Shepards Vampires 16-20

PART TWO:

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@@Session Sixteen: First Approach
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October 19
[21:25]	<[GM]Mary>	Shepard's Vampires, Part Two: Revenge!
[21:25]	<Phrine>	"I am a vampire! Revenge is probable!"
[21:25]	* Phrine	smiles innocently.
[21:31]	<[GM]Mary>	Last time, on Shepard's Vampires: Phrine shows Shepard to some... place where something evil exists. Eviler, surely.
[21:33]	<[GM]Mary>	They return to the house at next dusk, with Shepard urging the others to quickly prepare to set out. Joule also happens to finish whatever off-camera business she was tending to, and shows up in time for the start of the big scene.
[21:35]	* Phrine	practices drawing her revolver out of its holster at her waist and putting it back several times. She definitely lacks any sort of finesse.
[21:36]	<Phrine>	"...boom...boom...boom..."
[21:36]	* Joule	strides with a bright smile, looking very pleased about something.
[21:36]	* Phrine	"fires" each time she pulls out the weapon.
[21:36]	* Shepard	hastily marches about the manor, searching for Judith and Leticia.
[21:38]	* [huh]Letty	is packing the last of her things into a small bag.
[21:39]	* [Pyg]Judith	is with Letty, just sitting around keeping her company.
[21:40]	<Shepard>	Letty, Jude. Are you two ready?
[21:40]	* Phrine	sits down on a nearby chair and practices reloading her weapon. Her gun case has recently been fashioned into a backpack of sorts, which carries a few miscellaneous trinkets, extra bullets and gun parts, and of course her lucky egg.
[21:40]	* Joule	hums a tune, spinning on one foot.
[21:41]	<[Pyg]Judith>	Yeah, we're ready. Letty?
[21:42]	<[huh]Letty>	I think that's everything. I did not have much in the first place, after all.
[21:45]	<Shepard>	Be certain, now. This is it, if we fail we won't come home tonight. How's your blood? We don't have time to detour to the village. If your strength isn't fully with you, summon Cherish before we go.
[21:46]	* Phrine	packs up her "war supplies" and walks over to Joule.
[21:46]	<Phrine>	"...you're late, Jewel. Late-late~"
[21:47]	* Joule	's thoughts are seemingly interrupted, and she turns to Phrine.
[21:47]	<Joule>	For what? You mean getting my stuff together?
[21:47]	<[huh]Letty>	My blood is as thick as it has ever been.
[21:48]	<Phrine>	"...nnnoooo...? Haven't seen you in a while is all...fun times?"
[21:48]	<Phrine>	"I'm betting on fun times."
[21:49]	<Joule>	Oh, you have no idea how much fun I had.
[21:49]	* Phrine	dulls her eyes.
[21:50]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Don't worry about that, I had some earlier."
[21:50]	<Joule>	I did some research on electrostatics, made a theoretical model, invented some new devices, wrote a paper and sent it to the Vocational Academy in Charlottenburg!
[21:50]	<Phrine>	"No, no, I have no idea...'cause I'm no you..."
[21:50]	<Joule>	And do you know what they said?!
[21:50]	* Joule	throttles Phrine from excitement.
[21:50]	<Phrine>	"GaaAAakkakkkakhhakk!"
[21:50]	<Joule>	They said it was brilliant! BRILLIANT!
[21:52]	* Phrine	's beret flops around from the throttling, and now hangs on one of Phrine's horns like a hat rack of sorts.
[21:52]	<Phrine>	"Huz...zah...?"
[21:55]	* Phrine	has no idea was that smart Jewel is ever saying. Sad, really.
[21:57]	<Phrine>	"Do you want a reward or something? I could let you borrow my egg...Just borrow! Just for a little! It's my lucky egg, after all!"
[21:57]	* Joule	calms down, but furrows her brow after a second.
[21:58]	<Joule>	Egg? What egg?
[21:58]	<Phrine>	"Oh...never showed you...?"
[21:58]	* Phrine	takes off her backpack-case and fishes around for a little leather pouch. She slips out her lucky magic egg and shows it to Joule.
[21:59]	<Phrine>	"I got this from...somewhere, I think. It hums when ya' hold it close to you; feels really nice and relaxing."
[22:00]	<Phrine>	"...never found out how it's supposed to work, really..."
[22:00]	<Joule>	Hm... Mind if I see it?
[22:00]	* Phrine	cautiously hands the egg over, her eye on it all the time.
[22:01]	<Joule>	Hm... Vibrations... add a weight and gyrate it, but an engine this small?
[22:02]	<Joule>	Power supply... How long has this been working?
[22:02]	* Phrine	shrugs.
[22:02]	* Shepard	returns to the door, making sure everyone's there and at attention.
[22:02]	<Phrine>	"Not really sure. I found it before we all went to sleep, so I guess...fortyish years...?"
[22:03]	<Shepard>	Alright then. Is everyone prepared?
[22:03]	* Joule	's eyes widen in interest.
[22:03]	<Phrine>	"I just thought it was magic or something..."
[22:04]	<Joule>	If it's science, whatever's in it must be quite a treasure... Ah- that's right, can't get carried away. Here you go~...
[22:04]	* Joule	hands the egg back, but still looks at it with interest.
[22:06]	<Phrine>	"Yeah, I guess science can be pretty fun. I'm too dumb for that, though; my brain likes fun thinking, not hard thinking."
[22:06]	<Shepard>	Joule, it's not necessary for you to come with us. This is our fight, don't feel obligated to involve yourself needlessly.
[22:07]	<Joule>	Well, what's it entail? Besides, whoever the opponent is, they probably won't be expecting a scientific approach.
[22:07]	<Phrine>	"...or guns~..."
[22:08]	* Phrine	twirls her revolver around her finger, which promptly flies out of her hand and knocks over a candlestick.
[22:09]	<[huh]Letty>	I care not what the approach is, as long as I take that person's head.
[22:09]	<Phrine>	"Umm...I'm getting better at that...honest..."
[22:09]	* Phrine	gets back her gun and replaces the candlestick, blushing slightly.
[22:11]	<Shepard>	Phrine's summon is likely a trap. It most certainly entails mortal danger to the immortal kind, though if you wish to accompany, I have no objections. Come with us, at your own risk.
[22:12]	* [Pyg]Judith	flashes a grin at Letty.
[22:13]	<Joule>	Sure, I can do that. Best to join you in endeavors like these now that I've joined. Ah, I almost forgot. Take a look at this.
[22:13]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Sorry, sweetheart, but you'll have to be faster than me.
[22:13]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"
[22:13]	* Joule	pulls a glass container with metal tapers and a gauge attached, tossing it to Shepard.
[22:14]	* Shepard	catches it.
[22:14]	<Shepard>	What's this?
[22:15]	<Joule>	You mentioned something about ghost blood or something like that. I'm not like most ghosts, but I did some research anyway; that should be able to contain fluids that are part of my composition should something go wrong. They're a little more like what biologists are calling protoplasm these days, so it shouldn't work with the ghosts you know unless I modify it.
[22:15]	* [huh]Letty	grips Judith's hand, returning her smile.
[22:15]	<[huh]Letty>	We will see.
[22:16]	<Shepard>	Erm... right.
[22:16]	* Phrine	tries very hard to listen to Joule, with poor results. Her face becomes vacant and tilts to the side.
[22:17]	* Shepard	slips it into his coat pocket. I feel ya, Phriney. I feel ya.
[22:17]	<Phrine>	"Jewel...When you talk that fast, normal people can't hear you..."
[22:17]	* Phrine	pouts ever so slightly.
[22:18]	<Shepard>	Right then. If that's everything, we'll be going.
[22:19]	* Joule	considers.
[22:19]	<Joule>	Maybe I ought to try speaking more simply...
[22:20]	<Phrine>	"...Yeah..."
[22:21]	* Shepard	. o ( Yeah... )
[22:21]	<Phrine>	"Just say 'You put the thing in the thing, and it goes sparky and saves the day'."
[22:30]	<[GM]Mary>	And at that note, everything goes black and fades into the forest(these things are everywhere) with the crew arriving at the approach before the castle. Mission start!
[22:31]	* Phrine	narrows her eyes. This be serious business now!
[22:32]	* Shepard	forms long enough to give the others a message.
[22:35]	<Shepard>	Let's go over the plan one more time. Our objective is to find anyone involved with the incident forty years ago, and if possible, kill them. Seeing as they called us here, it's reasonable to assume they have something planned for us. Watch your back if it turns out to be a trap.
[22:36]	<Joule>	How should I distinguish them?
[22:38]	<[huh]Letty>	They're not us.
[22:38]	<Shepard>	The only one who survived the first encounter that I can distinguish is George Lucaste, but he apparently died years later of health complications. Judith and Leticia can tell you more about their killers.
[22:39]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Has technology advanced any while we were asleep? I'd hate to deal with some oddball contraptions."
[22:39]	<Shepard>	Just assume anyone in this area is dangerous.
[22:39]	<Joule>	Got it. And, Judith, right? Some advancements have been made, and some big things have happened in weapons.
[22:40]	<[Pyg]Judith>	Like what?
[22:40]	* Phrine	tries to remember what the face of her own killer looked like. He has to still be alive, in there...
[22:40]	<Joule>	Repeating rifles, some improvements in ballistics, volley firearms...
[22:41]	<Joule>	I brought a modified Sharps rifle, though I probably won't be using it. Still, long live America.
[22:41]	* Joule	chuckles.
[22:42]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Well, I'm sure the same philosophy applies when dealing with crossbows and such. Get in close enough, and it won't be a problem anymore."
[22:42]	<Phrine>	"I wish I could have seen America once...it seems so nice..."
[22:43]	* Shepard	smiles.
[22:43]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"It does. Untouched by most of civilization? I think I could live there."
[22:44]	<Shepard>	I assure you Phrine, we will, once we're done with this. So be good, listen to Judith and Leticia, and be careful.
[22:44]	<Phrine>	"I think my gun's French, though. So, umm...Viva Lah Raysistance, maybe...?"
[22:45]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"'Veev', my dear."
[22:46]	<Phrine>	"Okay, yeah that...Umm, can we go have fun times to be had by all, now?"
[22:47]	<Phrine>	"Bad feelings are better when you can see who's making them..."
[22:47]	<Shepard>	Alright. I'm going to find a separate entrance so we can cover more ground. If something happens, leave a signal.
[22:47]	<[huh]Letty>	I don't know about you, but this will be the most fun I've had in a while.
[22:48]	<Phrine>	"I...don't think I've ever had much fun killing peoples...Isn't it wrong?"
[22:48]	<Shepard>	This castle might be more familiar than you think... I'll leave any clues in the main hall.
[22:49]	<[huh]Letty>	It's point of view, isn't it?
[22:49]	<Shepard>	Any questions?
[22:49]	<Phrine>	"Ahh, not that again. I hate thinking about that..."
[22:51]	<[huh]Letty>	None, master.
[22:51]	<Shepard>	Alright then. Good luck to you all.
[22:52]	* Shepard	splits apart and disappears into the great, good night.
[22:52]	* Joule	nods, smiling. Her irises begin to glow slightly.
[22:54]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Well, Phrine, just for tonight, just think of it as getting rid of some pesky vermin."
[22:54]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Rats are annoying, right?"
[22:55]	<Phrine>	"You always pick the worst examples, Mom. I like rats. They were fun to watch back at the orphanage."
[22:55]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"They steal your food and carry the plague."
[22:55]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm."
[22:55]	<Phrine>	"I get it, Mom, I get it. I'm not stupid, I'm just...dumb."
[22:55]	<Phrine>	"Or...something..."
[22:56]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You're neither of those..."
[22:56]	* [Pyg]Judith	places a hand on Phrine's shoulder.
[22:56]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You're just silly."
[22:56]	* Phrine	smiles.
[22:57]	* [huh]Letty	stares at the castle, as though searching for her killer through the walls.
[22:57]	>Phrine<	She's lying. You really are just dumb.
[22:57]	<[GM]Mary>	The night is black, without a moon... The air is cold and still.
[22:58]	<[GM]Mary>	You leave the forest to find yourselves at a small clearing, and before you is Shepard's Castle; rather, how it was forty years ago, with no sign of decay or ruin. As you come closer, a dense fog builds itself around the structure, obscuring it.
[23:00]	* Joule	whistles quietly, impressed with the structure.
[23:00]	* Phrine	knows what to expect, but it's still very weird to see their old castle like this.
[23:01]	<Phrine>	"This is...I used to live, here...work, here..."
[23:01]	<[huh]Letty>	Judith... stay close. I don't want...
[23:01]	* [huh]Letty	trails off, then shakes her head.
[23:01]	<[huh]Letty>	I don't want a repeat of forty years ago.
[23:01]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Don't worry, it won't happen again."
[23:01]	<Phrine>	"We...don't know that..."
[23:02]	<Phrine>	"Bad feelings everywhere..."
[23:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh, I do know. No way in hell am I letting it happen again."
[23:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I don't want to feel what I felt back then again."
[23:02]	<Phrine>	"Just...Mom?"
[23:03]	* Phrine	looks to Judith seriously, imploringly.
[23:03]	<Phrine>	"If, I get caught, like last time...don't you get caught too."
[23:03]	<Phrine>	"It was my fault...I was stupid..."
[23:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We all were, we just got in way over our heads."
[23:05]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I had decades to think about this, I'm not about to waste all that time just to do it again."
[23:06]	<[huh]Letty>	I feel the same way.
[23:09]	<Phrine>	"We...we should get going. We might trip a trap if we just stand around..."
[23:09]	<[GM]Mary>	The trail leads to the castle, surrounded by a moat and with its bridge drawn up. Before it is a stone plaque with words engraved. Futher, the trail parts to the left and leaves to a large graveyard.
[23:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Neither of you learned to control the dead during our big down time, did you?"
[23:11]	* [Pyg]Judith	asks, eying the graveyard away from the path.
[23:11]	<Phrine>	"...I have trouble just controlling the living..."
[23:12]	* [huh]Letty	shakes her head.
[23:12]	<[huh]Letty>	I would not use such arts even if I had the power...
[23:12]	<Phrine>	"...just a little kid holding the hands of the adults..."
[23:13]	<Joule>	Haven't done any relevant research.
[23:13]	<[huh]Letty>	In any case... which way in? The front door?
[23:14]	<Joule>	Besides I never had a penchant for biology. As for the entrance, do you think they'd expect the front or predict we'd try another entrance from suspicions that the door was trapped?
[23:14]	<Phrine>	"...why do I want to think that they'd just trap both of them...?"
[23:15]	<Phrine>	"Maybe we should find an entrance that isn't an entrance..."
[23:15]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ah well, so much for the evil dead to work as a distraction."
[23:17]	* Phrine	wanders around a little, pacing to think. Her steps drop her into the impression of...what is this...?
[23:17]	<[GM]Mary>	Examining your surroundings, you notice footprints left in the dusty trail, leading towards the castle's bridge. There are two sets - one large, the other small. Further, You feel a strange breeze of cold air when you stand in the right spot, something like a static rushing sound from between the graves and the trail. It's accompanied by a smell of wet limestone.
[23:17]	<Phrine>	"Umm...hello...? Did I just find something...?"
[23:18]	<[huh]Letty>	You did.
[23:19]	<Phrine>	"Walking things? Big and small walking things. But vampires would just fly around, wouldn't they...?"
[23:20]	>Phrine<	A powerful foe awaits you on the other side, a test of both wits and strength. Try if you dare; one less foolish follows west to the cave.
[23:20]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"If they aren't us, yeah."
[23:21]	* Phrine	stands in a particular spot, and is hit with a feeling of dread, physical and mental.
[23:21]	<Phrine>	"Nnngghh...not, good..."
[23:21]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You okay?"
[23:22]	* Phrine	kneels down and looks towards where she feels the cold breeze hitting her shoulders.
[23:22]	* [huh]Letty	walks over as well.
[23:23]	<Phrine>	"The castle...no, that's bad. They're waiting for us...IT'S waiting for us..."
[23:23]	<[huh]Letty>	It?
[23:24]	<Phrine>	"I...don't know. But it's...something. I can feel it."
[23:24]	<[huh]Letty>	Doesn't matter what it is. If it's an enemy, I'll tear through it.
[23:25]	<Phrine>	"The breeze...if we follow the breeze, it feels safer."
[23:25]	<Joule>	Careful, Letty, might not be that simple. If they're expecting a frontal attack the worst thing to do would be to give them that.
[23:26]	<Phrine>	"But...what's safer...knowing where IT is...or not knowing...?"
[23:26]	* Phrine	rubs her head. This power...why does such a dunce like her have to have it?
[23:26]	>Phrine<	Where is Kenshi? Why is he blind?
[23:28]	<[huh]Letty>	Phrine says to follow the breeze...
[23:29]	<Joule>	Might as well. I don't think we have many more ideas.
[23:29]	<Phrine>	"I...I don't know, Letty. It just feels safer NOW. But...I just don't know..."
[23:29]	* Phrine	shakes her head back and forth. Can't decide, can't decide...
[23:30]	<[huh]Letty>	Her hunches usually turn out to be accurate, despite her nature. I'd say follow the breeze.
[23:31]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Huh, monster slayers employing monsters to do their work. I never would have thought."
[23:33]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We'd better follow the breeze then, either way, we have to get in there."
[23:37]	<Joule>	Lead the way, then.
[23:37]	* Phrine	stands up and rubs her temple. No, no, can't act like a baby right now. That's what happened last time.
[23:39]	* [Pyg]Judith	places a hand on Phrine's shoulder, giving it an encouraging squeeze.
[23:39]	<Phrine>	"I...could go first. In case I feel anything. We might only get a couple seconds; it's just a feeling, after all."
[23:43]	* Phrine	puts herself in the front of the group, unholstering her revolver. Just in case.
[23:44]	<Phrine>	"It's this way..."
[23:44]	* Joule	walks up behind her, her eyes glowing a little more brightly.
[23:44]	<Joule>	Go on, we're right behind.
[23:45]	* [huh]Letty	walks behind Joule, ready to react to danger at a moment's notice.
[23:45]	<[GM]Mary>	You make your way through the dense clouds of fog, following the strange scent, sound, and coolness, you happen upon an opening in the earth. A cave, its mouth wide enough for entry, gapes from the foot of a before unseen hill, sneaking beneath and down into darkness.
[23:48]	* Phrine	doesn't like the look of this darkness, even with vampire-vision.
[23:50]	<Phrine>	"I guess this is the secret, then..."
[23:51]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Somehow I feel like this is more than just a secret exit from the castle."
[23:51]	<[huh]Letty>	Be on your guard?
[23:52]	* Joule	nods, looking inside intently.
[23:53]	<Phrine>	"Can you see better than us in sparklyvision, Jewel? I don't see much down there right now..."
[23:55]	<Joule>	Sort of. I can't see too far inside since it bends after a few meters.
[23:56]	* Phrine	shrugs. Oh well. She starts climbing into the darkness slowly.
[23:57]	<[GM]Mary>	The opening goes down almost like a slide; slick stone, about a sixty degree angle, sinking down twenty or thirty feet before leveling off. The cavern is pitch black, though not so dark to blind those supernatural vision. There's a few twists and turns, and some places that require crawling on hands and knees, but soon you find yourselves within a high-ceiling cavity, with plenty of room to move.
[00:00]	* Phrine	is loosening up a little. This might not be so bad. It's better to be loose when fighting anyways, right?
[00:01]	* Joule	looks around. Tough to orient oneself without any knowledge of the place, but that's not the real problem.
[00:01]	<[GM]Mary>	The cave is peculiar. While there are indeed staples such as stalactites and small bats, they're all covered in thick spiderwebs, the size of them impossible to replicate with any earth spider. The little bats are caught in these webs, and spiders ranging from the size of a human hand to mere milimeters feed on them. They cast their own webs among the most monstrous ones, creating a labyrinth of silk.
[00:03]	* [Pyg]Judith	reaches out to grab a spider to get a better look, but changes her mind, withdrawing her hand.
[00:03]	<Joule>	There's probably something else at work here, though... I don't think I've heard reports of spiders of the size of the bigger ones around here.
[00:03]	* Phrine	doesn't even need supersenses to have a bad feeling about this...
[00:04]	* Phrine	takes off her gun and backpack-case and hands them to Judith.
[00:04]	<Phrine>	"Here, hold these. I'ma try somethin'..."
[00:05]	>Phrine<	Ha ha. You're fucked now.
[00:05]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"O-okay."
[00:07]	* Phrine	stops mid-give. Something doesn't feel right...her conscience-type-thing whispers to her.
[00:07]	<Phrine>	"Wait...n-no, never mind. It was stupid anyways."
[00:08]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What were you going to do?"
[00:08]	* Phrine	puts the pack and gun back on. She can't let herself forget; that gun is the difference between this time and last time.
[00:09]	<Phrine>	"I just thought, if we misted around the cave, the spiderwebs wouldn't be any problem."
[00:09]	<Phrine>	"...bet we'd set off some trap, though..."
[00:09]	<[huh]Letty>	I can't turn to mist, anyhow. I would just get caught in these webs...
[00:11]	<[GM]Mary>	The large webs are elastic, yet stronger than steel. They net the winding path onwards through the cave, making progression difficult. You can hear running water more clearly in this area.
[00:12]	<Joule>	You two are rather insensitive... I've started to learn to glide with electrical fields in the air, but I can't deconstruct to that extent.
[00:14]	<Phrine>	"It's a...vampire thing. I'm still getting used to it. Shepard's way better, though. Prolly comes with age..."
[00:14]	<Joule>	Perhaps. In the end, you'll know better.
[00:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"So, do we keep going then?"
[00:18]	<[huh]Letty>	No way else to go but forward.
[00:21]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Then let's go."
[00:24]	* Phrine	wanders ahead as best she can, not wishing to let go of her revolver. There's just GOT to be a giant spider somewhere...
[00:25]	* Joule	follows, eyes scanning overhead for any potential threats.
[00:25]	>Phrine<	Your spider senses tingle.
[00:25]	* [huh]Letty	keeps alert.
[00:25]	* Phrine	holds a hand out to her side.
[00:26]	<Phrine>	"Stop. Close. Real close."
[00:26]	* [huh]Letty	halts
[00:26]	<Phrine>	"Gotta be the spider...where are yoooouu~?"
[00:28]	<[huh]Letty>	A spider.
[00:28]	<[GM]Mary>	Upon contacting the web, two red eyes light up in the far side of the room. They look in your direction, then disappear, leaving you with blackness and echoes of a quiet gasp.
[00:28]	* Phrine	chokes on her sing-song words.
[00:28]	<Phrine>	"Uugek."
[00:28]	<[huh]Letty>	Oh, there it is.
[00:28]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...'The hell was that?"
[00:28]	<Joule>	Tch.
[00:29]	* Joule	narrows her eyes, the air getting a little colder.
[00:29]	<Phrine>	"Spider. Big spider."
[00:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	clenches a fist, poised to throw it at whatever threat lunges at them.
[00:30]	* Phrine	wishes she was a better aim with this gun; maybe she could shoot its eyes out if she was!
[00:30]	<[GM]Mary>	"looks delicious~"
[00:31]	* [huh]Letty	wets her fingers with blood.
[00:32]	* Joule	begins muttering some formulas under her breath, sounding a bit like an incantation.
[00:33]	<[GM]Mary>	For a moment, nothing happens. Then, A blonde girl rappels upside-down before you, and frowns. Or, smiles, rather, except it's the wrong way.
[00:35]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Wha-"
[00:36]	* Phrine	is so started that she can't help herself from firing off a shot reflexively.
[00:36]	* [Pyg]Judith	was expecting some hideous creature to appear, but it's something else. Her arm reflexively cancels the punching motion. This unexpected enemy probably can't be brought down with just a strong punch.
[00:36]	<Joule>	!
[00:39]	* Spidergirl	is shot, and scared to bits.
[00:40]	* [Pyg]Judith	shields and braces herself upon hearing a gunshot go off.
[00:40]	<Spidergirl>	Aaaaiieee!
[00:40]	* Phrine	barely knows what's happening, except that this spider isn't a spider!
[00:41]	* Spidergirl	scurries back up her rappel line.
[00:41]	<Phrine>	"Greeewaahh?!"
[00:41]	* Joule	quickly gets on her guard, looking around to see if she sees the girl again.
[00:41]	<Joule>	What the hell!
[00:41]	<[huh]Letty>	Ah, damn...
[00:42]	<Phrine>	"What...that wasn't a spider...but it was...?"
[00:42]	* Phrine	can barely hear herself talk. Loud gunshot is loud!
[00:43]	* Spidergirl	clutches her bleeding forehead and cries, hiding behind a stalactite on the ceiling.
[00:45]	* [Pyg]Judith	tries to look around for that upsidedown...person?
[00:45]	* Phrine	tries to shake off her bewilderment and focus. It's a spider-girl, looks like...? She feels something odd about this one, definitely odd.
[00:46]	<Spidergirl>	Ah-, Ah-, Aoow! That hurt! Why would you do that...
[00:46]	* Phrine	fails to comprehend who is talking, and responds.
[00:47]	<Phrine>	"I-It was a reflex! I'm working on it!"
[00:47]	* Joule	, despite her efforts, sees nothing, but keeps alert.
[00:48]	* Spidergirl	nurses her injury, sticking some little spiders in her head and ordering them to retrieve the bullet in Spider-language.
[00:48]	<Spidergirl>	skit... skitter skeet... skitter-skitter-skeet...
[00:49]	* Phrine	holds her gun at the ready, looking around her for movement. This is such an odd place to fight anything, and this feeling...why is she getting this feeling?
[00:50]	>Phrine<	Spider sat down beside her spider sat down beside her spider sat down be cider
[00:51]	* Phrine	mumbles inane whispers to herself.
[00:52]	<Phrine>	"...along came a spider...sat down beside her..."
[00:53]	* Phrine	looks over beside her. Hello there, beside her. How are you doing today?
[00:56]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: advancing, you almost get caught in one of the webs. You manage to avoid or free yourself from it, however, and find where the girl is hiding.
[00:58]	<Phrine>	"...I'm not Miss Muffet...I'm not frightened away...I'm not Miss Muffet...I'm not frightened away...I don't know what curds are..."
[00:59]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I see you!"
[00:59]	<Spidergirl>	!
[01:00]	<Joule>	The induced electromotive force in any closed circuit is equal to the time rate of change of the magnetic flux through the circuit... Ah-ha!
[01:00]	<Spidergirl>	G-get out of my cave! I don't want to fight rude people!
[01:01]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh, it talks!"
[01:01]	* Spidergirl	pouts at being called "it".
[01:01]	<Phrine>	"She talks, even!"
[01:01]	<Phrine>	"At least, she looks like she's a she..."
[01:02]	* [Pyg]Judith	lets her eyes adjust a little more.
[01:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ah, yeah, you're right, Phrine."
[01:02]	<Joule>	How conductive are you, little lady?
[01:02]	<Phrine>	"Looks can be deceiving, though. Maybe she's an it, or a he!"
[01:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Quite cute for a cave dwelling monster."
[01:02]	* Joule	grins evilly.
[01:03]	* Spidergirl	is getting mad.
[01:04]	<Spidergirl>	Grrrrr! What do you want?
[01:04]	<[huh]Letty>	You shouldn't agitate her. She's right, she hasn't really done anything to us, yet.
[01:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Just poking fun, just poking fun."
[01:05]	* Phrine	can't shake this feeling. A feeling of...oooohhh...maybe that's why...
[01:05]	* [Pyg]Judith	says, grinning at the cave dweller.
[01:06]	<Phrine>	"Hey Mom, where'd she go...? I'm lost again."
[01:06]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Right there, see?"
[01:06]	<Joule>	Eh- where?
[01:06]	* Spidergirl	isn't amused, and fires something gooey at Judith from her wrist while making the I-love-you sign.
[01:07]	* [Pyg]Judith	tugs Phrine over to where she is, pointing at the spider girl.
[01:08]	<Phrine>	"Oho...oh gah!"
[01:08]	* Phrine	flinches as a something flies through the dark cave near her!
[01:09]	* [Pyg]Judith	nonchalantly twirls to the side a few steps, bringing Phrine with her, looking almost like a dance.
[01:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Tsk tsk, and you're calling us rude."
[01:10]	* Spidergirl	grows red with anger now.
[01:10]	* Phrine	notices the gun in her hand. Oh yeah, she still has that.
[01:10]	<Spidergirl>	I'm not the one invading someone's home! Get out!
[01:10]	<Phrine>	"I did shoot first, though..."
[01:11]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We'll get out, as soon as you just let us be. We're just passing through."
[01:12]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Maybe you should apologize for the bullet-in-the-head-thing."
[01:12]	* [Pyg]Judith	whispers to Phrine.
[01:12]	<Spidergirl>	Liar! No one ever comes to Cain's castle for no good reason. Especially not through my cave!
[01:13]	* Phrine	nods, putting the gun away for now.
[01:13]	<Joule>	Er... Sorry for my ignorance, but who's Cain?
[01:14]	* Spidergirl	falls to the ground, landing on her feet, and fires a web of silk between a stalactite and stalagmite, screening the party from further entry.
[01:15]	<[huh]Letty>	Now, see childe, I'm going to have to ask that you not do that.
[01:15]	* Phrine	wishes she could do cool stuff like that. She wonders if Shepard can, since he's so old and stuff.
[01:16]	* Spidergirl	blows a raspberry at Leticia.
[01:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"How inelegant."
[01:17]	<Phrine>	"...maybe we should start over."
[01:17]	* Phrine	waves a hand towards spidergirl.
[01:18]	<Phrine>	"Hello, I'm Phrine. But sometimes people can me Hilda. What's your name?"
[01:18]	* Joule	stays quiet for the time being, to observe and collect information.
[01:18]	* [huh]Letty	watches. This can't work...
[01:19]	* Spidergirl	wrinkles her nose and narrows her eyes at Phrine.
[01:20]	<Spidergirl>	...Apologize.
[01:20]	<Spidergirl>	Get on your hands and knees and apologize. Or else I'm not talking to you!
[01:20]	* Spidergirl	hmphs!
[01:21]	<Phrine>	"Well that's pretty easy."
[01:21]	* Phrine	crouches down on the ground and looks at the webs beneath her. Wow, these are actually pretty cool...
[01:21]	* Joule	turns and catches Phrine by the shoulder. She shouldn't need to grovel, at least.
[01:22]	* Phrine	catches Joule's eye and gives her a look that says, "What? What'd I do this time?"
[01:23]	<Phrine>	"It was my fault, Jewel."
[01:24]	<Joule>	Good you realize that, but should you really have to humiliate yourself?
[01:25]	<Spidergirl>	Hey, no one asked you! She came into my home and shot me in the head, she should be my servant for the next forty years!
[01:25]	* Spidergirl	points to the big, bloody hole.
[01:26]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You're lucky you're no human then."
[01:26]	* Phrine	would say something about that hole, but she's still looking at the ground.
[01:26]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Unlucky for us since we won't be able to pass so easily."
[01:26]	* Phrine	is getting miffed. Hey, she's trying to make a friend here!
[01:27]	<Phrine>	"Hey, hey Mom? Mom person who I love? Hey, shut up."
[01:27]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hm? All right, all right."
[01:28]	* Phrine	returns to her regularly scheduled penance.
[01:28]	* Spidergirl	twitches at "mom", and has an awful feeling come over her, besides the head wound.
[01:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	turns her head to face another part of the cave. She can't help but feel a little annoyed at being told to close her trap, especially by her daughter.
[01:29]	<[huh]Letty>	Spider Miss, I know being shot in the head is not fun, but...
[01:30]	<[huh]Letty>	Does the Lord not teach to turn the other cheek?
[01:31]	<Phrine>	"So...I'm really very quite sorry that I shot you in the head, Ms. Spider. I'm pretty much an idiot and get too excited a lot. I deserve a lot more than I deserve."
[01:32]	<Phrine>	"Accidents happen, but if I was smart then accidents wouldn't happen. I'm sorry for being so stupid, Ms. Spider."
[01:32]	<Joule>	Isn't that 'a lot more than I get'...?
[01:32]	* Spidergirl	purses her lip a bit, suddenly feeling like the bad guy. She skirtingly(I don't care if it's not a word) casts her gaze to the groveling Phrine.
[01:33]	<Spidergirl>	She's your... mother?
[01:33]	* Spidergirl	blinks at Judith.
[01:33]	* Phrine	doesn't know if she's supposed to raise her head or not.
[01:34]	<Spidergirl>	But... wait...
[01:34]	* [Pyg]Judith	turns her head to glance at the Spidergirl before returning her attention to the far cave wall. She said to shut up, so I'll shut up.
[01:35]	* Spidergirl	peers more closely at Judith, Phrine, and Leticia.
[01:35]	<Phrine>	"Not...well, sorta. We're all vampires, see, and she's the one that bit me. I guess sometimes that counts. But we can be like family even if we're not; I really don't have real family anyways..."
[01:35]	* Joule	leans over so her head goes in front of Leticia, a little miffed at being overlooked. Again.
[01:36]	* [huh]Letty	steps to the side.
[01:36]	* Spidergirl	sits on a rock next to the silky fence, staring at her shoes.
[01:37]	<Spidergirl>	That's nice... I wish I had a family.
[01:37]	<[GM]Mary>	A huge spider crawls down next to her, petting her back with two legs.
[01:38]	<[huh]Letty>	Aren't these spiders sort of like family?
[01:38]	<Spidergirl>	One of my own... The spiders keep me company, but, you know... it's not the same...
[01:38]	* Spidergirl	pets the huge arachnid, which whimpers like a dog.
[01:39]	* Phrine	peeks a look upwards from the ground. Aww....
[01:39]	* Spidergirl	sighs.
[01:40]	<Arani>	My name's Arani. Arani Minerva. And I live here, alone.
[01:40]	<[huh]Letty>	Alone, huh...
[01:40]	<Phrine>	"Oohh...that's...I never liked living alone..."
[01:40]	* Phrine	remembers her years at the orphanage.
[01:41]	<Phrine>	"People didn't really care 'bout us orphans much...thought we were too much trouble..."
[01:42]	<Phrine>	"...I bet my mom and dad thought that too...maybe that's why I was there..."
[01:42]	<Joule>	I moved along by myself for a while, so I know it's rather lonely. Why do you keep down here?
[01:44]	<Arani>	The Master makes me. I used to live in the castle, but they said I couldn't anymore.
[01:45]	* Phrine	shudders at "The Master".
[01:45]	<[huh]Letty>	That's terrible...
[01:46]	* [Pyg]Judith	remains quite. Man, this is getting tough.
[01:46]	<Arani>	I'm supposed to keep people from getting in or out of here. So I guess you'll have to find another way around. Sorry.
[01:46]	* Arani	's contempt has been drowned by the blues.
[01:47]	<Phrine>	"The other way is worse. I could feel it. Bad things."
[01:47]	<Joule>	Hm... ah. Now that I think of it, why do you follow their orders?
[01:47]	<Phrine>	"At least here it's just sad things...making me sad too..."
[01:48]	<Arani>	Yeah, Ruth is pretty tough. She'd probably let you in if you made her laugh or something, though.
[01:49]	<Phrine>	"...oh, that's no good...people get too angry at me before I can make them laugh. Or just annoyed."
[01:49]	<Arani>	As for that... it's not really any business with you. It's just how it is.
[01:49]	* Joule	shrugs.
[01:50]	* Phrine	thinks she can get up off her hands and knees now. She scootches over closer to Arani, sitting cross-legged.
[01:50]	<Phrine>	"That's...that's wrong though, isn't it...?"
[01:50]	<Arani>	What is?
[01:51]	<Phrine>	"...I mean, things are how they are because they're not how they aren't. You have to make them that way, don't you...?"
[01:52]	<Arani>	I said it's none of your business. I'm down here because I have to be, okay?
[01:53]	<Phrine>	"Oh, okay...I guess I'm down here 'cause I have to be too."
[01:53]	<Phrine>	"Master Shepard wants us to go around doin' things and killin' folk. I still don't understand much of it myself..."
[01:54]	* Arani	rubs her belly. Oh, how I wish it could grow...
[01:55]	<Arani>	Oh, are you the "guests"? They don't really tell me anything anymore, but some of my spiders overheard...
[01:55]	<[huh]Letty>	What did they say about the guests?
[01:55]	* Phrine	scratches her head. Why does she always have to be the one that things about the hard questions?
[01:56]	<Arani>	Not much.
[01:57]	<Arani>	skitter skeet skeet...
[01:58]	* Arani	's huge spider departs further down the cavern.
[01:59]	<Joule>	Er, sorry to interrupt, but...
[02:00]	<Joule>	Is there something here relatively conductive that you don't mind me damaging? I've built up lots of potential difference and would probably shock someone if I stay like this.
[02:01]	<Arani>	Uh...
[02:01]	<Arani>	Touch the web, I guess? If one of you shoot me again, I'm sealing up for good.
[02:03]	<Joule>	Ah, thanks. One second, then.
[02:04]	* Joule	walks over to a part of the web and grabs it, causing it to seize and flash along with a rather loud sound.
[02:06]	<[GM]Mary>	Joule: The electricity lingers, turning the web barrier into an electric fence.
[02:06]	<Phrine>	"Ooo...more cool things I don't know how to do."
[02:06]	<Arani>	...
[02:07]	<[huh]Letty>	...
[02:09]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks at the electric display with interest.
[02:10]	* Joule	smiles at the effect, thinks it over a few times and then walks back to her previous position. Though the omnipresent bolts in her eyes remain, her irises no longer glow.
[02:11]	<[huh]Letty>	So, in any case...
[02:11]	<[huh]Letty>	Will you let us through?
[02:13]	<Arani>	No.
[02:13]	<[huh]Letty>	No way you'll change your mind?
[02:14]	<Arani>	...
[02:15]	* Arani	thinks about it.
[02:15]	* Arani	blushes.
[02:15]	<Arani>	W-well...
[02:16]	<Arani>	Maybe...
[02:18]	<[huh]Letty>	If what?
[02:19]	* Phrine	looks on with childish interest. She's just like she was before she was turned...
[02:20]	* Arani	touches the web gingerly, recoiling from the shock, then pulling a bit of it out. She meekly wags her fingers for Letty to approach.
[02:20]	* [huh]Letty	approaches.
[02:21]	<Arani>	if-if you do something for me... You gotta swear you'll do it.
[02:22]	<[huh]Letty>	Sure.
[02:22]	* [huh]Letty	gives her a small smile.
[02:23]	<Arani>	Swear! Swear on your love.
[02:23]	<[huh]Letty>	My love?
[02:23]	* [huh]Letty	glances back at Judith.
[02:24]	<[huh]Letty>	I swear.
[02:24]	* Arani	considers.
[02:24]	<Arani>	...Okay.
[02:24]	* Arani	whispers in Leticia's ear...
[02:25]	* [Pyg]Judith	tilts her head at Letty looking her way for a moment.
[02:26]	* Arani	's blushes goes full bloom.
[02:26]	* [huh]Letty	nods.
[02:27]	<Arani>	You'll- you'll do that for me?
[02:27]	* [huh]Letty	nods.
[02:27]	<[huh]Letty>	I'll do the best job I can.
[02:28]	* Arani	gets her hopes up. So high, they might kill her if they come down.
[02:28]	<Arani>	Th-thank you!
[02:29]	* Phrine	wonders what just transpired between those two. And also how she knows the meaning of the word transpired.
[02:29]	* Arani	tears away the web and hugs Leticia.
[02:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	wonders if she can break her silence.
[02:29]	* [Pyg]Judith	tilts her head again. A hug? Now she's really curious.
[02:30]	* [huh]Letty	gives Arani a small pat.
[02:30]	* Joule	decides to keep quiet. Never been much good at tact, but even I can tell in this case.
[02:31]	* Arani	holds her by the shoulders. That bullet wound is healing up quite nicely.
[02:31]	<Arani>	W-what's your nay-name?
[02:32]	<[huh]Letty>	Leticia, Leticia Black.
[02:34]	<Arani>	Leticia... Okay.
[02:34]	* Arani	takes a deep breath and steps back.
[02:34]	<Arani>	Be careful, you guys. Especially with each other. The master has a special "ability"...
[02:36]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks curiously at the spidergirl. She's letting us through? I wonder what she's getting Letty to do for her.
[02:39]	<Arani>	Hmm...
[02:39]	* Phrine	has bad suspicions about that warning. Careful with each other...?
[02:40]	<Arani>	skit-tit-skitter-skeeter skeet, skit skee?
[02:41]	<[GM]Mary>	In a few moments, a humongous wolf spider comes into view. Arani spider-talks at it.
[02:41]	<Arani>	Ah, good.
[02:42]	<Arani>	There's a maze up ahead. Charleston here will help you get through it.
[02:42]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston... nods.
[02:43]	<Phrine>	"Charleston, that's a nice name. Not silly like Phrine."
[02:43]	* Phrine	offers a hand out to Charleston.
[02:43]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston blushes and shakes.
[02:43]	<Joule>	Or extravagant like Boltzmann.
[02:44]	* Joule	curtsies.
[02:44]	<Phrine>	"Hello, Charles. Thanks for helpin' us out."
[02:44]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston skitters.
[02:44]	* [huh]Letty	smiles.
[02:44]	<[huh]Letty>	Thank you, Arani.
[02:45]	<Arani>	He says it's no problem. One more thing, if you ever get hurt, go see Artemis. She should be... in the kitchen, or something. If she gives you something to eat, just eat it and don't complain.
[02:47]	* [Pyg]Judith	stays at the back of the group, feeling a little shunned. Ah well, maybe I can practice staying below detection this way.
[02:48]	<Joule>	Artemis; alright.
[02:50]	* Phrine	walks up to Arani, and after fiddling with something in her backpack, offers a small trinket to her: a bullet.
[02:50]	<Phrine>	"I'm not really sure if you forgave me or not, but here."
[02:50]	<Arani>	...huh?
[02:50]	<Phrine>	"Next time you see me, you can go ahead and shoot me too. I won't get mad, and then we'll be even."
[02:50]	* Arani	never seen a cartridge before. She takes it and looks at it oddly.
[02:51]	<Arani>	Uh... sure, I guess.
[02:52]	* Arani	isn't sure what to say with all the spiderflies in her stomach
[02:54]	<Arani>	Well, good luck to you. and hurry back...
[02:56]	<[GM]Mary>	Saving state... [5:30 CAVERN 9.2%]









@@XxX
@@Session Seventeen: Merchant
@@XxX
October 26
[21:42]	<[GM]Mary>	Loading state...
[21:45]	<[Pyg]Judith>	Load Save State 5
[21:46]	* Arani	climbs back up the way she came, fixing some webbing that got messed up prior to the group's arrival.
[21:47]	<[GM]Mary>	Free to progress, you continue through the system of caverns, following the sounds of rushing water. A pale blue light emanates from beyond, its source drawing closer as you make your way through the narrow passages.
[21:49]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Uh...What's that?"
[21:49]	<Phrine>	"...oh?"
[21:49]	* Phrine	states into the light.
[21:49]	<Phrine>	"I see a...I see a light. Yeah. Right over there~..."
[21:52]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Careful, Phrine, it might blind you...Wait, can we go blind?"
[21:52]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I forget if that gets repaired through regeneration."
[21:52]	<[GM]Mary>	Leticia: Listening closely, you hear sounds of movement, indicating someone's presence in the room ahead.
[21:53]	<[huh]Leticia>	There's someone ahead.
[21:53]	<Phrine>	"Maybe Sheppy could...eh?"
[21:53]	* [huh]Leticia	uses a hushed whisper, careful not to echo down the corridor
[21:54]	* Phrine	looks into the light again. Someone up ahead? Making the light, maybe probably...?
[21:55]	<Phrine>	"...is that a good thing?"
[21:55]	<[huh]Leticia>	Judith, Phrine, carefully.
[21:56]	* Phrine	whispers back.
[21:56]	<[huh]Leticia>	It means to keep your guard up.
[21:57]	* Phrine	is pretty sure her gun keeps her guarded, so she keeps her gun up instead.
[22:00]	<Phrine>	"...mhm, ready. Sorta-kinda."
[22:03]	* [huh]Leticia	approaches the entrance cautiously.
[22:03]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"See anything?"
[22:03]	* [Pyg]Judith	whispers, hoping Leticia heard her.
[22:05]	* [huh]Leticia	peers into the room.
[22:06]	<[GM]Mary>	You enter another chamber, smaller than the last, but much more free of silk trappings. In fact, the room seems to have been "colonized"; there's crates, barrels, boxes, and ropes strewn out all over. Atop one of these wooden crates is the source of light: a little blue candle, made to burn blue with some sort of incentive fuse. The sound of water is closest here.
[22:06]	<[GM]Mary>	A hooded figure is rustling about the contents of a trunk, his back shown to you.
[22:07]	* Phrine	rationalizes... (Hood = Mysterious!)
[22:07]	* HoodedFigure	must have some acute perception as he(it?) glances back at you as you look into the room. He just nods and goes back to what he was doing.
[22:08]	* Phrine	quickly hides behind a large pile of crates.
[22:09]	* [Pyg]Judith	almost calls out to Phrine to get her to come back but notices her taking cover behind some crates. She remains in the passage, worried that she'll make movements that will alert the hooded person.
[22:10]	* HoodedFigure	shuts the trunk, turns around and leans over a wooden table. His entire body is obscured by a great cloak and his face is wrapped in dark bandages, but his eyes emit a piercing orange glow.
[22:10]	<HoodedFigure>	What're you strangers doin' hidin' behind me stocks and barrels?
[22:11]	<Phrine>	"Shh...I'm hiding behind you stocks and barrels!"
[22:11]	* Phrine	is a sneaking genius!
[22:14]	* [Pyg]Judith	tenses up, getting ready to pounce on that stranger should he try to harm Phrine.
[22:15]	<HoodedFigure>	This here be a business, not a play pin. If you ain't on no business, then get out.
[22:15]	* Phrine	peeks out from behind the pile to get a better look. That man has creepy eyes!
[22:16]	<Phrine>	"All work and no play makes Hilda a dull girl, Strangerman."
[22:19]	<HoodedFigure>	Are you's those vampires that's been the talk of the town lately?
[22:20]	* Phrine	gasps.
[22:20]	<Phrine>	"Wait...you mean there's MORE vampires?!"
[22:21]	* [huh]Leticia	wonders if it's really a good idea to let Phrine do the talking here.
[22:21]	<HoodedFigure>	Hmmm... Jude, Letty, and Phrine, might that be?
[22:22]	* Phrine	ducks back behind the boxes. Maybe that'll protect her from the MORE vampires that must obviously exist now!
[22:22]	* [Pyg]Judith	tenses even more. How does that man know?!
[22:22]	<Phrine>	"Oh...wait..."
[22:22]	* Phrine	stands back up. Well, that was silly.
[22:22]	* [huh]Leticia	prepares to cut the man's throat at the slightest provocation.
[22:23]	<Phrine>	"Yeah, no, I'm wrong. Probably. You're right. Probably."
[22:24]	* HoodedFigure	can tell a lot just by the way this one talks, and the way the others do not.
[22:25]	<HoodedFigure>	Is that so. Well, I'm an equal-opportunity retailer, vampire or otherwise. Can I interest you in a little trade?
[22:25]	* [huh]Leticia	decides that such a decision is best not left to Phrine.
[22:25]	<[huh]Leticia>	Of what sort?
[22:25]	* Phrine	shuffles a little closer.
[22:26]	<Phrine>	"Well...what're ya' sellin'?~"
[22:26]	* [huh]Leticia	steps into the light.
[22:27]	<HoodedFigure>	So she speaks. Which one might you be? Bah, it doesn't matter. Buy, sell, gamble, for anything you can think of - weapons, clothes, armor, artifacts, in-form-at-ion~...
[22:28]	* Merchant	throws a plain cloth over the table, snaps his fingers, and then throws it aside dramatically, revealing a plethora of weapons and fancy looking nick-nacks.
[22:28]	<Merchant>	Eh-ehehehehe... Have a look around, if'n you will.
[22:30]	* Phrine	peers over the wares. How pretty. She takes out her revolver and compares it to the other weapons for sale.
[22:31]	<[huh]Leticia>	Do you deal in simple money, or... other commodities?
[22:31]	* [Pyg]Judith	had stepped out of her hidey hole and joined up with the rest of the group.
[22:32]	<Merchant>	Anything you can think of, love. You got somethin' you want to sell or trade, I'll take it into consideration.
[22:32]	* Phrine	scratches her chin.
[22:32]	* Merchant	hands Phrine a list.
[22:33]	<Phrine>	"Oh? Paperlist, good idea."
[22:33]	* Phrine	shows the others the list.
[22:33]	<Merchant>	Here ya go, sweetcheeks, it's my catalogue. Makes browsing a tidbit easier, eh?
[22:34]	* Phrine	rubs her cheek, then licks her finger. Her cheeks aren't THAT sweet...
[22:35]	<Merchant>	If yer need any in-from-ate-ion about my wares, feel free to pop a question.
[22:36]	* Phrine	sits down on a barrel and reads over the list, motioning her companions to join her.
[22:36]	<Phrine>	"Some-a this looks pretty important, girls."
[22:38]	<Merchant>	Oh, and uh, just a word of advice. If'n you're goin' into the castle, which I know ya are, you might want this here whistle to call up the boatman to skirt y'all inside it, all quiet like. There's a moat right out here, y'see? And I don't think any of you vampire-types are too keen on swimmin'. Heh, if'n you were, you ought not anyway.
[22:40]	<[Pyg]Judith>	And we're to trust this boatman, no question?
[22:42]	<Merchant>	Feh, what can you do? You need the old fellow, don't you? Else you wanner go on back around and take your chances with the big girl...
[22:44]	* Merchant	pulls out a very plain looking flute from his drawer. It's covered in dust...
[22:44]	<Merchant>	I'll let it go for... oh, say, six Gold?
[22:49]	* Phrine	looks at the guns on the table, then the one she herself has.
[22:49]	* [huh]Leticia	looks at Judith.
[22:49]	<Phrine>	"...Mine's bigger..."
[22:49]	<[huh]Leticia>	Split the cost?
[22:50]	* [Pyg]Judith	nods.
[22:51]	<[huh]Leticia>	We'll take it.
[22:53]	* Merchant	hands Phrine the 'flute' and takes his cash.
[22:53]	<Merchant>	Good deal, then.
[22:54]	* [huh]Leticia	puts down her two gold bits.
[22:55]	* Phrine	rummages around in her backpackcase for another pair of gold coins. She totally forgot they were in there! How convenient!
[22:55]	* [Pyg]Judith	fishes a pouch on her waist for her share of the payment, putting it down on the table.
[22:57]	* Phrine	peruses over the table of wears. Sure is an awful lot of stuff here...
[22:58]	<Merchant>	Anything else?
[22:59]	* [huh]Leticia	picks up the ring.
[22:59]	<[huh]Leticia>	What's this?
[22:59]	* Phrine	looks as some of the nice outfits on the table, then down at her ratty clothes, with have ever been little better than tan undergarments.
[23:00]	<Merchant>	Ah, a keen eye, on this one. It makes you so powerful that it renders your enemy's defense to nothing - at the cost of your own, that is.
[23:01]	<[huh]Leticia>	A magic ring... or so you say.
[23:02]	<Merchant>	With great power comes a great price. And this one's is twelve Gold. What say you?
[23:03]	* Phrine	really wants some new clothes. Something a bit more...decent. And colorful, that too.
[23:08]	* Phrine	weighs her options. A maid uniform? Well that's just silly, who ever heard of maids fighting? Some...China-girl dress? Whatever it is, you wouldn't be able to move around in it!
[23:09]	* Phrine	...that bloody cape looks pretty cool and intimidating, but...well, that't not really new clothes. Armor...? Flying might be a problem, then...
[23:10]	* Phrine	simply casts a confused look at the armor-plated bikini and frilly-frilly gothic dress.
[23:11]	<[huh]Leticia>	Twelve... even for something such as this... can you go lower?
[23:13]	<Merchant>	Hmm... I'll drop it to eight, but you gotta buy something else or trade something with it. It's a pretty powerful ring, not really somethin' I'm too quick to part with, y'see?
[23:18]	<Merchant>	I'll help your pretty out while you're thinkin' it over.
[23:18]	* Merchant	steps over to Phrine.
[23:18]	<[huh]Leticia>	Alright.
[23:19]	<Merchant>	Lookin' for somethin', love?
[23:19]	* Phrine	rubs her hands, a little embarrassed actually.
[23:20]	<Phrine>	"Well, I'm...this is so stupid, we're supposed to be all serious and stuff, but...I'd really like some new clothes."
[23:20]	* Phrine	motions to her raggedy rags.
[23:20]	<Phrine>	"I've never really liked these much, I suppose..."
[23:21]	<Merchant>	Hurgh-hah. Want to go to the prom in style, eh? I think there's somethin' I can do about that...
[23:21]	<Phrine>	"I couldn't find anything I liked yet, though. No offense, Strangerman!"
[23:22]	<Phrine>	"...Do ya' have something with more...color, I guess?"
[23:22]	* Merchant	None taken, love. No profit in it, there isn't. Just what are you lookin' for, anyway?
[23:24]	* Phrine	tries to picture just what kind of nice thing she'd like to wear...
[23:26]	<Phrine>	"Maybe...red, a nice red-red. And blue, but not quite like a blue-blue, you know?"
[23:27]	<Phrine>	"Something...simple. Easy to move in, and it won't get stuck in nothin'...oh, and cute, too. That way I can trick people, hehe..."
[23:29]	<Merchant>	Hrrmmm....
[23:30]	<Merchant>	Step on over here.
[23:31]	<Phrine>	"...ooo?"
[23:31]	* Phrine	gets her hopes up. Does he really have something?!
[23:32]	* Merchant	pulls out some tape and measures Phrine up quite quickly.
[23:34]	<Merchant>	I see. I think I can work wit' that...
[23:34]	* [Pyg]Judith	twitches. You touch Phrine the wrong way and you're a dead man!
[23:38]	* Merchant	throws open a great steel wardrobe(really, it's like HEAT-defeating armor or something) and throws out a few things at random onto the table. A body suit with a bat print on it, a slim, red corset with feathers sticking out, and two long purple elbow gloves with a similar style.
[23:39]	<Merchant>	Just so you know, custom-mades cost extra.
[23:40]	* Merchant	lays a knife, some thread, and measuring tape on the table.
[23:40]	<Merchant>	Now, what can we do with this?
[23:40]	* Phrine	stares at the components. This...this is perfect! It's just like she imagined!
[23:41]	<Phrine>	"...I, I'll...I don't care about the, the money..."
[23:41]	<Merchant>	Is that so...
[23:41]	<Phrine>	"Well, I mean, I DO, but...not, really...what else would you use money for...?"
[23:42]	<Phrine>	"...You buy things you want~"
[23:42]	* Phrine	smiles. And does she ever want some new clothes.
[23:42]	<Merchant>	A wise one indeed, you are. What's the good of havin' all that change if it doesn't make you happy?
[23:44]	<Merchant>	You wantin' this to be a little cute, right? Here, put these on. We'll make a model o' you on the spot.
[23:45]	* Merchant	dances the blade across his fingers.
[23:45]	<[huh]Leticia>	How much for this crest?
[23:45]	* [huh]Leticia	asks offhandedly?
[23:45]	* Merchant	doesn't even turn, but still replies:
[23:48]	<Merchant>	That there is the symbol of ancient oriental martial artists. I got it in a gamble back a few years ago, Shanghai I think it was - They say that if you wear it into battle, you can take extra pain for a burst of strength. Another tic-for-tac deal, ain't it? I'll let ya keep it for eight Gold.
[23:48]	* Phrine	eyes the blade a little oddly, but you probably need knives to make nice clothes! She puts on the garments slowly, being very careful with them. She hasn't bought them yet, after all.
[23:48]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"You really think you'll need something like that, Letty?"
[23:49]	<[huh]Leticia>	The best defense lies in a strong offense, after all.
[23:50]	<Merchant>	Remember, you's goin' up against vampires. Pretty strong ones too, to me reckoning. What's a handful of gold going to do you any good when you're dead?
[23:54]	* Merchant	speaks to Phrine.
[23:54]	<Merchant>	Don't worry, lovely. I won't mar yer pretty pale skins no more than I would me self. Got a strict code against hurtin' the customers, see?
[23:56]	<[huh]Leticia>	Would you part with this and the ring for 14 gold?
[23:57]	<Merchant>	Fot-teen? This isn't a yard sale, miss. Seventeen for the two, and I will go no lower.
[23:58]	* Phrine	looks herself over. See definitely likes what she sees, though she can't quite see it all from here. And it's still kinda loose.
[23:59]	<[huh]Leticia>	...You said you'd sell the ring for eight, and the seal is eight. Isn't that sixteen?
[00:01]	<Merchant>	Indeed, but you bidded for fourteen. That's a bit of a stretch, don't you think? As such, I raise my price. You can take it or leave it, sweetheart.
[00:02]	<Phrine>	"It's a little loose, Strangerman. You can fix that, can't you?"
[00:02]	* Merchant	speaks to two at once with relative ease.
[00:03]	<Merchant>	Certainly.
[00:07]	* Merchant	Takes Phrine behind a shower curtain and pulls it out, obscuring them.
[00:08]	* Merchant	pokes his head out and says,
[00:08]	<Merchant>	Sorry. Policy to protect the privacy of the customer.
[00:08]	* Merchant	goes back to work.
[00:09]	<Merchant>	Now, let's see here, you say you want it to be cute, eh? Well, we'll just make you cute as a button, that we will...
[00:10]	* Merchant	cuts away parts of the clothes expertly, touching Phrine's skin just enough to feel the cold of the blade, but never piercing the skin.
[00:11]	<[huh]Leticia>	Sure, I'll take it.
[00:12]	* Merchant	hollers back,
[00:12]	<Merchant>	Seventeen gold! Drop it in the urn beside ye, one coin at a time, and take yer purchase.
[00:14]	* Phrine	shivers at the touch of steel. Nothing funny now, Strangerman. She's paying good money for this!
[00:15]	<Merchant>	Ain't got much to show up here, do ya? That's okay, biggest ain't always the best, and your size suits you rather charmingly. Let's make a diamond-like right here, not just for show but the wind'll feel great on yer chest, really cool your body, it will.
[00:16]	<Merchant>	Let's see... Collarbones are a lot more attractive than the ladies think, I believe it'll do you good if we just get rid of this part...
[00:22]	<Merchant>	We'll cut the fingers out of these gloves, too. Make it like one of those... oh, you know, what hip kids are wearin' these days...
[00:23]	<Merchant>	Suck it in, suck it in real tight now... Yah, there we go. Pull up these here feathers and...
[00:24]	* Merchant	throws the curtain aside, showing her to the others.
[00:24]	<Merchant>	How's she look?
[00:27]	* Phrine	twirls around and shows herself off.
[00:28]	* [huh]Leticia	mentally questions the morality of such a young girl in this kind of clothing, but says nothing aloud.
[00:31]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ooh! You look lovely, Phrine!"
[00:32]	<Merchant>	You bet your knickers you do. And even if ya don't, you'll have to take our word for it anyway. Can't see no reflections, right? Eheh, fancy being a model that never seen herself before.
[00:33]	* Phrine	was about to ask for a mirror, but Strangerman's comment reminded her that...oh yeah, vampires...
[00:33]	<Merchant>	Anyway Suze, the costs of material and custom surcharge adds up to fifteen Gold. I'll throw in a pair o' sunglasses, just 'cause I like you so much.
[00:34]	* [Pyg]Judith	suddenly remembers what they were at the castle for.
[00:34]	* Phrine	blushes from Judith's comment nonetheless. Even without a mirror, she gets a good look at herself. It's...it's...
[00:35]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Letty, we have an important task at hand, yes?"
[00:36]	* Phrine	runs up and flat-out hugs the merchant, even giving him a little peck on the cheek.
[00:36]	<Phrine>	"It's....it's perfect. It's beautiful! Thank you thank you!"
[00:36]	* Merchant	doesn't move, and doesn't have a cheek that you can tell. He's as cold as a corpse.
[00:37]	<Merchant>	Calm down, calm down, sweetheart. This is a family business, now.
[00:37]	<[huh]Leticia>	We do, Judith.
[00:40]	* Phrine	is more than a little weirded out by the lifeless feel of the man, but she's too overjoyed with her new raiment to care. She quickly snaps open her backpackcase and counts out fifteen coins, plunking them cheerfully into the urn.
[00:40]	<Merchant>	Eheheh... thank you.
[00:41]	* [huh]Leticia	tosses her seventeen in there with Phrine's.
[00:42]	<Merchant>	Funny you should mention that, girlie. I happen to have drawn out the entire castle me self. Might help in getting around it, wouldn't it?
[00:43]	* Merchant	shows a rolled-up map.
[00:44]	<Merchant>	Another thing. I'm pretty keen on the residents of this place, and me ears catch a few things... If you're so willin' to part with your golds, maybe I'll tell you something interesting.
[00:45]	* [Pyg]Judith	considers this option. This is probably one of the more beneficial offers from this shady merchant.
[00:48]	* Phrine	picks up the pair of "sun" glasses on the table. They sure don't look like sunglasses...
[00:48]	* Phrine	puts them on. Darkvision goggles? It doesn't change much in her opinion.
[00:54]	* Phrine	eyes a box of silver bullets for a while, but...she doesn't trust them.
[00:54]	<Merchant>	So? How 'bout it? I'll let you have it for five Gold. A steal, don't you think?
[00:56]	* Phrine	joins the important conversation, her business concluded for the moment.
[00:58]	<Phrine>	"So...what'd I miss?"
[00:59]	<Merchant>	Nothin' much, sweetheart. Your mates aren't much of the conversationative type, I reckon.
[01:00]	* Phrine	shrugs.
[01:00]	<Phrine>	"We're on a secret mission, or something. I don't take it seriously, so they take it seriously for me."
[01:01]	<Merchant>	Psh. Some secret. Well, if no one's gonna buy it, I might as well throw it away. Memorized the thing, y'see?
[01:01]	<[huh]Leticia>	I, personally, believe that a strong will and a strong body can carry me through anything that might be waiting. Judith may think otherwise, though.
[01:04]	<Merchant>	If that was true, you wouldn't need any of those tinkeries, now, would you? And you would have never came here in the first place either, isn't that right?
[01:06]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"How much for the information, then?"
[01:06]	<Merchant>	Depends on how much you spend.
[01:09]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Then how much are you willing to impart with 6 gold pieces?"
[01:10]	<Merchant>	Six? Not much. You're better off just goin' with a map, if that's the case. I'll tell you of one or two people. You'll lay down the chips before I speak another word, however.
[01:12]	* [Pyg]Judith	glances over at Leticia, as if asking for help about this. She's not used to this kind of mysterious merchant.
[01:13]	<[huh]Leticia>	Do you think it's worth it? I'll be willing to match any amount you put up.
[01:14]	<[huh]Leticia>	How much will twelve pieces get us?
[01:15]	<Merchant>	Twelve... I might just tell you somethin' interesting. Along with those other blokes I mentioned before.
[01:20]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston waits patiently, knitting a little silk scarf.
[01:20]	<Merchant>	Well? What do you say?
[01:22]	<[huh]Leticia>	I'll put in six, then.
[01:22]	<[huh]Leticia>	How much Judith will pay on top of that is up to her.
[01:24]	<[huh]Leticia>	Or Phrine, if she so desires.
[01:24]	* Merchant	taps the table with a bony finger, nodding for Letty to lay her money down. It really is a 'bony' finger, as no skin or flesh comes attached.
[01:24]	<Phrine>	"I guess...mmm..."
[01:25]	* [huh]Leticia	puts down 6 more pieces from her shrinking coinpurse.
[01:26]	<Merchant>	No one else?
[01:27]	* [Pyg]Judith	puts down 8 coins.
[01:27]	<Phrine>	"Mom, you sure we don't need the map?"
[01:28]	<Phrine>	"I mean, it'd be nice to know what's where...I get lost a lot..."
[01:29]	<[huh]Leticia>	Hm...
[01:29]	<[huh]Leticia>	How much for the map?
[01:29]	<Merchant>	Fourteen, eh? Your final bid, I reckon?
[01:29]	<Merchant>	Just five gold, miss.
[01:30]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Yes, it would, Phrine."
[01:31]	<Phrine>	"But...then again...this castle, it's...mmnn..."
[01:31]	<Phrine>	"...I still got lost in it, even then..."
[01:32]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Well, we haven't explored much of it yet, have we?"
[01:33]	<Phrine>	"Well, it's just that...I saw it, in, in a dream I had. This castle."
[01:33]	* [huh]Leticia	puts down five more coins.
[01:33]	* Phrine	looks down.
[01:34]	<[huh]Leticia>	And the map, then.
[01:34]	<Merchant>	Swell deal, strangers.
[01:34]	* Phrine	whispers into Jude's ear.
[01:34]	* Merchant	collects his cash, and hands the map to Judith.
[01:34]	<Phrine>	"...and, this castle looked just like our old castle. Just like it."
[01:34]	<Merchant>	[er, Letty]
[01:35]	<Merchant>	It's not drawn to scale, but it should get you around.
[01:36]	<Merchant>	Anyway, for your information...
[01:36]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Many details can change in a dream, Phrine."
[01:36]	* Phrine	nods, but it's kind of a halfways side-to-side nod too.
[01:37]	* Phrine	thinks... (Not in these dreams they don't...)
[01:37]	* [huh]Leticia	unrolls the map.
[01:37]	<[huh]Leticia>	And we are currently...
[01:37]	<Merchant>	Which one of you's Phrine? P - H - R - I - N - E? Somethin' like that?
[01:38]	* Phrine	raises her hand.
[01:38]	* [huh]Leticia	tries to figure the map.
[01:38]	<Merchant>	There's a woman in there waitin' for you. She knows you, or somethin'.
[01:39]	* [Pyg]Judith	's eyebrows knit slightly at this. Someone who knows Phrine?
[01:40]	* Phrine	scratches her chin. Really?
[01:40]	* [huh]Leticia	turns the map to the Merchant.
[01:40]	<Merchant>	Yeah, yeah. Like you's kin.
[01:40]	<[huh]Leticia>	Uh... where are we now?
[01:40]	<Phrine>	"...that doesn't seem to make much sense, though...who'd I know...?"
[01:41]	<Phrine>	"...I came from an orphanage...pretty sure Mom never turned anyone else..."
[01:41]	<Merchant>	What's this look like to you, sweetie? It certainly ain't no Guest House. We're in a cave.
[01:42]	<Merchant>	She was real crazy about it, y'know? The whole thing didn't make no sense to me neither, but I never really caught myself up in those affairs.
[01:43]	* Phrine	is just drawing a blank right now. If it's important, she'd remember, right? Unless she forgot...
[01:46]	<Phrine>	"I'll...try to remember that. Thanks Mr. Strangerman."
[01:46]	<Merchant>	One other thing. She's a scientist or something of the like, so mayhaps she's held up in that Laboratory there. Then, you can ask her y'self.
[01:50]	<Merchant>	Here's the other bit. A couple of vampire hunters walked right through the gates. A 'lil girl with a pistol, and some tall dude carryin' all things of the vampire killing sort. You better watch out for him.
[01:51]	* [huh]Leticia	lets out a low hiss.
[01:51]	* [Pyg]Judith	's memory is stirred. That description seems familiar.
[01:51]	* Phrine	can't recall people like that right now.
[01:54]	<Merchant>	Let me think...
[01:55]	<Merchant>	Right. If you wanna see the master, you'll have to get a key, first. I mean, they're not shaped like normal keys, see, they're like... nick-nacks and stuff. An eye, and... urr...
[01:58]	<Merchant>	Oh, one final thing. There's somethin' reeeeaaaaal interestin' for you two in the main hall. You can count on that.
[01:59]	* Merchant	makes eye contact with Judith and Leticia especially.
[02:01]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Is that so."
[02:01]	<Merchant>	That's all. If you ain't got no more business, then you's best be on your way.
[02:01]	<[huh]Leticia>	I can hardly wait to see it.
[02:02]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Okay, good evening to you then, sir merchant."
[02:03]	<Merchant>	Come back an-y-time...
[02:03]	* [Pyg]Judith	glances at the girls indicating that they ought to get going.
[02:03]	* Phrine	waves goodbye, then follows Judith to their next...wherever it is they're going.
[02:04]	* [huh]Leticia	keeps in stride with Judith.
[02:04]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston snaps awake, and finally starts leading.
[02:04]	<[huh]Leticia>	Next is... the moat. I guess we see if the flute really will work.
[02:14]	<[GM]Mary>	Saving state... |12:08 CAVERN 10.9%|








@@XxX
@@Session Eighteen: Styx
@@XxX
November 9
[21:15]	<[GM]Mary>	Loading state... |12:08 CAVERN 10.9%|
[21:16]	<[GM]Mary>	Continuing on, you reach an opening in the cave. It leads to the foggy haze outside, and interestingly, a river swashing about in a ring. It must be the castle's moat. Visibility is poor, as you can barely make out the castle above. From what you are able to observe, there's a waterfall beneath the castle entrance draining into the moat. There's no obvious entrance from here.
[21:19]	* Phrine	leans forwards and squints into the mist.
[21:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm...Dead end?"
[21:20]	<Phrine>	"...Not sure, umm...Are we where we were supposed to be being...?"
[21:20]	<[huh]Letty>	He mentioned a ferryman...
[21:20]	<Phrine>	"...what if it's a fairy-woman, though...?"
[21:20]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh, right."
[21:21]	* Phrine	whispers to herself.
[21:23]	* Phrine	can't resist trying to look herself over again now that they're out of the cave. Her new outfit, it's just too cute for her! Can't see much in this fog, though.
[21:27]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"So are we supposed to just crouch and wait for the wind or something to pick us up?"
[21:27]	<Phrine>	"I'm hearing water n' stuff. That's probably the right thing to hear."
[21:28]	* Phrine	pulls out that rusty old flute and twirls it like a baton.
[21:28]	<Phrine>	"I mean...we didn't really buy this for not just nothing, did we?"
[21:31]	<[huh]Letty>	I would hope not. Can you play it?
[21:33]	* Phrine	blows into the wrong end of the flute. It tastes pretty bad.
[21:33]	<Phrine>	"Mmm...isn't working..."
[21:33]	* Phrine	hands it off to Letty.
[21:35]	<[huh]Letty>	Hm...
[21:35]	* [huh]Letty	examines the tool.
[21:36]	<[GM]Mary>	It's plain and cheap looking. Nothing special, though nothing wrong with it either.
[21:36]	* Phrine	listlessly glides over closer to the water.
[21:36]	<Phrine>	"Hhmm, that's nice~..."
[21:38]	* [huh]Letty	gives it a clear blow.
[21:38]	<[GM]Mary>	The flute squeals. Moments later, nothing happens.
[21:39]	* Phrine	crouches down next to the moat like a curious kitty. Hello, ring of not-fire. Doing alright? That's nice.
[21:39]	<[huh]Letty>	Was it really junk after all?
[21:40]	<Phrine>	"You know...If I were a ferry fairy, I'd like to hear a song on my flute, not just dumb notes..."
[21:40]	<[huh]Letty>	Alas, I can't play it that well...
[21:41]	<[GM]Mary>	A dim lantern light becomes distantly visible from the opening. It's traveling to your location.
[21:41]	* Phrine	looks into the light.
[21:42]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh, does that mean it worked?"
[21:42]	<[huh]Letty>	Oh? I guess someone is coming.
[21:42]	* Phrine	is thus enraptured by the shiny thing. Oooo...
[21:43]	* [Pyg]Judith	grabs hold of Phrine's shoulders, just in case she falls into the water to pursue the light.
[21:43]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What if it's a patrol?"
[21:44]	* Phrine	shrugs.
[21:44]	<Phrine>	"What if it's not~?"
[21:45]	<[huh]Letty>	If it is, we'll kill them and move on.
[21:45]	<Phrine>	"Yeah, that."
[21:46]	<[GM]Mary>	A few minutes later, the light arrives, along with a canopied boat manned by a thin, robe-and-hooded figure. He tosses a rope out to you.
[21:47]	<[huh]Letty>	Hail, stranger. Are you the ferryman?
[21:50]	* Phrine	studies the light. Nice light. Not very fun though now that the mystery's gone.
[21:53]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I don't know if he's in the mood for chatting, Letty."
[21:53]	<[GM]Mary>	The man says nothing, only bringing the boat to a halt near the mouth of the cave.
[21:55]	<[GM]Mary>	The boat may have once been a fishing boat large enough for half a dozen to cast nets and fishing poles out on a nearby river or lake, spacious enough for the three of you along with the ferrier to stand comfortably.
[21:55]	* [huh]Letty	boards
[21:56]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston climbs on, hanging himself upside-down from the boat's little roof.
[21:57]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks back at her companions with a look that seems to say it's all right.
[21:57]	* [Pyg]Judith	climbs aboard.
[21:59]	<Oarsman>	...
[22:19]	* [GM]Phrine	is pulled aboard!
[22:19]	<[GM]Mary>	You disembark, following the motion of the moat. The oarsman uses a long pole to shove into the right direction, then an oar to correct and continue the course: towards the waterfall.
[22:20]	* [huh]Letty	looks at Judith.
[22:21]	* [Pyg]Judith	catches Letty's gaze. She tilts her head questioningly.
[22:21]	<[huh]Letty>	With the waterfall... is this man sane?
[22:22]	<Oarsman>	I'll guide you... to your destiny...
[22:23]	<[huh]Letty>	That did not help his case, by the way.
[22:25]	* Oarsman	doesn't look to either of you, only rows on slowly and steadily.
[22:26]	* Phrine	is pretty sure she's getting bored of spacing out. But talking to the herself in her head was so fun and enriching!
[22:27]	<Phrine>	"Oh, wait, wha...I, missed something, didn't I? A few somethings...?"
[22:29]	<[GM]Mary>	The sound of crushing water fills your ears as the ferry approaches the cascade. The oarsman uses a long hook to snag a handle near the torrent and pulls into it, protected by the ferry's roof.
[22:30]	* Phrine	claps her hands over her ears. Loud! Too loud!
[22:31]	<[GM]Mary>	The entrance beneath the castle is revealed, a narrow tunnel only a little larger than the boat. It's quite dark, and you can't make out much with the lantern light.
[22:32]	<[huh]Letty>	Oh? It seems this ferryman knows what he's doing.
[22:35]	<[GM]Mary>	Something hits the boat hard.
[22:36]	<Oarsman>	...
[22:37]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston climbs to the top of the roof, probably afraid of falling. Something hits the boat again.
[22:37]	<Phrine>	"That's, not a...good, sound...?"
[22:37]	<[huh]Letty>	It seems not.
[22:38]	<Oarsman>	You might want to take care of that...
[22:38]	* Phrine	stands on top of her seat reflexively.
[22:38]	<Phrine>	"Ya'know what that is?"
[22:39]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Phrine, you might fall off, be careful."
[22:41]	<[GM]Mary>	Whatever it is, it smashes the hull of the boat violently, shaking it back and forth in the tiny channel.
[22:41]	<Phrine>	"I...think we're going to be falling off anyways, Mom."
[22:42]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Gaaahh!"
[22:43]	<[huh]Letty>	Whatever it is, I'll give it a firm beating...
[22:45]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: A webbed red claw reaches from your side of the boat and tries to pull you overboard!
[22:46]	<[Pyg]Judith>	HEY!!
[22:46]	<Phrine>	"Gaaahn, falling!"
[22:46]	<[huh]Letty>	The hell?
[22:47]	* Phrine	squirms like the silly wiggly thing she is, and slips out of "its" grasp easily, though not without a big shock.
[22:48]	<Phrine>	"Back, thingy thing from the place!"
[22:48]	* Phrine	pulls out her revolver and attempts a retaliatory shot.
[22:48]	<[GM]Mary>	Letty & Judith: Two more of them jump straight out of the water and land themselves on the boat in a spectacular fashion, though these two are red and green. They're really weird humanoids that look like fish, with scales and fins and gills and stuff. They both try to stare at you with their fish heads, but their eyes are too far apart.
[22:49]	* [huh]Letty	takes a defensive stance.
[22:49]	<[huh]Letty>	Some sort of beastmen...
[22:49]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Tch, just small fry."
[22:49]	* Phrine	stops worrying about that one to worry about these ones instead.
[22:50]	<Phrine>	"Don't you mean fishmen? Or maybe fishwomen...?"
[22:50]	* [Pyg]Judith	lunges at one, her fist already already pulled back, ready to fire.
[22:50]	<[GM]Mary>	The red one starts to suck in air, and the other jumps towards you.
[22:52]	* [huh]Letty	closes the distance with the other, her hand quickly becoming clawed and flecked with her own blood.
[22:53]	* Phrine	wishes she could help, but with all this ruckus in such a small area she can't even hope to get a good shot.
[22:54]	<Phrine>	"Wait a seconds..."
[22:57]	* [huh]Letty	rakes through her prey's flesh, leaving it bleeding and poisoned on the floor.
[22:57]	* Phrine	flutters her wings. Oh yeah, she has those. She could probably do something with them. Trying to avoid the four combatants, she zooms out of the ferry and hovers a few meters away from the action, making for a much clearer shot.
[22:57]	* [Pyg]Judith	gets knocked back by the fishman before landing her hit.
[22:58]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ggrrggh! Bastard!!"
[22:58]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: The red merman surprises you, shooting you with a large fireball from its mouth. It hits you like a huge fist, except flaming and exploding.
[23:02]	* Oarsman	rows on, not really bothered by the commotion. He worries about his boat, though.
[23:03]	<[GM]Mary>	Another fishperson, a yellow one, jumps out of the water and lands on the boat. The green monster Letty took down has since disintegrated into fishbones.
[23:05]	<[GM]Mary>	The yellow one waves his butt at you.
[23:06]	* Phrine	is thus offended!
[23:07]	<Phrine>	"Hey, rudeman, that's a rude thing! I'ma be rude too, then!"
[23:08]	* Phrine	pulls the hammer of her revolver back dramatically, and hopes she actually knows how to hurt people with this bloody thing.
[23:11]	* [Pyg]Judith	gets back up on her feet, trying to maintain her balance on the rocking boat.
[23:11]	<[huh]Letty>	Jusith, are you hurt?
[23:11]	* Phrine	takes careful aim, gets bored of tries to take careful aim, and just uses VAMPIRE SKILLS to shoot in the rudemen's general direction. Bang, bang bang bang!
[23:12]	<Phrine>	"Raaah, I have furyyy!!"
[23:12]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Heh, we have a tough guy on board, it seems."
[23:13]	* [Pyg]Judith	flexes her hand before flicking it.
[23:13]	<[GM]Mary>	The tough guy isn't on board for very long, as he jumps off after getting shot. As for the yellow guy, he just gets shot.
[23:16]	* Phrine	's hand stings a little from the recoil. Wait, did she just...do useful things?! Gasp!
[23:16]	<[GM]Mary>	He falls to the deck and doesn't move. The ferrier continues to row.
[23:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Damn, where'd he go?"
[23:17]	<Oarsman>	Home.
[23:17]	* Phrine	is awestruck by the fact that she actually did something worth something for once. She just sort of flutters there in front of the ferry.
[23:18]	* [Pyg]Judith	breathes in and exhales.
[23:18]	<[GM]Mary>	You finally reach a small stone bank, equipped with only an unlit torch and ladder of iron bars leading up. The ferryman stops the boat here.
[23:18]	* [Pyg]Judith	feels a little disappointed that she couldn't teach that bastard fish head a lesson, but the less they have to deal with before getting to their objective, the better.
[23:19]	* Phrine	alights on the bank, still staring at her gun, muttering to herself.
[23:19]	<Phrine>	"...that...was me..."
[23:20]	<Oarsman>	This is your stop.
[23:21]	<Oarsman>	If destiny... eludes you, and one of you fall... Come back here.
[23:22]	* Oarsman	throws the corpse and bones overboard.
[23:26]	* Phrine	attempts to twirl her gun into her holster, which ends with her juggling the thing like a hot potato. Ruins the mood a little, but she doesn't really mind.
[23:26]	* [huh]Letty	disembarks. She turns and curtsies the Oarsman as best she can.
[23:26]	<Phrine>	"Oh, yeah...umm, thanks, Mr. Fairy. Hope I didn't shoot your boat..."
[23:27]	<Oarsman>	...
[23:27]	* [Pyg]Judith	wrinkles her eyebrows. Hmm, but we're already dead. She doesn't think of it too hard and disembarks from the boat.
[23:28]	<[GM]Mary>	The oarsman continues on, disappearing from sight. Charleston climbs up the ladder, clinging to the ceiling next to a hatch his spider muscles can't open.
[23:31]	* [huh]Letty	climbs up to the hatch and attempts to help open it.
[23:32]	<[GM]Mary>	The hatch opens. It's not locked or anything, it's just heavy.
[23:32]	* [huh]Letty	peers out of the hole.
[23:33]	<[GM]Mary>	You clear the opening to find yourself outside once again, yet well within reach of the castle. Looking around, you find yourself to be in a small square grass clearing, with vicious-looking thorned hedges surrounding you. The fog is still very thick, you can hardly see beyond fifteen feet and you can't see over the hedges at all.
[23:35]	* Phrine	squints again. Gah, not more no-seeing stuff again?
[23:36]	* [huh]Letty	gets up and out.
[23:37]	* Phrine	pokes her head out like some cute pink-haired gopher.
[23:39]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston crawls out of the manhole and skitters through a corner of your square, proving a narrow opening allowing you to escape your vegetative prison.
[23:40]	* Phrine	is getting fed up with all this fog. Time for some night-vision goggles!
[23:41]	* Phrine	puts on that pair of sunglasses. YEAH!
[23:42]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks up at the imposing structure.
[23:43]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"'S gonna be a long night, girls."
[23:44]	* Phrine	looks up as well.
[23:44]	<[huh]Letty>	We'd better get started, then.
[23:46]	<Phrine>	"...e'yup."
[23:47]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Any secret passages or something marked on the map?"
[23:48]	* Phrine	looks higher up, and points that way as well.
[23:48]	* [huh]Letty	checks it.
[23:49]	<Phrine>	"...Are we allowed to just go up...?"
[23:51]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I don't know, they may be expecting us. If they know their castle well enough, they might have even set up traps in those secret passages."
[23:52]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston returns to the private square, waiting at the exit.
[23:55]	* Phrine	asks Charleston what he thinks.
[23:55]	<Phrine>	"You gots a good plan, little guy?"
[23:55]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston skitters.
[23:56]	<[huh]Letty>	So, what do you two thing?
[23:56]	<Phrine>	"I think Charleston has a plan that is good."
[23:57]	<[GM]Mary>	Distantly, a bell tolls, stopping after the tenth 'dong'.
[00:01]	<[huh]Letty>	He does?
[00:01]	* [huh]Letty	looks at the spider.
[00:02]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston skitters, and turns around, ready to lead.
[00:02]	<Phrine>	"I feel like he's saying he bets my ass he does...or something."
[00:03]	<[huh]Letty>	...Indeed.
[00:03]	<Phrine>	"I dunno, I don't speak spider."
[00:03]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ten o'clock, huh?"
[00:10]	<Phrine>	"Well, anyways, I'ma go follow him. This place is boring."
[00:10]	* Phrine	is really to follow.
[00:11]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Letty, the map."
[00:13]	* [huh]Letty	hands Judith the map.
[00:14]	* [Pyg]Judith	unrolls it, checking where they are.
[00:16]	<[GM]Mary>	The map reveals you're in a maze, but nothing about how to reach its exits.
[00:17]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We should be...right here."
[00:18]	* [Pyg]Judith	doesn't like the words that appear at where her fingers are pointing.
[00:18]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Damn..."
[00:18]	* Phrine	scratches her head...
[00:18]	<Phrine>	"...Sheppy's castle didn't have a maze in it...though..."
[00:19]	<[huh]Letty>	I've alwaus disliked mazes...
[00:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Damn cattle probably got one made."
[00:20]	* [Pyg]Judith	brushes her hair just as a bat comes crawling out of it and begins circling above the group.
[00:21]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Letting loose one shouldn't be too bad. I'll get a good look of the maze from above."
[00:25]	<[GM]Mary>	Stepping out, you find only more of these forbidding thickets, following together in an orderly fashion one would only construct a traditional hedge maze. Charleston awaits, facing the direction you were not.
[00:27]	<[GM]Mary>	The spider leads you through the maze, carefully selecting its path. He brings you through several turns, navigating gaps you may not have seen before Charleston's disappearance through them.
[00:28]	<[GM]Mary>	As you progress, you become aware of several low, houndish growls nearby. Charleston shows no sign of fear, and continues on.
[00:28]	* Phrine	is quite impressed. Good thing she didn't really bet her ass on this, because she'd have probably lost it. Or...something. It probably works in some way, if not that way.
[00:28]	* [huh]Letty	tends to stay a bit closer to Judith than normal.
[00:29]	>Phrine<	Don't follow the spider! It spins a web of lies.
[00:29]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What the hell was that?"
[00:29]	* Phrine	perks an ear. Oh?
[00:29]	<[huh]Letty>	Dogs, I'd expect. Though with the fish and the spiders earlier...
[00:30]	<[GM]Mary>	The spider makes a turn, stops, and then doubles back in the opposite direction. The growls grow closer and closer, along with the rattle of chains.
[00:30]	<Phrine>	"Wait. No, no that's...that can't be right..."
[00:30]	* Phrine	stops in her tracks, shaking her head and looking stressed.
[00:31]	* [Pyg]Judith	scouts around with the bat to find the source of the growling.
[00:33]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: The bat can't see anything, though its echo-location reveals something big moving around in a square clearing. The echoes reflect more strongly in that spot, so the ground is probably made of stone or some other material.
[00:34]	* Phrine	looks at Charleston, the towards the unknown growls, and back around to Judith and Letty. She looks scared.
[00:34]	* [Pyg]Judith	gets the bat to come down and return to her.
[00:34]	<[GM]Mary>	The sound is so close that it's coming down as a dull roar. Charleston meets another split road, and is taking a moment to choose which path to follow. Above him, there's a sign of some sort, read in English.
[00:34]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Yeah, we got company out here. Keep an eye out."
[00:35]	* Phrine	tries to read the sign, and fails. It's been a while since she had to read English.
[00:36]	<[huh]Letty>	Of course I will.
[00:37]	<[GM]Mary>	The sign says simply: "CRY 'HAVOC', AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR"
[00:39]	<Phrine>	"Mom, can you read that?"
[00:40]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm, someone knows Shakespeare."
[00:42]	* Phrine	scooches in closer to Judith and whispers something in her ear.
[00:43]	<Phrine>	"Psst, Mom...Mom, I have a bad feeling again. 'Bout Charles...he's going the wrong way."
[00:43]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...Are you saying he's intentionally leading us the wrong way?"
[00:43]	* [Pyg]Judith	whispers in reply.
[00:45]	<[huh]Letty>	I don't know if he would... his master still has her promise with me...
[00:45]	<Phrine>	"I...think maybe probably...I hope I'm wrong, except...I never am with these..."
[00:45]	<Phrine>	"Was it...Was it a good promise?"
[00:46]	<[huh]Letty>	I don't think it'd be one she'd be too eager to break.
[00:46]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston decides on left, and quickly skitters through another series of twists and turns. The growling turns to roars, and you come face to face with a huge, three-headed... dog, or something. It's chained down to the center of a stone pedestal, so its growls, barks and roars never grow closer than they already are. Charleston walks around it, not really giving the beast any attention.
[00:47]	* Phrine	looks at the dog. Well, yeah, obviously this is the wrong way. Probably.
[00:48]	<Phrine>	"Hey, Charleston, I want my ass back! This has got to be the wrong way!"
[00:49]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"How could a human stand to have creatures like these? Don't they go out of their way to kill them usually?"
[00:50]	<[huh]Letty>	Usually.
[00:51]	<Phrine>	"Should we be afraid of it...?"
[00:51]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston stops next to the massive hound, turns around and skitters at Phrine, but you can't really hear him over the dogs' barking and pounding. The chains are stretched to their limits, but hold tight, despite his wearing away of the ground.
[00:51]	<[huh]Letty>	It should be safe... I think.
[00:53]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hmm, what if we let it out?"
[00:53]	* Phrine	looks at the chains curiously.
[00:53]	<[huh]Letty>	It might maul us.
[00:53]	<Phrine>	"You think that's why it's angry?"
[00:54]	* Phrine	is a problem solver! She will solve this problem with solutions!
[00:55]	<Phrine>	"Hey, hello, Mr. and/or Ms. Big Dog? Can you maybe hear me?"
[00:55]	* Kerberos	's claws slash the stone in its rage, trying to charge the group, but imprisoned by the chains around each neck.
[00:55]	* Kerberos	can hear Phrine, and responds with much ferocious growling and snapping of teeth.
[00:56]	* Phrine	is undeterred, but still makes her feet ready to push off into the sky in case bad things happen.
[00:58]	<Phrine>	"Good, so you can. You really shouldn't be so loud, though; it'll make everyone angry and want to kill each other. Wouldn't it be better to just, like...talk, and stuff?"
[00:58]	* Phrine	shrugs. Always worth a shot, right?
[00:58]	* [huh]Letty	hangs back doubtfully.
[00:59]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston continues past the monster, ascending a short flight of stone steps and halting at a door.
[01:00]	* Kerberos	roars more.
[01:01]	* Phrine	frowns. Not working? Maybe she's just not using the right words.
[01:03]	<Phrine>	"Hey, okay, okay, so you're angry! Maybe probably we can help with that! Is there something you want, then?"
[01:03]	* Kerberos	snaps his huge jaws at you.
[01:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Phrine, I think it's better that we leave it alone now."
[01:04]	<[huh]Letty>	Yes...
[01:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Piss it off anymore and it just might break free from its leash."
[01:05]	* Phrine	sighs and shakes her head. Oh well...can't win 'em all.
[01:05]	* [huh]Letty	simply circumvents the dog.
[01:06]	* [Pyg]Judith	follows after Leticia, gesturing at Phrine to follow.
[01:07]	* Phrine	contemplates, looking at the group, the dog(s?), and the way back into the maze.
[01:07]	* Kerberos	isn't very happy, following the trio as closely as he can, but just can't reach.
[01:09]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston skitters, and waits in front of the door. Can't open 'em, it seems.
[01:09]	* [huh]Letty	takes the honors.
[01:10]	* Phrine	makes a wing-assisted jump to the top of a nearby hedge, vainly trying to see anything in any direction.
[01:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We're just waltzing right in through the front?"
[01:12]	<[GM]Mary>	Proving Arani's direction to be true, you enter a great glass greenhouse protected well enough that the mist does not reach, and within you find a vast garden, so overflown with weird flowers and vegetation that it's practically its own jungle.
[01:13]	<Phrine>	"So what's inside there, then? Bad stuff?"
[01:13]	* Phrine	calls from her hedge perch outside.
[01:13]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston skitters in, climbs a tree, and disappears into the overgrowth.
[01:14]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Where's he going?"
[01:15]	<[GM]Mary>	A few tall trees build a canopy here, littering the grassy floor with overgrown vines, leaves, and fallen fruits, fruits of sorts that have never been seen before.
[01:21]	<[GM]Mary>	Indeed, a great deal of the garden contains unheard of plants - daisies whose much too large petals make them droop in sorrow, fat bananas that squeal in terror when approached too quickly, venus fly traps large enough to swallow a great dane whole, dandelions that grow steel spores sharp enough to be spread as caltrops,
[01:21]	<[GM]Mary>	pink ginkgo beans that smile and wink at you behind tiny little handsome mustaches, horsetail colonies that sway and neigh together, raspberry patches growing things that are definitely not raspberries...
[01:21]	<[GM]Mary>	While the "garden" is most certainly very curious, it is also most certainly very beautiful. Great roses and gorgeous flowers thrive in many sizes, creating a vibrant panorama of color, so vivid it's distinguishable even in the moonless night. The collage spares no senses,as a very pleasing aroma blankets the entire chamber, and the living leaves carry a tune certain to please any mortal ear.
[01:22]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What the hell kind of plants are these?"
[01:22]	<[huh]Letty>	What is this...
[01:23]	* Phrine	finally stops being an idiot and joins the other two. She finds this to be quite the happenin' party of a place. What life!
[01:23]	<Phrine>	"Woah..."
[01:24]	* [huh]Letty	is none too eager to approach any of the odd plants...
[01:24]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"That one looks like it has teeth!"
[01:25]	<Phrine>	"Ooo, lemme see~"
[01:25]	* Phrine	looks over Mom's shoulder.
[01:26]	* [Pyg]Judith	holds on to Phrine's hand.
[01:26]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Careful, don't get too close."
[01:27]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Might be like that dog outside."
[01:28]	<[huh]Letty>	This place... is too unnatural. How did these things even come to be?
[01:28]	<Phrine>	"...but I liked that dog...s? They just didn't like me."
[01:29]	<[huh]Letty>	Yes, the problem here is these might not like you either.
[01:29]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston can be found once again atop a great web built amongst the tree branches. He spins something over the web, and after a little effort, you can read in thickened silk: "GBYE".
[01:30]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I've heard stories from travelers about massive forests in the new wo--"
[01:30]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks up in time to see the spider finish its web.
[01:30]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"The hell's that supposed to mean?"
[01:31]	<Phrine>	"...G'bye, prolly kinda..."
[01:31]	* Phrine	says dejectedly.
[01:32]	<[GM]Mary>	Charleston skitters, and waves a leg at you.
[01:32]	* [huh]Letty	bows to the spider.
[01:32]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I know that, but...He's already done?"
[01:34]	<Phrine>	"Prolly kinda."
[01:35]	<[huh]Letty>	It does seem so.
[01:37]	<[huh]Letty>	...Can we move on? I can't say I feel entirely comfortable here.
[01:37]	<Phrine>	"Yeah, and Charles should get back to his mom anyways. She's probably getting worried."
[01:39]	* [Pyg]Judith	takes a look at the map again, seeing as how they don't seem to be in immediate danger.
[01:42]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Looks like this is one way into the castle."
[01:42]	* [Pyg]Judith	hands the map back to Letty.
[01:43]	<[huh]Letty>	Thank you.
[01:49]	<[GM]Mary>	Saving state... |16:16 VEGETATION ROOM 16.4%|








@@XxX
@@Session Nineteen: Riddle
@@XxX
November 28
00[23:42] <02[GM]Mary> Loading from slot 2... please wait... |12:08 CAVERN 11.1%|
00[23:55] <02[GM]Mary> Joule: after spending an hour trying to figure out the little machine you bought off the merchant, you find yourself rather alone, your party having forsaken you and the strange skeletal man gone, having taken his business elsewhere.
[23:57] <Joule> ...!
06[23:57] * Joule takes a look around.
[23:57] <Joule> Oh, damn. Just the time, eh? I wonder just what I have to do so they can actually see me for once.
00[23:59] <02[GM]Mary> You can either double back to the cavern's entrance, or learn how to swim and take your chances with the foggy moat.
06[23:59] * Joule takes a look at the device, the back of her hand, and turns to walk back.
00[00:00] <02[GM]Mary> You run into a familiar face as you walk by.
[00:00] <Joule> . o (Regular running water is usually conductive... if I'm unlucky it would hurt like hell. I can just come back if nothing else works.)
06[00:01] * %Arani is just sitting there, knitting a... web-scarf or something. She looks kinda anxious, teeter-tottering back and forth. She doesn't say anything as you approach.
06[00:02] * Joule walks over and stops in front, not much else to do yet.
06[00:03] * %Arani knits. teeters. Then totters.
[00:03] <Joule> Hello again. As eventful as usual, I presume.
06[00:04] * %Arani is startled, fumbling her knit.
[00:04] <09%Arani> Oh! Um, sorry, I didn't see you there...
[00:05] <09%Arani> W-what do you want? Weren't you going with your friends?
[00:05] <Joule> I was. Key word. What are you working on there?
06[00:05] * Joule crouches to take a look.
06[00:07] * %Arani holds it out. It's just a silk web pattern, forming a circle.
[00:07] <09%Arani> It's a Minerva Dreamcatcher! I'm gonna get some beads and stuff from the maids in the castle and make a dreamcatcher out of it. Cool, huh?
[00:08] <Joule> Certainly sounds it. You intend to use it?
[00:10] <09%Arani> Yeah. I'm gonna hang 'em up all over the place. Then, maybe, no more bad dreams...
06[00:10] * %Arani resumes her knitting.
06[00:10] * Joule shrugs.
[00:11] <09%Arani> What're you doing, anyway?
[00:12] <Joule> Trying to find another way in, the moat or whatever would probably be troublesome. Know one?
[00:13] <09%Arani> Hmm...
[00:14] <09%Arani> Well, there's an entrance in the graveyard, but I can't remember where. It's real spooky, ya know? Ghosts and stuff haunt the place. I don't go there if I don't have to.
[00:14] <Joule> You don't like ghosts?
[00:15] <09%Arani> Not the creepy ones.
[00:16] <Joule> Hm~? I wonder where I fall when it comes to that...
06[00:16] * Joule gets back up.
[00:17] <Joule> So which way is it? Then again, there was a gate, I think...
[00:17] <09%Arani> Also, I guess you could just go through the front door, but you gotta get Ruthie to lower the gate somehow. And then, you gotta impress her or she'll whack you into the stratosphere, or maybe just the woods or the moat if you're lucky.
[00:18] <09%Arani> Are you any good at riddles?
[00:19] <Joule> If they make any sense, maybe.
[00:19] <09%Arani> She loves those. If you know a good riddle, she'll let you through even though she's not supposed to.
[00:19] <Joule> Ah... I might know a couple. Where's that way then?
[00:20] <09%Arani> Just go out the way you came and head for the castle. Princeton can show you the way.
[00:20] <09%Arani> 14Skit, skit, skitter-skeet, skitter-skitter skeet!
06[00:21] * Joule takes a look around. Princeton?
00[00:22] <02[GM]Mary> A few moments later, a black and white stripped gran-daddy longlegs the size of a beagle skitters into view. Its leg span is enormous.
06[00:23] * %Arani gives Princeton orders in spider-speak.
[00:24] <09%Arani> 14Ski-skit!
00[00:24] <02[GM]Mary> Princeton skits.
[00:26] <09%Arani> He said he would be happy to help.
[00:26] <Joule> Well, thanks again.
[00:26] <09%Arani> Sure. Just, uh, tell Miss Leticia I'll be waiting...
[00:27] <Joule> You've made it much easier for me to exact my vengeance on them for leaving- oh, certainly.
06[00:27] * %Arani fidgets, and avoids eye contact for a moment.
[00:31] <09%Arani> Well, uh... good luck, I guess.
[00:32] <Joule> I'll let her know. Who knows, perhaps I will see you again also.
[00:34] <09%Arani> Looking forward to it...
[00:34] <Joule> Glad to know I'm not one of the creepy ones. Until then.
06[00:34] * Joule waves her hand, smiling slyly.
[00:35] <09%Arani> ?
06[00:36] * %Arani gives the people's eyebrow, but not intentionally. She goes back to whatever she was doing as Joule begins to depart.
06[00:36] * Joule shrugs as she goes off. Could've been worse.
00[00:41] <02[GM]Mary> Joule: Princeton leads you out of the cave and back to the trail. The mist seems to swallow the cavern behind you, you'd probably need the spider to lead you back. From here you have the choice of approaching the castle, turning off onto the path leading to the graveyard, or turning around and going home.
06[00:43] * Joule looks between the two entrances, considering. Eventually she walks towards the gate.
[00:43] <Joule> . o (Riddling, huh? I haven't had a good game of that in a while.)
00[00:44] <02[GM]Mary> The trail leads to the castle, surrounded by a moat and with its bridge drawn up. Before it is a stone plaque with words engraved.
06[00:45] * Joule stops to read. A little worn, but easy enough.
00[00:45] <02[GM]Mary> The plaque reads in English, "An offering to the drink saves them from entering by stink".
[00:47] <Joule> ...English. I wonder what I'm supposed to offer...
06[00:48] * Joule walks closer up, looking around to find anyone. Supposed to be someone here...
00[00:49] <02[GM]Mary> There's no one but a moat and a raised bridge. And Princeton, of course, who skitters quite idly behind the plaque.
06[00:50] * Joule follows Princeton with her gaze. Something there?
00[00:52] <02[GM]Mary> Nothing in particular but a single gold coin. Looks like it's your lucky day.
06[00:53] * Joule picks it up, taking a close look at it.
[00:53] <Joule> Lucky, lucky...
00[00:54] <02[GM]Mary> It's the same kind you used to pay the merchant for your strange teal device.
[00:55] <Joule> Hm... clear enough. Now for the next piece...
06[00:55] * Joule walks over to the edge, adjusting her glasses.
[00:58] <Joule> Just the edge, isn't it...
06[00:58] * Joule walks back to the plaque, looking at the front of it again.
[01:04] <Joule> The drink? A risk, but... oh hell. I can just take the graveyard if this doesn't work.
06[01:04] * Joule walks back to the edge, twirling the coin between her fingers.
[01:05] <Joule> I might have some more of these.
06[01:09] * Joule tosses the coin, spinning, into the water. There could always be worse ideas.
00[01:09] <02[GM]Mary> A loud crack rings from the other side of the moat, the building mist preventing identification by eye. Five seconds later, the bridge crashes down before you, making the ground quake beneath your feet.
[01:10] <Joule> Hm. The mechanisms in these things have always been pretty heavy.
00[01:11] <02[GM]Mary> The bridge settles after much commotion. It's about a hundred feet to the other side, where a large, yellow torch pierces the evening fog. Before that, however, is a tall figure standing about halfway across the bridge, casting a shadow from the flickering flame.
06[01:11] * Joule walks onto the bridge rather casually, adjusting her bowtie.
[01:13] <Joule> Evening. Would you rather I speak in English? I'm Prussian, though, so I'm afraid I have a bit of an accent.
00[01:20] <02[GM]Mary> As you approach, the figure becomes more clear. It's over two hundred centimeters tall, and carries a massive spiked club, one that our viewers at home may recognize as a tetsubo or kanabo. It seems to be a woman, as the figure's large, toned body sports breasts concealed by a white tape wrapped around her chest several times. She wears no blouse or jacket, even in the night's cold, but sports a pair of red breeches suspended across her shoulders. Long, ginger hair flows freely in the sudden wind.
00[01:20] <02[GM]Mary> Long, ginger hair flows freely in the sudden wind.
06[01:22] * Joule quickly nods her head in further greeting, coming to a stop a few meters in front of the figure.
[01:23] <09%GateGuard> Evening, stranger. Words only have one business here, accent or not.
[01:24] <Joule> Must be rather important if it's the only one. Might I confirm which?
06[01:26] * %GateGuard steps slowly up to the uninvited one, rolling her kanabo back and forth across her shoulder, sizing her up.
06[01:27] * Joule maintains her casual posture, smiling amicably.
[01:28] <09%GateGuard> Maybe. Though we do tell names, as well. I'm Ruth, keeper of the gate here at this castle. You're not getting through unless I let ya. What about you?
09[01:28] * GateGuard is now known as Ruth
[01:29] <Joule> I'm Dr. Q.T. Boltzmann, a theoretical and experimental physicist.
[01:29] <Joule> Call me Joule if it's easier.
[01:30] <09%Ruth> Missus Boltzmann, hmm...
[01:31] <09%Ruth> You don't look the type to put up a fight. If that's what you're here for, you better go home.
[01:31] <09%Ruth> Wait a sec...
[01:32] <Joule> Hm?
06[01:32] * %Ruth grabs Joule by the chin, and pries her mouth open with two fingers.
06[01:32] * %Ruth pulls Joule up more closely, inspecting her canines.
[01:32] <Joule> !
[01:33] <09%Ruth> Hmm...
[01:33] <09%Ruth> Nope, you don't look like no vampire I've ever seen. On the plus side, though, your mouth is quite free from cavities...
06[01:34] * %Ruth holds Joule by the jaw, looking for cavities.
[01:34] <09%Ruth> Oh, wait... Here's one.
06[01:35] * %Ruth grabs a tooth in the very back of Joule's mouth.
06[01:35] * Joule 's eyes widen a bit while she waits to se what Ruth intends to do.
[01:35] <09%Ruth> Ya want me to fix that for ya? 'Cause the healthcare really stinks around here. I can make it quick, if ya want.
[01:36] <Joule> I'll let you try, but I don't know how successful you'll be...
06[01:38] * Joule 's voice, despite intention, is muffled beyond coherence.
[01:38] <09%Ruth> Huh? What?
[01:39] <09%Ruth> Was that a "yes"?
06[01:39] * Joule just shrugs.
06[01:39] * %Ruth still hasn't released Joule's tooth or jaw.
[01:39] <09%Ruth> Ya don't know? Why the hell not?
06[01:40] * Joule just half-closes her eyes, rolling them.
06[01:41] * %Ruth shakes Joule by the jaw.
[01:41] <09%Ruth> Hey, don't do that! That's rude. And I'm doin' this for your benefit.
[01:42] <Joule> Mmm!
06[01:43] * Joule nods. Maybe humoring her will get this part over faster.
[01:43] <09%Ruth> Oh, you want it out?
06[01:44] * Joule shrugs, then nods.
[01:44] <09%Ruth> Alright, hold still!
06[01:44] * %Ruth tears out Joule's wisdom tooth.
06[01:47] * Joule 's eyes go wide with the sudden pain.
[01:47] <Joule> !!!
06[01:48] * %Ruth holds it more closely, examining it.
[01:49] <09%Ruth> Hmm. Actually, I guess there aren't any cavities here. Sorry, my bad. Hey, you'd have to get it pulled later anyway, right? Better to get this stuff done ahead of time.
06[01:50] * Joule doesn't answer, bringing up her hand. The tooth disappears after a bolt of electricity connects it with her index finger.
[01:52] <Joule> No comment.
06[01:52] * Joule holds her cheek.
[01:52] <09%Ruth> See? It just disappeared. Brittle as could be. Probably saved you the trouble.
[01:53] <Joule> Well... you were saying?
[01:54] <09%Ruth> Oh, yeah. Right. So you ain't no vampire. I don't have any business with you.
[01:55] <Joule> ...It's really that simple?
[01:57] <Joule> Hm, still... you see, I'm hoping to pass, but as you said that's your field. If I want to do that, I first talk to you, right?
[01:59] <09%Ruth> You would, I reckon. But seein' as you have no business, and I ain't never heard of you, it's pretty a "get lost", or you'll be picking your teeth out of ass about half a kilo from here.
06[02:03] * %Ruth motions her kanabo, then points it to the forest.
[02:03] <Joule> Perhaps that is a bit hasty. There is something we both have now, but I think its expenditure would be better in some ways than in others.
[02:05] <09%Ruth> Huh?
[02:06] <Joule> You know. Think of it like this: All at once the longest, shortest, fastest and slowest.
[02:08] <09%Ruth> ...
06[02:08] * %Ruth 's face finally recognizes something.
[02:08] <09%Ruth> Oh, I see. So, you know the secret rule, huh? You trying me with a riddle?
[02:09] <Joule> Secret rule is the word for it? Hm.
[02:11] <09%Ruth> Hmm... I think I've heard this one before.
06[02:11] * %Ruth stands her kanabo down on the bridge and sits her elbow atop its end, perching her chin on a hand and thinking.
[02:18] <09%Ruth> Was it "The Day"?
06[02:20] * Joule shakes her head, saying nothing.
[02:21] <09%Ruth> Hmph. Well, try this one.
[02:22] <09%Ruth> "I have a dozen little knives, my hands are red and white. You can give me to your maiden, to make things all right."
06[02:25] * Joule holds her chin in her hand, thinking. Next time she sees a linguist she'll probably throttle him.
06[02:30] * Joule shrugs and shakes her head again.
[02:31] <Joule> I just keep thinking of clocks, and I doubt they're much help. So now?
[02:32] <09%Ruth> Nothing to do with clocks, riddler.
[02:32] <09%Ruth> Seeing as we've stalemated, we'll share the answers and try each other again. I'm interested in what riddles you have to tell.
[02:33] <Joule> Hm. Do you want me to say it first?
[02:33] <09%Ruth> My riddle is that of the Rose. Red and white petals are common amongst roses, and the "dozen little knives" is a term to describe the thorns that prick the unwary. And you can give 'em to your sweetheart to fix things up between you, right?
06[02:34] * Joule taps her head.
[02:35] <09%Ruth> Your riddle is old, that I know, but I can't seem to recall its answer. Will you spare me the time?
[02:35] <Joule> Tremendous analytics, little common sense. Mine was time; goes on endlessly, though you never have enough of it, and fleeting while you enjoy yourself but dragging when there is little to entertain.
[02:37] <09%Ruth> Hmm. I suppose I should have answered more closely "time of day" as that would be the object of your riddle. But no matter; try me again.
[02:38] <Joule> Hm...
[02:42] <09%Ruth> ?
[02:42] <Joule> Old, but perhaps... What can run, never walks; has a mouth, never talks; has a bed, never sleeps; has a head, never weeps?
[02:43] <09%Ruth> That is old. The answer is a river.
[02:44] <09%Ruth> If you can't answer this one, then the contest is over. here goes:
[02:48] <09%Ruth> "Light as a feather, there is nothing in it; the strongest man can't hold it for much more than a minute." Nor the strongest woman, I can confirm.
[02:49] <Joule> There is something that comes to mind... fire?
[02:51] <09%Ruth> Wrong.
06[02:51] * %Ruth grabs Joule by the throat and crushes her windpipe, lifting her off the ground.
[02:52] <Joule> I'm a physicist. Did you expect me to think in other terms?
[02:53]	<Joule>	Frankly, losing a fight of wits is what really stings... I oughta think of where I left that old imagination of mine. Ha!
[02:53]	<Ruth>	You oughta think about what's healthy for you.
[02:55]	<Joule>	Where's my mistake, then?
[02:55]	<Ruth>	Me.
[02:57]	* Ruth	tosses Joule in the air, and sends her flying with a professional batter's swing. Joule whistles through the air, and becomes a star in some lesser hemisphere's sky.
[02:59]	* Ruth	watches her go, yawns, then goes back to the bridge, drawing it back up again by hand.
[03:02]	* Joule	falls on the other side, fighting hard to keep from falling apart.
[03:03]	<[GM]Mary>	Joule: You're knocked clear across the moat, unable to locate yourself until you fall through the haze, landing into a thicket of trees. While the branches tear at your descent, they soften the blow the earth directly, eventually bringing you to the ground.
[03:04]	* Joule	sits back up, with a great deal of effort.
[03:06]	<[GM]Mary>	You're not too far from the trail. Just about five hundred meters away from the bridge.
[03:07]	* Joule	stands back up, absorbing heat and electricity to regain her bearings and get back to her original state.
[03:07]	<Joule>	Ow, my pride.
[03:08]	<Joule>	If this happens again I'll have to think more.
[03:08]	* Joule	jogs back to the trail, heading for the other entrance. No point in trying again, is there?
[03:11]	<[GM]Mary>	Following the waning trail that branchings from the castle's route, you stumble upon a smoky graveyard, complete with withered weeds, dusky earth, and some headstones so worn that they're rendered illegible.
[03:11]	* Joule	prepares herself for attack, muttering natural laws under her breath like they were incantations.
[03:14]	<Joule>	Cold here, isn't it...
[03:14]	<Joule>	Dammit, why'd I have to remember a better one right damn now?!
[03:14]	* Joule	scratches her head in exasperation.
[03:14]	<Joule>	Eh, best forget about that. Whatever.
[03:15]	<[GM]Mary>	This is all that is clear in the haze, at least; beyond, your eyes catch the sight of light, burning dim and yellow. The glow lasts for only a few moments, disappearing then reappearing seconds later.
[03:16]	<Joule>	Hm...
[03:17]	<[GM]Mary>	There's something here in the graveyard, aside from the wandering wisp.
[03:17]	<Joule>	. o (Last time I saw something like that I almost went to Hell. No problem in following it again, eh?)
[03:17]	* Joule	approaches, doing her best to make little noise as she does so.
[03:18]	<[GM]Mary>	The presence is definitely supernatural. Due to your paranormal sensitivity and makeup, the disturbance is clear: There's a ghost nearby, or perhaps a series of restless spirits. Whatever it is, it's like you and off its rocker.
[03:20]	* Joule	starts charging power, her irises beginning to glow.
[03:20]	<Joule>	. o (So, how to deal with this one? Talk to provoke approach, try to avoid...?)
[03:22]	* Joule	looks around. Where'd the damn thing go?
[03:23]	<Joule>	. o (Wait. That machine!)
[03:24]	* Joule	forgets everything in making sure the device she got is fine, and looks around again after confirming it is.
[03:24]	<Joule>	So... where was I? Oh, yeah...
[03:24]	* Joule	goes back to preparing for the thing while continuing to walk through the graveyard.
[03:25]	<[GM]Mary>	You happen upon the mentioned: A subdued-looking young girl with her arms and legs chained in bondage. They're broken, but their apparitional shake rings quite clearly in your ears.
[03:26]	<Joule>	...Hm? You? Who are you?
[03:26]	* Joule	addresses the spirit cautiously, not going too near it just yet.
[03:29]	* RestlessSpirit	glances at Joule, then looks away. She walks through the graveyard, dragging her chains.
[03:29]	* Joule	follows her, addressing her again.
[03:30]	<Joule>	Little lady, you should undersand I could use an answer even if it isn't the right one. Who are you?
[03:32]	* RestlessSpirit	stops, looks at Joule, makes sure she's following, and continues through the yard.
[03:33]	* Joule	continues on in silence, but looks a little annoyed at being ignored.
[03:34]	<[GM]Mary>	The casper leads you through the graveyard, then stops and descends through a large footstone. It's chains rattle as each link is pulled through it. She disappears.
[03:35]	* Joule	follows, still on her guard. Whatever it is is here, probably.
[03:38]	* Joule	stops at the footstone. So... now what?
[03:38]	* Joule	bends down to try and read it.
[03:38]	<[GM]Mary>	It reads simply, "ALICE 1810-1830". Oddly, the stone is much more pristine than the surrounding trappings of the dead; it shows no signs of erosion or even a speck of dust.
[03:40]	<Joule>	...Alice, eh? Turns out even other ghosts are younger than me. That band I joined really is unique, if impressions are to be believed...
[03:47]	* Joule	digs into the dirt right around the stone with her foot. Something's here, at least.
[03:49]	<[GM]Mary>	There is. Shifting your weight against the stone, it's obvious that it can be moved.
[03:49]	* Joule	crouches down, sliding it off its current location.
[03:52]	<Joule>	. o (Seems like this was just waiting for someone, wasn't it?)
[03:52]	<[GM]Mary>	Removing the footstone reveals a hole. A narrow, black hole whose darkness is impenatrable by the sharpest night eye.
[03:55]	* Joule	reaches in, but then decides that'll accomplish little and tries lowering herself in. Slowly, so as to not lift up her skirt or muss up something that'll take a second to fix.
[03:58]	<[GM]Mary>	Down, down, down, you plummet deep into enveloping darkness. Something nauseating comes over you, and before you know it, you find yourselves among small sticks, dry leaves, and damp bones, as you awaken in a dark crypt.
[03:58]	<Joule>	. o (...Poetic.)
[03:59]	* Joule	stands up, doing her best to see in the low light.
[04:00]	<[GM]Alice>	...
[04:01]	* [GM]Alice	is standing before Joule. She blinks twice.
[04:02]	<Joule>	Ah, you again. Now that you've taken me here, perhaps you can answer that question of mine?
[04:02]	<[GM]Alice>	?
[04:04]	<Joule>	Who are you? Why not start there.
[04:04]	<Joule>	I'll tell you my name and everything, don't you know.
[04:05]	* [GM]Alice	curtsies.
[04:05]	<[GM]Alice>	Alice.
[04:05]	* Joule	returns the gesture.
[04:05]	<Joule>	Q.T. or Joule, whichever you prefer.
[04:06]	<[GM]Alice>	Jewel...
[04:07]	<Joule>	What is it, Alice?
[04:08]	* Joule	leans against the wall of the crypt, talking as if this happens every Thursday.
[04:08]	<[GM]Alice>	What is, "what"?
[04:11]	<Joule>	That's a circular question, Alice. But to move on, why did you lead me here? Seemed quite deliberate, from my perspective.
[04:11]	<[GM]Alice>	You wanted in.
[04:12]	<Joule>	I... what?
[04:12]	<[GM]Alice>	Did you not?
[04:14]	<Joule>	I don't know what you mean by 'in', and I don't know what's inside either. What do you intend to do?
[04:15]	<[GM]Alice>	Nothing. You wanted inside the castle. I have led you. Is this difficult to understand?
[04:16]	* [GM]Alice	cocks her head, very awkwardly as her expression does not change in the slightest.
[04:16]	<Joule>	Not when you successfully explain it. So this is a way in?
[04:18]	<[GM]Alice>	It is.
[04:18]	<Joule>	Thanks then. Should I follow you?
[04:19]	<[GM]Alice>	...
[04:20]	* [GM]Alice	turns around, leading Joule down a path.
[04:20]	<[GM]Mary>	The sepulcher runs deep and dank, the way of those still living being low and narrow, a valley through the halls of the dead. Many graves lie open with their dead missing, yet their offerings still intact.
[04:21]	* Joule	follows Alice quietly, saying nothing the whole while.
[04:21]	<[GM]Mary>	There are two ways to follow: the most obvious being the marked path upstairs, the other following the mausoleum's desecrations. Alice points you to the direction of the former.
[04:22]	* Joule	moves in the indicated direction, but keeps her guard up just in case.
[04:22]	<[GM]Alice>	I cannot lead you beyond here.
[04:23]	<Joule>	...And what makes for that?
[04:23]	<[GM]Alice>	My chains are bound to this place, and not to you.
[04:23]	<Joule>	Is it alright for me to ask why?
[04:24]	<[GM]Alice>	It is fine.
[04:25]	<Joule>	If that stone is to be believed, you transcended your physical form ten years after I did and... well, you haven't moved on either, but bound... why is it?
[04:25]	* [GM]Alice	shrugs.
[04:25]	<[GM]Alice>	My chains keep me here. That is all I know.
[04:26]	<Joule>	Well, then I'll thank you for your help. I hope that changes... eventually.
[04:27]	* [GM]Alice	bows, and steps away, fading into the darkness.
[04:28]	* Joule	takes the indicated path. Strange...
[04:42]	<[GM]Mary>	Saving state to slot 2... |22:30 MAIN HALL 25.2%|








@@XxX
@@Session Twenty: Alure
@@XxX
December 21
[21:17]	<Phrine>	"...Umm... I think I forgot to remember to forget something unimportant..."
[21:30]	<[GM]Mary>	ahem
[21:30]	<[GM]Mary>	Meanwhile, in the Hall of Evil!
[21:30]	<Shepard>	WHAT IS A MAN?
[21:30]	* Phrine	prances up to Shepard on his throne of gold and skulls.
[21:31]	<Phrine>	"A man is a guy!"
[21:31]	<Shepard>	Yes. a man is a guy. Do you want to be the guy?
[21:31]	<Shepard>	Do you!?
[21:32]	<Phrine>	"Uuumm...can I be The Girl? I don't think I can be a guy."
[21:33]	* [huh]Letty	lazes around in a corner with a rather bemused expression.
[21:34]	* Phrine	looks down and pokes at her groin innocently.
[21:34]	<Phrine>	"...don't have the right parts, not really..."
[21:34]	<Phrine>	"That'd be weird."
[21:34]	* Shepard	screws up his expression to something akin to questionable disgust.
[21:34]	<Shepard>	I don't think you have what it takes to be The Girl.
[21:34]	* Phrine	shrugs.
[21:35]	<Phrine>	"Nah, prolly not~"
[21:35]	<Shepard>	Leticia's been The Girl. She can tell you.
[21:35]	<Phrine>	"Ooo~..."
[21:35]	* Phrine	slides over to Letty.
[21:36]	<Phrine>	"He~ey, Letty? What's it like to be The Girl~?"
[21:36]	* [huh]Letty	flashes Shepard the "don't drag me into this" look, but sighs.
[21:36]	<[huh]Letty>	It's great, best time of my life.
[21:36]	* Shepard	nyo ho hos
[21:36]	* [huh]Letty	stretches nonchalantly.
[21:37]	<Phrine>	"What's that supposed to mean? The best is like... really vauge and stuff..."
[21:39]	<[huh]Letty>	It's the best you'll get from such a vague question as "what's it like".
[21:40]	* Phrine	sighs and shrugs.
[21:41]	<Phrine>	"S'what I get for pretending like I didn't know it was a euphemism for sex... M'not an idiot..."
[21:43]	<[huh]Letty>	No, now, I never said you were.
[21:44]	<[huh]Letty>	You are, but I never said it.
[21:45]	* Phrine	smiles and sits down in front of Letty.
[21:45]	<Phrine>	"That's nice of you~"
[21:45]	<[Mry]Vampire>	I'm the worst recurring villain ever.
[21:45]	* [Mry]Vampire	cut him/herself
[21:46]	<Phrine>	"At least you're reoccurring, Mr. Genericpire."
[21:46]	<Phrine>	"I didn't even get to be in any published works!"
[21:46]	<[huh]Letty>	You become jaded after living 500 years or so, childe.
[21:47]	* Phrine	cannote see the Olde Englishe Extrae e!
[21:47]	* [huh]Letty	is fine with that.
[21:47]	<[Mry]Vampire>	I did find some more work, but it was in a rapefic. The things I do for love...
[21:48]	* [Mry]Vampire	cries to him/herself
[21:48]	<Phrine>	"...Could always get some tips from Letty here, y'know?"
[21:48]	* Phrine	points to her.
[21:48]	<Phrine>	"...She's The Girl!"
[21:48]	<[huh]Letty>	What? Why's everyone pointing people to me for advice?
[21:49]	<[Mry]Vampire>	But, I'm a guy! It's my only memorable quality!
[21:49]	<Phrine>	"'Cause you're 500 years old...?"
[21:49]	<[Mry]Vampire>	Oh, no! it's that woman who wants to... I gotta go ;_;
[21:49]	<[huh]Letty>	Shep's older, and more serious about the vamp thing, though.
[21:50]	* Shepard	throws wine glasses everywhere while shouting
[21:51]	<Shepard>	But enough talk!
[21:52]	<[huh]Letty>	Isn't that all we do anyway?
[21:52]	<Shepard>	Shut up. It's your own goddamn fault.
[21:53]	* Shepard	does that teleport thing
[21:53]	<Phrine>	"...but...I like talking..."
---
@@Meanwhile, in Serious Business...
---
[21:58]	<[GM]Mary>	Loading state from slot 1... |22:30 VEGETATION ROOM 24.8%|
[22:01]	* Phrine	wanders around the house full of greens. Tra la la~...
[22:02]	<Phrine>	"Hmm hmm~... Hello funny pink flower."
[22:03]	<Phrine>	"Are you poisonous to vampires, or just humans~?"
[22:04]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: The flower sneezes, peppering you in pollen.
[22:05]	* Phrine	wrinkles her nose and makes a little cough.
[22:05]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ahh! Phrine what did you do?"
[22:06]	<Phrine>	"Ahoff, ahoff... Heehee, that was fun. Good thing I didn't tickle you, then..."
[22:06]	<[GM]Mary>	Letty: You notice some of the plants here have been tampered; a small harvest by someone's knife.
[22:08]	<[huh]Letty>	Someone's been harvesting these....
[22:09]	* [huh]Letty	inspects a cut stem.
[22:09]	* Phrine	brushes off her face and goes to stand by Judith.
[22:09]	<Phrine>	"Nothin, Mom~"
[22:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"That better not have made you sick or...something."
[22:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What are you looking at over there, Letty?"
[22:10]	* Phrine	isn't too worried. Stupid people don't get colds, she's heard.
[22:11]	<[huh]Letty>	Over here? Someone cut this plant with a knife, it looks like.
[22:13]	<[huh]Letty>	That probably means it's either beneficial or harmful.... or tasty.
[22:13]	<Phrine>	"Or expensive!"
[22:13]	* Phrine	is pretty sure poachers can poach things!
[22:15]	* Phrine	is no botanist, and she's seen gardens before. Okay, that's mostly a lie, but she's already bored.
[22:15]	* Phrine	looks around the room for exits and stuff.
[22:16]	* [huh]Letty	casts a glance at Judith.
[22:16]	<[huh]Letty>	Fancy trying one?
[22:18]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"These things? I don't know."
[22:19]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Shouldn't we get going?"
[22:19]	<[huh]Letty>	Yes, probably.
[22:20]	* [huh]Letty	cuts and pockets one of the fruits, just in case.
[22:20]	* Phrine	glances at the vines around her, and suddenly has a bad feeling about this!
[22:21]	<Phrine>	"Hey, hey girls? Don't, umm... don't touch them vines, k? Got one-a them bad feelings..."
[22:21]	<Phrine>	"I think they're alive n' stuff."
[22:24]	* Phrine	serious's the eff up. The vines are...everywhere. Even on the floors. And they feel rather devious to her for some reason.
[22:25]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Who the hell does gardening around there then?"
[22:25]	* Phrine	doesn't like this. She starts flying just to be safe.
[22:27]	<[huh]Letty>	Maybe we really should get moving...
[22:27]	<[huh]Letty>	Phrine, do you see an exit?
[22:29]	<Phrine>	"Umm...not, really...I don't think..."
[22:30]	* Phrine	just realized something about a hour after the fact or so.
[22:30]	<Phrine>	"Wait...my wings can fly?"
[22:32]	* Phrine	looks behind her. Oh, hello wings that are like four times bigger than they used to be. When did you get here?
[22:32]	* [Pyg]Judith	observes the area.
[22:33]	<Phrine>	"I really need to be more observant of my own body...I'll lose my head once it stops being attached."
[22:33]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Yeah, turning into bats might not be a good idea if there are carnivorous plants here."
[22:34]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: The undergrowth is so thick it's really hard to tell what's out there; you wouldn't be able to tell a tiger from ten feet away, much less a series of vines Phine's paranoid over.
[22:37]	* [huh]Letty	manages to step through without much trouble.
[22:37]	<[huh]Letty>	Need help, Judith?~
[22:45]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"S-sure."
[22:48]	* [Pyg]Judith	tries to reach for Letty's hand.
[22:48]	<[GM]Mary>	Leticia: on your way back, you disturb a vine, which turn out to be a series of vines, and they begin to fester and coil around your feet and legs. They're about an inch thick, noticably warm, and a little... wet?
[22:48]	<[huh]Letty>	....Oh damn. Judith, don't come near me.
[22:49]	* [huh]Letty	tries to claw at the vines.
[22:49]	<[GM]Mary>	In any case, they grow more restless by the second, and suddenly half a dozen spring from the bush to seize you!
[22:49]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Letty?"
[22:49]	<[huh]Letty>	Yah!
[22:49]	<Phrine>	"...Bwuh? Uh...oh...buggery..."
[22:49]	* Phrine	is afeared for friend's well-being!
[22:50]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Letty, hang on!"
[22:51]	* [huh]Letty	spins and manages to sever the vines that try to grapple her.
[22:51]	<[huh]Letty>	Tch... accursed plant...
[22:52]	* Phrine	flutters over closer to the other two, but slowly; lots of vines hanging from the ceiling, too.
[22:53]	<Phrine>	"Not good not good..."
[22:53]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: some of their friends come out to greet you.
[22:53]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: a huge flower opens up near the exit. It's got a girl in it!
[22:54]	* Phrine	notices a flower girl. But this isn't a wedding...!
[22:55]	<Phrine>	"...Maybe...not good...?"
[22:55]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ahh! What the hell?"
[22:56]	* Phrine	flutters over to the source, but keeps her distance. She doesn't want to be next!
[22:57]	<Phrine>	"Evening, Ms. Rosepetals. Or...I'm not sure, is that a rose? I'm a little behind on plantology. Sorry."
[22:58]	<[GM]Mary>	One VERY large rose bud unfolds about fifteen feet away, revealing a VERY nude girl rising from its center. She leans across her flowery chrysalis's great petals and inquires:
[22:59]	<AluraUne>	Who disturbs garden?
[23:00]	* Phrine	scratches her head, then points down there.
[23:01]	<Phrine>	"I guess...them. Not really me, I'm more up here. Except a flower sneezed at me. Is that bad?"
[23:01]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: The vines slip up your skirt and through your dress, wrestling at you inside your clothes. They sever away your skirt!
[23:02]	<AluraUne>	I have no problem with those who carry my children's children, but I do not appreciate their mutilators.
[23:04]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Ah! Hey, damn you!"
[23:05]	<[huh]Letty>	Ah...
[23:05]	* Phrine	speaks innocently over her shoulder.
[23:05]	<Phrine>	"Hey, Mom~? Keep it down, please, I'm making a new friend."
[23:05]	* AluraUne	puts a finger to her lips and asks:
[23:05]	* [huh]Letty	admires the scene for a guilty moment before rushing over to help.
[23:05]	<AluraUne>	Oh, but are you food? I can forgive a small sin for a greater good, of course.
[23:06]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Hey, at least tell these things to give me back my skirt!"
[23:07]	* AluraUne	looks upset.
[23:07]	<AluraUne>	So loud. The plants may appreciate your bellowing, but I do not.
[23:07]	* Phrine	shrugs.
[23:08]	<Phrine>	"Sorry, they have a hard time taking it easy. But they're nice girls; they're not mutilatorors or whatever."
[23:08]	* [Pyg]Judith	sneers at the creature. Oh, I'll give you more than a loud bellowing once I get down from here.
[23:09]	<Phrine>	"Hmm, food, though? I dunno, whaddya you eat?"
[23:11]	<AluraUne>	Usually human, usually male, but you'll do just fine, sweetheart. Come to me, and we'll begin...
[23:12]	* Phrine	is unsure.
[23:12]	<Phrine>	"Uumm, can you help us if I say yes...?"
[23:12]	* AluraUne	thinks on it.
[23:12]	<AluraUne>	Certainly.
[23:16]	* Phrine	thinks hard on it too. She's not THAT dense; male humans sounds pretty suggestive and lewd to her. Plus, vampires get fed on by something else? That's rather silly.
[23:18]	<Phrine>	"Just a sec; need to make sure Mom's doin' okay. Don't go nowheres, I'm trying to be a good girl~"
[23:18]	* [huh]Letty	helps Judith tear through the vines.
[23:20]	* [Pyg]Judith	struggles to free herself from the vines, pulling one wrapped around her wrists close enough to dart her head forward and snatch the vine in her teeth. She bites down, hard.
[23:20]	* AluraUne	doesn't seem to believe her. Two vines circle around Phrine, but gives her a wide birth while Alura sits with her arms crossed.
[23:20]	* Phrine	air-wanders over to the "battle" against the vines. She frowns.
[23:21]	<Phrine>	"Hey now! Mom, the what?!"
[23:21]	<Phrine>	"You're being un-respectful to our host!"
[23:23]	* AluraUne	's personal vines shoot forth to snatch Phrine as soon as she turns away, but in light of her comment, she stops just short from grabbing her and yanking her back.
[23:23]	* [Pyg]Judith	responds to Phrine with a muffled "What?"
[23:24]	* Phrine	fails to notice the vines around her. She moves down closer to Judith and tries to explain.
[23:26]	<Phrine>	"See that nice lady, that rose-girl over there? This's her home, and we're the guests. You don't eat people's plants in their own homes!"
[23:26]	* Phrine	thinks on that one.
[23:27]	* [Pyg]Judith	spits the vine out.
[23:27]	<Phrine>	"Actually, ya' don't eat plants in your own home. But whatever. She's nice and pretty and stuff."
[23:27]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"What kind of hostess tries to strip their guest of clothes?"
[23:28]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I'm not being treated with civility, it's only appropriate that I do the same!"
[23:28]	<Phrine>	"But, like...eyes for eyes makes a puddle of eye-juice, doesn't it? That's just gross."
[23:28]	* AluraUne	shakes her head disappointedly, in the distance.
[23:29]	* [huh]Letty	sighs.
[23:29]	<Phrine>	"Look, Mom; we've got problems, she's got problems; did you know someone's been mulitating her little flowers? That's just horrible! Look at how nice they all are!"
[23:30]	* [huh]Letty	feels a bit guilty...
[23:30]	* Phrine	puts on a serious face and looks into Jude's eyes.
[23:30]	<[huh]Letty>	In any case, can you tell her we're just passing through?
[23:32]	<Phrine>	"Look, I know we're here to finish what...HE, started. But we don't need to be like him. Otherwise everyone else'll come to get us in a castle one day."
[23:34]	<Phrine>	"Now, that nice lady there is kinda hungry. If I get her some food, I think she'll help us out. Is that all right?"
[23:34]	<[huh]Letty>	...depends on what she eats...
[23:34]	* [Pyg]Judith	sighs.
[23:37]	* AluraUne	is getting impatient. One of her vines give Phrine a hefty nudge.
[23:38]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"All right, but if our safety is compromised in anyway, know that I will do what it takes to get us out of here safely. I can't guarantee being gentle when that time comes."
[23:39]	* Phrine	nods and gives her a thumbs-up. It's silly, but there's a lot of conviction in it regardless.
[23:39]	<Phrine>	"K."
[23:41]	* Phrine	carefully moves back in front of Alura.
[23:41]	<Phrine>	��Sorry for makin� you wait, but� Well, us three are a team. And a team�s gotta be�stuff. Whatever. I�m bored of talking now.�
[23:41]	<AluraUne>	Your friends are very boring. Are you ready to come in, now?
[23:41]	* AluraUne	tilts her head, then smiles invitingly.
[23:42]	* Phrine	tilts her head the other way, and smiles back.
[23:43]	<Phrine>	�Yeah� Just, nothing too� funny. Normally I�m the one drinking people~�
[23:44]	<AluraUne>	Funny? Of course not, dearie~
[23:47]	* AluraUne	makes room for a second person in her huge flower and beckons Phrine to come in.
[23:50]	* Phrine	coasts in gently, folding her wings behind her. She blushes slightly.
[23:51]	<Phrine>	"...Hi. My name's Phrine. What's yours?"
[23:53]	<AluraUne>	Resplendent Aluration of the Seventeen Petal-walker Tribes. But you can just call me Alura~
[23:54]	* AluraUne	's arms reach over Phrine's shoulders, and pulls her close...
[23:55]	<[GM]Mary>	The rose petals close the two inside.
[00:03]	<[GM]Mary>	Observers may see some movement inside, but all sounds are muffled.
[00:05]	<[huh]Letty>	...Are you okay with this, Judith?
[00:07]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"If Phrine says there's no real danger at the moment, I'm inclined to believe her."
[00:09]	<[huh]Letty>	Well, I know there's no danger, but... I mean, you know what they're probably doing in there.
[00:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Uh, no...?"
[00:20]	<[huh]Letty>	Judith, my love, are you really that naive after a few centuries? I mean they seem like they're... how to put it...
[00:21]	<[huh]Letty>	Ah, but it's not my business what Phrine does. If it's alright with you, I suppose it's fine...
[00:24]	* [Pyg]Judith	feels that realization sink in.
[00:19]	<[GM]Mary>	Twenty minutes later...
[00:28]	* AluraUne	's great petals open once again, releasing Phrine from her inner confines. Phrine's noticeably wet, while Alura is noticeably more... endowed.
[00:29]	* Phrine	half-floats half-falls to the ground, and sort of sits there dazed for a while, her expression rather quizzical.
[00:29]	<AluraUne>	Ah~ Thank was wonderful, darling. I hope you'll come back again sometime~
[00:30]	* [Pyg]Judith	can't help but observe this sight with mild disapproval. Was there really no other way?
[00:30]	* Phrine	looks up at Alura with unfocused eyes and manages a weak smile.
[00:31]	<Phrine>	"Heh...Not too soon, I think. Tired... Really woozy here~..."
[00:31]	<[huh]Letty>	Did they really...
[00:32]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith & Leticia: When you come closer to Phrine, you notice she smells wonderful. Phrine can smell this too, but she's a little more used to it by now.
[00:32]	* Phrine	is definitely a lot paler and weaker after the...ordeal. A close observation might reveal a small trickle of blood under her arms.
[00:35]	<Phrine>	"That was...interesting..."
[00:36]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"So, are we free to go now?"
[00:37]	<[huh]Letty>	I'd hope so, after that...
[00:37]	* AluraUne	's joyful tone turns to a contemptuous one.
[00:38]	<AluraUne>	Indeed, I'll even allow you pilferer to go unpunished. Do not come back here until you learn some manners.
[00:38]	<AluraUne>	You'd do well to learn from this one.
[00:38]	* AluraUne	's vine pats Phrine's shoulder.
[00:38]	* [huh]Letty	feels rather abashed to have Phrine raised above her.
[00:38]	<[huh]Letty>	...
[00:39]	<Phrine>	"Always haaappy to helllp~"
[00:39]	* [huh]Letty	bows.
[00:39]	<[huh]Letty>	Indeed, I'm sorry for the trouble...
[00:39]	* Phrine	says in a rather drunken, spacey manner.
[00:42]	* Phrine	tries to stand back up, wobbles around for a little while, then falls back down.
[00:43]	<Phrine>	"Wheee~ Ooookay, hello ground, you're nice too. Head spinny, dizzy dizzy go round~..."
[00:43]	<[huh]Letty>	You might want to... help her, Judith...
[00:44]	* [huh]Letty	hefts up Phrine.
[00:44]	<[huh]Letty>	Right, here you go...
[00:46]	* Phrine	snuggles Letty in the nook of her shoulder.
[00:46]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Well, should we get going?"
[00:47]	* [huh]Letty	suddenly finds Phrine more endearing than ever before, but the feeling passes...
[00:47]	<[huh]Letty>	Y-yeah...
[00:50]	* Phrine	waves a shaky finger in Alura's direction.
[00:50]	<Phrine>	"Heey, hey, Ms. Alura? Juz wanidto azk you before we go...Umm, like...why, are, you here~?"
[00:51]	* AluraUne	smiles.
[00:51]	<AluraUne>	To grow Amors.
[00:52]	* Phrine	thinks that word might mean something to her.
[00:53]	<Phrine>	"Amors, amors, amoreys, a morays? No, wait...loves? Aww, that's real sweet~"
[00:54]	<AluraUne>	Heehee~ Come back sometime, and maybe I'll give you one once they bloom.
[00:54]	* [Pyg]Judith	scoffs to herself. Come back? I don't want to be here another day.
[00:55]	<Phrine>	"Thankee much~ Sorry I took so long, but I'm an idiot, anyways."
[00:55]	<[huh]Letty>	In any case, we really should go.
[00:56]	<AluraUne>	It was my pleasure. Farewell, Phrine~
[00:57]	* Phrine	waggles her fingertips back.
[00:58]	<Phrine>	"Farewell, Aloora~..."
[00:58]	* AluraUne	returns the gesture, then returns to her chrysalis.
[00:58]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Letty, the map."
[00:59]	<[huh]Letty>	Uh, could you...
[00:59]	* [huh]Letty	offers her Phrine.
[01:00]	<[GM]Mary>	The door's not far beyond Alura. There's some overgrowth over it, but not enough to stop you from entering.
[01:01]	* [Pyg]Judith	takes Phrine from Letty.
[01:01]	* [huh]Letty	pulls the map from her pocket.
[01:04]	<[huh]Letty>	Let's see...
[01:04]	* [huh]Letty	traces the paths with a finger.
[01:05]	* Phrine	drapes her arms around Judith's neck as she psuedo-piggybacks along for the ride.
[01:06]	<Phrine>	"Heehee~...Yours aren't as big as Alura's, Mom~"
[01:07]	* [Pyg]Judith	somehow finds that comment a little hurtful.
[01:07]	<[huh]Letty>	Up forward should be some stairs...
[01:07]	<[Pyg]Judith>	...Bah! They don't need to be, they'll just get in the way when I need to pummel someone.
[01:08]	<[huh]Letty>	And from there, looks like we can go anywhere we need to.
[01:08]	<[huh]Letty>	Oh, a bath house...
[01:09]	<Phrine>	"I could use one-a those...m'all sweaty now..."
[01:10]	<Phrine>	"Is that on the way to anyplace we should maybe care about?"
[01:10]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"But we're running out of time. Night won't last long, you know."
[01:11]	* Phrine	fails to see the logic in this.
[01:11]	<[huh]Letty>	True, I was just pointing it out...
[01:11]	* [huh]Letty	blushes a tad.
[01:11]	<Phrine>	"But we're INDOORS, Mom. Where's the sun?"
[01:12]	<[huh]Letty>	Throne room, clock tower, library, alchemical lab, armory...
[01:12]	<[huh]Letty>	The throne room is most likely, isn't it?
[01:13]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I'd prefer to leave as soon as we're finished. This place brings back bad memories."
[01:13]	<[huh]Letty>	True...
[01:15]	* Phrine	is too ignorant and blissful right now to remember that ignorance is bliss.
[01:16]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Lead the way, Letty"
[01:16]	* [huh]Letty	strides forward, to the main hall and its staircase.
[01:17]	<[GM]Mary>	You enter the main hall, a vastly tall and open portal to the rest of the castle. Its hallways and staircase are well decorated with paintings and sculptures.
[01:17]	<[GM]Mary>	One of immediate interest is a delicately painted statue depicting two women; an interesting depiction indeed, as it is unmistakably one of Judith and Leticia. They are both nude and caught in an embrace, kissing each other deeply. However, behind Leticia, there's an object in the stone Judith's hand; a silver khanjar knife dipped in holy poison, the curve of the blade poised to slice Letty in two.
[01:18]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"...The hell is this?"
[01:18]	* [huh]Letty	freezes in place, staring at the portrait, horrified.
[01:19]	* [Pyg]Judith	scrutinizes her statue self, not very pleases with that knife she's holding.
[01:19]	* Phrine	looks up. Oh...my, that's...awkward.
[01:19]	<[GM]Mary>	Leticia recognizes this weapon as the very same that slew her forty years ago. Beneath the sculpture, a stone tablet is engraved in Greek and English: "JUDITH KISS".
[01:20]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"I don't remember it being like this."
[01:21]	<[huh]Letty>	Let's go, Jude. There's nothing of importance here.
[01:22]	<[GM]Mary>	The statue stands as a nucleus, with hallways branching out in all directions like a star. A spiral staircase climbs upwards, as well as descend down below. The only obvious paths are the stairs up, the way to the dining room, the ingress underground, the path returning to the courtyard, and a strong steel door marked by two armored knights standing to each side. There are nine directions in all.
[01:23]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Where do you think he'll be?"
[01:25]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"He's already expecting us. Surely he won't be anywhere like, say, the throne room."
[01:27]	* [huh]Letty	points to the statue.
[01:27]	<[huh]Letty>	Seems like he's taunting us.
[01:28]	* Phrine	looks around the room in all directions for some particular reason. Anything out of the ordinary? Hello...?
[01:28]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks at the statue again, it angers her. She approaches it.
[01:28]	* [huh]Letty	is determinedly avoiding having to look at it.
[01:28]	<Phrine>	"The most expected place is the least expected place, so it's the most expected place, so it's the least expected place..."
[01:28]	<[GM]Mary>	Phrine: the halls are as Pristine as they are empty.
[01:29]	<[huh]Letty>	If we don't know where he is we'll just look everywhere, one by one.
[01:30]	* [Pyg]Judith	doesn't pay attention to Phrine's usual outloud thinking. Securing Phrine with one hand, she reaches out with her other, grasping her statue's stone hand grasping the knife.
[01:32]	* [Pyg]Judith	tries to get the knife out. Damned thing, I'd never do this to Leticia!
[01:33]	<[GM]Mary>	It comes loose.
[01:38]	* [Pyg]Judith	gets the knife out, handling it with care. She suddenly feels a draft, remembering she never got her skirt back.
[01:38]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Oh, damn it all!"
[01:38]	<Phrine>	"Eh?"
[01:38]	<[huh]Letty>	Something wrong?
[01:39]	* [huh]Letty	turns, and sees Judith holding the knife. Her expression hardens fractionally.
[01:39]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Never got my skirt back."
[01:40]	<[huh]Letty>	I think... it was beyond repair...
[01:40]	* Phrine	needs to care more about people's clothes.
[01:41]	<Phrine>	"You can borrow mine if you want; I'm not really usin' it right now."
[01:41]	<Phrine>	"Kinda small, though..."
[01:43]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"Then I'll just wear it until I can steal one. There has to be a closet with clothes around here somewhere."
[01:44]	* Phrine	hops off Judith's shoulders and slings off her backpackcase she's totally had with her all this time. Her old brown miniskirt is liberated from within and presented to Jude.
[01:45]	<Phrine>	"Hope it fits..."
[01:49]	<[GM]Mary>	Judith: You can get it around your waist, but it's hardly half the length of your bloomers. You just look silly.
[01:50]	* [huh]Letty	must smile a bit.
[01:50]	* [Pyg]Judith	looks a little disappointed in her work, but, better than nothing, she supposes.
[01:51]	* Phrine	stifles a smile as well, but since it's HER skirt it's not really that funny.
[01:55]	* [Pyg]Judith	sighs.
[01:55]	<[Pyg]Judith>	"We should go back, maybe I can find what's left of my skirt. At least fixing that will look better than this.
[01:57]	<Phrine>	"Wait, no! Dontdothatitsatrapaaaahhhhlookbehindyou!!"
[01:57]	* Phrine	freaks out for no apparent reason.
[01:58]	<[huh]Letty>	Eh?
[01:58]	* [Pyg]Judith	quickly turns around, alarmed by Phrine's sudden outburst.
[02:00]	<[GM]Mary>	There's nothing there. It's just the three of you, and the statue.
[02:01]	* Phrine	spins around erratically looking for some unknown problem. Her body soon remembers how tired it is and flops down to the ground again.
[02:04]	<[GM]Mary>	Save state in slot 1... |26:32 MAIN HALL 26.3%|