Untitled

<JulytheGM> You find yourselves suddenly in a room.

<JulytheGM> It has stone floors, stone walls, and a stone ceiling, which is supported by thick wooden beams.

<JulytheGM> A bird cage is hanging from one of the beams, cage door open.

<JulytheGM> An ajar door is in one wall.

<JulytheGM> A table with a shelf above it is opposite the door.

<JulytheGM> The table has books on it, one open.

<JulytheGM> The shelf above has jars of oddities.

<JulytheGM> You can also see a knife on the table.

<JulytheGM> The other wall has an open window, with no glass panes, just open shutters.

<JulytheGM> A crow is sitting in the window, watching you.

<JulytheGM> It seems that it has happened again.

<JulytheGM> The crow has a medallion wrapped about its neck.

<Bryn> "... oh lord not this again"

<Dann> "Well, hello there..."

* Bryn checks herself

<Bryn> "Hullo. M'Bryn." She offers to shake hands with Dann

* Dann shakes hand

* Chatvert blinks as her eyes adjust to the new light. "Blerg. Is this...again?"

<Bryn> ('m *)

<Dann> "Dann here... I take it we've been here before at some point?"

<Bryn> "Hullo." She shakes hands with Chatvert "Yeah. As a cuttlefish. You?"

<Dann> "Bird of some sort..."

* Chatvert shakes hands with Bryn. "Hallo, I remember you. I was cattish."

<Ainsel> "I've never met you... you were brought here too, met with the witch hunter and all that?"

<Bryn> "Witch hunter, no. She tried to kill us though."

<Chatvert> "Oh, and, uh....hi, name's Chatvert..." She blinks. "Witch hunter? No, but it would have made our lives a lot easier if we had!"

<Bryn> "Found a body upstairs..."

<Bryn> "One of our... companions tore her face off."

<Bryn> "not the body, mind. of another witch. Nasty lady."

<Chatvert> "Hm, and I had just about removed that image from my nightmares. Thanks kindly."

<Bryn> "Always appreciated. So I suppose this is where we scooby the place?"

<Ainsel> "Err, okay."

* Bryn heads over to the open book

* Dann walks to the window, slowly

* Chatvert investigates the crow! "Hi there."

<JulytheGM> The crow caws at you.

* Bryn waves to the crow

* Ainsel goes after the books too (remembering what was in jars the last time)

* Dann looks out the window

* Bryn reads the open pages

* Bryn sighs "We have more stupid writing, guys."

<JulytheGM> Outside the window is a vastly different landscape- it is an urban cityscape.

* Chatvert peers at the crow's medallion - while attempting to keep her eyes out of pecking distance.

* Bryn flips through the book, checking to see if it improves...

* Ainsel flips through books looking for any sort of map

<JulytheGM> It appears to be above a seashore, and on hills, going by the amount of buildings reaching below, lower and lower to a pier.

<Dann> "Hmm. Looks like a city this time..."

<Bryn> "Shiny."

<Bryn> "Right, so... wait." She checks the back of her neck

<Bryn> "Guys, check for non-human bits. I don't wanna be surprised again."

<Chatvert> "So the crow's wearing a piece of wood with a crow on it. Kind of redundant if you ask me..."

* Chatvert dutifully checks self for fur or feathers or scales or what have you.

<Bryn> "... hm."

* Dann does the same

<Ainsel> "I take it you didn't encounter the goat?"

<Ainsel> "Interesting..."

<Chatvert> "The goat and I are not friends."

* Bryn heads over to the crow and offers it a hand "Oh no, we did."

<Chatvert> "Phew. I'm clean."

<Bryn> "He just sort of stared at us. didn't like... what was your name again? Chat somethin'?-, though."

* Dann looks at the crow, trying to see if it's tangled in the medallion

<Chatvert> "Chatvert! Right, sorry, I'm terrible at social situations."

<JulytheGM> The crow hops onto Bryn's offered hand.

* Bryn tries to pet the crow's neck, and look it in the eye

* Chatvert jams her hands into her hoodie pocket and peeks out the window, trying to get her own bearing on the surroundings.

<JulytheGM> The bird hops away from Bryn's outreached hand.

<JulytheGM> It also makes an attempt at pecking at said hand- if not hard.

* Dann looks down from the window, to get a sense of how high it is - and what's immediately below it

* Bryn sighs and offers it an errant (and slightly squished) sandwich from her pocket "You're a meaty one, aren't you?"

* Ainsel looks around for any signs of witch-magic

<JulytheGM> The floor is on a third story, or so, and there is a street beneath.

<Ainsel> *looking upwards* "There's those balls again..."

* Bryn blinks

<Bryn> "what?"

<Chatvert> "Eh?"

* Bryn gets Transformers 2 flashbacks, flinches

<JulytheGM> There are glass balls hanging from the ceiling support beams.

* Dann looks about for voodoo dolls

<JulytheGM> The crow takes nips out of the sandwich, hungrily.

* Bryn moves it so the crow can get some (slightly smushed) roast beef. "What's your story, birdbloke?" She tries to look it in the eye again

* Ainsel checks the ajar door

<Chatvert> "You know, by now you'd think I would start keeping snacks on me in case I get sucked into some sort of weird dimensional portal where people are trying to turn me into animals."

<Dann> "I... really was going to start carrying my knife more. Seems to have not worked, though."

* Bryn giggles. "I just recycled these pants from work, where I didn't get to eat my sandwich. Meant to pitch it, but just sort of forgot."

* Atosen who has totally been here all along nods at Chat and Dann. "Yes, that is exactly the sort of precaution people need to take more."

<Bryn> "Oh yes. Because being turned into an animal and sucked into a world with magic happens /so/ often."

<Bryn> "But seriously. Twice in a month? Bit... weird, yeah?"

<Dann> "I'd say that counts as often..."

<Chatvert> "Often enough to make me start gettin' paranoid and walking around with a toolkit of sorts. Wish I was MacGyver."

<Bryn> "How many other blokes d'you know get sucked into other worlds and changed into animals?"

<Dann> "What's out the door, Ainsel?"

* Bryn offers the crow a spot on her shoulder

* Ainsel calls out from the other room "Guys, I think you should come take a look at this... "

<Atosen> "I don't know, Bryn. I haven't exactly been going around telling people it happened to me."

* Dann walks into the other room

* Chatvert follows.

<Atosen> "I only recognise half of you, but you say it's happened to all of you before? Maybe it's not that unusual..."

* Atosen follows Ainsel's voice.

<JulytheGM> The crow hops onto Bryn's shoulder.

* Bryn shrugs "I passed it off as bad gas." She follows Dann, still offering the crow a spot on her shoulder so her hand can rest

<JulytheGM> (She is now a forest pirate.)

<Dann> "And all in a cabin in the woods with a goat."

* Bryn yarrs under her breath and grins

<JulytheGM> In this room there is a broomstick, and a winding loop of rope with feathers and such in it hanging from the ceiling beam. A bed is against the wall near the window. A chest is at the bed's foot. On top of it is a rope doll.

<Atosen> "You must get crazy gas."

<JulytheGM> There is another door at the wall to the right.

<Atosen> "Uh oh..."

<Dann> "Well, if last time was to be believed, there's the way home..."

<Atosen> "Whose doll is that?"

<Chatvert> "The crow's, maybe?"

<Bryn> "I've my share of health issues, I don't care to share them all." She sticks her tongue out at Atosen

<Dann> "There's a couple ways to find out..."

* Dann carefully picks the doll up

* Ainsel checks under the bed

<Dann> "All right, if you feel this, speak up..."

* Dann bends one of the doll's arms at the elbow

* Bryn braces

<Ainsel> "Ow"

* Bryn turns to Ainsel

* Atosen looks at Ainsel.

* Chatvert blinks. "Unexpected!"

<Atosen> "...So why do only you have a doll?"

<Chatvert> "I would not have predicted this."

<Bryn> "Weird. Okay, any others?"

<Bryn> "Wait, Ainsel, have you... shifted, before?"

* Dann hands the doll to Ainsel

<Atosen> "Or are there others scattered around? That would be weird, but..."

<JulytheGM> The crow caws loudly in pain, hopping and flapping.

<Chatvert> "Aw man. Please let this not be a voodoo doll fetch quest."

<Ainsel> "Shifted?"

* Bryn turns to the crow

<Chatvert> "Whoa. Hey. Crow freak out."

<Bryn> "Wait what. Ainsel. Did you feel pain?"

* Bryn tries to calm the crow

<Dann> "Might be a good idea to take the doll apart..."

<Ainsel> "No, obviously not, or my elbow wouldn't be working, would it?"

<Bryn> "S-so... it's not Ainsel. It's the crow's doll."

* Chatvert makes confused face.

* Atosen does so, too.

<Chatvert> "So, obvious solution, undo the rope doll. Crow becomes human, then we can figure out just what's going on here. Yes? Good?

<Chatvert> *"

* Bryn tries to pet the crow gently, hoping he's still on her shoulder

<Dann> "Sounds good to me, unless the crow cares to object?"

<Bryn> "So the crow is a person. Like us. and got shifted... like us. Except for Ainsel."

<Ainsel> "Well, we only turned halfway into animals..."

* Chatvert shrugs. "Magic."

<Bryn> "I turned fully."

* Bryn shudders

<JulytheGM> The bird flies at Dann, and settles in front of him.

<JulytheGM> It pecks at the medallion.

<Atosen> "So, do we want to re-human the crow or not?"

<Ainsel> "It seems friendly enough..."

<Dann> "Hmm..."

<Ainsel> "I'll vote yes"

<Dann> "One sec, let's get this medallion off of him first."

<Bryn> "I think the crow might've tried to do it himself... Dann, try and take off his medallion?"

* Dann takes the medallion off the crow

<Chatvert> "Better you than me. Birds don't like me."

* Dann drops the medallion like it shocked him

<Dann> "What the frig?"

<Ainsel> "What happened?"

* Bryn leans in and picks it up, bracing herself

<Dann> "It shocked me. And then I think it wanted me to put it on."

<Dann> "Atosen, would you take the doll apart now?"

<Atosen> "...I immediately suspect that putting it on would be a very bad idea, Dann."

<Atosen> "Sure, if you want." Atosen takes the doll.

* Bryn picks up the medallion and looks it over

<JulytheGM> The crow begins to peck at Bryn's hands, and squawk at Dann.

* Atosen sits down and fiddles with the doll for a while. "See, this is what I get for chewing my nails..."

* Bryn meeps and hands it to Dann

* Dann takes it again, eyeing it warily

<Bryn> "Fine. Not like I was trying to help you and gave you my sandwich or anything."

<Dann> "All I need now is a wizard and a volcano to toss it into..."

* Atosen gets frustrated. "Bleh. Can't get it undone."

<Bryn> put it on, and I'll take it off if it corrupts?

<Bryn> ((""**))

<Ainsel> "It didn't uncorrupt the crow when you took it off... Probably not a good idea since we don't know what we're dealing with"

* Ainsel gives the rope doll a try

<Chatvert> "Yes, if I've learned anything from Lord of the Rings it's not to put on mysterious jewelry that compels you to wear it."

* Dann digs into pocket, produces the sharp pointy key that he used last time, tosses it to Ainsel

<Ainsel> "Thanks, Dann."

<JulytheGM> The crow is still squawking and cawing at Dann.

* Dann looks at the crow

<Bryn> "I'd put it on, but crowface is being insistent on you, Dann."

<Dann> "Do you want me to put this on?"

<Atosen> "Before this month I never would've thought Lord of the Rings was educational."

<JulytheGM> The crow is still raising a racket at Dann.

<Chatvert> "Lord of the Rings is always educational. For example, lembas is twinkies."

<Dann> "I seem to recall that the whole point of creating familiars - which I assume you are- was to bind the familiar to the master's will."

* Ainsel looks at crow, mimes undoing the rope doll as best as he can

<Dann> "And I really don't want to do that to someone accidentally."

<Dann> "Whoops, sorry about your free will?"

* Ainsel is not having any success, even with the key

<JulytheGM> The crow seems to be glaring at Dann.

<Dann> "Well, they've gotten better at their knotwork..."

<Chatvert> "Yeah. That raises a whole other pickle of sardines."

* Atosen winces. "Please don't use animal metaphors."

* Bryn sighs

* Ainsel puts the rope doll on a table, checks the bedroom once again

<Bryn> "We're no closer to finding out what's up. Maybe it's some sort of... communication thing. I don't know. Dann, just put it on. if you go invisible or evil or something, we'll get it off you."

* Dann looks at the crow again

<JulytheGM> The crow is still staring at Dann.

<Dann> "Give me something to work with, will you? Do you want me to put it on?"

<JulytheGM> The crow bobs its head at Dann.

* Dann dons the medallion

* Atosen tenses up, expecting something terrible to happen.

* Dann shivvers a bit

* Bryn waits, looking unimpressed.

<Dann> "About time for what?"

<Bryn> "Right, how many days do we have to live?"

* Dann asks the crow

* Atosen stares at Dann. "What do you mean, 'about time'?"

<Chatvert> "Maybe it is some sort of magical translatory radio."

<Dann> "That would be problematic... How long have you been here?"

* Dann is still talking to the crow

<Chatvert> "Who wants to make up the other half of the conversation?"

* Bryn nods "I've been here since nickles were called bumblebees, because the commies stole the word Nickle."

<Bryn> "And shoelaces were called anglesnappers, but only on thursdays after a full moon. Lord help those who failed."

* Chatvert snickers.

* Chatvert is impatient and covers it up with humor.

<Dann> "Okay... Yes, he is a familiar, and it seems he can only communicate with the person wearing the medallion..."

<Dann> "Which makes me wonder why he was so insistent on talking to me?"

<Ainsel> "I was wondering the same..."

<Bryn> "You got shocked, I bet. It didn't shock me."

<Bryn> "Unless we wanna try... switching?"

* Ainsel volunteers

<Dann> "Someone you... /knew/?"

<Ainsel> "Should we be writing this down?"

<Atosen> "...Okay, Dann, do you know any crows?"

* Bryn shrugs!

<Dann> "...Data? What are you doing in my probably-not-imaginary alternate universe?"

<Bryn> ...

<Bryn> "Come again?"

<Chatvert> "You know this crow?"

<Dann> "Okay, the good Data here seems to be responsible for abducting us... He needed someone he knew to change him back, so he tampered with the ladder. And appears to have re-summoned all of us."

<Chatvert> "That's normal."

<Ainsel> "The crow's name is Data?"

<Bryn> "Figures. I suppose I can't hold him anymore, huh?"

* Nifar flies up to sit on a table, because floors are much too low.

<Dann> "Data is a dude I know from the real world..."

<Dann> "Okay... What do we need to do?"

<Chatvert> "Curiouser and curiouser..."

<Atosen> "Hngh. Well, hello Data. Nice to meet you."

<Bryn> "Hello Birdface."

<Dann> "Okay... We either need to get the witch who did this to him to change him back willingly, or find someone with the potential to be a familiar..."

<Dann> "But what said person is supposed to do, dunno."

<Dann> "I don't suppose the witch who did this to you is the negotiating type?"

<Dann> "Which assumes we know where the witch is, which we don't. Lovely. What do people think, as far as researching or witch hunting are concerned?"

<Bryn> "Of the three witches we met... one was dead, one is probably dead, and the other ran away screaming into a forest."

<Atosen> "It was a cheerful day."

* Nifar goes over to one of the books, and tries to pry the cover open.

* Dann assists

<Dann> "The King is apparently a magician of some ability himself... Probably not going to be easy to get an audience, though."

<Atosen> "Good luck reading it."

<Atosen> "Wait, what? What king?"

<Dann> "The local monarch?"

<Dann> "We are sort of in a feudal world, after all."

<Ainsel> "Is it still the reign of King Herbert?"

* Atosen shakes his head. "I don't know a thing about this place."

<Chatvert> "Feudal, cities...I like it."

* Dann tries to read the book

* Nifar is also reading.

<Dann> "Yes, Herbert is still in charge..."

* Bryn scoffs. "Good luck reading that, Dann. It's as bad as /my/ handwriting."

<Dann> "And I can't make sense of it either... Looks like you get to be the brains of this outfit, Data."

<Dann> "...And that would help the situation?"

<Dann> "You're sure you're reading that correctly?"

<Dann> "Slightly more feasible, but I don't really feel like exsanguination in a pre-industrial society..."

<Dann> "Just one of those things on the you-probably-won't-survive-this list."

<Atosen> "This end of the conversation grows increasingly concerning."

* Bryn shrugs and mutters something like, "Fuck it." and heads for the door in the other room, in an attempt to leave the apartment.

<Dann> "Apparently, if we can get enough potential-familiar blood in one place for him to bathe in, one of us can learn how to change him back. Which seems like a lot of risk and expense for one of probably many steps."

<Dann> "That sounds more promising... What does it require?"

<Chatvert> "This is a totally normal conversation to hear."

<Atosen> "I especially like the bit about bathing in blood. That's /really/ normal."

<JulytheGM> Bryn is trying to squeeze herself out the window.

<Dann> "Something tells me that would not be a quick option, but I'd be interested in learning magic..."

<Dann> "Bryn, do take the broomstick, will you? We're a long ways up."

<Bryn> "It's stone. I'll take off my shoes for gription."

* Dann facepalms

<Ainsel> "What's wrong with the stairs?"

<Bryn> "They're blocked."

<Dann> "Alternatively, we find local law enforcement. They probably have a better idea of how to sort this out than we."

<Dann> "Assuming they don't kill me on sight, of course."

<Bryn> "This is the only way out."

<Ainsel> "Blocked?"

<Dann> "I'm wearing a medallion, dressed strangely, and talking to a crow. Sorta screams 'witch', no?"

<Bryn> "We can't get out of this place."

* Dann wonders if the medallion requires him to speak aloud to work

* Bryn hefts herself into standing on the ledge of the building "I'm not waiting or them to come back and kill us. Now excuse me while I cause a spectacle, I believe."

<Chatvert> "Careful, Bryn..."

<Bryn> "Eh, if I die, I die. You lot will get to learn from my mistake."

<Atosen> "That is an incredible approach."

<Atosen> "Can't we just learn from imagining your mistake?"

<Bryn> "It's better than being caged here waiting for witches to kill us."

<Atosen> "There's no evidence that that'll happen!"

<Atosen> "Data brought us here, not a witch."

<Dann> "The stairwell is blocked solid. Presumably, this will be as much of an impediment for witches coming in as for us getting out."

<Bryn> "But this is a witches house."

<Dann> "And as you discovered, the window is much to small to fly a broomstick through."

<Bryn> "and I don't trust this place."

<Dann> "What does that leave, a chimney?"

* Dann looks about for a rope, without leaving the book

<Dann> "Also, there hasn't been a witch here for multiple days - since Data arrived."

<Bryn> "Well, what else do you suggest before I fling myself to the cobblestones?"

<Atosen> "Are you sure we can't just unblock the stairs? Or maybe there's another way out. Have we checked every door?"

<Dann> "Let's take a look at the stairs - Data says they may be clearable."

<Chatvert> "Tally ho, then, to the stairs!"

* Dann walks to the stairs

* Chatvert follows.

* Atosen follows. "There, see? Safe productivity."

* Bryn sighs and waits on the ledge, watching people go by

<Dann> "If you happen to see anyone down there, would you mind asking them to fetch the Witch Watch?"

* Dann asks Bryn

<Bryn> "Gladly."

* Dann looks at what's blocking the stairs

<JulytheGM> It appears to be blank wall at the end.

<JulytheGM> Like the staircase was closed off.

<JulytheGM> There is worn stone at the botton of the staircase.

<Dann> "Well, that could be problematic..."

<JulytheGM> It leads up against the wall.

<JulytheGM> And, it seems, under it.

* Dann walks down to the wall, leans on it

<JulytheGM> The wall goes down.

<Dann> Ack!

* Dann falls on face

<JulytheGM> Dann has fallen face first into what appears to be another bedroom, a much more normal looking one.

<JulytheGM> No witch things are in evidence.

<Dann> "Check it out, y'all! Secret door!"

<JulytheGM> There are two beds.

<JulytheGM> Chests.

<JulytheGM> No signs of witchery.

* Nifar is sitting at the top of the stairs.

* Atosen bursts out laughing at Dann. "Right! Walls aren't necessarily walls. ...This place looks a bit nicer!"

* Ainsel remembers the chest in the other bedroom

<Chatvert> "Fancy.:

<Chatvert> *"

<JulytheGM> Only the portion that had been preventing access to the rest of the room went down.

<JulytheGM> The rest of the wall remains the same.

<JulytheGM> It looks like it was a fake addition.

<Dann> "Oy! Bryn!"

* Dann yells up the stairwell

<Dann> "Secret door! We're totes not trapped."

<JulytheGM> There is another staircase, leading downwards.

* Bryn looks bored and heads for them

* Ainsel investigates the chests

<Bryn> "This place rivals New York in apathy. I suspect something is up."

<Dann> "I wonder whose attic we found ourselves in?"

* Atosen heads down the next set of stairs.

* Dann follows

* Bryn follows

<Chatvert> "Maybe the building is semi-abandoned?"

<JulytheGM> Down here, tables, chairs, and a large fireplace and cabinets.

<JulytheGM> There are root vegetables in bins.

* Nifar flies down the stairs and lands on one of the chairs.

<Dann> "Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew..."

<JulytheGM> There is half a loaf of stale looking bread on the table.

<JulytheGM> The windows are shuttered.

<Dann> "Okay... So it probably has been empty for a while, but either not long enough or in a nice enough part of town to have not been ransacked yet..."

<Atosen> "Yes! We won't starve this time!"

* Dann looks about for other rooms

<Chatvert> "Not starving is good."

* Dann opens a window, looks out

* Bryn has quit (Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client)

* Atosen looks around for any other exits. "But why would the place be abandoned? They summoned Data, didn't they?"

<Dann> "Quoth the Data; I would hope so, otherwise he dimension-hops in his sleep. Which is bound to end poorly."