A Handful of Dust Session 58

[07:07.49] <DM> So we begin.
[07:08.17] <DM> The night deepens as you settle your council, your course more or less decided for now: The Citadel of Abjuration, and then the Transmuters’ lair, to seek clues for the hidden Essence of Water.
[07:09.29] <DM> The rain patters on the roof of the quarterdeck, as Hin takes flight through the stormy clouds.
[07:09.41] <DM> What do you do?
[07:10.21] * Repriever retreats to the galley in search of leftover food from the breakfast he didn't take part in.
[07:10.35] * Melchior journal-writes.
[07:11.02] * Akvan tinkers with the Erhu
[07:11.26] * Shala resists starting a journal and tries to study spells until sleep comes, difficult as it is
[07:11.37] <DM> There's ample food, Repriever, and a few of the knights are off duty. In spite of Hin's constant awareness, they've still organized themselves into duty shifts to divide what work can be done.
[07:12.00] * Repriever eats cold food, alone and in silence.
[07:12.45] <DM> They note your desire for solitude and keep their conversation low and to themselves.
[07:12.56] * Repriever knows the knights are unwitting spies, so he doesn't want to give away any information.
[07:13.54] * Kir has conceded, and leans into a wall
[07:14.03] * Shala gravitates to doodle drawing in the margins of her spellbooks, whispy ghosts and things like in a vast cosmic river
[07:14.09] <DM> "My lady," says Hin, catching Penumbra's eye as the others filter out. "You were quiet at the conference."
[07:14.50] <DM> "Do you feel confident in this course?"
[07:16.06] <+Penumbra> "It seems the best, for now."
[07:16.09] * Melchior considers options regarding Azri's potential to spy through the loyal of Calcis.
[07:16.25] * Penumbra doesn't sound confident
[07:16.35] * You are now known as Hin
[07:16.38] * Hin hums to himself.
[07:17.11] <+Penumbra> "I've had much to think about, and there are many lines that lead astray."
[07:17.21] <Hin> "I have grown patient with my worries for you when you leave my confines."
[07:17.26] * Hin smiles, slightly abashedly.
[07:17.39] <Hin> "Although they never quite depart. I have always had confidence in you to find a way."
[07:18.38] <Hin> "As I lay undisturbed through the centuries, my confidence did not slacken. For I had lain hidden at your plan."
[07:18.46] * Penumbra smiles slightly, wondering exactly where Hin is going with this
[07:18.50] * Penumbra doesn't remember doing that...
[07:18.57] <Hin> "Although I will admit to...napping..."
[07:19.48] <Hin> "The point is simply this. Have confidence, not in the plan, or your knowledge, but in your trust of them."
[07:19.58] <Hin> "That is my counsel."
[07:20.25] * Penumbra sighs
[07:20.34] * Hin waits, watching her.
[07:20.49] * Melchior starts sketching out tiny diagrams, and investigating the amulet she received in Tetraea, the one which nullified the anti-magic field and permitted Mel to illuse herself.
[07:21.12] <+Penumbra> "The path to water does not appear to be the most difficult... but the one most likely to lead astray."
[07:21.29] <Hin> Roll a knowledge: arcana check, Mel.
[07:21.43] <+Melchior> Prescience
[07:21.44] <+Melchior> ?roll 1d20
[07:21.44] <%tBot> Melchior: 5 [5]
[07:21.56] <+Melchior> ?roll 1d20+12
[07:21.56] <%tBot> Melchior: 14 ([2] +12)
[07:22.02] <+Repriever> [lol]
[07:22.22] <+Melchior> [gettin 'em out of the way early]
[07:22.25] <Hin> "There are many secrets hidden within the depths of Transmutation, not simply the ones we seek."
[07:22.45] * Melchior seems to be running into dead ends.
[07:23.37] <+Penumbra> "The answer we may need might be to a question we have not yet asked."
[07:24.10] * Penumbra thinks of the Diviner's Tower
[07:24.31] <Hin> "Always have an escape plan."
[07:24.37] <Hin> "And a fallback, more than one."
[07:24.49] <Hin> "That was what you taught me...of course, I was so used to my grandiose plans."
[07:25.22] * Penumbra nods and smiles
[07:25.34] * Melchior scritch-scratches away at designing an enchantment that can occlude the minds of her knights from scrying and spying.
[07:25.38] <Hin> "At any rate. I wish to know more of the Apastron's ships."
[07:25.56] <+Penumbra> "We can do this. One step at a time, with an eye to our goal."
[07:25.59] * Repriever works over his own thoughts about the knights, watching them as he eats.
[07:26.07] <+Penumbra> "Yes."
[07:26.29] * Penumbra shares more detailed information, restating a few from earlier
[07:27.48] <Hin> "Oh, it's actually quite simple."
[07:28.29] <Hin> "Given a large enough starting budget of energy, larger than we could ever gather, it could refresh itself, as the Reme does, from passive collection."
[07:28.42] <Hin> "I suspect the Apastron used his memories of our time together..."
[07:28.50] <Hin> "Although that...raises a more troubling possibility."
[07:29.43] <Hin> "Have you considered it?"
[07:29.46] * Hin raises his eyebrows.
[07:30.00] <Hin> "That if they are built on the same principles as the Reme..."
[07:31.52] <+Penumbra> "... then would they be able to..."
[07:31.56] * Penumbra looks outward to the storm
[07:32.03] <+Penumbra> "fly as well?"
[07:32.21] <+Melchior> "Or disable the Reme."
[07:32.30] <Hin> "And the raid was simply a ruse meant to set our expectations."
[07:32.41] <Hin> "For what these ships could do."
[07:33.09] <+Penumbra> "It would be clever to feign a hand."
[07:33.21] <+Penumbra> "In return, we must remain vigilant."
[07:33.41] <Hin> "The Aridai I knew possessed a keen ability to synthesize strategy from his friends and his enemies."
[07:33.50] <Hin> "Without becoming attached to any particular course."
[07:34.12] <Hin> "And yes, Melchior..."
[07:34.24] <Hin> "Were the Apastron to come into contact with me personally, he could disable this ship."
[07:34.40] <Hin> "Back in the dome..."
[07:35.17] <Hin> "I believe he chose to let us escape."
[07:35.56] <Hin> "At Pyleth."
[07:36.23] <+Penumbra> "Yes, he had me within his power as well."
[07:37.41] <Hin> "It will be his loss then."
[07:37.53] <+Penumbra> "He was generous, giving Repriever a year. Letting us escape. Making his statements. Revealing his abilities."
[07:38.09] <+Melchior> "Curious that."
[07:39.15] <+Penumbra> "Carcephon... let us leave after an alliance. I wonder if Apastron believes our actions would fall to his favor as well."
[07:40.21] <Hin> "And Azri."
[07:40.43] <Hin> "Once you hold an Essence, we will have some protection, at the least."
[07:40.55] * Repriever cautiously picks at boiled eggs with his energy hand.
[07:41.07] <Hin> You do not crush the eggs, this time.
[07:41.21] <+Penumbra> "We need to learn more about how he acted before Pyleth. We need to know how much of Aridai is Apastron."
[07:42.00] <Hin> "He may have Aridai's memories, emotions...even his traits."
[07:42.03] <+Penumbra> "We live on the mercy of powerful beings. Which is why we now chart this course."
[07:42.10] <Hin> "But not his soul."
[07:42.15] <+Penumbra> "Until Pyleth."
[07:42.56] <Hin> "Although perhaps it is unfair to say that we do not have an Essence."
[07:43.23] <Hin> "But the girl seems not to understand it."
[07:43.43] <+Penumbra> ?roll 1d20+6
[07:43.43] <%tBot> Penumbra: 9 ([3] +6)
[07:44.18] * Melchior is working on developing an anti-scrying system for the crew.
[07:44.39] <+Shala> [o is he talking about me? >: { ]
[07:44.48] <+Melchior> [yarp]
[07:45.36] * Penumbra is silent for a moment
[07:46.00] <Hin> "And we know...it does not look like the others."
[07:46.35] * Penumbra nods still in thought
[07:47.43] <+Penumbra> "She'll need to learn to wield the Key. And not let it wield her."
[07:47.56] * Repriever cleans up when finished eating, then, unsatisfied, cleans up after everyone, even sweeping the floor and doing dishes.
[07:48.26] * Daftpanzer (56062040@ircip2.mibbit.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[07:48.36] <+Melchior> "Need a hand with that?"
[07:48.42] <Hin> There are dimensional lock spells, Melchior, but you don't feel confident enough to try one of those.
[07:48.50] * You are now known as DM
[07:49.09] <DM> So you've started to research and experiment with simpler solutions.
[07:49.20] <+Repriever> "No, I'm able. Carry on."
[07:50.18] * Repriever makes an overt gesture that she'd already given him a hand after all.
[07:50.26] <DM> Eventually, you came across an obscure note in a book of half-cracked alchemy you inherited from your parents, about lead-lined helmets.
[07:50.43] <+Penumbra> "I do not know if it's something that can be taught, or merely... brought out. Nurtured. Honed."
[07:50.48] * Melchior brings it up with Repriever.
[07:50.57] <+Melchior> "Huh. Seems cruder than what I was thinking of."
[07:51.00] <+Shala> [brb brief bathroom]
[07:51.02] * Penumbra tries to recall the other Five first learning and mastering the Essenses
[07:51.31] <+Repriever> "Magic is tamperable."
[07:52.52] <+Melchior> "And given that we're talking lead, temperable too."
[07:53.24] * Repriever sweeps, while thinking.
[07:53.35] <+Repriever> "You don't need enchantments for this."
[07:53.46] <DM> At least for the type where one's thoughts are passively being monitored, it seems like a good solution, although there are tales of insane kings coating entire palaces in magic-resistant substances out of paranoia, only to die to mundane assassination.
[07:54.13] * Melchior speaks quietly with Repriever.
[07:54.19] * Repriever is careful and speaks low, too.
[07:54.49] <+Melchior> "Well, our issue is that, with Calcis in Azri's control, all loyal to her may be his eyes. They sense, Calcis senses, Azri senses."
[07:55.11] <+Melchior> "The solutions are cutting off the process at any point."
[07:55.26] <+Repriever> "Yes, I'm aware, and there is a simple solution if they are willing to devote their time to it."
[07:55.43] <+Melchior> "How might Azri be able to force Calcis to surrender this knowledge?"
[07:55.54] <+Melchior> "That's the first step that /he/ must do."
[07:55.57] <+Repriever> "The mind is a blade, left to rust or not properly tempered it will be useless."
[07:56.14] <+Repriever> "He already has, or Tercis would not have spoken to us so openly."
[07:57.06] <+Repriever> "He's used the essence to pry into her mind. She is slave to its power, as it is /her/ power."
[07:57.23] <+Shala> [back]
[07:57.50] <+Melchior> "Do you know about the way that Calcis can see through her kin?"
[07:58.03] <+Melchior> "Surely it's not as simple as a common scry."
[07:58.09] <+Repriever> "Only that she can."
[07:58.29] <+Repriever> "Some of her children have stronger bonds... others not so much. We can't be sure of who falls into which category."
[07:59.11] * Melchior nods.
[07:59.52] <+Repriever> "I doubt any are as close as the Queen or Plainchant, but even a single word can be our downfall."
[08:00.19] <+Melchior> "There's also the possibility of traveling separately from the Knights.
[08:00.40] <+Repriever> "We need them. We need every hand we can get."
[08:00.40] <+Melchior> "Hmm... do you know if it works only through women? Or is Piro at risk as well?"
[08:00.51] <+Melchior> "Although I might have thoroughly shattered his faith, so that may not be an issue."
[08:01.05] <+Repriever> "Trust no one."
[08:01.39] <+Repriever> "They can be taught to defend themselves, as we have been."
[08:01.48] <DM> The timbers creak as a harsh gust of wind hits the Reme, but Hin manages.
[08:02.33] <+Melchior> "We haven't specifically been taught... leastaways I haven't."
[08:02.33] <+Repriever> "I'm good for more than swinging a sword, I hope."
[08:02.42] * Repriever considers the galley.
[08:02.57] <+Melchior> "Palatine training?"
[08:02.58] <+Repriever> "There are lessons in every thing we do, even if as children we don't see that."
[08:03.03] <DM> Katadei banners, war trophies.
[08:03.39] <DM> What appear to possibly be crossed mammoth tusks over a shield.
[08:03.42] <DM> And the long tables.
[08:03.44] <+Repriever> "If you came to ask why I compose poems, what answer would you expect?"
[08:04.08] <+Melchior> "Peace? Expression?"
[08:04.24] <+Melchior> "To exercise, exorcise and excise your thoughts?"
[08:04.27] <+Repriever> "Reverence?" he smiles.
[08:04.42] <+Repriever> "Yes, and why Calcis did as well, and Sael."
[08:05.11] <+Repriever> "To use the mind is to strengthen the mind, and creation is a churning exhautive process in the image of the stars."
[08:05.21] <+Repriever> [exhaustive]
[08:06.02] <+Repriever> "The weaker the mind, the easier it is to scry."
[08:06.06] <+Repriever> "Do you agree?"
[08:06.21] <+Melchior> "Not necessarily. The less-protected, the easier to divine."
[08:06.30] <+Melchior> "There's correlations, I don't believe it's causative."
[08:06.53] <DM> There are also experts you can consult.
[08:06.54] * Repriever hmms.
[08:07.01] <DM> Whose names I'm sure you know.
[08:07.15] <+Repriever> "Maybe I'm a fool, then."
[08:07.24] <+Melchior> "Not likely."
[08:07.29] * Akvan has finished battening everything down in anticipation of the storm, and comes to join the two
[08:07.37] <+Repriever> "I know only that you cannot dispel the mind as you can a ward."
[08:07.53] <+Melchior> [I assumed the diviners were hidden once again]
[08:08.05] <DM> Oh, they are, I'm not referring to *them*.
[08:08.26] <DM> But certain seers are closer to hand.
[08:08.31] <DM> Or to claw, as it might be.
[08:08.40] <+Melchior> [madei, of course!]
[08:08.47] <DM> Exactly. :p
[08:09.21] <DM> The elves, as well, were noted seers.
[08:09.31] <+Repriever> "We don't have years to hone their minds, sadly."
[08:09.34] <DM> Sadly, Repriever's only elf-charm is not here.
[08:09.49] <+Melchior> "Nay. Hence why we're looking for nearer solutions."
[08:09.54] <+Repriever> "Perhaps it's best for simpler, manufactured protections."
[08:10.25] <+Melchior> "Lead is a start. And blue might know something, last time we met in person she spoke of how easy we were to scry, if I recall correctly."
[08:10.26] <+Repriever> "Though, one wave of a mancer's hand would rip those from them."
[08:10.52] <+Repriever> "She talks tough, but she can't See as much as she puts on."
[08:11.30] * Repriever has cleaned every inch of this galley, and when finished sighs. He has nothing else to do.
[08:11.43] * You are now known as Ironrose
[08:11.44] <+Melchior> [beyond help protect the crew from azri]
[08:11.53] * Akvan picks up some food and sits down with them
[08:11.55] * Ironrose shyly tap-taps on the lintel of the entrance to the galley.
[08:12.02] <Ironrose> "May I come in?"
[08:12.06] <+Melchior> "Do so!"
[08:12.18] * Ironrose smiles warmly.
[08:12.26] <Ironrose> "I'm actually quite starving, so...if I may..."
[08:12.37] <+Shala> [what's ironrose's age again]
[08:12.37] <+Repriever> "Eat, please."
[08:12.58] <Ironrose> [she's 54]
[08:13.27] <Ironrose> "Well- mmf."
[08:13.29] * Ironrose swallows.
[08:13.36] <Ironrose> "I've purified the blades!"
[08:13.41] <Ironrose> "We have, rather."
[08:13.45] * Repriever has a seat to get off his horribly painful leg.
[08:13.58] <Ironrose> "Took about eight hours, but we did them all."
[08:14.10] * Melchior nods and smiles.
[08:14.13] <Ironrose> "I ah- I have some notes, excuse me Akvan..."
[08:14.14] <+Repriever> "Faster than I expected."
[08:14.29] <+Melchior> "I'll say. Quick study!"
[08:14.46] <Ironrose> "Well, we worked in groups, following your instructions. Rylia was a quick hand at it."
[08:15.29] <Ironrose> "Eight of the souls did not wish to stay."
[08:15.36] <+Melchior> "A reasonable choice."
[08:15.46] <Ironrose> "So those are just simple swords now."
[08:15.55] <+Repriever> "Good steel."
[08:16.06] <Ironrose> "The other, fifteen..."
[08:16.25] <Ironrose> "Well, four of them don't speak any language that we know or can reference."
[08:16.29] * Shala_ (chatzilla@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) has joined channel #nesdnd
[08:16.45] <Ironrose> "So we have those in the maybe pile."
[08:16.57] <+Repriever> "How do you mean?"
[08:17.15] <+Repriever> "How old are those blades?"
[08:17.24] <Ironrose> "Their...ghosts? Spirits? I'm really not sure on the sensitive term here..."
[08:17.30] <+Melchior> "They're not Calcissi. Perhaps others should speak to them. They may be... all manner of cultures."
[08:17.30] <+Akvan> "Shades?"
[08:17.30] <Ironrose> "Very old."
[08:17.38] <+Melchior> "And they're souls, bound into blades."
[08:17.44] <Ironrose> "Well, his army has crossed half the continent."
[08:17.57] * Shala (chatzilla@cpe-97-98-83-80.stx.res.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 121 seconds)
[08:17.58] * Shala_ is now known as Shala
[08:18.00] <Ironrose> "The Apastron has resurrected lost souls, it seems, from a variety of times and places."
[08:18.20] <+Melchior> "Not one to limit himself, in this case."
[08:18.32] <+Repriever> "Mel has seen more time than I have, maybe you could figure it out?"
[08:18.50] <+Melchior> "Possibly!"
[08:19.05] <Ironrose> "Eight of them are Calcissi, most from before I was born, but some from our war."
[08:19.17] <+Melchior> "And the last three?"
[08:19.18] <Ironrose> "They all wished to join us, of course."
[08:20.25] <Ironrose> "Yes! Of the final three, one is from Elydia, one is from Luvanash, and one says...in Celestial, no less, that it is from some place it calls Kesh, which I have never heard of."
[08:20.56] <+Melchior> "Kesh..."
[08:21.14] <Ironrose> Knowledge history, mel.
[08:21.16] * Melchior considers her knowledge of Common, Draconic, Gora Miri, Celestial, Old Elydian and Kanetic.
[08:21.19] <+Akvan> "Of, if we are correct in the supposition that the Apastron is, in fact, a new facet of an older evil... it's entirely possible that these souls have been bound for longer than I'd care to think about."
[08:21.30] <+Melchior> ?roll 1d20+9
[08:21.30] <%tBot> Melchior: 22 ([13] +9)
[08:21.33] <+Melchior> [and kieli]
[08:22.05] * Repriever warns Akvan to be careful with his information.
[08:22.44] <Ironrose> "Well, that just makes freeing them extra happy!"
[08:23.02] <Ironrose> "That's how I like to see it."
[08:23.02] <+Repriever> "The Elydian, did it give a name?"
[08:23.03] <+Melchior> "Kesh, no... could it?"
[08:23.10] * Melchior murmurs to herself.
[08:23.14] * Repriever defers to Mel.
[08:23.47] <Ironrose> "It did."
[08:24.01] <Ironrose> "It called himself...ah..."
[08:24.49] <Ironrose> "Starborn Taril Sarec."
[08:25.04] <Ironrose> "He speaks in a very...interesting way."
[08:25.13] <Ironrose> "A lot of words I have not heard before!"
[08:25.51] <+Repriever> "Starborn, eh? I'll speak with him later."
[08:26.09] <+Melchior> "From a time since when languages have changed."
[08:26.32] <Ironrose> "I suppose we do all still speak Elydian, albeit quite modified."
[08:26.42] <+Repriever> "It denotes blood status, if you were wondering."
[08:26.51] <+Repriever> "So we have as much in common as a pig and a pear."
[08:27.30] <+Repriever> "And the Luvanashi?"
[08:28.19] <Ironrose> "She gave her name as Drenhe."
[08:28.34] <Ironrose> "It's pronounced Dren, there's a silent h and e, there, see."
[08:28.41] <Ironrose> "At least, I think they're silent..."
[08:28.53] <Ironrose> "They might just be very quiet."
[08:29.00] <+Repriever> "They aren't silent, they're politely out of the way."
[08:29.17] <Ironrose> "Just like the soul, actually."
[08:29.23] <Ironrose> "She said she wanted to help, but not much else."
[08:29.36] <+Repriever> "If you met more of them you'd understand."
[08:29.41] * Kir nudges Mel and whispers something
[08:29.54] <Ironrose> "Taril was much more talkative!"
[08:30.01] <+Repriever> "I imagine."
[08:30.02] <Ironrose> "I had to apologize to him, since I needed to get to the others."
[08:30.10] <Ironrose> "He wanted to know about his, ah..."
[08:30.15] <Ironrose> "Well, you can imagine."
[08:30.46] <+Repriever> "Hin, where is Penumbra?"
[08:31.22] <+Kir> "Let me, or Mel, speak to swords?"
[08:31.37] <Shala> [lol jeez everyone ended up in the galley]
[08:31.53] <+Melchior> "Yes, Kir may have some useful insight."
[08:31.54] <+Kir> "If any speak my tongue, or some related..."
[08:31.57] <Ironrose> [it's the let's talk about Shala behind her back club]
[08:32.05] <+Kir> "I would like to talk to them"
[08:32.14] <+Repriever> "Have at it, I need to speak with Penumbra. Excuse me."
[08:32.23] * Repriever stands and hops his way out of the galley.
[08:32.33] * You are now known as Hin
[08:32.42] <Hin> "She is in her chambers, Repriever, playing with Madei."
[08:32.51] <Hin> "Although I believe her bedtime is quite soon."
[08:33.11] * Repriever goes there.
[08:33.25] <+Kir> [Kir would probably go to the galley after for a snack]
[08:33.26] * You are now known as DM
[08:33.32] * DM sets mode +v Shala for #nesdnd
[08:33.34] <DM> Alright.
[08:34.00] <DM> Kir, if you go to investigate the soul blades, you'll find that none of the four speak Gora Miri, at least they don't respond in it.
[08:34.18] <+Repriever> [I'll handle this in sidechat with Penny]
[08:34.29] <+Kir> Even if I adjust diction to use archaic tenses and pronouns, following what I heard of the agents?
[08:34.30] * Melchior goes with Kir.
[08:35.09] <DM> No, they don't speak that rather hoity-toity accent those agents of Kallos spoke in.
[08:36.06] <DM> They have them all lined up in circles in a storage area, the celestial sigils glowing according to Mel's spell, which allows the swords to speak.
[08:36.07] * Kir sits around and watches Mel even after this disappointment
[08:36.23] <DM> However, Kir, when this happens.
[08:36.40] * Melchior approaches and sits cross-legged before the blades.
[08:36.41] <DM> One of the other swords seems to light up. Not one of the ones whose languages you don't know.
[08:36.54] * Akvan finishes his food, looks at the the others, and says
[08:37.09] <+Akvan> "I'll try, see if there's a language there that might be related to mine."
[08:37.14] <+Melchior> "Are you the one who came from Kesh?"
[08:37.36] * Akvan joins mel and Kir
[08:37.53] <DM> <<Are you speaking to me?>> It replies, in Celestial.
[08:38.03] <+Kir> [wait, so to be clear, when I speak in Gora Miri, or the upborn accent, one of the common-speaking swords recognizes it?]
[08:38.14] <DM> Mel got it right, it's the sword that came from Kesh.
[08:38.20] * Kir inspects the sword behind the particular glowing sigil
[08:38.26] <DM> That recognizes your Gora Miri.
[08:38.32] <+Melchior> <<Yes>>
[08:39.06] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+12
[08:39.06] <%tBot> Kir: 19 ([7] +12)
[08:39.11] <+Kir> perception
[08:39.12] <DM> <<That boy speaks an earth-tongue that is not known to me.>>
[08:39.31] <+Melchior> <<I am Melchior, this is my friend Kir. His language is named Gora Miri>>
[08:39.37] * Akvan speaks in the tongue of the wastes, and then iignan
[08:39.57] * Kir inspects the Kesh blade for any interesting details
[08:40.01] <DM> The pommel is intricately incised with strange lines, in a pattern that isn't common to the swords of today, Kir.
[08:40.10] <+Kir> [do I recognize it?]
[08:40.18] <DM> There are some holes in the base, that seem to be designed to plug into something.
[08:40.27] <DM> But no, you don't recognize it.
[08:40.42] * Kir taps Mel on the shoulder
[08:40.47] <DM> Akvan, your language is related enough to Elydian that a LOT of the blades want to talk to you.
[08:40.54] <DM> Mostly they want to know about their families.
[08:40.57] <DM> And lands.
[08:41.17] <DM> None of them respond to ignan, though.
[08:42.47] <+Melchior> <<Kir recognizes a pattern on the hilt of your sword>>
[08:42.54] <+Akvan> "I don't know enough, I'm sorry."
[08:43.10] <+Akvan> "I have not heard of many of your homes, but if I can help you find them, I will."
[08:43.17] <+Melchior> <<I misunderstood>>
[08:43.23] <DM> <<You are both children of the earth.>>
[08:43.39] <+Kir> "I - child of Bel"
[08:43.46] <DM> <<Although you are barbarians, it is natural that you would feel an affinity with the sword I carried to defend the last city.>>
[08:43.55] <+Kir> "This really same thing, now?"
[08:43.56] * Daftpanzer (56062040@ircip2.mibbit.com) Quit (Quit: ＋http://www.mibbit.com， ajax IRC Client)
[08:44.07] <+Melchior> <<It is a city so ancient to us it is scarcely a myth now, in our far-derived day>>
[08:44.25] <DM> <<So Kesh has fallen...>>
[08:44.41] <DM> Its sigils seem to dim slightly.
[08:44.52] <+Kir> "Mel, ask about holes on hilt"
[08:44.56] <+Kir> "Function"
[08:45.01] <+Kir> "What they plug to"
[08:45.03] <+Melchior> <<As far as I know. But the faithful of Arta remain.>>
[08:45.21] <DM> <<That is good...>>
[08:45.30] <DM> <<Arta created us. Molded us from the clay.>>
[08:45.41] <DM> <<She is love and life itself. Never forget her blessing.>>
[08:45.57] <DM> <<The boy spoke the name of Bel.>>
[08:46.05] <DM> <<Have you found it?>>
[08:46.09] <+Melchior> <<He is kin to Bel's folk>>
[08:46.20] <+Melchior> <<And he seeks the Belseph>>
[08:46.20] <DM> At that, the sword literally rattles.
[08:46.48] <DM> <<I do not know of that, but never place such a curse on him.>>
[08:46.48] * Kir stares at it, utterly expressionless
[08:47.06] <DM> <<If Bel ever had a child, it would be the spawn of the sky.>>
[08:47.27] <+Akvan> <<Holes in sword serve what?>>
[08:47.30] * Melchior translates to Gora Miri what the Kesh soul speaks.
[08:47.53] * Kir raises his eyebrows
[08:47.55] <DM> <<They were where the sword received power from the Essence of Earth.>>
[08:48.15] <DM> <<Although it is lost now...stolen...>>
[08:48.53] <+Melchior> <<What do you know of its theft and fate? Much of your history is lost to me>>
[08:49.15] <+Akvan> "Kir, it's for the essence."
[08:49.19] <DM> <<Those who claimed the legacy of Bel took it from us.>>
[08:49.25] <+Kir> "Hm."
[08:49.33] * Kir pats Mel on the shoulder
[08:49.49] <DM> <<Those thrice-cursed magi would stop at nothing but the ruin and destruction of all of Kesh's children.>>
[08:49.51] * Kir looks towards the sword, as if to beg a question asked
[08:49.55] <DM> <<And now I see they have won.>>
[08:50.02] <DM> <<Please leave me to my rest for a time.>>
[08:50.08] <+Kir> "Wait"
[08:50.13] * Melchior pauses for a moment.
[08:50.14] <+Kir> "Tell Kesh sword to wait"
[08:50.26] <+Kir> "Please ask"
[08:50.27] <+Melchior> <<My friend has one question he wishes to ask of you>>
[08:50.42] <+Melchior> <<Kir wishes to know why Bel betrayed his kin, the Kasatha>>
[08:50.49] <+Melchior> [if that statement can be made in celestial]
[08:51.20] <DM> <<Why?>>
[08:51.47] <+Melchior> <<That is his question, although I imagine many greater questions are tied up in that>>
[08:52.20] <DM> <<Because they are building God.>>
[08:52.32] <DM> <<And Bel was greedy.>>
[08:52.53] <DM> <<That is what the mothers have taught us.>>
[08:53.01] <+Akvan> "Are?"
[08:53.05] <+Akvan> <<Are>> *
[08:53.06] <+Akvan> ?
[08:53.11] * Melchior relays this to Kir in Gora Miri.
[08:53.29] * Kir raises his eyebrows
[08:53.41] <DM> <<The Kasatha are gone since Bel's curse.>>
[08:53.55] <+Kir> "Thank you, Mel"
[08:53.56] * Melchior gives a small nod.
[08:54.05] <+Kir> "I will talk again with this sword"
[08:54.10] <DM> <<But we held the truth of his sin and his triumph, and told it to all people.>>
[08:54.12] <+Kir> "You must help, please"
[08:54.28] <+Kir> "Or teach me Celestial"
[08:54.43] * Kir does not chuckle at this last, as he might be expected to otherwise
[08:54.44] <DM> <<I can learn his tongue. I see his need.>>
[08:54.53] * Kir 's expression is serious
[08:54.59] <+Kir> "Please"
[08:55.06] <DM> <<But I must be given five days to mourn the fall of my city.>>
[08:55.07] * Kir addresses the sword at this last
[08:55.13] <+Melchior> "Our friend may be willing to learn your tongue."
[08:56.01] <DM> <<This thing we will do. I am Ka Tar. Know my name and have with it my trust.>>
[08:56.16] <DM> <<I must now be left to my grief.>>
[08:56.17] <+Melchior> <<Rest and mourn, stranger and possible friend>>
[08:56.23] * Melchior leaves Ka Tar be.
[08:56.46] * Kir retreats to the galley
[08:56.56] * Kir wants to COOK while he THINKS
[08:58.00] <DM> You whip up a late dinner for any of the soldiers working the graveyard shift.
[08:58.17] <DM> Your popularity is now off the charts with the Knights.
[08:58.35] <+Kir> [what ingredients are around? and is there any wine or liquor?]
[08:59.03] * Melchior speaks to the armourer.
[08:59.08] <+Melchior> [I cannot recall her name]
[08:59.12] <DM> You've got all of the major meats, flower, probably some dough.
[08:59.27] <DM> flour*
[08:59.36] <DM> Fruits, vegetables, you're pretty much fully stocked.
[08:59.37] <+Kir> [what about potatoes or rice?]
[08:59.47] <DM> Potatoes, no rice, and honey.
[08:59.52] <+Kir> [or couscous or lentils]
[09:00.02] <DM> You can have lentils, sure.
[09:00.14] <DM> Edyn and Irene offer to help you out, subtly flirting at the same time.
[09:00.15] <+Kir> [spices?]
[09:00.39] <DM> You have cinnamon, sugar...I feel like we did a spice inventory last session too.
[09:00.53] * Kir casually misses all of the flirtation, and becomes Gora Miri Chefmaster Extraordinaire
[09:00.58] * Kir is lost in thought anyway
[09:01.16] <+Kir> [I'm after different spices now :P]
[09:01.20] <DM> Outside of a little brushing up against you, and feigned interest in your homeland, it's not that much to speak of.
[09:01.42] <DM> But they do seem curious about how so many people can live inside tunnels.
[09:01.58] <DM> You've got cloves, thyme, dill, powdered garlic
[09:02.32] <DM> What else do you want?
[09:02.35] <+Kir> onions?
[09:02.38] <+Kir> bay leaves
[09:02.46] <+Kir> tomatoes
[09:02.47] <DM> You've got onions, and bay leaves. You don't have saffron or paprika
[09:02.48] <+Shala> [CUMIN]
[09:02.59] <+Kir> celery
[09:03.01] <+Kir> carrots
[09:03.11] <DM> Check on all of those.
[09:03.14] <NK> [coriander]
[09:03.17] <+Kir> pepper
[09:03.26] <DM> No pepper, sadly.
[09:03.33] <+Kir> sounds good
[09:03.36] <DM> It isn't native to the Calcissi.
[09:03.41] <+Kir> and what about wine and/or liquor?
[09:03.45] <+Kir> what do we have
[09:04.04] <DM> You have wine, almond liquor, grain alcohol, and port wine.
[09:04.14] <DM> The Calcissi do have vodka, luckily.
[09:04.30] <DM> But I mean, who doesn't.
[09:04.35] * Kir pours a glass of vodka, and curses that it is not chilled to practically freezing
[09:04.38] <DM> You can make that stuff from tree bark if you have to.
[09:04.52] * Kir notes the almond liqueur for later
[09:05.16] * Kir directs the preparation of two dishes: a lentil soup, with potatoes and vegetables
[09:05.29] <DM> Alright, roll a PERFORM: COOKING check.
[09:05.31] <DM> Just kidding.
[09:05.33] <+Kir> starting from onions, garlic, and oil in the bottom of the pot
[09:05.56] <+Kir> adding stock and lentils
[09:06.04] <+Kir> then chopping and adding the other ingredients
[09:06.32] <+Kir> also dashes of white wine and vinegar, preferably balsamic, just before serving
[09:07.01] * Kir also directs the preparation of a roast, with a cut of beef
[09:07.34] <+Kir> this is cooked with wine, some vegetables
[09:07.50] <DM> Beef is real treat, but luckily you had it in with the queen, so you were given a small supply.
[09:08.44] <DM> The knights are also excited.
[09:09.01] <DM> Some of the ones who have already eaten show up for a second dinner, despite some grumbling from Vyrene about how fat the entire company is going to get.
[09:09.14] * Kir notes the small supply and starts to plan a pork dish for next time
[09:09.31] <+Kir> beef is with red wine, by the way
[09:09.35] <+Kir> and again, in the over
[09:09.39] <+Kir> the soup is the appetizer
[09:09.54] * NK (Halcyon@uc-wifi-nat-128-135-100-106.uchicago.edu) Quit (Quit: If you can't laugh at yourself, make fun of other people.)
[09:09.57] <DM> As you cook...
[09:10.08] <DM> Hin flies on, giving Pyleth a wide berth, and you do not see the coast of the mainland when you pass it in the storm.
[09:10.23] * Repriever is in Penumbra's cabin, talking away in private.
[09:10.45] <DM> The Calcissi had occupied a thin strip of farmland near the coastline, but all of it has now been abandoned in the face of the Apastron’s onslaught. North of that, there is nothing left until the Ashpeaks.
[09:10.53] <+Kir> also, if we had lemons, one or two were squeezed into the soup at some point most likely
[09:11.22] <DM> The lentil soup is VERY well received, with all of the Knights who aren't married now considering Kir potential husband material due to his cooking skills.
[09:11.23] * Kir is mostly silent except for the occasional command
[09:11.46] * Kir just sips vodka, cooks, and thinks
[09:11.53] <+Kir> did we have sugar?
[09:12.20] <DM> The roast is fully devoured down to the bone, and even those are cracked open, or thrown at Vyrene, in the case of one unfortunate miscreant who is confined to quarters, to much booing.
[09:12.28] <DM> Oh, right, Melchior.
[09:12.33] <DM> We did, Kir.
[09:12.40] * Kir picks some unfortunate knight who finishes early and demands that she fetch Mel
[09:12.50] <DM> The armorer's name is Tercis, actually.
[09:12.53] <DM> Like the Queen.
[09:13.00] * Kir later approaches Vyrene and whispers something to her, briefly
[09:13.37] <DM> She isn't carousing with the rest, actually, she's working hard patching and polishing most of the armor damage from Pyleth, as well as inventorying everything that the Katadei had, and the Bladesong supplies.
[09:13.43] * Melchior quietly speaks to Tercis about the possibilities of plating our helmets with lead.
[09:13.47] <DM> "Lord Melkir," she says sternly, rising to attention.
[09:14.22] <DM> "Yes...yes, that's simple enough."
[09:14.28] <+Melchior> "Tercis. If I asked you if you could plate the helmets of our Knights with lead, as a protection against the scrying of the towers, could you do so?"
[09:14.37] <+Melchior> [that's probably the exact wording of what Mel would have saide]
[09:14.42] <DM> "Oh, absolutely."
[09:14.49] <DM> "And a good thought."
[09:15.02] <DM> "We don't have any on ship though, unless you can magic me some."
[09:15.09] * Melchior considers it.
[09:15.26] <+Melchior> "I suspect we will be able to acquire some soon enough."
[09:15.38] <DM> "I'll await it and get to work right away, sir."
[09:15.45] <+Melchior> "I might be able to try and generate some, but that seems like a risky thing to try in flight."
[09:15.47] <+Melchior> "Good to hear."
[09:16.12] <DM> "So we'll be going into battle against the mages soon?"
[09:16.34] * Melchior gives a grim grin.
[09:16.47] <DM> "Those smarmy towerborn need a head cracking."
[09:16.50] <+Melchior> "I suspect we'll have a good bit of fighting coming soon enough."
[09:17.00] * Shala feels her ears burning
[09:17.00] * You are now known as Tercis
[09:17.12] * Tercis hefts a forging hammer a few times in hand.
[09:17.21] <Tercis> "You know where to ask."
[09:18.34] <+Melchior> "Aye."
[09:19.00] * You are now known as DM
[09:20.17] <DM> Alright.
[09:20.22] <DM> The evening passes.
[09:20.36] * Kir waits to digest, then looks for a sparring partner
[09:20.47] * Kir is on the lookout for Pen, Mel, or Shala
[09:21.27] <DM> You're able to find Shala if you knock on her room door. You hear the muffled conversation of Repriever and Penumbra across the hall.
[09:22.10] <+Kir> "Hi!"
[09:22.25] <+Shala> "Yes? Who is--Kir!"
[09:22.45] * Shala magics up her hair out of her face
[09:23.01] <+Shala> "Umm...it's...it's late.."
[09:23.12] <+Kir> "I uhh"
[09:23.17] <+Kir> "Need to spar?"
[09:23.28] <DM> [Great line, kid, you're one in a million]
[09:23.30] <+Kir> "No exercise since waking up"
[09:23.39] <+Shala> "I see"
[09:23.39] <+Kir> "No movement"
[09:23.45] <+Kir> "Uhh"
[09:23.48] <+Kir> "Yeah"
[09:23.53] * Shala scrutinizes Kir's face
[09:23.56] * Kir smiles, to make it all better
[09:24.05] <DM> It IS a pretty winning smile.
[09:24.06] * Kir is as innocent as.. a kitten?
[09:24.30] <+Shala> "Ok well, should we have a referee? Witnesses?"
[09:25.25] <+Shala> "I...still don't know how these things are properly done."
[09:25.38] * DM changes topic to: A Handful of Dust Session 58 - Raging Storm - ＋https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-1xO-R_JpA，
[09:25.40] <+Kir> "Self referee fine practice
[09:25.41] <+Kir> "
[09:25.52] <+Kir> "And you need sword help..?"
[09:26.34] * Shala nods as she ties her hair into a battle ponytail
[09:27.14] <+Shala> "Well then, Sir Kir, will you train me on this night?"
[09:27.19] <+Shala> [it's night right lol]
[09:27.28] <+Kir> "Yeah!"
[09:27.31] <DM> Yeah, it's pretty late, close to midnight.
[09:27.43] <DM> The Knights have gone to sleep.
[09:27.53] <DM> As well as Ironrose and most of your pals.
[09:27.59] * Melchior does some writing, then heads to bed when she feels tired.
[09:28.34] <DM> Up to you if you bump into Kir and Shala in the hall as they go to the training room.
[09:29.42] * Melchior gives them a nod and heads to sleep.
[09:30.19] <DM> Alright.
[09:30.41] <DM> As you enter the hall, scattered with sand, its little viewing gallery above...
[09:30.57] <DM> You have a flash of memory of the last time you were here, Kir.
[09:31.02] <DM> Sparring with Couplet...
[09:31.06] <DM> When she manifested the Apastron's curse.
[09:31.45] * Kir shudders a bit, but pushes it aside
[09:31.48] <DM> Now Shala's in her place.
[09:31.57] <DM> Will you lose her, too?
[09:32.03] * Kir stares hard at Shala for a beat
[09:32.36] * Kir then swallows and adopts an aggressive, offensive en garde
[09:32.44] <DM> What weapons are you both using?
[09:32.58] <+Shala> "You can look tough all you want, pretty boy."
[09:33.00] * Shala giggles
[09:33.01] * Kir eventually settles on the sphereblade, just with a blunted edge
[09:33.20] * Shala is using a training sword
[09:33.26] <+Shala> [from the room]
[09:33.28] <+Kir> although I do not actually put any form out there
[09:33.41] <DM> Pokey takes this moment to skitter out of your hair and down your shoulder, back, and leg.
[09:33.46] <DM> He didn't sign up for this shit.
[09:33.50] * Kir does not form the sphere into anything yet, in order to better feint
[09:33.59] <+Shala> "Oh! Oh you're going to leave now?"
[09:34.17] <DM> He gives a pincer click that's remarkably like a shoulder shrug, then waits at the door.
[09:34.47] <+Kir> "You ever fight with weapon before?"
[09:34.52] <+Kir> "You know parries?"
[09:34.53] * Shala squares her shoulders and takes a deep breath, trying to remember the stance she was taught
[09:35.07] <+Shala> "Yes and...yes"
[09:35.16] <+Kir> "Good"
[09:35.28] <+Kir> "I slap thigh to start"
[09:35.28] <+Shala> "I know of them, like I know of a spell to make your eyes smell and your nose see"
[09:35.49] * Kir grins
[09:35.49] <+Shala> "Ok, yes, thigh slapping"
[09:35.54] * Kir does this
[09:36.04] * Shala remembers this as a key rule of sparring
[09:36.26] <DM> Roll initiative!
[09:36.37] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+7
[09:36.37] <%tBot> Kir: 24 ([17] +7)
[09:36.51] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+11
[09:36.51] <%tBot> Shala: 28 ([17] +11)
[09:37.32] <DM> Shala, you're first! Although you always have the right to pass.
[09:37.48] <DM> I'm telling you this since you're a squishy caster.
[09:38.02] <DM> You can also employ total defense, as well as...
[09:38.34] <DM> Fighting defensively.
[09:38.38] <DM> If you're feeling cautious.
[09:38.46] <+Shala> [i forgot, is magic allowed for these spars]
[09:38.51] <DM> [no!]
[09:38.55] <+Shala> [ ;) ]
[09:39.05] <DM> [I mean, you're free to use it]
[09:39.13] <DM> [But if Repriever finds out he'll probably smack you silly]
[09:39.19] * Shala moves to strike first, bringing a strike down on Kir's left knee
[09:39.31] <+Shala> [didnt mean to use strike twice fuck]
[09:39.34] <DM> Roll an attack!
[09:39.47] <DM> The training sword has no bonus beyond your basic str+bab
[09:40.09] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+4
[09:40.09] <%tBot> Shala: 9 ([5] +4)
[09:40.12] <+Shala> [sigh]
[09:40.24] <DM> [welcome to the wonderful world of melee]
[09:40.32] <DM> [you chose this!]
[09:40.42] <DM> Kir?
[09:41.25] <DM> Meanwhile, Hin sends a message to Penumbra privately.
[09:41.35] * Kir moves his leg neatly out of the way, then unleashes a swift succession of attacks
[09:41.54] <+Kir> [can I use my first attack to attempt a disarm, then the second to strike normally?"
[09:41.58] <+Kir> ]
[09:42.56] <DM> Yes.
[09:43.35] * Kir suddenly forms the sphereblade into a blunted form of its usual self, and aims a blow to Shala's wrist on the weapon arm
[09:43.57] * Kir follows, regardless of outcome, with a strike to her flank below the ribs
[09:44.11] <DM> Alright, roll the disarm first.
[09:44.29] <+Kir> [is that normal attack or CMA?]
[09:44.40] <+Kir> cmb rather
[09:45.48] <DM> That'd be CMB
[09:45.54] <DM> What's your CMD, Shala?
[09:46.03] <+Shala> [19]
[09:46.19] <+Kir> [can I use my weapon bonuses, since it's an attempt to use my weapon to disarm?]
[09:46.56] <DM> I don't believe so
[09:47.14] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+6
[09:47.14] <%tBot> Kir: 7 ([1] +6)
[09:47.27] <+Kir> that was disarm
[09:47.32] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+8
[09:47.32] <%tBot> Kir: 26 ([18] +8)
[09:47.37] <+Kir> that's the actual attack
[09:47.44] <+Shala> [crit fail, i should take HIS arm]
[09:48.05] <DM> You fumble your shot at her wrist and overshoot her by quite a bit, but you're able to actually profit from your misdirection and land a solid thwack on her side.
[09:48.46] <+Kir> [should I roll normal damage?]
[09:48.52] <+Kir> [otherwise how much should I roll?]
[09:48.57] <DM> Roll it, but it's non-lethal.
[09:49.15] <+Kir> ?roll 2d8+3]
[09:49.16] <%tBot> Kir: "2d8+3}" not a valid roll.
[09:49.21] <+Kir> ?roll 2d8+3
[09:49.21] <%tBot> Kir: 9 ([3 3] +3)
[09:49.24] * Shala suppresses a yelp and stiffens a bit from the blow
[09:49.31] <+Kir> "Sorry!"
[09:49.37] * Kir shrinks a bit
[09:49.38] <+Shala> "Shush!"
[09:49.41] <DM> That one's going to bruise tomorrow.
[09:49.47] <DM> Shala, you're up.
[09:50.07] * Shala counterattacks, sword to abdomen
[09:50.15] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+4
[09:50.15] <%tBot> Shala: 17 ([13] +4)
[09:50.20] <DM> Better!
[09:50.30] <DM> Kir, what even is your AC.
[09:50.38] <DM> Are you armored for this?
[09:50.43] <+Kir> 19
[09:50.54] <+Kir> I usually wear armor, because climate control ;)
[09:51.05] <DM> And you can pee in it. But I mean, ew.
[09:51.18] <+Kir> also, I think I need to level up
[09:51.18] <DM> Miss!
[09:51.19] <+Kir> whoops
[09:51.24] <DM> WELL THIS ISN'T REALLY THE TIME
[09:51.31] <DM> But yes, you're 10
[09:51.43] <+Akvan> [When Shala finally gets him naked, it's going to stink like old gym bags, taint, and rubber.]
[09:52.09] * Kir neatly sweeps her blade to the side, then slashes once at each shoulder, right first
[09:52.13] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+13
[09:52.14] <%tBot> Kir: 27 ([14] +13)
[09:52.21] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+8
[09:52.21] <%tBot> Kir: 21 ([13] +8)
[09:52.25] <+Shala> [hit and meet]
[09:52.32] <DM> Two hits, roll 'em, Kir!
[09:52.38] <+Kir> ?roll 4d8+6
[09:52.38] <%tBot> Kir: 15 ([2 4 2 1] +6)
[09:52.56] <DM> Roll a reflex save, Shala.
[09:53.07] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+6
[09:53.07] <%tBot> Shala: 11 ([5] +6)
[09:53.13] <+Shala> [oh come on lol]
[09:53.26] <DM> On the second hit, you spin around like a rag doll and land on your hands and knees.
[09:53.38] <DM> At eye level with Pokey, he chitters his support.
[09:53.56] <DM> Just kidding, he's laughing at your pain.
[09:53.58] * Shala dabs her mouth for blood
[09:54.01] <+Kir> "Sorry!"
[09:54.05] <+Shala> "Pokey, keep this quiet....but I'm going to cheat"
[09:54.12] * Shala whispers to her scorpion
[09:54.22] * Kir drops a bit and offers his non-weapon hand
[09:54.25] <DM> Pokey says "Good, good," in scorpionese.
[09:54.32] * Kir does this cautiously, though, it's still on, after all
[09:54.43] * Shala takes his hand, coming to her feet
[09:55.06] * Kir prepares to pull her forward and hit her flank with his other hand
[09:55.13] <+Shala> "It's quiet all right. I think it's time...to change things up a bit though."
[09:55.24] * Shala 's second sentence comes out in echoey reverberation
[09:55.28] * Kir will only do this if she strikes or does something... aggressive
[09:56.10] <+Shala> [hasting takes a turn though lol]
[09:56.43] <DM> I'll let you do a strike this turn, since Kir's sort of being passive.
[09:56.50] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+5
[09:56.50] <%tBot> Shala: 19 ([14] +5)
[09:56.54] <+Shala> ?roll 1d20+5
[09:56.54] <%tBot> Shala: 23 ([18] +5)
[09:56.57] <DM> Well, I'll let you take as many as haste will let you take
[09:56.59] <DM> Nice!
[09:57.03] <DM> Two hits!
[09:57.28] <DM> But...
[09:57.31] <DM> Did you let go of him first?
[09:57.45] <+Shala> [probably? :p ]
[09:57.56] <+Shala> [you decide]
[09:57.58] <DM> Kir, since this triggers your held action, you can roll for it too.
[09:58.04] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+13
[09:58.04] <%tBot> Kir: 33 ([20] +13)
[09:58.11] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+13
[09:58.11] <%tBot> Kir: 16 ([3] +13)
[09:58.19] <+Kir> [damn :P]
[09:58.19] * NK (Halcyon@uc-wifi-nat-128-135-100-106.uchicago.edu) has joined channel #nesdnd
[09:58.22] <DM> Well, it doesn't confirm.
[09:58.31] <+Kir> ?roll 2d8+3
[09:58.32] <%tBot> Kir: 10 ([3 4] +3)
[09:58.49] <DM> Shala acquires UNUSUAL speed.
[09:59.04] <DM> And while you do hit her, she manages to land two solid hits on you after that.
[09:59.15] <DM> You feel the pain, Shala, but blaze on through it.
[09:59.34] <DM> Roll damage twice, Shala
[09:59.46] <DM> Uh, 1d8+str nonlethal
[09:59.57] <DM> Also, how many HP do you have left after that 10
[09:59.59] * Shala smacks kir's knee with the pommel of her busted training sword, and then follows with a swift blow to the knee
[10:00.02] <+Shala> [8]
[10:00.11] <+Shala> ?roll 1d8+3
[10:00.11] <%tBot> Shala: 5 ([2] +3)
[10:00.16] <+Shala> ?roll 1d8+3
[10:00.16] <%tBot> Shala: 8 ([5] +3)
[10:00.39] <DM> Shala's covered in sweat, shoulders heaving, and a trickle of blood runs down her arm from a welt on her shoulder, but she forces you back with two very painful hits.
[10:01.01] <DM> A bit unsteady on her feet, the swaying is accelerated by her magic.
[10:01.05] <+Shala> "Now THIS is more even!"
[10:01.13] * Shala is barely intelligible
[10:01.40] <+Kir> "You ok?"
[10:01.45] * Kir is concerned
[10:01.49] <+Shala> "I'm going to hit you again if you ask!"
[10:02.06] * Kir lunges, suddenly, at her core
[10:02.27] * Kir follows with an arcing strike to Shala's right shoulder
[10:02.32] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+13
[10:02.32] <%tBot> Kir: 33 ([20] +13)
[10:02.37] <+Shala> [lol fucking shit]
[10:02.37] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+13
[10:02.37] <%tBot> Kir: 31 ([18] +13)
[10:02.42] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+8
[10:02.42] <%tBot> Kir: 20 ([12] +8)
[10:02.56] <DM> The second roll was...
[10:03.00] <DM> The second attack?
[10:03.03] <+Kir> yes
[10:03.05] <DM> Roll to confirm the first.
[10:03.09] <+Kir> I did
[10:03.14] <+Kir> I rolled 2 +13s
[10:03.18] <DM> Oh, got it.
[10:03.20] <+Kir> and one +8 for my second attack
[10:03.22] <DM> Yeah, confirmed, and the second  hits.
[10:03.32] <+Kir> ?roll 8d8+12
[10:03.32] <%tBot> Kir: 52 ([2 5 8 5 4 7 7 2] +12)
[10:03.38] <+Shala> [nice, you killed me]
[10:03.46] <DM> Congratulations, Kir, you've unlocked the "Beat your girlfriend unconscious" Eastern European achievement
[10:03.48] * Kir tries to pull the blows
[10:04.20] <+Shala> [kir knows how to show a girl a good time]
[10:04.20] <DM> You hit her SO fucking hard, she's out cold by the time her head hits the ground.
[10:04.27] <+Melchior> ?roll 1d20+6
[10:04.27] <%tBot> Melchior: 12 ([6] +6)
[10:04.34] * Kir is aghast
[10:04.36] <+Melchior> [do I notice any strange crashing noises in my sleep?]
[10:04.45] <DM> A trickle of blood rolls down her nose.
[10:04.45] <+Shala> [now M is rolling to see if she can get in on this action]
[10:04.52] <+Kir> "Scorpion, help!"
[10:05.08] <DM> No, you don't Mel, especially given it's the other side of the ship and it's stormy.
[10:05.12] * Kir checks for serious or permanent damage
[10:05.16] <+Kir> perception?
[10:05.17] <DM> Pokey looks to you as if to say, "You serious, bro?"
[10:05.20] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+12
[10:05.20] <%tBot> Kir: 29 ([17] +12)
[10:05.36] <DM> I mean, she's definitely unconscious, which is never great.
[10:05.43] <DM> Her pupils are undilated.
[10:05.50] <DM> So, concussion.
[10:06.01] <+Kir> "Hm."
[10:06.17] <DM> *dilated
[10:06.21] <+Kir> "Get Mel"
[10:06.27] * Kir says to the scorpion
[10:06.52] <DM> Supremely incredulous look from the scorpion, which skitters off.
[10:07.04] * Kir looks for the grain alcohol, and takes a bit to try to smell Shala awake
[10:07.12] <DM> That's up in the galley. Are you going to carry her there?
[10:07.29] <+Kir> you're not supposed to move hurt people, right?
[10:07.38] <DM> What do I look like, a doctor?
[10:07.52] <+Kir> I mean
[10:07.57] <+Kir> this is something I think I'd know
[10:08.03] <+Kir> given the situations we've been in so far
[10:08.39] <DM> Given the situation, you think it's probably best to get her to a healer.
[10:08.58] <DM> Meanwhile, after going up like TWENTY stairs, Pokey scritches at Mel's door in the middle of a storm.
[10:09.03] <DM> Roll perception, Mel.
[10:09.11] <+Shala> ["she fell down the stairs : | "
[10:09.22] <+Repriever> [she not potato, so me hit]
[10:09.31] <+Melchior> ?roll 1d20+6
[10:09.31] <%tBot> Melchior: 14 ([8] +6)
[10:09.40] * Kir tests moving her
[10:09.42] <+Repriever> [now she is a potato, ironically]
[10:09.48] * Kir then does this if possible
[10:10.08] <DM> [Hit herself with handle of vodka bottle, I swear]
[10:10.31] <DM> You can scoop her up in your arms pretty easily, Kir
[10:10.40] <DM> After all, you've done it before, under happier circumstances.
[10:10.48] <DM> And she's pretty light.
[10:11.01] <DM> Mel, you snore right through it.
[10:11.12] * Kir moves fast, towards Mel
[10:11.22] <DM> At a certain point, Hin realizes something is wrong too.
[10:11.25] * You are now known as Hin
[10:11.44] <Hin> "Do you...require assistance, young ones?"
[10:11.46] * Kir kicks on her door, and if it doesn't budge, he uses the sphere to open it
[10:11.50] <+Kir> "Yes, healer"
[10:11.56] * Kir is a little stressed
[10:12.04] <Hin> Hin immediately notifies Penumbra, and you also hear Kir banging on Mel's door.
[10:12.09] <Hin> And Mel also hears that, for sure.
[10:12.19] <Hin> Pokey gives Kir a look near his feet as if to say, "I tried."
[10:12.42] <+Melchior> "Hmrf?"
[10:12.56] <+Melchior> "If you're asking about contraceptives..."
[10:13.51] <+Kir> "Sparring, she - knocked out"
[10:13.56] <+Kir> "Healing, help"
[10:13.59] <+Kir> "Please
[10:13.59] <+Kir> "
[10:14.04] <Hin> Repriever, you also probably her from Hin/Penumbra.
[10:14.10] * Melchior wipes at her sleepy eyes.
[10:14.15] * Repriever is on Penumbra's heel.
[10:14.22] <+Melchior> "Alright, but you'll want Repriever or Akvan."
[10:14.28] <+Repriever> "What... what did you?"
[10:14.33] * Repriever pokes out into the hall.
[10:14.37] <+Kir> "Sparring"
[10:14.39] <Hin> You see Kir, standing distraught in the hallway with a bloodied, heavily beaten Shala in his arms, head lolling.
[10:14.41] <+Kir> "Hit a little hard"
[10:14.43] * You are now known as DM
[10:14.43] <+Melchior> "They heal things, I accidentally slice holes in time and occasionally channel a god."
[10:14.58] <+Kir> "Help, Old Man"
[10:15.01] <+Repriever> "A little hard? Who taught you to spar, was it Malkara?"
[10:15.08] * Repriever takes Shala from him, and sets her on the floor.
[10:15.24] <DM> Ironrose speaks, muffled from her room.
[10:15.29] <DM> "Is everything alright? I heard shouting..."
[10:15.45] * Repriever tries to lay on hands for the first time since Astara was stolen.
[10:15.51] <DM> She took the small room across from Couplet's for reference.
[10:15.58] <DM> Repriever, make a will save.
[10:16.23] <+Repriever> ?roll 1d20+11
[10:16.23] <%tBot> Repriever: 21 ([10] +11)
[10:16.32] <DM> There is a moment where nothing happens.
[10:16.42] <+Repriever> "Hnn."
[10:16.49] <DM> And then, suddenly, blue-white stars bloom into existence under your palm.
[10:17.05] * Repriever cups Shala's head as he does this.
[10:17.11] <+Repriever> ?roll 6d6
[10:17.11] <%tBot> Repriever: 14 [1 2 2 2 1 6]
[10:17.14] <DM> Shala's bathed in the soothing glow.
[10:17.27] <DM> I'm pretty sure non-lethal people are capped at 0, so let's say that brings her back.
[10:17.47] <+Repriever> [it was only one lay anyway]
[10:17.59] <+Repriever> "Shala. Shala..."
[10:18.18] * Shala blinks, eyes bulging
[10:18.23] <DM> Shala, when you come to, you're in Kir's arms.
[10:18.31] * Shala 's face grimaces as a body of pain wraps around her
[10:18.32] <DM> Repriever is standing over you, Penumbra lurking behind in the hall.
[10:18.52] * Kir brushes hair from her face
[10:18.54] <+Repriever> "Ironrose see to her."
[10:18.55] <+Kir> "Sorry"
[10:19.00] <+Shala> "Shit...many-armed..."
[10:19.06] <+Repriever> "Make sure there's no swelling on her brain."
[10:19.18] * Repriever has to step back to consider the delay in his own powers.
[10:19.23] <DM> Ironrose's door swings open, and she comes out in a robe, hair unbound.
[10:19.29] <+Shala> "It's ok. I cheated..."
[10:19.30] <DM> "Oh my."
[10:19.44] <DM> "Do you have an infirmary?"
[10:19.53] <DM> "My room will do for now. Bring her in, Kir."
[10:20.10] * Kir obliges
[10:20.16] <DM> "And then get me some cloths soaked in cool water."
[10:20.24] * Repriever eyes Mel across the hall wearily.
[10:20.25] <DM> "And make her some tea, if you will."
[10:20.34] <DM> "We'll see to this shortly, never fear."
[10:20.52] <DM> "Calci, er...Astara protects."
[10:20.58] <DM> "Going to have to get used to that one."
[10:21.13] <DM> Ironrose smiles as she gets Shala settled and comfortable in her little bed.
[10:21.39] <DM> "Is your vision blurry?"
[10:21.42] <+Shala> "Hi again"
[10:21.45] <+Shala> "Oh...a bit"
[10:21.49] <DM> She uncorks a bottle of smelling salts under her nose.
[10:21.51] <DM> "Can you smell this?"
[10:22.01] * Melchior meets Repriever's look.
[10:22.06] <DM> She smacks her cheek lightly.
[10:22.09] <DM> "Can you feel this?"
[10:22.11] <DM> "Good."
[10:22.14] <DM> "Follow my finger."
[10:22.28] <DM> "Left, right..there you go."
[10:22.33] * Shala crinkles her nose in discomfort
[10:22.33] * Repriever gives a, what're we gonna do about these kids? look.
[10:23.12] * Melchior gives a sleepy noncommittal shrug.
[10:23.20] <DM> "Go back to bed, everyone."
[10:23.20] <+Shala> "Sorry ironrose"
[10:23.25] * Shala she croaks out weakly
[10:23.31] <DM> "Please! I'm here to serve."
[10:23.46] <DM> "Everyone's far too healthy for me to be of use at the moment."
[10:24.07] * DM smiles.
[10:24.09] <DM> Ironrose*
[10:24.14] <+Repriever> "No more killing each other tonight!"
[10:24.18] <DM> "We did say we'd be getting you a dedicated healer."
[10:24.22] * Repriever returns to Penumbra's chambers.
[10:25.16] * Kir stays by Shala
[10:26.04] <DM> "Kir, it's a bit crowded in here."
[10:26.16] <DM> "Not to be rude, but I think you should sleep."
[10:26.31] <DM> "She needs rest more than anything."
[10:26.34] <+Shala> "Kir, just cook for me tomorrow. Don't feel guilty."
[10:26.41] <+Kir> "...ok"
[10:26.46] * Kir returns to bed
[10:27.27] <+Shala> "I really wanted to kick his ass."
[10:27.31] * Shala sighs
[10:28.00] <DM> "From the way he was walking, you seem to have gotten a few shots in!"
[10:28.02] <+Melchior> "Still can, we've got tons of heals here."
[10:28.29] * Kir was limping heavily on the bruised knee
[10:28.47] <DM> "I think you two may need to train with more padding in the future."
[10:28.51] <DM> "Good night, Melchior."
[10:29.02] <DM> Ironrose shuts her door.
[10:29.36] <+Repriever> [ironrose is an assassin]
[10:29.38] <+Repriever> [D:]
[10:29.42] * Melchior goes back to bed, vaguely amused.
[10:29.47] <DM> She lays on hands, and the welts close, and the bruises fade.
[10:29.56] <DM> What Repriever didn't do with his.
[10:30.04] <DM> "Mentally, do you feel well?"
[10:30.26] * You are now known as Ironrose
[10:30.30] * Ironrose helps her drink her tea.
[10:30.32] <Ironrose> "Careful."
[10:30.35] <Ironrose> "It's hot."
[10:30.44] <+Shala> "My ego...can you mend that?"
[10:31.01] <+Shala> "I'm usually the one in bed, or in the dirt."
[10:31.03] * Shala sips her tea
[10:31.08] <Ironrose> "I can give you some advice, from someone who was once accounted a swordmaster."
[10:31.22] <Ironrose> "Although I've recently given that path up."
[10:32.01] <Ironrose> "Kir has been training since he was very small, to do just one thing."
[10:32.13] <Ironrose> "As have you."
[10:32.28] <Ironrose> "Now you're trying a new path, but you're going to go up against men and women who have been killers all their lives."
[10:32.36] * Ironrose sets the tea kettle on the floor.
[10:32.39] * Shala nods
[10:32.42] <Ironrose> "Or more than their lives."
[10:33.24] <Ironrose> "Know the fights you can't win."
[10:33.30] * Ironrose rubs her brow with a cool cloth.
[10:33.38] <Ironrose> "And fight them a different way."
[10:33.49] <Ironrose> "If you don't want to die."
[10:34.06] <+Shala> "That's...what all of this is."
[10:34.14] <Ironrose> "Mmm?"
[10:34.17] <+Shala> "Swordplay."
[10:34.35] <Ironrose> "Yes! You'll be stronger for it."
[10:34.55] <Ironrose> "Just be careful, my dear."
[10:35.22] <+Shala> "I won't give you too many more sleepless nights."
[10:35.42] <+Shala> "I'm more of a mid afternoon sort, so keep your schedule clear"
[10:35.45] * Shala smiles and sips
[10:35.45] <Ironrose> "Well, if you can walk back to your bed now, you won't even give me one!"
[10:35.56] <Ironrose> "You seem pretty hale now."
[10:36.16] <+Shala> "I can, and will, I think."
[10:36.30] <Ironrose> "Good hunting, warrior."
[10:36.49] * Shala straightens out and tests her recently ruptured muscles
[10:36.59] <+Shala> "Good night Ironrose."
[10:37.08] <Ironrose> "Sweet dreams!"
[10:37.23] * Ironrose waves.
[10:38.39] * Kir sleeps. Perhaps he dreams.
[10:38.39] <Ironrose> At long last, night descends.
[10:38.44] <Ironrose> And when you awaken the next day...
[10:38.46] * You are now known as DM
[10:38.56] <DM> You are in the midst of a ruin.
[10:39.09] <DM> The Reme has stopped.
[10:39.19] <DM> And the storm has been replaced with a light drizzle.
[10:39.27] * Melchior awakens and surveys the environment.
[10:39.30] <DM> A pale wan light spreads across the plain.
[10:39.46] * Kir scans through the portholes, and if it is safe, from the deck
[10:39.49] <+Kir> perception
[10:39.54] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+14
[10:39.54] <%tBot> Kir: 15 ([1] +14)
[10:40.09] <DM> When you go up on deck, Melchior, getting salutes from the Knights, this is what you see:
[10:40.14] <+Kir> *13
[10:40.16] * Repriever asks Hin for a status update from bed.
[10:40.38] * Repriever 's leg is not so great.
[10:40.42] <DM> [just a sec, leg stuff]
[10:40.47] * Akvan walks onto the deck as well
[10:43.28] <DM> The ruins are square, blocky, covered in an obscure and angular ancient script. Here and there there are buildings of multiple stories. In corners and on ledges, tufts of grass as brown as the plain are lodged for comfort.
[10:43.58] <+Kir> "Mel, want to explore?"
[10:44.19] * Melchior has a huge grin cross her face.
[10:44.21] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+5
[10:44.21] <%tBot> Akvan: 24 ([19] +5)
[10:44.23] <+Akvan> perception
[10:44.23] <+Melchior> "That's sorta my thing."
[10:44.25] <+Akvan> what do I see!
[10:44.33] <+Akvan> beyond the ruins themselves, obviously
[10:44.34] * Melchior hops off the boat and goes exploring with Kir.
[10:44.38] * Akvan joins as well
[10:44.49] * Repriever is still below deck.
[10:44.50] * Kir looks for the tallest building, and climbs it from the outside using the sphere
[10:44.57] * Kir takes a view from the top
[10:45.02] <+Kir> ?roll 1d20+12
[10:45.02] <%tBot> Kir: 22 ([10] +12)
[10:45.07] <DM> You see, that, Akvan: Throughout the ruins, there are large, black flightless birds, about the size of a small child, with three long, fluffy plumes on their tails. They quark to themselves and run in packs, occasionally snapping at insects or scratching at the dirt.
[10:45.38] <DM> They are pretty swift, and most of them quark loudly and run when they see you.
[10:46.18] <+Akvan> "QUARK!"
[10:46.22] * Akvan shouts
[10:46.23] * Shala keeps above deck, watching her friends explore for the time being
[10:46.25] <DM>  The crippled statues of a panoply of creatures line the niches of the shattered public buildings, although the bulk of them appear to be snake-like.
[10:46.26] <+Kir> "Akvan, you think, they taste good?"
[10:46.31] <DM> They don't respond charitably.
[10:46.41] * Kir chuckles
[10:46.53] * Kir looks especially to the landscape around the ruins, if possible
[10:47.09] <+Akvan> "With some good cookin' they're probably good."
[10:47.23] * Kir also studies the layout of the city, the Reme's relative location within it, and the types of buildings
[10:47.25] <DM> Kir, around the ruins, there is a long, blasted plain, and in the distance what appears to be the shimmer of a river to the east which has changed its direction.
[10:47.33] * Akvan pulls out his bow
[10:47.42] <+Akvan> and takes aim at one of the birds
[10:47.53] <+Akvan> (do you want me to roll an attack? or suvival?)
[10:47.58] <DM> Survival is fine
[10:48.21] * Melchior brings Barg and Kylma out for a walk.
[10:48.38] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+7
[10:48.38] <%tBot> Akvan: 14 ([7] +7)
[10:48.58] <DM> Kir, the buildings are mostly square-shaped, although the bulk of them have been devastated, and there are only a few tall towers
[10:49.02] * Repriever draws out that tub that Penumbra never uses and has Hin bring water with his automatons to fill it up.
[10:49.24] <DM> Many of them were in a zigguratic style, tiered with either squares or spiraling circles.
[10:49.35] * Kir looks for any buildings that might deviate from the norms of the place, i.e. the interesting ones to poke around inside of
[10:49.54] <+Akvan> (did I bag a bird?)
[10:50.15] <+Melchior> ?roll 1d20+9
[10:50.15] <%tBot> Melchior: 27 ([18] +9)
[10:50.18] <+Melchior> Knowledge history.
[10:51.41] <DM> Melchior, you recognize the script here as a form of vulgar Kanetic, often called Low or Later Kanetic.
[10:52.09] <DM> You also see from the various statues and iconography, especially flames carved over doorways and lintels, that this was a city that worshipped the holy flame.
[10:52.25] <+Melchior> before or during the time of Ilia?
[10:52.31] <DM> Similar to the monks who established their temple atop old Kanetic ruins you once explored.
[10:52.53] <DM> There are references in inscriptions to Alaiah, the local derivation of her name.
[10:53.40] * Melchior continues roaming around with her co-super-sleuths, Detective Barg and Agent Kylm�
[10:54.07] <+Akvan> "Kir... want to climb one?"
[10:54.51] <DM> Here and there, Melchior, there are signs of clawmarks on various areas, along with shattered remnants of ancient fighting.
[10:55.01] <+Melchior> Dragons?
[10:55.05] <DM> Yes.
[10:55.18] <DM> An archaeologist always knows the telltale signs of looting, and this is one.
[10:55.37] * Melchior immediately assumes Repriever will have an 'of course it was dragons' reaction.
[10:55.41] <DM> Akvan, you got a bird!
[10:55.46] <DM> Although it took you a few tries.
[10:55.48] <+Kir> "Of course"
[10:55.52] * Kir grins
[10:55.58] * Melchior considers the things that get looted and the things that don't.
[10:55.58] <+Kir> "After breakfast"
[10:56.01] * Akvan straps the bird to his belt by it's feet
[10:56.06] <+Melchior> Are we on an island, by the way?
[10:56.08] * Repriever is fortunately below deck still.
[10:56.27] * Kir goes in to supervise the morning porridge
[10:56.28] <DM> No you're not, you're in the midst of a great plain, several miles north of the ocean.
[10:56.32] <DM> Firmly situated in the waste.
[10:56.38] <DM> Also, Kir, to the north, you saw the looming mountains.
[10:56.48] <DM> Slightly north northwest.
[10:56.53] * Kir maybe decides to fry some potatoes if there is enough oil and potato
[10:57.06] <DM> The so-called Ashpeaks, they loom grey as their name.
[10:57.11] * Akvan joins kir and starts to clean the bird
[10:57.18] * Kir also asks for volunteers for a forage party, to scrounge for leftover spices and foods among the ruins
[10:57.22] <+Akvan> plucking it, gutting it, saving the innards for soup
[10:57.35] * Kir will direct them to Mel for further instructions if a squad is assembled
[10:58.38] <+Melchior> "Spices in these ruins?"
[10:58.44] * Melchior judges the age of the ruins.
[10:58.59] <+Kir> "Wild growth, maybe"
[10:59.02] <+Kir> "Or food stores"
[10:59.12] <+Kir> "Or booze"
[10:59.21] * Repriever gets Madei's help with freezing the water he's filled the tub with, while Penumbra watches.
[10:59.22] <+Kir> "Not for your drinking!"
[10:59.22] <+Melchior> "Wild's your best bet, this place has been turned fully over."
[10:59.36] <+Akvan> "mel, It's called Azziah, and before that Aza-alaiah"
[10:59.42] <+Akvan> "The calcissi sacked it."
[10:59.56] <+Kir> "Akvan, you lead hunt for wild spices?
[10:59.57] <+Kir> "
[11:00.02] <+Kir> "you know terrain best"
[11:00.07] * Akvan shrugs
[11:00.09] <+Akvan> "Sure"
[11:00.14] <+Kir> "Perhaps orchards outside city?"
[11:00.15] * Akvan tosses a half cleaned bird at Kir
[11:00.18] <+Melchior> "Yes, Alaiah is their name for Ilia."
[11:00.24] <+Melchior> "Or was, rather."
[11:00.28] <+Kir> "After you finish bird"
[11:00.29] <+Akvan> "Also the name of the city"
[11:00.31] <+Melchior> "I suppose Aza is..."
[11:00.41] * Kir says, quieter
[11:00.42] <DM> Seat, or sanctuary.
[11:00.44] * Melchior considers her knowledge of vulgar Kanetic.
[11:00.53] <+Akvan> (too late, the half plucked bird is flying in the air towards kir"
[11:01.01] <+Melchior> "Sanctuary. Safe place, throne."
[11:01.07] * Kir sets to cleaning it, but leaves room for Akvan to help
[11:01.26] * Repriever puts on his armor after instructing Madei to freeze the tub water, then goes above deck to allow it time to thaw back out into a slurry for later use.
[11:01.49] * NK (Halcyon@uc-wifi-nat-128-135-100-106.uchicago.edu) Quit (Quit: I cna ytpe 300 wrods pre mniuet!!!)
[11:01.53] * NK (Halcyon@uc-wifi-nat-128-135-100-106.uchicago.edu) has joined channel #nesdnd
[11:01.57] <DM> Madei runs after him, pointing at the others and shouting.
[11:02.04] <DM> "Hiiii, it's meee!"
[11:02.11] <DM> They're pretty far away, though.
[11:02.56] * Repriever watches from here.
[11:03.28] <DM> Your expedition turns up some interesting inscriptions, but unless you're interested in shattered pottery, there's not much useful left.
[11:03.33] <DM> Multiple armies have already been through this place.
[11:03.49] <DM> Akvan, however, does come on some more obsidian arrowheads.
[11:04.22] * Akvan heads towards the outskirts
[11:04.27] <DM> The city itself, Mel, probably has a few distinct architectural periods.
[11:04.30] * Akvan is thinking about kir's words
[11:04.36] <+Akvan> about the orchards
[11:04.50] <+Akvan> ?roll 1d20+7
[11:04.50] <%tBot> Akvan: 20 ([13] +7)
[11:04.52] <+Akvan> survival
[11:05.15] * Repriever shows Madei things from the safety of the deck, Penumbra at his side.
[11:06.02] * Melchior tries to put together its history, and sees if she can figure anything useful or recoverable from the site, beyond pure knowledge.
[11:06.39] <DM> You don't see any signs of orchards, Akvan, outside of the city it mostly appears to be brownish plain, not too dissimilar from your homeland, broken with occasional strands of gnarled cypress (which is different) and gradually increasing hills (which is different) although at least the snow has melted.
[11:06.57] <DM> Mel, you stumble upon an interesting area near the center of the city.
[11:07.09] <DM> stands*
[11:07.54] * Repriever is on guard, wary of any signs of tainted auras.
[11:08.06] * Kir looks around the ruins for things
[11:08.16] <DM> Seems to be a public square of some sort.
[11:08.27] <+Akvan> [Even better. Can I locate some wild onions, garlic, maybe some cloudberries, or raspberries or blackberries
[11:08.29] <+Akvan> ]
[11:08.30] <DM>  In the center of the square is the headless statue of a woman, her arms open at her side, carrying two flames in her hands.
[11:08.38] <+Akvan> [there might also be some mushrooms that I might recognize?]
[11:08.39] * Melchior sits down cross-legged, and feels the earth below her.
[11:08.39] * Kir especially keeps an eye out for reliefs or things related to the Kallosi, or Bel, but he does not expect to find the former
[11:08.49] * Melchior looks around from the center of the square.
[11:08.54] <+Akvan> [Or mountain sorrell?]
[11:09.01] <DM> Although, the flames look a bit different.
[11:09.14] <DM> One is swirling while the other is more...flamey.
[11:09.18] <DM> Hard to say, regardless.
[11:09.44] <+Melchior> Knowledge religion.
[11:09.48] <+Melchior> ?roll 1d20+9
[11:09.48] <%tBot> Melchior: 17 ([8] +9)
[11:10.21] <DM> Probably Alaiah, although earlier Kanet worshipped a hybrid goddess of fire and water.
[11:10.34] <+Melchior> That may explain the two flames.
[11:10.40] <DM> This would later lead to some significant iconoclasm and religious infighting, with the dualists being purged in favor of a united flame.
[11:10.52] * Melchior does not recall it fondly. >_>
[11:11.33] <+Repriever> "You see that's what dragons do," he says to Madei, pointing out the visible claw marks.
[11:11.34] <DM> The statue looks older, but it's ambiguous enough that it could have survived.
[11:11.49] * You are now known as Madei
[11:11.52] * Melchior relaxes in this place, absorbing it, reaching down into its past, seizing at its strings.
[11:11.52] <Madei> "They're scratchy?"
[11:11.57] * You are now known as DM
[11:12.02] <+Repriever> "Immensely so."
[11:12.24] <DM> You get some cloudberries, Akvan, as well as a few wild raspberries, since spring is now approaching.
[11:12.33] <DM> After an hour or two of hunting.
[11:12.39] * You are now known as Madei
[11:12.43] <Madei> "So what do you do?"
[11:13.08] <+Repriever> "You *snip* their claws, of course."
[11:13.17] * Melchior places her crystal crown of divination and reaches into the past.
[11:13.21] * Akvan heads back towards the ship, depositing the ingredients infront of Kir
[11:13.30] <+Akvan> "We can make a sauce for the bird with these."
[11:13.37] <+Akvan> "Hid the gaminess of the bird."
[11:13.45] * Repriever makes a scissor with his fingers.
[11:13.46] <+Akvan> "Couldn't find any garlic or onions, but..."
[11:13.55] <Madei> "Snip snip," says Madei, also making the scissor.
[11:14.03] <Madei> "Leps snip them."
[11:14.18] * Akvan reserves a single raspberry for madei
[11:14.22] <+Akvan> giving it to her
[11:14.28] <Madei> Luckily there are both on the ship, Akvan.
[11:14.31] * You are now known as DM
[11:14.36] <DM> Alright, Melchior.
[11:14.53] <DM> You see the layers of building and destruction, of happiness and tragedy.
[11:15.16] * Melchior breathes it in.
[11:15.24] <DM> You see the Apastron's forces sweep through recently...before that the dragons, prying open locked chambers and bringing out jewels and magical items...
[11:15.44] <DM> Before that the Calcissi, stripping artwork and statuary, along with the more obvious treasures.
[11:16.02] <DM> Before that you see the people leaving, dispersing.
[11:16.13] <DM> You see their dwindling in reverse, then you see their river move back into place.
[11:16.30] <DM> Collapsed buildings rise back to their prominence.
[11:17.08] <DM> And finally, you realize that the statue, itself, has a deeply dormant, inactivated spell, that everyone has missed.
[11:17.21] <DM> Something woven into its depths. Into its nature.
[11:17.30] <DM> The nature that predates the institution of the fire cult.
[11:18.03] <DM> And that if an individual were to give it the two things it sought, it would reveal its secrets.
[11:18.12] * Repriever chats idly with Penumbra as all of this goes on below them.
[11:18.12] <+Melchior> Water and Fire?
[11:18.16] <DM> Just so.
[11:19.13] <+Melchior> "Akvan."
[11:19.21] <DM> You probably come upon Kir and Akvan, journeying back to the Reme with a large black bird slung over their shoulders.
[11:19.30] <DM> It has a long, pale neck.
[11:19.45] <+Melchior> Do I recognize it?
[11:19.52] <DM> No.
[11:20.08] * Shala watches the specks of her friends, moving about, and yawns
[11:20.09] <+Melchior> I'd hate to eat an animal that was an old friend. ;)
[11:20.12] <DM> They weren't native to this region before.
[11:20.16] * Shala thinks "I should...see what they're up to..."
[11:20.21] <+Melchior> Food animals from the Dragons?
[11:20.32] <DM> That's a more likely hypothesis!
[11:20.37] <DM> Or they moved south with climate change.
[11:20.49] <+Melchior> [what a preposterous theory]
[11:20.56] <+Melchior> [:3]
[11:21.09] <+Melchior> "Akvan. See this."
[11:21.22] <DM> She brings you to the square with the woman.
[11:21.23] <+Akvan> (I thought Kir was still on the ship, making food.)
[11:21.35] <DM> Oh no, he was out exploring, I'm pretty sure
[11:21.41] <DM> I thought you caught him on the way back to the ship
[11:21.46] <+Shala> [see i thought he was in the bathroom]
[11:21.46] * Kir started walking around, looking for Kallos and Bel stuff
[11:22.03] <+Melchior> "Thrice fallen, yet still remains, giveth her both water and flames."
[11:22.20] <+Melchior> "Have you seen this woman before?"
[11:22.22] <+Repriever> "You should be more careful," he says to Shala when she comes above deck.
[11:22.34] * Akvan shrugs, but looks more carefully
[11:22.45] <+Akvan> "Hard to say without a face."
[11:22.59] <+Shala> "I...yes, next time I won't hit him so hard."
[11:23.12] <+Akvan> "I mean, fire... is obvious, though that's a more watery looking fire than that one."
[11:23.16] <+Akvan> (What should I roll, DM?)
[11:23.25] <+Shala> "I think men with one-arm was more my speed."
[11:23.31] <DM> You don't know anything of this, Akvan
[11:23.41] <+Melchior> "An ancient goddes, spark and steam, flame and water... the Kanetic people fought many theological wars."
[11:23.45] <+Melchior> "But she's still awake."
[11:24.05] <+Melchior> "Through all the years of looting, they carried off everything, but missed this, the spell rooting this whole place."
[11:24.15] <+Akvan> "Rooting it?"
[11:24.26] <+Melchior> "It's very ancient, and it's been here throughout."
[11:24.41] <DM> Kir, you noted that there were small holes in the ground, in the ancient riverbed, now dry.
[11:24.46] * Repriever chuckles at Shala's joke.
[11:24.52] <DM> Almost like the river was supposed to go somewhere, underground.
[11:25.03] * Kir probes with the sphere
[11:25.05] <DM> But you assumed a sewer system or something mundane, until now.
[11:25.12] * Kir also tries something new
[11:25.15] <DM> This was just while you were exploring.
[11:25.24] <+Akvan> "So, mel, what do you want me to do?"
[11:25.52] * Kir tries to hook the sphere into his visor, and see if there's a way to channel a feed from the sphere to the helmet's viewscreen
[11:26.10] <+Kir> presumably this would be a thought protocol with the sphere
[11:26.18] <DM> Haha, inventive, Kir, but I'm not sure if you have the technological framework to envision that yet
[11:26.53] * Kir forms the tip of the sphere into an eye
[11:26.58] <DM> That rests on modern notions of cameras and fiber optics, or at least electricity, that aren't quite clear in this time
[11:27.00] <+Melchior> "I want to commune with it. Lethe can give me water, I need you to bring flame."
[11:27.03] * Kir extends its stalk to the caverns
[11:27.14] <+Akvan> "I... can do water as well, if you need to focus on it more?"
[11:27.23] <+Akvan> "How should I do this?"
[11:27.33] <DM> Unfortunately you aren't able to get any visual perception from the sphere, although it forms the shape of an eye
[11:27.47] * Kir is displeased
[11:28.12] * Kir runs back to find someone to tell them what he's doing, then goes back to explore the sewers
[11:28.38] <DM> Kir, you come upon Mel and Akvan juuuust as they try this.
[11:28.59] * Akvan reaches into himself, both for the fire, which is easy to touch, and the water, which is a bit harder
[11:29.18] * Akvan lets the different magics coil in each hand, unconsciously echoing the statue itself
[11:29.32] * Kir sees something is up, and watches from the edge for a while
[11:29.39] * Kir takes a comfortable seat on a step
[11:29.50] <DM> As you summon both fire, and water, they uncoil and snake into the two stone "flames" that the artist projected from the statue's open hands, hundreds or even thousands of years ago.
[11:29.53] * Melchior sits down in front of the statue, and allows Lethe to bring forth a globe of water in her hand.
[11:30.17] <+Repriever> "What're they doing down there?"
[11:30.17] <DM> I'll leave it to the two of you if Akvan does both or Mel does one and Akvan the other.
[11:30.26] <+Akvan> (Can I try both?)
[11:30.34] <+Akvan> (so you can focus on the statue and the spell itself?)
[11:30.36] <+Melchior> Seems we're both water-offerers.
[11:31.49] <DM> Mel, the choice is yours.
[11:31.58] * Melchior offers it.
[11:32.53] <DM> Alright, then.
[11:33.05] <DM> With Akvan offering flame, and Melchior offering water...
[11:33.26] <DM> The stone in the statue's hands turns to a true globe of shimmering water.
[11:33.36] <DM> And the other into a roiling sphere of red-hot flame.
[11:33.49] <DM> And then, the statue, slowly, begins to rotate.
[11:33.51] <DM> Down.
[11:34.09] <DM> It sinks into the earth, leaving a hole in its place.
[11:34.12] <DM> And a staircase.
[11:34.16] <DM> End session!