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suipokemon part 10

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  1. [15:56] <Kaingaskhan> Chapter 8 - Crazy Tai Ho and Painter's Rock
  2. [15:59] <Kaingaskhan> Last time, you guys managed to repel an assault by Masaru and a small legion of furry woodland creatures. Tarron and the other Sharpedos aren't back yet, but Sumeru thinks everything will be just fine for the moment. You were all getting ready to go to Oakbridge and find a boat to head downriver towards Painter's Rock, a curiously named landmark you suspect to bear some connection to
  3. [15:59] <Kaingaskhan> the growing mystery of the True Rune(s).
  4. [15:59] <Kaingaskhan> On the way out, however, you were stalled a bit by the absolutely adorable/awesome evolutions of Mistral and Strider. They look quite proud of themselves.
  5. [15:59] <Kaingaskhan> It's this pause that gives Garm time to catch up with you, heading out of the inn from behind your group.
  6. 03[16:00] * Kaingaskhan is now known as SuikoGM
  7. [16:00] <SuikoGM> "Iltani, good. I caught up with you."
  8. 06[16:00] * Iltani is just hanging around Mistral and Raiden for the time being to keep the two company, seeing as she is the only person who can safely handle the matter for now.
  9. [16:00] <Iltani> *latter
  10. [16:01] <Iltani> "Sir. Is something the matter?"
  11. [16:01] <SuikoGM> He nods at each of you, recognizing the rest of you more and more since the events at Loamvil. "Katsuo, Soma, Lekha, perhaps all of you need to hear this."
  12. 03[16:01] * Nisu is now known as Lekha
  13. 06[16:01] * Iltani pats Raiden.
  14. 01[16:01] <Lekha> "Oh?"
  15. [16:02] <SuikoGM> Raiden seems to really enjoy that! He didn't get very many pettings at his old gig.
  16. [16:02] <SuikoGM> Despite being Katsuo's pokemon, he seems to have some affinity with Iltani as well. Mistral is hanging out with Iltani and Strider now, as well.
  17. [16:02] <Somalakshmi> "Is something wrong?"
  18. [16:02] <SuikoGM> Garm continues, "I've been deciphering an encrypted letter I received from a friend of mine in Nolgranda."
  19. [16:03] <SuikoGM> "...I'm not quite done, but the news so far isn't good."
  20. [16:03] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "..."
  21. [16:03] <SuikoGM> "Nolgranda seems to have declared war on Davadezi for perceived crimes at Loamvil."
  22. 06[16:04] * Lekha rubs at her temples.
  23. 06[16:05] * Iltani sighs. "Disappointing, troubling....and sadly, ultimately unsurprising."
  24. [16:05] <SuikoGM> "It's... not a good situation." he shakes his head, agreeing. "Your errand -should- be finished well before there's anything to worry about, but I do worry about what the rest of the note might contain."
  25. 01[16:06] <Lekha> "Keep us informed, okay?"
  26. [16:06] <SuikoGM> "I will."
  27. [16:06] <SuikoGM> "I'll send a carrier Pidove if there's an emergency. It should be able to find Iltani with little difficulty."
  28. [16:06] <Iltani> "Garm....did you ever track down who sent the initial warnings and promised payments?"
  29. [16:10] <SuikoGM> "As far as I can tell, the official notice from the diarchy wasn't forged. The other one, addressed to you, has been harder to track down. All I can really say for certain is that the envelope it came in is a professionally made sort also originating from Nolgranda. We haven't been able to locate a match on the handwriting."
  30. [16:11] <Iltani> "I'm also guessing that they haven't followed through on the payment, either."
  31. [16:12] <SuikoGM> "Information doesn't travel quite that fast. I sent out an inquiry, but it might take some time. We haven't gotten our share, though, so that's telling."
  32. [16:14] <SuikoGM> He sighs.
  33. [16:14] <SuikoGM> "I'll keep in contact if there's anything else. Be safe out there."
  34. [16:17] <SuikoGM> Raiden shifts a bit once your hand stops moving.
  35. [16:18] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> Katsuo's eyes go down to Raiden as he moves, but he stays quiet.
  36. [16:19] <SuikoGM> Cornell frowns. "Well. That's put a bit of a damper in the trip... It does take a considerable amount of time to put an army together, however."
  37. 01[16:19] <Lekha> "Speaking of..."
  38. 01[16:19] <Lekha> "Well, never mind."
  39. [16:19] <SuikoGM> "Hm?"
  40. [16:19] <SuikoGM> He looks at Lekha.
  41. [16:19] <SuikoGM> "What is it?"
  42. 01[16:19] <Lekha> "Why go after Davadezi, of all places? It's huge!"
  43. 01[16:20] <Lekha> "Even if it is kind of split up, the army is pretty good at working together, too."
  44. [16:21] <Somalakshmi> "That's true... I wouldn't think this is a war they could win too easily."
  45. [16:22] <SuikoGM> "What army there is. Davadezi is indeed a mouthful for even the Nolgrandan Diarchy to chew due to the sheer size. But... the quality of their military is known to make up for the quantity. And when you consider that Davadezi's personal armies are historically undermanned... it makes me worry."
  46. 01[16:23] <Lekha> "Hmm."
  47. [16:23] <SuikoGM> "Hopefully the seven provinces will get their act together once they learn of this."
  48. [16:24] <SuikoGM> Cornell further worries, scratching his head.
  49. 01[16:24] <Lekha> "...Well."
  50. 01[16:25] <Lekha> "We're not going to fix anything just sitting here and thinking!"
  51. 01[16:25] <Lekha> "We can sit and think on the boat~"
  52. [16:25] <SuikoGM> "Certainly not."
  53. [16:25] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Right."
  54. [16:25] <SuikoGM> Ready to set out to Oakbridge?
  55. 01[16:25] <Lekha> yep
  56. [16:25] <Somalakshmi> yip
  57. [16:25] <Iltani> yep
  58. [16:26] <SuikoGM> OKAY THEN.
  59. [16:26] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> y
  60. [16:29] <SuikoGM> The rather sour news puts somewhat of a march in your step as you retrace your steps back from Crystal Lake to the south. You follow the Crystal River, flowing out from the lake to join the Nolgir, and manage to reach Oakbridge by mid-afternoon, a faster pace than when you originally left. The town is perkier than you left it, now that the mercenaries and refugees you were with last
  61. [16:29] <SuikoGM> time have all mostly left. There's even a few merchant caravans riding through, though they may be the last in quite a while.
  62. 01[16:31] <Lekha> 1d20 peckup
  63. [16:31] <PsychoRoll> Lekha, peckup: 6 [1d20=6]
  64. [16:31] <Somalakshmi> 1d20 peak op
  65. [16:31] <PsychoRoll> Somalakshmi, peak op: 3 [1d20=3]
  66. 01[16:34] <Lekha> "Oh, that reminds me."
  67. 01[16:34] <Lekha> "We should probably pick up some supplies, right?"
  68. 06[16:37] * Katsuo_Nightarrow nods.
  69. [16:38] <Somalakshmi> "That's right, I was thinking of stopping by the rune shop."
  70. [16:38] <SuikoGM> There's quite a number of houses along the riverbank, but not very many boats at all. In fact, there's only one, as far as you can see. It's a very... Kanto-style boat moored with a heavy rope to a thick wooden post outside a similarly kanto-style house with one of those funny paper doors. While thinking about whether they should pick up some supplies or not, Sevai noses around a patch
  71. [16:38] <SuikoGM> of thick grass and looks a bit confused. Lekha comes over to investigate and weeds through the weeds to find a weather-beaten leather sack, probably dropped from some merchant's cart by accident and long left behind.
  72. 01[16:38] <Lekha> :O
  73. 06[16:38] * Lekha opens it!
  74. [16:41] <SuikoGM> Inside are a few Lesser Scrolls. 3x Swords Dance (X-Attack), and 3x Nasty Plot (X-Special Attack), as well as a curious leather-bound book with arcane symbols.
  75. [16:41] <SuikoGM> Medicine or Occult to identify.
  76. 01[16:42] <Lekha> 5d6 :O
  77. [16:42] <PsychoRoll> Lekha, :O: 14 [5d6=3,4,2,1,4]
  78. [16:42] <SuikoGM> Which is that?
  79. [16:42] <Somalakshmi> 5d6 occult edu
  80. [16:42] <PsychoRoll> Somalakshmi, occult edu: 5 [5d6=1,1,1,1,1]
  81. 01[16:42] <Lekha> occult
  82. 06[16:42] * SuikoGM claps
  83. 01[16:42] <Lekha> also DAMN SOMA
  84. [16:42] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> 3d6 Occult
  85. [16:42] <PsychoRoll> Katsuo_Nightarrow, Occult: 10 [3d6=6,2,2]
  86. [16:45] <Iltani> 2d6
  87. [16:45] <PsychoRoll> Iltani, 2d6: 7 [2d6=5,2]
  88. [16:46] <SuikoGM> Lekha, this seems to be a... summoning book of some kind. It can be used by someone with the prerequisite knowledge (Expert Occult or Medicine) to conjure a Fairy familiar from the Aether. It's not strong enough to fight, or even hold most kinds of objects, but once it's summoned it can deliver the effects of a Lesser Scroll (X-Item) at range for you. This is a refluffed Wonder Launcher
  89. [16:46] <SuikoGM> that works as an accessory instead of a two-handed item. There is an accompanying charm you carry once the Fairy is summoned, that's the actual accessory.
  90. 01[16:47] <Lekha> "Somaaaaaa I found a fairy!"
  91. 01[16:47] <Lekha> "Well, Sevai and I found a fairy!"
  92. 06[16:47] * Lekha pats Sevai.
  93. [16:47] <SuikoGM> Sevai hrooonks.
  94. [16:47] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "A Fairy, huh."
  95. 01[16:48] <Lekha> "Yeah."
  96. 06[16:48] * Iltani figures that she will get in on patting Sevai as well.
  97. [16:49] <SuikoGM> Sevai wraps his trunk around Iltani's hand. c=:
  98. [16:49] <Somalakshmi> "A... A fairy, you say?"
  99. [16:49] <Iltani> ....
  100. 06[16:49] * Iltani is stuck.
  101. 01[16:50] <Lekha> "I think so."
  102. 01[16:50] <Lekha> "Some of these words are kind of hard to read."
  103. [16:50] <SuikoGM> Cornell: "A what?" he goes to get a better look. "...Ah. I think I've heard of these. This is rather expensive... a special ritual to create a familiar. Some doctors in Nolgranda use these as assistants during surgery, and I believe they know how to use some kinds of scrolls. Fairy might be a bit of a misnomer."
  104. [16:51] <SuikoGM> "Though I hear they do resemble the creatures of legend."
  105. [16:51] <SuikoGM> Sevai tugs lightly, phronking at Iltani, then lets go.
  106. [16:51] <Iltani> "I would take a look, but that is rather out of my range of expertise."
  107. 01[16:52] <Lekha> "Well, that's another thing we can look at on the boat~"
  108. [16:53] <SuikoGM> "Certainly. Speaking of which, I believe I've sighted it, over there on the west side of town." he points. "Shall we do our shopping quickly, then head that way?"
  109. [16:53] <Somalakshmi> "That works for me."
  110. 06[16:53] * Lekha nods.
  111. [16:54] <SuikoGM> Okay, guys, what are you wanting to buy?
  112. 01[16:54] <Lekha> 1x great ball
  113. [16:55] <SuikoGM> Sold! Book price.
  114. 01[16:55] <Lekha> that's all I have the cash for
  115. [16:55] <Somalakshmi> Looking for that Holy Rune
  116. [16:56] <Iltani> Likewise
  117. [16:56] <SuikoGM> Both of you want Holy Runes? Damn, I really did make it overpowered. Let's see...
  118. [16:56] <SuikoGM> 1d100
  119. [16:56] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 1d100: 86 [1d100=86]
  120. [16:56] <SuikoGM> The merchant caravan passing through has some Rare Finds!
  121. [16:57] <SuikoGM> You're in luck, he's got two Holy Runes in stock! 1200 each.
  122. [16:58] <Iltani> Soooold.
  123. 06[16:58] * Somalakshmi buys it up and goes to get it equipped on her left hand.
  124. [16:59] <SuikoGM> Oakbridge didn't have a rune master, but you're in luck as one is traveling with them.
  125. [17:01] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> Hm. Any berries for sale?
  126. [17:01] <SuikoGM> 1d100
  127. [17:01] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 1d100: 46 [1d100=46]
  128. [17:02] <SuikoGM> Yep, Tier 1 Berries for sale for 25, Sitrus at 50, and Lum at 75.
  129. [17:03] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> I'll buy 4 Sitrus and 4 Lum. That'll cost me 500.
  130. [17:08] <SuikoGM> 1d100
  131. [17:08] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 1d100: 58 [1d100=58]
  132. [17:08] <SuikoGM> Unfortunately, no special pokeballs for sale.
  133. 01[17:09] <Lekha> okay
  134. 06[17:11] * Lekha finishes up her shopping and waits for everyone else.
  135. [17:17] <SuikoGM> Cornell thinks carefully, and decides to buy a couple of small tents.
  136. [17:18] <SuikoGM> "There's no telling where we'll have to make shelter."
  137. [17:19] <Somalakshmi> "That's true. I think I've got what I need for now."
  138. [17:20] <SuikoGM> Iltani and Katsuo done shopping?
  139. [17:20] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> Yep!
  140. [17:20] <Iltani> Yes
  141. [17:24] <SuikoGM> Okay then. You head over to the west side of town to that unusual kanto-style house. You see this kind of thing, sometimes. The bigger majority of the smaller villages in Rivale use a combination of Ravarran and Nolgrandan style for their peasant architecture. Decently thick stone walls, thatched roofs, what have you. This is something you'd see in the lands of the Kiba, or the Tsukino,
  142. [17:24] <SuikoGM> or other Kanto-style cultures. Almost impossibly thin wooden walls with tiled roof.and sliding doors.
  143. [17:25] <SuikoGM> The boat out front is a small but competant looking sailing vessel with rugged burlap sails and room for about eight people on board.
  144. [17:27] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "So this is it..." He looks around to see if there's any sign of the owner.
  145. [17:27] <SuikoGM> None outside.
  146. [17:27] <SuikoGM> There seems to be a lantern on inside, however.
  147. [17:29] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> Hmmm, all right then. He opens one of the sliding doors then, and gives out a "Pardon the intrusion." to see if he gets anything.
  148. [17:31] <SuikoGM> There's no response at first, but as you look in, you can see a middle-aged man with black hair and a short beard kneeling at a low table. A small white bottle sits in front of him, and a sake cup rests in his hand. The man himself is wearing a simple kimono and obi, as well as a rope headband. He looks a bit amused at the intrusion.
  149. [17:31] <SuikoGM> "Visitors, huh? Come on in."
  150. [17:32] <SuikoGM> http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/suikoden/images/a/aa/Tai_Ho_SII.gif/revision/latest?cb=20090316223845
  151. [17:33] <Somalakshmi> "Pardon us, Sir. That's your boat out there, isn't it?"
  152. [17:33] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> He takes the invitation, sitting across from the man in a seiza-style
  153. [17:35] <SuikoGM> "One, two, three, four, fi- aha, so that's what you want." The man chuckles. "Yeah, that's mine. Ain't the most expensive vessel out there, but she's finer than most fishing boats."
  154. [17:35] <SuikoGM> "I'm Tai Ho. Or 'Crazy' Tai Ho if you believe the stories. I swear, you navigate the Verbana Rapids once and people start to gossip about your sanity."
  155. [17:36] <SuikoGM> He takes a sip from his cup, nodding at Katsuo. "Sake?"
  156. [17:37] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> He accepts. "Gladly, although I will not have much."
  157. [17:37] <SuikoGM> Tai Ho gets out a second cup and pours a bit for Katsuo.
  158. 06[17:38] * Iltani is content to let Katsuo do the talking, figuring something deeply cultural was in play here.
  159. [17:38] <SuikoGM> And then he waits for the lot of you to make your pitch.
  160. [17:38] <Iltani> She simply sits in a kneeling position at the table.
  161. 06[17:39] * Somalakshmi politely sits down. "Sounds like an interesting story. If you're a man who's confident enough in his skills to do that, what would you say to taking us to Painter's rock?"
  162. [17:39] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "We have come to investigate some rumors on it, you see." He takes a sip of the sake.
  163. [17:39] <SuikoGM> "Painter's Rock..." he takes a sip thoughtfully. "Why should I?"
  164. [17:41] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> Blink. Well. He hadn't been thinking of that angle.
  165. [17:43] <Somalakshmi> "I'm sure we can make it worth your while. What would it take for the five of us?"
  166. [17:45] <SuikoGM> "Your potch is no good here. My brother and I are simple men who live simple lives..." he gestures around. A bamboo pole with a line hangs on one wall, there's a fishing trdent, net, and even a few well-preserved fish pokemon as trophies. "We're not exactly hurting to make ends meet."
  167. [17:45] <SuikoGM> "I prefer something a little more... interesting. How lucky would you say you are?"
  168. [17:46] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Average."
  169. [17:47] <SuikoGM> He sets his cup down, and turns to pick up a wooden box, pulling out a bowl and three dice. "Average ain't good enough, kid. I only cast my lot with someone when Lady Luck's on their side. So... you want me to take you out to Painter's Rock? How about a game of chance?"
  170. [17:48] <Iltani> "...I'm game, I guess."
  171. [17:49] <SuikoGM> "Do you know Chinchororin?"
  172. [17:49] <SuikoGM> *Chinchirorin
  173. [17:49] <Iltani> "I don't, no."
  174. 01[17:49] <Lekha> "What's that?"
  175. [17:52] <Somalakshmi> "I'm familiar with it. As for my luck... I suppose it tends to be very strong or very weak."
  176. [17:54] <SuikoGM> "A game of dice." he smiles broadly. "You roll three into the bowl. You get three tries at this. The object of the game is to match the numbers of two dice. When you do, the third die is your score. The one who has the higher score wins. If the dice leave the bowl, it's a 'piss' and you automatically lose. If you match all three dice EXCEPT on three 1's, you automatically win triple
  177. [17:54] <SuikoGM> your bet. Three ones is an automatic triple wager loss. These are both called Storms. In addition, 1-2-3 is a double wager loss, and 4-5-6 is a double wager win. Simple enough?"
  178. 01[17:54] <Lekha> "Um, okay."
  179. [17:54] <SuikoGM> http://www.infinitelooper.com/?v=8ZFfrAxPsDg&p=n
  180. 01[17:55] <Lekha> "Do you wanna give it a shot, Soma?"
  181. [17:55] <SuikoGM> "I'll give you each a shot if you like and get a feel for how lucky you are. Bet whatever you like."
  182. [17:56] <SuikoGM> For this, reroll abilities instead use a d6.
  183. 01[17:57] <Lekha> "Well, okay then."
  184. 01[17:57] <Lekha> "How about these Petaya berries?"
  185. [17:58] <SuikoGM> ". . ."
  186. [17:58] <SuikoGM> "Normally I don't accept wagers like that, but those happen to ferment nicely."
  187. 01[17:58] <Lekha> "There you go!"
  188. 06[17:58] * Lekha bets PETAYA BERRY X2
  189. 01[17:59] <Lekha> 1d6 small prophecies
  190. [17:59] <PsychoRoll> Lekha, small prophecies: 1 [1d6=1]
  191. [17:59] <SuikoGM> That's not a bad thing, mind!
  192. 01[17:59] <Lekha> 3d6
  193. [17:59] <PsychoRoll> Lekha, 3d6: 6 [3d6=4,1,1]
  194. [18:00] <SuikoGM> Lekha rolls the dice! Tai Ho glances into the bowl. "Score of 4."
  195. [18:00] <SuikoGM> He picks up the dice and tries his luck next.
  196. [18:00] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  197. [18:00] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 11 [3d6=4,3,4]
  198. [18:00] <SuikoGM> "...Score of three. The young lady wins."
  199. 01[18:01] <Lekha> "Oh, it's not best of three?"
  200. [18:02] <SuikoGM> "The three tries are just to get a score. If you don't have a score by the end of three rolls, you lose."
  201. [18:02] <SuikoGM> "We just happened to both roll well on the first tries."
  202. [18:03] <SuikoGM> He strokes his beard thoughtfully a moment. "Now, I don't actually have any Petaya berries left, but... I think I might have some liqueur made from some.".
  203. 01[18:03] <Lekha> "Ooooh."
  204. 06[18:03] * Lekha perks up at the mention of BOOZE.
  205. [18:03] <SuikoGM> "You're off to a good start... I'll settle debts at the end of this. Who wants to try their luck next?"
  206. [18:04] <Iltani> "I suppose I will."
  207. [18:04] <SuikoGM> He passes the bowl over.
  208. [18:05] <SuikoGM> "What's the wager?"
  209. 06[18:05] * Iltani thinks for a moment.
  210. [18:06] <Iltani> "Fifty potch."
  211. [18:07] <SuikoGM> "Fair enough. You first."
  212. [18:07] <Iltani> 3d6
  213. [18:07] <PsychoRoll> Iltani, 3d6: 12 [3d6=4,6,2]
  214. [18:07] <SuikoGM> "No score..."
  215. [18:07] <SuikoGM> He gestures for you to roll again.
  216. [18:07] <Iltani> 3d6
  217. [18:07] <PsychoRoll> Iltani, 3d6: 6 [3d6=3,2,1]
  218. 01[18:07] <Lekha> 1d6 small prophecies
  219. [18:07] <PsychoRoll> Lekha, small prophecies: 3 [1d6=3]
  220. 01[18:07] <Lekha> :>
  221. [18:08] <Iltani> "Two."
  222. [18:08] <SuikoGM> "1-2-3, you've lost-" At the last second, the 1 tips over to a 3.
  223. [18:08] <SuikoGM> "...Aha."
  224. [18:08] <SuikoGM> "Score of two."
  225. [18:08] <SuikoGM> "My turn then."
  226. 06[18:08] * Lekha looks around innocently.
  227. [18:08] <SuikoGM> He takes the bowl and rolls them bones.
  228. [18:08] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  229. [18:08] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 13 [3d6=3,6,4]
  230. [18:08] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  231. [18:08] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 5 [3d6=1,3,1]
  232. [18:09] <SuikoGM> "Score of three. Your fifty potch is mine." he grins.
  233. 06[18:09] * Iltani shrugs, handing over the cash.
  234. 06[18:09] * Katsuo_Nightarrow sets down 100 potch. "Let's go."
  235. [18:10] <SuikoGM> He gets his own rolls out of the way first this time.
  236. [18:10] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  237. [18:10] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 13 [3d6=2,6,5]
  238. [18:10] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  239. [18:10] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 10 [3d6=1,6,3]
  240. [18:10] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  241. [18:10] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 10 [3d6=1,5,4]
  242. [18:10] <SuikoGM> "..."
  243. [18:10] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "My turn."
  244. [18:10] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> 3d6
  245. [18:10] <PsychoRoll> Katsuo_Nightarrow, 3d6: 9 [3d6=3,4,2]
  246. [18:10] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> 3d6
  247. [18:10] <PsychoRoll> Katsuo_Nightarrow, 3d6: 8 [3d6=5,2,1]
  248. [18:10] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> 3d6
  249. [18:10] <PsychoRoll> Katsuo_Nightarrow, 3d6: 12 [3d6=2,6,4]
  250. [18:10] <SuikoGM> ". . ."
  251. [18:10] <SuikoGM> (Go ahead and roll a small proph :V)
  252. 01[18:11] <Lekha> 1d6
  253. [18:11] <PsychoRoll> Lekha, 1d6: 1 [1d6=1]
  254. [18:11] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> Nothin.
  255. 01[18:11] <Lekha> (score of 6 on the second one :V)
  256. [18:11] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> (pffffffffffff)
  257. [18:11] <SuikoGM> (Since we rolled so quickly, you can use it on the second roll if you like)
  258. [18:11] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> (should've slowed down, my bad~)
  259. [18:12] <SuikoGM> "...Score of five to no score. Guess I lose."
  260. [18:12] <SuikoGM> Tai Ho forks over 100 potch.
  261. [18:12] <SuikoGM> "Any other takers?"
  262. 06[18:12] * Somalakshmi thinks for a moment.
  263. 06[18:12] * Lekha is starting to look a little worn out, just standing there. Huh.
  264. [18:14] <Somalakshmi> "Very well. I'll try next."
  265. [18:16] <Somalakshmi> "And I intend to win your services with this."
  266. [18:18] <SuikoGM> He raises an eyebrow.
  267. [18:18] <SuikoGM> "Alright, then."
  268. [18:19] <SuikoGM> What wager?
  269. [18:19] <Somalakshmi> "If you aren't hurting for potch, then I'll wager my body."
  270. [18:20] <Somalakshmi> "That should be of enough value, shouldn't it?"
  271. [18:20] <SuikoGM> ". . ."
  272. [18:20] <SuikoGM> "Seriously?" he just gives a flat look.
  273. 01[18:20] <Lekha> "Seriously?"
  274. [18:20] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "...seriously?"
  275. [18:21] <SuikoGM> Cornell: "...Are you quite serious?"
  276. [18:21] <SuikoGM> Cornell: "T-that was another joke... right?"
  277. [18:21] <Somalakshmi> "It's no different from what we're doing now."
  278. [18:21] <Somalakshmi> "You wager your body when you fight."
  279. [18:21] <Somalakshmi> "But I intend to win regardless."
  280. [18:21] <SuikoGM> Tai Ho: "...Oh, is -that- what you meant? I guess I could always use a third hand with fishing..."
  281. [18:22] <SuikoGM> Tai Ho picks up the dice and begins to roll.
  282. [18:22] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  283. [18:22] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 12 [3d6=1,5,6]
  284. [18:23] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  285. [18:23] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 13 [3d6=2,5,6]
  286. [18:23] <SuikoGM> 3d6
  287. [18:23] <PsychoRoll> SuikoGM, 3d6: 9 [3d6=4,3,2]
  288. [18:23] <SuikoGM> "...No score." He looks a little bit amused.
  289. [18:23] <SuikoGM> "Your turn."
  290. [18:23] <SuikoGM> He pushes the bowl over.
  291. [18:23] <SuikoGM> "Let's see you at least score it to make it official."
  292. [18:23] <Somalakshmi> 3d6
  293. [18:23] <PsychoRoll> Somalakshmi, 3d6: 10 [3d6=3,5,2]
  294. 01[18:24] <Lekha> 1d6 sp
  295. [18:24] <PsychoRoll> Lekha, sp: 2 [1d6=2]
  296. [18:24] <SuikoGM> "...Score of 5."
  297. [18:24] <SuikoGM> "And that's a wrap." he laughs. "I guess I really have no choice."
  298. 01[18:24] <Lekha> "You did it~"
  299. 06[18:24] * Lekha hugs onto Soma.
  300. [18:24] <SuikoGM> "For the most part, you guys are pretty lucky, I'll give you that." he looks at Cornell, as if expecting something, but considering the bet with Soma... He decides not to press it.
  301. [18:25] <Somalakshmi> "It seems I've won your body in exchange. So I'll use it to take us to painter's rock."
  302. [18:26] <SuikoGM> "Yam Koo is gonna be pissed." he chuckles to himself, and gets up to get a hidden box out from under a floor panel.
  303. [18:26] <SuikoGM> He takes out two dark bottles that probably once contained wine, and hands them over to Lekha.
  304. [18:27] <SuikoGM> "Here you go. Enjoy that."
  305. 01[18:27] <Lekha> "...do you have to say it like that," Lekha mutters, then lets go of Soma to grab the bottles. OBOY
  306. 06[18:28] * Iltani shrugs. "Far, far better to be good than lucky."
  307. 01[18:29] <Lekha> "Anyone else want some of this?"
  308. 01[18:29] <Lekha> "We can have a boat party~"
  309. [18:29] <Somalakshmi> "Sounds like fun."
  310. [18:29] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "When we're not investigating, maybe."
  311. [18:32] <SuikoGM> Received 2x Petaya Liqueur! This consumable item is for trainers only. 1/Scene, gain a tick of Temporary HP, raise Special Attack and Special Defense +1 stage each, and after a combat it's used in automatically recover 30 HP. 5 in-battle uses each, but enjoy out of combat as much as you like.
  312. 01[18:32] <Lekha> :>
  313. [18:32] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> fancy
  314. [18:32] <Somalakshmi> noice
  315. 01[18:32] <Lekha> ...
  316. 01[18:32] <Lekha> kain pm
  317. 01[18:33] <Lekha> HAHAHA YES
  318. 01[18:33] <Lekha> okay continue
  319. [18:33] <SuikoGM> OKAY
  320. [18:33] <SuikoGM> So you all tested your luck
  321. [18:33] <SuikoGM> and Tai Ho did not find you wanting.
  322. [18:34] <SuikoGM> He leads you all outside and lets you get in his boat, before beginning to unmoor it and hopping in, himself.
  323. [18:35] <SuikoGM> And with that, you begin to sail down the Nolgir river! The wind rune embedded in the boat brings a great draft, propelling you all at high speeds down the mighty waters.
  324. 06[18:35] * Lekha jumps into the boat.
  325. [18:35] <SuikoGM> This is extremely fast - you're not sure cavalry could ride faster, in fact.
  326. [18:37] <SuikoGM> Even so, the trip takes a couple of hours. You all talk on the way, and Cornell doesn't mind trying a bit of the liqueur himself. Along the way, Lekha figures out the Familiar Charm and summons a foot-tall, glowing humanoid with yellow and green wings.
  327. [18:37] <SuikoGM> http://img06.deviantart.net/9251/i/2014/184/d/b/eos___final_fantasy_xiv_by_maloka_loka-d7p517u.png
  328. [18:37] <SuikoGM> She glows brightly and waves, but seems incapable of speech.
  329. [18:38] <SuikoGM> Lekha can name her whatever she pleases~
  330. 06[18:38] * Lekha waves back, pours her an ittybitty shot. This can not possibly go wrong.
  331. [18:39] <SuikoGM> The fairy drinks the tinyshot and immediately her face flushes full red and she begins to hover a bit more wobbly in the air with a crooked expression on her face. Wheeeeee.
  332. [18:40] <SuikoGM> Before long, Tai Ho makes a detour on a branch of the river diverting northwest of the Nolgir, through a series of steep rock cliffs and treacherous rapids.
  333. [18:41] <SuikoGM> ...He cruises along at full speed anyway, dodging each rock with precisely the precision one might have stepping from stone to stone on the walkway to one's house.
  334. [18:42] <SuikoGM> The fairy ends up having to rest on Lekha's shoulder for the rest of the ride, and zzzes despite the high speed antics.
  335. [18:43] <SuikoGM> Finally, Tai Ho begins to slow down as the cliffs give way to sandy beaches. He pulls in to an old but decently maintained dock, and points northward. You can see some sort of red rock formation in the distance.
  336. [18:43] <SuikoGM> It's starting to get evening soon as well.
  337. [18:44] <SuikoGM> "Painter's Rock is that way. There's a few wild pokemon in the area, but they're not dangerous. Used to people, I think."
  338. [18:45] <SuikoGM> "I'll get a fire together for when you guys get back. Even I'm not chancing the return trip upriver in the dead of night."
  339. [18:46] <Somalakshmi> "For as much as you talk about luck, you're quite skilled as well. That was a very smooth ride."
  340. 01[18:46] <Lekha> "It was fun!"
  341. [18:46] <SuikoGM> He grins. "What, that? That ain't nothing for old Tai Ho. Glad you enjoyed it."
  342. [18:48] <SuikoGM> Cornell steps off, slightly red himself. "Well, shall we be off while we still have daylight?"
  343. 01[18:48] <Lekha> "Can we go back even faster?"
  344. 06[18:48] * Lekha somewhat unsteadily gets off the boat.
  345. [18:48] <SuikoGM> Tai Ho snorts. "I'll see what I can do."
  346. 06[18:49] * Katsuo_Nightarrow has been a little careful with the liquor, but even he makes an unsteady step or two.
  347. 06[18:50] * Iltani at least bothered to stay completely sober in case things go quite wrong.
  348. [18:51] <SuikoGM> You all begin to head towards the formation in the distance. It isn't a long walk at all, but if you were expecting a town here, then you're like to be disappointed. The beach gives way to grassland, and in the distance in nearly every direction, mountains. This really is a remote place. And yet... The rock formation in question stands about fifty feet high, and as you draw closer, you
  349. [18:51] <SuikoGM> do see many strange things drawn upon its surface.
  350. 06[18:52] * Iltani looks for some of the more curious ones.
  351. 06[18:53] * Katsuo_Nightarrow begins scrutinizing the patterns.
  352. 06[18:53] * Lekha circles around to look at the back of the monument.
  353. [18:54] <SuikoGM> Some are crude, like early caveman drawings of pokemon and people. Others are much more detailed, like a professional's work, but with this strange rock as the canvas. A large, majestic bird of some kind, a cluster of people underneath a starry sky. Lekha circles around and discovers a painting of a door and window, as if looking into a house. Through the window a painting can be seen...
  354. [18:54] <SuikoGM> the artist's attention to depth perception and detail is amazing. The painting of the painting within the window looks like...
  355. [18:54] <SuikoGM> Looks like...
  356. 06[18:55] * Lekha squiiiints, leaning in closer.
  357. [18:55] <SuikoGM> A landscape of a white city but upside down, with a sky of water below it.
  358. 01[18:56] <Lekha> "...Huh."
  359. [18:57] <SuikoGM> Katsuo, there aren't much for patterns here. It seems like many different artists drew whatever they liked here.
  360. 01[18:57] <Lekha> "Heeeeey guyyys, over hereeeee."
  361. 06[18:57] * Somalakshmi tries to look for any familiar Sarangan symbols.
  362. [18:57] <Somalakshmi> "Hm?"
  363. [18:58] <SuikoGM> You all head over to Lekha for a moment. She's looking at what appears to be a painting of the front of a house, and through the front window another painting can be seen inside.
  364. [18:58] <SuikoGM> But as you get closer...
  365. [18:58] <SuikoGM> Something curious happens. The painting moves. A drawing of a Smeargle walks through the frame of view.
  366. [18:59] <SuikoGM> It then stops, backs up, looks out at the lot of you, jumps, and runs back out of frame.
  367. [18:59] <Somalakshmi> "Huh?"
  368. 01[18:59] <Lekha> "...Am I really that drunk?"
  369. [18:59] <SuikoGM> Cornell rubs his eyes.
  370. 06[18:59] * Somalakshmi tries to look around the rock and see where it went.
  371. 06[18:59] * Lekha reaches out a hand to poke at the door.
  372. [19:00] <SuikoGM> Soma - it seems to have been inside.
  373. [19:00] <SuikoGM> ...In the painting.
  374. [19:00] <SuikoGM> You look around at the other paintings...
  375. [19:00] <SuikoGM> But it doesn't seem to have transferred to them.
  376. [19:00] <Somalakshmi> "This... isn't an ordinary rock. Did that Rajjaka do this?"
  377. [19:00] <SuikoGM> As Lekha reaches out to the painting of the door, it seems to stretch off of the rock, a doorknob fitting into her hand.
  378. [19:01] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Well."
  379. 01[19:01] <Lekha> "...After all of you."
  380. 06[19:01] * Lekha opens the door.
  381. [19:01] <SuikoGM> Click...
  382. [19:02] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "...might as well." He walks on in.
  383. [19:02] <SuikoGM> You open the door, and white light spills out. As it fades, you can see the inside of the room that was in the window, though everything looks more vibrant and realistic. The city landscape canvas sits on an easel on one end of the room, which seems to be a living area. Bed, stove, table...
  384. [19:02] <SuikoGM> Inside, the walls of the room are painted on as well.
  385. [19:03] <SuikoGM> But these paintings are quite a bit different from the more nondescript ones outside.
  386. 06[19:05] * Somalakshmi tries to enter the room. "I've never seen magic like this..."
  387. [19:05] <SuikoGM> These follow a pattern, telling a story in sequence, through the room and down a hallway. The first shows a grand city sitting on a peninsula overlooking a sparkling blue lake. The painting glimmers and birds fly by as if they were real, but in this case they aren't. As you look on, the skies around the city change color, becoming dark and stormy.
  388. [19:06] <SuikoGM> A menacing shadow rises, and reaches out, its hands grasping. The view zooms out to show darkness covering parts of Ansillia. Rivale, Nolgranda, Davadezi, even southern Saranga.
  389. [19:07] <SuikoGM> From the shadows emerge dozens of soldiers, once normal men, but their eyes clouded with darkness, and hatred. The men begin to fight one another... the painting continues out of the room at this point.
  390. 06[19:08] * Lekha follows the painting.
  391. [19:13] <SuikoGM> The soldiers, under the influence of some dark power, begin to fight and kill one another. Their blood begins to soak the ground red, and that red begins to gather in the center of the shadow, which forms into the sillouhette of a crowned man with long hair. You reach an intersection in the hallway you head down, and from here, four people meet from each direction. A woman with short,
  392. [19:13] <SuikoGM> dark hair, youthful features, and eyes like Katsuo's, wearing light armor and a sword by her side. A woman with hair such a dark purple to almost be black, her face strongly resembling Iltani's. A lance is carried on her back. A priestess in dull red robes, her features Davadezian in origin, and brown hair. A simple man with tanned skin and Sarangan features with a paintbrush that
  393. [19:13] <SuikoGM> becomes a mage's staff out of necessity. Together they begin to walk down the same path, while never losing sight of the crimson-stained shadow.
  394. [19:15] <SuikoGM> Others begin to join them as well. Together, they pacify the fighting armies, and then go to confront the shadow, which has become a man with long, white hair in terrifying gold and black armor. Cornell gasps a little. Iltani, general education.
  395. [19:15] <Iltani> 3d6
  396. [19:15] <PsychoRoll> Iltani, 3d6: 8 [3d6=3,4,1]
  397. [19:18] <SuikoGM> You recognize the man in the shadow as easily as Cornell from depictions in a history book. It's clearly depicting King Tyrian Vesper Nolgranda I, founder of Nolgranda several centuries ago. The original king, bearer of the Rune of the Heavens, known as a tyrant. He vanished from the pages of history quite abruptly, and his two children would reorganize the kingdom into a diarchy.
  398. [19:19] <Iltani> "...the first king?"
  399. [19:19] <Iltani> "How?"
  400. [19:20] <Iltani> "It had to be the True Rune he held onto..."
  401. [19:20] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "First king?" He looks over. "Hmmmm."
  402. [19:21] <SuikoGM> Cornell: "It -is- said that the true runes grant immortality, yes." he agrees. He explains for the rest of you. "This is Tyrian Vesper Nolgranda, the founder of our nation. An unjust ruler who vanished into the midst of a great war, before his children would reorganize his empire into the proud diarchy it is- ...er, could have been today."
  403. [19:21] <SuikoGM> Cornell: "That he is depicted here... who are these four, do you think?"
  404. [19:22] <Iltani> "...my mother."
  405. [19:22] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> He points to the woman with eyes like his. "Mine too."
  406. [19:22] <SuikoGM> "So they are the ones from the letter. That must mean what we have seen so far... was the Quiet War."
  407. [19:23] <SuikoGM> "What do you make of all this?"
  408. [19:23] <SuikoGM> "I certainly don't recall hearing of any skirmishes like the ones depicted here."
  409. [19:24] <Somalakshmi> "It's hard to say what it all means... I've never heard about any of this. Perhaps some if it isn't meant to be taken literally."
  410. 06[19:24] * Iltani looks for the fours' runes.
  411. [19:24] <SuikoGM> You can't see them from here, but going further...
  412. [19:24] <Iltani> "The letter....said they had runes as well."
  413. 01[19:25] <Lekha> "Which means that Mr. Nolgranda is still around causing trouble, right? Or was."
  414. [19:25] <SuikoGM> The four rise up and defeat Tyrian and combine their power to completely obliterate his body. The Rune of the Heavens is all that's left, floating and crackling with a dark energy. http://imgur.com/IlTlOUO
  415. [19:25] <Iltani> "....which makes the other two Eryn and Rajjaka."
  416. [19:26] <SuikoGM> They then begin to raise their hands, revealing four runes.
  417. [19:36] <SuikoGM> A bright rune, resembling a beautiful flower... a rune resembling a circle of white and black, with two dots of each within, which proceeds to split in half. A deep red rune shaped like a heart dripping blood, and a light red rune,in the shape of the letter Y, but unmistakable in what it is. http://imgur.com/ypGjw7z,eAroqN3,gPZq7Dz,4L2LlMZ
  418. [19:38] <SuikoGM> Though the painting has been silent so far, as this last bit happens, each of you senses some kind of knowledge as each rune appears.
  419. [19:38] <SuikoGM> Purity, to cleanse the taint of the king's will upon the rune.
  420. [19:39] <SuikoGM> Passion, to prevent its will from reaching forth to others once more.
  421. [19:39] <SuikoGM> Death, to deny further bloodshed
  422. [19:41] <SuikoGM> Balance must be broken - Ideals to display the conviction to safeguard the future. And a twisted Truth, to hide the dark secrets of this day lest another seek to abuse the runes.
  423. [19:42] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Wait, so there are 5 Runes out missing now?"
  424. 01[19:43] <Lekha> "Six, I think."
  425. 06[19:43] * Lekha counts on her fingers.
  426. [19:44] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Well, if there is anything left over after it splits, then sure, 6."
  427. [19:44] <SuikoGM> Let's be a bit more clear here.
  428. [19:45] <SuikoGM> The Rune of Truth, broken off from Balance, remains on Robin Isaac's hand.
  429. [19:45] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> ooooooh.
  430. [19:45] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> okay.
  431. [19:45] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Well, they might be accounted for elsewhere..."
  432. 01[19:46] <Lekha> "...I wonder."
  433. 06[19:46] * Lekha wipes her hands on her dress as best she can before reaching out to touch the y-shaped rune.
  434. [19:46] <SuikoGM> There are some important details here I need to further elaborate on
  435. [19:46] <SuikoGM> but I need to brb
  436. [20:02] <SuikoGM> Alright, so details I kind of glossed over:
  437. [20:03] <SuikoGM> The Rune of Death was wielded by the Davadezian, Elyn, and the Rune of Passion by the Painter, Rajjaka, up until before they turned their power on King Tyrian. For some reason, they exchanged a meaningful glance with each other, and taking each other's hands, transferred their runes to the other before finishing the sealing process.
  438. [20:06] <SuikoGM> As Lekha touches the depiction of the Rune of Death, the painting explodes into a screaming black bird of darkness with twin horns and a piercing gaze. It's startling, for a moment, until you all realize it was still just a painting. The black color of its feathers spreads across the wall, before becoming a twinkling night sky.
  439. 06[20:06] * Lekha staggers back, falls on her ass.
  440. 06[20:06] * Katsuo_Nightarrow jumps slightly.
  441. 01[20:07] <Lekha> "Ow."
  442. [20:07] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Are you all right?"
  443. [20:08] <SuikoGM> The view then descends on a set of ruins within deep forest - buried under centuries of dirt and growth. All that's left is a stone door on the ground itself, and a small pedestal with a hemisphere of jade set into it. A set of unown sweep through the scene, spelling the word "Halla'na" and then depart.
  444. 01[20:08] <Lekha> "I think so."
  445. [20:09] <SuikoGM> And then, the four of you hear footsteps from down the hall.
  446. [20:10] <SuikoGM> A smeargle cautiously peers around the corner.
  447. [20:10] <SuikoGM> Cornell: "Goodness, that's..."
  448. [20:10] <SuikoGM> Cornell offers Lekha a hand.
  449. [20:10] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> He cautiously peers at the Smeargle.
  450. 06[20:10] * Lekha takes it and gets to her feet. :D
  451. [20:11] <Somalakshmi> "Did that Smeargle belong to Rajjaka?"
  452. [20:12] <SuikoGM> Cornell looks down the hallway as well. The smeargle ducks back around the corner.
  453. 01[20:13] <Lekha> "Hmm."
  454. 06[20:13] * Lekha follows after it. :D
  455. 06[20:14] * Katsuo_Nightarrow heads after it as well.
  456. [20:15] <SuikoGM> You hurry after the Smeargle! Things are starting to get strange now, the architecture around you becoming increasingly... non-euclidean. You step out into something like Escher's Relativity, but thankfully there's no goofy chase scene across the weirdly placed staircases. The Smeargle isn't trying to get away anymore. It waves as you catch up, and keeps walking, pointing its tail
  457. [20:15] <SuikoGM> towards the stairs themselves now, where even now fresh paint begins to flow, making new paintings.
  458. 06[20:15] * Somalakshmi tries to call out after it in Sarangan. <Wait, don't go!>
  459. [20:15] <Somalakshmi> (Oh nevermind then)
  460. [20:16] <SuikoGM> It looks a bit older, though you've heard Pokemon age somewhat slower once they've been rune-bonded.
  461. [20:16] <SuikoGM> As they get up in years, anyway.
  462. [20:17] <SuikoGM> Evolve faster, die older.
  463. [20:17] <SuikoGM> The smeargle begins leading you down the stairs, where the new painting takes shape. The four heroes leave each other's company, each traveling to a different place.
  464. [20:17] <SuikoGM> Mikaela Nightarrow leaves with a young shinobi to western Rivale.
  465. [20:18] <SuikoGM> Robin Isaacs returns to her tour of duty.
  466. [20:20] <SuikoGM> Elyn journeys home, to the Davadezian province of Ira. She seems to be regarded as important. Her story extends for quite a while, with her making trips between Ira and Saranga. She is seen bowing to a man Saranga recognizes as Deva Sachin, though much younger. Goods are exchanged. An orphanage is built. Eighteen young girls are raised there, who swirl together and become colors, forming
  467. [20:20] <SuikoGM> a majestic beast for a moment. http://thecharizardlounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/therian_form_landorus_by_namh-d5dc0ik.jpg
  468. [20:21] <SuikoGM> Er
  469. [20:21] <SuikoGM> Soma recognizes
  470. [20:23] <SuikoGM> Elyn returns to Saranga once more, but this time a man draped in black is waiting. A knife in her gut. She bleeds out, and Saranga begins to become engulfed in flames.
  471. [20:23] <SuikoGM> The beast breaks apart into its separate colors and spreads across the lands.
  472. [20:25] <SuikoGM> A bright white light among the eighteen comes to Rivale... and stops at Painter's Rock. Brown hair, white skin, a far-sighted look. http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1529577 Sadharana, as Soma would know her. She sees something different than the four of you, and then is gone once more.
  473. [20:27] <SuikoGM> The pink light among them becomes human briefly, a familiar, dancing form, but it becomes light again once more.
  474. [20:28] <SuikoGM> And then that portion of the story ends.
  475. 06[20:28] * Somalakshmi covers her mouth in shock
  476. 01[20:28] <Lekha> "Are you okay?"
  477. [20:28] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "See something you recognized?"
  478. [20:29] <SuikoGM> Rajjaka, the painter, is last to have his story told. He is depicted climbing mountains and wandering, before settling at Painter's Rock. A trick to make it his own. But one day he, too, would be killed violently by a Feraligator emerging from the river one day.
  479. [20:30] <SuikoGM> The Smeargle leads you out of the room and into a small... shrine, I guess you could call it. A painting of Rajjaka sits near candles constantly kept lit.
  480. [20:30] <SuikoGM> The smeargle has a seat on the floor and looks at the five of you expectantly.
  481. 06[20:31] * Lekha goes to take a closer look at the picture!
  482. [20:32] <Somalakshmi> "You... have you seen Sadharana?"
  483. [20:35] <Somalakshmi> "Did she come here too? Do you know where she went?"
  484. [20:35] <SuikoGM> It seems to depict the man in his youth. Dark skin, black hair tinged slightly blue, a contemplating look on his face as he draws his own foot onto the painting. It's some kind of memorial set up by the Smeargle, you think.
  485. [20:35] <SuikoGM> The Smeargle tilts his head, confused.
  486. 06[20:35] * Somalakshmi tries asking him in Sarangan. "Tuma mērī bahana kō dēkhā hai?"
  487. [20:36] <SuikoGM> He seems to understand you either way you say it, but it seems he doesn't recognize the name.
  488. 01[20:36] <Lekha> "This is a very good picture. I'm glad you've managed to keep this place as nice as it is."
  489. [20:36] <Somalakshmi> "That girl in the painting. My sister! Have you seen her?"
  490. [20:36] <SuikoGM> The smeargle beams at Lekha.
  491. [20:37] <SuikoGM> Then contemplates a moment and nods at Soma.
  492. [20:37] <SuikoGM> He holds up his paw with two fingers raises.
  493. [20:37] <SuikoGM> *raised
  494. [20:38] <Somalakshmi> "Two...?"
  495. [20:38] <Somalakshmi> "Was it two days ago?"
  496. [20:38] <SuikoGM> Well, the smeargle can't talk.
  497. [20:38] <Iltani> "Two other sisters?"
  498. [20:38] <SuikoGM> The smeargle spreads his arms wider.
  499. [20:38] <Somalakshmi> "Two years ago?"
  500. [20:38] <SuikoGM> The smeargle nods.
  501. [20:38] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> He's looking at the Feraligatr eating the painter. "...then what happened to the rune?"
  502. [20:39] <Somalakshmi> "He probably gave it up before that happened."
  503. [20:39] <Somalakshmi> "Just like your mother."
  504. [20:39] <SuikoGM> Cornell speaks up. "Presumably left sealed with the others at the site of the battle with Tyrian. That's how I've been following it, at least."
  505. [20:39] <SuikoGM> "In other words... somewhere in Rivale are five runes sealed together."
  506. [20:40] <SuikoGM> "This is a bit confusing, so let's backtrack on this a moment. Apologies, Soma."
  507. [20:40] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "All together, huh."
  508. [20:42] <SuikoGM> "So the Quiet War seems to have begun when a great shadow stretched out and soldiers began to fight despite no declaration of war. You could possibly interpret this as some sort of supernatural influence. I don't think the Rune of Heavens itself was purported to have that power, but the abilities of King Tyrian himself are rather unknown."
  509. 01[20:42] <Lekha> "They wouldn't really seal them all together, right?"
  510. [20:42] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "That is what I'm thinking."
  511. [20:44] <SuikoGM> "The painting then depicted their blood feeding into the shadow, and forming a man. Blood sacrifice is a traditional, albeit heinous method of obtaining power. It follows then that we interpret these events as King Tyrian re-emerging from wherever he's been the past several centuries, influencing the soldiers of various nations to spill each other's blood and feed him their power. A
  512. [20:44] <SuikoGM> rather gruesome offering."
  513. 01[20:46] <Lekha> "...So, a war with Davadezi makes sense if they're not worried about winning."
  514. 01[20:46] <Lekha> "Just about spilling blood."
  515. [20:46] <SuikoGM> "...Then the four bearing these runes somehow find out about these events and venture to stop them, culminating in a battle against Tyrian. But something concerning the Rune of Heavens required their attention. Did you see the way it glowed black after Tyrian was killed? Was the rune corrupted somehow, by the evil man that bore it? Or did it have its own malign will? Either way, I'd
  516. [20:46] <SuikoGM> wager they intended to use the Rune of Purity to remove that dark influence.
  517. [20:47] <SuikoGM> "And likely, it was not enough by itself, so they appeared to seal all four, or a portion at least, in one case, at the site to contain it."
  518. [20:47] <SuikoGM> "I wonder if it is safe now..."
  519. [20:47] <SuikoGM> The smeargle nods at Cornell's words.
  520. [20:48] <SuikoGM> Then starts drawing tallymarks on the floor. One two, three, four, cross, then again.
  521. [20:48] <SuikoGM> "Ten...?"
  522. [20:48] <SuikoGM> The smeargle spreads its arms wide again, like with Soma.
  523. [20:48] <SuikoGM> "Ten... years? So that's how long they expected it to take."
  524. [20:49] <SuikoGM> Cornell thinks.
  525. [20:50] <SuikoGM> "I am not so sure the King and Queen would try and utilize blood sacrifice for power, Lekha, though the other group working under the Steel Onyx might..."
  526. [20:50] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Pushing them to fight a war for their own blood sacrifice...hm."
  527. [20:50] <SuikoGM> "I'm also concerned about the Rune of Heavens possibly falling into Nolgranda's hands."
  528. [20:51] <Somalakshmi> "Then... is that what they're doing now?"
  529. [20:51] <SuikoGM> "The capital was named Heaven's Reach for a reason. That rune was the symbol of the empire, and why Tyrian's children claimed the Runes of Land and Ocean for themselves."
  530. [20:51] <SuikoGM> "Those three runes share an intrinsic bond."
  531. [20:51] <SuikoGM> "Should all three come together.."
  532. [20:52] <SuikoGM> "Well, I shudder to think of it."
  533. [20:52] <Somalakshmi> "Are they trying to regain the Rune of Heavens... and using bloodshed to fuel its power?"
  534. [20:53] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "It is possible, but..."
  535. [20:53] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Perhaps that other group was pushing it to do it to fuel the power of something else."
  536. [20:53] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> *pushing them
  537. [20:54] <SuikoGM> "It's possible.... but what's certain is whatever efforts they took to silence the events of the Quiet War have been undermined. Our enemy knows at least some of the events that took place. And that means they could discover this area just as we had, or find the runes first."
  538. [20:54] <SuikoGM> "This is such a convoluted mess..."
  539. [20:55] <SuikoGM> "The Steel Onyx and Nolgranda must not be allowed to obtain those runes. They should be hidden far out of their reach."
  540. 01[20:55] <Lekha> "Right."
  541. 01[20:57] <Lekha> "..But we probably can't hide it any better than the people who came before us did, right?"
  542. 01[20:57] <Lekha> "So we'll have to hold onto them."
  543. [20:57] <SuikoGM> "Are you... suggesting we become the bearers of those True Runes?
  544. [20:57] <SuikoGM> "
  545. 01[20:57] <Lekha> "Do we have an alternative?"
  546. 01[20:58] <Lekha> "Because I'd REALLY LIKE THAT."
  547. [20:58] <SuikoGM> Cornell thinks.
  548. [20:58] <SuikoGM> And he thinks.
  549. [20:58] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Rivale is going to be overrun by this war."
  550. [20:58] <SuikoGM> "...sadly, no, it's probably the best idea."
  551. [20:58] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "And we do not have the military to fight back without...some kind of push."
  552. [20:59] <SuikoGM> "Are we all together in this, then? ...Soma, you seemed concerned about something before."
  553. [21:00] <Iltani> "....we have to be."
  554. [21:00] <Iltani> "Just as our forebears were."
  555. [21:01] <Somalakshmi> "I..."
  556. [21:07] <Somalakshmi> "I don't know if someone like me is really suited to that."
  557. [21:07] <SuikoGM> Cornell is confused.
  558. [21:08] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "It is...not really a matter of who is most suitable."
  559. [21:08] <SuikoGM> "Why would you say that? You seem like an upsta-... er... Hm. You seem kind."
  560. [21:08] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "It is a matter of making sure worse people do not get ahold of them."
  561. 01[21:09] <Lekha> "Right."
  562. 01[21:09] <Lekha> "You, at least, don't want everyone in Davadezi dead to summon some dad king guy."
  563. 01[21:09] <Lekha> *DEAD
  564. [21:12] <Somalakshmi> "A true rune should be weilded by someone worthy."
  565. [21:12] <Somalakshmi> "Not some... discarded doll."
  566. [21:12] <SuikoGM> "I don't... follow."
  567. [21:13] <SuikoGM> The smeargle is confused too.
  568. [21:13] <Somalakshmi> "Those lights... that orphanage you saw."
  569. [21:13] <Somalakshmi> "That's where I'm from."
  570. [21:13] <Somalakshmi> "I'm not... just a dancer. Or at least, I wasn't."
  571. [21:13] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "I have not heard much about True Runes, but...one thing I hear all the time, in stories at least."
  572. [21:13] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Is that the True Runes choose their users."
  573. [21:14] <SuikoGM> Cornell has a seat to give Soma an ear.
  574. [21:14] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "Not in a direct way, but they manipulate fate so that those most suited end up with them."
  575. [21:14] <SuikoGM> "Sssh."
  576. [21:14] <SuikoGM> Cornell shushes Katsuo a moment.
  577. [21:15] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> He sssshhhhs.
  578. 06[21:16] * Lekha plops down next to the smeargle, and absently uses its tail to start doodling on her hands
  579. [21:16] <SuikoGM> The smeargle doesn't seem to mind. One thing you do notice is that the paint color changes.
  580. 01[21:16] <Lekha> Rainbow~
  581. [21:17] <Somalakshmi> "The truth is... I was an orphan who was picked up along with 17 other girls by that place."
  582. [21:18] <Somalakshmi> "But it was less of an orphanage, and more of a school."
  583. [21:19] <Somalakshmi> "And less of a school... and more of a secret government institute to raise 18 elite black ops agents."
  584. [21:19] <Iltani> "This certainly explains much."
  585. [21:19] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "I...see."
  586. [21:20] <SuikoGM> "..." Cornell's the one to tilt his head.
  587. [21:20] <Somalakshmi> "We were all outfitted with experimental runes, trained to master types, and taught skills to help us fight as secret, deadly soldiers."
  588. [21:21] <Somalakshmi> "My last name you heard, Pari... it just means Fairy. Just like Sadharana means normal, and Zahara means poison."
  589. [21:21] <SuikoGM> "That... explains quite a bit."
  590. [21:21] <Somalakshmi> "We were to be the King's secret weapons."
  591. [21:22] <Somalakshmi> "But before I saw a single mission... they engineered that incident and destroyed Saranga."
  592. [21:22] <Somalakshmi> "I lived for Saranga."
  593. [21:22] <Somalakshmi> "And now I live for nothing."
  594. [21:22] <SuikoGM> "Do you?"
  595. 01[21:23] <Lekha> "What about us?"
  596. 01[21:23] <Lekha> "What about Sevai?"
  597. [21:23] <Somalakshmi> "Sevai was given to me by the institute. He's a soldier too."
  598. [21:23] <SuikoGM> Cornell thinks for a while.
  599. [21:23] <Somalakshmi> "And all of you..."
  600. [21:24] <Somalakshmi> "The me you know is just a mask..."
  601. [21:24] <SuikoGM> "I don't think that's true."
  602. [21:24] <SuikoGM> "I think you're simply more nuanced than we first realized."
  603. [21:24] <SuikoGM> "That doesn't mean all of what we've seen of you is fake, untrue."
  604. 01[21:24] <Lekha> "Mmm!"
  605. 06[21:24] * Somalakshmi shakes her head. "All that flattery... those compliments... the flirtation..."
  606. [21:25] <Somalakshmi> "Those are all techniques that I've been taught. Social infiltration skills. Manipulation is the only way I know how to interact with people."
  607. [21:26] <Somalakshmi> "And when I'm faced with a situation I wasn't trained for... you've seen how I freeze up sometimes, and go quiet. Because underneath there's just nothing."
  608. [21:26] <Iltani> "There's an opportunity."
  609. [21:27] <Somalakshmi> "For what?"
  610. 01[21:28] <Lekha> "Being something else."
  611. [21:28] <Iltani> "To learn, when training fails."
  612. [21:28] <Iltani> "To grow, when past experience tells you nothing."
  613. [21:32] <SuikoGM> "Say what you will, Soma, but I consider you to be a friend regardless. And... I hope you can see yourself in a better light, some day. It... It's all too easy to fall into that trap of self depreciation, unable to move forward. But something changed, when I met the four of you. I've felt inspired in ways I never have working with the Sapphire Sharpedos. I feel as if I can rise past
  614. [21:32] <SuikoGM> the limitations I've put on myself. That feeling is real, and so is my gratitude. If you cannot place any trust in your own authenticity then place it in ours instead."
  615. 06[21:33] * Somalakshmi smiles a little. "To be honest... I've never exactly had a 'friend' before."
  616. [21:33] <Somalakshmi> "That's also something I wasn't trained for."
  617. [21:34] <SuikoGM> He smiles. "No time to try like the present, hm?"
  618. 01[21:34] <Lekha> "Yep!"
  619. [21:35] <Somalakshmi> "I've never told anyone about my past... because I thought that if I ever did, they'd never be able to trust anything I said."
  620. [21:36] <SuikoGM> "Isn't that in some way a sign that you've grown?"
  621. 01[21:36] <Lekha> "Honestly, we've all got our secrets and stuff."
  622. [21:37] <SuikoGM> "Yes, that's true..."
  623. 01[21:37] <Lekha> "But if you were gonna turn on us, you probably would have the first time you transformed."
  624. 01[21:37] <Lekha> "Orrrrr when we first fought in a big combat."
  625. 01[21:38] <Lekha> "Since friendly fire."
  626. [21:38] <Somalakshmi> "Do you all still consider me your ally... even now that you know what I was raised to be?"
  627. 01[21:38] <Lekha> "Yep!"
  628. 06[21:38] * Lekha paint covered grabby hands at Soma. "C'mere and give me a hug~"
  629. 06[21:38] * Somalakshmi looks a little confused, then hugs Lekha.
  630. [21:38] <Iltani> "You have skills, and you have opportunities, now."
  631. [21:39] <Iltani> "It all comes down to what you do with them."
  632. 01[21:39] <Lekha> :Dc
  633. [21:41] <SuikoGM> "I'll say it again. You're a friend."
  634. [21:42] <SuikoGM> He looks to Katsuo.
  635. [21:42] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "It does not matter where you came from, but only what you are now."
  636. [21:43] <SuikoGM> "And if you are lost, we can help you find the way."
  637. [21:43] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> He gives a nervous look at Cornell. He's not good at this.
  638. [21:43] <SuikoGM> Cornell pats Katsuo on the shoulder with a smile. You tried your best.
  639. [21:43] <Somalakshmi> "I was always raised to follow orders. It... can be scary, having to make your own decisions."
  640. 01[21:44] <Lekha> "Well, what have you decided about us?"
  641. [21:44] <SuikoGM> The smeargle yaaaawns and doodles on Lekha's neck a bit.
  642. 06[21:45] * Lekha is slowly getting covered in paint. :D
  643. [21:45] <Somalakshmi> "You are all... good people."
  644. [21:45] <Somalakshmi> "I like being around you, and I trust you."
  645. [21:46] <Somalakshmi> "I want you to be able to trust me."
  646. [21:46] <Somalakshmi> "I want to be... a real human being."
  647. 01[21:46] <Lekha> "Well, there you go~"
  648. [21:46] <Somalakshmi> "Not just a soldier without a purpose."
  649. [21:46] <SuikoGM> Cornell smiles.
  650. [21:47] <SuikoGM> "I hope we can help you overcome your fears."
  651. [21:48] <Somalakshmi> "I think... I should try to bear that rune."
  652. [21:49] <SuikoGM> "Then it's settled. We're in this together."
  653. [21:50] <Iltani> "And to be honest....as far as potential purposes go, it's harder to find one of greater importance."
  654. [21:50] <SuikoGM> "The enshrouded past, the tumultus present, the uncertain future... side by side."
  655. [21:52] <SuikoGM> Cornell puts his hand forward, in the midst of all of you. "I know it's a bit cheesy, but..."
  656. [21:52] <SuikoGM> "As they say, all for one?"
  657. 06[21:52] * Somalakshmi puts her hand over Cornell's.
  658. [21:52] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> "...right." With some hesitation, he puts his hand in.
  659. 06[21:53] * Lekha puts her hand over Katsuo's. Another person smeared with paint!
  660. 06[21:53] * Iltani looks to the others, wondering if this was really necessary.
  661. [21:53] <SuikoGM> "...Not joining in?"
  662. [21:53] <Iltani> She sighs, and puts her right hand towards the center, if she must.
  663. [21:54] <SuikoGM> The smeargle puts his tail on top of Iltani's hand, making it a paint sandwich. Count him in, too!
  664. [21:54] <SuikoGM> Cornell gives the smeargle a look, but just starts laughing and pulls his hand back.
  665. [21:55] <SuikoGM> ...In addition, the smeargle seems to be holding an aged pokeball. Maybe he does intend to come along. It'd require a re-bonding with one of you, but that just requires the pokeball.
  666. [21:56] <SuikoGM> (As well as a new ball)
  667. 06[21:57] * Lekha holds her hand out for the pokeball.
  668. [21:57] <SuikoGM> He hands it over!
  669. [21:58] <SuikoGM> And with that, you guys are probably ready to head back to Tai Ho, right?
  670. [21:58] <Katsuo_Nightarrow> Right.
  671. [21:59] <Somalakshmi> Yup
  672. 06[21:59] * Lekha then reballs the smeargle. C:
  673. [22:00] <SuikoGM> You start making your way back out of the painter's secret hideaway. It's getting dark now, and Tai Ho's built a fire a bit away from the beach. He waves, and then notices you're all fucking covered in paint. What you tell him is a story for another time, as you begin to set up camp...
  674. [22:00] <SuikoGM> Chapter 8 - Crazy Tai Ho and Painter's Rock - End
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