To Scorn the Gods- Episode 11-1: Into the Dark

(9:58:30 PM) Minas: The group awakens to a new day... Or not. Regardless, they awaken once rested, whether they've gotten too much sleep or too little. With the lack of sunlight, there's little to differentiate night or day
(9:59:49 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe slowly awakens to a new day... She gropes around for Bellepettings.
(10:00:38 PM) Minas: Belle is cuddled up next to Aelitethe in wolf form, happily snuggling.
(10:01:11 PM) Aelitethe: The singer smiles and snuggle-embraces the wolf... "Ah..."
(10:01:38 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis wakes up uncerimoniously... contemplates looking around the inn a little.
(10:04:26 PM) Ulyssa: Feels like morning to her! Of course, everything feels dark anyway. Blah. She still feels down, and depending on if she ended up roomed with Kineth or not, will either get up (if not) or stay in bed (if so).
(10:05:43 PM) Minas: Ulyssa is roomed with Kineth, yes!
(10:06:07 PM) Ulyssa: So she's still in bed, waiting for him to rise!
(10:06:08 PM) Minas: Artemis, meanwhile, is roomed with Saken, who looks to be in a rather... Uncomfortable sleep
(10:06:26 PM) Kineth: That's silly. You're silly. Why would he not room with her, really? But yeah, Kineth's actually still sound asleep. Maybe nudging him a little would be a good idea.
(10:07:15 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis glances over to Saken for a moment... is he still feeling uncomfortable? Well, its like he said, its probably best not to push too hard.
(10:10:50 PM) Ulyssa: If there's only one really small bed and some rule about one customer, one room. Of course, that's silly. And it would be a good idea, wouldn't it? ...Common sense doesn't stop her from just being in bed with her eyes open, though.
(10:11:20 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe decides to get up properly after snuggletimes with Belle.
(10:12:28 PM) Kineth: Kineth wakes up a short while later, letting out a loud yawn as he stretches out a bit.
(10:13:00 PM) Minas: Belle will get up with Aelitethe, shifting back into human form before they leave the room
(10:14:58 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe is now outside with Belle, and decides to check up on the others.
(10:15:01 PM) Ulyssa: Ulyssa quickly writes up a 'Good morning~' and gives it to Kineth shortly after he comes to. Despite the tilde, her expression is less than cheerful...but at least it's not sour or just plain bad or anything!
(10:17:57 PM) Kineth: Kineth nods as he takes the note, smiling a little. "Good morning to you too, 'lyssa. Sleep well?" He asks a little tiredly, still waking up as he goes to hug her
(10:22:49 PM) Minas: Artemis and Saken's room is closer to Aelitethe's than Ulyssa and Kineth's. Does she head there first?
(10:23:39 PM) Ulyssa: Nod nod. She...does still seem kind of tired, but apparently that's well enough! Hug returned!
(10:24:29 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe decides she will indeed check on Artemis and Saken firstly.
(10:27:30 PM) Kineth: He takes note of the slight tiredness, but doesn't pay it any mind as he just decides to cuddle with Ulyssa for the next couple of minutes before actually getting out of the bed.
(10:29:20 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis is just lying there, waiting for... nothing in particular, while taking the odd glance in Saken's direction.
(10:30:21 PM) Ulyssa: Ulyssa is perfectly alright with this!
(10:30:56 PM) Minas: Does Aelitethe knock on the door?
(10:31:07 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe knocks on the door like a polite person! ^_^
(10:31:13 PM) Aelitethe: Knock knock!
(10:32:31 PM) Artemis-XE left the room (quit: Read error: Connection reset by peer).
(10:32:42 PM) XephyrEnigma [~MobileXep@Rizon-76C5DD72.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com] entered the room.
(10:33:10 PM) Minas: Saken stirs at the light rapping of Aelitethe's knuckles on the door. His eyes open, and he sits up.
(10:33:41 PM) XephyrEnigma is now known as Artemis-XE
(10:34:45 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis answers the door. It's Aelitethe. "Ah, good morning. How are you feeling?"
(10:36:18 PM) Aelitethe: "I'm alright. How are you this morning?"
(10:36:43 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe tries to eye Saken from behind Artemis.
(10:37:25 PM) Artemis-XE: "Well, i'm okay but. [And he says this quietly] I think Saken's still a little unnerved."
(10:37:37 PM) Aelitethe: "...If only I could do something for him..."
(10:38:01 PM) Artemis-XE: "I know the feeling."
(10:38:28 PM) Aelitethe: "I'm sure our lovebirds in the other room are doing just fine."
(10:38:53 PM) Zei-chan is now known as Bellezza_Felutia
(10:39:03 PM) Artemis-XE: "Heh. Im sure they could get through anything, as long as they have each other."
(10:39:24 PM) Aelitethe: "Yep..."
(10:39:27 PM) ***Aelitethe hugs Belle.
(10:40:49 PM) Minas: Belle hugs back
(10:41:08 PM) Minas: Saken is looking at Aelitethe and Artemis silently.
(10:41:58 PM) Aelitethe: "Are you feeling a bit better, Saken?"
(10:43:27 PM) Minas: "...Yes." There doesn't look to be very much difference though.
(10:44:01 PM) Aelitethe: "..."
(10:47:46 PM) Aelitethe: "Are you sure...?"
(10:50:13 PM) Minas: "Yes, I'm fine..."
(10:51:00 PM) Aelitethe: "If you insist..."
(10:54:27 PM) Aelitethe: "Well... we should probably get ready."
(10:55:02 PM) Artemis-XE: "Yeah, probably a good idea."
(10:56:33 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe nods. "I'll see how the other two are up to getting ready now."
(10:58:48 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis begins the prepwork.
(11:00:08 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe goes with Belle to knock on the door to Ulyssa and Kineth's room!
(11:02:39 PM) Kineth: Kineth goes to answer the door, seeing the pair. "Good morning, you two! How are you doing?"
(11:03:48 PM) Aelitethe: "I'm alright." Aelitethe says, leaning on Belle's shoulder slightly.
(11:05:04 PM) Ulyssa: Aaaa. Cuddletime is over. Ulyssa gets up shortly after Kineth does. She's not bad, yet not great. A perfectly average feeling, and a prewritten 'Morning~' handed to Aelitethe.
(11:05:41 PM) Aelitethe: "Nice to see that you two had a nice time last night. Either way, we should probably get ready." Aelitethe smiles warmly.
(11:07:11 PM) Ulyssa: Yeah, nice night. Yeah. Nod nod, preparation to go time!
(11:07:20 PM) Kineth: Kineth nods, smiling back. "Indeed. I'll be ready in a moment!" He says, going to get prepared.
(11:09:31 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe nods. "Well, Belle, we should get ready ourselves!"
(11:11:49 PM) Minas: The group gets their things together, and starts trying again to find a guide to the gnomish city. For some time, little progress seems to be made... But then, a voice calls out.
(11:11:54 PM) Minas: "Hey! Hey, you, with the staff!"
(11:12:42 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe squeaks softly as she is called. "Hello? Yes?"
(11:14:24 PM) Minas: A dwarf with silver eyes and a plain (for a dwarf) black beard is approaching. "Where'd you get that staff? 'S gnomecraft if I ever saw it, and you don't see surfacers with that."
(11:15:12 PM) Aelitethe: "Eh? Kadena? ...Um... The Church was trying to seal her!! And she entrusted herself to me." Aelitethe blinks, saying this all with a completely straight face.
(11:17:11 PM) Aelitethe: "She told me to seek out the gnomes, who we were going to visit on a request from a friend of ours anyway."
(11:18:03 PM) Aelitethe: Blink. Blink. Straight face.
(11:18:56 PM) Minas: "...The staff has a name? I'd think you were a loon, but with the magic those gnomes have, I'd believe it." As Aelitethe mentions going to see the gnomes, he suddenly lets out a laugh. "Hahaha! Well, you're in luck then! I think I can take you to see 'em. 've been tryin' to get adventurers to come along with me back to gnometown anyway."
(11:19:49 PM) Artemis-XE: "Oh? Well it's a good thing we found each other then. Let's work well together."
(11:19:56 PM) Minas: "Name's Minas. How 'bout you all?"
(11:20:27 PM) Artemis-XE: "I'm Artemis, but feel free to call me Arty if you wish."
(11:20:34 PM) Kineth: "Aye, quite fortunate for the lot of us. In any case, the name's Kineth."
(11:20:41 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe nods. "Please call me Aelitethe."
(11:20:51 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis doesnt care for all that formal talk.
(11:21:16 PM) Minas: Belle and Saken both say their names unceremoniously.
(11:21:41 PM) Ulyssa: ...Really, Aelitethe? ...Now that she looks at the situation, it does sound pretty absurd! ...Oh, the person that heard that insanity is actually going to take them? That sounds...good enough to make her feel rather good, given the situation! Ulyssa gets a piece of paper, writes it down, then writes it again in dwarven just to be sure, then hands the paper to him!
(11:24:06 PM) Minas: "Eh? Whass' this?" Minas takes the piece of paper and looks at it. "Nice to meet you then 'Lyssa! And all the lot of you was well. If yer all ready to go, I'll take you, though you should know we're gonna have to help each other out a lot. Don't care if yer a sorcerer or some undercover paladin, the tunnels are dangerous."
(11:25:54 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe tilts an eyebrow at Minas and then looks at Artemis, before chuckling slightly. "Oh, we're well aware of danger."
(11:26:33 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis glances back at Aelitethe. "Don't you know it."
(11:26:53 PM) Aelitethe: "Are you all ready?"
(11:27:08 PM) Artemis-XE: "As I'll ever be."
(11:27:10 PM) Kineth: "Always am."
(11:27:19 PM) Ulyssa: ...How? A curious head tilt at Minas, before nodding with the rest of them.
(11:27:34 PM) Ulyssa: Rather, nodding in response to them.
(11:28:30 PM) Aelitethe: "Alright, then, Minas. It looks like we're all ready."
(11:29:28 PM) Minas: "Right, let's go then! We can get to know each other on the way." He beckons as he turns, before walking off toward the tunnels
(11:30:08 PM) Kineth: Kineth nods, going to follow Minas along, keeping the same pace with 'im.
(11:30:15 PM) Ulyssa: That is, of course, if he doesn't already know everything about them. How. ...Following!
(11:30:20 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe is following as well, making sure to stick with Belle.
(11:30:33 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis nods with the others, and starts keeping pace.
(11:35:31 PM) Minas: Minas leads the group off to a distant corner of the city, which ends in... An opening to a tunnel. There are a couple of guards standing there though.  One greets as the group approaches."Hail! Well well Minas, got a group of adventurers together did you? That determined then?"
(11:35:31 PM) Minas: Minas nods. "Yep. I have to see the gnomes." The guard sighs. "Even with the demons-" "They'll die like anythin' else." Minas cuts him off. "Now, ya gonna let us through or not?"
(11:35:50 PM) Aelitethe: Demons? Did Aelitethe hear that right? "..."
(11:36:16 PM) Ulyssa: Ulyssa is suddenly fired up in a positive manner!
(11:37:13 PM) Artemis-XE: Artemis blinks at the word Demons being mentioned. Really? You've got o b
(11:37:25 PM) Artemis-XE: to be kidding me.*
(11:38:49 PM) Aelitethe: "Well, we should be wary."
(11:39:43 PM) Minas: The guard shakes his head, moving out of the way. The other one, who's been silent, steps away too. The first one speaks one last time as Minas starts moving on. "Hope it's worth it, Minas."
(11:40:18 PM) Ulyssa: Nod nod. You bet she's wary! And far more excited than she should be, by any means. Following!
(11:40:40 PM) Kineth: Kineth nods, simply following along.
(11:40:47 PM) Artemis-XE: Yep, should be careful like always. He nods and follows.
(11:45:42 PM) Minas: Minas leads the party onward through the tunnels. Slowly, there are fewer and fewer of those glowing rocks around... Shortly before you're in full darkness, Magnus suddenly takes up an odd looking tool he had strapped to his back, and mutters a few quick words before it lights up.
(11:46:03 PM) XephyrEnigma [~MobileXep@Rizon-76C5DD72.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com] entered the room.
(11:46:03 PM) Artemis-XE left the room (quit: Read error: Connection reset by peer).
(11:46:23 PM) XephyrEnigma is now known as Artemis-XE
(11:47:23 PM) Minas: "Figured you all would need a light. Hope none of you are paladins, 'cause yer not gettin' far without my help."
(11:48:30 PM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe looks at Artemis for a split second and creates a light of her own with Dancing Lights. "Heh..."
(11:48:41 PM) Ulyssa: Well, whatever works! Ulyssa keeps her guard up in these tunnels. ...She'll question how much sense the whole paladin bit makes at a later time, if needed. TOO BUSY FOCUSING ON FINDING THE DEMONS, SURELY WAITING FOR A CHANCE TO STRIKE. If she's good enough at looking out, it should repel a lot of them!
(11:49:25 PM) Artemis-XE: Art just... stays quiet. How the hell does he know...?
(11:49:56 PM) Kineth: Kineth just follows Ulyssa along, also keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.
(11:52:20 PM) Minas: As they walk along, Minas starts talking. "So hey, what brought you all down here? Can't serve Corellus with those shiny lights there. They after you?"
(11:52:35 PM) Aelitethe: "The long and the short of it is yes."
(11:52:40 PM) Artemis-XE: "That'd be a yes."
(11:52:44 PM) Kineth: "Pretty much."
(11:53:07 PM) Ulyssa: Nod nod! STILL LOOKING OUT.
(11:57:30 PM) Minas: "Did well comin' down 'ere then. Church stays out of the way here, just gives us scrolls and goes. Good for fixin' up after minin' accidents an' all. Wouldn' think you'd go all the way to the gnomes just for that. There somethin' else besides that staff?"
(11:59:32 PM) Aelitethe: "One of our friends requested that we visit them."
(12:00:54 AM) Ulyssa: ...Giving the dwarves scrolls. ...The church? There's sure a whole lot of 'this isn't right' over here. It can still wait though. DEMONS, WAITING FOR YOU TO DROP YOUR GUARD!
(12:02:20 AM) Aelitethe: "I suppose our friend has a connection with the gnomes, or he wouldn't have asked us to see them."
(12:03:50 AM) Artemis-XE: "That's pretty much the entirety of it."
(12:04:20 AM) Minas: "Intrestin'. Wouldn't think many surfacers'd think to look for the gnomes. Remember my papa worked with a few though... What was the name of the one that survived? Killy, or somethin'?"
(12:04:51 AM) Aelitethe: "...Killis?"
(12:05:03 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe blinked. "Survived? Huh?"
(12:05:06 AM) Minas: "Yeah, think that was it! Why, you know 'im too?"
(12:05:12 AM) Aelitethe: "Um... That'd be our friend."
(12:05:41 AM) Artemis-XE: "...Yep. he's the one that told us to come here."
(12:05:51 AM) Kineth: He nods, simply just continuing to keep watch with 'lyssa.
(12:08:15 AM) Minas: "Hah! Wouldn' expect that! For the survivin'... Yeah, there was an expedition 'bout ten years back. Church wanted to look underground for some reason, were really persistent little buggers too. Dear old da was their guide through the tunnels. Only he and Killis made it back."
(12:08:55 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe blinks. "So he must be really strong... That explains... a lot..." She mutters to herself softly...
(12:10:47 AM) Minas: "Actually why I'm here now. Apparently they met up with the gnomes then, and da' learned some magic then. Even got some nice stuff too. After that da' was really int'rested in usin' magic for smithing, and when he died I figured I'd keep workin' on 'is craft, you know?"
(12:11:19 AM) Aelitethe: "...I understand."
(12:11:47 AM) Minas: He strokes the odd, lit up tool he's been holding. "Aye... Not another dwarf's got a beauty like this. Gotta be a lot of other stuff to make too..."
(12:12:30 AM) Kineth: "What other stuff?" He asks, actually a little curious.
(12:13:16 AM) Artemis-XE left the room (quit: Read error: Connection reset by peer).
(12:13:20 AM) XephyrEnigma [~MobileXep@Rizon-76C5DD72.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com] entered the room.
(12:14:06 AM) XephyrEnigma is now known as Artemis-XE
(12:16:36 AM) Minas: "Huh? Oh, I dunno. Lot of swords an' all that. Stuff like this headband too." He points to a golden circlet on his head. "Aye, real nice for figurin' out magic an' all. More guns'd be nice too."
(12:17:14 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe blinks. "...Sounds interesting..."
(12:17:17 AM) Artemis-XE: "You can never have too many weapons." He says, cracking wise.
(12:18:00 AM) Minas: ...Saken has a headband like that too, actually. He says it helps him concentrate, makes his mind a bit clearer.
(12:19:03 AM) Kineth: "Aahh. I wouldn't mind taking a crack at making stuff like that, myself... except for the gun. Don't know what one of those are, though."
(12:20:45 AM) Aelitethe: "I've read about guns."
(12:23:04 AM) Aelitethe: "I'm not quite the type who gets into smithing and crafting weaponry and metalwork, though..."
(12:23:13 AM) Minas: "Eh, I'd be surprised if a surfacer had heard of em-" He suddenly looks back at Aelitethe. "Well, you seem to know a lot. Impressive." He... Doesn't sound like he's being sarcastic or anything. "We don't really show 'em to surfacers much. Church knows it's not magic, but they all want 'em for themselves, and we're not givin' 'em to those assholes."
(12:24:38 AM) Kineth: "Well, if they want them then it's definitely best to keep them squarely out of their hands."
(12:25:06 AM) Aelitethe: "I like the way you think, Minas."
(12:25:17 AM) Artemis-XE: "As do I."
(12:25:36 AM) ***Kineth nods.
(12:25:51 AM) Ulyssa: Nod nod. Definitely agreeing with that! Even though she has no clear idea on what a gun is. Might have heard about them in a story or something. No matter, she'll know soon enough!
(12:26:19 AM) Aelitethe: "Firearms always intrigued me, but after reading about them I've grown fearful of the type. I'm glad you're on our side."
(12:30:18 AM) Minas: "Heh, you should be. I can blow a Balor's head off from half a tunnel length away." He pauses. "...Eh, fine, a balor's a bit much for me. Can definitely get a barbazu though."
(12:31:00 AM) Artemis-XE: "...A what now?"
(12:31:42 AM) Minas: "Don't even know the bearded devils? Bah! What do they teach you up there?"
(12:32:22 AM) Aelitethe: "Bearded devils are dangerous."
(12:32:29 AM) Aelitethe: "...So I've heard, anyhow."
(12:32:55 AM) Minas: "Too busy claimin' magic is the problem that they ignore the damn demons... Pah!"
(12:33:09 AM) Artemis-XE: "I suppose that's all I really need. And on that note, bah, danger. Tell me something i'm not used to."
(12:33:56 AM) Kineth: "Remind me to ask you more about such things some other time, Aeli. Would be best to learn more about such things in the future, regardless."
(12:34:19 AM) Aelitethe: "...Alright."
(12:46:01 AM) Minas: Magnus continues leading the group onward, though eventually he has to stop and get a map out. "Lessee, we should be here, so that means... Left, yeah."
(12:46:27 AM) Minas: "How'd you get your hands on that staff anyhow?" He makes conversation as you all walk. "Said it's name was Kadena?"
(12:47:20 AM) Aelitethe: "The staff was being sealed by the Church when we had to run through a fortress to get here. The staff then told me to take her, so I did. Since she has forgotten her name, I decided to call her Kadena until she regained some memory." Aelitethe nodded with a straight face.
(12:47:47 AM) Artemis-XE: "That's all there is to it, really."
(12:48:14 AM) Minas: "Forgot, eh? I've heard some crazy stuff, but that's definitely somethin'. Thought those sort of things tended to remember things forever."
(12:49:57 AM) Aelitethe: "I'm quite interested, because as we communicated with each other, she had mentioned some fragments on Corellus that struck me as intriguing... It makes me believe there's something more to the Church than we initially expected..."
(12:51:33 AM) Minas: "Fragments on Corellus? Like she knew 'im or somethin'?"
(12:52:04 AM) Aelitethe: "Something about... Corellus having been just... ordinary in his lifetime, seeking to achieve ascension of his own accord. That's my theory, anyway."
(12:55:15 AM) Minas: "Nothin' I've heard sounds at all ordinary 'bout him. Ascension thing sounds interestin' though. Most of what I heard just before he died was how he went on a dragon-killing spree. Few of 'em came runnin' down here to get away from him."
(12:55:36 AM) Aelitethe: "I'm trying to figure it out for myself. I'd like to learn the truth."
(12:56:21 AM) Artemis-XE: "...I'd very much like to know myself."
(12:57:33 AM) Ulyssa: Nod nod to that. ...STILL being on the lookout, Ulyssa's excitement at how there's demons in here still hasn't diminished at all!
(12:57:56 AM) Kineth: "Indeed."
(12:59:59 AM) Artemis-XE: "You said something about a dragon killing spree, Minas? What's that about?"
(1:01:44 AM) Minas: "Eh? Oh, I dunno. No one really thought they should go on and ask a guy with a huge army behind him why he was tryin' to commit genocide. He probably just went crazy."
(1:01:58 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe eyes Kadena... "..."
(1:02:02 AM) Aelitethe: "Crazy..."
(1:03:03 AM) Artemis-XE: "Went crazy, huh...?" He says to himself.
(1:03:42 AM) Kineth: Hmm... went crazy? That's certainly new. May as well keep that possibility in mind.
(1:04:35 AM) Kineth: But for now... la-de-da, just keepin' an eye out.
(1:05:04 AM) Minas: "Gotta say, whatever power the guy had, it was impressive. Dragons don't normally care about armies, and the kind of effort he was making would normally have got a wyrm on him from what I understand. Instead I hear they left the continent."
(1:05:47 AM) Ulyssa: That...that just sounds BAD. This bothers her, but she opts to refuse to think about it for the time being. DEMONS.
(1:06:36 AM) Kineth: "That's... a bit strange, yes. Makse me wonder what would exactly cause them to run, though."
(1:06:38 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe sighs. "...I wonder..."
(1:06:48 AM) Artemis-XE: Left the continent.. Where else is there to go? He ponders...
(1:07:30 AM) Artemis-XE: "Strange indeed. Whatever it was, it doesn't sound like something to be taken lightly."
(1:07:48 AM) Minas: "Huh, if I'd known what you were lookin' for I might have left you some time at the library. We've got some pretty decent records, even if they're a bit spotty since we've never really bothered goin' to the surface much. Can't tell you much though, since history's not my main subject."
(1:08:37 AM) Artemis-XE: "Library? Perhaps we should check that out later on..."
(1:08:46 AM) Minas: "'Course, you'd need to know dwarven to read the tablets anyway, but 'Lyssa's got that covered, right?"
(1:09:49 AM) Ulyssa: Nod nod!
(1:10:38 AM) Aelitethe: "I know Dwarven as well."
(1:11:59 AM) Artemis-XE: Art glances at Aelitethe briefly. Well, didn't know that before. Should keep it in mind.
(1:12:39 AM) Ulyssa: That's our Aelitethe, knowing everything! LOOKIN OUT.
(1:13:26 AM) Minas: "Heh, yer all full of surprises, aren't you? Maybe I'll stick around with you for a while once this is done, if you don't need to move on too quickly. Think we could learn a lot from each other."
(1:15:07 AM) Aelitethe: "I hope so!"
(1:15:11 AM) Kineth: Kineth nods, smiling a little. "Indeed. I'd certainly wouldn't mind that."
(1:15:26 AM) Artemis-XE: "Wouldn't be a bad idea at all."
(1:15:54 AM) Ulyssa: Nod nod! ...It's hard to vary your communication when you speak in head movements.
(1:17:26 AM) Aelitethe: "I wonder how close we are."
(1:18:16 AM) Minas: "Hm..." Minas slows, and then stops. "Hold on a moment. We're gettin' close to where the demons have been active.'
(1:19:29 AM) Aelitethe: "Ah...?"
(1:20:42 AM) ***Ulyssa ...pays even MORE attention, if that was even possible at this point.
(1:20:57 AM) Aelitethe: "Ulyssa...? Don't tell me you want to...?"
(1:22:02 AM) Artemis-XE: "She looks excited..."
(1:22:26 AM) Minas: "Haven't heard of any powerful ones in the past few months, so there shouldn't be too much aside from imps, quasits and the like. Think there was a bone devil in a recent attack though... We need to be careful."
(1:23:09 AM) Artemis-XE: "Will do."
(1:23:37 AM) Ulyssa: She is excited. She also glances at Aelitethe...for a moment, before continuing to pay attention to any potential hiding spots and whatnot. NONE ARE GETTING PAST HER, THANKS.
(1:23:55 AM) Minas: "Known about this for a while though, and managed to get my hands on a scroll... If we can get through here quickly enough, it should last us long enough to get past some of their magic and hurt 'em."
(1:25:00 AM) Aelitethe: "...Very well."
(1:26:30 AM) Ulyssa: Nod. Magic would certainly help against them, yeah! It's what magic has been to them, helpful!
(1:26:35 AM) Minas: "Hm... Probably'll be a few barbazu around too. Wherever the bones are, they're not far. Sure you're all capable enough though, right? Must have gotten through a lot of wildlands or that damned fortress to get down here."
(1:27:10 AM) Aelitethe: "We should be fine with some care."
(1:27:59 AM) Artemis-XE: "Indeed."
(1:28:40 AM) Kineth: "We'll be fine, yes."
(1:31:35 AM) Minas: "Right. And now..." He gets out a scroll from his pack and starts chanting. The scroll crumbles with the release of power as the spell finishes, and everyone feels faintly warm... "Right, that should do it. Let's not waste time now."
(1:32:04 AM) Aelitethe: "Let's go"
(1:32:10 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe nods in acknowledgement.
(1:32:25 AM) Ulyssa: As does Ulyssa!
(1:32:54 AM) Artemis-XE: Art nods, and keeps moving with the rest.
(1:33:24 AM) Minas: Belle mutters a chant, casting Mage Armor on herself
(1:35:14 AM) Minas: ...And then, she speaks. "...Hey. Minas." The dwarf looks back. "Yeah?" Belle pauses. "...If I, uh, change, you won't have a problem, will you? Kind of hard to explain, but it's better in combat." Minas shrugs. "Yeah, do what you need."
(1:37:04 AM) Minas: Belle shifts into wolf form before the party continues onward, into the darkness...
(1:44:20 AM) Minas: ...Soon enough, Magnus stops you, whispering. "Demons, just ahead... Hold on." He takes out a bottle, and unscrews it. ...Whatever the contents, they apparently light on fire as soon as they come into contact with air. He throws the bottle forward, and it shatters, fire revealing what's up ahead.
(1:45:19 AM) Aelitethe: "...?"
(1:46:07 AM) Minas: All that's there appears small. Two tiny winged shapes in the air, not much more than a foot tall, and four somewhat shapes, humanoid but bloated and not much longer than a child. Aelitethe realizes that these are dretches.
(1:46:36 AM) Minas: The flying ones... A bit harder to tell, but they resemble what are known as Skitterdark demons
(1:46:47 AM) Minas: *somewhat large shapes
(1:46:50 AM) Minas: *larger
(1:47:09 AM) Aelitethe: "Dretches...? Haah..."
(1:47:36 AM) Artemis-XE: "You know these things, Aeli?"
(1:48:03 AM) Aelitethe: "I read a lot."
(1:48:35 AM) Artemis-XE: He shrugs. "Always good to do that."
(1:49:06 AM) Artemis-XE: Art also draws his sword, juust in case.
(1:49:45 AM) Kineth: Kineth goes to draw his greatsword as well.
(1:50:27 AM) Ulyssa: Clearly! Both weapons are drawn, as Ulyssa becomes VERY ready to make them become splats on the ground. Or wall. Whatever works!
(1:51:16 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe stays back a little, gripping her staff. "..."
(1:54:15 AM) Minas: Saken tosses a bomb into the fray, scorching two of the dretches!
(1:56:53 AM) Minas: Minas snipes one of the Skitterdarks out of the air
(1:57:09 AM) Minas: Artemis has a chance now!
(1:58:26 AM) Artemis-XE: Artemis rushes towards the nearest dretch, to swipe at it with his sword.
(2:02:10 AM) Minas: He cuts it in half.
(2:02:34 AM) Minas: It... Doesn't even seem that notable. It just dies.
(2:04:23 AM) Minas: The remaining three dretches all gang up on Artemis, but even when they get close they can only bang ineffectually on his armor
(2:04:27 AM) Minas: It's almost a little sad
(2:09:09 AM) Minas: And then Belle just sort of dives in and rips apart the dretches like they're made out of wet paper. She is quite quickly soaked black with their blood. Kineth easily just sort of flicks the remaining skitterdark in half with his greatsword.
(2:09:19 AM) Minas: Poor Ulyssa didn't even get to satisfy her grudge
(2:09:20 AM) Artemis-XE left the room (quit: Read error: Connection reset by peer).
(2:09:25 AM) XephyrEnigma [~MobileXep@Rizon-76C5DD72.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com] entered the room.
(2:09:46 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe blinks at the carnage and eyes Belle. "..."
(2:10:10 AM) XephyrEnigma is now known as Artemis-XE
(2:11:08 AM) Ulyssa: ...That's it? That can't be it! Ulyssa keeps an eye out for more of them. This is clearly a ruse. Perhaps they're the lookout or something. When they die, everyone knows there's people coming! Expected logic of demons.
(2:11:38 AM) Aelitethe: "Skitterdarks are usually sent out as scouts, but... The presence of dretches strikes me as... odd."
(2:11:44 AM) Minas: "Pah, that was even less than I expected. Even lookouts usually aren't that weak. Are they just being left to die?"
(2:12:09 AM) Aelitethe: "Something's not right. We need to keep going. I'm concerned."
(2:12:41 AM) Artemis-XE: "Why would they do that? Doesn't sound right at all..."
(2:13:36 AM) Minas: "Probably the same sort of politicking as your church does. The blasted things do have a language, so they're probably more than capable of those sorts of plots."
(2:14:06 AM) Minas: "Well, not your church, I suppose. Human church. Bah, whatever."
(2:14:08 AM) Aelitethe: "Skitterdarks do speak in Common tongue, very occasionally, as well. It's most likely they were under the employ of a more apathetic lord."
(2:14:19 AM) Aelitethe: "Demon lord, that is..."
(2:14:34 AM) Kineth: "In any case, we should probably move on. Best not to linger around here any longer than need be."
(2:15:04 AM) Aelitethe: "Yes."
(2:15:04 AM) Ulyssa: The less lookouts, the less things left to die, the more times they can do the whole look out thing! AS EXPECTED OF DEMONS. Though perhaps it could just be them being employed by a terrible demon lord. ONWARD.
(2:17:38 AM) Minas: The group moves onward, before Minas stops them again. "Now this is more like what I'd expect... Hold on." He throws a bottle again, once more revealing what's ahead.
(2:18:32 AM) Minas: Revealed are two spiky, bearded creatures, and one skeletal monstrosity. Barbazu, and babau, if Aelitethe remembers correctly.
(2:19:48 AM) Aelitethe: "Ah, careful of the babau! Striking it with a melee weapon can damage your weapon if you're not wary!" Aelitethe warns the others.
(2:21:00 AM) Ulyssa: Nod! Other people can take care of that, then. Unless it's the last thing standing, in which case she'd much rather just hit it to death anyway. HERE WE GO!
(2:27:19 AM) Minas: Saken somehow manages to sort of stumble as he gets out one of his bombs, and ends up throwing it to the ground near him instead. The group can feel heat rushing from it, and Saken is a little bit singed.
(2:32:55 AM) Minas: Energy charges Minas' rifle, and the group sees a crackling bullet fly toward the babau, shocking it with electricity
(2:34:13 AM) Minas: Now Artemis has his chance!
(2:34:33 AM) Minas: Or wait,  he doesn't
(2:43:02 AM) Minas: The babau and the barbazus all rush forward, the barbazu's glaives striking toward Kineth crossed together. He steps back, dodging, and then steps to the side as the babau leaps toward him trying to bite
(2:43:08 AM) Minas: NOW Artemis has his chance!
(2:43:39 AM) Artemis-XE: Not wasting any time. Slash a Barbazu.
(2:46:03 AM) Minas: Artemis' blade bites into the creature's arm!
(2:49:33 AM) Minas: Belle jumps at the same Barbazu, trying to tear into it. Her teeth sink into its flesh, and one of her claws rakes it.
(2:50:16 AM) Minas: Aelitethe!
(2:50:38 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe chants a spell and attempts to empower Kineth with celerity, casting Haste on him.
(2:52:28 AM) Minas: And Kineth is certainly ready to tear into these bastards!
(2:57:53 AM) Kineth: Kineth takes a deep breath before rushing the Babau, letting out a loud yell as he goes to lay into it with a vicious two-swing combo from his greatsword, planning to use the momentum to lay into the Barbazus as well! (Rage -> Full Power Attack @Babau -> GCleave @beards if either attack hits -> CF Babau if possible?)
(3:12:27 AM) Minas: No matter how many times the coming storm would be replayed again and again in the minds of the witnesses, none could truly say it was possible. It happened in an instant. Kineth slashed his sword through the babau, and the barbazu, and then the other barbazu...  One different slash each, with impossible force. He then did it again.
(3:12:27 AM) Minas: And then, he smashed his sword down through the babau one last time, before all three of the demons simply fell to pieces.
(3:12:52 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe slowly claps. "...Remind me not to anger him."
(3:13:49 AM) Artemis-XE: "How the hell does he manage to do that?!"
(3:14:15 AM) Aelitethe: "Something tells me he'd still get close to accomplishing that without my magic..."
(3:14:20 AM) Kineth: "...And, that is what you get for testing me! Miserable lot." He says, chuckling a little as he spits on the Babau's corpse, before stopping, seeing as there's no more nearby threats.
(3:14:30 AM) Minas: "...What in the name of the great dragon was that?!" Minas simply stares at Kineth. "You- You look like any other surfacer. But... They can't -DO- that. How did you?"
(3:15:39 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe sighs and holds her staff tightly, looking down a little.
(3:15:42 AM) Kineth: He looks at Minas for a second, blinking. "Honestly... I don't know. It just... comes to me naturally. Like, when I just get into that state of mind, it all sorta slows down and it just feels so... easy to pull off?"
(3:15:50 AM) Kineth: "I... don't really know how to explain it."
(3:16:20 AM) Kineth: "Yet it doesn't even feel all that tiring. Quite the opposite, really."
(3:16:45 AM) Artemis-XE: Art lets out something between a scoff and a laugh. Not condescendingly, mind.
(3:17:06 AM) Ulyssa: ...Again. ...Dammit, she's completely unsure if she should be angry or happy! It's still rather frustrating either way, so she ends up stabbing one of the pieces left behind by one of the Barbazu out of...frustration.
(3:17:13 AM) Minas: "I. Uh." Minas is at a loss for words. "I see. Erm. Are you human, actually? There is one way it makes sense."
(3:17:25 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe pets Ulyssa. "...I know how it feels."
(3:19:13 AM) Kineth: "I...'m pretty sure I am?" He blinks, thinking for a moment. "At least, as far as I know.."
(3:19:49 AM) Aelitethe: "We'll find out eventually, I reckon." Aelitethe sighs.
(3:19:57 AM) Ulyssa: The petting somewhat soothes her. Not completely, but...well, enough for the next stab of the piece to just be out of something other than frustration.
(3:20:21 AM) Artemis-XE: "We'll have to, yes."
(3:20:29 AM) Minas: "I... Huh." Minas simply blinks.
(3:21:57 AM) Kineth: Kineth simply shrugs, not really having anything else to say.
(3:22:18 AM) Kineth: "In any case, how much further until we're out of here?"
(3:23:14 AM) Minas: "Not too much further, though how long it'll take depends on what we run into."
(3:24:01 AM) Aelitethe: Aelitethe silently keeps her spellbook away and holds the staff a little more loosely, huffing in a little dejected manner.
(3:27:34 AM) Minas: The group continues on.