiderwebs.
[15-05:16:36] <[DM]_> The spiderwebs grow thick all around,hanging, drifting and even carpeting the ground in grey swathes.
[15-05:17:25] <@Lien> "Can someone dig out one of those opals? I think we're gonna need it soon."
[15-05:17:59] <Ellis> No more pleased about it than Zeni, Ellis rummages through their belongings until she produces one of the gems. "What do you need that for?"
[15-05:18:56] <@Lien> "Safe passage, I think."
[15-05:19:00] <[DM]_> Beady black eyes watch from the trees.
[15-05:21:04] <@Lien> Taking the opal, she holds it up a little, still holding the reins as she watches their watchers. "I'm just not sure if I'm supposed to offer it, or just keep riding, or what..."
[15-05:21:06] <Zeni> Zeni frowns and takes out one of the opals she'd claimed for herself, just in case it was needed as well.  "Not really interested in fighting however many spiders it took to build all this..."
[15-05:22:23] <[DM]_> Ahead, the path vanishes into the ground grey and leaf covered.
[15-05:23:46] <@Lien> "I guess there it is." She heads for that spot.
[15-05:23:53] <Ryla> Ryla doesn't have opals, but Scale Ripper glows softly as she holds it across her knees.
[15-05:25:03] <[DM]_> The ground ahead rains down debris as it lifts up, yawning open as solid ground and trees turn out to be a giant wad of dirt and debris held together by webbing.
[15-05:25:41] <[DM]_> Four furry legs  the size of the horses emerge, as enormous eyes gaze upon the group.
[15-05:26:50] <Zeni> Zeni has her cheek plastered to the window as she tries to see just what Lien is taking them towards, only able to spot one of the legs.  ".... Lien?"
[15-05:26:53] <@Lien> Lien brings the horses to a stop, hoping they don't just panic, and tries holding up the opal first. She has no idea what she's doing.
[15-05:27:47] <[DM]_> It looks at Lien. Then the opal. The eyes sparkle.
[15-05:28:16] <[DM]_> A strand of webbing dangle down beside Lien.
[15-05:30:05] <@Lien> Lien blinks at it briefly, then sticks the opal to the strand, careful not to get her own hand stuck to it too.
[15-05:32:50] <[DM]_> The thread gently reels up to it's eyes, as it studies the glittering gem...then adds it to a giant rope covered in opals around it's neck.
[15-05:33:31] <[DM]_> The webbing rises further, as the spider stands up, fully exposing a grey tunnel below it
[15-05:34:32] <Ellis> Ellis watches, more than a little nervous but also fascinated. "What kind of spider collects gems?"
[15-05:35:05] <Zeni> "What kind of idiot leads us into this kind of thing...?  Oof, for so long I've had no idea what's going onnn..."
[15-05:35:08] <@Lien> "This kind, apparently." After a moment's hesitation, Lien spurs the horses on to pass under the big trapdoor spider into its trapdoor. What could go wrong?"
[15-05:35:15] <Ryla> "A bejeweled trapster?"
[15-05:36:30] <Ryla> "Could be fey too, they come in all forms and shapes and sizes."
[15-05:36:41] <[DM]_> As the carriage rides past, the spider settles down, darkness filling the tunnel save for the pale luminesence of the webs. It's humming softly to itself, causing the carriage to vibrate.
[15-05:38:53] <[DM]_> It's not very far in before they find several large cocoons , torn open and shriveled, littering the tunnel, and a few large opals lying on the floor.
[15-05:39:18] <Zeni> Zeni just... siddles over and clings to Ellis's arm, just not sure what to make of anything anymore.
[15-05:40:31] <Ellis> No more pleased than her friend about the last few hours, Ellis squeezes Zeni's arm reassuringly.
[15-05:40:55] <[DM]_> The nexus lies ahead as they reach the back of the cave, a pristine pure white hall of crystal webbing
[15-05:40:59] <Ryla> Ryla remains seated on the roof, being aware and wary.
[15-05:41:57] <@Lien> "On the bright side, I think we found it." Lien rides past the opals, unsure what to make of them.
[15-05:42:00] <[DM]_> The spokes of the web meet in the center, where the webs stop and a slightly raised dias of black stone stands.
[15-05:42:44] <Ryla> "What is this?" Ryla hops onto the driver's seat beside Lien
[15-05:44:46] <@Lien> "I think it's what I've been looking for." Lien stops the carriage and hops down from the driver's bench. Experimentally, she puts the three portions of blood she's gathered on the middle of the dais. An instruction manual to go with otherworldly lynchpins of reality would have been nice.
[15-05:45:40] * Ryla stands up at the ready.
[15-05:46:28] <Zeni> Rather than take the opposite door, Zeni sticks close to Ellis as she opens the door on her side, warrily looking about before hesitantly stepping out onto the step just outside the door.  "And what have you been looking for exactly?"
[15-05:46:50] <[DM]_> As the blood makes contact with the stone, it blazes to life.
[15-05:47:15] <Ellis> Ellis steps out of the carriage, eyes fixed on Lien's back.
[15-05:47:35] <[DM]_> Thin lines running in the stone flare with crimson light as the blood spreads out in a wave across the dias, forming a spiraling web pattern.
[15-05:48:45] <[DM]_> As the second sample touches the stone, the pattern widens, a blue spiral forming in the opposite direction, before flaring purple.
[15-05:49:32] <[DM]_> As Lien puts down the third, the flames turn white, and the dias begins growing pale and translucent.
[15-05:49:42] <[DM]_> This is somewhat alarming when you're on the dias.
[15-05:49:55] <@Lien> "Uh." Lien immediately vacates the dais.
[15-05:50:02] <@Lien> DELETE ABOVE
[15-05:52:36] <Zeni> Zeni hesitantly leaves the carriage step, sticking close to Ellis as she carefully steps around anything that might look even remotely sticky, though soon enough she stops and just stares at Lien and the flames around her.
[15-05:53:07] <@Lien> Lien turns back to yell to the carriage, "The black silk! Just one end, leave the other on the ground or something!"
[15-05:53:33] <Ryla> Rlya looks confused.
[15-05:54:10] <[DM]_> The chamber begins to rotate around the dias, the entrance smoothly closing off.
[15-05:54:48] <@Lien> "The silk!"
[15-05:55:01] <[DM]_> The dias itself is rotating in the opposite direction, accelerating.
[15-05:57:03] <@Lien> Losing patience, Lien just dashes off the dais and retrieves the length of black silk from the carriage herself, dropping one end to the ground.
[15-05:57:40] <[DM]_> The silk, upon contact, fuses to the ground, not a moment too late as the air fills with static.
[15-05:58:33] <[DM]_> Then there is a silent thunder, as the chamber turns inside out with a gut twisting wrench.
[15-05:59:53] <[DM]_> A chamber of black webs and a white dias remains, outside the chamber, vast crystal webs span in all directions.
[15-06:00:13] <[DM]_> The horses fortunately, don't seem too bothered.
[15-06:00:27] <[DM]_> But the carriage itself is drifting an inch off the ground.
[15-06:00:28] <@Lien> Lien looks a little miffed. "Of all the times to stop listening to me."
[15-06:00:42] <[DM]_> The thread however, leads off into the dias somehow.
[15-06:00:56] <Zeni> "I didn't even know you had that!"
[15-06:02:30] <Ellis> "Maybe you should have told us beforehand if you had something extremely important we needed to know." Ellis looks just as irritated.
[15-06:03:15] <Ryla> Ryla just looks around.
[15-06:03:17] <@Lien> "I didn't know when I had to use it until I did. There wasn't a ton of time to explain."
[15-06:04:00] <Ryla> "No time to explain why you have no time to explain?" Ryla looks on.
[15-06:04:07] <@Lien> "What?"
[15-06:05:00] <Zeni> "So... what exactly have you done?"
[15-06:05:02] <Ellis> "I've heard that before." Ellis turns away from the conversation to gaze around at their surroundings. "Where are we this time?"
[15-06:05:05] <Ryla> "What's happening now. You've not told us anything yet."
[15-06:05:29] <Ryla> "What did you do to the dais? What were those things?"
[15-06:07:17] <@Lien> "As I understand it, the opal was the bribe to the door guardian, to get to the dais in the first place. The dais is the gate, and the blood was the power source. The silk is the line we need to go back, but I didn't figure out exactly how we had to use it until the thing started working. So, not a lot of time."
[15-06:08:22] <@Lien> "As for here... It's sort of the opposite of the not-a-place we were before? The place where 'where' comes from, I guess. This should be where those spiders hang out, and I wanted to come here to ask them what's going on."
[15-06:08:30] <Zeni> "Gate to where exactly?  You did say something about meeting... something."
[15-06:08:40] <Zeni> "Ugh..."
[15-06:09:34] <Zeni> "Well where do we go from here?"  Zeni looks about the room for an obvious way to go.
[15-06:09:37] <Ryla> Ryla throws her hands up in the air
[15-06:10:41] <[DM]_> There's several big obvious ways spanning the outside of the chamber, which seems to be a cocoon attached to a massive web that defies comprehension.
[15-06:12:38] <@Lien> "I don't know, anywhere we can find something. So long as we have this, we can always go back, so."
[15-06:13:30] <Ryla> "Can we find the hole in the sky in my visions?"
[15-06:14:00] <@Lien> "Maybe if you tell me about those visions? Hole in the sky sounds like some places we've seen."
[15-06:14:22] <@Lien> "Well, one."
[15-06:14:41] <Ryla> Ryla describes her dream visions in as much detail as she can muster.
[15-06:15:34] <Zeni> Zeni listens, frowning.  "Let's handle one confusing thing at a time, please..."  She places her hand on the black silk and experimentally steps towards one of the obvious path.
[15-06:15:54] <Zeni> paths*
[15-06:16:42] <[DM]_> The webbing seems to hold her weight well enough, though flashes of colors flicker under her.
[15-06:18:29] <@Lien> Lien thinks the descriptions over as she follows, one hand of her own on the silk as well just in case.
[15-06:18:56] <Ryla> Ryla looks around trying to find the scene that describes what she's saying.
[15-06:21:02] <[DM]_> From where Zeni stands, the threads stretch out to the left and right, as well as upwards.
[15-06:21:31] <[DM]_> Taking the most traditional maze solving method, she heads left, a trail of colorful footprints behind her.
[15-06:21:39] <Zeni> Zeni spends some time trying to spot any clues as to which path would be best, looking to Lien from time to time, then just sighs and strolls for the left path.
[15-06:22:08] <[DM]_> This is somewhat alarming as she vanishes from view a few steps ahead of the party.
[15-06:22:11] <Zeni> "If no one has any better ideas, let's head this way."
[15-06:22:11] <Ellis> Ellis, clearly uncomfortable with the whole thing, follows, one hand on their lifeline.
[15-06:22:32] <[DM]_> Her voice is faint, as if from a great distance.
[15-06:22:47] <Ryla> Ryla looks at the others. "Do we follow or prepare final rites?"
[15-06:23:13] <@Lien> "Follow." Lien follows.
[15-06:23:30] <[DM]_> A few steps more and Lien can see Zeni a long way ahead.
[15-06:23:32] <Ryla> Ryla grabs the line and follos.
[15-06:23:52] <[DM]_> A streak of red and yellow shows where she stepped, smeared as if the footprint was stretched out.
[15-06:26:01] <Zeni> Zeni waits up for the others, looking over her shoulder, then tries to nudge Lien into taking the lead.  "You're the one that seems to understand this mess best..."
[15-06:26:42] <[DM]_> This goes on for a while, before  Zeni spots a local. A hand sized spider dangling from below.
[15-06:28:16] <Zeni> Zeni jumps upon spotting it, but stands her ground and stares it down!  "Weave things at it, oaf!"
[15-06:29:20] <@Lien> Lien frowns and takes the silk between her teeth to free up her hands and try weaving threads into a cautious greeting.
[15-06:30:37] <[DM]_> The spider draws in closer, seeming to get larger as it approaches.
[15-06:31:25] <[DM]_> It sketches out a web to Lien.
[15-06:32:48] <@Lien> Lien immediately engages in frantic back and forth weaving with it.
[15-06:33:00] <Zeni> Zeni cringes as she watches it amble closer (and grow?), taking tiny steps back to place herself beside Ellis and behind Ryla.
[15-06:34:52] <[DM]_> It finally settles at Zeni sized as it gets practically next to her, an interesting blue and white pattern on it's thorax.
[15-06:37:00] <@Lien> Lien suddenly makes a face like she wants to slap the spider.
[15-06:37:39] <Zeni> The little sorceress draws her staff, a mote of flame flaring into existence beside her as she glares at the thing.  But which set of eyes?
[15-06:38:07] <[DM]_> It pokes the staff curiously.
[15-06:38:26] <[DM]_> Having eight limbs is dead useful for weaving at the same time as poking things.
[15-06:40:13] <Zeni> Zeni's frown tightens up, "Can you tell it to get away from me before I burn this whole place down and doom us all?"
[15-06:40:59] <@Lien> Lien grunts through the silk in her mouth.
[15-06:42:17] <Ellis> Ellis puts her free hand on Zeni's shoulder reassuringly.
[15-06:48:15] <@Lien> Lien pauses the thread-conversation at this point to put her head in her hands, then removes the silk from her mouth to hold it again. "Okay. Apparently their... grandmother spider got injured fighting something long ago, and she's healing and resting. So they've been operating on past instructions for who knows how long, and that's probably why things are coming apart."
[15-06:49:32] <Ryla> "Who's this grandmother spider? She fey? Is she responsible for the hole in the sky?"
[15-06:50:52] <@Lien> "She's the boss spider."
[15-06:51:05] <Ryla> "She keeps the sky whole?"
[15-06:51:18] <@Lien> Replacing the silk in her mouth, Lien weaves a sharp question.
[15-06:52:05] <Zeni> "So we've got a larger problem than we thought before?"  Zeni slips part way behind Ellis, "Is the answer to try to find some way to fix up the 'grandma,' or...?"
[15-06:52:36] <Ryla> Ryla shrugs. "Or kill the thing she was fighting so that she can really rest and heal and prevent the sky from breaking.
[15-06:52:39] <@Lien> Lien looks down.
[15-06:53:26] <Ellis> "It sounds like it's too late on both counts."
[15-06:54:31] <Zeni> "Ah, good.  Well then, back to society so that we can at least try to enjoy the end days?"
[15-06:59:46] <@Lien> Lien stares down and mumbles something incomprehensible into the silk... before snapping around and kicking at empty space out of nowhere!
[15-07:01:31] <Zeni> Zeni blinks.
[15-07:01:39] <[DM]_> Lien's foot leaves a burning prismatic imprint in the empty space as the spider hisses and drops down on the main thread proper.
[15-07:01:50] <[DM]_> It taps rhythmically on the thread.
[15-07:04:30] <@Lien> Watching the glowing imprint of her foot, Lien takes the silk out of her mouth again. "We were followed." She doesn't seem to follow up on her kick, but she glares at it ready for any moves.
[15-07:11:12] <Ellis> Ellis snaps the silk thread into the crook of her arm, freeing her hands up to snap the crossbow out and take a few potshots at...nothing, apparently. Except that nothing has Lien's footprint glowing on its ass.
[15-07:14:48] <[DM]_> Most of the bolts go wild and vanish into the distance as they glance off nothing but one drags a coruscating furrow across the footprint.
[15-07:16:48] <[DM]_> The spider charges past Zeni, vanishing mid-rush to drop onto the void even as three more spiders simply spawn out of the webwork and lunge at it.
[15-07:21:20] <@Lien> Lien, for her part, wraps the silk band around one of her wrists and wields her staff with one hand, thrusting and kicking at the nothingness as if she knew exactly where it was.
[15-07:23:26] <[DM]_> The staff strikes with a ringing as the orb suddenly blazes to life in a new color, coruscating green lightning in it's orb casting a nearly blinding light and burning a long streak along the nothing.
[15-07:24:43] <[DM]_> Nothing happens, as damage is undone....
[15-07:28:02] <[DM]_> There is no heat but the webbing chars, along with Zeni and a spider even as the rest exploit the warped space to suffer only a lick of burns.
[15-07:30:43] <Ellis> Ellis' reflexive flinch keeps the worst of the burning away, somehow.
[15-07:31:28] <Ryla> Ryla somehow sidesteps the flames, taking a few licks only.
[15-07:33:54] <Zeni> Zeni's caught entirely off guard as the flames enwreath her, crying out in pain moments before growling in rage and firing a salvo of flaming spears right back at the freshly marked void, enfusing herself with her flames at once.  "No one's outburns me!  Die, whatever you aaare!"
[15-07:36:40] <Ryla> Taking a fresh two-handed grip on Scale Ripper, Ryla roars with the fury of a bear and smashes the blade down on Nothing like one would apply the boot to an ant.
[15-07:36:41] <Zeni> Her salvo thrown, she quickly grasps the black silk hanging from Ellis's arm and follows it some ways back, hoping to put herself out of range of the void's flames.
[15-07:37:51] <[DM]_> The flames sink in, meet resistance...and doesn't care, lighting it up from inside.
[15-07:40:18] <[DM]_> Ryla meets little resistance, the blade stained with no blood, only more coruscating flames trailing behind.
[15-07:42:39] <[DM]_> The webbing burns, the smell of burning stone and metal wafting up as the fires spread.
[15-07:44:24] <Ellis> Targeting now made easier by Lien's staff, Ellis inches along the thread to a better position and fires, trying not to think about what happens if their lifeline goes up in flames too.
[15-07:48:31] <[DM]_> The bolts sink in, even as the first bolt clatters to the ground.
[15-07:48:47] <[DM]_> Then even MORE spiders rain down from above and below.
[15-07:51:37] <[DM]_> Their bites start to take a toll, but the void is not halted.
[15-07:52:01] <@Lien> Lien, meanwhile, is already following up with more staff thrusts and sweeping kicks.
[15-07:53:34] <[DM]_> Nothing strikes out.
[15-07:55:10] <[DM]_> Five of the spiders, already burned, fall apart as they are ripped across at the seams.
[15-07:56:43] <[DM]_> A freezing claw skitters across Lien's side as they fall.
[15-08:01:49] <Zeni> Zeni withdraws even further, despite knowing that space is weird here and that her efforts might mean nothing.  She turns around and hesitates for a moment, glancing at the newcomer, then the others, but decides to just stick with what she knows as she casts her spell.  Lien and Ellis find themselves enwreathed in far more comfortable flames!
[15-08:02:33] <Ryla> Ryla takes aim and throws the aim away by recklessly attacking!
[15-08:06:45] <[DM]_> Ryla's blade swings through the space as nothing is torn apart, spilling forth a blob of incandenscent, pulsating light.
[15-08:08:11] <[DM]_> Then it begins to rain down the rainbow substance, igniting into brilliant flashes as it contacts the flames.
[15-08:09:17] <[DM]_> Rubble sprays out of the blob as gales roar through the formerly windless webs.
[15-08:12:38] <[DM]_> The blob expands as the flames spread down the web, fueled by the substance raining onto it.
[15-08:13:37] <@Lien> "Now how do we put out space that's on fire?"
[15-08:14:01] <Zeni> Zeni tugs at the black silk strand from a little ways away, "Step away from the flaming web alreadyyy!"  She hurriedly casts her flame dousing cantrip again and again, putting out as much as she can.
[15-08:14:21] <[DM]_> Blue and white ooze spray outwards and upwards, even as Zeni contains the flames from spreading any further.
[15-08:15:27] <Ryla> Ryla tries to use the wide long blade of hers to scoop the fire awway.
[15-08:18:27] <[DM]_> Ryla severs the burning portions, preventing more of the spread and largely turning the expanding problem into an isolated one.
[15-08:19:48] <Zeni> Zeni briefly stops her dousing as she gives things another look over, then instead of attempting to douse any more she instead twists and works the flames into a vortex, which she then funnels into the place where 'nothing-becoming-everything' last was.  "Get away from it!  It might asploode!"
[15-08:20:42] <[DM]_> The goo catches on black fire as Zeni feeds the voidfire into it.
[15-08:21:15] <Zeni> Zeni does her part and... tries to save herself, putting extra distance between her and whateverthatthingevenis!
[15-08:21:41] <[DM]_> The fire swells, shrinks, and throbs as endless creation feeds limitless hunger.
[15-08:23:13] <[DM]_> Then with a hiss, a glob of liquid crystal webbing wraps around it, and shrinks, crushing it down into a lumpy crystal, with an inner fire and irregular facets.
[15-08:23:33] <[DM]_> The spiders look at the damage with clear dismay, despite their lack of anything resembling a face.
[15-08:24:51] <Ryla> Ryla tries to scoop more of the damage away.
[15-08:24:53] <@Lien> Lien looks at them and at the crystal, then nods and takes it, in spite of being unsure what she'd even do with it.
[15-08:26:04] <Zeni> Zeni looks at least a little disappointed over the lack of a web-realm shattering kaboom, but quickly focuses on the next important thing as she steps up and tries to take the crystal from Lien. :I
[15-08:26:06] <Ellis> Ellis frowns. "Well. That was unfortunate. What was that?"
[15-08:26:30] <Ryla> Ryla looks at the other spaces, trying to figure out if there's anything resembling her dreams.
[15-08:27:35] <@Lien> Zeni wanting it while she doesn't know why seems like reason enough to not let Zeni have it. Lien keeps it until someone can tell her what's up with it.
[15-08:29:46] <[DM]_> The webbing is being repaired frantically by even more arriving spiders, though one red furred tarantula approaches the party and holds up a weaving...in Common. "This way, away from harms."
[15-08:30:01] <Zeni> "Why!?  G-Give me that, dumby!  That's a casty amulet, you don't need it!"  She flails at Lien and gets up on her tippy toes, trying to grab at it.
[15-08:30:44] <Ryla> Ryla follows the spider guide.
[15-08:31:02] <@Lien> "Is it really? What exactly?"
[15-08:32:37] <Zeni> Zeni doesn't even notice the silent spider as she keeps attempting to rough up Lien, "It's mine!  Empowers my flaming spells a-and stufff!"
[15-08:34:18] <@Lien> "Yeah, no." Lien follows the red spider. "What is it really?"
[15-08:35:02] <[DM]_> Down the thread, the danaged portion, unlike everything else, seems to get no less distant, as it weaves on the way, "Damages. From weaving fails, mistakes."
[15-08:35:29] <Zeni> Zeni despairs.  Loudly.  She limbs along, having suddenly remembered she's kiiind of on the brink of death.  "Uuuuu... It's a Planes Ammy, an idiot like you could never work it right!"
[15-08:35:53] <Zeni> limps, too
[15-08:36:14] <@Lien> "A what?"
[15-08:37:30] <[DM]_> The spider gives the strange object a look, "Weaving mistake."
[15-08:37:42] <Zeni> "'Amulet of the Planes?'  'Free ticket off of Lien's wild and stupid ride?' ........  'But hopefully not into some plane of instant death, if you use it wrooong...'"
[15-08:37:57] <@Lien> "I did say you didn't have to come along."
[15-08:38:16] <Ellis> "...So that thing was from the chaos before a regular, ordered existence, and now it's...a way to traverse it? How does it work?"
[15-08:38:39] <[DM]_> The spider holds up a web again, "Big mistakes"
[15-08:39:01] <Zeni> Zeni gives Ellis an exhausted look, "Iunno, you probably know as well as I do."
[15-08:39:50] <@Lien> "Clearly. Is there anything we can do to heal the grandmother spider so she can wake up before the world ends?"
[15-08:39:50] <@Lien> "Clearly. Is there anything we can do to heal the grandmother spider so she can wake up before the world ends?"
[15-08:39:56] <Ellis> "I'm not the one who can throw magic around everywhere. Are you alright?" Ellis peers at Zeni's burns with some worry.
[15-08:41:04] <[DM]_> "Grandmother needs equals." The spider holds up a web. Then droops, "Equals all defecation orifice."
[15-08:41:51] <Zeni> Zeni looks more hurt by that look of worry than by her wounds, ashamed to have been burned so.  "Some sort of ointment might help, but we're quite low on any healing supplies.  I was hoping oaf would bring us to a village for restocking before taking us further into danger."
[15-08:42:30] <@Lien> "So we'd have to convince the equals to stop being, uh, defecation orifices about it."
[15-08:42:52] <Zeni> "'Convince.'"
[15-08:45:26] <[DM]_> "Chance low. Vault empty."
[15-08:45:46] <[DM]_> "Custodians poking even more holes."
[15-08:46:14] <[DM]_> "Elements stupid."
[15-08:46:45] <@Lien> "Aren't the custodians beholden to you?"
[15-08:47:24] <[DM]_> "Great one of knowing not like grandmother."
[15-08:48:18] <[DM]_> "Very smug"
[15-08:49:24] <[DM]_> "Six legs think better than eight."
[15-08:49:51] <@Lien> "So... the way to save the world would be to make everyone stop arguing, get along, and make the elements think harder?"
[15-08:50:24] <[DM]_> "Very funny"
[15-08:50:56] <@Lien> Lien tilts her head. She hadn't meant to make a joke.
[15-08:51:56] <Ellis> "...What was that about the Vault?" Ellis looks up from fussing over Zeni's burns.
[15-08:52:27] <[DM]_> "Greater Beast wandering around not doing job."
[15-08:52:36] <[DM]_> "Making more holes"
[15-08:52:53] <@Lien> "Damn it. Is its job supposed to involve staying in the vault?"
[15-08:53:07] <[DM]_> Lien detects a decidedly sulky tone at all the other primordial forces.
[15-08:54:14] <[DM]_> "Job is..." The spider fiddles with the fabric, "...mortal language useless. Where beetles when need one."
[15-08:54:42] <@Lien> "Try it in knots?"
[15-08:58:19] <[DM]_> A very very complicated tapestry comes out.
[15-08:58:20] <@Lien> Lien frowns harder and harder as she tries to parse. "I miss the problems I could solve by hitting wolves with a stick..."
[15-08:59:31] <@Lien> "How do you even manage to *not* do that job?"
[15-08:59:38] <Zeni> No longer able to read the spider, Zeni gazes longingly towards the carriage, so tiny, so far off despite the short walk.
[15-08:59:46] <[DM]_> "Lots trying"
[15-09:01:45] <Ellis> "What is it?"
[15-09:02:21] <@Lien> She pinches her nose. "The titan was supposed to be in that vault just doing... animal stuff. Eating, breeding, sleeping. Instead it's messing around and making more holes because it can't be bothered to just walk places."
[15-09:03:34] <[DM]_> "Very busy being spider."
[15-09:03:41] <[DM]_> "Hard work, no pay."
[15-09:05:02] <@Lien> "What am I even supposed to do with all this?"
[15-09:05:59] <[DM]_> "You ask me, I ask question for past six hatchings."
[15-09:06:41] <[DM]_> "Mend holes. Swear. Mend more holes. Hope nothing make new holes. Hope things do their work."
[15-09:08:19] <@Lien> "What's making the most holes? And do you know what's up with Heaven?"
[15-09:09:00] <[DM]_> "Stick up spinnerets. Force to bend, stick break."
[15-09:09:12] <Ellis> Ellis twiddles the thread between her fingers thoughtfully. "Well...what would be the most helpful for the grandmother spider's recovery?"
[15-09:09:32] <[DM]_> "Light, Dark, Leaf, Beast, all making holes."
[15-09:09:47] <[DM]_> "Knowledge making holes."
[15-09:09:51] <[DM]_> "Mortals making holes"
[15-09:10:11] <[DM]_> "All making holes."
[15-09:10:31] <[DM]_> "If stop making holes, maybe can heal."
[15-09:11:04] <@Lien> "Light and dark making holes? Does that have to do with the sun?"
[15-09:11:19] <[DM]_> "Stick break off inside spinneret"
[15-09:11:31] <[DM]_> "Mortal sayings difficult."
[15-09:26:20] <@Lien> "Oh, great."
[15-09:28:57] <[DM]_> --------------------------------------------------