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  1. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jan 21 19:00:00 2013 -0800
  2. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3. * Aliken mews.
  4. *** Dicelord has joined #lordsofdungeons
  5. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d6
  6. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
  7. <ProfessorProf> success
  8. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  9. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{13}
  10. *** NineThePuma has joined #lordsofdungeons
  11. <NineThePuma> banana?
  12. * NekoIncardine rolled 2d6+2 -- [3]-[1] -- the total result is 6.
  13. *** kajarainbow is now known as DungeonLady
  14. <NekoIncardine> :D
  15. <ProfessorProf> oh I see my dicebot isn't good enough for Inc
  16. * NekoIncardine coded this himself like 5 years ago. I'm keeping it if I'm allowed ;;
  17. *** ProfessorProf is now known as Golasa
  18. <@DungeonLady> Haha, just use whatever. :)
  19. <Aliken> Yes, mighty Dungeon Mistress.
  20. * Aliken nods.
  21. *** NekoIncardine is now known as Rin
  22. <Rin> (Not taken yay)
  23. <Golasa> wow, I was sure it would be
  24. <Aliken> So, you got to steal it! :3
  25. <Aliken> Rin's good at that.
  26. <@DungeonLady> So you've concluded your business at the mysteriously tall tower.
  27. <Golasa> Yes.
  28. *** NineThePuma is now known as Damian
  29. <@DungeonLady> Any other preparations you wish to make, heroes?
  30. <Aliken> Well, study the books I kept for myself, and check the dungeon board to find out what's nearby.
  31. * Rin near-literally cries when she hears a Bag of Holding was offered. "We're getting one of those next time I don't care how!", she says, before deciding she's ready to go
  32. <Golasa> "It was my book, so I picked the treasure most useful to me."
  33. <Golasa> "What about you? Have you gotten anything useful done while we were up there?"
  34. <@DungeonLady> The dungeon board is a surprisingly cluttered map. There must be dozens of them, though many have been crossed off or have the names of adventuring parties written next to them. Curiously enough, the rune dungeon's already been crossed off... as has been the Maw.
  35. <@DungeonLady> More interesting is that the dungeons actually have names next to them. "The Dungeon of Words" is the one you recently completed. "The Dungeon of Hidden Lethality" being the dungeon that killed people that merely approached it. The 'strange' dungeon has been named as "The Dungeon of Mysteries."
  36. <Aliken> "Dungeon of Mysteries? Interesting."
  37. <Rin> "That's not ominous. Why can't there be someplace more straightforward. Like the Dungeon of Bears or something?"
  38. <Rin> *Of course, with Rin's luck, we'd be using an alternative definition of bears...*
  39. <Golasa> "If you want bears, go to the woods."
  40. <Golasa> "Dungeons are going to be more complicated than that."
  41. <@DungeonLady> There's also "The Dungeon of Conflict," "The Boring Dungeon," The Dungeon of the Forsaken," amongst those that haven't been crossed out or apparently claimed.
  42. <Aliken> "I think I like the idea of the Dungeon of Mysteries."
  43. <Rin> "Let's try The Boring Dungeon," Rin suggests.
  44. <Golasa> "Sounds boring."
  45. <Rin> "... that's the point!"
  46. * Rin obviously recalling nearly falling into empty black space earlier.
  47. <Golasa> "If I wanted to be bored, why would I go to a dungeon?"
  48. <Damian> "If I might offer an opinion, the "dungeon of the forsaken" sounds interesting."
  49. <Aliken> "Right. Golasa, is there a dungeon you wish to nominate?"
  50. <Golasa> "After all the word games from the last dungeon, I'm inclined to side with the kobold on this one. Besides, I need to find some spiders, and spiders aren't very mysterious."
  51. <Aliken> "Very well. The Dungeon of the Forsaken seems to have the most support, in that event."
  52. <Rin> "... Sure, let's do it."
  53. <Golasa> Oh, before we head out, Golasa's gonna buy some chains.
  54. <Golasa> Price?
  55. <@DungeonLady> If you just want the iron link sort, 5 coins.
  56. <Golasa> Hmm. How about silver?
  57. <@DungeonLady> 20.
  58. <Golasa> Done. Any weight?
  59. <@DungeonLady> 1
  60. <Golasa> Also done.
  61. <Aliken> How far out of the city is the Dungeon of the Forsaken?
  62. <@DungeonLady> It seems to be amongst some mountains four days away.
  63. <Rin> "We're going to need more food."
  64. <Aliken> "Let's stock up on more supplies and head out."
  65. * Rin refills from 3 to 5 rations. Since a set of 5 is 3 coins, is getting two more 1 coin?
  66. <Golasa> "I already stocked up on food, but go ahead. I need some time to do wizardly things."
  67. <@DungeonLady> Sure.
  68. <Golasa> While they're getting food, Golasa's going to attempt a ritual to purify the silver in the chains.
  69. * Rin also decides to finally invest in a portable camp set - small tent, bedroll, and such, preferably stuffed to under 1 weight. How much?
  70. <Rin> (Treated as an abstraction, this is her trying to invest in a couple basic luxuries)
  71. <@DungeonLady> For sanctified silver, you'd want to enlist an cleric. But if it's just alchemical purification, you've got the reagents on hand for that. Just need a bit of pure water (and we do mean *pure*) which'll run you 5 gold. Also it's a bit of a time and labor intensive process, but you've got time after all.
  72. <@DungeonLady> A luxury set'll run you 20 gold.
  73. <@DungeonLady> (That's for Rin.)
  74. * Rin sells off or gives away a few of her throwing daggers (from 5 sets taking 2 weight, to 3 sets taking 1) so she remains at 8 weight out of 9 - gotta have room to carry at least a little loot.
  75. <Golasa> Golasa considers purifying some water herself, but she's got money to burn right now, so 5 gold it is.
  76. <Golasa> Regular alchemical purification - sanctifying them would create the impurity of outside contact from their connection to the divine.
  77. <@DungeonLady> And so you brave heroes made their preparations. Are you, then, ready to embark upon the perilous journey to the forsaken dungeon within the Angros mountains?
  78. <Aliken> Indeed.
  79. * Damian trudges with the best trudgers.
  80. <Golasa> Off we go.
  81. <Rin> Sure, Rin guesses.
  82. <@DungeonLady> (I'm simplifying the Perilous Journey roll. Someone roll +Wis to see how 'exciting' it is.)
  83. <Rin> (RIn's a +0. Someone savvier than her roll it. XD)
  84. <Golasa> I'll do it, then.
  85. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+1 Perilous Journeyhood
  86. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+1 Perilous Journeyhood --> [ 2d6=12 ]{13}
  87. <Golasa> BAM
  88. <Aliken> I think that went well.
  89. <Rin> (Crit success! So, what, we manage to kill a bunch of animals on the way and don't run our rations down as a result? XD)
  90. <@DungeonLady> You make swift time, cutting across countryside and through a narrow little used pass. It only takes three days, and you managed to hunt down enough on the way to save you a day's worth of rations. So you only mark off two rations.
  91. * Rin surprisingly knows some good ways to cook deer.
  92. <Rin> "So... What's here?"
  93. <@DungeonLady> The crying man root turns out to make just as good a meal supplement when wrapped and baked in smoldering fireplace cinders as it makes a reagent, by the way.
  94. <Golasa> "You tell me. We should be close by now."
  95. <@DungeonLady> The dungeon is very easy to miss in the narrow gap, but once you see it, it's unmistakeable. Engravings of angels with mournful expressions stand on every side of an entrance into darkness.
  96. <Damian> "Well, that doesn't look forsaken."
  97. <Aliken> "It looks like we may be dealing with those who have betrayed the gods. We should be careful."
  98. <Golasa> "We're always careful."
  99. <Golasa> "Or at least, I am."
  100. <Rin> "So, what? Devils?"
  101. <Damian> "Maybe we got lost and this is the dungeon of ironic tragedy?"
  102. <Rin> "Either way... We're going in."
  103. <Aliken> "Scout ahead. I"ll take point with the main group; if you run into trouble, you can retreat to us as always."
  104. <Rin> "We go in together. THEN I scout. Becuase once we're in, we're probably going to be locked in."
  105. <Golasa> "Yes, let's get inside before we get separated."
  106. * Damian draws her wand. "Lets get this party started."
  107. <Rin> "I've gotten used to that." She slowly starts to move in, already starting to eye for the presence of traps before they're even inside...
  108. * Rin rolled 2d6+2 -- [3]-[3] -- the total result is 8.
  109. <Rin> (Are there any traps? :V)
  110. <@DungeonLady> Only the forlorn entrance, which will inevitable close behind you.
  111. <Rin> "... Everybody in. Someone get a light source out, we'll probably need it"
  112. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell: Light
  113. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell: Light --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  114. <Golasa> Light you have, from the tip of Golasa's staff.
  115. * Damian piles in with everyone else!
  116. * Rin goes in first, because apparently she's going to be doing scouting, such as it is...
  117. <Rin> ((... What horrors await us, I wonder?))
  118. <@DungeonLady> From the outside, it gave the impression of a narrow passage, bout once inside, with the door sealing up leaving a featureless wall, you stand within a large room stretching out of the limited reach of your light. Bones lie spewed everywhere, many of them very strange and unfamiliar. A chill breeze can be felt against your skin.
  119. <@DungeonLady> There's a rustling, and faintly seen inhumanly thin figures in the distances of the light's shadows which appear to be searching through the bones.
  120. <Golasa> Are they apparitions, or physical people? The difference would be clear to Golasa, at least.
  121. <@DungeonLady> In this case, it appears to be surprisingly blurry! They're physical, but in a sense barely so.
  122. * Rin eyes out for traps... Again.
  123. * Rin rolled 2d6+2 -- [1]-[5] -- the total result is 8.
  124. <Rin> (... Exact same result.)
  125. <Golasa> "What are you guys seeing here?"
  126. <Rin> ((She identifies what traps there are and what triggers them, if any))
  127. <Aliken> Aliken looks down at the bones, trying to see if she can determine if they died of violence, at least.
  128. <Aliken> (Should I roll to discern realities?)
  129. <Aliken> "Bones, and thin bonepickers."
  130. <@DungeonLady> The majority bear no sign of violence, but there are some that do bear the marks of shattering blows.
  131. <@DungeonLady> Rin notes the tiny snares that've been set up amongst some of the bone piles, but they seem too tiny to be intended for humanoids. Rodents, maybe?
  132. <@DungeonLady> None of them show any sign of being sprung.
  133. <Rin> "... Some kind of something broke at least some of these. There's snares, but they're mouse-sized. Not any kind of trap meant for... Well, whatever these bones were."
  134. <Aliken> "It doesn't appear that most of those who died here died violently. Damn. I suspect hunger and thirst are the big dangers here."
  135. <Rin> "... Meaning we need to keep moving. Find stuff, find the solution, get outta here."
  136. <Golasa> "I mean, what are those things rooting through the bones up ahead?"
  137. <Aliken> "They look person-shaped. Very thin. I'm not sure. If I had to guess, I imagine they're hungry."
  138. <@DungeonLady> "Warm..." The bonepickers seem to have taken notice of the light. "Warm... Warm!" Their voices echo, sounding almost like wails.
  139. * Rin reaches for her rapier, in case they attack.
  140. <Aliken> "Stand back! Is there a way out of this chamber?"
  141. <Golasa> "Do they look like they're planning on eating us?"
  142. <Aliken> Aliken bellows, unlimbering her sword.
  143. <Golasa> She's already positioning herself to put Aliken between them and her.
  144. <@DungeonLady> "Warm..." The nearest ones scuttle toward you, reaching out with their stick-thin hands outstretched.
  145. <Rin> "BACK," Rin demands, raising her rapier and trying to look intimidating!
  146. <Rin> (Roll something? Or does it just fail?)
  147. <@DungeonLady> (Alas, they are blind to that little.)
  148. <@DungeonLady> They show no signs of hearing. There's more of them coming. The nearest can be seen more clearly now, skeletons and skin.
  149. <@DungeonLady> They do not look like they should be alive.
  150. <Golasa> Golasa points her staff like a sword, smoke rising from the end of it. "If it's warmth you want, then why don't you go and chase it?"
  151. <Aliken> "BACK OR WE WILL KILL YOU!"
  152. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell (Fireball)
  153. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell (Fireball) --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  154. <Golasa> Golasa hurls a fireball towards the far side of the chamber.
  155. <Golasa> That should get their attention.
  156. <Aliken> As soon as the nearest figure approaches in range, Aliken will hack it down.
  157. <@DungeonLady> The flare of light and warmth draws a great many of them. They seem to care nothing about the flames scorching them, all scrambling to get into them.
  158. <Golasa> should I roll damage?
  159. <@DungeonLady> The rest, if fewer, continue toward you. They give no resistance, and are easily cut down, but the ones cut down reach for Aliken's ankles. (Deal your damage directly, Aliken.)
  160. <@DungeonLady> (Don't bother, Golasa. :) )
  161. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+2
  162. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+2 --> [ 1d10=2 ]{4}
  163. * Rin attempts to strike at a few of the ones closest to getting on Aliken!
  164. * Rin rolled 2d6+2 -- [5]-[6] -- the total result is 13.
  165. <@DungeonLady> A couple cease moving, but that is only two out of the tiny horde. At lest it is merely a tiny horde as opposed to the multitude now trampling over each other trying to touch the warmth where the fireball landed.
  166. <Aliken> "Gerechtsheid!" Aliken starts to back off, focusing on hacking down any hands that get close to her.
  167. <Rin> (That was a Hack and Slash)
  168. <@DungeonLady> Rin, roll damage..
  169. <Golasa> Are they actually attacking us?
  170. <@DungeonLady> Or you may precisely stab as you wish. There is no resistance for you to hack and slash against.
  171. * Rin rolled 1d8 -- [4] -- the total result is 4.
  172. <Aliken> They're trying to grab onto us, anyhow.
  173. <Rin> (Piercing 1, by the by)
  174. <@DungeonLady> They have shown no apparent hostility, only a blind and desperate rush.
  175. <@DungeonLady> A couple more lie down and are mercifully still.
  176. <Aliken> "We need an exit from this room NOW! Somebody look for an exit!"
  177. <@DungeonLady> Damian, there're some groping at you. What shall you do?
  178. <Golasa> "Do we? I mean, are these things actually dangerous?"
  179. <Golasa> She holds her shiny staff on high. "Cease your charge, and I'll give you all the warmth you want!"
  180. * Damian in a fit of annoyance, takes a moment to scramble aside, darting off along the wall to the left, wand still drawn. "Unless there's a stairway down, chances are it's part of the wall. Try not to lose track of me."
  181. <@DungeonLady> Some of them lift up their arms in response to the lifting of the staff.
  182. <Golasa> Do they slow at all?
  183. <@DungeonLady> Those ones do, but the rest continue pouring on. Some fall, and are trampled heedlessly.
  184. <Aliken> "Understood!" Aliken jogs after Damian, ready to simply cleave a path through any figures that get in her way.
  185. * Rin moves after Aliken, slicing those that might block Golasa's path and guiding her to follow
  186. <Golasa> "Mph, even if they're not trying to kill us, we should probably get out of here before they trample us and each other to death."
  187. <@DungeonLady> In fact, the ones that slow or stop, they're trampled.
  188. * Golasa doesn't kill any more, but does follow Aliken, occasionally waving her staff at their pursuers.
  189. <@DungeonLady> Even desperate as they are, they prove slower than you and more easily fall behind exhausted. You manage to outdistance them after a few minutes sprinting along the wall.
  190. <@DungeonLady> A giggling can be heard from up ahead.
  191. <Golasa> "Oh, what now?"
  192. <Rin> "... Well. Now wh-" Rin stops as she hears the giggling. That's not good.
  193. * Damian shrugs, pointing her wand ahead. "We should try to find the source, cause it's something different from the Forsaken."
  194. <Golasa> "No point in turning back now!"
  195. <Aliken> "Who is it? Are you friend or foe?"
  196. <@DungeonLady> "Hee hee! Those little idiots!" White shines in the dim light ahead. The white of bones. A face, or a mask.
  197. <@DungeonLady> "Grabbing for everything and anything that might save them!"
  198. <@DungeonLady> "They already can't be saved! Hee hee!"
  199. <Rin> "What does that mean?"
  200. <Damian> "I'm willing to bet that even if this particular person isn't foe, they're not a friend." she mutters quietly, wishing she'd bothered to learn Fire runes.
  201. <Aliken> "Do you know a way out of here?"
  202. <Golasa> "We can talk all you want once we're out of this room!"
  203. <@DungeonLady> The figure ahead advances into the light, revealing itself to be adorned entirely in what looks like a robe of tattered skin and bones. Its 'face' is a skeletal mask with a sneering grimace painted onto it. "Hee! You assume there's anything outside this room!"
  204. <@DungeonLady> The grimace is painted in a dried brown.
  205. <Golasa> "Let's kill it and keep exploring."
  206. * Damian rolls her eyes. "Of course there's nothing outside this room. We spontaneously materialized here from the ethereal fully formed with a boat load of false memories implanted within us by the gods."
  207. <Aliken> "They've not proved themselves foe yet. I shan't murder somebody unjustly."
  208. <Golasa> "Then let's ignore it and keep exploring."
  209. <@DungeonLady> "Heeeey! Do you think I'm the sorta moron'd attack you? Nonono, you're from outside! Outside has halls and rooms and valleys and forests and everything!"
  210. <Aliken> "Can you help us? If you help us, we'll take you with us to the outside when we escape this place."
  211. <@DungeonLady> "In here's only the endless floor and the landmarks!"
  212. <@DungeonLady> "Hee hee. You're assuming there's hope for me."
  213. <Golasa> "We're not taking every dungeon-dwelling lunatic we find along with us, Aliken!"
  214. <Damian> "No, we're tryin to bribe you to help us work this all out."
  215. <Aliken> "I will not forsake them if there is hope for them! And their knowledge is our best chance."
  216. <Rin> "What do you mean by there being no hope for you?"
  217. <Aliken> "Can you help us find the landmarks, then?"
  218. <@DungeonLady> "Hee hee! Besides, there're plenty of weaklings in here. Not scary strong ones like you."
  219. <Aliken> "Will you help us? If you shan't, we don't have time to waste before THEY catch up with us?"
  220. <@DungeonLady> "Whyyyy?"
  221. <Rin> "... Bah. If you won't answer our questions in any way besides cryptically... Guys, let's go!"
  222. * Rin starts onward.
  223. <Aliken> Aliken rolls her eyes. "What would you want?"
  224. <Golasa> Golasa's with Rin!
  225. <@DungeonLady> "You won't get anywhere following the wall. It goes round and round for so long you'll run out of food!"
  226. <@DungeonLady> "Speaking of... I want something hearty!"
  227. <Golasa> "No!"
  228. <Aliken> Aliken digs in her back for food. "Here. We brought food."
  229. <Rin> "... Then what would we do to get anywhere?"
  230. <Golasa> "Maybe we should've gone with the Dungeon of Mysteries."
  231. <@DungeonLady> (Okay, roll +Cha if you want to convince her with food.)
  232. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  233. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{10}
  234. <Aliken> (Praise Gerechstheid!)
  235. <Golasa> (Something seems off about the notion that Aliken and Golasa have the same Charisma)
  236. <Aliken> (Why so?)
  237. <Golasa> (Because Aliken's nice and Golasa's an asshole)
  238. <Golasa> (with no social skills)
  239. <Aliken> (Aliken's just LG, that's all!)
  240. <Damian> (I'm arguably NG, and I was just gonna shoot the Skull Kid in the face)
  241. <@DungeonLady> "Hmph, fiiine. Don't bother with that ration crap you 'adventurers' carry! I want flesh, warm steaming stew and roast meat and potatoes and more! If you're so lucky to get out, that is. I'll just give you my mouth! Make sure to stuff it full!"
  242. <Golasa> "I can't believe you tried to give it our food right after it told us we were going to starve to death."
  243. <Aliken> "Um... sure. I'll, uh, take your mouth."
  244. <Golasa> "If we're on the brink of starvation, I'm eating you first."
  245. <Aliken> "If she can lead us to landmarks, we should be able to escape in time."
  246. <@DungeonLady> The skull masked one pulls off the bottom part of the mask and tosses it to Aliken. Underneath... appears to be another mask.
  247. <Aliken> Aliken nods, and places the mask in her pack. "Lead on."
  248. <@DungeonLady> "The first sign's that way!" The skull masker points directly into the darkness. "And then follow the gaze of the angel that looks like it's actually got hope. Hee hee! Hope's foolish! Anyway, then after that a second sign and then the third, and that one's got someone so strong they'd just break my precious bones. But you can figure out from there. Or you can just die, hee hee! I hope you don't, I'm looking forward to having my mouth stuffed!"
  249. * Damian hums in consideration. "So, mildly odd individual wearing what appears to be clothing crafted from the skin, bone, and blood of prior visitors, has anyone ever escaped from here?"
  250. <Golasa> "Wait, it's wearing what?"
  251. <Golasa> "Aliken, I thought you were trusting, but there's supposed to be a limit!"
  252. <Aliken> Aliken hikes off in the direction the strange one indicates. "Yet we have a direction, now."
  253. <Golasa> "I'm not saying you were wrong, just that you're insane."
  254. * Golasa follows Aliken.
  255. * Damian takes note, and waits for an answer from the Skull Masker!
  256. <Aliken> "It's not as if there is a shortage of bones, here. She could have come by her materials honestly."
  257. * Rin follows... Cautiously.
  258. <@DungeonLady> "Hee hee! If you do die, I'll be eating what of you doesn't get eaten by others! But I'd rather have real food! I don't know of anyone, but that doesn't mean it's never happened, hee hee!"
  259. <Golasa> "And that's the first thing you think when you see a shroud of other people's skin and blood? You assume they put that blood on out of mourning that they couldn't do more good deeds for the sick and elderly?"
  260. <Aliken> "I assume that she was forced into cannibalism by terrible circumstances, but a cannibal is not necessarily a murderer."
  261. <Golasa> "Seemed pretty chipper to me."
  262. <Rin> "The key is to Not Think About It," Rin observes, as the group progresses.
  263. <Aliken> "No, the key is to consider what Gerechtsheid and Waarheid would wish of us under the circumstances. This has not betrayed me."
  264. * Golasa rolls her eyes under the blindfold and goes back to the following.
  265. <@DungeonLady> And so you progress into the unknown... And I end session until next week.
  266. * Damian nods and catches up with the group. "Interesting."
  267. <Aliken> OK! Thanks for the fun, Kaja! ^^
  268. <Rin> (Very spooky setup, to say the least. XD)
  269. <Damian> Whoo
  270. <Damian> Night Kaja
  271. *** Damian is now known as SleepinPuma
  272. *** DungeonLady is now known as KajaRainbow
  273. <@KajaRainbow> (Well, you guys did pick the Dungeon of the Forsaken. :) But, yeah. Night! Hope you had fun.)
  274. <Golasa> o7
  275. *** Golasa has quit IRC: Quit
  276. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  277. *** Rin is now known as NekoIncardine
  278. <Aliken> At least it wasn't the Boring Dungeon.
  279. <NekoIncardine> :<
  280. <@KajaRainbow> Yeah, that one's a real deathtrap. ;)
  281. <@KajaRainbow> In all seriousness, though...
  282. <Aliken> I can't imagine the Boring Dungeon would have been the most interesting adventure, is all. :3
  283. <NekoIncardine> I had a couple suggestions for the future I passed to Kaja
  284. <@KajaRainbow> Oh, yeah, I'll take any suggestions you have for dungeons (with a similar name format) if you want to offer any. :)
  285. <@KajaRainbow> But now going to sleep.
  286. <NekoIncardine> G'night! o/
  287. <Aliken> Night!
  288. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jan 21 21:30:52 2013 -0800
  289.  
  290.  
  291. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jan 28 18:04:56 2013 -0800
  292. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  293. *** kajarainbow has joined #lordsofdungeons
  294. <Aliken> Hi!
  295. *** SleepinPuma is now known as Damian
  296. *** NekoIncByPhone has joined #lordsofdungeons
  297. <kajarainbow> Some bad news.
  298. *** Damian is now known as Dysna
  299. <kajarainbow> Prof can't make it.
  300. <Aliken> Aw!
  301. <@Dysna> (Name changing cause there's an actual Damian/Damien on this server)
  302. *** NekoIncByPhone is now known as RinTheThief
  303. <kajarainbow> So, how do we want to handle Prof's absence?
  304. <@Dysna> Which one was Prof?
  305. *** Dysna sets mode +o kajarainbow
  306. <Aliken> Golasa.
  307. <RinTheThief> Golasa
  308. <@kajarainbow> I could skip this week...
  309. <@Dysna> +V RinTheThief
  310. <RinTheThief> Up to you
  311. <@Dysna> Grr
  312. <@Dysna> Nevermind
  313. <Aliken> It'd be awkward to run without Golasa.
  314. <@Dysna> I'll figure that out eventually
  315. <@Dysna> I'm fine with skipping if we need to.
  316. <Aliken> I mean, I was looking forward to the game, but it'd be really awkward.
  317. <@kajarainbow> Yeah. Okay, this week is cancelled.
  318. <@Dysna> Unfortunate, but okay.
  319. <RinTheThief> No worries
  320. *** Dysna is now known as NineThePuma
  321. <@NineThePuma> The rest of you have a good weekend. :3
  322. *** RinTheThief is now known as NekoIncByPhone
  323. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, have a good weekend, you all.
  324. <@NineThePuma> Er, wait
  325. <@kajarainbow> Well, good week.
  326. <@NineThePuma> Good week
  327. <@NineThePuma> Neko, should I have my full character sheet by Wed?
  328. * Aliken hugs Kaja.
  329. <NekoIncByPhone> Heh. Need to find someone to run a 3.5 Gestalt for my Bad Character Idea
  330. <Aliken> Thanks, Kaja.
  331. <NekoIncByPhone> Nine: yesplz
  332. <@NineThePuma> Okay, that'll take a bit but easily doable
  333. * NekoIncByPhone hugs Kaja too
  334. <NekoIncByPhone> I can converse once home
  335. * @NineThePuma waves to Kaja and the others before vanishing
  336. *** NekoIncByPhone has quit IRC: Read error: Connection reset by peer
  337. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  338. *** NekoIncardine has quit IRC: Quit: Bye
  339. *** You have been marked as being away
  340. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  341. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Jan 29 03:38:34 2013 -0800
  342.  
  343.  
  344. Session Start (Gamesurge:#Lordsofdungeons): Mon Feb 04 16:07:34 2013 -0800
  345. *** Aliken has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  346. Session Close (#Lordsofdungeons): Mon Feb 04 16:07:39 2013 -0800
  347.  
  348.  
  349. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Feb 04 17:55:48 2013 -0800
  350. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  351. *** kajarainbow has joined #lordsofdungeons
  352. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  353. *** ProfessorProf has joined #lordsofdungeons
  354. *** Dicelord has joined #lordsofdungeons
  355. <ProfessorProf> sup
  356. <kajarainbow> Hey.
  357. <kajarainbow> Unfortunately, I'm having trouble getting hold of the puma.
  358. <NekoIncardine> He isn't on #giantitp and appears to be idle on AIM
  359. <kajarainbow> Tempted to have him disappear mysteriously this session, but I'll wait a bit.
  360. <kajarainbow> Before deciding what to do.
  361. * @Aliken nods.
  362. <@Aliken> +o kajarainbow
  363. <@Aliken> Er. How do you do that?
  364. <NekoIncardine> I right-click on her and hit "Op" but I'm on mIRC
  365. *** Aliken sets mode +o kajarainbow
  366. *** Aliken sets mode -o Aliken
  367. <Aliken> There.
  368. <NekoIncardine> :<
  369. <@kajarainbow> Option 1. Call off the session. Option 2. Have the kobold mysteriously disappear.
  370. <Aliken> I sort of don't want to miss another session right now, but I'd feel a bit guilty...
  371. <@kajarainbow> Nine might show up later anyway.
  372. <@kajarainbow> Well. Calling for a vote.
  373. <NekoIncardine> Option 3: Delay for a little bit and go for a shorter session?
  374. <Aliken> I vote for going for it.
  375. <ProfessorProf> I abstain
  376. <NekoIncardine> This is the second time, though, is it not? :/
  377. <@kajarainbow> Well.
  378. <@kajarainbow> Let's get started.
  379. <Aliken> Yeah, which is why I'm inclined to just proceed.
  380. *** kajarainbow is now known as DungeonLady
  381. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d3
  382. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=2 ]{2}
  383. <ProfessorProf> check
  384. <@DungeonLady> Just got a message from Nine. Looks like an alarm clock failure.
  385. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  386. <RinTheThief> Then in-character it is
  387. *** ProfessorProf is now known as Golasa
  388. *** Dysna has joined #lordsofdungeons
  389. <Dysna> Kay, I'm existant.
  390. <Dysna> Sorry.
  391. <@DungeonLady> The darkness stretches out before you almost without break, until your light falls upon shapes that resolve into statues of angels. Most of them are stuck in positions of suffering or mourning. Only one stands upright looking into the darkness.
  392. <Golasa> Are we still following a blood-covered bonespook?
  393. <@DungeonLady> The bonespook gave you directions to follow.
  394. <Aliken> Aliken nods, takes the bearing of the upright angel. "This way, then."
  395. <Aliken> She strides off in the direction of the angel's gaze.
  396. * Golasa follows along quietly.
  397. <@DungeonLady> And onward... The next landmark shows after another while. An arrangement of... seven monoliths of some sort. In the center is a large mass, lying upon the ground. Blood is everywhere. And... Right in midair, an odd emptiness, like a hole opening abruptly into void.
  398. * Dysna debates on shooting the emptiness with her wand, just to see what happens.
  399. <@DungeonLady> There are bloody footprints leading away from the large mass.
  400. * Aliken checks over the monoliths carefully, and the mass.
  401. <Aliken> "Let's make sure the footprints aren't a false lead, right?"
  402. <Golasa> "Maybe we should investigate what we've got here, first."
  403. * RinTheThief looks at the monoliths. "FIRST..."
  404. <Golasa> "For all you know, the footprints go on for miles."
  405. * RinTheThief does her usual trap check!
  406. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [3]-[5] -- the total result is 10.
  407. * RinTheThief determines if there are traps here, and what activates them!
  408. <Aliken> (I think I prefer to wait for Kaja to ask for me to roll, according to the *World principles.)
  409. <@DungeonLady> The large mass turns out to be a huge beast, sorta of a big lump of black flesh and fat. Its stubby, chunky limbs have been neatly severed from its body. Impossibly neatly, in fact. The floor is completely smooth, and there doesn't seem to be anywhere to place a trap.
  410. <Aliken> Any features on the monoliths?
  411. <Golasa> Golasa opens her senses to the ether, searching for any signs of magical residue.
  412. <@DungeonLady> The monoliths have writing on them. "The Ruler." "The Hanged Man." "The Wanderers." What do the rest say?
  413. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell
  414. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  415. <Golasa> (I'll forget the spell, which is Detect Magic.)
  416. <Aliken> The Priestess. The Sun. Darkness.
  417. <Aliken> And a seventh.
  418. <@DungeonLady> Faint magic is everywhere, but far less so than in the rune dungeon. Both the hole and the corpse show signs of the same destructive magic, glowing where the cuts were made. It's a very neat, precise magic.
  419. <@DungeonLady> The hole also is blatantly unnatural, like something that doesn't really belong here.
  420. <Aliken> "There are... names, I suppose? Written on the monoliths. Hrm..."
  421. <@DungeonLady> The seventh name is the Hoarder.
  422. <Aliken> Aliken wracks her memory to think if the mix of names on the monoliths references anything in myth, legend, or history she's ever heard of.
  423. <Golasa> "Whatever created that hole, also killed the thing in front of it."
  424. <Aliken> (Should I roll?)
  425. <@DungeonLady> Nothing comes to mind for Aliken.
  426. <Aliken> "It almost seems like a... riddle, to me. Hmmm."
  427. <Aliken> Were there seven angel statues?
  428. <Aliken> At the first mark?
  429. <Golasa> Sounds like an opportunity for Golasa to talk about something nobody else knows about! If this knowledge even within even her domain.
  430. <RinTheThief> "Hrm."
  431. <Aliken> "You see these names, Rin, Golasa?"
  432. <@DungeonLady> They numbered six, not seven.
  433. <Golasa> "What do they say?"
  434. <Aliken> "The Ruler. The Priestess. The Wanderers. The Hanged Man. Darkness. The Hoarder. The Sun."
  435. <Golasa> "Hmm..." Shall I roll?
  436. <@DungeonLady> Actually, you know what, go ahead and roll.
  437. <Golasa> muarharhar
  438. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+5 Font of Knowledge, Bag of Books
  439. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+5 Font of Knowledge, Bag of Books --> [ 2d6=10 ]{15}
  440. * Dysna pokes the corpse with the tip of her wand.
  441. *** Unknown command: ROLL
  442. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3 Bag of Books
  443. <RinTheThief> "... Sounds like standard pseudoreligious gobbledygook to me. Golasa?"
  444. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 Bag of Books --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  445. <@DungeonLady> The corpse does not lunge to a mockery of life, squirming in its limblessness.
  446. * Aliken digs out one of her books from her pack, browsing over it.
  447. <@DungeonLady> It's hard to make the connection because those don't seem actually directly connected to each other, but... Golasa recalls there were an infamous mage by the name of the Sun. And another one, Darkness, more famous for the tragedy that occurred to him. The several historical names she can think of were all people who suffered severe, crushing downfalls in their lives and disappeared shortly thereafter.
  448. <Golasa> Interesting, but ultimately not so useful. Anything that can apply to our current situation?
  449. <@DungeonLady> The shapes of the monoliths, Golasa recalls, matches those of signposts found in an ancient and ruined city of an unknown civilization.
  450. *** Dysna has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  451. *** Dysna has joined #lordsofdungeons
  452. <Aliken> (I assume with a 9, I can recall the interesting bit, but not the useful bit.)
  453. * Golasa sits silent and cross-legged on the floor as she tries to put the pieces together, fingers drifting over the pages of a dusty old time.
  454. <Aliken> "I think these might be... grave markers? If we can't figure anything, maybe we should just follow the footprints after all."
  455. <Golasa> "Wait."
  456. <Golasa> "I'm thinking."
  457. <@DungeonLady> (Aliken, you recall that there was a Dwarven figure who got the nickname of the Hoarder. Disaster occurred to her as a result of her greed.)
  458. <Golasa> "They're not grave markers. They're... signs?"
  459. <Golasa> "The correct direction is spelled out by the monoliths."
  460. <Golasa> (Did Sun also meet a tragic downfall?)
  461. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah.)
  462. <Aliken> "I can't get a direction from the monoliths. The Hoarder, Darkness... historical epthitets of tragedy..."
  463. <Aliken> Aliken frowns.
  464. <Golasa> "Signposts... but which one are we supposed to follow? All these people died horrible deaths."
  465. <Golasa> "Maybe we're just better off following those footprints you mentioned."
  466. <Aliken> "Unless one of them was different. Not the Hoarder, she ended up getting overthrown for trying to seize queenship. Darkness is out.
  467. <Aliken> "The Hanged Man is obviously out."
  468. <Golasa> "Sun was struck down by the gods for his arrogance. The Wanderers searched for the heart of the world, only to die at its doorstep without ever seeing it."
  469. <RinTheThief> "Hrm..."
  470. <Aliken> "ONE of these must be different. It's just like the first marker."
  471. <Golasa> "The Priestess could refer to two people, both of whom were killed by poisonous snakes sent from jealous lovers."
  472. <Aliken> "It's EXACTLY like the first marker."
  473. <Aliken> "Then it has to be... the Ruler. Of course."
  474. <Golasa> "Remind me."
  475. *** Dysna has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  476. *** Dysna has joined #lordsofdungeons
  477. <Aliken> "The Ruler. Dwarven king who abdicated his throne gracefully under threat of revolution. Died in diminished circumstances, but peacefully and respected."
  478. <Golasa> "Well, that's one version of the story."
  479. <Golasa> "I heard he was betrayed."
  480. <Aliken> "But is there anybody ELSE in this list who had dignity at the end?"
  481. <Aliken> "Everybody else is just sorrow and despair."
  482. <Golasa> "I can't help but feel a bit of sympathy for the Wanderers, but you may be right."
  483. <Aliken> "So which way is his stone pointing? I'm not sure how these stones are meant to designate direction."
  484. <Golasa> Am I?
  485. <Aliken> (You
  486. <@DungeonLady> The monoliths are arranged in a circle...
  487. <Aliken> 're the one who recognised them as signposts.)
  488. <Golasa> "Treat them like a compass. Draw a line from the center of the circle towards the Ruler's monolith."
  489. <Golasa> "Which one is it?"
  490. <Aliken> Aliken moves to pat her hand on the monolith. "I think we have a direction."
  491. <Aliken> Out of curiousity, is it a different direction than the footprints?
  492. <Golasa> "Hopefully this doesn't end with us getting stabbed in the back, too."
  493. <Aliken> "Pah, he was a king, abdication is the best he deserved."
  494. <Golasa> "Not fond of regents?"
  495. <@DungeonLady> The footprints sorta weave off in that rough direction, curving off to the right however.
  496. <RinTheThief> "Oh?"
  497. <Aliken> "Let's take the bearing of the Ruler, then follow it straight, then."
  498. <Aliken> "Kings make people slaves. Better to follow the gods."
  499. <Golasa> "I'll follow myself before either."
  500. <Golasa> "Or you guys, since you're inclined to stop things from killing me."
  501. *** Dysna has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  502. *** Dysna has joined #lordsofdungeons
  503. <Aliken> Aliken stumps off on the monolith's bearing, keeping an eye to her right in the event that whatever left the footprints is out there...
  504. * Golasa follows along from her usual spot in the back of the group.
  505. <@DungeonLady> After another trek, the shape of a throne emerges out of the darkness. In it, a figure is slumped.
  506. * RinTheThief chooses to hold back, just a litttle...
  507. <Golasa> "This would be the Ruler, I presume."
  508. <Aliken> "Probably."
  509. <Aliken> Aliken looks over the figure curiously, studying this marker.
  510. *** Dysna has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  511. *** Dysna has joined #lordsofdungeons
  512. <RinTheThief> ((You okay man? o_o))
  513. <@DungeonLady> The figure stirs. A faint voice groans.
  514. <Golasa> "Or maybe not."
  515. <@DungeonLady> "Who... Have you finally come for me/"
  516. <Aliken> "We're explorers. I am Aliken Mechtildstochter, and... of the seven markers we found to help us find they way, yours seemed the least like it was embodying the concept of despair, actually."
  517. <Dysna> ((My network is a bitch))
  518. <@DungeonLady> ((Aw. :())
  519. <Aliken> ((Sorry. >.o))
  520. <@DungeonLady> The figure is rather gaunt and his head hangs weakly, but he makes a visible effort to adopt a more regal posture. "My story is not a happy one."
  521. <Golasa> "You should have seen the other options."
  522. <Golasa> "My dwarven friend here thinks you at least died with dignity."
  523. <@DungeonLady> "Betrayed, forced to step down..." The fallen king snorts. "They allowed me to pretend at dignity."
  524. <Aliken> "You were the only one who didn't suffer a terrible fate at the end, really. Hanged, beheaded, struck down by the gods, poisoned by an assassin's snake, died of... the Wanderers were deprivation, I assume, Golasa?"
  525. <Aliken> "Do you think you can leave? I should hate to imagine anybody trapped here."
  526. <Golasa> "There are various interpretations. It's the oldest tale."
  527. <@DungeonLady> Suddenly there's the sound of marching, regimented footsteps. The King looks up. "They have come for me."
  528. <RinTheThief> "Well, THAT can't be good..."
  529. <Aliken> "Do you have any wisdom you can share, at least?"
  530. <Aliken> Aliken instinctively places her hand at the hilt of her sword.
  531. * Dysna still has her wand at the ready.
  532. <Golasa> "Are we to play the role of the royal guard?"
  533. <Aliken> "I'll demand an accounting for matters, at least. I will not stand by for injustice if it is in my power to fight."
  534. <@DungeonLady> "If you will, or leave me to my fate." His eyes are weary, so weary.
  535. * RinTheThief reaches for her rapier...
  536. <Aliken> "I will have answers from them, at least. And perhaps you can help us guess at the nature of this place."
  537. <Aliken> Aliken barks out out a challenge in her own native tongue. [Step forth and name your reasons for seizing this one. In the name of the Lady Justice I ask this of you.]
  538. <@DungeonLady> The footprints draw very close. Spearpoints and the links of chain mail gleam. A grim-faced squadron of soliders approach. The foremost, with the bearing of a commander, barks out [Move aside!]
  539. <Aliken> "Stap naar voren en de naam van uw redenen om te grijpen deze. In de naam van Gerechtigheid vraag ik dit van u." - what everybody else hears, thank you, Google Translate.
  540. * RinTheThief tries to estimate their numbers....
  541. <Aliken> [I demand your reasons, for Justice and the law. I will not see an injustice here.]
  542. * Golasa knows a smattering of Dwarven, but she's better with written word. Her accent is terrible.
  543. <@DungeonLady> The other soldiers are forming up into ranks presenting their spears and shields before them as the commander speaks, [The king has lost his place and his right to rule.]
  544. <@DungeonLady> They are very clearly preparing to march right at you.
  545. <Golasa> "You know, we don't actually have any reason to fight an entire army for this person."
  546. <@DungeonLady> Fortunately, thee seems to be a squadron of perhaps a dozen, not an entire army.
  547. <Aliken> [I do not stand to defend his rule. I ask only what his fate may be, and for what crimes this fate is charged him.]
  548. <@DungeonLady> [You speak of the law. You are not the law. The King was, but no longer. We are the law. Succumb.]
  549. <@DungeonLady> Even though the rest of you can't understand the words, the hostile tone is obvious.
  550. * RinTheThief raises her Rapier... And tries to figure out what she can do here.
  551. <Golasa> (in common) "Talk, or fight?"
  552. <Aliken> [No one dwarf is the law! The law is above us all. To pretend to rulership is heresy and wickedness, and it is what makes slaves of good dwarves. By the Lady Justice I'll see this farce stop now!] Aliken raises her shield and whips out her sword.
  553. <Golasa> "Fight, then."
  554. <@DungeonLady> They're ranked up such that a frontal attack'd be kinda though, because of the spears in the way. However, if Rin did manage to get behind them, it'd be hard for them to turn around to deal with her without breaking the formation.
  555. <Golasa> Ranked up, you say? How convenient.
  556. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Fireball
  557. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Fireball --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  558. <Golasa> Because it's the fun option forever, I'll choose to put Golasa in a dangerous situation to cast.
  559. <Golasa> As she was in the back of the group before, so now she's near the front.
  560. <Aliken> Aliken steps forward to but her back to the throne and her shield between her enemies, herself, and the king.
  561. <@DungeonLady> You can't see much of their expressions below their helmets, but they eyes are sunken into their sockets... and full of glares.
  562. <Aliken> Should I roll to Defend?
  563. <@DungeonLady> Roll damage, Golasa.
  564. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  565. <Golasa> Golasa hurls an orb of... actually, let's say freezing needles at the heart of the formation.
  566. <Golasa> !roll 2d6
  567. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{10}
  568. <Golasa> Heyoo
  569. * RinTheThief looks at how wide the rank is.
  570. <@DungeonLady> And there're screams and shouts as ice bursts amongst them, chilling the metal of their armor. Some go down, but there's a quick and curt command of [Break ranks!] and they separate into twos and threes. Three charge directly toward Golasa.
  571. * Dysna wonders if she should get between the mage and the charging soldiers.
  572. <Aliken> They broke formation? Excellent? Aliken charges directly into the clump of them who are willing to put their backs to her, hoping to seize the advantage hard while they're still in disarray.
  573. <Aliken> Excellent!, rather.
  574. * RinTheThief decides to use this chance, moving towards one, and leaping directly over them, stabbing into one's armor!
  575. * Golasa backs away nervously, hoping that Rin and Aliken's quick actions will be enough to keep her safe from retaliation.
  576. <RinTheThief> (Hack and Slash, DEX-based, Piercing 1!)
  577. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [6]-[1] -- the total result is 9.
  578. <@DungeonLady> (I'll call it, just slow because I'm tired, sorry.)
  579. <Aliken> (Ah, OK. *hugs* Sorry.)
  580. <@DungeonLady> (I meant call for rolls.)
  581. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  582. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{6}
  583. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, if you want to act to protect Golasa, you're in the best position. What shall you do about the charge?
  584. <Aliken> (Oh, dear.)
  585. <Dysna> Step in between the rushing soldiers, wands at the ready and see about putting energy blasts between their eyes.
  586. * RinTheThief deals her damage from the Hack and Slash, but is attacked in turn!
  587. * RinTheThief rolled 1d8 -- [3] -- the total result is 3.
  588. * Aliken clearly is not in an ideal position, here...
  589. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you're in amongst their rank and your stab lands, but their spear finds a mark. Take 1d6+1 damage.
  590. * RinTheThief rolled 1d6+1 -- [1] -- the total result is 2.
  591. <RinTheThief> (13 HP remain)
  592. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2 Spellshot!
  593. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 Spellshot! --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  594. <Aliken> (Failed my roll, so...)
  595. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, you underestimate their organization, as two pairs close in at each side, cutting you off. One of their spears finds its mark and you're hemmed in. Take 1d6+1 damage.
  596. <Aliken> !roll 1d6+1
  597. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d6+1 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{4}
  598. <Dysna> Use my Slam rune to knock the front runner of the trio off their feet and deal +1d4 damage, unless my roll is crap. =V
  599. * RinTheThief quickly moves against the dwarf in question, trying to stab him before he - or his teammates - can turn around!
  600. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [4]-[5] -- the total result is 11.
  601. <RinTheThief> (Woo!)
  602. <Aliken> Thankfully, that's only 2, with armor.
  603. <RinTheThief> (Success, no immediate counter!)
  604. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [5]-[3] -- the total result is 10.
  605. <@DungeonLady> (like I said, I'l lcall for rolls.)
  606. <RinTheThief> (Sorry. x_X)
  607. <Golasa> (Not every attack is a Hack and Slash)
  608. <@DungeonLady> (I have what appears to be a fatigue-headache, so will have to take this one for next week. >.< Sorry, I really would've liked to end this combat.)
  609. <Golasa> (OK!)
  610. <Aliken> Aliken's in a bad position, and no mistake. But even with the lengthy metal cap of the spearhead, there's still exposed wooden shaft, and she can make room to push her way into a better position by aggressively striking at the shaft so she can break a spear, break through, and deflank herself.
  611. <Aliken> (*hugs* Aww. Feel better.)
  612. <RinTheThief> (*hug* I'm sorry about my overenthusiasm .-.)
  613. <Golasa> o/
  614. *** Golasa has quit IRC: Quit
  615. *** RinTheThief is now known as NekoIncardine
  616. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Feb 04 20:24:29 2013 -0800
  617.  
  618.  
  619. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Feb 11 18:08:53 2013 -0800
  620. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  621. <Aliken> =^n.n^=
  622. * Aliken mews.
  623. *** ProfessorProf has joined #lordsofdungeons
  624. *** Dicelord has joined #lordsofdungeons
  625. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d6
  626. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
  627. *** ProfessorProf is now known as Golasa
  628. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  629. <RinTheThief> ((Nine has been given two separate Bat Signals.))
  630. * Aliken prefers Cat Signals.
  631. <Aliken> ... the sound of a can opening? :3
  632. <@DungeonLady> ((If this is a consistent pattern... -_-))
  633. *** NineThePuma has joined #lordsofdungeons
  634. *** NineThePuma is now known as Dysna
  635. <Aliken> Welcome. Welcome, to Channel Seventeen. You have chosen, or been chosen...
  636. <Aliken> We ready?
  637. <@DungeonLady> Okay! Firstly, just a heads-up: I am abolishing the Load rules!
  638. <Golasa> I am
  639. <Golasa> Another heads-up: I rewrote my character sheet!
  640. <Golasa> Golasa is now a Mage, not a Wizard.
  641. <@DungeonLady> That doesn't mean that you won't have trouble if you try to carry too much, but mostly it'll be abstracted out.
  642. <@DungeonLady> Like, if you try to carry a solid gold statue or huge piles and piles of treasure or whatnot, that might get rather difficult!
  643. <@DungeonLady> Basically, I don't like the implementation of the Load rules as they stand, and it's easier to just abolish them than to tweak every intricate detail until it's to my liking.
  644. <RinTheThief> So doing the Classic D&D Thing of having a Crazy Supply Of Specific Gadgets is now feasible since a set of bandages isn't 1/9th of your carrying capacity. Yay! \o/
  645. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, though if you try to carry 100 10' poles... XD
  646. <RinTheThief> Well duh
  647. <Golasa> FRIG
  648. <RinTheThief> Rin doesn't even bother with one of the damn things
  649. <RinTheThief> :|
  650. <Golasa> I forgot to buy a collapsible 10' pole
  651. <Golasa> Oh well, doesn't seem to be much use for it here
  652. <RinTheThief> Collapsibles will be added in the next town, yes yes
  653. <Aliken> I believe we were fighting a dozen ancient dwarven soldiers.
  654. <Golasa> Aye
  655. <Golasa> What's the situation look like right now?
  656. <@DungeonLady> Secondly, a general request. Try not to roll before I call for it, and try to describe what you're doing (a single sentence is fine).
  657. <RinTheThief> Noted.
  658. <@DungeonLady> Speaking of, I'll now give you the current situation!
  659. <Golasa> Also worth noting: There are almost always exciting consequences to a failed roll, regardless of what it's for.
  660. <RinTheThief> Where is this Mage class, by the way?
  661. * RinTheThief just curious
  662. <Golasa> It's... hang on, I'll dig it back up
  663. <Golasa> (Link: http://www.mediafire.com/view/?hdhv09fllqkgko5)http://www.mediafire.com/view/?hdhv09fllqkgko5
  664. <Golasa> Like the Wizard, but no spell list.
  665. <Aliken> What's Golasa's focus?
  666. <Golasa> And more of a danger to herself and her friends.
  667. <Golasa> Winter.
  668. <Dysna> I should go get my sheet, huh
  669. <RinTheThief> I should go get a proper sheet, huh
  670. <RinTheThief> Also, where'd you get these classes? :O
  671. <Golasa> The Dungeon World thread at SA has a ton of homebrewing in it
  672. <RinTheThief> Aha
  673. <Golasa> There's a Gladiator, a Noble, a Cultist...
  674. <RinTheThief> Per my usual Tabletop Thing I Ask About, is there a Succubus homebrew, as a monster or as a class? Since the rulebook doesn't have that :<
  675. <@DungeonLady> One of the dwarves goes down from Rin's well-timed stab, but the other shoves with the side of his spear, seeking to knock Rin back. Meantime, the missile from Dysna's wand slams into the foremost dwarf, knocking her off her feet and leaving an indention in her chainmail.
  676. <Golasa> ((OK back in character))
  677. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll +Str to try to break out.
  678. *** Unknown command: ROLL
  679. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  680. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{11}
  681. <@DungeonLady> Okay, you shove aside their spears with a mighty hack of your sword, snapping one in half. Pushing forward, you are no longer hemmed in.
  682. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, the dispersed dwarves are still trying to circle around your team. What shall you do about that?
  683. <Aliken> "The throne! The throne! We need to cover our backs!" Aliken pushes back to the throne, looking to put a solid object at her back so that she can at least only defend from the front.
  684. <RinTheThief> Rin attempts to jump over the dwarven spear, kicking at its wielder to try and knock him - or at least his weapon - aside!
  685. <Golasa> Golasa draws a half-circle in the ground behind her, drawing a second, larger half-circle by equivalence at the same time. The larger half-circle is positioned as a back wall for the group to fight against without any nasty dwarf zombies sneaking up behind them.
  686. <Golasa> Calling out to the inherente cold and emptiness of this place, Golasa attempts to conjure up a wall of ice along the larger line.
  687. <@DungeonLady> Rin, roll +Dex.
  688. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, there's plenty of cold and emptiness to work with. Roll +Int.
  689. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell
  690. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  691. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+2 Dex
  692. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+2 Dex --> [ 2d6=6 ]{8}
  693. <Golasa> The wall rises, covering their flank, but Golasa puts herself in a spot - literally. In order to maintain the wall, she has to stay at its focal point.
  694. <Golasa> If she steps away from the smaller circle, it will collapse.
  695. <Golasa> "Consider our backs covered."
  696. <@DungeonLady> With the throne and the icy wall to your back, you now have a fortress. The dwarves can only squeeze together and advance, once again presenting an advancing wall of spears. Rin, you are able to kick the spear out of your way, but now there're spears on each side of you but your back.
  697. <Aliken> What's Dysna up to, I wonder?
  698. <RinTheThief> Naturally, Rin takes the only move she sanely can... Yeah, right. She jumps up over the Dwarf at her front, and tries to strike at their back!
  699. * Dysna has been quietly waiting for turn to pass.
  700. <@DungeonLady> Aliken and Dynsa, Golasa's right in the path of that advancing wall, if a more sparse wall than before.
  701. <RinTheThief> (Turns? This. Is. DUNGEON WORLD!)
  702. <Dysna> (First combat. Cut me some slack :P)
  703. <Golasa> She's sweating, despite the cold.
  704. <Golasa> But she stands her ground, at least for now.
  705. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, don't worry about it. Dungeon World combat and its lack of standard initiative takes a little getting used to.)
  706. * Dysna takes a pot shot with her wands, aiming to knock someone over with another blasts!
  707. <@DungeonLady> Heh, Rin, roll +Dex for your daredevil stunt.
  708. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+2 Dex
  709. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+2 Dex --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  710. <Aliken> Aliken steps forward to take the front, raising her shield to cover her flanks and focusing on trying to cut spears down to size. If she can force her enemies back on their swords, she'll be at less of a disadvantage.
  711. <Aliken> First of all, though, she's making sure she's in the freaking way of the enemies bearing on Golasa.
  712. <@DungeonLady> It's quite a nice springboard Rin makes off the spear in front of her. She lands behind the formation, with a nice opening to stab them right in the back.
  713. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll +Con to defend.
  714. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, yeah, +Int.
  715. <RinTheThief> Naturally, Rin takes the shot, moving to stab at their weakness! (Backstab?)
  716. <Dysna> (Isn't it + Dex?)
  717. <Golasa> (Defending can be any stat.)
  718. <Golasa> (Depends on how you defend.)
  719. <@DungeonLady> (Oh, right, sorry, wrong stat, Dysna.)
  720. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  721. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=2 ]{3}
  722. <Aliken> Oh gods.
  723. <Golasa> OH BOY
  724. <Golasa> Failures are the best part of Dungeon World, time to make some hard choices
  725. <Aliken> I am having a lot of failures this battle. XD
  726. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2 Dex
  727. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 Dex --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  728. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, even with the less than a half-dozen left, it's a little too much. You will have to give way if you don't want to get overrun with spears, though you can slow them down a little.
  729. <Aliken> I'll give way, then. I do nobody any good by being transfixed by a half-dozen spears.
  730. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, the explosive force of your wandblast knocks one solider into the next, giving Aliken at least a /little/ breathing room.
  731. <Dysna> This is the moment when I wish I'd taken different Runes
  732. <@DungeonLady> It's actually helping, though.
  733. <Dysna> Yeah, but it's hard to be creative with "I knock someone over"
  734. <Dysna> I could, you know, turn the ground beneath their feet icy so they fall over, or light them on fire, or something
  735. <Golasa> Knockback could get more interesting on battlefield that have more clutter
  736. <Golasa> since we're basically fighting in a flat void right now
  737. <@DungeonLady> Yeah. There'll be more cluttered battlefields to take advantage of.
  738. <Dysna> Ignore me. I'm having "Oh, shoot, if I had X instead of Y, I'd be kicking ass!" strike.
  739. <@DungeonLady> Meantime, the spear wall's been stalled enough that, had it not been slowed at all, it would've already overrun Golasa's position. As is, they're almost upon you. What'll you do?
  740. <@DungeonLady> Rin, by the way, you're still behind them.
  741. <RinTheThief> ((Written previously: Naturally, Rin takes the shot, moving to stab at their weakness! (Backstab?)))
  742. <@DungeonLady> ((Oh, and you get your Backstab, and a second one, too. Whoops!))
  743. <Golasa> Golasa's got one last trick to try before abandoning the wall. She's going to try and use the power of stillness to lock the couple dwarves heading directly towards her in place.
  744. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+2 Backstab!
  745. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+2 Backstab! --> [ 2d6=11 ]{13}
  746. <RinTheThief> ((Choose two)) Rin deals her damage+1d6, and quickly backs out of melee range of the group that is on her, readying her next step in the plan!
  747. <RinTheThief> ((Go ahead and roll Damage+1d6?))
  748. <@DungeonLady> ((Yup.))
  749. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1d6 Damage
  750. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1d6 Damage --> [ 1d8=8 1d6=5 ]{13}
  751. <RinTheThief> ((Daaaang o_o))
  752. <Aliken> ((Your rolls make up for mine. :D))
  753. <Golasa> (holy--)
  754. <Golasa> (This is why we keep the rogue around)
  755. <Aliken> ((Because she's LUCKY AS HELL. o.o))
  756. <RinTheThief> (("And a second one, too" - so roll a second Backstab?))
  757. <@DungeonLady> ((Yup.)
  758. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+2 Backstab!
  759. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+2 Backstab! --> [ 2d6=3 ]{5}
  760. <@DungeonLady> Oh, Golasa, go ahead and roll +Int.
  761. <RinTheThief> (Streak's over.)
  762. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell
  763. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  764. <Golasa> (on FIRE)
  765. <@DungeonLady> Luckily for Rin, they seem to be ignoring them even as one of their rank goes down. If anything, they're marching on with nothing but grim determination. But then suddenly one of them thrusts their spear hilt back into Rin's face. Her vision explosions into dizziness. Take 1d8+1.
  766. <Golasa> Golasa manages to hold the approaching dwarves in place, but the effect is only temporary.
  767. <Golasa> She's just prolonging the inevitable, unless somebody comes to her aid.
  768. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1 Ow!
  769. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1 Ow! --> [ 1d8=7 ]{8}
  770. <RinTheThief> (Ack! Down to 5 HP)
  771. * Aliken immediately charges the frozen dwarves. The sudden lockdown of enemies that can no longer resist means the time is now to attack!
  772. * Dysna thinks fast and shoots the dwarf in front of Aliken with a Pain rune!
  773. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, roll first. :)
  774. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2 Dex!
  775. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 Dex! --> [ 2d6=7 ]{9}
  776. <Dysna> Crap; I -might- have just hit Aliken.
  777. <RinTheThief> Rin, attempting to recover from the strike, moves to try and stab another one of the frozen dwarves!
  778. <@DungeonLady> Well, it's your choice. Either you have to shoot a lot, putting Aliken in danger, or your wand overloads a little giving you -1 on your next magical action, or you inflict pain upon both yourself and the dwarf.
  779. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you still can barely see anything and feel dizzy.
  780. <Dysna> I'll take that there -1.
  781. <@DungeonLady> The dwarf doubles over in agony, giving Aliken a free strike (Aliken, roll your damage). But your wand begins smoking. You'll have to force a little more magic into it next you want to use it.
  782. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+1
  783. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1 --> [ 1d10=4 ]{5}
  784. <Aliken> 5. 2 piercing.
  785. <@DungeonLady> [Retreat.] The order in Dwarven is curt.
  786. * Aliken continues on as long as she has the initiative. Letting the enemy regroup is a bad idea, and she launches into the next target before they can form up and fall back.
  787. <Golasa> Golasa's Dwarvish isnt great, but it's good enough to understand the order. She drops the ice wall, panting from the exertion.
  788. <RinTheThief> Rin unsteadily attempts to recover her focus. Ow, her face! If that guard left a mark...
  789. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you no longer feels so dizzy. You recover just in time to see Aliken cut down another of the attackers.
  790. <@DungeonLady> Only three remain.
  791. <RinTheThief> Examining the situation, Rin decides to change plans, throwing some of her daggers at one of the remaining dwarves. If the patrol can be finished, she's making sure it is!
  792. * Golasa is content to let them run.
  793. * Dysna takes a moment to snipe one of them with both wands!
  794. <@DungeonLady> And the last of them finally go down underneath your combined barrage while Golasa watches.
  795. <Aliken> Aliken takes a moment to wipe her sword on the clothes of one of the fallen before turning to the Ruler. "You have no idea where the way out might be?"
  796. * RinTheThief breathes, angered. "I'm... Going to need some patching up," she says, after a few seconds. She looks at the bodies. "... At least we might get some loot off of this..."\
  797. <Golasa> "I wonder about that. Were they even real in the typical sense?"
  798. * Dysna holsters her wands. "And a meal, if we neeed it."
  799. <Aliken> "Keep it bandaged with rags soaked in spirits, Rin. As long as the wound doesn't fester, you'll heal."
  800. <@DungeonLady> [...No substance. We are... the pillars. We... bear up this place.] The king looks at Aliken with what looks like a little bit of faint hope. [The first pillar of despair... has fallen.]
  801. <Golasa> "What happens when the pillars fall?"
  802. <RinTheThief> "I know that, but that's not gonna help much if we get attacked again!"
  803. <@DungeonLady> "When the pillars fall, so shall the dungeon."
  804. <Golasa> "Well that sounds like it would be a problem for us."
  805. <Aliken> "I think that's our way out, Golasa. I'm for being a beacon of hope in the darkness."
  806. <@DungeonLady> "Release of everyone shall follow. Release..." There is a long, slow sigh.
  807. * RinTheThief turns towards the Ruler. "Then we must find and destroy the others."
  808. <RinTheThief> First, though! Rin attempts to loot the dwarves. She's still a thief.
  809. <Golasa> "Six more... We may be in here for a while."
  810. <Aliken> "Right. Let's head back to the last waypoint and pick another pillar to help. Anything portable on those, Rin?"
  811. <RinTheThief> "Let's find out!"
  812. <@DungeonLady> The dwarves have their chainmail and spears... and naught else.
  813. <RinTheThief> "... I guess if someone wants ill-fitting chainmail or cheap spears, they have those. Nothing of real value, though. Drat."
  814. <@DungeonLady> Almost. One does have a wedding armband.
  815. <@DungeonLady> At least, Aliken would recongize it as one.
  816. * RinTheThief shrugs, and moves on.
  817. <Aliken> Aliken shrugs to herself, and leaves the wedding band be if Rin doesn't take it. Doesn't seem right to strip their wedding band.
  818. <Golasa> Pff, their spouse is probably dead anyway.
  819. <Golasa> But Golasa doesn't recognize the band. Back to the circle we go!
  820. * Dysna pouts that we're just going to leave the bodies behind, but doesn't say anything, following along.
  821. <Golasa> And on the way back, Golasa's keeping a mental note of the distance from Ruler to the waypoint.
  822. <@DungeonLady> !roll 1d6
  823. <Dicelord> DungeonLady rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
  824. <Aliken> "I think the Priestess might be relatively easy to help, given the stories. Let's try and save the soft targets before we go for 'struck down by the gods'."
  825. <Golasa> "For consistency, let's go with one of the ones adjacent to the Ruler. If my hunch is right, it could save us some time."
  826. <RinTheThief> "... I'm going to agree with Golasa," Rin said. "Though finding a safe place to rest for a while would be nice."
  827. <Golasa> "We can rest at the circle, although we should consider how long we can stretch our supplies in here."
  828. <Golasa> "We have seven legends to deal with, and food is scarce."
  829. <Dysna> "The circle with the dead monster in the middle that might resurrect itself by the time we get back?"
  830. <Aliken> "If we end up needing to camp, I suppose we must, but I'm in no hurry to spend the night in this place."
  831. <Golasa> "Fair point."
  832. <@DungeonLady> The way back is barely longer than it was. As you return to the circle, you see the monoliths... The Wanderers. The Sun. Darkness. The Hoarder. The Hanged Man. The Priestess. Six... no, five remain. The Hanged Man's monolith, along with that of the Ruler, has been shattered. It was just to the right of the Ruler's.
  833. * RinTheThief pauses. "The Hanged Man's monolith broke too? Why?"
  834. <Golasa> "...There's someone else here."
  835. <RinTheThief> "Or something we did caused it."
  836. <Golasa> Which is to the left of Ruler?
  837. <@DungeonLady> The dead monster remains still, its bloated corpse immobile.
  838. <RinTheThief> "Let's do The Hoarder."
  839. * Dysna takes a moment to poke the corpse with the tip of her wand.
  840. <RinTheThief> Rin!Logic: If there's someone else here, we should do the ones that are most likely to have shiny things to grab first!
  841. <Aliken> "I'd suggest the Priestess or the Wanderers. They're most likely the easiest to help, and I'd prefer not to take unnecessary risk here."
  842. <@DungeonLady> The Darkness is to the left of the Ruler. To the right of the Hanged Man is the Hoarder, and then the Priestess and Wanderers, and finally the Sun.
  843. <Dysna> "Whichever we do, lets pick fast and try not to run into whoever broke the other stone, yes?"
  844. <Golasa> "I'd argue for Darness, but I also agree with Dysna."
  845. <RinTheThief> "I've said my peace."
  846. <Golasa> "In the interest of speeding up the discussions, I vote for the Hoarder."
  847. <Aliken> "Fair enough. The Hoarder, then. Pfeh."
  848. * Aliken mutters to herself.
  849. <RinTheThief> "Let's move," Rin declares... Though she takes a minute to bandage herself.
  850. <RinTheThief> (1 bandage expended, 5 remain, to regain 4 HP?)
  851. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, no need to ask, really. :) ))
  852. <RinTheThief> (Well, in this case, it's also notification-by-asking. :3 ))
  853. <@DungeonLady> ((Dutily notified. ))
  854. <Golasa> On the walk towards Hoarder, Golasa once again notes the distance before anything of note happens.
  855. * Dysna is looking behind, to make sure we're not being followed, because oh god something scary is here.
  856. <@DungeonLady> As you hustle through the darkness, you come across... a pile of corpses. More of the skinny hollow ones that swarmed you upon your entrance, but like the dead monster those have been separated from their body parts with a neatness impossible for any cutting weapons you know of.
  857. <@DungeonLady> At least it's only a half dozen or so.
  858. <@DungeonLady> But the same bloody footprints as before weave ahead of you, meandering off and on the path you're taking.
  859. <RinTheThief> "Not again!"
  860. <Aliken> "You know, those footprints veered to the right of our course from the waypoint. I think whoever that was found the Hanged Man."
  861. <Dysna> "Can we turn around now?"
  862. <Aliken> "No."
  863. <Golasa> "We're going to run into them eventually, in all likelihood."
  864. <RinTheThief> "I hate likelhood sometimes..."
  865. <Golasa> "Let's keep moving."
  866. <Dysna> "Are you sure? Cause, like, watch whatever we run into be able to cut things into bits with some sort of super duper sharp and unbreakable spider silk or something. And then we have to deal with the fact that killing them might kill us."
  867. <Golasa> "Hey, you chose to tag along with us. Are you having second thoughts now?"
  868. <Golasa> "Besides, I'm sure our fearless leader is still confident that our mystery butcher will be a reasonable person."
  869. <Aliken> "We'll see if we encounter them. We look like butchers ourselves, to an outside observer."
  870. <Golasa> "See what I mean? She's insane, but I have to admit she's right more often than you'd think."
  871. <Dysna> "Butchers who don't have magical powers of super sharp spider silk!"
  872. <Golasa> "Oh, don't be such a baby. We'll just kill it without getting cut."
  873. <@DungeonLady> Ahead, you notice a figure walking ahead with the same weaving back and forth that the footprints had suggested. It turns and looks at you, still dimly lit. "More idiots come to die?" it speaks in a strange tongue that you're fairly certain you shouldn't be able to understand. Yet somehow it sounds familiar.
  874. * Golasa gets behind Aliken.
  875. <Aliken> "Not precisely. Who are you and what is your purpose?"
  876. * Dysna debates the value of hiding in one of the back packs.
  877. <Aliken> "I couldn't help noticing that you seem to have freed one of the pillars of this gods-forsaken place from his despair."
  878. <@DungeonLady> "I don't feel like telling you my business. Long as you don't act stupid and try to attack me or mess with me, I don't care about you."
  879. <@DungeonLady> "Pillars... what?"
  880. <Golasa> "Trying to clear the dungeon without figuring out the goal?"
  881. <Golasa> "Typical amateur mistake."
  882. <Aliken> "This place has seven 'pillars', according to the Hoarder. If they're freed from despair, we'll be able to be released. We helped the Hoarder, and I believe you appear to have helped the Hanged Man."
  883. <Golasa> (Ruler /cough)
  884. <Aliken> (Right, Ruler.)
  885. <Aliken> "We're headed for the Hoarder now."
  886. <@DungeonLady> "Hanged Man... that idiot that tried to hang me? I sliced him up."
  887. <Aliken> "I, uh, guess that counts as 'freeing him from despair', then. His marker was shattered like the Ruler's, anyhow."
  888. <Golasa> "It does suggest a convenient shortcut."
  889. <Dysna> "Murder them, take their stuff, and don't bother with the legends?"
  890. <Golasa> "It could be simpler for some of them. An alternate option to keep in mind."
  891. <Aliken> "Let's save the murder for people who actually deserve it, at least?"
  892. <Golasa> "You know that these aren't real people, right? They're shades of legends. We're putting them back to their peaceful rest at worst."
  893. <@DungeonLady> The figure draws closer, and you can see her oddly gleaming eyes peeking at you, reflecting the light like cat's eyes. You see sharp claws instead of fingers, and sharp claws instead of toes, and a sharp angular chin as well as sharp nose. She grins... was that more than one row of sharp teeth you saw? She's dressed in oddly colorful leathers, pants and a top that only really covers her breasts.
  894. <Aliken> "Your clothes remind me of somebody I met in another dungeon..."
  895. <@DungeonLady> She looks almost like she's made out of sharpness.
  896. <Aliken> "Bleeding eyes, likes to read. You familiar with her?"
  897. * Golasa can detect a sharpness of aura, but has no clue what she's wearing.
  898. <@DungeonLady> "Look, solving this 'dungeon' or whatever you Lowworlders call it. I don't care. I'm just surveying the place for my friend, see? Oh, heh, you've met Owl, I see."
  899. <Golasa> "Then keep doing whatever you're doing. It's making our job easier."
  900. <@DungeonLady> She shrugs. "I'm just killing whatever's stupid enough to attack me. That's all."
  901. <RinTheThief> "Low-worlders?" Rin is confused to all heck by the term.
  902. * Golasa rolls her eyes behind her blindfold.
  903. <Aliken> "She was a reasonable enough person when we met her. Not all that talkative, but we did catch her reading. You call us 'Lowworlders'. You and Owl have a way to move directly between these worlds? I'm curious, have you heard of a place called the Barbed Library?"
  904. <Golasa> "It obviously refers to people from the world outside the Dungeons."
  905. <Aliken> "I'd be fascinated to learn more from people who seem to understand how the dungeons work better than us, anyhow. Anything we learn so we understand what we're actually doing better..."
  906. <@DungeonLady> "You people from the Lower Worlds. The dull stable ones that don't move around much." Suddenly she laughs. "Barbed Library! Sure, heard of it. It's for crazy book-lovers."
  907. <RinTheThief> "... Don't move around much?" Rin blinks. "... Can't say I'd think of my world as dull, but..."
  908. <Aliken> "I seem to have an invitation. Knowing a way to get to it and a few safety measures would be something I'd be interested in."
  909. <@DungeonLady> "Owl's favorite place, hah!" She grins broadly, flashing those sharp teeth again. "You just gotta get someone crazy enough to read the books for you. Gonna cost you, though. Yes, see, Floating Worlds, they slide through the Between. They change. They're more fluid and interesting."
  910. * Aliken nods slowly. "You have a way to cross the Between, then? It doesn't sound like you and Owl pass through Low Worlds on your way between the Floating Worlds."
  911. <@DungeonLady> "Those dungeons, they're just a kind of Floating Worlds. For some reason, really attracted to your world. Owl got curious after talking to some Lowworlers who said something about that and decided to start poking around a little."
  912. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah, just gotta open a way.." The sharp woman lifts her hand and digs her claws into the air, dragging them through it. Where they pass, a gaping hole into emptiness is opened up.
  913. <Golasa> "Can low-worlders survive in the Between?"
  914. <Aliken> "Hrm. I'd be interested in discussing what she learns at some point, but I have no idea how we'd even find her."
  915. <@DungeonLady> "Heh, just go to the Barbed Library, you'll find her sooner or later."
  916. <@DungeonLady> "Eh, isn't a big deal. Just aren't any food or anything."
  917. <Golasa> "I'd like to go there some day... but for now, we should focus on this dungeon."
  918. <Aliken> "How do you find your way to specific Floating Worlds in the Between? Are there any Floating Worlds that you think would be reliable places for people like us to rest and resupply?"
  919. <RinTheThief> "Note to self: Find way to access In-between. Bring lots of food. Also, figure out if there's a way to return to a place we've completed..."
  920. * Aliken bows her head deeply. "I am very grateful for the kindness you have showed us. I am Aliken Mechtildsdochter."
  921. <Golasa> (To Dysna) "See what I mean? Insane, but it works."
  922. <Dysna> "Insane is putting it lightly."
  923. * Golasa is glad somebody else understands.
  924. <@DungeonLady> "Hah, you just gotta learn the trick. Then it's instinctual. Takes practice. I suppose if you want to buy stuff or whatever, there's always the City of Chants." Another extremely toothy grin. "Owl calls me Shark, so that'll do."
  925. <@DungeonLady> "Eh, got more surveying to do. Have fun with your dungeon puzzle solving or whatever you're doing."
  926. <Aliken> "Hm." Aliken turns to her comrades. "I suspect that if we find our way to this City of Chants somehow, we'll be in a very good position for further exploration of the Floating Worlds. I understand if nobody else is all that eager to spend their time away from our own world, but it might be the best possible base of operations."
  927. <Aliken> "Good fortune to you, as well."
  928. <Golasa> "I'd like to see it, but I'm not planning to abandon the world I was born in any time soon."
  929. <@DungeonLady> Shark's already walking away through the darkness. She doesn't seem to bother with a light.
  930. <Aliken> "Let's press on, then."
  931. <Golasa> Is she still heading towards the Hoarder?
  932. <@DungeonLady> She seems to be sorta just wandering around.
  933. <@DungeonLady> A little more to the... right?
  934. <Golasa> Okay, no conflict of interests, then. Onwards!
  935. * Dysna blinks
  936. <Dysna> "Are we just going to leave this gaping hole here?"
  937. <Golasa> "What were you planning to do about it?"
  938. <Aliken> "We're not about to explore the Between, so it can wait."
  939. <Aliken> "Maybe Golasa can research a way to access the Between at some point."
  940. <Golasa> "It would be an interesting challenge, but one best attempted when were not in a dungeon with a resources-enforced time limit."
  941. <Aliken> "Agreed. I didn't mean *now*, anyhow."
  942. <Golasa> Onwards?
  943. <Aliken> Indeed, onwards.
  944. <@DungeonLady> As you proceed on, a mound rises out of the darkness. A huge one. It becomes apparent it's a massive pile of stuff.
  945. <Aliken> What kinds of stuff, exactly?
  946. <@DungeonLady> ...Most of it looks like junk. Decayed, broken junk. But there're some tantalizing gleams here and tehre.
  947. <Aliken> Aliken makes a disgusted face, then starts mounting the pile. The Hoarder must be up there somewhere...
  948. <Golasa> And, incidentally, was this about as far from the circle as The Ruler was? Golasa was keeping track of distances to the best of her ability.
  949. <@DungeonLady> Slightly further.
  950. <Golasa> "If were looking for the Hoarder, then this must be the Hoard."
  951. <Aliken> "Absolutely. Let's just get this over with."
  952. <Golasa> (Trying to remember the Hoarder. That was one of the ones Aliken knew, right?)
  953. <Dysna> "Remind me the details for this particular legend?"
  954. <@DungeonLady> There's a warped door. Half of a cart. Rusted armor. A rotting cat. A golden flute. Books waterlogged beyond uselessness. A brand-new rope with a curious looking elaborate weight on the end.
  955. <Aliken> "She was incredibly greedy, tried to seize queenship, got killed."
  956. <Aliken> "Giant jerk."
  957. <Golasa> "Sounds like you'll be more receptive to the alternative solution int his case."
  958. <@DungeonLady> It kinda... smells.
  959. * Aliken picks up the flute in passing.
  960. <Dysna> "Anyone object to lighting this thing on fire and moving on?"
  961. <@DungeonLady> Suddenly an angry voice bellows, "Leave my precious treasures alone!"
  962. <Golasa> "I'd at least like to learn what our task here is before we burn it."
  963. <Golasa> "And there she is."
  964. <@DungeonLady> It seems to be coming from within the pile itself.
  965. <@DungeonLady> A part of the pile stirs, as if something's moving inside.
  966. * Golasa is still not ruling out the burning option.
  967. * Dysna debates setting it on fire now and asking forgiveness from Aliken later.
  968. * Golasa would have your back, koboldsis.
  969. <Aliken> "Madam, you're a robber yourself. So, with respect, go find a priestess and bring suit or try and kill me yourself."
  970. * RinTheThief looks at the source of the voice. "Such poor treasure, overall," Rin says, in half-mockery. "So much ugliness, as to render the beauty nigh-unobservable."
  971. <@DungeonLady> "Arrrrgh! My treasure!" A far too thin hand sticks out of the pile, making grabbing motions at Aliken's ankle.
  972. <Aliken> "I'll take that as you taking my second option. Very well." Aliken draws her sword and stabs into the pile, using where the hand is coming from to guide her blade.
  973. <RinTheThief> Rin, experimentally, grabs the rope, several steps away from Aliken, to test if the Hoarder is loosely human!
  974. * Dysna digs in her pack, looking for her fire lighting tools.
  975. <@DungeonLady> There's a shrieking. A screaming face with crazed eyes and a broken pot for a helmet emerges from the pile.
  976. * Aliken stabs her sword directly into the face. She obviously has no real desire to negotiate with the Hoarder.
  977. <Golasa> Doesn't look very hard to kill, at least!
  978. <RinTheThief> Indeed! But Rin stays back, in case there's a trick here. There often is.
  979. <@DungeonLady> There's a gurgling. But the Hoarder seems to be far too buried in her own junk to do much. Meantime, the rope pulls out of the pile in Rin's hand.
  980. * Aliken stabs again, making sure the Hoarder has stopped moving.
  981. <@DungeonLady> Stubbornly, the Hoarder attempts to bite Aliken's ankle before she finally falters and stops moving.
  982. * Dysna pulls on her matches/tindersticks/etc and holds them up. "So, fire?"
  983. * Golasa has a plan!
  984. <Aliken> "If you want. I think we're done here."
  985. * Aliken sticks the flute in her pack.
  986. <Golasa> Unless it already died.
  987. <RinTheThief> "Let's loot the Hoard some, then get outta here."
  988. <Aliken> "Agreed."
  989. * Aliken picks over the Hoard, looking for the most immediately valuable items while not wasting time picking through junk.
  990. <Golasa> "I'll leave the looting to you. I'm not looking forward to sifting through it by touch."
  991. * RinTheThief spends a little more time going through... Very glad she has gloves on her.
  992. <@DungeonLady> Other than the flute and the rope, what two or three other things do you find that don't appear to be total junk?
  993. <Aliken> Aliken finds a badly tarnished silver platter of masterful worksmanship.
  994. <RinTheThief> Rin finds an opened puzzle box, inlaid with a few gems and empty.
  995. <Aliken> Perhaps part of the table service of a long-dead lord.
  996. * Dysna finds a snack! It's probably for the best that the rest of the party doesn't examine it too closely.
  997. <Aliken> ((Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! *quite literally laughing out loud here*))
  998. * Golasa doesn't find anything! Because she didnt look.
  999. <@DungeonLady> The pile begin trembling. The voice begins screaming again. "My treasures, my treasures!" The dwarven woman who's been stabbed several time lunges to motion again. Her stab wounds seem to have faded.
  1000. <Golasa> Of course it couldn't be that easy.
  1001. <Aliken> "Fire sounds like a good idea."
  1002. * Golasa is going to try something a it more challenging.
  1003. <Golasa> She'll need someone to distract the Hoarder, though.
  1004. * Aliken stabs again. "Be quiet, will you? The adults are talking."
  1005. <RinTheThief> "Is this going to be like that story of the Black Knight?"
  1006. <@DungeonLady> Trembling with rage, the Hoarder manages to grab the blade of Aliken's sword after a stab or two.
  1007. * Dysna throws fire on the pile at this point, humming a merry tune.
  1008. * Golasa draws another circle on the floor, steps out of it, then tries to infuse it with emptiness, opening a hole as deep as she can in the cold ground.
  1009. <Aliken> "Torching the whole pile seems like a good idea to me."
  1010. * Aliken hangs onto the hilt of her sword. Is the hand low enough that it'd be at Aliken's knee level or thereabouts?
  1011. <@DungeonLady> The fire catches with surprising ease. It's spreading rather rapidly.
  1012. <@DungeonLady> (Golasa, are you trying to open up a hole underneath the pile?)
  1013. <@DungeonLady> The hand's still barely higher than ankle level.
  1014. <Golasa> (Nope! A clearer spot.)
  1015. * Aliken KICKS the hand to push it directly against the blade of the sword.
  1016. <@DungeonLady> (Roll, then. ^.^)
  1017. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell
  1018. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  1019. <Golasa> Golasa is drained by the effort of the spell, taking -1 forward.
  1020. <Golasa> "Rin, hand me the jewels!"
  1021. * Aliken tries to use the force of her kick to make the Hoarder's hand chop itself apart.
  1022. <Aliken> "Let go!"
  1023. <@DungeonLady> Half of that hand is sliced off, but both halves begin flailing around. Indeed, the arm's flailing around blindly.
  1024. * RinTheThief passes the box over!
  1025. <Golasa> Okay, now for the gamble.
  1026. <Golasa> "HEY, HOARDER!"
  1027. <Golasa> "How fare are you willing to go for your treasure?"
  1028. <Golasa> far*
  1029. * Aliken kicks the chopped-off piece of hand into the hole.
  1030. * Golasa throws the gems into the hole.
  1031. <@DungeonLady> With an enraged shriek, the Hoarder pulls herself out, leaping into the hole.
  1032. <RinTheThief> "..." Rin mutters, lowly, "I wanted that..."
  1033. <Golasa> Next spell: Closing the hole.
  1034. <@DungeonLady> The pile trembles, then suddenly rolls after her, pouring into the hole.
  1035. <Golasa> Oh.
  1036. <Golasa> Hopefully it's deep enough!
  1037. * Dysna watches a giant flaming pile of refuse skitter into a hole.
  1038. <@DungeonLady> Smoke rises out of the hole.
  1039. <Golasa> Is the whole hoard inside it?
  1040. <@DungeonLady> Yes.
  1041. <Golasa> Okay, then time to reverse the last spell.
  1042. <Golasa> Although this may put her will against that of the Hoarder.
  1043. <@DungeonLady> Roll!
  1044. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  1045. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2 Cast a Spell
  1046. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=7 ]{9}
  1047. <Golasa> I... will let the GM pick one drawback. Do you need the list?
  1048. <@DungeonLady> The emptiness is closed, the void cleft. The land itself folds up, in a great wave, threatening to engulf all near the hole.
  1049. *** Dysna is now known as NineThePuma
  1050. *** NineThePuma is now known as Dysna
  1051. <Golasa> Unforutnately, Golasa is the closest!
  1052. <@DungeonLady> So, how shall you escape?
  1053. <Dysna> Quickly.
  1054. <@DungeonLady> +Dex, everyone who wants to escape quickly.
  1055. <Golasa> She stumbles backwards, away from the attracting void, reaching out with one hand to whoever might happen to be within helping range. Getting out unaided won't be easy.
  1056. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+1 Defy Danger
  1057. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+1 Defy Danger --> [ 2d6=4 ]{5}
  1058. <Golasa> Shit.
  1059. <Golasa> Give it to me straight, doc.
  1060. <RinTheThief> Rin tosses Golasa the rope's other end, while trying to keep her footing steady!
  1061. * Aliken huddles under her shield, knowing she can't dodge this, and hoping she's not so buried she can't dig her way out.
  1062. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, the land's weight closes upon you. Take 1d6 damage.
  1063. * Golasa grabs at the rope and prays that fate dealt her a good hand.
  1064. <Golasa> !roll 1d6
  1065. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
  1066. <Golasa> Whew! It totally did.
  1067. * Golasa emerges shakily from a pile of upended debris.
  1068. <Golasa> "Well, that wasn't how I expected that to go.
  1069. <Golasa> "
  1070. <@DungeonLady> And you are partially buried, but not so deeply that Rin isn't able to pull you free.
  1071. <Golasa> Oh scratch that last bit, then.
  1072. <Aliken> What happens to me?
  1073. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, +Str
  1074. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  1075. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  1076. <@DungeonLady> Your arm temporarily goes numb from the impact, but the land breaks against your shield and it doesn't take long to dig yourself free.
  1077. * Aliken grunts. "Ugh. Well, at least the Hoarder's dealt with now."
  1078. <Aliken> (Dysna, roll +DEX to escape quickly. Looks like you missed that.)
  1079. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2 was waiting for other people to resolve
  1080. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 was waiting for other people to resolve --> [ 2d6=6 ]{8}
  1081. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+2 Trying to help Golasa AND keep steady!
  1082. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+2 Trying to help Golasa AND keep steady! --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  1083. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, you throw yourself free, but your foot twists. It feels like a strain.
  1084. <Golasa> (Remember, the fiction always precedes the dice)
  1085. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you're fine.
  1086. <@DungeonLady> In fact, it felt a little to easy pulling Golasa free.
  1087. <Aliken> "Shall we head back to the waypoint and select... oh, huh, I just got an idea."
  1088. <RinTheThief> "Oh?"
  1089. <Golasa> A little too easy?
  1090. <Golasa> Did I lose a limb?
  1091. <Aliken> "The cannibal who wanted fresh meat. I suppose I can feed it from the carcass at the waypoint."
  1092. <@DungeonLady> No. But it still went more smoothly than you would expect.
  1093. <Golasa> Oh, awesome.
  1094. * Golasa lies down.
  1095. <Golasa> "Three down, four to go."
  1096. <Aliken> "All right. Let's get moving." On the way back, Aliken fishes the jawbones out of her pack.
  1097. <Dysna> ((Kay, so, hate to be a downer, but how much longer is session planned to be going? If it's more than 10 minutes I'll need to go start a pot of coffee))
  1098. <Golasa> ((I'm about ready to wrap up myself))
  1099. <RinTheThief> ((I think this is a good halting point as well.))
  1100. <@DungeonLady> ((Let's end this, yeah.))
  1101. <Aliken> ((Works for me.))
  1102. <@DungeonLady> ((And, really, there're two more of those pillars to go, I'll try to end the dungeon next session.))
  1103. <Aliken> ((Two more? Huh.))
  1104. *** Dysna is now known as SleepinPuma
  1105. <SleepinPuma> Obvs Shark is murdering other pillars
  1106. <Aliken> Possible. :)
  1107. <Golasa> Fantastic session, btw
  1108. <Golasa> That and I'm loving playing the Mage over the Wizard
  1109. <Golasa> I can just MAKE SHIT UP and then watch it go horribly wrong
  1110. <Aliken> Shark is fascinating.
  1111. <Aliken> I am really being intrigued by Shark and Owl.
  1112. <RinTheThief> No kidding.
  1113. <@DungeonLady> Puma, you do have a pretty strong rune in Pain, heh. Pretty much ruin anyone's day, at least for a bit.
  1114. <Golasa> The stuff about the Between is actually making me think of a book I read recently, The Long Earth.
  1115. <Aliken> Who here was surprised that Aliken was not bothering to make nice with the Hoarder? Heh.
  1116. <Golasa> Golasa is!
  1117. <Golasa> She's not gonna call her out, though.
  1118. <Golasa> This behavior must be encouraged.
  1119. <Golasa> STab the boss, conquer the dungeon.
  1120. <RinTheThief> Rin was a bit surprised until she was reminded about the attempt to usurp the throne.
  1121. <Aliken> There's an actual reason, though!
  1122. <Aliken> "This is somebody that I already know cannot be reasonable. So screw them."
  1123. <@DungeonLady> Besides, Aliken hates asshole royalty.
  1124. <@DungeonLady> Aliken's not exactly pro-royalty, really.
  1125. <Aliken> She really isn't.
  1126. <Aliken> Dysna found a snack! >.>
  1127. <RinTheThief> That moment made me laugh pretty hard. XD
  1128. *** RinTheThief is now known as NekoIncardine
  1129. <Aliken> I find it amusing that people think I'm crazy for not stabbing first and asking questions later. XD
  1130. <Golasa> I'm just happy that Golasa found someone who understands her
  1131. * Aliken wonders when Golasa's secret will be revealed. Heh.
  1132. <Golasa> Hopefully at the least opportune moment
  1133. <Aliken> My money is currently on 'medusa' or some such.
  1134. <Golasa> Mine is currently on eagle
  1135. <NekoIncardine> My trick is I made Rin's secrets not entirely known even to me
  1136. <Aliken> Nah, Golasa's a cat.
  1137. <Golasa> Either way I'm out
  1138. *** Golasa has quit IRC: Quit
  1139. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  1140. * NekoIncardine poof
  1141. *** NekoIncardine has left #lordsofdungeons
  1142. *** Dysna has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1143. *** SleepinPuma has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  1144. *** You have been marked as being away
  1145. *** DungeonLady has left #lordsofdungeons
  1146. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  1147. *** Dysna is now known as SleepinPuma
  1148. *** SleepinPuma is now known as NineThePuma
  1149. *** NineThePuma has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  1150. *** Dysna has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1151. *** Dysna is now known as NineThePuma
  1152. *** NineThePuma is now known as SleepingPuma
  1153. *** SleepingPuma is now known as SleepinPuma
  1154. *** SleepinPuma is now known as Tuesday
  1155. *** Tuesday is now known as NineThePuma
  1156. *** NineThePuma is now known as ReconnectingPuma
  1157. *** ReconnectingPuma is now known as NineThePuma
  1158. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Feb 12 14:37:47 2013 -0800
  1159.  
  1160.  
  1161. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Feb 18 16:00:08 2013 -0800
  1162. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1163. *** NineThePuma has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1164. *** ProfessorProf has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1165. *** Dicelord has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1166. *** kajarainbow has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1167. *** Aliken sets mode +o kajarainbow
  1168. *** Aliken sets mode -o Aliken
  1169. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1170. <NekoIncardine> Rar
  1171. <Aliken> Hello!
  1172. <Aliken> This is neat, everybody seems to be around early today. :)
  1173. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, though this won't be the norm.
  1174. <@kajarainbow> Anyway!
  1175. <@kajarainbow> Grabbing some water.
  1176. <Aliken> Water is good.
  1177. <ProfessorProf> hello
  1178. <ProfessorProf> <- a bit sick @_@
  1179. <@kajarainbow> If you need to take a rest, go ahead.
  1180. <Aliken> Hope you feel better, Prof. I have a bit of a cough myself, hah.
  1181. <ProfessorProf> Nah I'm good
  1182. <NekoIncardine> I'm game to start early if everyone else is.
  1183. <Aliken> I'm good.
  1184. <@kajarainbow> So you return to the hub. Two more of the monoliths have been shattered. The great beast still remains dead.
  1185. <Aliken> Which two are left?
  1186. <@kajarainbow> Three.
  1187. <ProfessorProf> Which three are left?
  1188. <Aliken> (Sorry. XD)
  1189. <@kajarainbow> !roll 1d4
  1190. <Dicelord> kajarainbow rolled : 1d4 --> [ 1d4=3 ]{3}
  1191. <@kajarainbow> The Priestess, the Sun, and the Wanderers.
  1192. <Aliken> "The Priestess or the Wanderers, I'd say. Looks like Shark's been busy."
  1193. <ProfessorProf> "Priestess could either be straightforward or have us fighting an army of giant snakes."
  1194. <NekoIncardine> "Or both."
  1195. <NekoIncardine> "It's a possibility, just saying."
  1196. *** ProfessorProf is now known as Golasa
  1197. <Aliken> "Either way, I'd rather deal with THAT than 'struck down by the gods', thank you very much."
  1198. <Golasa> "And Wanderers sounds exhausting. I vote Priestess."
  1199. <Aliken> "Rin? Dysna? You have any preferences?"
  1200. *** NineThePuma is now known as Dysna
  1201. <Dysna> "No preference."
  1202. <Aliken> "Right, the Priestess, then."
  1203. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  1204. <RinTheThief> "... Let's try Priestess, yeah."
  1205. * Aliken starts marching off.
  1206. <Golasa> "I'm still not sure if this is a reference to Acenith or Sacmis. It could be an important distinction, too."
  1207. * RinTheThief follows...
  1208. * Dysna tags along, wands at the ready.
  1209. <Aliken> "Remind me about Sacmis, would you? I don
  1210. <@kajarainbow> This time the trip proves uneventful. Just more darkness and darkness until you see a figure slumped in a chair. She's dressed in blue robes, with a round hat with a moon emblazoned upon it. She does not respond to your approach. As you draw closer, you see that she has a ribcage where a chest would be, and a snake interweaven through her ribs.
  1211. <Aliken> 'don't recall why it would be important."
  1212. <Aliken> "And... looks like we
  1213. <Aliken> we're just a bit late."
  1214. <Golasa> "The stories are similar enough to possibly be of the same origin, but Acenith didn't proclaim a curse unto all of humanity as she died."
  1215. <Aliken> "... that would be an important point, yes."
  1216. <Aliken> "I wonder if she's undead, here?"
  1217. <Golasa> "Not that there is much of humanity among our group."
  1218. <Dysna> "We're all about to die again, aren't we?"
  1219. <RinTheThief> "Hey!"
  1220. <@kajarainbow> The snake watches you with unblinking eyes. Its tongue flickers in and out.
  1221. <Golasa> Well, at least it's not giant!
  1222. * Aliken looks at Golasa slyly. "I see."
  1223. <RinTheThief> "... So do we kill the snake?"
  1224. <Aliken> "I'm... not sure. On the chance of 'being undead' or the snake talking or something, we might as well address them before we start chopping."
  1225. <Aliken> "Pardon me, but can you hear and understand us?"
  1226. <@kajarainbow> "...No reason. No reason to live in this world."
  1227. <@kajarainbow> It is hard to ascertain wherther the source of the voice is the snake, or the slumped priestess.
  1228. * Dysna scampers up, hissing something unintelligible to herself, trying to see how much of the snake is unintertwined.
  1229. <RinTheThief> "Don't-"
  1230. * RinTheThief of course hasn't taken time to check for traps yet! D:
  1231. <@kajarainbow> The snake's everywhere within the ribcage. Longer than it really shoudl be for its apparent size. That voice speaks again, "Leave me."
  1232. * Aliken glances to Rin. "Think you can talk some sense into the suicidal? Not sure my tongue is that sweet."
  1233. * RinTheThief , VERY CAREFULLY, starts to step in. "We cannot. Call us hopebringers, I guess... But we cannot leave you to suffer."
  1234. * Golasa suppresses a snort at 'hopebringers'.
  1235. <@kajarainbow> "Hope is a deception hiding the betrayal waiting in the wings." The woman looks up. Her face is unhealthy, swollen.
  1236. <Dysna> "True enough; but is hope not also the only thing that cannot be destroyed? Except for dragon souls, but that's neither here nor there."
  1237. * RinTheThief stares back. "Hope is eternal. To reject it is to die beyond death."
  1238. <@kajarainbow> There is laughter. The source remains indetermine. "Can hope heal a heart filled with poison?"
  1239. * RinTheThief draws her rapier. ".... Guess we're gonna have to find out, huh?"
  1240. <Aliken> "Looks like slicing out the snake is the order of the day?"
  1241. <Golasa> "It's as good a solution as any."
  1242. * RinTheThief makes a first, experimental poke, slowly, bracing herself to leap back if the snake tries to attack... Or something else goes wrong.
  1243. <Aliken> "If you'll excuse us, we're going to do a little snake extraction. I suspect you'll feel better after."
  1244. <@kajarainbow> A drop of blood runs from the snake. "In the end, even you seek to wound me in my heart." The woman's eyes turn a venomously bright green.
  1245. <Aliken> "If you'll pardon us saying, the snake isn't you. It's not helping you any."
  1246. <Dysna> "You know, magic is a strange thing. Who's to say you couldn't replace your heart, or even your brain, with another creature?
  1247. <Aliken> "Let's just say that the symbolism involved with the snake having been an implement of treacherous murder rather implies that it DOESN'T symbolise the natural and healthy soul of the Priestess here? Just saying."
  1248. <@kajarainbow> "Hatred is the only thing that remains to me. And you seek to take that away?" The woman rises in her seat, the snake now hissing. Poison drips from its fangs.
  1249. <@kajarainbow> "You think you can replace my heart that easily?"
  1250. <Aliken> "We were able to help the Ruler. Help bring him peace. We'd like to do the same for you, if you can let us. We can free you."
  1251. <RinTheThief> "Can? Try will, Aliken."
  1252. <Aliken> "Right, will."
  1253. <@kajarainbow> "Just try it, I dare you! Find something that'll fill this emptiness in my chest!" Bitter laughter follows. "And if you fail, you'll suffer and die as I did, poison coursing through your veins."
  1254. * RinTheThief reaches back, scratching one finger against her rapier for a split second... (Readying to use a dose of Oil of Tagit via Envenom.)
  1255. <@kajarainbow> (Cool.)
  1256. <Aliken> Aliken frowns thoughtfully. "Hmmmm. Do you not have the love of the gods? They will reward you for your service, if you but let yourself accept their reward."
  1257. * Golasa shuffles away from the hate-obsessed spirit. Probably Sacmis.
  1258. <RinTheThief> ... And then attempts to pierce the snake with her rapier!
  1259. <@kajarainbow> The woman blinks as the rapier pieces her snake once again... then both laugh. "You think to poison me, who have already been poisoned..." She leans forward. "So daring." There's an odd smile on her face.
  1260. <RinTheThief> (Yes, her plan starts with trying to knock the snake out. Step 2 or Plan B: Hell If She Knows Yet.)
  1261. <@kajarainbow> (Oh, oops, I mixed up the poisons.)
  1262. <@kajarainbow> (I thought for some reason you were using the "make people like you" poison.)
  1263. <RinTheThief> (oops)
  1264. <@kajarainbow> (I'll retcon a little, shall I?)
  1265. <RinTheThief> ((Kk))
  1266. <@kajarainbow> The woman blinks as the rapier pieces her snake once again... then both laugh. "You think to poison me, who have already been poisoned..." Venom dribbles from the corner of her mouth.
  1267. <Dysna> (Is it just me or is "I need an adult" appropriate for the prior poisoning?)
  1268. <Dysna> "Well, to be fair, it's not like every poison works in an identical manner to each other."
  1269. <Golasa> "What's the plan? Are we killing it or not?"
  1270. <RinTheThief> "Do it!"
  1271. <RinTheThief> (Dysna:: It kinda is...)
  1272. <@kajarainbow> (Am I missing something?)
  1273. <Aliken> "We cut out the snake, but we leave the priestess intact. I think we can actually help her."
  1274. <Dysna> "Can't we just do it Shark's way?"
  1275. * Aliken unsheaths her sword. "I'd prefer to help those who can actually accept help."
  1276. <@kajarainbow> "If you cut out my heart, what'll I be left with?"
  1277. *** kajarainbow is now known as DungeonLady
  1278. <Dysna> "Ribs, mostly."
  1279. <Aliken> "The gods will help you and shelter you. Please trust in them. They can bring you peace and happiness."
  1280. <RinTheThief> (Someone shoot it before it wakes up enough to attack me? ;;)
  1281. <Golasa> (We only have one shooter!)
  1282. <@DungeonLady> The Priestess's face twists. "My god was not there for me. Is such platitudes the best you can offer?" She cretches her hands, and her fingers become clawed with snakes' fangs.
  1283. <Golasa> Well, sounds like negotiations are breaking down.
  1284. <@DungeonLady> "Give me a new heart, or die!"
  1285. <Dysna> "Wait, question, priestess."
  1286. <Aliken> "If not your god, then trust in mine. Their guidance has not failed me."
  1287. <Dysna> "What does giving you a new heart require?"
  1288. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll +Con.
  1289. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  1290. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{9}
  1291. <@DungeonLady> "Shut up!" the Priestess screams at Aliken, and she feels her tongue swelling so that it's difficult but not impossible to speak.
  1292. <@DungeonLady> "Find me a replacement. Something that can withstand my hatred."
  1293. <@DungeonLady> "You'll fail, and then you'll die for getting my hopes up!"
  1294. <Aliken> "Hmmf."
  1295. * Golasa is thinking this one over. Unfortunately, the pondering means she isn't contributing to the battle.
  1296. <Aliken> "You think maybe the Ruler could lend a hand if somebody fetched him?"
  1297. <RinTheThief> "GOLASA, DYNSA!", Rin shouts.
  1298. <Golasa> "I'm thinking!"
  1299. <Dysna> "Well, on a scale of wyrmling to great wyrm, how powerful is your hatred?"
  1300. <Golasa> "Shut up, Dysna!"
  1301. <Dysna> "Hey, you guys are trying to use gods to pacify a woman who had hers abandon her in her hour of need. That's asking for failure."
  1302. <@DungeonLady> "It would devour the greatest wyrms." The Priestess glares at you, her hands still cletching, poison dripping from them, but that is the only motion she makes.
  1303. <Golasa> You can totally tell that the arcanists in the party are giving this situation the somber consideration it deserves.
  1304. * Aliken looks to Dysna. "Hey, do you think you could find the Ruler? *Quickly*?"
  1305. <Golasa> (How long have these walks been?)
  1306. <RinTheThief> (Quite a length of time, I think.)
  1307. <@DungeonLady> (It's hard to tell with the lack of time references in the darkness. But greater than mere minutes.)
  1308. <Golasa> "Something that can withstand her hatred..."
  1309. <Golasa> "We should cut the snake out and not replace it with anything."
  1310. <Aliken> "Gold is resistant to tarnish and corrosion, but I'm not sure that's a great answer."
  1311. <Golasa> "A void never crumbles."
  1312. <Dysna> "Yes, but that's hardly giving her a new heart, is it? It's leaving her an empty husk."
  1313. <Golasa> "That might be preferable."
  1314. <Golasa> "And unless you're planning to go find a pure-hearted angel, rip out its heart and feed it to this thing, I don't think we have any better options."
  1315. <Golasa> She's more or less ignoring the priestess at this point.
  1316. <Dysna> "It really isn't. Even hatred can fade given time, though not when it's clung to." Dysna looks toward the priestess again. "Besides. Learning to channel one's emotions is far more valuable than throwing those emotions away."
  1317. <@DungeonLady> By this point, the Priestess is just laughing.
  1318. <Aliken> "Honestly, I'd rather give her some gold, at least as symbolism. I suspect that might make for a better outcome."
  1319. <Golasa> "How about we just kill it? I'm not equipped for an emotional exorcism."
  1320. <Dysna> "Well, there's always that option. You mammals are confusing."
  1321. <Aliken> "Let's kill the snake, THEN figure out what to do?"
  1322. <@DungeonLady> "Well? Do you give up?"
  1323. <Golasa> "I think 'give up' is a bit misleading. We might simplify the problem a bit, though."
  1324. <Dysna> "Depending on how we define the problem, anyway."
  1325. <@DungeonLady> "Then just die already."
  1326. * Aliken shoulders her shield, charging forward to try and grab the snake's neck with the gloved hand this frees up, stretching it out so she can behead the thing.
  1327. <@DungeonLady> Roll +Strength.
  1328. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  1329. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  1330. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{5}
  1331. <Aliken> (Hah, ouch. XD
  1332. <@DungeonLady> (Okay, how much does your armor cover?)
  1333. <@DungeonLady> (Actually, I'll just go ahead and say this.)
  1334. <@DungeonLady> With rapid speed, the snake sinks its fangs into unprotected flesh. Aliken, you immediately begin feeling sick. Rather sick.
  1335. <@DungeonLady> Take 1d6 damage in addition to the obvious poisoning.
  1336. * RinTheThief reaches into her bag, looking for some antitoxin she bought earlier!
  1337. <@DungeonLady> Oh, how handy!
  1338. <@DungeonLady> Dysna and Golasa, what shall you do.
  1339. <@DungeonLady> ?
  1340. <Aliken> !roll 1d6
  1341. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=3 ]{3}
  1342. <Aliken> "Arrgh!"
  1343. * Dysna stands back with her wand at the ready, circling around to one side.
  1344. <Golasa> Golasa... hmm. Well, Aliken seems occupied...
  1345. <Aliken> Aliken staggers back, vision swimming.
  1346. * RinTheThief scoots over to Aliken, taking the dose and pouring it down Aliken's throat!
  1347. <Golasa> So, she's going to try and draw the heat out of Rin's rapier, turning it into a blade that freezes at a touch.
  1348. <@DungeonLady> Okay, roll for it, Golasa.
  1349. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, focus "Chill to the Bone"
  1350. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, focus "Chill to the Bone" --> [ 2d6=8 ]{12}
  1351. <Golasa> Downside, -1 ongoing.
  1352. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, the Priestess is looking right at you, her eyes filled with hatred and anger. "And, you! You gave me hope, and this is all you can offer?"
  1353. <@DungeonLady> "I curse you! Writhe and die!"
  1354. <@DungeonLady> Roll +Con.
  1355. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  1356. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+1 Con
  1357. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+1 Con --> [ 2d6=9 ]{10}
  1358. <@DungeonLady> (Oh, hey, do you have any kind of counterspell, or is that just a Mage class thing?)
  1359. <Dysna> (Not that I'm aware of)
  1360. <Golasa> (That's my gimmick.)
  1361. <@DungeonLady> (Okay, just getting it straight.)
  1362. <@DungeonLady> It's hard to get the antivenom past Aliken's swollen tongue, but she begins feeling better.
  1363. <Dysna> "No, I merely know when the mammals will take the easy way out. To be betrayed, set aside by someone that you devoted everything to? That is a pain that cannot be measured and moving past it is difficult. How can you trust anyone when the last person you trusted hurt you so badly?"
  1364. <@DungeonLady> And, Dysna, you feel your guts twisting, but it passes.
  1365. * Dysna sits back, not letting an outward sign of her discomfort appear.
  1366. <@DungeonLady> The Priestess just sorta frowns at Dysna. Staring at her without saying anything, as if she's considering something.
  1367. <Dysna> "Using a god as something to place your faith in is like asking you to jump off a cliff, is it not? You've already been hurt badly enough by a god."
  1368. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, roll +Cha.
  1369. <Dysna> !roll 2d6-1 Worst Stat
  1370. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6-1 Worst Stat --> [ 2d6=3 ]{2}
  1371. <RinTheThief> (:< )
  1372. <Golasa> (Lesson learned: Never let the wizards do the talking)
  1373. <@DungeonLady> "You show false sympthy." The Priestess's voice, though, is twisted. Like she wanted to beleive her pain was understood. She reaches out toward Dynsa, walking past the others. "Don't play with my heart!"
  1374. <@DungeonLady> Rin, she's walking right past you. What shall you do?
  1375. <Golasa> As much as Golasa wants the group as a whole to survive, better Dysna than her. She's not getting in the way of that thing.
  1376. <Golasa> Remember you have an ice rapier now, Rin!
  1377. * RinTheThief strikes at the snake!
  1378. <@DungeonLady> Okay, +Dex time.
  1379. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [1]-[3] -- the total result is 6.
  1380. <RinTheThief> ( D: )
  1381. <RinTheThief> (Sorry, got called up by the parents at the wrong time. >_o)
  1382. <Golasa> (Wow we're doing poorly here)
  1383. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, bad roll streak. o.o)
  1384. <@DungeonLady> The snake's reaction is immediate, faster than your eyes, and you feel a stinging pain in your wrist. Hope you still have some of that antitoxin left. Also, take 1d6 damage as well.
  1385. <Dysna> (Hmm. If I knock Rin on her ass (which doesn't deal damage) how likely is it for the rest of the party to gut me?)
  1386. *** RinTheThief has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  1387. *** RinTheThief has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1388. <RinTheThief> ((Bah. What'd I miss after "[17:01] <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, bad roll streak. o.o)"?!))
  1389. <@DungeonLady> The snake's reaction is immediate, faster than your eyes, and you feel a stinging pain in your wrist. Hope you still have some of that antitoxin left. Also, take 1d6 damage as well.
  1390. <Dysna> (Hmm. If I knock Rin on her ass (which doesn't deal damage) how likely is it for the rest of the party to gut me?)
  1391. <Aliken> Aliken grits her teeth and staggers forward, trying once again to grab the snake and hack it to bits, at least while it's distracted by Rin.
  1392. <@DungeonLady> (Rin appears to be having trouble with IRC.
  1393. <@DungeonLady> (Also, getting a bit more water.)
  1394. * RinTheThief rolled 1d6 -- [6] -- the total result is 6.
  1395. <RinTheThief> (Down to 3 HP.)
  1396. <Golasa> (Eep)
  1397. * RinTheThief uses her other dose, backing off. "D-damn it!"
  1398. <Golasa> Okay, things are going poorly, so Golasa's going to try taking more direct action!
  1399. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, +Str.
  1400. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  1401. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{7}
  1402. <Aliken> (Yay, a hit! XD_
  1403. *** RinTheThief has quit IRC: EOF from client
  1404. <@DungeonLady> The head is struck cleanly off, but as it flies off, it lands upon Aliken's face, the fangs jabbing right through her cheek.
  1405. <@DungeonLady> Take another 1d6.
  1406. <Aliken> !roll 1d6
  1407. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
  1408. <Golasa> As she finishes an incantation, the end of Golasa's staff extends into a metaphysical tendril of cold, reaching out to lash at what remains of the snake inside the priestess.
  1409. <Aliken> "ARGH! Waarheid preserve me!"
  1410. *** RinTheThief has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1411. <@DungeonLady> Okay, roll for it, Golasa.
  1412. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2 Cast a Spell
  1413. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=4 ]{6}
  1414. <Golasa> OH BOY
  1415. <Golasa> "On a 6-, something's gone horribly wrong. Your spell may have worked, but you will regret casting it."
  1416. <RinTheThief> (:<)
  1417. <@DungeonLady> (Oh, man, you guys really are having a horrible rolling streak.)
  1418. <Golasa> (I still have a backup plan in case shit gets desperaaaate)
  1419. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you feel the bitter coldness steeping into you. Moving, even brething, is becoming difficult.
  1420. * Aliken pulls the head off her cheek and stomps on it, grinding it under her boot. "By the gods!"
  1421. <Golasa> "Rrgh..."
  1422. <Golasa> (Have we done ANY damage to this thing)
  1423. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, the Priestess drawing close to you, her hands outstretched.
  1424. <@DungeonLady> (Well, you managed to lop off its head.)
  1425. <@DungeonLady> The fangs upon her fingers are eager to sink themselves into the kobold.
  1426. * RinTheThief winces, but steps towards the Priestess... And tries to stab again, perhaps reduced to desperation!
  1427. * Dysna tilts her head, drawing her wand. "And what do you intend to do, mi'lady? Poison me? Hurt me when all I, personally, desire is to see you find joy again? Inflict your hate on those around you without a second thought? I can ignore that you might harm me to quicken the sorting of truth from the lies. But I have nothing to lie about."
  1428. <Golasa> Oh lord he's still trying to reason with it.
  1429. <@DungeonLady> The headless snake is already sprouting fangs from its neck-stump, but it's too blind to see Rin coming. And the Priestess is fixated upon Dysna.
  1430. <@DungeonLady> So, Rin, you just got a free shot. Are you looking to take a risk, or go for the safe sure hit?
  1431. * RinTheThief takes the safe, sure hit.
  1432. * Aliken advances to dig out a great length of snake from inside the Priestess' ribs and hack it up. Maybe we can extract all of the vile thing.
  1433. <Dysna> (Dysna is female. =V Unless you meant me, in which case I... haven't really taken much, if any, damage this whole game, so I'm willing to risk some to stay in character.)
  1434. <Golasa> (whoops)
  1435. <@DungeonLady> The snake rimes over with frost. It becomes stiff, impossible to extract without shattering ribs. But the Priestess slows. She gazes wearily at Dysna.
  1436. <@DungeonLady> "I'm so tired," she says all of a sudden. "I want to believe, but I can't even feel anything anymore."
  1437. <Golasa> Oh good, looks like Golasa might not need to intervene anymore. It's not easy to cast spells in this condition.
  1438. <Aliken> Hmmm. Aliken wracks her memory for more details of the legend of the Priestess, to try and think what might have been important to her.
  1439. <Dysna> "Then perhaps, Mi'lady, you should rest. I've found, through my life, that the numbness fades with such actions."
  1440. <@DungeonLady> "Rest... Yes, perhaps that would be good."
  1441. <@DungeonLady> She slumps to the ground, her eyes slowly closing. Her breath slowing.
  1442. * RinTheThief steps back. "So... Now what?" She reaches for bandages, trying to treat herself a little bit...
  1443. <@DungeonLady> You hear a stone shattering.
  1444. <Aliken> "I think we've done it."
  1445. <Golasa> Rather than any sort of quip, Golasa just focuses on getting her body moving again.
  1446. <Aliken> "Let's head back. I'm... not in the best shape. Hopefully we can do enough to get out."
  1447. * RinTheThief moves over to Golasa, trying to figure out where she can set a hand to help get the wizard moving again.
  1448. <RinTheThief> "No kidding..."
  1449. * Dysna approaches the fallen priestess slowly, awkwardly shifting the priestess into a more comfortable position and gently ptting her hair aside, gaze unreadable as she examines the Priestess's clothes and face. "Rest peacefully. You will be remembered."
  1450. <Golasa> "I'm not the one you should be worried about, Rin."
  1451. <Golasa> There we go. Joints softening a bit. Breath coming easier. Damn magic backlash.
  1452. * RinTheThief looks around. "I... Can't do more to worry for myself yet."
  1453. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you still feel rather cold. But at least you can move.
  1454. * Golasa tosses Rin a potion.
  1455. * RinTheThief catches, and takes it.
  1456. <RinTheThief> (Effects?)
  1457. <Golasa> (+10 HP)
  1458. <RinTheThief> (Between that and the bandage, she's back to full now.)
  1459. <RinTheThief> "... Whew."
  1460. * Aliken looks to be in very bad shape. Gray-faced and panting.
  1461. <Aliken> (I think I'm at 3 HP right now.)
  1462. * RinTheThief goes over, bandaging Aliken's wounds up some. (+4 HP.)
  1463. * Dysna abruptly straightens, examining her companions before shaking her head. "As I told her, it might be better to rest. You are all hurt, rather badly. It would be unwise for us to continue in our current state."
  1464. <RinTheThief> "Where is safe, though? That's starting to worry me now..."
  1465. <Aliken> "We just need to press on, for now. Hopefully we can get out soon."
  1466. <Golasa> "I'm expecting only one more pillar, at this rate."
  1467. <Dysna> "Here should be safe enough. I believe that if we were to rest for a few hours, give the poisons time to pass, and then continue it would be better than rushing into another conflict ill prepared."
  1468. <Aliken> "In the worst case, we can hunker down and hope that Shark finds us first, rather than the locals. She might be able to help us escape."
  1469. <RinTheThief> "... I'm not sure. Let's head back to the center.
  1470. <Aliken> "Right."
  1471. <Aliken> "By the way, Rin. Thanks. I'm grateful."
  1472. * Aliken smiles weakly.
  1473. <RinTheThief> "Let's focus on getting outta here before we really get grateful, okay?"
  1474. <@DungeonLady> So, you heading back?
  1475. <Aliken> I think so.
  1476. <Golasa> Yup
  1477. <Dysna> I guess
  1478. <Golasa> Our meatshields are definitely doing their jobs, I'm still at 15/16 HP
  1479. <Aliken> You have 16 CON? Goodness.
  1480. <@DungeonLady> At the center, only one stone remains. The Sun.
  1481. <Aliken> "... wonderful."
  1482. <@DungeonLady> (Uh, that's including base HP, Aliken.)
  1483. <Golasa> What? No, I have 12 Con
  1484. <Golasa> and my HP is Con+4
  1485. <Aliken> (Oh, my HP might have been higher than 3, heh. I was down 10. Lack of character sheet is a pain. Couldn't catch Leon again on the weekend.)
  1486. <Aliken> "Well, nothing for it."
  1487. <Dysna> (I'm at or near full, which means I have 20+ con)
  1488. <@DungeonLady> (Huh, I should dig up my copy. And, yeah, pretty sure your would be at least 23 max.)
  1489. <Golasa> (wait what)
  1490. <Aliken> (I forgot there was a base HP score.)
  1491. <@DungeonLady> (Did you mean HP, Dysna?)
  1492. <Golasa> 19+ Con is impossible
  1493. <Dysna> (Yes)
  1494. <Golasa> oh OK
  1495. <Dysna> (My bad)
  1496. <@DungeonLady> So. The Sun. As you head into the darkness, you see a warm light ahead.
  1497. <Golasa> Wait wait
  1498. <@DungeonLady> (Or you not setting out yet?)
  1499. <Golasa> We were talking about taking a breather before we head to the sun
  1500. <@DungeonLady> (Right, sorry.)
  1501. * Aliken settles down around the portal. "Must have been Shark's entry point, I imagine."
  1502. <Golasa> "And Shark's also what happened to the beast in the center. I'm guessing it's going to stay dead."
  1503. <Aliken> "I'm just as glad we were able to deal with her reasonably."
  1504. <Golasa> "So, Sun. What are we dealing with here again?"
  1505. <RinTheThief> "No kidding. Someone able to solo these things...."
  1506. <Aliken> "Arrogant mage, struck down by the gods. We both know the story."
  1507. <Golasa> "Right, right."
  1508. * Aliken dredges her memory for the full details.
  1509. <@DungeonLady> In short, this mage had gathered a great deal of magic and sought to overthrow the gods themselves and shatter the very order of the world so he might claim it for his own.
  1510. <Aliken> "I have a bad feeling about this last one."
  1511. <Golasa> "Well, we managed with the last three."
  1512. <RinTheThief> "We'll end this one. Then get the hell out of here."
  1513. <Dysna> (How high is the monolith?)
  1514. <Aliken> "Yes, but I'm not sure we can reason with him, OR overpower him. He may have been crazy, but he thought he could overthrow the gods for a reason."
  1515. <@DungeonLady> (About six feet.)
  1516. <Golasa> "You say that like those are our only options."
  1517. <Golasa> "Reason, no. Overpower, no. Trick? Maybe."
  1518. <@DungeonLady> (Make that eight or so. Taller than a human, but not by a great deal.)
  1519. <Golasa> "To this end, I think Rin is going to be useful."
  1520. <RinTheThief> "Trick, eh?" Rin grins. "We'll see what I can do."
  1521. * Dysna scrambles to the top of the monolith, gazing out into the darkness. "Did he suceed in moving past the bonds of mortality?"
  1522. <Aliken> "I certainly hope so. Honestly, I'd feel more comfortable if we had Shark with us. She'd at least be some powerful backup."
  1523. <Golasa> So! Rest.
  1524. <@DungeonLady> You may recover half of your HP and make any other preparations.
  1525. * Golasa relieves herself of a -1 ongoing!
  1526. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, you still feel a little sick. Must've been some resident toxin from that bite in your cheek.
  1527. <@DungeonLady> Still, it isn't as bad as it could be.
  1528. <@DungeonLady> Everyone, mark off a ration.
  1529. <Aliken> "You have any antitoxin left? I'm a bit concerned."
  1530. <RinTheThief> "No..."
  1531. * Dysna spends a period of the rest carving a bone out of the beast in the middle of what used to be a circle, crafting a makeshift and temporary pendant to add to her necklace.
  1532. <Aliken> "Well, I'll have to go on, then. Curse it."
  1533. <@DungeonLady> (Aliken, you're suffering from the Sick debility. -1 on Con checks.)
  1534. * Golasa takes some of the leftover shavings from Dysna's carving to use as a spell component.
  1535. <@DungeonLady> (Tell me when you're ready to finish the rest stop and move on.)
  1536. <Golasa> (I'm ready.)
  1537. <Aliken> (Ready.)
  1538. <RinTheThief> (Let's go!)
  1539. * Dysna carves a rune into said pendant, and then is ready to go with the rest of her party.
  1540. <@DungeonLady> So, you advance into the darkness, toward a man who was a geninue threat to the gods themselves. Ahead, you see a golden light.
  1541. <Golasa> Oh boy.
  1542. <Aliken> "I hate this particular dungeon, just so everybody knows. Hah."
  1543. <Golasa> "It certainly keeps you on your toes."
  1544. <RinTheThief> "Well... Hopefully this is the last of it."
  1545. <@DungeonLady> The golden light... seems to be coming entirely from the man in golden armor. Around him are the starving ones, who seem to be dissolving in the light even as they stream in from the darkness to throw themselves at his feet.
  1546. * Aliken shields her eyes.
  1547. <@DungeonLady> Around him is great wealth and relics.
  1548. <Aliken> "Greetings."
  1549. <@DungeonLady> Armor and weaponry that look ancient, banners, and so on.
  1550. <@DungeonLady> "Welcome!" The Sun speaks loudly and clearly. He spreads his arms invitingly.
  1551. * Golasa is unaffected by the light! :V
  1552. <@DungeonLady> His face is festooned with rather unpleasant looking marks, like brands.
  1553. <@DungeonLady> In fact, what you can see of him seems to be covered with them.
  1554. * RinTheThief looks towards the man, but as yet, asks no question, staying clear from the light, in case she too would be burned by it.
  1555. <Aliken> "So. I assume you know about the whole thing about the pillars of despair keeping this place up. You... aren't quite what I expected, from the other pillars we encountered."
  1556. <@DungeonLady> "My fellow sufferers, at least, have finally found peace." His voice is cheerful.
  1557. * Dysna face palms at the openness and direct nature of the dwarf and settles in a fair ways back, analyzing the brands on his face, attempting to determine if they are arcane in nature.
  1558. <@DungeonLady> "Unlike them, I never gave in to despair, no matter how much the gods might curse me."
  1559. <Aliken> "... I am SO glad you're sane. The only other sane one we met was the Ruler."
  1560. * Golasa mutters, "Careful, Aliken."
  1561. <@DungeonLady> The brands that Dysna can understand seem to be all terrible curses designed to weaken and cripple the one marked with them.
  1562. <@DungeonLady> The number of them is well beyond what would kill most people.
  1563. <@DungeonLady> "Rest easy. I have an offer for you."
  1564. <Aliken> "I'm listening."
  1565. <@DungeonLady> "I wish for escape. If you aid me, you will be greatly rewarded. I shall give you kingdoms."
  1566. * Aliken glances to her companions.
  1567. * RinTheThief looks towards Aliken, quietly shaking her head.
  1568. <Golasa> "What would you do if you escaped?"
  1569. * Aliken backs towards Rin as Golasa speaks up, turning to whisper to the thief.
  1570. <@DungeonLady> "I have learned from my mistakes, fear not."
  1571. <@DungeonLady> "I now truly know how to truly cast down the gods. This time I shall not fail."
  1572. <RinTheThief> "And what if we could not offer this escape, by virtue of not knowing how?"
  1573. <@DungeonLady> "It is not knowledge that I lack, but the means to carry it out. I am, after all, bound and restricted."
  1574. * Aliken closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
  1575. * Dysna ponders if they could be reversed; he's clearly not weakened or crippled, and finding a method to reverse an enemy's curses would allow you to truly become powerful just by pissing everyone off. The gods themselves might not have been able to get around it, and imprisoned him off in a demiplane to get him away.
  1576. <Aliken> "Pardon me, but I think we may need a moment to discuss this amongst each other."
  1577. * Aliken steps back a few paces, gesturing to the others to come to her.
  1578. * RinTheThief stays at Aliken's side.
  1579. * Golasa lowers her voice. "You're not actually considering this, are you?"
  1580. <@DungeonLady> "Feel free. Know that even the fraction of my power that remains to me is great."
  1581. <@DungeonLady> He speaks before you draw away.
  1582. <Aliken> "Do you think you have a good way to signal Shark? I'd feel much more comfortable with what we have to do if we have somebody like her here to lend a hand."
  1583. <Golasa> "One moment, we're not playing with all the cards right now."
  1584. * Golasa turns back to the Sun, and raises her voice again. "What would we have to do to release you?"
  1585. <@DungeonLady> "Shatter that which binds me." The golden man gestures to the wealth and relics around him.
  1586. * Golasa turns back to the group with a nod.
  1587. <Golasa> "Rin, any ideas? We need to kill it."
  1588. * RinTheThief looks at the wealth. "... Destroying the wealth is what binds him?", she ponders.
  1589. <Aliken> "I am not releasing this man to resume his war on the gods. I want backup."
  1590. <RinTheThief> "I suspect one of the relics would be the key to besting him, thus why he wants them gone, but..."
  1591. <Golasa> "I don't think we can rely on Shark."
  1592. * RinTheThief ponders... "I... I honestly don't know."
  1593. <Aliken> "Understood, but I'd still feel more comfortable if we tried to gain her aid."
  1594. <Golasa> "Are any of the other Pillars still alive? Probably not."
  1595. <Golasa> "The spells binding him are beyond my ability to reproduce."
  1596. <Golasa> "I dont like our odds in a frontal assault."
  1597. <Golasa> "What if..."
  1598. <Golasa> "What if we could somehow convince him to lend us his power while he's still bound, then use it against him?"
  1599. <RinTheThief> "... Hrm."
  1600. <Aliken> "Can he even *do* that?"
  1601. * RinTheThief stands up, facing towards the light. "... We have not the power to destroy many of the relics around you," she declares. "What power could you provide us, that we might do so on your behalf?"
  1602. * RinTheThief bluffing like hell! 8|
  1603. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll +Cha for that one.
  1604. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [6]-[2] -- the total result is 10.
  1605. <RinTheThief> (FINALLY a good roll!)
  1606. <Golasa> (When it counts!)
  1607. <@DungeonLady> "Is that so? Then, I shall lend you my sword. It is capable of rending even the magic of the gods themselves."
  1608. <RinTheThief> "Thank you," she declares. "It shall serve excellently."
  1609. <Aliken> "May I?"
  1610. * Aliken looks to Rin, reaching for the sword.
  1611. <@DungeonLady> The Sun takes up one fo the sheathed weapons close to him, and tosses it over toward you. The sheathe's rather ornate, golden and graven with sun patterns.
  1612. * RinTheThief catches it, looking at the other weapons, slowly moving to draw it as she considers her options...
  1613. * Dysna is still lost in thoughts of making those damn curses function correctly.
  1614. * RinTheThief passes it over.
  1615. <@DungeonLady> The thing? From what you can tell, they *are* functioning correctly?
  1616. * Aliken takes the blade, and unsheathes it, walking slowly towards the Sun and the treasures surrounding him. Then, she nods, lunging towards the Sun. "I fear I cannot permit you to execute your plan!"
  1617. * Aliken tries to shatter his skull with the blade.
  1618. <Golasa> Oh Aliken you idiot why did you warn him.
  1619. <Aliken> I said this AS I'M LUNGING.
  1620. <Aliken> Some 'warning'.
  1621. <Golasa> Well here's hoping it wasn't enough of a warning with this guy!
  1622. * RinTheThief quickly moves towards the treasures from one side, hoping to get out of the Sun's immediate line of sight. She sees several weapons at his side, and she's going to move for them, hoping to steal one and use it against him!
  1623. <@DungeonLady> Roll for Hack and Slash, Aliken.
  1624. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  1625. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  1626. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  1627. <@DungeonLady> As for the other weapons, there're a halbred, a bow, a bundle of some sort of strange sun-shaped discs with spikes that look like they might be made for throwing, and a sundry of other such things.
  1628. <Aliken> How much extra damage do I do if I go for that option?
  1629. <Golasa> +1d6
  1630. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+1d6
  1631. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1d6 --> [ 1d10=2 1d6=2 ]{4}
  1632. <Aliken> ...
  1633. <Aliken> Hahahaha. XD
  1634. <Golasa> welp
  1635. * RinTheThief goes for the discs, being the weapon she knows how to use, attempting to grab them, then get out of the immediate range of the Sun before he realizes what she's done!
  1636. <@DungeonLady> The sword thuds into his head, but his sudden startled motion with his golden-armored arm deflects much of the force of the blow. "You could've helped bring around a new age of peace and propserity," he says mournfully. The light around him flares up, and a searing force slams into Aliken, throwing her back. 1d10+4 damage but apply full armor.
  1637. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+4
  1638. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+4 --> [ 1d10=3 ]{7}
  1639. <@DungeonLady> Rin, it isn't a great trouble to snatch them up.
  1640. * Golasa tries to keep the immediate pressure up, using creeping frost to seal him to his throne. He was on a throne, right?
  1641. * Aliken grunts in pain as the blast washes around her shield, but grits her teeth in determination and advances.
  1642. * RinTheThief tests their weight, then throws a few of the discs at the Sun from behind!
  1643. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, roll for your spell.
  1644. <@DungeonLady> And roll for volley as well, Rin.
  1645. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [1]-[4] -- the total result is 7.
  1646. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, focus "Inducing Stasis"
  1647. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, focus "Inducing Stasis" --> [ 2d6=11 ]{15}
  1648. <RinTheThief> (If this is as standard volley, I throw several, losing 1 ammo from my stolen stock.
  1649. <Golasa> WHAMMO
  1650. <Golasa> -1 Ongoing.
  1651. <Golasa> Of course, there's no telling how long such a spell can bind such a being.
  1652. <@DungeonLady> The ice forms around him... and immediately begins melting. But that strike from the spell-rending sword's weakened him, and he, momentarily, is covered with ice.
  1653. <Golasa> "Now's our chance!"
  1654. <RinTheThief> (Roll damage?)
  1655. * Aliken takes the opportunity to charge, plunging her blade into the foe.
  1656. <@DungeonLady> The sun-stars richoette around as they're thrown, seeking out in the spots least protected by his armor. Go ahead and deal your damage.
  1657. * RinTheThief rolled 1d8 -- [1] -- the total result is 1.
  1658. <RinTheThief> (D:)
  1659. <Golasa> blaaaar
  1660. <Golasa> Apparently they didn't find the spots least protected by his armor
  1661. <@DungeonLady> And, Dysna, what shall you do while all this is ongoing?
  1662. <Dysna> Circling around to the left, wands drawn and shooting him with my Spellshot!
  1663. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, the temporary immobilization by the ice allows you a strike at him within him able to react. Deal your damage.
  1664. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, go ahead and roll.
  1665. <Aliken> !roll 1d10
  1666. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10 --> [ 1d10=9 ]{9}
  1667. * Aliken strikes a mighty blow!
  1668. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2 Also, I think I get +1 from a racial trait?
  1669. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 Also, I think I get +1 from a racial trait? --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  1670. <Golasa> Not that you need it
  1671. * RinTheThief decides to take her chance, dashing in while the Sun's attention is hopefully still on Aliken, and trying to strike him with his own halberd!
  1672. <@DungeonLady> Okay, Dysna, tell me what your Spellshot does to him.
  1673. <Dysna> 1d4 damage, and his next attack takes -2 to the damage dealt =V
  1674. <@DungeonLady> Ok!
  1675. <@DungeonLady> Roll for that damage.
  1676. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  1677. <Dysna> !roll 1d4
  1678. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d4 --> [ 1d4=1 ]{1}
  1679. <Dysna> pft
  1680. * Dysna hits directly, but her magic isn't powerful enough to counteract his wards completely: she counts herself lucky to have managed to get her Rune of Weakening to apply.
  1681. <@DungeonLady> The Sun staggers under the force of all those strikes, but then suddenly the light around him is bright and full of fire and flying blades. The last of the ice melts away.
  1682. <RinTheThief> "!"
  1683. <Golasa> "I hope one of you has a good plan..."
  1684. <@DungeonLady> You'll have to act fast if you want to throw yourself behind one of the piles of treasure or try to minimize the damage in some other way.
  1685. <Golasa> Oh! This is an attack, not just an aura?
  1686. * RinTheThief attempts to dash behind the treasure to get cover, changing plans in mid-flow.
  1687. <@DungeonLady> Yes. A wave radiating out from him.
  1688. <@DungeonLady> A wave of fiery and sharp death.
  1689. <Golasa> Then Golasa's going to be glad she's light enough on her feet to leap for the nearest obstacle to put between herself and Sun.
  1690. * Aliken raises her shield and hunches behind it, hoping it can withstand the blistering force of his assault.
  1691. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, go ahead and roll +Dex.
  1692. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+1 Dex
  1693. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+1 Dex --> [ 2d6=6 ]{7}
  1694. <@DungeonLady> Well, and Aliken, you can roll +Str.
  1695. <Golasa> Partial credit, hey!
  1696. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+2
  1697. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{9}
  1698. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [5]-[6] -- the total result is 13.
  1699. <@DungeonLady> You, too, Dysna.
  1700. * Dysna dives behind something!
  1701. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  1702. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  1703. <@DungeonLady> The two most nimble find respectively a golden wardrobe and a pile of armors to throw themselves behind, feeling only a momentary flash of intense heat.
  1704. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, your shield is reduced to molten metal, but you suffer only light burns. Take 1d4 (armor-ignoring).
  1705. <Aliken> !roll 1d4
  1706. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d4 --> [ 1d4=2 ]{2}
  1707. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you aren't nearly as quick as the others, and your back feels like it's on fire. Take 1d4 as well.
  1708. <Golasa> !roll 1d4
  1709. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d4 --> [ 1d4=2 ]{2}
  1710. * RinTheThief waits for the flash to fade, then moves in again! STriking him, and NOW, is the best hope of winning!
  1711. <Golasa> Could've been worse, all things considered.
  1712. <Golasa> And Rin is right, but they need an edge.
  1713. * Golasa sighs, and stands, facing Sun.
  1714. <Aliken> Aliken takes the sword's hilt in both hands and charges, hoping to flank the Sun.
  1715. <Golasa> "Everyone, eyes on Sun!"
  1716. * Golasa braces herself for how painful this much light is going to be, and takes off her blindfold.
  1717. <@DungeonLady> Oh, boy. Golasa, roll your move first. :)
  1718. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+1 Mystic Eyes come on roll well
  1719. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+1 Mystic Eyes come on roll well --> [ 2d6=10 ]{11}
  1720. <Golasa> YES
  1721. <RinTheThief> (Oh hell! Good thing Rin's got a Sun between her and Golasa!)
  1722. <@DungeonLady> "Wha-" Sun suddenly begins rigid and transfixed. Guess what, a round of free shots for everyone.
  1723. * RinTheThief TOTALLY using this chance to backstab him with his own halberd!
  1724. <Golasa> Golasa's eyes narrow to slits, trying to force herself to keep them open long enough. Oh god that's bright.
  1725. <Aliken> !roll 1d10 Chop him up!
  1726. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10 Chop him up! --> [ 1d10=7 ]{7}
  1727. <@DungeonLady> Whee, roll, Rin.
  1728. * Aliken hacks down upon him, wondering just when he'll die with all the grievous wounds inflicted on him.
  1729. * RinTheThief rolled 2d6+2 -- [3]-[2] -- the total result is 7.
  1730. <RinTheThief> (Or did you mean right to damage?)
  1731. <@DungeonLady> (Well, you can roll straight damage, or Backstab to step it up.)
  1732. * RinTheThief already rolled, so I guess I say Backstab, for +1d6 damage.
  1733. <@DungeonLady> Roll it, then. :)
  1734. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  1735. <RinTheThief> roll 1d8+1d6
  1736. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 1d8=1 1d6=1 ]{2}
  1737. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, what about you?
  1738. <RinTheThief> (... ._.)
  1739. <Golasa> pffff
  1740. <Golasa> Rin is just having the worst damage luck today
  1741. <Golasa> that's three 1's in a row
  1742. <@DungeonLady> The Sun is shaky upon his feet, barely standing. But he's beginning to move again, and that light is getting dangerously bright. Quick Dysna, here's your chance!
  1743. * Dysna shoots with both wands, focusing on damage rather than a debilitating rune!
  1744. <Dysna> !roll 1d6+1d4
  1745. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d6+1d4 --> [ 1d6=6 1d4=4 ]{10}
  1746. <Dysna> (Assuming I can skip straight to damage, anyway)
  1747. <Aliken> (Oh, NICE.)
  1748. <Golasa> (VICIOUS)
  1749. <Golasa> (You should roll like that Rin :P)
  1750. <@DungeonLady> And, then, finally, the Sun crumbles. "We could've... made... the world... bett..."
  1751. * Golasa immediately drops to her knees, clutching her burning eyes with one hand and fumbling for the discarded blindfold with the other.
  1752. <RinTheThief> "Too much would have been destroyed," Rin declares... Hoping very, very much that the treasures don't crumble with him.
  1753. <Aliken> Aliken starts searching through the treasure, gathering as much as she can carry.
  1754. <@DungeonLady> Some of it is fading. But only some.
  1755. <@DungeonLady> Still, might want to be quick about it. What do each of you grab?
  1756. <Golasa> If there's any left by the time Golasa can right her blindfold, she'll grab whatever's nearby. Looks like some kind of chalice?
  1757. <Golasa> Well. Feels like.
  1758. <Aliken> Aliken grabs gem-studded golden jewellry, knowing that there's more value density in gems than in gold, keeping an eye for fine workmanship.
  1759. * Dysna takes a moment to dart in, spitting on the Sun's corpse and ripping off his helmet!
  1760. * RinTheThief takes as much flat out GOLD as she can, but also the bow and any discs she missed the first time, if she can.
  1761. <Golasa> I guess there's a time to factor in value density and a time for GOOOOOOOOLD
  1762. * Aliken is keeping the sword, too. She has plans for it.
  1763. <@DungeonLady> A chalice it is. Golden like everything else. And Aliken, thinking like a dwarf, you sweep the best crafted jewelry into your bag. Dysna, you have now laid claim to a gleaming helmet. Rin, you grab up about 100 coins, the bow, and some stars before the world dissolves around you.
  1764. <@DungeonLady> And reforms into the mountain range where you had entered the dungeon.
  1765. <@DungeonLady> There's Shark blinking in some surprise next to you all.
  1766. <Golasa> "That's it? I was expecting one last chamber."
  1767. * RinTheThief looks towards Shark. "... Same here, honestly. Hello."
  1768. <Aliken> "Welcome to our world."
  1769. * Aliken chuckles.
  1770. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, come on, couldn't you have waited a little longer? I was nearly finished with the surveying," Shark growls irritatedly.
  1771. <Dysna> "On the bright side, I got a helmet to ship back to Mi'Lord. And a pendant to finish."
  1772. <Golasa> "Next time a godslayer is trying to kill us, I'll be sure to keep in mind your plans that you didn't tell any of us about."
  1773. <RinTheThief> "We would have had no way to know that," Rin sighed. "And Golasa, she actually DID tell us that. We just didn't know how long she needed."
  1774. <Golasa> "Mrph."
  1775. <@DungeonLady> "Well, whatever. I didn't figure you guys'd actually beat that guy. I guess Owl'll just hae to be happy with what I've got so far."
  1776. <Aliken> "Sorry about the inconvenience. It wasn't our intent to interrupt you."
  1777. <Aliken> "He tried to get us to release him, but it did NOT strike me as a good idea."
  1778. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, yeah, he made that offer to me, but couldn't offer me anything I actually gave a shit about."
  1779. <Dysna> "Being a servant is, by far, more enjoyable than the paperwork of rule."
  1780. <@DungeonLady> "Me, I like being a free agent the best."
  1781. <Golasa> "Well, that's a third dungeon cleared."
  1782. <@DungeonLady> "Anyway, I'm out of this dull world." With a swift motion of her claw, Shark rends another gaping hole in reality.
  1783. <Aliken> "Be well."
  1784. * Aliken nods to Shark.
  1785. * Golasa wonders if that's healthy for the fabric of space.
  1786. <@DungeonLady> (Alright, all of you take a level up.)
  1787. <Golasa> And also is a bit grateful that Shark's appearance took the focus away from her last gambit.
  1788. * RinTheThief bumps Dexterity. Next level, she gets 18 DEX and a better chance of fewer failures on attacks! >_o
  1789. * Golasa bumps Wisdom.
  1790. * Aliken gets an 18 INT.
  1791. * Dysna is going to borrow Neko once game is over.
  1792. <@DungeonLady> And, yeah, that's a wrap for now, unless y ou guys have anything you'd like to discuss.
  1793. <Golasa> And I think I'll take Prodigy, but I'm not quite decided on which Focus to expand to
  1794. <Aliken> I think I'm good with a wrap.
  1795. <RinTheThief> ... Man picking my next move now is kinda tough. Not sure what I want. XD
  1796. <Golasa> Actually I'll go with Darkness.
  1797. <Aliken> I think the one I was planning on next was either Bloodthirsty or Merciless. Can't recall which is first.
  1798. <Golasa> Aligned: Shroud the Truth, Opposed: Fire and Light
  1799. <Dysna> I need to figure out how to mail a helmet made of solid gold to a dragon
  1800. * RinTheThief actually takes Cheap Shot for more Backstabs... Next level, I can upgrade to Dirty Fighter and get more and larger damage dice
  1801. <Golasa> ...This means we'll actually need to bring torches in the future, since I just locked Light out of my domain of magic
  1802. <@DungeonLady> And that really went more well than if you hadn't managed to scam the antimagic sword off him.
  1803. <Aliken> And once we get back to a city, I'm renting a forge and grabbing one of the books from the Dungeon of Words.
  1804. * Aliken is going to be doing something FANCY.
  1805. <Aliken> One of my moves is Blacksmith! So by the time I'm done, I'll have a signature weapon with the powers of the Sun's sword.
  1806. <Golasa> Anyway I guess I'm done here
  1807. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  1808. <Golasa> o/
  1809. <Aliken> Indeed. See you, prof!
  1810. *** Golasa has quit IRC: Quit
  1811. <Dysna> Later
  1812. <Aliken> Later.
  1813. <Dysna> Delaaayyyyy
  1814. <@DungeonLady> From now on, things're going to get interesting.
  1815. *** RinTheThief is now known as NekoIncardine
  1816. <Aliken> Oh my.
  1817. <NekoIncardine> I look forward to it
  1818. *** NekoIncardine has quit IRC: Quit
  1819. *** You have been marked as being away
  1820. *** Dysna is now known as NineThePuma
  1821. *** DungeonLady has quit IRC: *.net *.split
  1822. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  1823. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Feb 19 20:47:59 2013 -0800
  1824.  
  1825.  
  1826. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Feb 25 16:24:51 2013 -0800
  1827. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1828. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1829. <NekoIncardine> Nine!
  1830. *** kajarainbow has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1831. *** kajarainbow is now known as DungeonLady
  1832. <DungeonLady> Hi hi
  1833. * NekoIncardine will suddenly disconnect at an unexpected moment. When I do, I'll be back in a minute or two by phone. <_<
  1834. <DungeonLady> ok
  1835. <Aliken> Hello, everybody! :>
  1836. * Aliken pets the neko. n.n
  1837. <NekoIncardine> :3
  1838. *** ProfessorProf has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1839. *** Dicelord has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1840. <Aliken> It's a mysterious mage!
  1841. <Aliken> A mysterious, mystical mage.
  1842. <ProfessorProf> My attention is gonna be a bit divided for the moment
  1843. <ProfessorProf> work followed me home
  1844. <NekoIncardine> :<
  1845. <Aliken> Sorry to hear. :<
  1846. <DungeonLady> Okay.
  1847. <DungeonLady> Everyone ready to start as they will be?
  1848. <ProfessorProf> sure
  1849. *** ProfessorProf is now known as Golasa
  1850. *** NineThePuma is now known as Dysna
  1851. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  1852. <RinTheThief> ((Unexpected moment!)
  1853. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1854. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinThief
  1855. <Golasa> (Now our party has two thieves named Rin
  1856. <Golasa> )
  1857. <RinThief> (stupid ping delay oh well)
  1858. <Aliken> I certainly am.
  1859. <DungeonLady> Alright. Roll +Wis to see how interesting your journey back was.
  1860. <Golasa> I remember you changed how this works but I don't remember how.
  1861. <Aliken> Who's leading?
  1862. <Golasa> Not it
  1863. <RinThief> (6)
  1864. *** RinTheThief has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  1865. <Golasa> 6 what
  1866. <Aliken> Let's put it this way: who has a positive WIS modifier?
  1867. <Golasa> I've got a +1
  1868. <@Dysna> Same, I think
  1869. <@Dysna> Let me open my sheet
  1870. <Aliken> Better than me.
  1871. <@Dysna> !roll 2d6+1 ?
  1872. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+1 ? --> [ 2d6=6 ]{7}
  1873. *** Dysna sets mode +o DungeonLady
  1874. *** Dysna sets mode -o Dysna
  1875. <RinThief> (my wis check was 6)
  1876. <@DungeonLady> (Ah.)
  1877. <RinThief> (I'll use the dicebot from here)
  1878. <@DungeonLady> Using your kobold skills, you manage to chart a decent course back. But on the way back, you come across a strange sight. There're little humanoids capering around in colorful, extravagant constumes. That's the first thing that attracts your attention. The second is that their faces are mostly grinning mouths.
  1879. <Golasa> Another thing better left alone that our Glorious Leader isn't going to leave alone!
  1880. <RinThief> (Rin is now scared)
  1881. <Dysna> (Well now. I blame Rin.)
  1882. <@DungeonLady> "Welcome! Come in, come in, to the carnival!"
  1883. <RinThief> ((More scared))
  1884. <Aliken> Aliken looks over the scene carefully, scanning the small figures, their costumes, their camp, looking for every scrap of evidence she can find about them.
  1885. <Aliken> !2d6+3 Discern Realities
  1886. <Golasa> To Aliken: "I don't suppose I can convince you that we should just keep moving."
  1887. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1888. <Golasa> (it's !roll)
  1889. *** RinThief has quit IRC: Read error: Connection reset by peer
  1890. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3 Discern Realities
  1891. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 Discern Realities --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  1892. <Aliken> What should I be on the lookout for?
  1893. <NekoIncardine> "... We're adventurers. This is a carnival. I'm going to mention that this is inevitably going to result in some sort of danger, you're all going to pish-posh me and we go in, then we're going to end up in danger."
  1894. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  1895. * Aliken frowns. "Thinking, here."
  1896. <Aliken> (Sorry, I guess I rolled before you called for it.)
  1897. <Aliken> (I done screwed up.)
  1898. <@DungeonLady> First thing you notice is that they're beckoning you toward a central tent that looms taller than any such tent should stand. Just where did it come from? But more importantly, the entrance is unnaturally dark.
  1899. <@DungeonLady> In fact, it remembers you of all the entrances to dungeons you've seen before.
  1900. <Aliken> "I... think this is a dungeon, actually."
  1901. <@DungeonLady> Also, they seem to be surrounding you and urgently trying to usher you toward it.
  1902. * RinTheThief is totally right! This is going to end badly but we're going in anyways huh
  1903. <Aliken> "Either we explore it, or we get out."
  1904. <RinTheThief> "What's the odds of treasure? I'm not going in unless we think they're good."
  1905. <Aliken> "It's a dungeon. There's usually something. But I don't much like how it's deliberately trying to usher us in."
  1906. <@DungeonLady> "Prizes! There're prizes to be won!"
  1907. <Golasa> "I'm still recovering from the last dungeon!"
  1908. <Dysna> "Stuffed animals?"
  1909. <RinTheThief> "I dunno, it's better than one that tries to kill you before you even enter."
  1910. <Aliken> "I'm not in great shape myself."
  1911. <@DungeonLady> "We've got food, drinks, entertainments, and contests!"
  1912. <Aliken> "Hm. Given what we've heard from Shark, this MIGHT be less threatening than some. But we'd better keep our wits if we visit..."
  1913. <Aliken> "I mean, it sounds like not all of the Floating Worlds are inherently hostile."
  1914. <Aliken> "I don't know. I really don't know."
  1915. <@DungeonLady> Rin, they seem to be gathering around you.
  1916. * Aliken fidgets nervously.
  1917. <RinTheThief> "See? We're pish-poshing the danger already!" Rin starts to shuffle away. Man are they gonna skip a step?
  1918. <@DungeonLady> And now there're a lot of little hands grabbing for Rin.
  1919. <@DungeonLady> "Come on in!"
  1920. * Aliken follows after Rin, keeping her hand on the hilt of her sword.
  1921. <RinTheThief> Rin, of course, attempts to get the hands off her, quickly!
  1922. <@DungeonLady> Roll +Str. They're tugging you toward the entrance.
  1923. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  1924. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d1+0 Like her player is letting her escape this
  1925. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d1+0 Like her player is letting her escape this --> [ 2d1=2 ]{2}
  1926. <Golasa> oi
  1927. <Aliken> (2d1 is not ideal. >.>)
  1928. <RinTheThief> (okay okay I'll do it properly)
  1929. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+0
  1930. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+0 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  1931. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you manage to plant your feet in and brake, but don't manage to break free. They still tugging on you, and now making disappointed sounds.
  1932. <RinTheThief> (I come from DWRP, screwing with my muses comes naturally! ;.;)
  1933. <RinTheThief> Rin, for her part, is making panicked sounds!
  1934. * Aliken unsheaths her blade. "Let her go or you shall answer to me."
  1935. <RinTheThief> (oh there are so many ways this can go hilariously wrong)
  1936. <@DungeonLady> "Whoa whoa!" "What's with the sword, mistress?" "Don't stab us, sis!"
  1937. <Aliken> "She doesn't want to go in. She shan't be dragged in by force."
  1938. <@DungeonLady> "Oh dear!" "We wanted to show her our wonders." "You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll bleed, you'll win and you'll lose!" "Shush, mentioning the bleeding's bad advertising." "Besides, it isn't that bad."
  1939. <Aliken> "Let her go. We're in no shape to tackle your dungeon right now."
  1940. * Aliken advances threateningly.
  1941. <@DungeonLady> "Come on, lady." "Forget it, let's give them the free tickets and scram."
  1942. <Aliken> (Actually, we may be recovered if this is a couple days into the journey. I think.)
  1943. <Aliken> (But still. I'm down a shield, we may want to resupply...)
  1944. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, you should be by now, but there's still the issue of supplies and stuff.)
  1945. <Golasa> (Mechanically we're probably fine, but Golasa has been known to complain on occasion.)
  1946. <Golasa> (and/or all the time.)
  1947. <RinTheThief> (Hrm)
  1948. <Dysna> (Definitely all the time)
  1949. <@DungeonLady> The carnival barkers throw up tickets in the air, which slowly rain like cornetti. One of them even throws some kind of glittering powder into Rin's face as they all flee into the tent. "Come to the show later!"
  1950. * Aliken waits until the capering beings release Rin, then sheathes her sword.
  1951. * Aliken picks up one of the tickets and examines it.
  1952. * Dysna tries to collect the glitter.
  1953. <@DungeonLady> It reads, "One free admission to the Carnival Dungeon"
  1954. <RinTheThief> "... Well they sure aren't subtle."
  1955. * Aliken pockets it. "Are you all right, Rin?"
  1956. * RinTheThief dusts off. "I think so."
  1957. <@DungeonLady> It's all scattered across the ground and across Rin, Dysna. You do manage to pick up a few pinchfuls.
  1958. * Dysna pockets it for later.
  1959. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you seem to be having trouble getting all of it off. Some of it seems to stick, glittering and giving you a strikingly festial look.
  1960. <Golasa> "I might consider it as an absolute last result."
  1961. * Golasa got some glitter on her but is blissfully unaware.
  1962. <RinTheThief> "this is going to take HOURS to clean off! Arrrgh!"
  1963. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1964. *** RinTheThief has quit IRC: Read error: Connection reset by peer
  1965. <Dysna> "On the bright side, GLITTER."
  1966. <Aliken> "Come on, let's get moving."
  1967. *** RinTheThief has joined #lordsofdungeons
  1968. * Aliken makes sure to gather up enough tickets for everybody.
  1969. *** NekoIncardine has quit IRC: Quit: Bye
  1970. <@DungeonLady> The rest of the trip proves uneventful, at least.
  1971. <@DungeonLady> Deduct three rations.
  1972. <@DungeonLady> The familiar impossibly tall spire towers before you as you enter town.
  1973. * RinTheThief only has two rations! D:
  1974. * Aliken has four big priorities when she enters town: selling her haul, replenishing rations, replacing her shield, and renting time at a forge, bringing in her sword, the Sun's sword, and one of the books she took from the Dungeon of Words...
  1975. <Golasa> I've got four!
  1976. * RinTheThief bums off Golasa then x_x
  1977. <Golasa> that was four AFTER the end of the trip
  1978. <Golasa> <- prepared
  1979. <RinTheThief> <- Not as much! D:
  1980. * Aliken ends up melting down the Sun's sword, etching runes into the blade of her own sword and inlaying the metal. (Using my Smith move.)
  1981. <RinTheThief> (My workday was... Kinda stressful, so I'm taking it out on Rin apparently.)
  1982. * RinTheThief does research to find the best rate she can get for the Sunstars! She's getting tired of throwing stuff and is pondering upgrading to a nice bow. Then again, maybe she'd be better sticking to what she knows, but...
  1983. <RinTheThief> (... I swear I had gotten more treasure than just that, why do I not have it listed?! x_X)
  1984. <RinTheThief> (Oh! The longbow! :D)
  1985. * Dysna is unsure how many rations she should have, but fasting is a doable thing?
  1986. <Golasa> How much for a jeweled chalice?
  1987. <RinTheThief> (She has that analyzed. Ponders between selling it or the Sunstars.)
  1988. <@DungeonLady> Okay, here's your haul. You've got one rope that's been proving itself surprisingly handy (almost tying itself), one silver flute, Rin got the stars and longbow and 100 coins, Golasa got the chalice, Aliken's got about 600 coins worth of jewelry, and Dysna got a nice helmet that she's mailing away. At least her dragon'll be happy with it.
  1989. <Aliken> What's the silver tray worth?
  1990. <@DungeonLady> About 70 coins.
  1991. * Aliken donates the tray to Golasa, sells the jewellry, and tries to see if she can find somebody to forge her plate with the proceeds from the jewellry.
  1992. * RinTheThief analyzes the price on the stars and possibly magic longbow.
  1993. <Golasa> Hmm, forget selling the tray, silver is useful as a reagent in some rituals.
  1994. <Golasa> She is going to pawn the cup, though.
  1995. <Aliken> Also, replace the shield and buy more rations, of course.
  1996. <@DungeonLady> It seems like the Spire in the center of the town's been known to take the right magical items and give interesting things in exchange. There's also an auction block that's cropped up where adventurers've apparently taken to pawning off thsoe things too precious to go in a regular store.
  1997. * RinTheThief goes to offer the Sunstars to the Spire!
  1998. * RinTheThief hopes they're magic, she wants magic items ;;
  1999. <Aliken> How much to rent a forge? Can I find plate?
  2000. <@DungeonLady> It seems that this wasn't a town known for its armorsmiths, but the recent influx of adventurers've begun to attract all kinds of unusual businesses. In short, you find someone doing orders for custom fitted plate.
  2001. <Aliken> I make an order for that, and see if there's any smith I can rent the forge on so I can do the work to transfer the enchantment from the Sun's sword.
  2002. <@DungeonLady> As for a forge, you find someone who'll let you use theirs in exchange for work done, or 30 coins for the hours required.
  2003. <Aliken> What's the work they want done?
  2004. <@DungeonLady> General smithing work.
  2005. <Aliken> Mmm. Will they accept my coat of plates for scrap instead?
  2006. <@DungeonLady> 10 coins and your coat of plates.
  2007. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, your goblet gets valued at, let's say, 600 coins.
  2008. <Golasa> holy crap.
  2009. <Golasa> SOLD
  2010. <Aliken> That's fair.
  2011. <RinTheThief> Rin has the Spire examine the Sunstars and bow, sees if they'll offer her something good for either. Still thinking she might keep the bow but
  2012. <@DungeonLady> Rin, upon examination by a strange woman wrapped in many cloth bandages, it seems that the stars will find weak spots in armor, while the bow can seek its targets around obstacles such as corners.
  2013. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, it'll take a while before you get a response, but you have a pretty good feeling that your dragon'll look well upon your offering.
  2014. * RinTheThief offers the Sunstars in hopes of a more 'discovered' magic item - while that's a useful utility, she decides the bow would be more useful.
  2015. * Dysna is content to resupply her rations and wait for said response.
  2016. <@DungeonLady> The bandage-wrapped woman, Second Acolyte, offers a curious dried hand that when burnt like a candle allows passage without notice, a lantern that brings darkness, or a net supposedly capable of trapping the intangible.
  2017. <Aliken> After Aliken finishes all this resupplying, she goes to check the dungeon board. She's not exactly sold on the Carnival Dungeon yet.
  2018. * RinTheThief Hrm. The hand's limited use, the lantern's probably refillable, the net's obviously going to be for special adventures, and where's the bag of holding? ;; She thinks before making her decision
  2019. <RinTheThief> (Rin has her priorities straight, what can I say? XD)
  2020. <RinTheThief> (Actually I gotta go check something with my parents, one sec ;;)
  2021. * RinTheThief , after some though, decides to take the lantern.
  2022. <RinTheThief> (... I am wondering if she'd be a jerk and immediately to go sell it. XD)
  2023. <@DungeonLady> Someone's attached a proclamation to the board that it is time for the strong to rise up, and that the royals' days are numbered. The name written on it is that of a rather famous dungeon clearer.
  2024. <@DungeonLady> Ironrain.
  2025. <Golasa> Oh goody! Politics.
  2026. <Golasa> what's the local government even like?
  2027. <Aliken> ... Aliken studies it more closely.
  2028. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, you notice that Crx's symbol's been marked down next to Ironrain's signature.
  2029. <Aliken> Well, FUCK.
  2030. <@DungeonLady> The Auslands're noted for a somewhat apathetic king, who's been claiming taxes with not much in return. At least those taxes haven't been any worse than those of the neighbors.
  2031. <Aliken> I'll check over the available dungeons, at least. But fuck.
  2032. <@DungeonLady> In the meantime, the Dungeons of Hideen Lethality and Mysteries've apparently been clared. There's the Carnival Dungeon you passed, a Dungeon of Worms, a Beautiful Dungeon, the Dungeon of Conflict, and... you know that little crossroad trading post you guys ended up at after your first dungeon together?
  2033. <Golasa> is it a dungeon now?
  2034. <Aliken> Yeah, I recall it.
  2035. <@DungeonLady> It's no longer shown upon the map. In its place is the Crossroads Dungeon.
  2036. <Aliken> ... crap.
  2037. <RinTheThief> "... Well, sucks for that town. Beautiful Dungeon, though. That's next."
  2038. <Golasa> Well isn't that interesting.
  2039. <Golasa> "I'm interested in this Crossroads Dungeon."
  2040. <RinTheThief> "That can come after."
  2041. <Golasa> "Maybe."
  2042. <Aliken> "As I see it, there are three things I'm most interested in doing. The Beautiful Dungeon, hunting down this Gerechtsheid-damned Ironrain, or investigating the Crossroads Dungeon. Ironrain and the Crossroads Dungeon both concern me, and the Beautiful Dungeon just sounds promising."
  2043. * RinTheThief sells her throwing daggers for some arrows.
  2044. <RinTheThief> "Exactly. Can't let someone else take that mark!"
  2045. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, you receive a letter full of praise, and unexpectedly, a promise of a favor. Inside it is a single scale you recognize as one of the dragon's.
  2046. <Aliken> "Dysna, you have a vote?"
  2047. <@DungeonLady> Also, a note to see the local bank for 200 coins.
  2048. <Dysna> "Yay!~" Dysna immediately attaches the scale to her necklace, and goes to the bank to open an account with them before having the money from the dragon's note transferred into said account.
  2049. * Aliken looks to Dysna as the group discusses what to do next.
  2050. * Dysna totally missed that there was an argument. "I vote for a dungeon. Which one matters little to me; more research is needed, afterall."
  2051. * Aliken shakes her head.
  2052. <Aliken> "Right."
  2053. * Aliken pulls out a coin, flipping it.
  2054. <Aliken> !roll 1d2
  2055. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d2 --> [ 1d2=1 ]{1}
  2056. <Golasa> Sadly, controlling the outcome of coin flips is not in Golasa's repetoire.
  2057. <Aliken> "Heads. Beautiful Dungeon is my vote, then."
  2058. <Golasa> "Darn."
  2059. <Aliken> "Sorry." Aliken shruges apologetically.
  2060. <RinTheThief> "Yay!"
  2061. <Aliken> "Is everybody ready to set out again?"
  2062. <Golasa> "Give me an hour."
  2063. <Dysna> "I never stopped being ready."
  2064. * RinTheThief buys two bundles of arrows, to make sure she has spare shots. :|
  2065. <Aliken> "We can set out in the morning, I think. Give ourselves a last day to relax."
  2066. <RinTheThief> "Agreed."
  2067. <Dysna> "Sleep is good."
  2068. <RinTheThief> (How much for one night's sleep? The rates are for entire weeks XD)
  2069. * Aliken makes sure to eat a nice hearty dinner on the last day. And share the meat with the jawbone from the Forsaken.
  2070. <Aliken> (We may have taken a couple of days resupplying and selling, actually. We had a lot of stuff to do.)
  2071. <@DungeonLady> (4 a night, because of high demand.)
  2072. <RinTheThief> (True!)
  2073. <Golasa> With her remaining time, Golasa's going to the most high-end available provider of materials arcane. What can she find?
  2074. <RinTheThief> (Lessay 3 nights?)
  2075. <Golasa> In other words, SHOPPING DAY
  2076. <RinTheThief> Rin chooses to hold onto her supplies as-is for now.
  2077. <@DungeonLady> The Jolly Bottom, like the last time you were in town, has free rooms for 4 a night.
  2078. * Aliken made a promise to feed that Forsaken's face! She's not sure if it can EAT.
  2079. <Golasa> The more esoteric the better.
  2080. * Aliken will at least try!
  2081. <RinTheThief> She does see how much she could sell the Lantern for, though. And how much a Bag of Holding would be. She doesn't like dealing with supply limits! (Even though rules-wise she doesn't have to)
  2082. <@DungeonLady> It indeed eats... and demands more after eating a whole meal.
  2083. * Aliken feeds it more- it's a fair trade for the help she was given.
  2084. <@DungeonLady> And yet more.
  2085. <@DungeonLady> By this point, it's already consumed five meals for 5 coins.
  2086. * Dysna wonders if we could shove it into a keg of beer?
  2087. * Aliken is willing to feed it up to 25 coins' worth of food, if it shuts up before then.
  2088. <@DungeonLady> It's after 21 coints' worth that the mask finally proclaims itself satsified... and crumbles into dust.
  2089. <Aliken> "Cheap at the price."
  2090. * Aliken chuckles to herself.
  2091. <@DungeonLady> Rin, it seems like you'd have to put the lantern up for bidding, though the auctioneer does estimate a potential gain of 400-700. If there's interest in it. As for 'bags of holding', it seems like there's a very high demand for items like that.
  2092. * RinTheThief drat. For now, she keeps the lantern, though...
  2093. <@DungeonLady> During your stay in town, you hear a lot of buzz about Steelrain, the Crossroads Dungeon, and someone who claims they have a way to travel into and out of dungeons.
  2094. <Golasa> Not Ironrain?
  2095. <Aliken> Before I leave, I'd like to see if I can find the person who claims they have the way in and out of dungeons.
  2096. <@DungeonLady> Pardon me. Ironrain.
  2097. * RinTheThief ready to go, go, gooo~
  2098. <Golasa> (I never got a result on my shopping trip)
  2099. <@DungeonLady> It seems this person was heading out to check out the local dungeons.
  2100. * Dysna is totally with Rin
  2101. <Aliken> Well, we'll just head out, then.
  2102. <Aliken> :)
  2103. <RinTheThief> (Shopping trip resolution first, though!)
  2104. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, describe something weird you found, and something you failed to find.
  2105. <Golasa> Hmm...
  2106. <RinTheThief> (Actually)
  2107. <RinTheThief> Rin spends a bit of time seeking some basic bath supplies - soap, a towel or two, and a small bucket. In Case Of Waterfall.
  2108. <@DungeonLady> 4 coins for the whole lot.
  2109. <RinTheThief> Yaaay!
  2110. <Golasa> Failed to find: A proper blasting rod for more brute force casting.
  2111. * RinTheThief probably spent like an hour rerigging her pack for carrying everything. :<
  2112. <Golasa> (Frig I'm blanking)
  2113. <@DungeonLady> Available for purchase, there was the still-beating heart of a baby wyern.
  2114. <@DungeonLady> Also, for some reason, someone was selling criminal body parts enmass.
  2115. <@DungeonLady> For less grisly stuff...
  2116. <Golasa> Hey, at least they weren't from anyone we'll miss.
  2117. <Aliken> Powdered enchanted quartz for drawing magic circles, perhaps?
  2118. <@DungeonLady> Some kind of purple dirt supposedly not from this world.
  2119. <Aliken> Oooh.
  2120. <Golasa> The heart is tempting, but fresh life is antithetical to Golasa's brand of magic.
  2121. <Golasa> Any way I can tell if the dirt checks out?
  2122. <Golasa> I'd hate to empty my purse for normal dirt.
  2123. <@DungeonLady> Well, the seller claimed it was certified by the Spire.
  2124. <Golasa> What's the price?
  2125. <@DungeonLady> 200 coins.
  2126. <Golasa> If it checks out after a quick magical examination, I'll take it.
  2127. <@DungeonLady> It's got some kind of unfamiliar magical flavor.
  2128. <Golasa> Hmm, should be useful for breaking some physical laws.
  2129. <@DungeonLady> Nothing like an actually enchanted object, but there's strange latent magic in small amounts.
  2130. <Golasa> Sold.
  2131. <@DungeonLady> So, you set out...
  2132. <@DungeonLady> This time the trip proves uneventful. Two days' travel across the grasslands before you round around a hill and find a gorgeous stretch of flowers, much like a garden.
  2133. <Aliken> "We must be close."
  2134. * Aliken breathes in deeply, savoring the surroundings, before looking for what might be the entrance.
  2135. <@DungeonLady> In the center of the garden is a beautifully carved gazebo. Curiously, its entrances are shadowed and dark, far more so than they should be.
  2136. <RinTheThief> "... A Gazebo enterance? Odd indeed."
  2137. <Aliken> "Well, shall we head on in?"
  2138. <Golasa> (Obligatory joke here)
  2139. <Golasa> "I'm guessing this is the entrance to the beautiful dungeon."
  2140. <Dysna> (the fuck is a gazebo?)
  2141. <Aliken> (Link: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Victorian_Gazebo.jpg)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Victorian_Gazebo.jpg
  2142. <Aliken> (Heh. Yes. The dread Gazebo! XD)
  2143. * Aliken makes her way to the gazebo, smiling and relaxed.
  2144. <Dysna> (Dysna is afraid of Gazebos!)
  2145. <@DungeonLady> (And I'm calling an end to this session, if that's okay.
  2146. <@DungeonLady> )
  2147. <Dysna> (Oh, yeah, that works)
  2148. <RinTheThief> (Sounds good to me honestly. Good stop point.)
  2149. <Dysna> (See you all next week!)
  2150. <Golasa> OK
  2151. <Golasa> o/
  2152. *** Dysna is now known as NineThePuma
  2153. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  2154. <Aliken> OK!
  2155. *** Golasa has quit IRC: Quit
  2156. * Aliken hugs the Dungeon Lady!
  2157. *** RinTheThief is now known as NekoIncardine
  2158. *** NekoIncardine has quit IRC: Quit
  2159. *** You have been marked as being away
  2160. *** DungeonLady has left #lordsofdungeons
  2161. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  2162. *** ReconnectingPuma has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2163. *** NineThePuma has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  2164. *** Disconnected.
  2165. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2166. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Wed Feb 27 03:17:31 2013 -0800
  2167.  
  2168.  
  2169. Session Start (Gamesurge:#Lordsofdungeons): Mon Mar 04 17:35:27 2013 -0800
  2170. *** Aliken has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2171. *** Dicelord has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2172. *** Golasa has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2173. <Golasa> !roll 1d1
  2174. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d1 --> [ 1d1=1 ]{1}
  2175. <Golasa> check
  2176. <Aliken> A one-sided die. Is that tossing down a marble?
  2177. *** kajarainbow has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2178. <kajarainbow> Well, hello.
  2179. <Aliken> Hi!
  2180. <Aliken> Not sure if Nine is actually here, or just idled in the room, but I'm certain Golasa and I are here. :)
  2181. <Golasa> I am here
  2182. <Aliken> So you are!
  2183. *** NekoIncardine has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2184. <Aliken> Ah, hello, Rin! :)
  2185. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  2186. * RinTheThief yawn
  2187. <Aliken> Looks like we're all here, save possibly Dysna.
  2188. <kajarainbow> Whose player said he might nto be able to make it.
  2189. <Aliken> Ahhhh.
  2190. <Aliken> Shall we NPC Dysna for the session, or what?
  2191. <kajarainbow> I've already prepared how to deal with it.
  2192. <kajarainbow> How long do you guys want to wait?
  2193. <Aliken> I'll defer to you on that.
  2194. <Golasa> <- No particular opinion
  2195. <Aliken> If they were fairly definite that they won't show, I'm not sure it's worth waiting, but I wasn't there to judge how strong a 'may not show' it was.
  2196. <RinTheThief> I say until :15?
  2197. <Aliken> Works for me.
  2198. <kajarainbow> They weren't definite on it.
  2199. <Aliken> *nods*
  2200. <Aliken> Until fifteen after, then, sure.
  2201. <Aliken> OK, we ready?
  2202. *** kajarainbow is now known as DungeonLady
  2203. <Golasa> I ready.
  2204. <DungeonLady> As you pass through into the gazebo, you are greeted with a lovely stretch of flowers in every direction. They curve around, forming walls and passways. Curiously, that bright blue stretch of sky above lacks a sun that you can see. Then you realize you are alone.
  2205. <DungeonLady> Each of you do not see the rest of your team with you.
  2206. <Golasa> My meatshields!
  2207. <RinTheThief> "Well... Shit," Rin declares. She dares not shout, lest she announce her location to monsters.
  2208. <Aliken> Aliken looks about, examining the passages, seeing if there is any particular difference between the passageways. If they all seem the same, she just rests the fingers of her left hand on a wall and starts walking.
  2209. <DungeonLady> (Hmm, shall I handle each of you separately in a private channel or do them all in this room?)
  2210. <Aliken> (Either works for me. Secrecy in this sort of situation is sort of classic.)
  2211. <Golasa> (You fool! You've split the party!)
  2212. <Golasa> (Either works for me.)
  2213. <DungeonLady> (You aren't making this easy for me. >.> I guess I'm a bit inclined toward keeping an united log, though.)
  2214. <RinTheThief> (Then let's do it. There's definitely going to be a DUN DUN DUUUUUUN or two that's worth seeing)
  2215. <Golasa> (I'll vote separate actually, if you can handle it)
  2216. <Golasa> (It sounds like fun)
  2217. <DungeonLady> (Though rolling in the main channel will be unavoidable. Speaking of, Aliken, roll +Wis.)
  2218. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  2219. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{5}
  2220. <Aliken> (Oh boy!)
  2221. <DungeonLady> (Know what, let's just handle it in the main room. you're nearly all reuinted anyway.)
  2222. <Golasa> (OK.)
  2223. <Golasa> To the dwarf: "Oh, good, it's you."
  2224. <Golasa> She sounds actually worried.
  2225. <Aliken> "Golasa. I'm glad I found you. Have you found anything of interest on your way?"
  2226. <Golasa> "Interesting, yes. Encouraging, no. We need to find the others."
  2227. <RinTheThief> After a minute or two, the group hears some rustling, as a certain thief goes down the path... "Ah! You're safe!", Rin announces.
  2228. <Golasa> "That's three. Where's the kobold?"
  2229. <RinTheThief> "I haven't seen him yet," Rin said. "However, I did find... Something odd."
  2230. <Golasa> "Was it a statue?"
  2231. <RinTheThief> "... No." Rin blinks.
  2232. <Golasa> "What was it, then?"
  2233. <DungeonLady> A halfing-sized rabbit in flower-motifed livery walks up from where Rin came, bearing a tray with a streaming teapot upon it.
  2234. <DungeonLady> As well as teacups.
  2235. <RinTheThief> "He's been following me around for a few minutes," Rin observed. "Kinda odd. I... Haven't questioned it yet."
  2236. <DungeonLady> The rabbit bows.
  2237. <Golasa> "Not what I was expecting."
  2238. <RinTheThief> "The tea's safe," Rin continued. "I tried it and nothing happened. Odd twist, to be sure." Indeed, one of the cups is slightly wet and moved away from the others.
  2239. <Aliken> "Ah, hello."
  2240. <DungeonLady> The rabbit extends the tray forward.
  2241. * Aliken nods politely to the rabbit. "You wouldn't happen to be familiar with this place?"
  2242. * Aliken takes a teacup, and pushes her visor up.
  2243. * Golasa declines.
  2244. <DungeonLady> The rabbit actually looks a little hurt at Golasa's refusal.
  2245. <RinTheThief> "Not really," Rin said. "Which makes this all the odder."
  2246. <Golasa> She's not especially upset about that.
  2247. <DungeonLady> The rabbit nods to Aliken, but remains mute.
  2248. <RinTheThief> Rin looks towards Golasa. "... It's actually decent tea," Rin observed. "Not sure how the rabbit and tea came here, though. They're probably local, but..."
  2249. <Golasa> "Did you run across any statues on the way here, Aliken?"
  2250. * Aliken smiles at the rabbit pleasantly. "Do you think you could lead us to someplace where we could talk to somebody? A statue of a satyr pointing an arm along the way I came."
  2251. <Golasa> "Made of crystal? More detailed than any sculptor could accomplish with tools?"
  2252. <Aliken> "Yes."
  2253. * RinTheThief shakes her head. "Not I."
  2254. <Golasa> "If I'm not wrong, and I would love to be wrong, then we never should have come here. We're in a huge amount of danger."
  2255. <Aliken> "Why is that?"
  2256. * RinTheThief blinks. "And that's different how?", she points out.
  2257. <DungeonLady> The rabbit perks an ear at Aliken's question about leading them.
  2258. <Aliken> "Did either of you run across a great predatory beast? Body like a cat, feathered crest?"
  2259. <Golasa> "I've heard of a gorgon by the name of Shana. One of the most powerful of her kind. Her trademark is turning her victims into things other than stone, and the crystal meets her legendary obsession with beauty."
  2260. * RinTheThief blinks, shakes her head towards Aliken.
  2261. <RinTheThief> "... Legendary obsession with beauty," Rin said. "That's... Odd."
  2262. <Aliken> "Well, then. We must be careful."
  2263. <DungeonLady> Once again the rabbit extends the tea tray to Golasa.
  2264. <Golasa> "I'm not thirsty."
  2265. <Aliken> "You can help us, can't you, Bunny?"
  2266. <DungeonLady> The rabbit turns its head toward you all with a questioning look.
  2267. <RinTheThief> "If we've seen more dangerous things the way you two went, maybe the way I went's the good way to go?", Rin suggests. "I mean, moving away from beasts and possible dens of mighty creatures seems a good starting point."
  2268. <Golasa> "I agree."
  2269. <Aliken> "We need to find our way out, I think, and you know this place, Bunny. And you've been nice to us already!"
  2270. * RinTheThief starts moving back the way she came, then... Carefully moving - while she knows there's not traps in the short term, the longer term is another matter...
  2271. * Golasa follows.
  2272. <DungeonLady> The rabbit looks at Aliken, then gestures to follow as it turns back along with Rin.
  2273. <Golasa> Keeping half her attention focused on that rabbit.
  2274. * Aliken follows the rabbit and Rin, admiring her surroundings.
  2275. <DungeonLady> Truly, it's a beautiful maze, with its beautiful hallways. And a beautiful clearing that you're led into, with a stream twinkling musically.
  2276. <Golasa> It's a bit wasted on Golasa.
  2277. <DungeonLady> And, by the stream, a cushioned carrier such as would be used by rich people with servants to carry them.
  2278. * RinTheThief stops. "Ah...", she says, daring not to approach.
  2279. <DungeonLady> "Welcome, guests." A beautiful voice comes from behind the cushions.
  2280. <Golasa> "EYES DOWN!"
  2281. * Aliken lowers her eyes.
  2282. <Aliken> "Thank you for your kind welcome."
  2283. * RinTheThief does the same.
  2284. <DungeonLady> "Dear, why are you so worried? I only wish to meet my visitors. Won't you join me?"
  2285. <Golasa> "Who are you?"
  2286. <DungeonLady> There's an inviting tone in her voice.
  2287. <RinTheThief> "... Yes, my lady," Rin responded, almost dreamily, approaching with gentle steps quite unlike her usual focused stance.
  2288. <RinTheThief> (A-ahem. dun. DUN. DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN.)
  2289. <Golasa> Oh, shit.
  2290. * Aliken slowly advances.
  2291. <Golasa> "Answer me!"
  2292. <DungeonLady> "An admirer of beauty. It's too bad you didn't avail yourself of the hospitality I had the rabbit offer you, Golasa."
  2293. <DungeonLady> "Aliken, would not you love serving me?"
  2294. <Aliken> "I..."
  2295. <Golasa> "I'm not interested in your hospitality, Shana."
  2296. <DungeonLady> "It's truly too bad. It's seldom I meet another of my kind."
  2297. <Golasa> Damn it.
  2298. <Golasa> "Rrgh..."
  2299. <Aliken> "I serve no one, though I'm glad for the hospitality."
  2300. <DungeonLady> There's a great disappointed sigh.
  2301. <RinTheThief> "I am sorry, my lady," Rin says, as she drops to one knee at the carrier's side.
  2302. <DungeonLady> "Whiskers, prepare another serving of tea. This time, you shan't require Rin's help preparing it." The rabbit runs off.
  2303. <Aliken> "Unless the terms are fair, of course."
  2304. <Golasa> "I guess all the secrets are out now, Rin."
  2305. <DungeonLady> "I do have much to offer those that serve me. I'm sure Rin can avow to that."
  2306. <Golasa> "I'm sure you said the same to the statues in the labyrinth."
  2307. <DungeonLady> "My dear Golasa. Those were not my servants."
  2308. <Golasa> "...How do you know my name?"
  2309. <RinTheThief> Rin, pointedly, does not speak.
  2310. <Aliken> "Rin can..?"
  2311. <DungeonLady> "Rin, why don't you tell them how good it is being in my service?
  2312. * RinTheThief smiles. "My lady has granted me a life I would otherwise never have had. You have benefitted from the talents she helped instill in me, allowing to escape the bonds of mere humanity to attain my truest, most beautiful potential. I am glad, and proud, to serve her in all that she desires."
  2313. <Aliken> "I... you knew she was here, didn't you?"
  2314. * RinTheThief does not answer.
  2315. <Aliken> "So what are your terms?"
  2316. <DungeonLady> Give yourself wholeheartedly to me, and I shall reward you with my gifts of beauty.
  2317. <DungeonLady> (Pretend I put that in quotation marks.)
  2318. <Golasa> "I know what my kind considers beautiful. If I wanted that, I wouldn't be here now."
  2319. <Aliken> "That seems rather open-ended as terms. And I have reservations should this service conflict with the law."
  2320. <DungeonLady> "Golasa, I understand. You consider them your friends, or at least allies for the moment, do not you? You don't wish to see them transformed into statues. Do not worry, I can admire more forms of beauty than the still, unnmoving forms of crystalline perfection. Why, the living and vital has its own forms of beauty, when properly shaped."
  2321. <RinTheThief> Which might explain a couple odd incidents, given what Rin's said previously...
  2322. <Golasa> "This isn't about them! It's about whether or not my decision can overcome my nature. I chose, and I'm not going back."
  2323. <DungeonLady> A pause. "If I can't convince you to give your heart to me..." Another sigh. "I suppose you can at least perform three services for me. Do that and you shall be rewarded."
  2324. <Aliken> "Name them."
  2325. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  2326. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  2327. <Aliken> "I think I should be glad to do that, at least."
  2328. <Golasa> "I'll take it over death or servitude."
  2329. <DungeonLady> "You are not the only ones who have found themselves within my gardens. But while you have respectfully left their beauty untouched, those abomidable others have not. They trample all over my gardens, cutting down every wall in their way! They slaughter my beasts! They have no love for beauty in their hearts, only avarice and the hunger for power."
  2330. <DungeonLady> "In short, the first service I wish is for you to rid those gardens of those loathsome vandals."
  2331. <Aliken> "I shall gladly eject them."
  2332. <Golasa> "Fine."
  2333. <DungeonLady> "The second. My beasts have been frightened by those trepassers. They have scattered wide and far, and now run amok. I would like for you to bring them in. You may subdue them by force if necessary, but do not mar their beauty."
  2334. <RinTheThief> "Understood, my lady."
  2335. <Golasa> "How do we tell the tresspassers from the native beasts?"
  2336. <DungeonLady> "They shall be the ones cutting and burning down my flowers. Other than that, they are the only men in those gardens not of your group."
  2337. <Golasa> "And third?"
  2338. <DungeonLady> "Actually, if you did bring the trepassers to mme alive, I would grant an extra reward. But that's less important than ensuring an end to their destructive vulgarity."
  2339. <DungeonLady> "As for the third... there's an item I desire. A crystal tear from the eye of a god not of our world. One traveller told me of it in exchange for their freedom, along with many songs that were a true pleasure to my ears."
  2340. <Aliken> "And is it in this dungeon?"
  2341. <DungeonLady> "If it was, I would not need to send you for it. No, I would release you. But you do promise to carry out this task, don't you?" Shana seems to be directing that more at Rin and Aliken than Golasa.
  2342. <RinTheThief> "Yes, my lady," Rin responds with no hesitation.
  2343. <Aliken> "I do."
  2344. <Golasa> "I don't appear to have much of a choice."
  2345. <DungeonLady> "Very well! Complete the first two tasks, and you will be rewarded and set free from my gardens so you may carry out the third. I have heard this tear is being traded around the great marketplaces of the other worlds."
  2346. <DungeonLady> "It's entirely possible you will find it in another of those... 'dungeons'."
  2347. * Aliken nods. "If we find this tear, we shall bring it to you. I am sorry I cannot be of further service to you."
  2348. <Aliken> "Might you have food for your beasts, that we may calm them?"
  2349. * RinTheThief nods. "Your will be done, my lady."
  2350. <DungeonLady> "Golasa, It really is rare I see another of my kind. Why don't you share some tea wtih me? I promise you, *this* tea comes without ulterior motives."
  2351. <Golasa> "Not on my life."
  2352. <DungeonLady> "Truly you are an untrusting soul." She sighs. "Very well. At least, why don't you come in so I may look upon your face and we can speak of your travels?"
  2353. <Golasa> "If I refuse that?"
  2354. <DungeonLady> "You shall be free to go and I shall be disappointed."
  2355. <Golasa> "I like the sound of that."
  2356. <Golasa> This is what Golasa does when she's scared out of her mind.
  2357. <DungeonLady> "You are such a disagreeable soul." There's a slight irritation in her voice, but then she speaks more calmly. "Very well. You may now leave to perform your services."
  2358. <RinTheThief> Probably a good idea, given Rin clearly does not seem to question Shana at all... Almost like something keeps her from doing so.
  2359. <Aliken> Aliken nods. "Do you have feed for the beasts..? That might make it easier to keep them unharmed."
  2360. <DungeonLady> "Ah, yes, a good thought. Bring them the beast food!" She claps, and there's the sound of tiny feet scurrying off.
  2361. <DungeonLady> After a short while, more assorted upright animals in floral livery come bearing assorted bags that smell flagarant of meats and grains.
  2362. <DungeonLady> There's the bunny, and a mouse, and what looks like a deer. All of them beautifully and pristinely groomed.
  2363. * Aliken takes some bags, nodding. "Thank you very much."
  2364. <DungeonLady> (And I think I'm gonna draw the session to a close if you don't have anything further to say. Next session shall be HUNTING of BEASTS and the most dangerous prey, MAN.)
  2365. <RinTheThief> (HUNTING!)
  2366. <RinTheThief> (... Hopefully with the help of a Kobold who's going to be very confused by all that's happened. XD)
  2367. <RinTheThief> I would like to point out that Shana knew Golasa's name because Rin told her, and Rin did not know this was Shana's dungeon in advance. <_<
  2368. *** RinTheThief is now known as NekoIncardine
  2369. <Aliken> Heh.
  2370. <Aliken> Aliken is going to have a murmured conversation with Rin as they set out.
  2371. <Golasa> oh fuck I totally spaced out
  2372. <Golasa> good thing the session ended
  2373. <Golasa> I was distracted 100% by Eric playing Asura's Wrath
  2374. *** NekoIncardine has quit IRC: Quit
  2375. *** Golasa has quit IRC: Quit
  2376. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  2377. *** You have been marked as being away
  2378. *** DungeonLady has left #Lordsofdungeons
  2379. *** NineThePuma has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  2380. *** NineThePuma has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2381. *** You are no longer marked as being away
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  2383. *** WorkingPuma has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2384. *** You have been marked as being away
  2385. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  2386. *** WorkingPuma is now known as KittyDice
  2387. *** NineThePuma has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2388. *** NineThePuma is now known as KittyDice2
  2389. *** KittyDice has quit IRC: *.net *.split
  2390. *** KittyDice2 is now known as NineThePuma
  2391. *** NineThePuma is now known as ShoppingPuma
  2392. *** ShoppingPuma is now known as NineThePuma
  2393. *** You have been marked as being away
  2394. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  2395. *** You have been marked as being away
  2396. Session Close (#Lordsofdungeons): Fri Mar 08 12:13:08 2013 -0800
  2397.  
  2398.  
  2399. Session Start (Gamesurge:#Lordsofdungeons): Mon Mar 11 17:35:39 2013 -0700
  2400. *** Aliken has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2401. *** kajarainbow has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2402. *** Golasa has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2403. *** Dicelord has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2404. *** NekoIncardine has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2405. <kajarainbow> Alright, Nine can't make it today. Something about a cousin's birthday party.
  2406. <kajarainbow> So Dysna'll have to stay lost for a while longer.
  2407. *** kajarainbow is now known as DungeonLady
  2408. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  2409. <Aliken> So, it's time for us to find intruders and the lady's beasts.
  2410. <Aliken> Hmmm, Rin, do you think you'd be able to dose the feedbags?
  2411. <Golasa> "So I hear you're a servant of a dungeon lord, Rin."
  2412. * RinTheThief nods.
  2413. * RinTheThief checks her poison supplies...
  2414. <Golasa> "Speaking as someone in the business of exploring dungeons, that might have been nice to know."
  2415. <RinTheThief> "By her orders, I am not to speak of my lady," Rin responds, as if reflexively. Previously, she didn't even use a gender-specific pronoun in reference to her.
  2416. <Golasa> "What would you do if she ordered you to kill us?"
  2417. <RinTheThief> "Though, in the name of trying to restore some semblance of trust? She didn't own a dungeon when she sent me off exploring dungeons."
  2418. * RinTheThief pauses. As if she cannot answer.
  2419. <Golasa> "I see."
  2420. <RinTheThief> ... As if she does not even know.
  2421. <Aliken> "We can pass on the backbiting, I think. You both have had secrets. And loyalty to lords isn't exactly an uncommon thing."
  2422. <RinTheThief> ((For Aliken's question: Rin has two doses of Oil of Tagit, and two of Goldenroot. Either would be good for nonlethal calming of beasts.))
  2423. <Golasa> "I just want to know how much risk I stand of being murdered in my sleep."
  2424. <RinTheThief> "None." That is said a LOT more firmly than anything else Rin's said since this was revealed.
  2425. <Aliken> "Rin has assured us that her lady deals honorably. I think we do not need to worry about that."
  2426. <RinTheThief> "I told you before, meant it then, and mean it now: To betray another is to defy the beauty of friendship and alliance. This, I cannot abide by."
  2427. <Aliken> "If the time comes that we need to be enemies, I trust that she'll warn us of the fact."
  2428. <Golasa> "Reassuring, but I'm not going to ignore the possibility that Shana has ordered you to feed us this philosophy and then act contrary to it."
  2429. <RinTheThief> "Those who are not allies, I will use my every tool against... But I will not attack you, least of all in your sleep." And yet, she was okay trying to poison you both with Goldenroot to get the both of you charmed.
  2430. <Golasa> This is why we have paranoia!
  2431. <RinTheThief> "Well, while I know it's not much reassurance because I'm trained to be good at lying? No such orders have been given to me. And I do not see her breaking this deal."
  2432. <Aliken> "Let us focus on the work we've been contracted. This backbiting serves no purpose."
  2433. <DungeonLady> It's not like serving Shana is a terrible fate to subject your friends and allies to, right, Rin? :3
  2434. <Golasa> "Mmph."
  2435. <RinTheThief> "Indeed. There is much to do before we leave this place... Let alone after."
  2436. <Golasa> Now that she's out of Shana's presence, Golasa's knees are actualy shaking a bit. Fear is an appropriate reaction to an apex predator.
  2437. <RinTheThief> "There is one other thing I should note. If my lady wanted you dead... She had a perfect opportunity to do so herself. One you were led into, with no chance to prepare against. The fact that you are alive indicates that she does not want you dead."
  2438. <Golasa> "That much I believe."
  2439. <RinTheThief> "Given that... Why would she have ordered me to potentially kill you later?"
  2440. <DungeonLady> So. The flowers have rearranged themselves into directions plain for you to see, Rin. This way lies the intruders, those ways lie the loose beasts, and there lies the beasts' proper homes.
  2441. <Golasa> "Maybe because we're still useful to her."
  2442. <RinTheThief> "I cannot deny the point... But right now, we've little choice. Beasts first, or intruders? I can see the way."
  2443. <Aliken> "Golasa, please, I beg you. We can respond to betrayal when it comes, but for now fighting amongst each other is pointless."
  2444. <Aliken> "I say we should deal with the intruders first, before they cause more damage."
  2445. <Golasa> "Fine."
  2446. <RinTheThief> "Aliken, no. As long as Golasa's questions remain one of words, they should at least be aired."
  2447. <Golasa> "I guess there's a reason my kind is usually solitary."
  2448. <Golasa> "Trust does not come to me naturally."
  2449. <RinTheThief> "I should have figured this would come eventually," Rin observed, nearly wistfully. "But now, I have my orders, and you have heard them. Let's get the intruders." She starts off, leading the way...
  2450. * Aliken follows after Rin, her shield slung carefully.
  2451. <Aliken> (COMFORTABLY.)
  2452. * Golasa follows after Aliken, head low.
  2453. <DungeonLady> The flower walls part ways for you, yielding you free passage. It doesn't take too long before you see a plume of smoke in the direction you're heading.
  2454. * Aliken waits until the group gets close enough to engage before readying shield and drawing sword.
  2455. * RinTheThief moves slowly, trying to maintain stealth and signaling the others to stay back, so she can scout the situation a little.
  2456. <DungeonLady> Roll +Dex, Rin.
  2457. <@NineThePuma> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  2458. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+2
  2459. <@NineThePuma> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  2460. <Golasa> (Apparently we have two dicerollers)
  2461. <DungeonLady> There's a low voice mumbling something about how they should get moving already. The sight that greets Rin is the carass of a beautiful peacock horse, which's been put upon a spit over a fire built from some of the nearby flowers that've been cut down. The nearby flowers writhe in agtitation.
  2462. * RinTheThief focuses her attention on who is surrounding the fire.
  2463. <DungeonLady> There's an elven woman in a red robe emblazoned with flame symbols, a grizzled dwarf who looks like a woodsman who is turning the spit, and the mumbling voice seems to belong to someone wrapped in layers of black robes.
  2464. <DungeonLady> The dwarf wears a large axe and a bow upon his back.
  2465. * RinTheThief slips back. "Elven mage, probably a fire specialist. Dwarven woodsman. And one covered in black robes," she reports.
  2466. <Golasa> "Three against three."
  2467. <RinTheThief> "Yep. We'll want to catch them off-guard."
  2468. <Aliken> "We should give them a chance to stand down and take audience with your lady. She said she'd prefer them alive, and I think we may be able to persuade them to deal in a civilised way with other speaking beings."
  2469. <Golasa> "You really think you're doing them a service with that idea, don't you?"
  2470. <Golasa> "They're desecrating her garden. If Shana wants them alive, it's so that she can kill them herself."
  2471. <RinTheThief> "The alternative's killing them, pretty much," Rin noted.
  2472. <Golasa> "Killing them may be the kinder option."
  2473. <Aliken> "Either way, it gives them a chance to make compensation."
  2474. <Aliken> "I think they deserve a chance to speak to Shana themselves."
  2475. <Aliken> "If Shana chooses to kill them herself, that is her prerogative as the injured party."
  2476. <Golasa> "Then let's hope she chooses something as merciful as petrification."
  2477. * RinTheThief ponders. "Of course, they'd be loathe to just up and walk up to the boss." She raises a hand. "... If I can get some Goldenroot into what they're eating, then I'd have appropriate leverage."
  2478. <Aliken> "I'll step out first. If they don't attack, you can follow."
  2479. * Aliken sheathes her sword, but keeps her shield readied.
  2480. <RinTheThief> "... If you think the direct route will work, I guess..."
  2481. * Golasa hangs back and adjusts her hood.
  2482. <Aliken> "We don't want to startle them."
  2483. <Aliken> "So only one of us should head out at first. If they don't attack, you can both join us."
  2484. * Aliken steps around the corner. "Hail the campfire!"
  2485. <DungeonLady> The elf jumps as if startled. Her hand goes to her sleeve, but then stops. The dwarf looks up with a suddenly alert and wary expression which relaxes a little. "Hallo! You can share the food, but we aren't sharing the treasures." The black-robed one mumbles, "Oh, lovely, a compeitor."
  2486. * RinTheThief twitches at the word 'treasure'.
  2487. <Golasa> (It's an evil mirror party! Dibs on blackrobe.)
  2488. <Aliken> "I have two companions just behind me. Might I call them out? Not our intention to assault you, neighbors. I am Aliken Mechtildsdochter.
  2489. <DungeonLady> Aliken, you can see the dwarf wears the sigil of one of the dwarven monarchs.
  2490. <Aliken> Figures.
  2491. <DungeonLady> (And, uh, a little help with names?)
  2492. <Golasa> (Genders?)
  2493. <Aliken> (Let's see, how about Jurgen Hanssohn for the dwarf, if he's from the kingdoms.)
  2494. <RinTheThief> (The elf is a woman, dunno about the other two)
  2495. <RinTheThief> (I mean one's a dwarf
  2496. <DungeonLady> (Male dwarf, female elf, and the mystery one I'll just call Dusk.)
  2497. <Golasa> (Viratha for the elf)
  2498. <DungeonLady> (That works.)
  2499. <Golasa> (I'm going to make a fantasy setting where instead of being German, the Dwarves are all Italian, and it's going to be awesome)
  2500. <Aliken> (The dwarf can probably tell by 'dochter' rather than 'tochter', and my accent, that I'm from the anti-monarchic areas.)
  2501. <Aliken> (Hey, I made sure they're not Scottish! >.>)
  2502. <DungeonLady> "Jurgen Hanssohn, and my compatriots would be Virantha and Dusk. So you're a republican," the dwarf says in a jolly tone that suggests he thinks that's a little silly but doesn't care enough to start a fight over it.
  2503. <Golasa> (Aliken voted Romney)
  2504. <RinTheThief> (Rin voted Nader last time she bothered to vote)
  2505. <Golasa> (Golasa doesn't vote)
  2506. <Aliken> "I am. Rin! Golasa! It's safe to head out."
  2507. * Golasa lets Rin go out next!
  2508. * RinTheThief steps out, calmly, but with a certain intensity to her eyes. She looks particularly suspicious of 'Dusk', because *come on he is covered in black robes and calls himself Dusk that's suspicion incarnate right there*
  2509. * Golasa follows, keeping her head down and generally not drawing any attention to herself. After all, she's the most suspicious team member, especially here.
  2510. <DungeonLady> Virantha seems a little twitchy. When she sees Rin's looks at Dusk, she suddenly says, "I told you Dusk was too suspicious a name!"
  2511. * Aliken bursts out laughing and shakes her head, shouldering her shield.
  2512. <DungeonLady> "Feel free to share the meat. There's far more than we can bring back. Say, how about we wager who clears the dungeon first?" Jurgen says.
  2513. <DungeonLady> Dusk mumbles, "It's a sufficient descriptor."
  2514. <Aliken> "Would we even recall the wager if you cleared the dungeon first? I mean, given the strange behavior when dungeons are cleared."
  2515. <RinTheThief> "Have you even figured out how to clear the place and actually, you know, get out?", Rin asked.
  2516. <DungeonLady> "It's only if you lose to the dungeon and get lucky to get punted out that you forget," Jurgen says. He shrugs. "Figure if we destroy enough stuff we'll run across it."
  2517. * Aliken leans back and lets Rin talk for now.
  2518. <DungeonLady> Dusk sorta sighs a little. Virantha snaps, "Why'd you tell them our plans?'
  2519. <Aliken> "It's not exactly as if your plans weren't obvious."
  2520. <Golasa> "So much as that qualifies as a plan."
  2521. * RinTheThief sighs. "I'm not sure that's the solution. This place seems a little... Directed, you know? Like it's not all natural. Like something's guiding it. Have you noticed that the flowers look, well, sort of angry? The ones that are alive, I mean."
  2522. <RinTheThief> "Makes me think there's something making this place. Going around destroying the place is less efficient than seeking them out and forcing them to let you out."
  2523. <RinTheThief> ((Funny part: She's NOT LYING IN THE SLIGHTEST HERE. Just hiding a key fact or three.))
  2524. <DungeonLady> "I noticed. Had to chug down a potion after a thorny bush got me," Jurgen says.
  2525. <Aliken> ((Yeah. I love it.))
  2526. <DungeonLady> "Oh? What would you be saying?" Dusk says.
  2527. <RinTheThief> "I've got a guess where they might be. We go right there, hope they're not too pissed, take them if they are, and get outta here."
  2528. <RinTheThief> "Problem is... I don't think just myself and my pals could handle it. Call it a hunch." Or, as Golasa and Aliken know, call it We Are Dealing With A Very Powerful Gorgon And Even Six People Probably Do Not Stand A Chance In A Fight Against Her
  2529. <Aliken> "I figure it's worth trying to negotiate, first. Even though Golasa is rolling her eyes under her blindfold by me saying 'negotiate'." Aliken chuckles.
  2530. <Golasa> "Methinks the dwarf knows me too well."
  2531. <Golasa> "You wouldn't believe the scope of things Aliken has tried to negotiate with."
  2532. <DungeonLady> "Why're you being so helpful?" Virantha frowns. "Oh, you're a softy." She seems to be directing that at Aliken.
  2533. <DungeonLady> (Rin, roll +Cha.)
  2534. <RinTheThief> "I'm being helpful because I want out of here too," Rin responds, "but I'm cautious as to my odds of winning if it comes down to a fight."
  2535. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+2
  2536. <@NineThePuma> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=9 ]{11}
  2537. <RinTheThief> (\o/)
  2538. <Aliken> "I just try to live up to Gerechtsheid's expectations."
  2539. <DungeonLady> "Well, fine, if you want to be a coward about it," Virantha says.
  2540. <DungeonLady> Jurgen just chuckles at Virantha's comment.
  2541. <DungeonLady> "I wonder..." Dusk says. "You seem sincere in your words"
  2542. <RinTheThief> "This place is pretty, all right," Rin said. "But I don't like the idea of living a hunter-gatherer lifestyle for the rest of my life, you know?"
  2543. <RinTheThief> "Not good for a city girl's skin."
  2544. <RinTheThief> ((Also not a lie in the slightest.))
  2545. <DungeonLady> "Eh, this doesn't taste that good anyway." Jurgen waves toward the roasting peacock horse. He straightens up and dusts off his pants. "Yeah, I wan't looking forward to eating that freak of nature," Virantha mutters.
  2546. <Aliken> "Anyhow, Rin's the one we have who's best able to find her way around, so I figure we should follow her when you break camp. Did you people enter in different places yourself? We were scattered across the maze."
  2547. <DungeonLady> "Oh, sure, but a way to relocate other party member's a basic for dungeoneering," Jurgen chuckles. Dusk just sighs. "Don't tell our competitors things they might not know already."
  2548. <RinTheThief> "Right now, we're not precisely competitors," Rin responded. "At least, not until we're out of here."
  2549. <Golasa> What does Dusk's voice sound like?
  2550. <Aliken> (I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it's a contralto, just for maximum ambiguity.)
  2551. <DungeonLady> (Sorry, since I'm deaf I kinda have trouble with describing things like that. But it's sorta low and a little mumbly and hoarse?)
  2552. <Aliken> (So, deliberately obscuring their voice.)
  2553. <Golasa> (Oh sorry)
  2554. <Aliken> "I suppose Dusk's talents are *mysterious*."
  2555. * Aliken chuckles.
  2556. <Aliken> "As is their origin."
  2557. * Aliken speaks in a teasing tone.
  2558. <DungeonLady> "Oh, we know--" but Jurgen stops when he sees the sharp chopping motion Dusk's making with their hand.
  2559. <DungeonLady> "You are too talkative," Dusk says.
  2560. <Golasa> "Every adventuring party has its secrets."
  2561. <Aliken> "Shall we move out?"
  2562. <DungeonLady> "Oh, finally! I was going to burn something if we didn't get moving already," Virantha says.
  2563. <RinTheThief> "Let's go, then." Rin starts along a path, carefully choosing her routes to lead them to Shana without obvious cues like the walls shifting in her favor.
  2564. <Aliken> (Dusk and Virantha are cracking me up already. XD)
  2565. <RinTheThief> Rin's kind of 50/50 on hoping they escape or die. I mean, they're not jerks and don't necessarily deserve it, but on the other hand, they have treasure that Shana might let her keep!
  2566. <RinTheThief> Rin likes the idea of treasure. A lot.
  2567. <Golasa> Thieves.
  2568. <DungeonLady> The way back is easy enough, with the flower arrangement telling Rin where she needs to go. And there... a towering pillar of rose-covered crystal by the stream where once the carrier sat.
  2569. <Golasa> Carrier?
  2570. <Aliken> (For Shana, I think.)
  2571. <DungeonLady> (The cushioned thing Shana was sitting in. Sorry, I forgot the word for those things carried by servants with the master sitting inside.)
  2572. <Aliken> (Palanquin, I think.)
  2573. <Golasa> (Ah! OK)
  2574. <DungeonLady> (yeah, palanquin.)
  2575. * RinTheThief looks at the pillar. "Whoa."
  2576. <RinTheThief> "That's a change of pace."
  2577. <Aliken> "Impressive."
  2578. <DungeonLady> Rin can see, plainly written in the flower language upon the tower, a warning that she and Aliken should look away before the tower doors open fully.
  2579. <DungeonLady> "Alright! This looks like a place a dungeon boss'd be," Jurgen says. "Don't you worry, we'll take care of it. Of course, we get all the spoils."
  2580. * Golasa is more or less resigned to what happens next.
  2581. * RinTheThief taps Aliken, quietly pointing away, looking around as if cautious.
  2582. <Golasa> She doesn't look away, of course.
  2583. * Aliken looks away as Rin signals her.
  2584. <RinTheThief> "If we have to save your butts, we're taking a fair share," Rin responded.
  2585. <RinTheThief> She's staying back, of course - to prevent them from noticing that she's looking away.
  2586. <DungeonLady> Only Golasa, should she peek, sees what happens next. As the three head toward the tower, its doors swing open. Inside is the shatteringly beautiful face of a gorgon larger than any Golasa's seen before, with colorful reptilian wings. Before they have time to give out more than startled cries, Jurgen and Virantha are crystal inside clothes.
  2587. <Golasa> It's nice to be right sometimes.
  2588. <DungeonLady> Dusks hisses, "Betraa--" A malevolent black smoke is spat out from beneath their hood, and begins making its way toward you all.
  2589. <RinTheThief> "Oh, yeah, assume we betray when you wanted all the treasure!" Rin's very much hoping her boss has moved away so she can, you know, FIGHT.
  2590. <DungeonLady> The tower doors've slid, screening Shana from sight.
  2591. <Aliken> Huh. Am I familiar with this black smoke thing? Can I Spout Lore?
  2592. <DungeonLady> Dusk doesn't respond--though nothing of them is visible to provide confirmation. But they've frozen just like the other two. That does not stop the advance of the ominous looking smoke, though.
  2593. <DungeonLady> If you guys want to figure out it is, Spout Lore, sure.
  2594. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  2595. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  2596. * RinTheThief spins around and moves away from the smoke as best she can as the doors close.
  2597. <DungeonLady> Aliken, you realize that this is the breath of the dead.
  2598. <Aliken> Yeah, I'm backing away from this.
  2599. <DungeonLady> Backing away doesn't seem to be fast enough, Aliken. Golasa, what about you?
  2600. * Golasa tries to weave a spell to hold the breath in place, giving the others more time to deal with the problem.
  2601. <Aliken> Wait, I have an antimagic sword, right?
  2602. <DungeonLady> Yeah, Aliken.
  2603. <Aliken> Let's see how the magic in the breath of the dead stands up to the Sun's magic.
  2604. * Aliken lashes out with her sword into the smoke.
  2605. <DungeonLady> Golasa, roll.
  2606. <DungeonLady> Success will make it easier for Aliken.
  2607. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell
  2608. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  2609. <Golasa> Success! But the effect is only temporary.
  2610. <Aliken> Should I roll Strength? Or what?
  2611. <RinTheThief> Good enough for Rin to move in, going around the tendrils of creepy smoke and slipping opposite Aliken - if possible - to strike "Dusk"!
  2612. <DungeonLady> The smoke becomes full of the chill of death, but that does slow it signicantly. The frozen smoke dissipates at the touch of the magic-sundering sword, though it takes multiple swings to clear it out.
  2613. <DungeonLady> Dusk does not react, and is hard against the thrust of Rin's rapier. It seems that was Dusk's dying curse.
  2614. <Aliken> "I am so glad for the Sun's sword." Aliken looks at the air where Dusk's wraith once was.
  2615. <Aliken> "Let's go find Shana's beasts, now."
  2616. <RinTheThief> "...
  2617. <Golasa> "One down."
  2618. * RinTheThief sighs. "I regret sending two of these three to their deaths, somewhat. But it's for our survival. And also their stuff."
  2619. <Golasa> "As I said from the beginning, there was no route that didn't end in their demise."
  2620. <DungeonLady> Yes, their stuff seem to have remained unpetrified.
  2621. <Aliken> "Well, we can see what they had after our work is through."
  2622. * RinTheThief totally raids their stuff, and doesn't look apologetic about it! It's not like they need it anymore.
  2623. <DungeonLady> Rin, now would be a good time to roll +Dex.
  2624. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+2
  2625. <@NineThePuma> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  2626. <RinTheThief> (12, 11, 10. NOW I gotta start worrying.)
  2627. <DungeonLady> As she sorts through Dusk's stuff, Rin notices her fingertips turnning unnaturally numb as she touchs his satchel.
  2628. * RinTheThief wrenches away from it. "Bah. Golasa, know how to uncurse an item perchance?"
  2629. <DungeonLady> Oh, taking a peek under Dusk's hood, by the way?
  2630. * RinTheThief doesn't bother, unless she thinks the hood itself is magic. :|
  2631. * Aliken pushes Dusk's hood down to see what was beneath.
  2632. <Golasa> "I can certainly give it a try."
  2633. <Golasa> What would be required for a disenchantment ritual?
  2634. <DungeonLady> What's revealed isn't... a face proper. Even before the petrification, it doesn't seem that Dusk could've been alive. Their face has a half melted, half burnt look, with only holes whee the nostrils would be and emptiness for the eyes.
  2635. <Aliken> "... I think Dusk must have been undead. Huh."
  2636. <Golasa> "Not too surprising."
  2637. <Aliken> "Somehow, I doubt Shana's keeping this statue."
  2638. <RinTheThief> "Out of curiousity, is it possible to reverse this kind of petrification?", Rin asks. (Nope, she doesn't know!)
  2639. <Golasa> "No."
  2640. <DungeonLady> Something infused with or signifying magic, to be shattered for the ritual. A more powerful enchantment would need a greater ritual.
  2641. * RinTheThief blink. "... I'm kinda surprised at that. I thought there were spells able to reverse this sorta thing." She shrugs.
  2642. <Golasa> Hmm...
  2643. <DungeonLady> But from the looks of it, this is more vile than powerful. Actually, you might want something to ward against that vileness, too.
  2644. <Golasa> Sounds like a good use of the rest of the Amethyst Oil!
  2645. <DungeonLady> Something pure.
  2646. <DungeonLady> So, yeah.
  2647. <DungeonLady> That works.
  2648. <Golasa> I do have some purified chains, but I'd prefer not to use them here... can I use Amethyst Oil? Domains are protection, soberity, protection from poison.
  2649. <Golasa> Okay.
  2650. <DungeonLady> Yes, the protection aspect would help here.
  2651. <Golasa> That just leaves something magical, or signifying magic.
  2652. <Golasa> How about a page from a spellbook?
  2653. <DungeonLady> As for the "magic signifying" part, something like a rune or prepared expensible object would work. The stronger the enchantment, the more precious it would have to be. Oh, yeah, a page would work.
  2654. * Golasa puts the satchel on the ground and draws a circle around it, infusing it with what remains of the vial of amethyst oil. Then, she carefully tears out one less-often used page from her spellbook.
  2655. <Golasa> With a few muttered words of power, she crumples up the page, and wills the power out of it, turning the page to dust.
  2656. <DungeonLady> The ominous feeling upon the satchel dissolves.
  2657. * Golasa opens it. She dispelled it, she gets first pick of the contents!
  2658. * RinTheThief goes over the OTHER'S stuff! >_o
  2659. <DungeonLady> Inside is a mummified hand, an atame heavily stained with blood, lotions and herbs with uses both baleful and neutral, and a bag of coins.
  2660. <Golasa> What's an atame?
  2661. <Aliken> Athame is a ceremonial dagger.
  2662. <Golasa> Athame, aha.
  2663. <Golasa> I'll take that.
  2664. <DungeonLady> I meant athame, yeah.
  2665. <Golasa> Ceremonial daggers are always handy.
  2666. <Aliken> So yeah, Dusk has a sacrificial knife. It sounds like Dusk was *unpleasant*.
  2667. <Golasa> The rest she tosses to Rin.
  2668. <RinTheThief> (Ack, AFK a sec)
  2669. <DungeonLady> The dwarf's axe looks very well-made. He's got coins and some arrows very carefully wrapped, with runes upon their arrowheads.
  2670. <DungeonLady> Also, rations and generic adventuring supplies.
  2671. <Aliken> I'll examine the runes.
  2672. * RinTheThief counts the coins. She fully intends to pass fair shares of those.
  2673. <Aliken> Any hints as to their meaning?
  2674. <DungeonLady> Rin recognizes some of the herbs as vile pretty vile poisons.
  2675. <DungeonLady> Oh, yeah, they all each have an otherwise plain looking rock with the same character carved upon them.
  2676. <Aliken> That must have been their way to form up on each other they hinted at.
  2677. <DungeonLady> And, finally, the pyromancer seemed to have an ornate bronze mirror that looks custom ordered for magic, a few gemstones, and her spellbook.
  2678. <Golasa> Oh oh oh can I have the mirror.
  2679. <DungeonLady> Also, more coins.
  2680. <DungeonLady> All taken together, a net haul of 300 coins.
  2681. <Golasa> This is a good haul.
  2682. <Aliken> Can I roll to spout lore on the arrows?
  2683. <RinTheThief> So 100 each. Or 75 each if Dynsa shares the loot they've found while off... Somewhere.
  2684. <RinTheThief> "These items, a lot of them look like they could be worth a lot to the tower. Good results, overall." And better chances of that bag of holding she will OCD on forever
  2685. <Aliken> "Indeed. Now, let's go give the beasts a little Goldenroot so they follow us where we need to go."
  2686. <RinTheThief> "Sounds like a plan!" Rin's calculating how much she'd need to give each beast... With just two doses, she has to hope there's enough for as many as there might be... Otherwise, it's on to Oil of Tagit and dragging them. Less fun.
  2687. <DungeonLady> (Hmm, shall I call a break so we can bring Dysna in next week, or shall I proceed?)
  2688. <Golasa> (I'd be fine stopping here)
  2689. <Aliken> (I sort of want to proceed, but whichever.)
  2690. <RinTheThief> (I say we break as well.)
  2691. <Aliken> (OK!)
  2692. <RinTheThief> (Rin's stashed the items that no one else has taken, for now, and they're stored on her sheet.
  2693. <Golasa> I'm taking the bronze mirror.
  2694. <Aliken> Can I interpret the runes on the arrows, at all?
  2695. <DungeonLady> Oh, you just lucked out, actually. They're incribed with characters used by dwarves.
  2696. <DungeonLady> They pretty much mean to dig.
  2697. <DungeonLady> There're four of them.
  2698. <RinTheThief> Rin, In Summary: Totally Chaotic Neutral. She's good to her allies, but other than that, her goal is Treasure.
  2699. <RinTheThief> Actually, that's pretty Murderhobo.
  2700. <Aliken> Hmmm. I wonder if I could transfer them onto my sword, or not.
  2701. * RinTheThief poof for dinner since timing allows for that o_o
  2702. <Aliken> Aliken feels bad that Shana didn't even give these people a chance to negotiate, but, eh. There wasn't any terribly great solution there.
  2703. <Aliken> Later~
  2704. *** RinTheThief is now known as NekoIncardine
  2705. *** Golasa has quit IRC: Quit
  2706. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  2707. <DungeonLady> Aliken, putting them on your sword'd be a good way to get it stuck deeply into an foe.
  2708. <DungeonLady> Since more precisely they seem to be burrowing runes.
  2709. <Aliken> Right. In that event, not so useful THAT way.
  2710. <DungeonLady> Also, those runes don't look durably made enough to be multiple-use.
  2711. <Aliken> Might be useful for trade to the Tower, though.
  2712. <DungeonLady> (Long story short: those're arrows of "embedding themselves deepy into the enemy and fucking them up")
  2713. <Aliken> *nods*
  2714. *** DungeonLady has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  2715. *** kajarainbow has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2716. *** NekoIncardine has quit IRC: Quit
  2717. *** kajarainbow has left #Lordsofdungeons
  2718. *** You have been marked as being away
  2719. *** KittyDice has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2720. *** NineThePuma has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  2721. *** NineThePuma has joined #Lordsofdungeons
  2722. *** KittyDice has quit IRC: Ping timeout
  2723. *** NineThePuma has quit IRC: Quit
  2724. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  2725. Session Close (#Lordsofdungeons): Tue Mar 12 19:51:23 2013 -0700
  2726.  
  2727.  
  2728. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Mar 18 16:33:03 2013 -0700
  2729. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2730. *** kajarainbow has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2731. *** Aliken sets mode +o kajarainbow
  2732. *** Aliken sets mode -o Aliken
  2733. *** ProfessorProf has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2734. *** Dicelord has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2735. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d3
  2736. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 1d3 --> [ 1d3=3 ]{3}
  2737. <ProfessorProf> check
  2738. *** ProfessorProf is now known as Golasa
  2739. <Aliken> Hello, Prof. :)
  2740. <Aliken> It amuses me that the party gorgon was way more paranoid about Rin being a gorgon's worshipper than I was. XD
  2741. <Golasa> Golasa has /experience/ with gorgons.
  2742. <Aliken> Hah.
  2743. <Golasa> so is Dynast still in the campaign? I haven't seen 'em in a number of sessions
  2744. <@kajarainbow> Two, and that was because of RL stuff.
  2745. <Aliken> Dysna allegedly should be about. The big question is where Rin is right now.
  2746. <Golasa> All right
  2747. <Golasa> Where Inc is I do not know
  2748. <@kajarainbow> Seems like something must've happened last-second.
  2749. <Golasa> So what's the plan?
  2750. <@kajarainbow> At this point, it might be time to cancel.
  2751. <Golasa> All right.
  2752. *** Golasa is now known as ProfessorProf
  2753. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  2754. <ProfessorProf> o7
  2755. *** ProfessorProf has quit IRC: Quit
  2756. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Mar 18 18:31:53 2013 -0700
  2757.  
  2758.  
  2759. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Mar 18 18:32:34 2013 -0700
  2760. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2761. <Aliken> Hi, Inc!
  2762. * Aliken pets the neko. :3
  2763. <NekoIncardine> Hello. Sorry for being late .-.
  2764. <Aliken> 'Sok. Something came up?
  2765. <NekoIncardine> Yeah. Normally when I come home on Mondays, I play by IRC because my mom's driving.
  2766. *** ProfessorProf has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2767. <Aliken> Do you have Nine, Kaja?
  2768. <NekoIncardine> Problem: She cancels to go see a movie about - and I quote - a "french jewish gay man in Fantasy Finland" with coworkers. Ergo, I'm the one driving. x_x
  2769. <ProfessorProf> Are we good to go, then?
  2770. <Aliken> I'm ready and willing.
  2771. <NekoIncardine> Well, I at least am ready
  2772. *** ProfessorProf is now known as Golasa
  2773. *** NekoIncardine is now known as RinTheThief
  2774. <@kajarainbow> Seems like something might be going on from what Nine just told me.
  2775. <@kajarainbow> Tonight's been quite a night for this game. >.>
  2776. <RinTheThief> ... Now I am worried
  2777. <Aliken> Yeah, I hope Nine's OK. RL's been hitting them hard last several weeks.
  2778. <RinTheThief> He's On His Way he says
  2779. *** NineThePuma has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2780. *** NineThePuma is now known as Dysna
  2781. <Aliken> Ah, cool. Hello, Nine!
  2782. <@kajarainbow> Alright, looks like the difficulties've been resolved.
  2783. *** kajarainbow is now known as DungeonLady
  2784. <Golasa> So where were we
  2785. <Aliken> We had just finished picking the stuff off those three, and were about to head to pacify the animals.
  2786. <Aliken> Hopefully we'll find a kobold along the way.
  2787. <@DungeonLady> It's just then that Dysna finally stumbles into a clearing in the maze, after having seen a lot of flowers and some super realistic crystal statues. There's a running stream, a crystalline tower by it, and just in front of the tower are three crystal statues with non-crystal clothes. And the rest of the party, who looks like they were just now looting the statues.
  2788. <Aliken> "Ah, Dysna. I'm glad we found you."
  2789. <@DungeonLady> (I suspect the word crystal will soon stop meaning anything to us.)
  2790. <Golasa> (I'm running a Final Fantasy game. /I know about crystals/.)
  2791. <Dysna> "Yeah, have I mentioned that I hate mazes?"
  2792. <Golasa> "It hasn't come up, no."
  2793. <Aliken> "Lucky for you Rin has a trick up her sleeve for this."
  2794. <Aliken> "We've been hired by the local landlady to calm down her pets, incidentally."
  2795. <Dysna> "Great."
  2796. <Golasa> "Hired, you say."
  2797. <Aliken> "Also, Rin works for the local landlady and Golasa's a gorgon. Yes. She offered a reward in exchange for specific service. That's a term of employment."
  2798. <Golasa> "Tch."
  2799. <RinTheThief> "I would've thought you would be more concerned about bringing up my *master* being one." Rin seems unconcerned with saying things about her master that are already known.
  2800. <Aliken> "Golasa's a long-term companion, and if there's a problem with the blindfold, it's worth knowing for safety purposes. As far as we're concerned, your mistress is the local landowner; there aren't the same safety concerns. It really doesn't make a difference to me what blood people have."
  2801. <RinTheThief> "There's gotta be, like, magic glasses Golasa can wear so she can look around and read without having to risk petrifying people."
  2802. <Aliken> "Maybe she can ask the Tower about that."
  2803. <Golasa> "Let me know if you find any."
  2804. <Aliken> "Anyhow. You have the feedbag dosed, Rin?"
  2805. <Golasa> "It's a bigger risk, either way. Glasses are easier to dislodge."
  2806. * RinTheThief nods. "One dose Goldenroot. Hopefully that'll be enough.
  2807. <Aliken> "Let's go calm some animals, shall we?"
  2808. <RinTheThief> "Right."
  2809. <@DungeonLady> When Rin looks at the signs left for her in the flowers, she can see that there are five of those beasts.
  2810. * Dysna quietly follows along, fingers gently trailing around her wand.
  2811. <RinTheThief> "We have five to deal with. HOPEFULLY the dose will be enough on them all as long as we're nonthreatening.
  2812. <Golasa> "If not, there's more than one way to tame a wild beast."
  2813. <@DungeonLady> The first is dealt with easily enough. When the swan-winged wolf sees the feedbag, it warily approaches, gobbles down feed like a starved beast, and is shortly following you amiably back.
  2814. <Aliken> "Thank goodness that one was easy."
  2815. <RinTheThief> "Remember, she wants them unharmed. That's... Gonna make this tougher."
  2816. <Aliken> "Right."
  2817. <@DungeonLady> Well, Shana did say she was willing to accept some minor injury on the beasts' part.
  2818. <@DungeonLady> But not more than that.
  2819. <Golasa> We'll do what we gotta do.
  2820. <RinTheThief> In other words: As little damage as needed. Subdual is the name of the game here.
  2821. * Dysna can do that.
  2822. <Golasa> Well, four to go, then.
  2823. <Golasa> Do we have somewhere we can stash the amiable ones?
  2824. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, their habitats're all clustered together.
  2825. <Golasa> Well that's convenient, at least. Next!
  2826. * RinTheThief looks... Cautious. Swan-winged wolf? She knows her boss is an experimenter, and that means being ready to fight.
  2827. <@DungeonLady> The second one, a beast much like a striped horse with an eagle's beak, seems unaffected the remaining dosage and while offering it food seems to have won it over a little, its feathers still bristles.
  2828. * RinTheThief tries to soothe it by carefully stroking its mane. From the side, so it doesn't kick her.
  2829. <@DungeonLady> +Cha, Rin.
  2830. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+2
  2831. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=9 ]{11}
  2832. <RinTheThief> (Woo)
  2833. <@DungeonLady> Its feathers settles down somewhat, and it follows you back.
  2834. * Aliken knows better than to try and be the one to calm the animals. She's clumsy and awkward with animals, and she knows it.
  2835. <RinTheThief> "I only have one more dose... We'll have to make do with that." She applies it to the rest of the feed.
  2836. <@DungeonLady> The third is a butterfly-winged monkey. It flutters down to plunge its hand into the bag and gulp down the food. Therefore, it follows peacefully.
  2837. <Golasa> "I suppose we'll have to get creative for the last two."
  2838. <@DungeonLady> (Thereafter, not therefore.)
  2839. <RinTheThief> "Quite," Rin replies, looking more concerned...
  2840. <Golasa> "Mother never had the same affection for animals as Shana. This is unfamiliar territory for me."
  2841. <@DungeonLady> The fouth is a ten-foot long snake with shimmering dragonfly wings. It hovers before you, its unblinking eyes watching you as it maintains a distance.
  2842. * Dysna tilts her head to the side, considering the snake. "So, how do we want to roll this one?"
  2843. <Aliken> "Why don't we see if Rin can soothe it first before we try anything more dramatic?"
  2844. <RinTheThief> "I... Erm, I have no clue how to handle snakes," Rin said, looking a little spooked.
  2845. <Aliken> "Well, hm... do you have any magic that might be useful, Golasa?"
  2846. <@DungeonLady> The snake's pale scales shimmer like miniature crystals as it shifts.
  2847. <Golasa> Hmm...
  2848. <Golasa> What would a hypnosis ritual require?
  2849. <@DungeonLady> The scale of a snake would help. That, or something associated with an appropriate emotion, like love perhaps. Plus throwing a lasso over the one you wish to bind to your will.
  2850. <RinTheThief> (That last one. Crap.)
  2851. <Golasa> (Ohoho.)
  2852. <Golasa> I've got some snakes on my head. Would that count?
  2853. <@DungeonLady> Oh, convienent! A little of your petrifiying power might seethe into the ritual, but you don't believe it'll do more than make the snake sluggish.
  2854. * Dysna is a reptile.
  2855. * Golasa reaches under her hood and winces as she plucks a small, green scale.
  2856. <@DungeonLady> Dysna isn't a reptile mythologically associated with hypnoism.
  2857. <Golasa> "Rope."
  2858. <Dysna> As far as we know, anyway. :P
  2859. * Aliken digs in her dungeon supplies and pulls out a length of rope.
  2860. <@DungeonLady> There's still that rope you looted from the Forsaken Dungeon. And being adventurers, I'm sure you hae rope on hand anyway.
  2861. * Golasa ties it into a lasso, places it in the middle of a drawn magic circle along with the scale, and infuses it with power with a few words. Hopefully the snake isn't attacking while this goes on.
  2862. <Golasa> "Rin, can you get this around its neck?"
  2863. <RinTheThief> "... I can try?", Rin says with surprisingly little confidence. She picks the rope up, and slowly, uneasily, approaches the snake...
  2864. <Golasa> "Should I ask Dysna to do this?"
  2865. <Aliken> "You know, it occurs to me that Shana's territory here will still be open to attack by other adventurers after we leave. Perhaps we should talk to her about that and see if we can formulate a plan to make sure we don't have unnecessary incursions."
  2866. <RinTheThief> "... Maybe?"
  2867. <Golasa> "What happens to Shana's territory after we leave is no concern of ours."
  2868. * Golasa hands Dysna the lasso.
  2869. <Aliken> "I would like to see unnecessary conflict avoided. Theft, bloodshed, and war without cause will be a tragedy."
  2870. * Dysna rolls her eyes, testing its weight for a moment before nodding, ready to make the toss.
  2871. <@DungeonLady> +Dex, Dysna.
  2872. <Golasa> "The only way to avoid conflict with a being of her nature would be to kill her."
  2873. * RinTheThief shudders at that.
  2874. <Dysna> (Am I the dice bot?)
  2875. <Golasa> "If you keep adventurers from coming in, she'll start going back out.
  2876. <Golasa> (!roll.)
  2877. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  2878. <Dysna> ?
  2879. <Golasa> ...
  2880. *** mib_w8tbk2 has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2881. <mib_w8tbk2> roll 2d6+2
  2882. <Dysna> mib_w8tbk2 rolled --> [ 2d6=3 ]{5}
  2883. *** Dicelord has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2884. <Dysna> WELL.
  2885. <Dysna> I apparently suck at dice
  2886. <@DungeonLady> It's very close. But the snake suddenly darts at the last moment, speeding off into the distance.
  2887. <Golasa> "Rin, you're on rope duty when we find it again."
  2888. <Aliken> "... wonderful. Let's find the other one first, then see if we can deal with the snake." Aliken murmurs to herself, "Probably the one I ran into when I first arrived..."
  2889. <Golasa> "Anything you can tell us about it?"
  2890. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Mar 18 19:33:44 2013 -0700
  2891. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  2892. <Aliken> (Ack, sorry, client froze for a moment.)
  2893. <@DungeonLady> (I just realized I didn't account for that in my count. Well, it's the fifth beast now. I was going to make the last one a surprisingly pretty spider.)
  2894. <Aliken> "Owl-headed cat bigger than a horse, more or less."
  2895. <Dysna> (Well. I'm going to just go be elsewhere for the duration of the spider)
  2896. <@DungeonLady> (It's not a spider now, though.)
  2897. <Golasa> (Apprently it doesn't exist now!)
  2898. <RinTheThief> "Right." Rin looks resigned.... And still kinda scared. Ironically, she doesn't get on well with snakes when they're not attached to someone's head.
  2899. <Dysna> (Oh, good)
  2900. <RinTheThief> (Hah. o_o)
  2901. <Golasa> (Golasa's looking for a giant spider, actually, so that's a shame)
  2902. <Golasa> (The funny thing is I forget exactly why, aside from that the Spider Tract was involved)
  2903. <Aliken> (Well, you managed to ditch the Spider Tract, right?)
  2904. <@DungeonLady> (While we're on the subject of critters you don't want in the game, any others you'd like me to avoid.)
  2905. <Golasa> (Nope! I'm still carrying it)
  2906. <@DungeonLady> (I'm actually going to offer a way to dipose of it in not too long.)
  2907. <Golasa> (But apparently spiders are out of the game now, so maybe I should just yeah)
  2908. <@DungeonLady> (That doesn't involve spiders.)
  2909. <@DungeonLady> (So, yeah, you guys, anything you'd rather I didn't put in the game?)
  2910. <Dysna> I have a pet peeve about Sirens, but that's pet peev. Just... Spiders that are bigger than my finger nail wig me out really really bad.
  2911. <Aliken> (I'd just like a call to avoid creatures that only have ~a very specific weakness~. The vampire can ONLY be harmed by a wooden stake, the werewolf ONLY harmed by silver.)
  2912. <Golasa> (Anything's good by me)
  2913. <Aliken> (That drives me crazy. If it has a physical form, it's subject to physical phenomena.)
  2914. <@DungeonLady> (Inc, what about you?)
  2915. <@DungeonLady> (You cool with whatever?)
  2916. <RinTheThief> (Yep)
  2917. <@DungeonLady> (Alright, let's get back to the game.)
  2918. <@DungeonLady> So, leaving the snake be for the moment, you hunt down the beast Aliken mentioned.
  2919. <@DungeonLady> It's hiding in the branches of a tree blooming with pink tulip-like flowers. Come to think of it, do tulips even grow on trees?
  2920. <Aliken> No. No they do not. Shana.
  2921. <Aliken> "Hello, cat. We brought food."
  2922. <RinTheThief> Shana. Yep.
  2923. * Aliken lays out out a feedbag and backs away from it.
  2924. <@DungeonLady> Indeed. The owl-leopard peeks down from the branches of the unnatural tree, sniffing.
  2925. * Aliken just waits patiently for the cat-thing to eat, carefully not making any threatening moves.
  2926. <@DungeonLady> It drops down and begins eating. What now?
  2927. <Golasa> We do still have the lasso. Shall we use it here instead?
  2928. * RinTheThief slowly approaches it, hoping to calm it again and save the lasso for not having to touch that snake
  2929. <@DungeonLady> +Cha!
  2930. <Aliken> "Just wait for it to finish the food, and see if we can calm it in a more natural fashion."
  2931. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+2
  2932. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=6 ]{8}
  2933. <RinTheThief> (At least it's not a hard failure x_X)
  2934. <Aliken> (Well, it's liable to be at least somewhat successful.)
  2935. <@DungeonLady> The leopard tenses up, but it doesn't lash out or retreat. It watches Rin with its large owl-eyes.
  2936. * RinTheThief manages to remain calm, slowing but continuing her approach with a smile as she tries to stroke its mane.
  2937. <@DungeonLady> It remains tense, still watching.
  2938. * RinTheThief just keeps her motions gentle - nothing threatening, nothing sudden - and hopes, with slowly growing unease, that she can get it to follow her back to safety...
  2939. <Golasa> Sounds like we need an edge. What do cats like?
  2940. <Golasa> Or owls?
  2941. <Aliken> "Do we have any more meat on hand?"
  2942. <Golasa> "My food supplies are mostly meat."
  2943. <RinTheThief> "That works."
  2944. <Aliken> "Why don't we give Rin a few more treats for it?"
  2945. * Golasa gives up a ration in the name of cat appeasement.
  2946. * RinTheThief slowly takes it, offering it to the beast with a cautious hand.
  2947. <@DungeonLady> The beast reaches forward, taking it into its beak.
  2948. <Aliken> "Nice cat. Wouldn't you like to head home now?"
  2949. * RinTheThief slowly tries to guide the cat, keeping to gentle and quiet motions...
  2950. <@DungeonLady> And it follows.
  2951. <@DungeonLady> Only the snake remains.
  2952. <Golasa> Do we knonw where it is?
  2953. <@DungeonLady> There're still the handy flower-based directions for Rin.
  2954. <Golasa> "All right, I'll distract it this time."
  2955. <RinTheThief> "Right."
  2956. <Golasa> So let's hunt this thing down.
  2957. <@DungeonLady> You find the snake wrapped around the branch of what looks like a thornless rose tree.
  2958. * Golasa approaches slowly. "Rin, behind me."
  2959. <RinTheThief> "Right." Rin moves into Golasa's shadow, keeping an eye out to look for an opportunity...
  2960. <Golasa> Once she's nice and close and sure the snake is focusing on her, Golasa pushes her hood back, exposing a head of emerald-green snakes, and removes her blindfold without making eye contact with it.
  2961. <Golasa> "See? I'm just like your master." God this had better work.
  2962. <@DungeonLady> The snake hisses as Golasa approaches, but then quiets once it sees the head-snakes.
  2963. <Golasa> "Now."
  2964. <@DungeonLady> With the snake distracted, the lasso lands around its neck. It hisses for another moment before the enchantment sinks in.
  2965. <Golasa> And back goes the blindfold!
  2966. <Golasa> And the hood.
  2967. * Aliken looks away from Golasa, waiting for the blindfold to be securely restored before looking up.
  2968. <Golasa> "And that's five."
  2969. <Aliken> "Well. Looks like we dealt with all of Shana's requests we can deal with so far perfectly. I'm interested to see what she has for us."
  2970. * RinTheThief whew.
  2971. * Golasa isn't looking forward to meeting her again, but sure, let's get this over with.
  2972. <RinTheThief> "I see no reason to believe she will not at least let us out. Especially since we followed her requests to the letter."
  2973. <Aliken> "Let's go find her again, shall we? And maybe say hello to Whiskers, if he's there."
  2974. *** mib_w8tbk2 has quit IRC: Quit: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
  2975. <Dysna> "Which one is whiskers?"
  2976. <Aliken> "I don't think you've met him. He's a rabbit."
  2977. <Dysna> "Ah."
  2978. <Golasa> Back to Shana we go!
  2979. <Aliken> The intruders captured alive and all the beasts unharmed. Perfect victory!
  2980. * Golasa motions for Aliken and Dysna to lower their eyes when we're close.
  2981. * Aliken lowers her eyes as instructed.
  2982. * Dysna hums, eyes at approximately waist level and aimed toward the knees, following on Rin's heels.
  2983. <@DungeonLady> Once you get the last beast squared away, you find Shanna waiting upon a reclining chair with halfing-sized livery-wearing rabbits, mice, and other such critters bustling around setting up a table with a meal upon it. For most of you, this is the first time you've seen the exceptionally large gorgon--she looms easily twice a human's size. She wears a veil along with a fine gauzy dress, and colorful reptile wings are f
  2984. <@DungeonLady> (Let me know if it got cut off, that was longer than usual.)
  2985. <RinTheThief> ( colorful reptile wings are f)
  2986. <Aliken> (cuts off at 'reptile wings are f')
  2987. <@DungeonLady> colorful reptile wings are folded behind her.
  2988. <Golasa> "You can look, she has a veil."
  2989. <Aliken> Aliken salutes her, hand on breastplate. "Lady Shana."
  2990. * RinTheThief kneels before Shana once appropriately close.
  2991. * Golasa wonders if Aliken realizes that we're only alive because it amuses Shana not to kill us at this particular moment.
  2992. <@DungeonLady> "Impressive. You brought the intruders to me," she gestures toward the three crystal statues, "And you returned my beast completely unharmed. You've exceeded my expectations. Ah, if I had such useful servants as you, I would reward you very well indeed."
  2993. <@DungeonLady> "As is, I will reward you for your deeds."
  2994. <Aliken> "I was glad to do this much for you, Shana." Aliken nods briskly.
  2995. * RinTheThief remains quiet, and patient. She's just happy she got to loot something in peace for once, honestly.
  2996. <@DungeonLady> "Now, what reward shall I give?" Shanna has her finger upon her lips as she considers.
  2997. * Aliken waits patiently for Shana to decide. She honestly doesn't want to irritate Shana while she's thinking.
  2998. <@DungeonLady> "A flower. I shall allow each of you to take a flower of your choice from the gardens."
  2999. <RinTheThief> "Understood, my lady," Rin says with no question to ask.
  3000. <Golasa> "One more thing before I go."
  3001. <Aliken> "Might I impose upon you to recommend what flower might please me most highly, Shana?" On the face of it, a flower seems a weak reward, but, honestly, getting able to escape freely seems the best thing here.
  3002. <RinTheThief> (BAH my computer's insisting on restarting itself BRB >.o; Loading up desktop because I know the restart will take a while probably..)
  3003. *** RinTheThief has quit IRC: Quit
  3004. <Aliken> "And are we to be your guests at this meal?"
  3005. <Golasa> (Wait what meal? I think mIRC ate a comment)
  3006. *** RinTheThief has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3007. <Aliken> 'Once you get the last beast squared away, you find Shanna waiting upon a reclining chair with halfing-sized livery-wearing rabbits, mice, and other such critters bustling around setting up a table with a meal upon it.'
  3008. <@DungeonLady> (It was part of the longer desc I gave on your return to Shana.)
  3009. <Golasa> (ah)
  3010. <@DungeonLady> (And I was about to C&P what Aliken just did.)
  3011. <RinTheThief> (*sigh* curse you windows updates. :| )
  3012. <@DungeonLady> "My Whisktail, I would think," she says to Aliken. "A stout and strong flower, that endures where others might wilter."
  3013. <Aliken> (Get my copy to you in PM, Rin?)
  3014. <Aliken> "Then I choose that flower." She nods.
  3015. <RinTheThief> (yup)
  3016. <RinTheThief> "I trust in you to choose one appropriate for this servant, my lady," Rin says, after some ponderance.
  3017. <@DungeonLady> "For Rin, Chawoon, a flower light and graceful in its beauty."
  3018. * Golasa steps forward, past Rin, and de-blindfolds to look the gorgon in the eye.
  3019. <Golasa> "I'll find my own flower, but I have a request, if you'll grant it."
  3020. <@DungeonLady> Shana returns that gaze calmly. She dosn't remove her veil, but you see a slight hint of her eyes behind it. "Name it and I shall consider it."
  3021. <Golasa> Slight pause.
  3022. <Golasa> "Don't tell mother I was here."
  3023. <@DungeonLady> "As for you, Dysna, the dragonlily might be appropriate."
  3024. <@DungeonLady> "Ah. Then, indeed shall I keep that secret."
  3025. <Golasa> "Thank you."
  3026. <Dysna> "Thanks?" Dysna says quietly, trying to avoid drawing attention to herself.
  3027. <@DungeonLady> "Now, I've heard tell of an object of legendary beauty within a 'dungeon' dedicated to trade. It has recently beccome a bustling marketplace of things from across the worlds. I shall pay you twice what you pay to acquire it."
  3028. <Aliken> "The crystal tear?"
  3029. <@DungeonLady> "It is so."
  3030. <Aliken> "I wonder if the dungeon dedicated to trade is the Dungeon of the Crossroads..?"
  3031. <RinTheThief> "It would be the most logical location, from those we know of."
  3032. <Aliken> "Indeed. Again, Shana, I must apologise for the intrusion."
  3033. <Golasa> I'll scan the immediately available flowers for anything especially useful. Might my wizardly knowledge reveal any of particularly excellent magical properties?
  3034. <@DungeonLady> Name one flower that catches your notice.
  3035. <@DungeonLady> In the meantime, with a gesture from Shana, the flowers named for each of the others springs forth from the ground in front of them.
  3036. * RinTheThief slowly, carefully takes hers...
  3037. <Golasa> Amidst the flowers, a pale green fruit. The deathly rare Udumbara, a concealed blossom that only blooms once every 3,000 years.
  3038. <@DungeonLady> With all the perversions of nature within this garden, that might not hold true here. Still, it's a stunning example.
  3039. * Golasa carefully digs up the flower by its roots, keeping the soil it feeds on intact. Such a specimen would lose much power if it was simply plucked.
  3040. * Aliken examines her flower, choosing to appreciate it alive before plucking it.
  3041. <@DungeonLady> "You have quite an appraising eyes for rare specimen," Shana says. "Would you like to share in my meal, or to depart immediately?"
  3042. <@DungeonLady> She direscts that last question toward all of you.
  3043. <Aliken> "I would be pleased to dine with you before we leave."
  3044. * RinTheThief has no opinion here.
  3045. * Golasa knows she probably can't talk Aliken out of this.
  3046. <Aliken> (What does a Whisktail look like? n.n)
  3047. <Golasa> "We'll eat, then leave at once."
  3048. <@DungeonLady> (Thick round mass of slender petals.)
  3049. <@DungeonLady> The meal proves delicious with many dishes of delicate flavors. Once you finish, Shana says, "I acknowledge you as the ones that have cleared this dungeon."
  3050. <Golasa> Golasa's appetite for it is poor.
  3051. *** RinIsStillTheThief has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3052. <Aliken> "I thank you."
  3053. *** RinTheThief has quit IRC: Quit: (Link: http://www.mibbit.com)http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client
  3054. <@DungeonLady> And there's the familiar dissolution of the gardens into the landscape you saw before entering the dungeon.
  3055. <@DungeonLady> (Level up for everyone.)
  3056. <Golasa> Taking Black Magic as my next Move.
  3057. <Aliken> Kaja, could you send me the Dungeon World .pdf again?
  3058. <@DungeonLady> Sure, tomorrow.
  3059. <Aliken> Thanks.
  3060. * RinIsStillTheThief takes Dirty Fighter, and +1 to DEX bringing her to 18 finally.
  3061. * Dysna will look over stuff some time later this week.
  3062. <Golasa> later folks
  3063. *** Golasa is now known as ProfessorProf
  3064. *** Dicelord has quit IRC: Quit
  3065. *** ProfessorProf has quit IRC: Quit
  3066. *** RinIsStillTheThief has quit IRC: Quit
  3067. *** Dysna has quit IRC: *.net *.split
  3068. *** DungeonLady has quit IRC: *.net *.split
  3069. *** Disconnected.
  3070. *** Aliken_ has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3071. *** KittyDice has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3072. *** Dysna has quit IRC: *.net *.split
  3073. *** DungeonLady has quit IRC: *.net *.split
  3074. *** Aliken has quit IRC: *.net *.split
  3075. *** kajarainbow has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3076. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Mar 19 03:18:50 2013 -0700
  3077.  
  3078.  
  3079. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Mar 25 09:36:07 2013 -0700
  3080. *** Aliken has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3081. *** ProfessorProf has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3082. <@Aliken> Hello, Prof. :)
  3083. <ProfessorProf> yo
  3084. <@Aliken> I hear rumors that 'two people said they would arrive late', so I'm guessing those would be Inc and Nine, given that you're here.
  3085. <ProfessorProf> I was one of them
  3086. <ProfessorProf> the meeting was rescheduled
  3087. <@Aliken> Ah, in that event, there's only one person delayed now.
  3088. <ProfessorProf> Or maybe it's everyone else
  3089. <@Aliken> Hah.
  3090. <@Aliken> Well, I can be patient for a while.
  3091. *** kajarainbow has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3092. *** Aliken sets mode +o kajarainbow
  3093. *** Aliken sets mode -o Aliken
  3094. <Aliken> Welcome. :)
  3095. <ProfessorProf> so
  3096. <@kajarainbow> This is later than I expected.
  3097. <Aliken> I still don't see Inc on.
  3098. <@kajarainbow> Nine said something about taking a nap. I'm not surprised Nine didn't wake up. That seems to be a running theme.
  3099. <Aliken> Hah.
  3100. <Aliken> I chose to nap earlier in the afternoon to ensure I was fresh when this time came. >.>
  3101. <@kajarainbow> Honestly, I kinda expected this outcome with Nine. But Inc really is running later than I expected.
  3102. <Aliken> Yeah. I'm a little used to Nine being a bit unreliable by now.
  3103. <@kajarainbow> I'm actually considering giving Nine the boot. Though I think I'll give a final warning first.
  3104. <@kajarainbow> I mean, factors outside ones control is okay. Shit happenes.
  3105. <@kajarainbow> Basically, Prof and Inc have perfectly fine excuses for tonight.
  3106. <Aliken> Yeah.
  3107. <ProfessorProf> And I'm even here
  3108. <@kajarainbow> Yeah.
  3109. <Aliken> Well, depending on when Inc shows, maybe we can start.
  3110. <@kajarainbow> Well, what to do.
  3111. <Aliken> I figure we just wait and see when Inc shows. If Inc doesn't show, maybe we have a week off.
  3112. <@kajarainbow> Okay, I'm gonna just call this off for the week.
  3113. <Aliken> OK. Sorry about this not working out.
  3114. *** ProfessorProf has left #lordsofdungeons
  3115. *** NekoIncardine has joined #lordsofdungeons
  3116. * NekoIncardine feels bad for missing session ._.
  3117. <Aliken> Session was cancelled, as it came to be.
  3118. *** You have been marked as being away
  3119. *** NekoIncardine has quit IRC: Quit
  3120. *** kajarainbow has left #lordsofdungeons
  3121. *** You are no longer marked as being away
  3122. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Mar 26 11:28:14 2013 -0700
  3123.  
  3124.  
  3125. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 01 13:45:47 2013 -0700
  3126. Session Start (Lunarnet:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 01 13:47:49 2013 -0700
  3127. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 01 13:47:55 2013 -0700
  3128.  
  3129.  
  3130. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 01 13:48:28 2013 -0700
  3131. <@Aliken> Report is that Prof may be a little late.
  3132. <@Aliken> But apparently not very.
  3133. <Aliken> Welcome, glorious Dungeon Lady. :)
  3134. <ProfessorProf> SORRY I had deadlines
  3135. <Aliken> Welcome, welcome!
  3136. <Aliken> We're all here now. :)
  3137. <@DungeonLady> It's cool. ^.^
  3138. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3
  3139. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  3140. <Golasa> OK I'm ready
  3141. <@DungeonLady> Alright now, what shall thy destination be? Back to the Spiral, straight to the Crossroad Dungeon, or elsewhere?
  3142. <RinTheThief> Hrm...
  3143. <Golasa> Let's go back to town.
  3144. <Aliken> I'd like to get some working capital before we hit the Crossroad Dungeon.
  3145. <Aliken> And I want to trade in those arrows. And sell the axe.
  3146. <RinTheThief> Rin agrees with that analysis easily enough.
  3147. <Aliken> We didn't get a lot of cash from the Beautiful Dungeon, and the tear sounds as if it may be expensive.
  3148. <Golasa> Golasa is kind of sulky on the way back, as if there's any clear difference from usual.
  3149. <Aliken> Aliken hangs onto the flower, though. Just in case. At least until it wilts.
  3150. <RinTheThief> We still ahve to split the loot off that party whose belongings we stole after they got petrified
  3151. <Golasa> Oh I forgot to put that flower on my sheet.
  3152. <@DungeonLady> After an uneventful trip, you return to Sprial. But you do notice that there seems to be a lot more guards and even soldiers than before.
  3153. <Aliken> "Think that Crxite caused trouble?"
  3154. <Golasa> "Could be."
  3155. <Aliken> "We should ask the innkeeper for news once we get in, I think."
  3156. <@DungeonLady> So, are you making that your first stop?
  3157. <Golasa> Sounds good.
  3158. <RinTheThief> Yep
  3159. <Aliken> Yeah, let's check into the inn, get the news, check the dungeon board, sell loot and resupply, and visit the Spire to trade in magical stuff. I assume the flowers wilted?
  3160. <@DungeonLady> No, they haven't wilted.
  3161. <@DungeonLady> In fact, they're as pristine and perfect as they were when plucked.
  3162. <Golasa> As expected of the Udumbara.
  3163. <Golasa> It doesn't entirely exist on the same frame of time as us.
  3164. <Aliken> Well, hmm. I'll keep mine around. Carefully wrapped to try and minimise damage.
  3165. <RinTheThief> Rin keeps hers, as well.
  3166. <Golasa> Likewise. We worked hard for these things.
  3167. <Aliken> Once we're back in the inn: "Hello, again. Looks like they've really heightened the guard around here. Something happen?"
  3168. <Aliken> Aliken is actually feeling slightly better about the reward, now, even if it wasn't really what she had originally hoped for.
  3169. <RinTheThief> The guards do leave Rin... Rather massively worried.
  3170. <@DungeonLady> "That damn Ironrain went and offed the entire royal family. It was a real bloodbath! Looks like things'll get bad. Everyone's all tense for the stink that'll surely break out. The nobles've said they'll destroy the usurper. But he flew on in this huge striped lizard and then the two of them tore apart the royal guard. I heard it's even a godbeast!"
  3171. <Aliken> "... by the gods. So are the troops here Ironrain's or the nobles'? Who holds the city?"
  3172. <Golasa> "Well, you know what they say about being a royal."
  3173. <@DungeonLady> "The Spiral's masters've been hiring them, I heard. Said they're prepared to deal with any power grabs that might happen."
  3174. <@DungeonLady> (Er, the Spire, not the Spiral.)
  3175. <@DungeonLady> (Brainfart.)
  3176. <Aliken> "Right. One more question. Do you know if there are any dwarven temples in the temple district in town?"
  3177. <Aliken> "By the gods."
  3178. <Aliken> Aliken shakes her head.
  3179. <@DungeonLady> "I had to check that out since some dwarves were asking me earlier. Not a temple, but they've got their own room in the god-complex. That's, well, it's a building for all the gods that don't have their own temples in this city."
  3180. <@DungeonLady> "If you want a proper temple, you'll have to go to the nearest dwarf kingdom."
  3181. <Aliken> "Thank you, friend." Aliken leaves a coin for the innkeeper. "I'll at least see if there's a priest or priestess there. Can you give me directions?"
  3182. * RinTheThief pause. "Hrm..."
  3183. <@DungeonLady> "Certainly."
  3184. <Aliken> Right, Aliken has VERY MUCH a change of plans here. She's headed straight to the god-complex. Other people can take care of other work, but.
  3185. * Golasa will pass on the god complex.
  3186. <Golasa> No particular work to do, either, so this is just some time to decompress from that last damn dungeon.
  3187. <RinTheThief> Rin plans to carouse for a while, but first, there's a Loot Split to do. Getting magic items we found in the last dungeon identified, see who wants what.
  3188. * Dysna settles in on a street corner, pulling a quill and parchment from her kit and scribbling a report to her master. Once she's done writing it, she'll probably go hunting for correspondance from said master and sending said report off as well.
  3189. <@DungeonLady> By the way, anybody stopping by the dungeon board?
  3190. <Golasa> Why not.
  3191. <Aliken> You can take care of that while I take care of this.
  3192. <RinTheThief> One Aliken's scene has concluded, let's do loot? *Compiling list now*
  3193. <RinTheThief> (( (Link: http://pastebin.com/rCQB9kZU)http://pastebin.com/rCQB9kZU <- Super-hasty list from last dungeon))
  3194. <@DungeonLady> You notice a strange shift in the board. It seems larger, more expansive somehow, yet it shifts to focus on whatever you're looking at. The reason for this becomes clear as more dungeons seem to be appearing than getting cleared, and some of them have notes written next to them in a different handwriting than the dungeon names and names of people there.
  3195. <@DungeonLady> The Boring Dungeon has "This fucking dungeon doesn't have anything in it. Not even a way to clear it and get out. Lucky we had someone who knew how to drill their way out and back to this world."
  3196. <Aliken> (That is a terrible dungeon and we should never go there.)
  3197. <@DungeonLady> Other people seem to have written down their own commentary, but it's mostly just reactions like "Not doing this then" and "Why does something like this even exist?"
  3198. <Dysna> (I dunno. Dysna would be interested. After all, what better way to conceal something than putting it in plain sight?)
  3199. <@DungeonLady> The Crossroads dungeon has "You can buy and sell shit here. But your money's worthless here. They use some ridiculous currency here." And other comments speak of seeing prices in things like souls, memories, some kind of crystallized currency that's apparently concentrated magical energy, and so on.
  3200. <Dysna> (Rupees, where?)
  3201. <RinTheThief> "That could make getting this done... Very interesting...
  3202. <Golasa> Anything new?
  3203. <Aliken> (Might be a good idea to hang onto some merchandise we can sell there. The axe and arrows, perhaps, could be a start.)
  3204. <RinTheThief> (Items we don't want to keep for ourselves, basically)
  3205. <Golasa> (I've got a bit pile of weird shit)
  3206. <Golasa> big*
  3207. * RinTheThief takes time to analyze the herbs, particularly for useful poisons to restock with
  3208. <@DungeonLady> Currently existent dungeons seem to be Carnival, Worms, Conflict (which's been cleared twice but is still available judging from the number of times its name's been marked through and then rewritten), Fiery, Fools, Spiral, Teeth, Happiness.
  3209. <@DungeonLady> Along with the two already noted.
  3210. <RinTheThief> "Crossroads... We may want more before we try to go there. Happiness?" Rin seems scared to try the Carnival, based on her reaction to that. "Spiral? I wonder what that one means."
  3211. <Aliken> So, the god-complex?
  3212. <@DungeonLady> Conflict has "Bunch of dog-earred people in some ridiculous endless fight." written by it, by the way.
  3213. <Aliken> (The Spiral is clearly pure nightmare fuel.)
  3214. <Golasa> "Fools, eh? We'd fit right in."
  3215. <RinTheThief> "Speak for yourself, please."
  3216. <@DungeonLady> The god-complex is a large affair that seems to have been built and built on. Even now construction seems to be under way on a fourth floor.
  3217. <Golasa> "Anyone who goes dungeon delving has to be a little bit of a fool."
  3218. <Dysna> (I vote no goin to the Spiral one)
  3219. <Aliken> Aliken makes her way in, looking for somebody to ask directions to shrines of Gerechtsheid or Waarheid.
  3220. <@DungeonLady> It's remarkably plain, far more so than the many temple designs seen here. Almost completely unadorned, though there's a banner draped across the front with many god symbols on it.
  3221. <RinTheThief> (Au. :p)
  3222. <Aliken> (Too much nightmare fuel from Uzumaki.)
  3223. <Dysna> (Exactly.)
  3224. <Golasa> (Uzumaki and Gurren Lagann cancel each other out for me.)
  3225. <Aliken> (Heh.)
  3226. <@DungeonLady> The entrance hallway has many doors opening off it, and their insides're far more elaborate than the outside. There's an orc in a formal outfit sitting reading in a chair by the front doorway with a sign above his head: "Ask me for directions."
  3227. <@DungeonLady> He points you to the second floor.
  3228. <@DungeonLady> Tell me, how would a shrine-room to your gods appear?
  3229. <Aliken> A simple shrine may simply have the tokens or symbols of the gods to revere. The coin and the sword for Gerechtsheid, and the hammer and the book for Waarheid. If there is a priest of Waarheid or a priestess of Gerechtsheid that actively tends it, it will certainly have at least a small library. How much changes if they're Monarchists is open to question. A greater temple might have actual statues of the gods, benches for worshippers, and so on.
  3230. <Aliken> A real temple would have schoolrooms, as well.
  3231. <@DungeonLady> Rin, I missed that bit. Right, your analysis finds some interesting stuff. Pick three poisons or drugs of your choice.
  3232. <RinTheThief> One dose each of Goldenroot, Oil of Tagit, and Serpent's Tears round out Rin's supplies a little. The more neutral herbs can be sold for some quick money.
  3233. * RinTheThief also collects the value of the Coins, Coins, and Gemstones for the party to just split.
  3234. <@DungeonLady> About 400 total.
  3235. <RinTheThief> So 100 gold apiece. Not bad!
  3236. <@DungeonLady> As luck has it, Aliken, there's a priestess in right now.
  3237. <Golasa> I should figure out something to do with this money. Eventually.
  3238. <Aliken> Aliken inclines her head respectfully. "Honored priestess. I come seeking the wisdom of your station and the help and blessing of the gods."
  3239. <@DungeonLady> There's always the auction block where adventurers often go to sell of some of their more interesting stuff, if they don't go to the Spire. Or the Crossroad judging from some of the comments on that board.
  3240. <@DungeonLady> She turns her head toward you. "Oh? It is good to see one who gives the gods their proper respect."
  3241. <Aliken> "I am not from these lands, but the rise of a champion of Crx troubles me deeply. The Elder Gods." Aliken shakes her head, frowning in worry.
  3242. <Aliken> "I am a skilled warrior, but I myself am not fit to challenge the power of an Elder God."
  3243. <@DungeonLady> "It is indeed troublesome, and a matter of much discussion amongst the priesthood."
  3244. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, you do find a letter for you. In it, the dragon Khellanix expresses an interest in knowledge about the Spire that isn't publically available. It adds that the dungeon investigation still takes top priority, but if you happen to find an opportunity the dragon would like to know what you've learned.
  3245. <Aliken> "Should my aid be needed I offer myself as a sword for Gerechtsheid. I have fought against some trolls serving Crx recently, and have faced other perils besides."
  3246. <@DungeonLady> "Indeed your sword may be needed."
  3247. <Aliken> "Would you have me await your instruction? I have been exploring dungeons as of late, but with the news as I have returned..."
  3248. <@DungeonLady> "Follow what you see to be the path of justice."
  3249. <Aliken> "How far is the closest true temple? I do not know these lands well."
  3250. <@DungeonLady> "A week, but... they do not permit the priesthood the power we need."
  3251. <Aliken> Aliken sighs. "Much has been usurped. Still, the fact remains that I hope to challenge Ironrain, but without the help of the gods, I fear that I cannot prevail against his beast."
  3252. <@DungeonLady> "Many in the priesthood have grown timid, afraid of the queen's disapproval. But Crx cannot be allowed to prevail."
  3253. <@DungeonLady> "I will give you what blessings I can. The slaying of a king might at times be necessary to bring justice, but such wanton slaughter as has been wrought here is not justice."
  3254. <Aliken> Aliken bows her head. "I swear I shall bring what strength and skill I have to oppose this."
  3255. <@DungeonLady> (Seriously, there's a reason she's out here and not in a proper temple.)
  3256. <Aliken> (Yeah, heh.)
  3257. <@DungeonLady> "I..." The priestess looks suddenly startled. "You have already santified the sword of Sun and offered its most fearsome power to the gods." There's a definite note of awe in her voice. "Gerechtsheid appreciates that, and she shall give your sword back the power that gods fear for the sole purpose of ending Crx's scheme."
  3258. <Aliken> "Then I shall wield it in her name."
  3259. <@DungeonLady> "As long as you wield it against the servants of Crx, it shall render even their powerful divine magics."
  3260. <Aliken> "Thank you, honored priestess. I am Aliken Mechtildsdochter, and I swear I shall end this threat or perish in the attempt."
  3261. <@DungeonLady> "I am Dagmar Ilsastochter. I could tell from your manners toward me that you were not from the kingdoms."
  3262. <Aliken> Aliken nods. "I will return if I can. Please pray for my success."
  3263. <@DungeonLady> "You will be in my prayers."
  3264. <Aliken> And Aliken inclines her head and starts back.
  3265. <@DungeonLady> So, anything else the rest of you would like me to address?
  3266. <Golasa> I'm gonna spend the rest of the downtime brushing up on my alchemy.
  3267. <Aliken> When Aliken returns to meet the others at the inn, she has a fierce gleam in her eye. "We are armed to deal with a godbeast, now. And I think that is something that may be worth addressing."
  3268. <Golasa> "Aren't you forgetting about our last commitment?"
  3269. <RinTheThief> "Not necessarily... We need resources to trade at the Crossroads. Bits of a godbeast could be worth quite a bit. Of course, one big problem with that. We'd be taking on. A goddamn. Godbeast. Aliken, ARE YOU INSANE?!?!"
  3270. <Aliken> "You recall the Sun's sword? The one that could shatter the works of the gods?"
  3271. <RinTheThief> "Yes. But you still have to wield it."
  3272. <Golasa> "I'm not going to spurn the requests of the world's most powerful gorgon to go fighting a creature forged by the gods. I'll flirt with death on one side, but not two."
  3273. * Dysna hums, wondering if she's going to end up as a snack.
  3274. <RinTheThief> "To be fair, we're not spurning, we're just deprioritizing temporarily for a future advantage. But, again. A goddamn. Godbeast."
  3275. <Aliken> "I do think that dealing with Ironrain first will help us fulfill her request. And the longer Ironrain is unchallenged, the more he shall cast down. And, frankly, the only other power in the area I'd trust to challenge the godbeast is the Spire, and they seem content to hide within their walls. Without a divine power, nobody here has a chance."
  3276. <Dysna> "On the one hand, Godbeast. On the other, perhaps dragon lore might have a way to kill one."
  3277. <Golasa> "Oh, what the hell. I guess it all balances out if you think about it right."
  3278. <Golasa> "If I get eaten by a godbeast, then I don't have to deal with Shana."
  3279. * RinTheThief pause. "... You're still crazy. But I guess you're right. We should see if we can reach the Spire to see if they'd offer aid, at least."
  3280. <Golasa> "If I get torn in half by Shana, I don't have to have an eventual reunion with my mother."
  3281. <Aliken> "Agreed. If the Spire has any help to offer, I believe we should get it."
  3282. <Dysna> "Would the spire help?"
  3283. <Aliken> "It's worth seeing. They obviously see Ironrain as a threat."
  3284. <RinTheThief> "... Let's go, then."
  3285. <Golasa> "It's unlikely that they'll have anything to spare beyond the city guard, but we lose nothing by checking."
  3286. <Golasa> So I say, but GUESS WHAT
  3287. <Golasa> I'm going to put out word that I'm looking for hired help.
  3288. <Golasa> I want an assistant.
  3289. <Golasa> Will pay hansomely.
  3290. <Golasa> Duties will involve assisting in rituals, spell component logistics, and reading things out loud.
  3291. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, while the slow mail is your usual method of communication, you do possess some special paper that can be used for instant communication. There's a limited amount of it, naturally, so it's not something you'd been using for your reports.
  3292. <Dysna> must be female between the ages of 16 and 24, possess red hair, and have no fear of snakes?
  3293. * Dysna holds off on using it; bothering a dragon about killing a god beast is something to talk to the party about first, most likely!
  3294. <Golasa> ...Female preferred.
  3295. <Golasa> Must retain our team image.
  3296. <Golasa> The snakes thing isn't going on the advert.
  3297. <Aliken> Heh.
  3298. <Golasa> Ideally they won't have to find out.
  3299. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, fun fact? It seems like you've already been developing a reputation as the amazon team from comments next to your names on the dungeon board. Stuff like "Oh, I see the amazons're still on their winning streak."
  3300. <Golasa> I love it.
  3301. <Golasa> Maybe that'll give the ad some leverage.
  3302. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, I think that's... a +2 on your Recruit roll total. From offering generous payment and developing a local reputation.
  3303. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2
  3304. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{11}
  3305. <Golasa> woot woot
  3306. <@DungeonLady> Okay, it'll take a little while for the ad to get responses.
  3307. <Golasa> Well, wouldn't be good to leap into a godbeast battle unprepared, would it?
  3308. <Golasa> I say we wait.
  3309. <Aliken> Let's visit the Spire while we prepare, shall we?
  3310. <Golasa> Why not?
  3311. <@DungeonLady> There're a pair of... huh, you've never seen *those* before. One kinda looks like a sort of dragon-man, like an oversized kobold, except that they've got a large assortment of colorful spikes across their back. The other is tall and skinny in a cloak, with a face that's nothing but eyes. They're very clearly standing guard in front of the entrance to the Spire.
  3312. <Aliken> "We seek audience with the Spire." Aliken nods. "Might we be admitted?"
  3313. <@DungeonLady> The spiky reptilian man has a lot of bulk to him and is about tall as one and a half human while the many-eyed one is easily over twice as tall.
  3314. * Golasa sidles behind Ali.
  3315. <@DungeonLady> "Speak your business," the lizard-man booms.
  3316. <Dysna> (Should I roll a knowledge check to identify the spiky reptilian man?)
  3317. <@DungeonLady> (Hell, why not.)
  3318. <Aliken> "We intend to hunt down Ironrain, and are in possession of unique advantages that may negate his God-beast. We seek to see if the Spire may offer us aid and support in this endeavor."
  3319. <@DungeonLady> (Roll +Int, Dysna.)
  3320. * RinTheThief just kinda stays quiet for now. Shifty thief type means even with her charming demeanor she's not confident of her ability to work here.
  3321. <Dysna> !roll 2d6
  3322. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{8}
  3323. * Golasa stays quiet because she is fully aware that she occasionally ruins everything when she opens her mouth.
  3324. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, you've definitely never seen his ilk (and incidentally you can tell he's a he) before. But you did once hear from a visiting kobold from another dragon about this. He definitely isn't from this world.
  3325. <Dysna> (If I can tell he's a he does that mean I'm examining his package?)
  3326. <@DungeonLady> (It's more his colorfulness that's the big tipoff here.)
  3327. <Dysna> (That makes sense)
  3328. * Dysna clammors up to sit in Rin's shoulder.
  3329. <RinTheThief> ((... With her spindly body? Are you sure?))
  3330. <RinTheThief> ((She'd probably collapse immediately. XD))
  3331. <@DungeonLady> "How do I know you are not assassins?" the eye-person speaks but is immediately answered by the lizard man, "Crx isn't that subtle."
  3332. <Dysna> ((Dysna weighs maybe 30 pounds, counting all her gear? Kobolds are spindly as crap.))
  3333. <Golasa> (Aliken is probably a more stable perch)
  3334. <@DungeonLady> ((Aliken's the one built like a brick, yeah.))
  3335. <RinTheThief> ((That'd still be enough to topple Rin. She is 9 STR. XD))
  3336. <Dysna> (Probably, but Golasa's already hiding behind Ali, and Dysna climbing up her would be screening Golasa more)
  3337. <Aliken> ((Heh.))
  3338. <Dysna> (Riding Golasa's out of it because Golasa strikes Dysna as unlikely to put up with such an invasion of her personal space.)
  3339. <@DungeonLady> "The Master and his disciples're busy with their preparations, but I'll send word."
  3340. <Aliken> "Are we to wait here, or await summons at our lodgings?"
  3341. <@DungeonLady> The eye-person's voice, by the way is kinda fucking creepy. Really whispery and drippy, and it's hard to tell how they're even talking in the first place.
  3342. <Aliken> Aliken is admittedly a little unnerved, but immediately feels guilty for this.
  3343. <Aliken> Judging others on such a basis is unworthy.
  3344. <@DungeonLady> "Hold on. What's your advantage?"
  3345. <Aliken> "Have you heard of the ancient wizard the Sun? He had a sword intended to slay gods."
  3346. <@DungeonLady> The lizard-man blinks. "I just received word you're to be honored by a personal audience with the Master."
  3347. <Aliken> "Thank you."
  3348. <Golasa> "How lucky."
  3349. <Dysna> "I blame Shark."
  3350. <Aliken> Well, if they're letting us in, perhaps it's best not to keep the Master waiting...
  3351. <Golasa> Indeed.
  3352. <@DungeonLady> Inside... isn't the office you saw before. Now it's a room clearly set up to kill any invaders. It's narrow, with little room for movement, and absolutely riddled with murder holes in the walls and ceiling, even the floor.
  3353. <Golasa> Whoof.
  3354. <@DungeonLady> There's a single stair at the end of the hallway.
  3355. <RinTheThief> "... Good thing I don't wear heels. Yeek."
  3356. <Aliken> Aliken heads to mount the stairs, considering how clear the fear of the Spire is here.
  3357. <RinTheThief> (Bah, need to AFK a second >_o)
  3358. <@DungeonLady> After only a single floor's worth of stairs, it ends in an opening in the ceiling, where you can see the sky. And you come out onto what appears to be the roof of the Spire.
  3359. <@DungeonLady> The roof of an impossibly tall tower.
  3360. <Aliken> Aliken looks around, and rapidly decides looking down is a fool's game. Best to stay clear of the edges.
  3361. <Golasa> That's one problem Golasa lacks! :D
  3362. <RinTheThief> "Wait. That was a very short stairwell for how high up we are."
  3363. <RinTheThief> "How did they pull THAT off?!"
  3364. <@DungeonLady> In the midst of the roof, a cloth-wrapped figure waits. It is oddly humpbacked, and inhumanly broad and wide.
  3365. <Golasa> "How high are we?"
  3366. <Golasa> "See, this is why I need an assistant."
  3367. <Aliken> "They did the same last time."
  3368. <@DungeonLady> '(One sec, finding a picture to illustrate)
  3369. <Aliken> "We're at the top, Golasa." Aliken approaches the shrouded figure, and inclines her head. "Master."
  3370. <@DungeonLady> (Nevermind the picture.)
  3371. <@DungeonLady> "Show me the sword."
  3372. <Aliken> Aliken pulls her sword from the sheath. "Not the original sword, but I found techniques in books from the Dungeon of Words that let me transfer the enchantment."
  3373. * Golasa considers taking a peek out of curiosity, but that is probably a bad idea.
  3374. <@DungeonLady> "Its power has been weakened. No... constrained."
  3375. <Aliken> "Its greatest powers, I had offered as a sacrifice to my gods. They have offered the power back for the purpose of opposing this menace."
  3376. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you can at least tell that the person before you isn't really there.
  3377. <Golasa> Makes sense, although it makes all that security seem a little silly.
  3378. <@DungeonLady> "I see.. You are... yes, you would be one of the god-fearing dwarves." From their tone, they seem to think themselves above that.
  3379. <Aliken> "I am. We came to see if the Spire could offer us any aid in this mission. We demand nothing but request whatever help you can spare."
  3380. <@DungeonLady> "So, you've come to ask me to incur Crx's wrath with you."
  3381. <@DungeonLady> That statement was curt, but it doesn't sound like a full out refusal. Not quite.
  3382. <Aliken> "If you choose to consider it that way, yes. I trust in my gods for protection from his wrath."
  3383. <@DungeonLady> "Still, I've no desire for Crx's intended world, and the gods won't act until the situation's grown far worse. I have interests that would be disrupted."
  3384. <Aliken> (Should I roll for Parlay here?)
  3385. <@DungeonLady> (Sure..)
  3386. <Aliken> !roll
  3387. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : --> error: malformed expression
  3388. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  3389. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}
  3390. <Aliken> (9! Yay!)
  3391. <@DungeonLady> "I'm still not entirely convinced. I require further proof of your strength."
  3392. <Aliken> "What would you have us do to demonstrate our strength?"
  3393. <@DungeonLady> "Your team. What do they have to their names?"
  3394. * RinTheThief pauses. Then pulls out the flower. "This flower comes from the Dungeon of Beauty, one of several dungeons we have cleared since our team formed."
  3395. <RinTheThief> ((Someone could pull out their coin of Crx from the first dungeon, which marks them as having impressed him before, but Rin's cautious about doing that.)
  3396. <Golasa> "My mind, my magic, my tools, and my nature."
  3397. <@DungeonLady> "Show me," the Master says to Golasa.
  3398. <Golasa> Ngh.
  3399. * Golasa hesitates.
  3400. <Golasa> "Err..."
  3401. <Golasa> "Show you what, exactly?"
  3402. <@DungeonLady> "Your magic. And your eyes. I do not fear them."
  3403. <Golasa> Oh, he(?) already knows. Well, then.
  3404. * Golasa steps ahead of her teammates and undoes the blindfold, but in the interest of propriety, carefully avoids the Master's gaze. Pale grey and slitted like the eyes of a snake.
  3405. <Aliken> Aliken looks away, of course.
  3406. <@DungeonLady> There's a pause. Then, "I had heard those gorgons that studied magic strengthened their own eyes."
  3407. <@DungeonLady> "Why haven't you used your magic to enhance or alter your eyes?"
  3408. <Aliken> (... huh, I think I know why.)
  3409. <Golasa> "Because the potential of the mind is greater than the potential of the body. I don't wish to be defined by what I was born as."
  3410. <Golasa> Also misguided juvenile spite against her mother, but details.
  3411. <@DungeonLady> "Ah." There's actually a soft chuckle. "Interesting. Had I the time for another disciple, I'd offer a position to you. Still, I agree."
  3412. <Golasa> Not sure how to reply, Golasa just nods, still focusing intently at the Master's feet.
  3413. <@DungeonLady> "I've seen enough. You can cover up your eyes. As for you... dragon's servant." The figure nods to Dysna then speaks to Rin. "And, you, I don't know exactly what you're. An unusual team. You might have the qualities to succeed."
  3414. * Golasa re-blinds.
  3415. <RinTheThief> "I'm a sneak. At least, when I want or need to be. Who cares, beyond that?"
  3416. <@DungeonLady> "Still... I refuse to offer direct support." The Master turns away and with a single step disappears into thin air. But just a moment before they do, something drops from their sleeve, landing upon the floor of the roof.
  3417. <@DungeonLady> A... parchment scroll. How curiously old-fashioned.
  3418. <Golasa> "I hope this wasn't a waste of time."
  3419. <Aliken> Aliken picks the scroll up and examines it, to see if it appears to be a magical spell or some more 'mundane' bit of lore.
  3420. <Aliken> "He left us a scroll, at least. I'm checking it over."
  3421. <@DungeonLady> It seems to be research notes about Crx's godbeasts.
  3422. <@DungeonLady> Including weaknesses.
  3423. <Golasa> "What is it?"
  3424. <Aliken> "Notes on Crx's godbeasts. Looks like it's detailing some weaknesses... hmm..."
  3425. <@DungeonLady> Also what looks like complicated ritual notes.
  3426. <Aliken> "And something that looks like it's for you."
  3427. <Aliken> Aliken hands the scroll to Golasa so she can examine the ritual.
  3428. <Golasa> "I'll take a closer look at this later."
  3429. <Golasa> "For now, I want to see if my advert got any bites."
  3430. <Aliken> "Back to the inn, then."
  3431. <@DungeonLady> Later, Golasa would see that ti's not an actually complete ritual, but theories on how to create ones that would reduce or eliminate the godbeast's overwhelming strengths. A lot of it's surprisingly high level and hard to understand, with references like "planar shear" that appears to involve somehow fucking with the connection between this world and the godplanes.
  3432. <@DungeonLady> *That* appears to have rather prohibitive requirements, but things like binding the godbeast's ever-shifting nature or weakening rather than outright severing said connection seem more possible.
  3433. <Aliken> Ever-shifting nature. That reminds me of the Dungeon of Words.
  3434. <@DungeonLady> Not to mention, well, discussions on how to deal with a honking giant beast.
  3435. <@DungeonLady> As for the assistant advert, there're plenty of responses.
  3436. * RinTheThief focuses on the statements of potential weaknesses in the beast - things she might be able to exploit given a chance.
  3437. <@DungeonLady> After filtering out the obviously crappy prospects, including ones who blatantly lied about even knowing magic at all, you're left with a decent number of good applicants.
  3438. <Golasa> Any that stand out in particular? Golasa's keeping an eye out for the exceedingly unusual or exceedingly professional.
  3439. <@DungeonLady> Rin might find it of interest that there's a side note on how the godbeasts eat despite not needing to, and they aren't very fussy as long as it's meat. The listed amount of poison involved a previous successful taking down of one is pretty insane though. Doable with considerable expense and some effort finding that much high-concentration poison, though, at least. Even then it didn't do more than slow said godbeast d
  3440. <@DungeonLady> We're talking at least a hundred coins' worth of poison.
  3441. <Aliken> (Cut off at 'slow said godbeast d', but I imagine it was just 'down.'?)
  3442. <@DungeonLady> Even then it didn't do more than slow said godbeast down but that was cited as a huge help.
  3443. <@DungeonLady> And, well, the peopel who did that *did* succeed.
  3444. <RinTheThief> "Sheesh. Expensive solution... But a big enough dose of Oil of Tagit might slow him down enough to find some weaknesses." She decides, after some consideration, to go for it.
  3445. * Golasa picks whichever applicant looks most intriguing and grants a brief interview.
  3446. <@DungeonLady> (Name one or two intriguing traits, and I'll come up with the other applicants.)
  3447. <Golasa> (A right hand made of liquid silver. A shaved head etched with an alchemical circle of scars.)
  3448. <@DungeonLady> Right. His hand *was* rather striking and indictative of a particular formal alchemical school. And her scarring indicates another school.. In additional, there's the person who smelled rather powerfully of what you recognize as strong reagents (seriously, he stank of the stuff), and a quiet and timid little halfing who was holding up a sheet of paper with what she claimed to be her own work.
  3449. <Golasa> Hmm... what was on the sheet?
  3450. <Golasa> A list of mighty feats?
  3451. <@DungeonLady> An interesting proof.
  3452. <Golasa> Hmm, promising.
  3453. <Golasa> One simple question for all four applicants:
  3454. <Golasa> "What is power?"
  3455. <@DungeonLady> The point she arrived at is something taught to apprentices, but her methodology was unusual and far as you can tel correct.
  3456. <RinTheThief> (Was it a 500-page long proof that 1+1 = 2? )
  3457. <RinTheThief> (There is actually a book that does that and it is actually one of the most important works in 'pure' math.)
  3458. <Golasa> (Pff, don't be ridiculous. All wizards know that 1+1=3.)
  3459. <@DungeonLady> The one with the silver hand answered, "Why do you care about my answer?" The bald woman answered, "Unnecessary as long as one has knowledge." The smelly one answered, "The means to makes ones desire known." The halfing answered, "Uh, I could define a broad question like that in so many ways."
  3460. <@DungeonLady> In so many different ways.
  3461. <Golasa> Hmm.
  3462. <Golasa> Bald wins.
  3463. <Golasa> "What's your name?"
  3464. <@DungeonLady> "Marigold."
  3465. <Aliken> (And Amazon theme is preserved!)
  3466. <Golasa> "Welcome aboard, then, Marigold. Fifty coins now and fifty more when our task is completed."
  3467. <@DungeonLady> (Also, interesting to see your hiring priority in work here. I'm being serious here.)
  3468. <Golasa> Silver was focusing too much on the interview and not enough on the question.
  3469. <Golasa> Smelly is thinking more of what he wants than what was actually asked.
  3470. <Golasa> Halfling had potential but isn't ready for this gig yet.
  3471. <Golasa> She can apply again when she has the guts to put together a definitive answer.
  3472. <Aliken> The halfling is a fussy mathematician sort.
  3473. <Golasa> Only the bald woman gave a satisfactory axiom on the nature of power.
  3474. <Aliken> Interesting, because as I saw it, only Smelly actually defined power.
  3475. <Golasa> Well, sure, but his definition sucked.
  3476. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, in the halfing's case, it's more that her answer would've been a rather lengthy digest on the many meanings of power and so on. Kinda a literal and overly long answer.
  3477. <Golasa> Also Golasa doesn't want to hang around someone that smelly all the time.
  3478. <@DungeonLady> That said, Marigold it is! :)
  3479. <Golasa> And I'm guessing that's as far as we're getting tonight
  3480. <Aliken> "Power is the capability to cause or prevent changes by one's effort."
  3481. <Golasa> "Are you applying to be my assistant, too?"
  3482. <Aliken> "No."
  3483. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, I can't go much further than this.
  3484. <Aliken> Rest well, Kaja. It was fun!
  3485. <@DungeonLady> Oh, just one last thing.
  3486. <RinTheThief> I think at this point, we're readying for a big battle next week more than anything
  3487. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you can roll +Cha to see how successful you're at finding enough poison to knock out a dragon. Also, do you still want to make that Carouse roll?
  3488. <RinTheThief> She reconsiders on that since she doesnt' have a lot of money
  3489. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+2
  3490. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  3491. <Golasa> We roll good.
  3492. <RinTheThief> No kidding. x_X
  3493. <@DungeonLady> You successfully locate someone who doesn't ask questions nor want to be asked questions about supplying a ridiculous quantity of extra high potency knockout drugs (seriously, this stuff would probably kill a human).
  3494. <@DungeonLady> He does mention something about there being demand for the stuff.
  3495. * RinTheThief pause. Looks scared at the mention of THAT, but...
  3496. * RinTheThief hopes this will work. ._.
  3497. <@DungeonLady> At least it was apparently an unusual spike in demand. Starting rather recently.
  3498. <Golasa> Makes sense, with a godbeast in town.
  3499. <Aliken> Any of the weaknesses in the scroll ones I could exploit?
  3500. <Golasa> Physical weaknesses probably depend on the form it's ultimately bound to.
  3501. * RinTheThief hasta sleep, so uh good night ._.
  3502. <Aliken> Night!
  3503. <@DungeonLady> And night for me too.
  3504. <Aliken> Night!
  3505. <Golasa> o/
  3506. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 01 23:03:46 2013 -0700
  3507.  
  3508.  
  3509. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 08 14:45:28 2013 -0700
  3510. <NekoIncardine> (I am very, very sorry for my delay in arrival >.o)
  3511. <ProfessorProf> yo
  3512. <Aliken> Hello!
  3513. <Aliken> No worries. Real Life takes precedence, right?
  3514. <NekoIncardine> Snow is the primary cause of this. If it wasn't a moderate storm ATM I'd have been done with the IRL tasks and here on time ;/
  3515. <Aliken> Well, not under your control, consider the delay already forgotten. :)
  3516. <Golasa> So I figure out of the primary uses of Golasa's new assistant
  3517. <Golasa> Is allowing Kaja to shift Ritual requirement explanations from OOC to IC
  3518. <@kajarainbow> Oh?
  3519. <Aliken> She'll likely be able to let your spells work a little better, too.
  3520. <Golasa> Golasa can use her as a ritual advisor
  3521. <Aliken> Because you have a grad student helping.
  3522. <Golasa> That too!
  3523. <Golasa> a grad student of ancient alchemical secrets.
  3524. <Aliken> So yes. I'm in favor of tracking down Ironrain.
  3525. <Golasa> Golasa is reulctantly willing to tag along with tracking down Ironrain.
  3526. <Golasa> (Urgh, just got paged again but I'll try to multitask in here)
  3527. <RinTheThief> Rin decides, cautiously, to go with it.
  3528. <@DungeonLady> Well, Nine didn't respond to my IM.
  3529. <Golasa> Is that the last strike?
  3530. <@DungeonLady> Something about dinner, I heard?
  3531. <Aliken> Oh, hello, Nine.
  3532. <@DungeonLady> Alright, so you guys're planning to take on Crx's champion and pet godbeast. Got any preparations you'd like ot make? And word of Ironrain's location isn't too hard to find as talk is he's claimed the royal palace.
  3533. * RinTheThief has the poison. HOPEFULLY it'll be enough
  3534. <Golasa> Golasa will be spending her remaining time getting to know Marigold and Marigold's capabilities as a magical assistant.
  3535. <@DungeonLady> And right now said palace's under siege, but the godbeast keep eating many of thsoe who try to come in, and Ironrain's been killing the rest.
  3536. <Aliken> How much to hire a squad of heavy crossbowmen for hazardous duty? I know I can't get melee combatants for this, but supporting fire might be useful.
  3537. <@DungeonLady> That's the word on the street. Of course, travel times being what they be, it's a few days old.
  3538. <Aliken> Assuming I can even find mercs.
  3539. <Golasa> It's probably hard to hire too many people if they know we're off to slay the godbeast.
  3540. <Aliken> My terms are explicitly 'provide missile fire and flee if it tries to engage you'.
  3541. <@DungeonLady> Well, most of the mercs're being hired right and left by nobles and Spire's masters.
  3542. <@DungeonLady> Make a roll to see how much luck you get in this busy time.
  3543. <@DungeonLady> +Cha, I think it was.
  3544. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  3545. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  3546. <Aliken> 7.
  3547. * Dysna hums, having missed half the plot.
  3548. <@DungeonLady> The best you could find on such short notice is a motley lot, and a more professional group that's very clearly jacked their prices rather high.
  3549. <Aliken> How high?
  3550. <@DungeonLady> Over a hundred .
  3551. <Aliken> Are people interested in chipping in for fire support?
  3552. <Golasa> I doubt traditional arrows will do much to this thing anyway.
  3553. <Aliken> Well, you're working on a ritual to make it more vulnerable, right?
  3554. <Golasa> Besides, I already paid for help!
  3555. <Aliken> That's fair. I'm wondering if Rin or Dysna are interested in helping cover the cost, though.
  3556. <Aliken> I'd sort of prefer every edge we can get here.
  3557. <RinTheThief> Rin will toss you 26 gold. More than her fair share of this cost!
  3558. <Aliken> Dysna?
  3559. * Dysna ponders and goes to check how much gold she actually has, considering she's been mailing souveniers to her Master.
  3560. <Aliken> Oh, right, Dysna, the plan is to hunt down and kill Ironrain, champion of Crx, and his horrific godbeast, now that they've slaughtered the local king and his guard. We have some edges, but.
  3561. <Dysna> "Who's Crx?"
  3562. <Dysna> "Also, where did he GET the god beast?"
  3563. <Golasa> "That's a fair question, actually."
  3564. <Golasa> "Let's ask him after we kill it."
  3565. <RinTheThief> "Please tell me we're not going to end up trying to get one of our own after this."
  3566. <Aliken> "Crx is one of the Elder Gods, and thus nothing good. In this case, the Elder God of 'bashing in the skull of that which irritates you and suicidal courage'. Or 'Strength', if you prefer."
  3567. * Golasa smiles dryly at Rin's comment.
  3568. <Golasa> "It IS going to be my birthday soon."
  3569. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, you might recall your dragon master grumbling something about the Elder Gods.
  3570. <RinTheThief> "Oh crap."
  3571. <Dysna> (I might, but I was never the most attentive individual.)
  3572. <Dysna> "I assume that poisoning Ironrain is out?"
  3573. <@DungeonLady> (Right, you missed it then.)
  3574. <Aliken> "I doubt we'll get much of a chance. Besides, I strongly suspect Crx would protect him from poison. Poison irritates Crx."
  3575. <Golasa> "The nature of the god in question makes any strategy other than a direct fight difficult."
  3576. <Dysna> "Then... So we have to take a direct approach. Is it possible to bait him into a duel with Aliken and have Aliken just out and out murder his face?"
  3577. <Dysna> (I literally had no idea what the plot involving ironrain was until last week... and I don't think anyone explained that aspect to Dysna, so yeah. x3; )
  3578. <RinTheThief> "He's strong enough that I doubt a one-on-one would work."
  3579. <Golasa> "I'd prefer a plan where all of us can contribute. I don't think any one of us could kill a godbeast."
  3580. <Golasa> "We have a number of different advantages we can bring to this."
  3581. <Golasa> "Aliken has a god-slaying sword. I have a ritual that can bind the beast to a single form. Rin has a ridiculous amount of poison."
  3582. <Golasa> "If we want to do this, we need to use all of them together."
  3583. <@DungeonLady> (He's only shown up once before last week, and that indirectly through the proclamation he posted that things like rule by royalty and other such governmental systems're all rule by the weak. The strong should step up and take over.)
  3584. <Golasa> (And lo, his true name was John Galt)
  3585. <@DungeonLady> (The very first dungeon, though, was basically Crx's holy testing grounds. That's where the others got their Crx tokens. Since then, there's been mention now and then of Crx geting ready to stir up shit.)
  3586. <Aliken> "Chip in 25 coins, Dysna, and I'll hire these troops."
  3587. <Aliken> (I don't think the Elder Gods would be much for John Galt. They're a bit more... visceral.)
  3588. * Dysna thinks she has enough for that and passes them over, shrugging. "Whatever works,"
  3589. <Aliken> And Aliken pays 49, to make up the 100.
  3590. <Aliken> Let's hire some professionals who can cover us.
  3591. <@DungeonLady> "Well, well. You're the first to pony up, so we'll work for you."
  3592. <@DungeonLady> "So, what's the job?"
  3593. * Golasa quietly hopes Aliken isn't painfully blunt about this.
  3594. <Aliken> "We're hunting Ironrain. I know that this is a hazardous job, but I'm not expecting heroics from you. If Ironrain or his beast look like they're moving your way, disengage and lose yourself in the area. The important thing is that I want missile support as long as you can safely supply it."
  3595. <Golasa> Could've been worse.
  3596. <@DungeonLady> "Wait, you're angling for *him*?"
  3597. <Aliken> "We have a wizard with a ritual to weaken his beast, a huge quantity of poison to drug his pet, and a sword forged to kill gods. We pretty figure we're the only people with any chance at all in the area."
  3598. <@DungeonLady> "Hmm, you've got more of a plan than most what've been flinging themselves at him and his pet and dying off. Alright, I'll play along. No gain without risk, and if we win this'll be really good for business."
  3599. <Aliken> Aliken shakes the mercenary leader's hand. "It's a deal, then. Let's move out and see what terrain we have to work with around the royal castle."
  3600. <Golasa> As we depart, Golasa pours over the ritual mechanics.
  3601. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, from your getting to know Marigold, she's definitely got more formal education than you, but less practical experience.
  3602. <Golasa> "The circle for this is extremely complex. I'm not going to be able to create it in the middle of a battle. Is there any chance we can meet it in a prepared battlefield of our choosing?"
  3603. <RinTheThief> ".... Perhaps."
  3604. <RinTheThief> Rin smiles. "Use the fire to draw the target to a location."
  3605. <Dysna> "How're we going to bait the trap?"
  3606. <@DungeonLady> "If you can figure otu some way to lure it out to a prepared location, that should prove effective. Especially if you can lure it directly into the circle."
  3607. <Golasa> "That would be ideal. Marigold, once I've created the circle, can you prepare a second spell to hide it?"
  3608. <Aliken> "There's likely a settlement around the castle, right? We can use the buildings for cover and lay out lunch for the beast. If we need to lure the beast to the drugged food, Rin is a good skirmisher, yes?"
  3609. <RinTheThief> "... Not *that* good. The ranged fire, though, might be a start."
  3610. <@DungeonLady> "I believe I have just the thing for that, but I might need material costs covered.. And I'll need to catch a cat so I can capture its breath in crystal."
  3611. <Dysna> "We need small, annoying, and stinging, right? Who wants to see my impression of a bee?"
  3612. <Golasa> "I'll reimburse you, if the costs aren't too high."
  3613. <Golasa> What will I need for the grand ritual itself?
  3614. <@DungeonLady> "Twenty'll cover it, then."
  3615. <Golasa> "Done."
  3616. <Aliken> "Ideally, though, we just want to draw it there via noise and let it eat before it gets angry."
  3617. <Aliken> "We really need to scout the area first before we make specific plans.
  3618. <@DungeonLady> Honestly, the hard part will be containing the godly power. But fortunately the presence of Aliken's sword saves you some trouble there, otherwise you'd need to hunt down some really rare and strong stuff.
  3619. <Golasa> I have dirt from the lands of a foreign world, shavings from the skeleton of an alien beast, and a flower that blooms once every three thousand years.
  3620. <Golasa> Plus some purified silver chains, which might work as a reagent of restriction in some way.
  3621. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, you could seal way its shifting power for three thousand years, or send it to another world.
  3622. <Golasa> Hmm...
  3623. <Golasa> It's a shame to part with the Udumbara this soon, but components are meant to be used.
  3624. <Golasa> All right, the plan will be as large of a circle as we can find open flat space for, with a single link of the silver chain at each point of a seven-sided start within it, and the Udumbara at the center, then surrounded with whatever Marigold comes up with.
  3625. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, that sounds like a plan for the ritual.
  3626. <@DungeonLady> So, are you all prepared now?
  3627. <Golasa> Golasa ready.
  3628. <Aliken> I'm ready.
  3629. <RinTheThief> I'm ready
  3630. <Dysna> My body is ready.
  3631. <Golasa> My mind is ready but my body intends to remain out of harm's way for as long as possible.
  3632. <@DungeonLady> After four days' journey down the road over the grasslands to the east, you take aa northeastern fork and come to the sight of a rather lage army encampment around a castle designed more for elegance than defense value.
  3633. <Dysna> "Ironrains?"
  3634. <@DungeonLady> There're many different flags and different liveries.
  3635. <@DungeonLady> As well as a bunch of mercenaries.
  3636. <Aliken> Have we heard if Ironrain brought an army, or if he was just assaulting the castle personally?
  3637. <Aliken> Aliken turns to the mercs. "Do you recognise any of the banners?"
  3638. <@DungeonLady> From the story, it was just him and his scary godbeast. Including tales of him assaulting squads with just his bare hands.
  3639. <@DungeonLady> "Hmm, a couple of locals we've worked for before. The rest're probably local nobles, too--I recognize a few others."
  3640. <Golasa> "What's going on? I thought Ironrain was on his own, but you're talking about banners."
  3641. <@DungeonLady> From what you can see, the soldiers' tension seem directed toward the castle itself rather than outward.
  3642. <@DungeonLady> A horse rides, with a great wide red-bearded man on it. "Hallo! Come to try your luck?"
  3643. <@DungeonLady> "At offing the usurper?"
  3644. <Aliken> "That's right. Does he have men manning the walls, or could a small group get in without being detected?"
  3645. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, there're some servants I'm sure what're really terrified and all. But that illegiitimate bastard of a king-murderer don't get anyone helping him than a freak of god and nature."
  3646. <RinTheThief> "Hrm." Rin ponders. "Might make getting his pet on the prowl hard...
  3647. <Golasa> "This will make things more complicated. I don't suppose we can lure him out of the castle."
  3648. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, and a few discontents that didn't like the rightful king,but we cleared them away."
  3649. <Aliken> "This is perfect. We have mazy terrain with plenty of concealment, and we'll notice his beast long before it notices us."
  3650. <Aliken> "We can set up overwatch over the interior courtyard and lure the best there."
  3651. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, ho, that thing! It's a really hungry little monster." He chuckles as if to show he's joking at the 'little' part.
  3652. <Golasa> "Do you think we can get some time to ourselves in the courtyard without being attacked?"
  3653. <Aliken> "I don't suppose you have any carcasses you can spare. If we had some 'meat' to pile up in the courtyard..."
  3654. <Golasa> "If not, I do have another plan, but... I'd prefer not to use it."
  3655. <@DungeonLady> "Well, I don't know. I could try having one of my inside men keep him busy, but it might not hold him long if there's too much of a racket.. And of course it's hard to tell what the prowling godbeast'll do. He only barely even puts it on a leash."
  3656. <Golasa> "I guess it's a matter of weighing the risks, then."
  3657. <Golasa> "Option 1: Lure the beast out of the castle to a prepared site."
  3658. <Golasa> "Option 2: Prepare the battlefield inside the castle and hope we have enough time."
  3659. <RinTheThief> "Option 2: Go in, drug thebeast in the courtyard, then set the spell there."
  3660. <Golasa> "...That's not a bad one, actually, if you think the drugs would hold it."
  3661. <Golasa> "But there's also Option 3: Prepare the circle outside, then use a simpler circle to move the full circle inside once the beast is near."
  3662. <Golasa> "The reason I'm reluctant to do this is that it requires me to be at the center of the circle we're trying to lure a godbeast into."
  3663. <Aliken> "I think engaging inside the courtyard is ideal. What I'd do is have our marksmen and mages take elevated positions, have Rin serve as a lookout and scout, while I wait at ground level."
  3664. <Aliken> "If you need to abort preparing the circle in the courtyard, Golasa, Rin should be able to give you early warning."
  3665. <Dysna> (And then Rin is the spy)
  3666. <RinTheThief> "Sounds right to me."
  3667. <Golasa> "So a fast circle, then. Marigold, forget the hiding ritual. You'll be helping me draw the main circle, if you think you can manage something of that level."
  3668. <@DungeonLady> "Very well. I shall assist in that."
  3669. <RinTheThief> "Well. This is going to get very, very interesting. Very, very quickly."
  3670. <Golasa> "Hey, we didn't get into this business for the impressive retirement package."
  3671. <Aliken> So Aliken will be looking over the walls for an easy point of access, with the plan being for her to take position hidden at ground level, for us to dump a bunch of drugged meat in the courtyard, and for Dysna and the archers to take positions on walls or towers to provide covering fire while Rin scouts. Sound good to everybody?
  3672. <@DungeonLady> Rin, the red-bearded guy just came back with some of his soldiers dragging a cow carass.
  3673. <@DungeonLady> "This do?"
  3674. <RinTheThief> "Perfect."
  3675. <RinTheThief> Rin prepares the meat. "Problem's getting this into the courtyard."
  3676. <Aliken> "You people have a catapult?"
  3677. <Golasa> "Oh, this plan just keeps getting better."
  3678. <Dysna> (I'm laughing. So hard.)
  3679. <Aliken> (Wonder if Kaja's typing out something long.)
  3680. <Dysna> "Okay, so we catapult the poisoned cow carcass into the courtyard, and then hurry in and set up a spell circle around the drugged godbeast so that we can kill it, and then we have to deal with Iron Rain."
  3681. <Aliken> "I say we launch the carcass in AFTER we set up the circle. Best to be as stealthy as possible as long as possible. Take positions and signal from the wall."
  3682. <Golasa> "I don't suppose we've considered dragging the cow in ourselves. Aliken's strong."
  3683. <Aliken> "We can use the mule to help pull."
  3684. <RinTheThief> "Got it."
  3685. <RinTheThief> "Catapult will be easier than sneaking it in."
  3686. <Aliken> "Yeah. We ready to pull this off?"
  3687. <Dysna> (I'm going to assume that Kaja fell asleep due to her now being Away on AIM and her silence here)
  3688. <Golasa> She does seem to be gone.
  3689. <Aliken> Pity. I can wait around for a bit.
  3690. <Dysna> Well, if she turns up, send me a PM and I'll be back
  3691. <Aliken> Certainly.
  3692. * RinTheThief stays in channel of course
  3693. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Tue Apr 09 11:33:38 2013 -0700
  3694. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Apr 09 11:56:11 2013 -0700
  3695.  
  3696.  
  3697. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 15 15:41:31 2013 -0700
  3698. <DungeonLady> Well, no sign of Nine. We'll start without.
  3699. <ProfessorProf> Loading the bot
  3700. <DungeonLady> (Also, if he doesn't have a reasonable excuse, he's out. -.-)
  3701. <Aliken> OK, hello! Forgive my having been distracted.
  3702. <Golasa> is Inc actually here?
  3703. <Aliken> Inc joined 15 minutes ago, so unless they idled right quickly, should be here.
  3704. * Aliken was being an Overlord.
  3705. * Aliken was being a REMARKABLY NON-EVIL Overlord.
  3706. <RinTheThief> (Yes, I am here.)
  3707. <Golasa> check
  3708. <RinTheThief> (I have also sent a cue to Nine. :| )
  3709. <@DungeonLady> As you complete your journey to the royal palace, you see the camps around it, at rather a wider distance than you'd expect for siegers. Moreover, there doesn't seem to be very many people actually present.
  3710. <Aliken> I assume the outer wall or front gate got breached somehow by Ironrain?
  3711. <@DungeonLady> The royal palace's more of a luxurious affair, not really designed for defense.
  3712. <Aliken> Well, then. Getting into position will be easy.
  3713. <@DungeonLady> Wide and sprawling, elaborate decorations.
  3714. <@DungeonLady> Also lots of pointless towers.
  3715. <Aliken> We don't need a catapult. I'll use our mule and cart to haul meat into our assigned position, and task one of the mercs to drive the cart back.
  3716. <Golasa> Oh right, we have a mule.
  3717. <Golasa> Pointless towers could be made to have a point, though. I wonder if we could drop one on him.
  3718. <Aliken> The pointless towers will be good for sniper nests.
  3719. <Aliken> We got our marksmen, let's get them good vantage points.
  3720. <@DungeonLady> There's a mixed-blood sentinel staring warily at you. The orcish ancestry is obvious, but the delicate touch to his features suggest... elvish ancenstry, maybe?
  3721. <Aliken> A sentinel on the siege camp, yes?
  3722. <@DungeonLady> Yeah.
  3723. <RinTheThief> (AFK a minute, gotta pull pizza from oven so I have some food. x_x)
  3724. <Aliken> "We're here to deal with the Ironrain situation. We were promised a carcass by one of your lords to help with the plan. Do you know if it's being prepared?"
  3725. <@DungeonLady> "Bullshit," the sentry says. "There's no plan."
  3726. * Golasa sulks in the back of the group like a proper wizard.
  3727. <@DungeonLady> "But if you want to go die, feel free."
  3728. <Aliken> "I'll tell you what. How much would you care to wager on my death?"
  3729. <Aliken> Aliken grins under her helmet.
  3730. <@DungeonLady> "And who'd I claim the wager from?"
  3731. <NineThePuma> Why is my AIM not logged in?
  3732. <RinTheThief> ((I dunno, thus why I just PM'd you))
  3733. <Aliken> "I'll give you the money now, and come to collect if we succeed in the plan."
  3734. <Aliken> "And don't try and skip out with my money if we do succeed. I don't take kindly to being cheated."
  3735. <Golasa> "What a convenient wager. It's a win-win for you."
  3736. <@DungeonLady> "I won't say no to free money."
  3737. <Aliken> "So how much do you care to place on it?"
  3738. <RinTheThief> "I'm keeping my cash on me, personally."
  3739. <@DungeonLady> "Five."
  3740. <Aliken> Aliken digs out five coins, and hands them over. "I'll be back for that."
  3741. <Aliken> "Come on, let's get in position and get the ritual prepared."
  3742. <Aliken> I'll task one of the mercs to drive the cart back after we're done setting out the poisoned meat.
  3743. <@DungeonLady> "You want a carcass, right? You can just use yourselves. Or if you're thinking of drugging that monster... It works, but it isn't enough."
  3744. <@DungeonLady> "Ironrain'll just kill you with his bare hands."
  3745. <Golasa> "It's a valid concern."
  3746. <RinTheThief> "I've dealt with worse than him. The monster's what worries me," Rin declares with confidence.
  3747. <Aliken> "We've fought Crxites before. Those trolls."
  3748. <Golasa> "Most of our preparations have been for the beast. We don't even know what Ironrain is capable of, other than bare-hand killings."
  3749. <Aliken> "And this is part of why we hired marksmen."
  3750. <@DungeonLady> "That guy's a monster, too. Boasted about wrestling that freaky thing into submission, and I'd believe him."
  3751. <Aliken> "He's a champion of Crx, and he'll be strong and brutal, but we are a coordinated team that has worked together through perils and has top-grade equipment. Waarheid's blessing, that is, to challenge Crx."
  3752. <@DungeonLady> "Seen him take down squadrons with a tree."
  3753. * RinTheThief grins. "Can't grapple what's out of reach."
  3754. <Golasa> "We're also drunk on hope and ego. Figure that gives us an edge."
  3755. <Aliken> "Dysna? I suggest you focus on keeping Ironrain pinned down while we work on the beast."
  3756. <Dysna> "Of course. If he's not standing up, he's down, right?"
  3757. <Aliken> "Maybe you can take a position with our mercs."
  3758. <@DungeonLady> "Well, I'll just enjoy my free five coins. You can go on in. Talk to the cook if you want meat."
  3759. <Aliken> Aliken nods, and proceeds to seek out the cook.
  3760. <@DungeonLady> "You'll have to pay for it.
  3761. <Aliken> Ugh. How much do we have to shell out for the godbeast's lunch?
  3762. <@DungeonLady> And the cook gives you a price of ten for a dead cow.
  3763. <Aliken> Fine, I buy it.
  3764. <Golasa> At least being a murder-hobo pays nicely.
  3765. <@DungeonLady> The courtyard's an open and sprawling garden, with a tree here and there.
  3766. <Aliken> What's the merc leader's name?
  3767. <@DungeonLady> Boiste
  3768. <Aliken> Aliken talks as she unloads meat from the cart. "Rin, keep a lookout. I'll find a place to wait. Boiste, find a good overlook position with your men. Golasa, how long will it take your ritual to take effect once the beast is eating?"
  3769. <Golasa> Are we in the courtyard? If so, I'm gonna recruit Marigold and start setting up the circle at once.
  3770. <@DungeonLady> Not quite, but the palace's in a sort of rectangular U-shape.
  3771. <@DungeonLady> So it's easy to see before you.
  3772. * Dysna sets up to keep a look out too!
  3773. <Golasa> "That depends on a lot of factors. Circle quality, the godbeast's nature, the authenticity of the Udumbara."
  3774. <Golasa> "Anywhere from instantly to never."
  3775. <Aliken> "Will it taking effect be visibly apparent?"
  3776. <Golasa> "I've never done this before, you know."
  3777. <Golasa> "I'll tell you when something happens."
  3778. * RinTheThief nods, scoots off to start a lookout. She's quick to keep to shadows and cover, and get some actual track of the entire situation.
  3779. <Aliken> "Right. Well, in that event, you wait with me. Boiste, your signal to loose on the beast is me heading out to assault it." Once the meat's unloaded, I task some merc to drive the cart back, then find a doorway in the building surrounding the courtyard where I can hide and watch for the beast."
  3780. <@DungeonLady> Boiste nods, and begins dispatching his men to spots behind shrubbery and trees.
  3781. <@DungeonLady> Now that you look for it, there's a huge shape resting in the shadows of the grove at the back of the courtyard.
  3782. <@DungeonLady> Across the stream with what looks like a golden or at least gold-plated bridge.
  3783. <@DungeonLady> A stream that's easily tiny enough to step across without difficulty.
  3784. <Golasa> Uh oh.
  3785. <Golasa> Is the stream through the center of the courtyard?
  3786. <RinTheThief> "Stupid showpieces...", Rin mutters to herself, before checking the status of the food.
  3787. <@DungeonLady> Yeah.
  3788. <Golasa> "Why didn't anyone TELL me there was a stream through the courtyard?!"
  3789. <Golasa> "This changes everything!"
  3790. <@DungeonLady> Marigold frowns. "Yes, it does."
  3791. <Golasa> "A circle of this complexity won't work with running water under the base. It disrupts the entire flow of energy. We need a workaround."
  3792. <Golasa> "Any ideas, Marigold?"
  3793. <Golasa> Hopefully before Ironrain finds us.
  3794. <Dysna> "Lets block the stream off?"
  3795. <Golasa> "It could work, if you know how to block a stream on short notice."
  3796. <RinTheThief> "It's not a very large stream."
  3797. <@DungeonLady> "Easiest thing to do'd be to put it in a different spot. Harder'd be making the stream part of the circle."
  3798. <@DungeonLady> "Or you could block it off, yes."
  3799. <Golasa> "The stream isn't curved enough to make a proper circle element. We'd lose efficiency. Could do if we can't block the stream, but it's not ideal."
  3800. <Aliken> Are there enough rocks lying about to make a decent improvised dam?
  3801. <@DungeonLady> There're decorative rocks, yeah.
  3802. <Golasa> "I'll start work on the circle, then, if you think you can redirect the stream."
  3803. <Aliken> Right. I'll work to block off the stream as quickly as I can. Can't waste time.
  3804. * RinTheThief motions for the others to stay back, and starts moving from rock to rock, trying to stay quiet as she uses each to slowly block the stream...
  3805. <@DungeonLady> Marigold sets to work herself.
  3806. <@DungeonLady> Okay, roll +Dex
  3807. <Golasa> As does Golasa.
  3808. <Golasa> Marigold has the diagram, though, as she can see it.
  3809. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  3810. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  3811. <Golasa> Also, planting the Udumbara at the exact center.
  3812. <@DungeonLady> The shape of the beast stirs a little.
  3813. <Golasa> Work faster work faster work faster.
  3814. <Golasa> How's the circle coming along?
  3815. <@DungeonLady> With Marigold's help, it's about a fourth done.
  3816. <Golasa> Oh, cripes.
  3817. <Golasa> "I may need someone to stall for time soon."
  3818. <@DungeonLady> It's a big circle.
  3819. <RinTheThief> "Dynsa would be the best bet..."
  3820. <Dysna> "Why am I the best bet?"
  3821. <RinTheThief> "You can distract from a distance. A very long distance, potentially."
  3822. <@DungeonLady> The large bulk's stirring a little more. A wing covered with dizzyingly shifting stripes flaps.
  3823. <@DungeonLady> A reptilian wing.
  3824. <Golasa> Golasa would be developing a complex about dangerous reptile monsters if she wasn't one herself.
  3825. <Aliken> Aliken shifts in her hiding place, tense and primed.
  3826. <@DungeonLady> And the beast rises out fo the grove, shifting around the tree in a rather strange and unreal form. It goes from serpertine to a huge squat form, like a fat lizard. Its tongue flickers out.
  3827. <@DungeonLady> By this time, the circle's nearly half done.
  3828. <Golasa> Hopefully it goes for the bait!
  3829. <RinTheThief> Which Rin, of course, treated as soon as she had the chance.
  3830. <@DungeonLady> Yes, the drugged bait was already set.
  3831. <@DungeonLady> And the beast goes straight for it... and snaps it up to swallow it in a single gulp.
  3832. <@DungeonLady> Then its eyes set upon thsoe of you out in open sight.
  3833. <Golasa> "Stalling time! Stalling time!"
  3834. <Aliken> Aliken takes this as her cue. She charges from her place, straight at the beast with her sword filled with Sun's power.
  3835. <Aliken> Which side of it is presented to me? Front, back, one of the flanks?
  3836. <@DungeonLady> Where were you?
  3837. <Aliken> I was hiding in a good sheltered location near the bait.
  3838. * Dysna tilts her head, making a sarcastic quip in draconic about giant monsters before launching a single stinging bolt of pure pain, one of the runes tattooed on her flesh glowing faintly as it's called on!
  3839. <@DungeonLady> You're off to the side, then, Aliken.
  3840. <@DungeonLady> Roll +Str, Aliken. And roll for it, Dysna.
  3841. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  3842. <Aliken> In that event, I'm trying to maim its wing.
  3843. <Aliken> roll 2d6+2
  3844. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 2d6=6 ]{8}
  3845. <Aliken> roll 1d10+1d4+1
  3846. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3 Assuming my small size makes me underestimated!
  3847. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 Assuming my small size makes me underestimated! --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  3848. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=5 1d4=1 ]{7}
  3849. <RinTheThief> Rin's worried, because adrenaline *might* make the Oil of Tagit less effective - she's not sure
  3850. <RinTheThief> For now, she's staying back, trying to determine what to happen...
  3851. <Aliken> 7 damage, 2 armor-piercing.
  3852. <Dysna> If that's a success...
  3853. <Aliken> "BOISTE, NOW!"
  3854. * Golasa just ignores all the noise and keeps circle-forging.
  3855. <@DungeonLady> The wing dissolves back into the beast's body, but a cut is scored into its side... which flows across the cut.
  3856. <Dysna> !roll 1d4 damage and the next miss against the godbeast is actually a 7-9 result.
  3857. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d4 damage and the next miss against the godbeast is actually a 7-9 result. --> [ 1d4=4 ]{4}
  3858. <Aliken> "Gerechtsheid, I hope this sword works..!"
  3859. <@DungeonLady> And the beast quicly lashes out at Aliken with ones of its feet, but suddenly bellows in angered pain.
  3860. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, you do notice that the healing doesn't seem to be complete--it's more like the flesh's stretched across the wound than it's full out mended.
  3861. <Aliken> Well, if it got interrupted while striking back at me, let's take its foot off. That should slow it down.
  3862. <@DungeonLady> Str again!
  3863. <@DungeonLady> And its motions do seem to be getting more sluggish.
  3864. <Aliken> roll 2d6+2
  3865. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 2d6=12 ]{14}
  3866. <Aliken> Did I say go for the foot? If I have that good an opening, I'll plunge the sword right in its eye and clean out its brainpan, even if I risk injury in the process.
  3867. <Aliken> roll 1d10+1d4+1d6+1
  3868. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=1 1d4=2 1d6=3 ]{7}
  3869. <@DungeonLady> A man with rippling muscles, wearing only loose pants, steps out into the courtyard.. He's got a wavy head of blonde hair and a rough, scarred face. "Oh, another attack?"
  3870. <Aliken> Is the beast still struggling?
  3871. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, the circle's about three-fourth done.
  3872. <Aliken> (I exposed myself to attack, so I may take damage here.)
  3873. <Golasa> Oh, shit.
  3874. <Golasa> Just... Just hope that Aliken and Dynast are more threatening-looking.
  3875. * Dysna retargets the person she assumes is ironrain and calls upon a different rune! Another bolt of energy lashes from her wand, summoning the power of Slam!
  3876. <@DungeonLady> Also, Aliken, rippling claws rip into you, but your sword crashes through its head, leaving very little of it. Another one begins sprouting, but it's screaming with anger and hurt.
  3877. <Aliken> How much damage do I take? (I have 4 armor.)
  3878. <@DungeonLady> Take 1d10 damage.
  3879. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, roll.
  3880. <Aliken> roll 1d10
  3881. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=1 ]{1}
  3882. <@DungeonLady> Rin, surely you must have some opportunity for action.
  3883. <Golasa> Oh god keep Ironrain off me
  3884. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2 (small size underestimation combined with the penalty evens out, right?)
  3885. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 (small size underestimation combined with the penalty evens out, right?) --> [ 2d6=9 ]{11}
  3886. <RinTheThief> "Of course it'd regenerate," Rin muttered, before starting to quietly move towards Ironrain, planning to get a drop attack on him.
  3887. <RinTheThief> (I was, in fact, waiting for an appopriate opportunity. and nursing a headache. x.x)
  3888. <Dysna> If it hits, Ironrain is knocked off his feet and takes 1d4 damage.
  3889. <Aliken> Aliken grunts as her armor absorbs the blow. "I have come to stop your brutality!"
  3890. <@DungeonLady> He's sent onto his back with a grunt. Quickly, he springs back onto his feet, but that gave Rin more than enough opportunity
  3891. <RinTheThief> Which she takes to stab at him from behind!
  3892. <Aliken> Rin is Backstabbing, yes?
  3893. <RinTheThief> ((Correct))
  3894. <@DungeonLady> Deal damage or roll for backstab.
  3895. * RinTheThief rolls for Backstab!
  3896. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+3 Backstab!
  3897. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  3898. <Golasa> We're nuts with these rolls.
  3899. <RinTheThief> (On a 10+, choose two. Rin deals her damage +1d8, and scoots out of melee before Ironrain can react!)
  3900. <RinTheThief> roll 2d8 Damage
  3901. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d8=12 ]{12}
  3902. <Aliken> What are our shooters doing?
  3903. <@DungeonLady> Bolts petter the beast, angering it even more.
  3904. <Golasa> (I told you they were a waste of funding!)
  3905. <Aliken> I push in to dismember it, shouting, "Boiste, hit Ironrain! I have this thing handled for now!"
  3906. <@DungeonLady> Ironrain shifts as Rin stabs him, preventing a direct stab in the heart. But it feels like she got him in something important.
  3907. <@DungeonLady> And then the bolts rain upon him, one narrowly missing Rin. He moves fast, grabbing one of the bolts and leaping behind a tree. for shelter from the others. Still, two're sticking out of his shoulder and thigh.
  3908. * RinTheThief grins, quickly moving back and judging his reaction. If he doesn't go for her, she's going to slip out of his sight again to prepare to strike a second time!
  3909. * Golasa is nervous about how well this is going.
  3910. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll Str.
  3911. <Aliken> roll 2d6+2
  3912. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you're nearly done.
  3913. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 2d6=3 ]{5}
  3914. <Dysna> (That counts as a 7-9 result)
  3915. <Dysna> (Because of my earlier Pain attack!)
  3916. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, it did.)
  3917. * Dysna maneuvers around trying to catch sight on Ironrain again.
  3918. <@DungeonLady> As Aliken strikes, she realizes that the angle isn't right, but the beast still seems a little dizzied.
  3919. <Aliken> roll 1d10+1d4+1
  3920. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=6 1d4=1 ]{8}
  3921. <Aliken> roll 1d10
  3922. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=9 ]{9}
  3923. <Aliken> (Looks like it hit me hard this time.)
  3924. <Aliken> (I do 8, and take 9. 5 after my armor.)
  3925. <@DungeonLady> And then the tree suddenly lifts up out of the ground, and Ironrain sweeps in a semi-circle before him.
  3926. <@DungeonLady> Rin, it's crashing right toward your hiding place.
  3927. <RinTheThief> Rin responds in the most logical way possible - jumping into the tree's branches to break Ironrain's momentum, then scrambling 'down' the tree to strike him head-on while his hands are on the tree!
  3928. <@DungeonLady> Wait, wait, you're trying to stop the tree's momentum by jumping into it?
  3929. <Dysna> (How is that the most logical way?!)
  3930. <RinTheThief> Into the branches - loose and leafy, they'd break and slow Rin's motion to prevent it from damaging her.
  3931. <Golasa> (Because Rin is a lunatic is how)
  3932. <@DungeonLady> (Right, so you're leaping into the soft parts.)
  3933. <RinTheThief> (Yes)
  3934. <@DungeonLady> (That wouldn't stop it, but you can still more or less catch a ride.)
  3935. <@DungeonLady> (That work?)
  3936. <RinTheThief> (And then she scrambles down the tree like the crazy thief we know her to be.)
  3937. <RinTheThief> (Yup. :3)
  3938. <@DungeonLady> (Roll +Dex, okay. :) )
  3939. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+3 Tree Climbing Crazy
  3940. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  3941. <Golasa> So unstoppable tonight
  3942. <RinTheThief> (This is why I <3 a +3 modifier btw. I will literally only flat-out fail 1/6th of the time. :D)
  3943. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, this has been a night of pretty great rolls for you guys.)
  3944. <Golasa> (I can get up to +5 in certain very specific circumstances)
  3945. <Aliken> Gods, I hope Golasa's almost done. This beast is obnoxious.
  3946. * Dysna shoots Ironrain with Fall On Your Ass energy again!
  3947. <@DungeonLady> Rin leaps into the tree and starts running down it. Dysna, he's shielding the bulk of his body with the tree, but that doesn't matter so much when you're just trying to knock him down.
  3948. <Dysna> (It does deal tiny bits of damage as well, but yeah)
  3949. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, there's a desperate grab with teeth at you.
  3950. <Aliken> I try and catch the strike on my shield and carve up the beast in punishment for the attempt.
  3951. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll, Dysna. And Aliken, roll +Str.
  3952. <Aliken> roll 2d6+2
  3953. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 2d6=6 ]{8}
  3954. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3
  3955. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  3956. <Aliken> roll 1d10+1d4+1
  3957. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=9 1d4=2 ]{12}
  3958. <Aliken> roll 1d10
  3959. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=9 ]{9}
  3960. <Dysna> !roll 1d4 also taking a penalty to my next shot
  3961. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d4 also taking a penalty to my next shot --> [ 1d4=2 ]{2}
  3962. <@DungeonLady> Pain shoots into your arm as your shield crumbles. But looks like the shield took the worst of it.
  3963. <Aliken> Did I manage to slice it up in the process?
  3964. <@DungeonLady> The strike was fast, and it took a bulk of your focus to ward it off.
  3965. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you're one word away from finishing.
  3966. <Aliken> The ritual doubtless completes before I can strike back.
  3967. <Aliken> Let's hope it's too wounded to survive having its shifting powers suppressed.
  3968. <@DungeonLady> The tree Ironrain's holding drops to the ground. "Cowards!" He bellows. "You stand in the way of an age where incompetents rule no longer!"
  3969. <Golasa> Golasa inscribes the final word, then slashes her knife across her left palm. "OUT OF THE CIRCLE!"
  3970. <RinTheThief> Rin scoots in, and aims her swing... "Oh? Then you'd best get out of the way," she declares - slicing directly at his eyes before leaping off the tree and out of the circle!
  3971. <Aliken> Aliken turns around and RUNS.
  3972. <@DungeonLady> +Dex for Hack'n'Slash, Rin.
  3973. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+3 Don't fail me now...
  3974. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  3975. <Golasa> As soon as her teammates are clear, she slams her bloody palm onto the border to complete the spell.
  3976. <RinTheThief> (... Whew.)
  3977. * Dysna waits to see if it's over.
  3978. <@DungeonLady> The beast follows after Aliken, but it's too slow. And... its body heaves in a sudden violent flux before sliding to a stop, frozen mid-shift in a strangely deformed half-state between lizard and winged serpent.
  3979. * Golasa staggers with the volume of power the spell takes out of her.
  3980. <@DungeonLady> ...And, gods, it doesn't seem to want to die. Even with its wounds and the bolts pincushioning its body, it keeps going. Though it does stagger to the side a little, like it was drunken.
  3981. <Golasa> "So this is the power of the godbeasts..."
  3982. <Aliken> Well, in that case. Aliken turns around, grips her sword firmly, and moves to lop off its head, confident it can no longer regrow a head.
  3983. <@DungeonLady> Rin, your blade sinks into Ironrain's chest. He grabs for it, but you've pulled your rapier back before he can manage to seize it.
  3984. <@DungeonLady> And suddenly his leg lashes out in a powerful kick.
  3985. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll.
  3986. <Aliken> roll 2d6+2
  3987. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 2d6=7 ]{9}
  3988. <Aliken> roll 1d10+1d4+1
  3989. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=5 1d4=4 ]{10}
  3990. <Aliken> roll 1d10
  3991. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=3 ]{3}
  3992. <Aliken> Thankfully, my plate can absorb that.
  3993. <RinTheThief> Rin responds with her planned maneuver of jumping back and getting out of that circle!
  3994. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you already even outside the circle. But do roll +Dex to jump out of the way of said kick.
  3995. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+3
  3996. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=2 ]{5}
  3997. <RinTheThief> (Crap)
  3998. <@DungeonLady> You feel a crack in your chest as you're sent flying back.
  3999. <Golasa> "Rin!"
  4000. <@DungeonLady> You land hard, and it feels like at least one of your ribs were broken.
  4001. <Dysna> "Rin!" Dysna shouts as she fires another set of spell bolts at IRonrain: these ones aimed at lighting the man's clothes on fire!
  4002. <@DungeonLady> Also, take 1d10+2.
  4003. * RinTheThief grunts loudly in pain as she crashes against the ground.
  4004. <@DungeonLady> Minus armor.
  4005. <RinTheThief> roll 1d10+2
  4006. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 1d10=2 ]{4}
  4007. <RinTheThief> (12 HP remain)
  4008. <@DungeonLady> Still, it hurts far worse than it really is.
  4009. * Golasa gathers her focus to find out if she can keep going after that ritual. She raises her still-bleeding left hand and conjures an ethereal snake around it, before sending it through the air to sink its icy fangs into Ironrain.
  4010. <Aliken> Is the beast still alive?
  4011. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, you made a gashing cut, which wasn't quite enough yet.
  4012. <Golasa> (Black Magic. Keywords: Near, Elemental (Ice))
  4013. <@DungeonLady> And Ironrain is stopped from advancing upon Rin by another rain of bolts. He dives back toward the palace.
  4014. <@DungeonLady> Roll, Golasa.
  4015. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  4016. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 INT
  4017. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 INT --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  4018. <Golasa> !roll 1d8
  4019. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d8 --> [ 1d8=7 ]{7}
  4020. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  4021. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  4022. * RinTheThief winces as she gets back of, keeping an eye on Ironrain and the dragon for a few seconds as she figures out her next move.
  4023. <@DungeonLady> (Sorry, Dysna, I missed what you had said before. Go shead with your results.)
  4024. <Dysna> Iron rain is now on fire
  4025. <Dysna> His clothes, anyway
  4026. <Golasa> and fire AND frozen!
  4027. <Golasa> Hopeflly they don't cancel out.
  4028. <@DungeonLady> Ice and fire assult Ironrain at the same time, as his hair brusts into fire, and cold creeps into him.
  4029. <@DungeonLady> "Damned... cowardly... tactics..." He has tremblous trouble breathing now.
  4030. <Aliken> "The Elder Gods have had their day, but we are building a new world!" Aliken hacks into the beast. "One with law, and learning, and wealth!"
  4031. <Golasa> "Nobody likes a sore loser."
  4032. <@DungeonLady> "A hero... like me... won't go down... so easily."
  4033. <RinTheThief> "Oh? Too weak to handle a team of 'incompetents'?", Rin says mockingly, even as she winces in pain from the broken rib.
  4034. * RinTheThief slowly walks in towards Ironrain, steadying her walk and keeping her blade in hand.
  4035. <@DungeonLady> He grips himself a little more. "Go shead. Finish me off."
  4036. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, the beast seems to be skirting you warily.
  4037. <Aliken> I'm pushing forward. We need to finish this beast before it can escape and cause havoc.
  4038. <@DungeonLady> Right, +Str for likely the lasst time.
  4039. <RinTheThief> Rin keeps her attention towards Ironrain, but does not move to finish him, instead just keeping his attention while the others focus on the Beast for the momen.t
  4040. <Aliken> roll 2d6+2
  4041. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 2d6=2 ]{4}
  4042. <Aliken> roll 1d10
  4043. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> [ 1d10=8 ]{8}
  4044. <Aliken> "ARGH!" Aliken is badly bloodied, here.
  4045. <Aliken> Clearly, she gave it an opening.
  4046. <@DungeonLady> The beast seemed upon its last legs, but suddenly it catches Aliken up in its jaws and begins shaking her.
  4047. <Aliken> "Somebody! Augh!"
  4048. <@DungeonLady> Someone might want to help her.
  4049. * Dysna shoots the Beast with Disarm to try and get it to drop Aliken!
  4050. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  4051. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  4052. <Dysna> !roll 1d4 damage on top of that
  4053. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d4 damage on top of that --> [ 1d4=2 ]{2}
  4054. <@DungeonLady> Suddenly the jaw's grip upon Aliken becomes slippery, and she drops out of it.
  4055. <@DungeonLady> More bolts slam into the beast.
  4056. <Dysna> "We don't want a martyr. Death might end you, but doubtlessly there are those who support you and would villainize us for killing you outright. No, what remains of the courts will likely decide your fate." She says to Ironrain even though her focus is on the beast, rushing forward to interpose herself between the beast and Aliken.
  4057. <@DungeonLady> But the beast's very visibly on its last legs. It's limping away toward the back of the courtyard.
  4058. <@DungeonLady> And then it collapses.
  4059. <@DungeonLady> "Hmph," Ironrain says. "Do what you will with me."
  4060. * RinTheThief steps in as Ironrain's attention is focused on Dysna... Then raises her blade, striking with the pommel at the back of Ironrain's neck with enough force to knock him out cold.
  4061. <Aliken> Aliken struggles to stand, then stumbles towards it and lops off its head. Then she sinks to her knees. "Waarheid, Gerechtsheid, you have lent me a power for a purpose, and that purpose is fulfilled. I pray you take it back, and look with favor on this service. Argh, I hurt so bloody much..."
  4062. <Golasa> me is tired, but completely unharmed aside from one self-inflicted cut!
  4063. * Golasa is tired, but completely unharmed aside from one self-inflicted cut!
  4064. <Aliken> Aliken then collects the head to carry it out. "Well, ladies, gentlemen, we shall be famous."
  4065. <Aliken> She coughs.
  4066. * Aliken is at 8/23 HP.
  4067. <Dysna> "Fame and fortune nothing. I need to write home about this."
  4068. <Golasa> "I wasn't planning to get famous when I got into this business..."
  4069. <Golasa> At this rate, mom's gonna find her eventually.
  4070. <Aliken> "Urgh, Boiste, I... am not feeling up to dragging out the great villain. You think your men can pull him out? We should turn him over, if the plan is to have him executed by the rulers.
  4071. <@DungeonLady> Marigold's been quietly sitting off to the side, similarly exhausted.
  4072. <Golasa> As promised, Marigold gets another 50 coins.
  4073. <Aliken> "It's been good doing business with you. You and your men did good work."
  4074. <Aliken> And Aliken's going to pull off her helmet, wipe off and sheath her sword, and stagger out to the siege camp holding the head of the godbeast.
  4075. * RinTheThief meanwhile drags Ironrain himself to be taken in to justice.
  4076. * Dysna is totally not expecting Boiste to doublecross us and kill us now that we're weak from slaying the godbeast to take credit for this.
  4077. * Golasa bandages up her hand and checks to see if the Udumbara is still usable or if that spell consumed it.
  4078. <@DungeonLady> So, the unconscious Ironrain is hauled in to the siege camp. Boiste's businesslike about the whole thing.
  4079. <Aliken> Also, I find that sentry.
  4080. <Aliken> "You owe me ten coins."
  4081. <@DungeonLady> The flower seems as alive as the day it was plucked, and even has taken root anew. But its bloom has closed.
  4082. <Golasa> Hmm.
  4083. <Golasa> I think I'll leave it there.
  4084. <@DungeonLady> He just stares at you. Then "Goddamn, that as a week's pay." He does dig in for the coins, though.
  4085. * Dysna is hard at work drafting a recount for submission back to her master.
  4086. <Aliken> "Thank you. At least you know that Ironrain will trouble you no longer." And I think it's time we find the leaders of this siege camp and see if they offer a reward for disposing of Ironrain and his pet.
  4087. <@DungeonLady> As it turns out, there're two nobles still in resilence at the siege camp. "You will come with me for a celebratory feast," the first, a woman with a silver bejeweled comb in her hair says. "No, I'll treat you as my honored guests," a porty barrel-shaped man with lots of black hair including a heavy beard says.
  4088. <Golasa> "So there IS a bright side to the selfless heroism business."
  4089. <@DungeonLady> The two nobles seem to be staring daggers at each other.
  4090. * RinTheThief looks at both, pondering her response... Nobles were never a thing she had to deal with as a thief much...
  4091. * Dysna completes her drafts of the recounting, and uses her special Instant Transmission Parchment to send it back to her Master with a request that the Master come examine the carcass and meet those who slew the beast.
  4092. <Aliken> "Would it be impossible for us to visit you both in sequence? I would not wish to slight either of you who rose to the duty of protecting the land against Ironrain."
  4093. <@DungeonLady> "Very well. Come visit me afterards." The lady turns and sweeps off.
  4094. * Dysna doesn't mention to the party that she invited a Dragon.
  4095. <Aliken> "Wait! Who are you?"
  4096. <Aliken> It helps for finding her to visit if we know who she is. XD
  4097. <@DungeonLady> "I am the Grand Duchess of the northern Auslands."
  4098. <Aliken> "Thank you, your Grace."
  4099. <@DungeonLady> "And that little toad there would be Grand Duch of the east."
  4100. <@DungeonLady> "I can introduce myself," the Duke says.
  4101. <@DungeonLady> Suddenly a huge shadow falls across you all.
  4102. <RinTheThief> (Well, crap.)
  4103. <@DungeonLady> And there's a dragon circling above.
  4104. <Aliken> "Why now?" grumbles Aliken.
  4105. <Aliken> "Well, since we're now likely to get killed since we're hardly in any shape to tackle a dragon AFTER that battle, I'd like to say I enjoyed working with you all."
  4106. <Golasa> "Not going to try to reason with it?"
  4107. * Dysna seems to be shaking in estatic glee, shouting something in Draconic before bolting toward the edge of the camp!
  4108. <Aliken> "Actually, maybe we're safe here after all. I made a hasty assumption that this was an attack." She eyes Dysna. "Her reaction suggests it might not be. Come on, let's see what she's gotten us into."
  4109. <@DungeonLady> As the soldiers below panic, a voice booms from the shape above, "I have come only for the cadaver of the beast."
  4110. <RinTheThief> "... Huh."
  4111. <Aliken> Aliken shouts out, "It's still in the palace... except for the head."
  4112. <@DungeonLady> And the vast creature lands. "I will want the head as well."
  4113. <@DungeonLady> "This Ironrain is also of some interest to me."
  4114. <Aliken> Aliken heads towards it, still bloodied and battered, carrying the head. "I don't see that the head is of any use to me anymore."
  4115. <@DungeonLady> The dragon speaks authoriatively, as if it does not expect to be defied.
  4116. <Golasa> "Give it the head, Aliken."
  4117. <@DungeonLady> "My faithful servant," It says to Dysna, "You will be rewarded well."
  4118. <Aliken> Aliken tosses the head at its feet.
  4119. * Dysna has, after bowing and reciting a long draconic greeting, basically thrown herself at the dragon to hug it around the leg. Chattering for a few moments in the same tongue before disengaging herself, coughing into her hand. "Friends, I give you my Master. Master, Aliken fought the beast in melee, and slew it. Golasa worked a ritual, the details to which I will obtain once we are
  4120. * Dysna rested, that sealed the beast's power and vastly weakened Ironrain himself. Rin inflicted injuries upon Ironrain and engaged him in hand to hand combat."
  4121. * Dysna indicates each of her party mates in turn.
  4122. * Golasa lowers her head slightly and says nothing.
  4123. * RinTheThief kneels, obviously more scared of the dragon than Ironrain, remaining respectfully quiet.
  4124. <@DungeonLady> The dragon's gaze lingers upon Golasa briefly before it moves on to the others.
  4125. <Aliken> Aliken stays standing, just regarding the dragon tiredly, helmet off, sword stowed, and blood still smeared over her.
  4126. * Golasa avoids eye contact. Or, would be, if she wasn't blindfolded.
  4127. <@DungeonLady> "I will claim those things of interest, then." Unwinding a bag tied to its leg, it scoops the head into said bag.
  4128. <Aliken> "What do you intend to do with Ironrain?"
  4129. <@DungeonLady> "Hey, w-wait a moment. We still have to h-hold Ironrain accountable," the Duke says.
  4130. <RinTheThief> Rin facepalms.
  4131. <RinTheThief> "I suspect he will be. Thoroughly."
  4132. <@DungeonLady> "Nothing that he shall survive," the dragon says.
  4133. <@DungeonLady> "I have no interest in sustaining his life."
  4134. <@DungeonLady> The duke begins to pale underneath the dragon's unblinking gaze.
  4135. * Dysna looks to the duke. "My master is a researcher, with no love of the Elder Gods. I have no doubt that he might be using Ironrain to develop a means to counter any future champions of the god he served."
  4136. <Aliken> "In that event, I have no problem with him claiming Ironrain. I did not want to have to fight him again, is all."
  4137. <@DungeonLady> "I must congratulate you for your bravery in standing up to a dragon." There's a definite sarcastic edge in the Duchess's voice. She turns to the dragon. "I would've executed him on the spot at any rate. So I shall just reelease a living corpse into your hands."
  4138. * RinTheThief just watches for reactions...
  4139. <Dysna> "Master, the beast's carcass lies thataway." She indicates a direction. "May I assist you in its collection?"
  4140. <@DungeonLady> "Hey, you don't have the authority..." the Duke sputters.
  4141. <@DungeonLady> "I have as much as anyone with the royal family deceased," the Duchess says airly.
  4142. <Golasa> "Until it leaves, the dragon has the authority."
  4143. <@DungeonLady> The dragon seems to be ignoring the nobles' argument. "Thank you, my servant, but I can handle it." With that he takes off again.
  4144. <Golasa> "Whew."
  4145. * Dysna turns to the two arguing nobles. "With all due respect you yammering softskins, your behavior is exactly the behavior that Ironrain sought to eliminate through force. A petty dispute over what to do with a criminal is far beneath you is it not?"
  4146. <Dysna> "You argue like hatchlings over whose turn it is to sweep the kitchens."
  4147. <@DungeonLady> "Hey, you..." the Duke says indiginantly. But the Duchess just smiles slyly. "You may very well have a point. Nevertheless, remember that the dragon's authority remains as long as it remains here."
  4148. <@DungeonLady> "I do indeed have greater concerner than the fate of a single criminal, even one who's committed regicide."
  4149. * RinTheThief watches the Dragon move towards the palace. "I think the point is moot, regardless. There will be a lot of reconstruction coming soon, from the damages he wrecked... And followers of his beliefs to stop. 'Competence' as he defined it is hardly a fit way to determine rule."
  4150. <Aliken> Aliken makes a quick calculation in her mind and approaches the Duchess. "I would be pleased to accept your hospitality when you may offer it."
  4151. <@DungeonLady> "Nevertheless, it is true that many in a position of rule are... not competent to hold it."
  4152. <RinTheThief> "Perhaps. But strength is not authority, nor is authority strength, in and of themselves. Those who would claim otherwise... I shudder to think what world they would create."
  4153. <@DungeonLady> The Duke kind of glares at the Ducheess as if he had directed those words at her. But then his expression brightens. "Anyway! I'll send the word to strike camp. I've a seasonal home not too far from here. Hey you! Bring a cart for our wounded saviors here," he calls out to some of the men.
  4154. <@DungeonLady> (Er, as if she had directed those words at him.)
  4155. <@DungeonLady> (Brainfart.)
  4156. * Golasa isn't gonna get involved in the politics here.
  4157. <Aliken> Well, now is the time to enjoy the hospitality of the great and powerful. Whee!
  4158. * RinTheThief is with Golasa there
  4159. <@DungeonLady> The feast the Duke offers you is heaping with hearty, juicy meat.
  4160. <Golasa> Golasa's favorite!
  4161. <Aliken> Aliken digs in happily. The rewards for her hard work!
  4162. <@DungeonLady> And after that, the Duchess's refast seems to consist largely of imported foods. There's actually some dwarven foods, as well as kobolld foods.
  4163. <@DungeonLady> And selections from other lands.
  4164. <Golasa> Golasa sticks to the meat dishes here, too. She doesn't have a refined enough palate to really appreciate the exotic edge of the meal.
  4165. <Aliken> Aliken goes out of her way to try the Duchess at conversation. She suspects the Duchess may have a keen wit, and she's interested to see if this is true. She's also interested to draw out the Duchess' take on the local politics.
  4166. <RinTheThief> Rin's eating style is more polite, mixing a variety of items and showing a surprising propensity for mixing tastes. Then again, girl works with poisons, you gotta figure she knows how to handle some of the weirder foods...
  4167. <@DungeonLady> The Duchess's somewhat discreet, but it does become apparent that she has her own ambitions, and that her general belief is that the other nobles will move on their own ambitions as well.
  4168. <@DungeonLady> And she's indeed got plenty of witty repartee.
  4169. <Aliken> Aliken attempts to keep up, with what reserves of charm she has.
  4170. * Golasa stays out of the Important People Conversation unless dragged into it.
  4171. * RinTheThief does the same, mostly. She's not noble-raised, at all.
  4172. <@DungeonLady> There''re a few suggestiosn made about how she could use strong people. Indeed, the Duke made similar suggestions himself.
  4173. <Aliken> "I regret that my religious convictions do not permit me to swear fealty to nobility, your Grace."
  4174. <RinTheThief> "I am similarly bound to but one master."
  4175. <@DungeonLady> Expressions of regret are made, but the fesvities continue on.
  4176. <@DungeonLady> At the end, your stomaches're all mcuh fuller, and your coffers're fuller by 500 coins.
  4177. <Aliken> Each, or total?
  4178. <@DungeonLady> Each.
  4179. <Aliken> For level up, I pick up Charming and Open (obviously I've had a chance to practise my diplomacy in the courts) and get myself to 18 STR.
  4180. <RinTheThief> And to think, if my notes are right, we *still* haven't sold the stuff from those adventurers in the previous dungeon.
  4181. * Dysna hums, bright and cheerful throughout, not really paying much attention to anyone. She'll look into level up in the near future
  4182. <Aliken> Nope. I've been hanging onto the axe and arrows for the Crossroads Dungeon.
  4183. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, you all get a level up as well.
  4184. <Golasa> +WIS
  4185. <Aliken> Tell me, who's surprised AT ALL that Aliken got Charming and Open?
  4186. <RinTheThief> Not I.
  4187. <RinTheThief> +CHA, bringing that to 17.
  4188. <Golasa> Lesse what moves I have access to
  4189. <RinTheThief> Evasion: Defy Dangers that end in 12+ let me transcend the danger. GM offers a better outcome, true beauty, or moment of grace.
  4190. <Aliken> When I get to return to the Spire, I'm going to have to visit the shrine to Waarheid and Gerechtsheid and leave an offering.
  4191. <Golasa> Oh! Enchanter.
  4192. <Golasa> I can make magic items now :D
  4193. <@DungeonLady> Wheee!
  4194. <@DungeonLady> This could've actually been a far tougher combat than it was.
  4195. <Golasa> We destroyed it.
  4196. <@DungeonLady> But you guys prepared really well.
  4197. <@DungeonLady> And I do mean really well.
  4198. <Aliken> Dungeon Lady, I'm marking off 100 coins as a donation to the shrine.
  4199. <@DungeonLady> Ok!
  4200. <Aliken> Seriously, that priestess deserves the donation.
  4201. <Golasa> I'm going to offer to keep Marigold on for 50 coins per dungeon
  4202. <Golasa> paid in advance of each one
  4203. * RinTheThief holds onto her funds for now.
  4204. <Golasa> Next level we get into Advanced Moves :]
  4205. <Aliken> Oh yeah. And I'm buying a new shield. XD
  4206. <Aliken> Actually, I think we get advanced moves this level?
  4207. <Aliken> We started at level 1.
  4208. <Golasa> Are... Are we not level 5 now?
  4209. <Golasa> Start, level 1
  4210. <Golasa> Cryx dungeon, level 2
  4211. <RinTheThief> We're level 6. Advanced moves are A Thing. Though uh I just realized I took an Advanced Move at 5...
  4212. <Golasa> where did I miss a level
  4213. <Golasa> am I short a move???
  4214. <Aliken> +1 from Dungeon of Strength. +1 from Dungeon of Words. +1 from Dungeon of the Forsaken. +1 from Beautiful Dungeon. +1 from Ironrain.
  4215. <Golasa> What should my stats sum up to
  4216. * RinTheThief takes Brewer.
  4217. <Aliken> 78, I believe.
  4218. <Golasa> so OK, I can take one more move
  4219. <Golasa> my stats are apparently right though
  4220. * Dysna scribbles notes down and then darts off.
  4221. <@DungeonLady> Later
  4222. <Golasa> I think I'll go with Beyond Limitations
  4223. <NineThePuma> Great session, sorry for my distraction, see most of you next week!
  4224. <Aliken> Night, Nine!
  4225. <Golasa> and let Golasa cast Fire and Light magic
  4226. <Golasa> ...no wait I AM right on the number of moves I have
  4227. <Golasa> next level, then
  4228. <Golasa> so I had everything right by thte level number
  4229. <Aliken> Heh, yeah, we did sort of try and dredge up any advantage we could, huh?
  4230. * RinTheThief feels bad for taking an Advanced Maneuver a level early .-.
  4231. <RinTheThief> Admittedly the SRD doesn't do a good job marking when advanced maneuvers start for a class but still
  4232. <Aliken> I expect we'll be something of celebrities in Spire when we return. With the news that the amazons defeated Ironrain and his pet.
  4233. <Golasa> And then things wil get complicated
  4234. <Aliken> But hey. I'm glad our preparations made that so the fight went as smoothly as it could.
  4235. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, they really did make a huge difference.
  4236. <Golasa> Heart skipped a beat at the stream but I guess we managed
  4237. <Aliken> Well, with no prep, that SHOULD have been a suicide mission, so yeah. :D
  4238. <@DungeonLady> For example, Ironrain would've done considerably more face-wrecking if you guys hadn't had so many people (including Dysna and the crossbowmen) helping pin him down.
  4239. <@DungeonLady> And you did a *lot* to neuter the godbeast.
  4240. <RinTheThief> I must admit, I figured out Rin's actions during that fight a LOT easier than previous scenarios
  4241. <@DungeonLady> I mean, it still took a fuckton of a beating, but yeah.
  4242. <RinTheThief> I think part of that was me channeling Metal Gear Rising a little though <_<
  4243. <Aliken> Drug it, cast the ritual, and use Sun's sword on it? Heh, yeah.
  4244. <@DungeonLady> You guy weren't exactly the first to try drugging it, but the others didn't have all of the other edges you guys did.
  4245. <Aliken> The sword of Sun was pretty close to a unique edge, which was part of why I figured we were the ones with the best chance to pull things off.
  4246. <Golasa> We're getting pretty unreasonable
  4247. <@DungeonLady> Heh, yeah?
  4248. <Golasa> Well we did just waltz in and wreck a legendary dungeon capturer and his divine deathmonster
  4249. <Golasa> Golasa's probably higher on the supernatural food chain than she thinks she is at this point
  4250. <Aliken> Well, wrecking them should make it so they DON'T screw over the whole area.
  4251. <@DungeonLady> By this point, you guys *are* legendary dungeon clearers.
  4252. <Golasa> Do we have a fanclub
  4253. <@DungeonLady> Most don't even manage two, let alone five.
  4254. <@DungeonLady> ~scribbles that down in my notes~
  4255. <Aliken> Golasa, there are hordes of squeeing schoolgirls who want to be Just Like You.
  4256. <Golasa> Well they CAN'T
  4257. <Golasa> Because there can only be one
  4258. <@DungeonLady> And, sadly, the Auslands still have rough times ahead (you've already seen the hints), but that's the sort of thing that'll sort itself out eventually. Politics, you know?
  4259. <@DungeonLady> Point is, though, you guys stopped things from getting a lot worse.
  4260. <Aliken> Yeah.
  4261. <Aliken> That was amusing, though. "What do you want with Ironrain? Oh, you'll kill him? It's cool, then."
  4262. <Golasa> For once, politics Golasa can get behind.
  4263. <@DungeonLady> Really, it's more like Ironrain's death'll be an incidental side effect of what the dragon has planned.
  4264. <Aliken> Well, I didn't exactly want to argue with the giant dragon under the circumstances.
  4265. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, dragons're dangerous.
  4266. <@DungeonLady> I mean, I do hold a general philosophy of "You guys can probably take on anything I throw at you", but in some cases that has the caveat of "after preparation" or "with casualties".
  4267. <@DungeonLady> Just giving you an idea of my general philosophy.
  4268. <Aliken> Even if we can take a dragon- which we might be able to- taking a dragon RIGHT THEN seemed like a losing game. XD
  4269. <@DungeonLady> Definitely.
  4270. <Aliken> And, honestly, what it was asking for wasn't too horrible.
  4271. <@DungeonLady> Likewise, I would've let you guys beat Shana, but she would've bene one of the nastier opponents so far.
  4272. <Aliken> Eh. I didn't really want to have to fight her anyhow.
  4273. <Aliken> It WAS her dungeon.
  4274. <Golasa> Anyway I'm out
  4275. <Golasa> until next week o/
  4276. <Aliken> Night!
  4277. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 22 16:55:04 2013 -0700
  4278. <Aliken> Hail, hail, the gang's all here.
  4279. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d2
  4280. <ProfessorProf> hm
  4281. <@NineThePuma> !roll 1d20
  4282. <@NineThePuma> roll 1d20
  4283. <@NineThePuma> I can't roll myself
  4284. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d2
  4285. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 1d2 --> [ 1d2=1 ]{1}
  4286. <ProfessorProf> there
  4287. <@DungeonLady> Good, goody.
  4288. <Aliken> All hail Lord Dice, God of Randomisation.
  4289. <NekoIncardine> \o/
  4290. <@DungeonLady> So, you guys downed a divine champion and a godbeast. You must be feeling good about yourselves right now. ^.~
  4291. <Golasa> Indeed!
  4292. <Aliken> In addition to the 100 to the shrine, I'm shelling out 210 for two sets of finery I can wear when I'm NOT in the field.
  4293. <@NineThePuma> I feel sparkly and shiny and hyper!
  4294. <Aliken> Start investing in a nicer life for myself, and all.
  4295. <RinTheThief> Notably, on the way back to the city, Rin takes chances as she can get to search the surrounding woods for 'useful herbs' - i.e. poison components.
  4296. <Aliken> I'd also like to just report the full incident to the priestess whose name escapes my mind at the moment. And thank her and the gods deeply for their aid.
  4297. <@DungeonLady> Oh, sure, roll +Wis, Rin.
  4298. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6
  4299. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{9}
  4300. <RinTheThief> ((Brewer, my new level ability: When you have time to gather materials and a safe place to brew you can create three doses of any one poison you’ve used before.))
  4301. <@DungeonLady> ((Oh, in that case, I'll just use that roll for something else.))
  4302. <RinTheThief> ((If Rin can get the bits, she prepares 3 Oil Of Tagit.))
  4303. <Golasa> Oh oh I have an item to make with MY new skill.
  4304. <@DungeonLady> While out gathering parts for Oil of Tagit, Rin notices a wary looking scouting party in the Duchess's livery. It's like they expect to be attacked.
  4305. <@DungeonLady> Oh, do tell, Golasa? :)
  4306. <Golasa> Lemme think out the details...
  4307. <@DungeonLady> Anyway, they haven't spotted you, yet, Rin. Want to check it out or just slink away?
  4308. <Golasa> Okay, so I have that bronze mirror from before.
  4309. <Golasa> I want to split it into four equal parts,
  4310. <Golasa> and fasten from the edge of each part three small pendulums (penduli?) on fine chains,
  4311. <Golasa> each of which always swings towards one of the other four parts.
  4312. <Golasa> In short, a way to locate each other should we get separated.
  4313. <RinTheThief> In other words: Trying to prevent what happened with Rin earlier. :v
  4314. <Golasa> Yes.
  4315. <@DungeonLady> Cool. Definitely manageable.
  4316. <Golasa> It's happened once. A wizard's greatest weapon is preparation.
  4317. <Golasa> (I have a move for item crafting now.)
  4318. <Golasa> (Shall I use it?)
  4319. <@DungeonLady> You can do it.
  4320. <@DungeonLady> It's not too hard, really.
  4321. <Golasa> Okay.
  4322. <Golasa> Then I'm giving one part to each of my fellow Amazons.
  4323. <@DungeonLady> What about Marigold?
  4324. <Golasa> Hm.
  4325. <Golasa> Five parts, then, very well.
  4326. <@DungeonLady> In the meantime, you all get back to the city.
  4327. * RinTheThief grins, as she draws her new doses of poison into her ready-to-use hands in stealth. Put all the things to sleep, yes, yes!
  4328. <Aliken> Aliken is happy to change out of travel-stained travel clothes into finely-tailored town clothes of fine cloth. Looking rich about town!
  4329. <@DungeonLady> "Hey, it's the Amazon Team!" a human in chain mail shouts out as you walk through the streets.
  4330. <Golasa> "So we've gone from Amazons to Amazon Team?"
  4331. * @Dysna shrugs. "I don't get it."
  4332. <@DungeonLady> (They called you that before, actually.)
  4333. * RinTheThief shrugs too.
  4334. <Golasa> (Oh.)
  4335. <@Dysna> (Also, how did we come to associate the amazon with female warrior types?)
  4336. <Golasa> (Golasa wasn't listening.)
  4337. <RinTheThief> When Rin gets the chance, she spends a more modest 50 gold on some town clothes. Nothing heavy, though - her bag's getting full :<
  4338. <Aliken> (Because the origin of the word 'Amazon' was a mythical tribe of Greek women who fought as archers against the other Greek cities.)
  4339. <Aliken> (Long before the Amazon River was named.)
  4340. <RinTheThief> "Someday, I'll have enough for a Bag of Holding..."
  4341. <@DungeonLady> "Hey, have a drink on us, why don't cha?"
  4342. <@Dysna> (That's totally weird. Why would we associate a mythical tribe of greek women with a rainforest in south america?)
  4343. <Aliken> "I am sorry, but I am on my way to the shrine of my gods to give them thanks."
  4344. <Golasa> ( (Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_River#History)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_River#History )
  4345. <RinTheThief> "Got enough to deal with here, too, sorry."
  4346. <Golasa> "I wouldn't've thought you the type to turn down free alcohol."
  4347. <RinTheThief> "Aliken, before you go. We've *still* got items to split, and now that the town's somewhat peaceful, let's get a room and get that done."
  4348. * Golasa never learned not to have drinks with strange men.
  4349. * RinTheThief spins towards Golasa with a wink. "Never take a drink, it puts you on someone else's terms."
  4350. <Aliken> "That actually sounds reasonable, Rin."
  4351. <Aliken> I was planning to claim the axe and arrows to hang on to.
  4352. <@DungeonLady> "Ahaha..." The guy in chain mail grins sheeplishly. "Oh, hey, did you hear about what happened to the Spire?"
  4353. <RinTheThief> "Oh?"
  4354. <@Dysna> "Struck down by an angry god and is more suitably referred to as 'the pancake'?"
  4355. <Aliken> "What happened?"
  4356. <@DungeonLady> "Well... It became a dungeon a couple of days ago."
  4357. <RinTheThief> Rin's curious about the hand as a magic item, and the lotions and herbs for potential new poisons and drugs. Less curious about the Pyromancer's spellboook and gemstones, that's more Golasa's thing.
  4358. <RinTheThief> "... What."
  4359. <Aliken> "Oh, for..."
  4360. <Aliken> "Crossroads, revisit Shana, then the Spire. Sound reasonable to everybody else?"
  4361. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah. Mind, the guys in the Spire're still keeping it open and all, but it's a dungeon now. Even weirder than before."
  4362. <Golasa> "Sounds reasonable."
  4363. <Golasa> "For once."
  4364. <Aliken> "Well, I guess it doesn't need clearing, then."
  4365. <RinTheThief> "... Ish..."
  4366. <RinTheThief> But wait, can't you not exit a dungeon without clearing it? But then that's not how the Crossroads work either is it... Rin's weirded out now that she realizes this
  4367. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah, the Spire people don't want it cleared. They already wiped out a team that ignored their warnings."
  4368. <@DungeonLady> "Not that most people would, but there're some unscruplous sorts in this profession, you know?"
  4369. <Golasa> It's best to forget what you know about ironclad rules when dealing with dungeons.
  4370. <Aliken> "Tell me about it. We ran across another team in the Beautiful Dungeon who threatened to attack us when we first met them."
  4371. <@DungeonLady> "Oh. That's really a shame."
  4372. <@Dysna> "I got lost in that one. I think there was a monkey involved?"
  4373. <Aliken> "That group ended up backing down when we wouldn't get in their way, but they ended up getting killed when they assaulted the person who owns the dungeon."
  4374. <Aliken> "Elven fire mage, dwarven axeman, and mysterious dark-cloaked figure, if that rings a bell."
  4375. <@DungeonLady> "Only slightly."
  4376. <@DungeonLady> "So that's what happened to them."
  4377. <Aliken> "Yeah. Figured I might as well make sure the news got out."
  4378. <Golasa> "I think that when a dungeoneering party disappears mysteriously, most people would make the correct assumption about what happened to them."
  4379. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah, it's kinda natural..."
  4380. <Aliken> "True, but this at least lets people know where they died. I'd not advise on assaulting the Beautiful Dungeon, by the way. It's inhabited, and the owner is very dangerous if crossed. Might as well focus looting on less civil places."
  4381. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah, could always hit up the Dungeon of Conflicts or the Carnival Dungeons. At least you know those're doable because they've already been cleared at least a couple times."
  4382. <RinTheThief> "... And they're still there?"
  4383. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah, I know, it's weird. Seems like the Dungeon of Conflicts just keeps starting all over again with a new war between the people in there, and the Carnival Dungeon holds new contests."
  4384. <RinTheThief> "Weird."
  4385. <Aliken> "The Carnival Dungeon tried to invite us in after we cleared the Dungeon of the Forsaken, but after THAT, none of us were in a hurry to head back in without resting and resupplying. Let me tell you, the Dungeon of the Forsaken was the most horrible place I've ever been."
  4386. <@Dysna> "Second."
  4387. <Golasa> "We have business in the Dungeon of Crossroads."
  4388. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, yeah... Haven't been there yet, but I heard you can buy some amazing things there. Meeting the price's the hard part."
  4389. <Aliken> "Did the people who came back have any tips you heard?"
  4390. <Aliken> Oh, and while I'm chatting in a Charming and Open fashion with him, I'll see if I can't figure what he wishes I would do. He gets to ask a question of his own from the Charming and Open list that he ascertains the answer to.
  4391. <@DungeonLady> "Make use of the pawn shops and moneychangers, I heard. Though I don't know if you can call it moneychanging when you're exchanging memories for magic crystals."
  4392. <@DungeonLady> So, aside from the drink offer, Brad, that's his name by the way, is basically wondering if you have any tips for him.
  4393. <Aliken> "So, in my experience, you can get a lot of advantage in dungeons by not assuming everything there is hostile. There will be times you have to fight, but if you treat even people that seem strange and frightening as if they're *people*, you can get a lot of good local information and avoid a lot of dangers."
  4394. <Aliken> What's his Charming and Open question?
  4395. <@DungeonLady> How can he get you to have a drink with him and his friends?
  4396. <Golasa> is this guy hitting on us
  4397. <Aliken> I think it might just be hero worship.
  4398. <Golasa> Let's hope.
  4399. <@DungeonLady> Funnily enough, he doesn't seem to be. He's mostly awed by you, yeah.
  4400. <Golasa> He wants to get in on the ground floor before we go mainstream.
  4401. <Aliken> Maybe if he tried catching us after we take care of business? We're less busy then.
  4402. <@DungeonLady> "Right, well, I'll let you go, then."
  4403. <Aliken> "Good luck out there."
  4404. * RinTheThief whew. She doesn't like being hit on. Usually because it's by non-beautiful people. Beautiful people flirt. It's different, really!
  4405. <@DungeonLady> Alright. So, while not everyone recognizes you, a surprisingly number do. Stuff like, "Hey, so it's the big heroes who saved us from that Ironrain lunatic" and the like.
  4406. * Golasa accepts it as our due.
  4407. <@DungeonLady> "Although..." one of them adds as an aside, "This is treachous and all, but I wouldn't mind if you dealt with the nobles, too. They're squabbling over who'll take over, and there's talk it might even come to war."
  4408. <Golasa> Do we actually have anything to do, or are we set to head out to our next Dungeon?
  4409. <@DungeonLady> You guys can whenever you'd like.
  4410. <Golasa> "I'm not planning to get any more involved in politics."
  4411. <Aliken> Aliken is open and friendly, and willing to spend a few moments chatting with people if they want to. If the subject comes up, she's quick to give credit to the gods for her accomplishments, hoping to be an example.
  4412. <RinTheThief> Hrm... Rin, being her usual self, besides some town clothes, doesn't buy anything other than supplies
  4413. <Aliken> Well, as noted, visit the shrine, talk to the priestess, but otherwise just prepare.
  4414. <RinTheThief> (rations and such, the presumed essentials)
  4415. <@DungeonLady> "Good move, really. Thsoe slimy scumbags'd just drag you down to their level."
  4416. <Aliken> How much for rooms and supplies this trip?
  4417. <@DungeonLady> Let's say 15.
  4418. * @Dysna spends the duration of our time in town ordering room service and scribbling notes.
  4419. <Aliken> To the person talking about politics: "I suggest trusting in the gods and seeking the guidance of Justice."
  4420. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah, yeah."
  4421. <@DungeonLady> Alright, whenever you leave town, you can see that the guard hasn't lessened any .
  4422. <Aliken> Makes sense. The Spire is likely afraid of civil war, now.
  4423. <@DungeonLady> As you travel toward the Crossroads, you see... Okay, the air itself seems to twist in weird ways as you approach where the roads meet.
  4424. <RinTheThief> "And here wee go."
  4425. <Aliken> "Well, maybe at least this one won't be filled with deadly peril."
  4426. <@DungeonLady> And then... before you realize it, the sky's disappeared into a strange mass of in a purple darkness, all convenuing upon your destination. A sign welcomes you to the Dungeon of the Crossroads. Ahead, you see a mass of buildings, tents, and market stalls.
  4427. <@DungeonLady> Er, a mass of roads in a purple darkness.
  4428. <@Dysna> The first one sounds much more sociable.
  4429. <@DungeonLady> There're far too many roads. Dozens, at least, and more wherever you look.
  4430. <Aliken> Well. First things first. Looking for a pawn shop!
  4431. <Golasa> what was the thing we were here to obtain?
  4432. <@DungeonLady> Some jewelry of legendary beauty.
  4433. <Aliken> A crystal tear of surpassing beauty.
  4434. <Aliken> I can ask about it in a pawn shop, anyhow.
  4435. <Aliken> But I'd like to get a bit of the local currency together WITHOUT touching my memories.
  4436. <@DungeonLady> There's a sign for Honest Fell's Buying Store, with a subtile below it saying "We Buy Your Stuff".
  4437. <Aliken> "This looks like a good place to start."
  4438. <Aliken> Aliken heads in, and nods. "I'd like to sell some things, and ask about something I heard was in this market. Maybe you know where it is."
  4439. <Golasa> "I'm not selling anything until I know the price of our goal."
  4440. <RinTheThief> "Agreed, to say the LEAST."
  4441. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, got your eye on something? Fell can get your answers for you." There's a... frog thing in a fancy looking blouse with ruffled cravat? Dark blue mottled with green.
  4442. <Aliken> "I've heard that there's a crystal tear pendant of incredible beauty for sale somewhere around here, but this is my first time at this crossroads, so I wouldn't know where to find it."
  4443. <Aliken> Aliken also pulls out the axe and arrows salvaged from the rival dwarf. "Also, I wanted to sell these to start to gather what I need to buy it."
  4444. <Golasa> "Stop being so eager!"
  4445. <Golasa> "We don't knkow the rules yet!"
  4446. <@DungeonLady> "Oh hoo. You'll need more than that for that. It's up for auction right now. Been so for weeks."
  4447. <Aliken> "I figured I'd need more, but it's a start, right?"
  4448. * RinTheThief winces at that signal. That's NEVER a good sign.
  4449. <Golasa> "Before my friend starts selling all her worldly belongings, what's the price up to?"
  4450. <@DungeonLady> "And..." the frog grins, and there're a lot of sharp teeth frogs really shouldn't have. "Yes, you never know what rules you might be breaking. Of course, you're lucky with me!"
  4451. <Aliken> "This axe and these arrows are not 'all my worldly belongings'. I was planning to sell them here since we left the Beautiful Dungeon!"
  4452. <Golasa> "Don't sell anything until we know the game we're playing."
  4453. <@DungeonLady> "Mmhmm, the highest one's of a single service, no questions asked, from a quite capable persona."
  4454. <Golasa> "No currency, then. Trading in abstracts?"
  4455. <@DungeonLady> "Of course, that's just what's been accepted, and if you were to offer something more enticing..."
  4456. <RinTheThief> ... "I am going to regret saying this. Guys... How about a single service, no questions asked, from a team of capable individuals?"
  4457. <Aliken> "I am concerned about the possible moral dimensions of such a commitment."
  4458. <Golasa> "Allow us to go outside and discuss this as a group!"
  4459. <@DungeonLady> "For example, you could bid enough to hire two such services, let us say. Money talks, after all! Or... You could offer that, yes. What do you have to offer for your accomplishments?"
  4460. * Golasa is all but dragging Aliken and Rin out of here.
  4461. * RinTheThief dragged. D:
  4462. * Aliken is dragged out by scrawny gorgon.
  4463. <Golasa> "What is wrong with you!"
  4464. <Golasa> "We need to actually figure this out as a group, not start volunteering ambiguous favors from each other to complete strangers."
  4465. <Aliken> "The things I was going to pawn are things of no direct use to any of us. Selling them is the best thing we can do with them."
  4466. <Golasa> "Things like that are going to be next to worthless in this kind of arena."
  4467. <Golasa> "First things first, think outside the rules when possible. Do we have to win the auction?"
  4468. <Aliken> "Yes."
  4469. <Golasa> "We could steal it."
  4470. <RinTheThief> "... Are we sure?"
  4471. <Golasa> "No, but it's an option."
  4472. <Aliken> "You could try to steal it, and I would stop you."
  4473. <Golasa> "So is force."
  4474. <Aliken> "I am not going to steal this! I am not a robber."
  4475. <RinTheThief> "I am. I'm just worried there'll be a curse in place or something."
  4476. <Golasa> "All right, when choosing between the easy way and the way that doesn't get me stabbed by a dwarf, I guess we're doing this the direct way."
  4477. <Golasa> "In that case, we should forget about selling individual small items."
  4478. <Golasa> "We need to wow the auction."
  4479. <Aliken> "We ARE the slayers of a godbeast of Crx. We could make some very attractive mercenaries. Rin in more than one way, I suppose."
  4480. <Aliken> Aliken chuckles at her own joke.
  4481. * @Dysna coughs. "So we mention that our team of capable individuals killed a god beast. That's got to be worth some street cred."
  4482. <Golasa> "Pity we didn't keep its head."
  4483. <Aliken> "A god beast, a champion of Crx, has the favor and patronage of a mighty dragon and Shana the Gorgon, bearing a sword of legendary power... we should go all out on the recounting of our deeds and prowess."
  4484. * @Dysna shrugs. "We're distinctive."
  4485. <RinTheThief> "But what do we offer?"
  4486. <Aliken> "Explorers of... one, two, three, four, five, six worlds."
  4487. <Aliken> "This IS the fifth dungeon we've entered, after all."
  4488. <Golasa> "I second Rin's question."
  4489. <Aliken> "We can be mercenaries. We're very good at solving that sort of problem, after all."
  4490. <Golasa> "You'll have to be careful making that offer, if you don't want to end up doing something far more cruel than stealing a jewel."
  4491. <Aliken> "Why don't we find the owner and speak to them? If I have time to sound them out, I might get an idea."
  4492. <Golasa> "Another thing we should figure out is who has the highest bid."
  4493. <Aliken> "Agreed."
  4494. <RinTheThief> "Which first, though?"
  4495. <Aliken> "The owner, I think."
  4496. <@DungeonLady> Fell sticks their head out. "I can tell you about both."
  4497. <Aliken> "Yes?"
  4498. <@DungeonLady> "The bidder would be Corwald's Herald. Nothing as impressive as your accomplishments, of course, though I wouldn't advise trying to boast about how many worlds you've visited. Ah, and I must apologize but it's nigh impossible for me not to overhear what you said."
  4499. <@DungeonLady> "As for the seller, their identity's a secret. The matter's being handled through a third-party auctioneer who takes bids for them to accept or reject."
  4500. <Aliken> "That makes things more complicated."
  4501. <Aliken> Aliken chuckles.
  4502. <@DungeonLady> "Of course, I could take the liberty of introducing you. Depending on the seller's desires, even offering your service with caveats might be seen as acceptable."
  4503. <Aliken> "How about offering our service with right of refusal and an oath of confidentiality?"
  4504. <@DungeonLady> "Or if you were to want to win for sure, you could offer up that sword of yours."
  4505. <Aliken> Aliken winces. "I was afraid of that."
  4506. <Aliken> "I think, given our accomplishments, even offering our services with right of refusal may be a winning bid."
  4507. <Aliken> "If we swear confidentiality, it's not as if the seller loses anything by entertaining the bid."
  4508. <@DungeonLady> "Ah-ahh. Tell me. Do you swear you are telling the truth about what you did? The absolute truth?" Fell leans forward, and those of you with an eye for the magical notice faint magical circles inscribed around their eyes and mouth. So faint you wouldn't spot it on a casual look, but they seem to be fading into sight, becoming more evident."
  4509. <Golasa> "We haven't said what we did."
  4510. <Golasa> "Not outside of a conversation you eavesdropped in on, at least."
  4511. <Aliken> "I swear that we faced and slew Ironrain of Crx, the godbeast he had with him, and the imprisoned sorceror Sun, and that the sword I bear has a portion of the power of the sword of Sun within it, with the rest given to the gods. I swear that Rin has the patronage of Shana and that Dysna the patronage of a dragon."
  4512. <Golasa> "As a point of technicality, since this seems to be a binding oath, I'm not certain that it was the original Sun or a copy that we destroyed."
  4513. <Aliken> "Point taken. I hated that place."
  4514. <RinTheThief> "I forswear, subject to Golasa's technicality, that Aliken's statements are correct and true."
  4515. <@DungeonLady> "Interesting. Very interesting indeed. Well, now you have Honest Fell's guarantee that you're telling the truth. And if it's me, they know they can trust what I say. After all, if I lied, my eyes and mouth'd fall off! Ahahaha!"
  4516. * @Dysna opens her mouth with a thought.
  4517. * RinTheThief blinks. o_o
  4518. * @Dysna shuts it and shrugs.
  4519. <Golasa> Sounds legit.
  4520. <@DungeonLady> "Ah, and it's a good thing you didn't lie. I can't stand liars. My eyes flash red, and then I gobble them right up! Ahaha, a good thing indeed."
  4521. <@DungeonLady> Fell grins again. Yeah, there're thsoe sharp teeth again.
  4522. <Golasa> How big is Fell?
  4523. <Golasa> (AFK for a minute)
  4524. <@DungeonLady> At least half as big as any of you.
  4525. <@DungeonLady> Half again, taht is.
  4526. <Aliken> "While I'm here, there's another thing I was curious about. I was hoping to find protection for reading books that may have unusual consequences on the reader."
  4527. <Aliken> Aliken digs about and pulls out a barbed key. "I want to be prepared."
  4528. * RinTheThief honestly mostly just wants out of this freaky place before she's tempted to offer something she shouldn't ;-;
  4529. <@Dysna> (Bow chicka wow wow?)
  4530. <Golasa> (...and back, as I don't have enough quarters to do laundry o_o)
  4531. <Aliken> "And for THAT, I want to sell the axe and arrows anyhow. Since, Golasa, I need the spending money."
  4532. <Golasa> "Yes, fine."
  4533. <@DungeonLady> "Mmm-hmm. You don't buy or sell information on the Barbed Library. You just don't, understand? Bad things happen. But I'll gladly buy anything you want to sell. Even things you wouldn't want to sell for any ordinary price. Or things you can't get anyone to accept."
  4534. <Aliken> "Ah. And protective equipment would qualify as information, in that sense?"
  4535. <Golasa> "I have one of those."
  4536. * Golasa produces the Tract of the Spider God.
  4537. <Golasa> "How much for this?
  4538. <Golasa> "
  4539. <Aliken> "Just what was the deal with the spider tract, anyhow?"
  4540. <Golasa> "We're about to find out."
  4541. * RinTheThief pulls out a mummified hand. "Think I could get a decent Bag of Holding for this?", she pondered aloud. Yes, Rin's a one track mind. "Or at least one of those magic haversacks that always has the thing you want on top. Not as big but it works."
  4542. <@DungeonLady> "Of course, I've got an eye for the unusual.... Ah, like that! That's an unusual book indeed. Unusual, quite unusual. I'll take it. Let's see... a suitable price.. I'm sure you'd gladly give it away, but as Honest Fell I always offer a honest price. How about a more useful book?"
  4543. <@DungeonLady> "And I'll tell you a little about that spider tract for free. It's something spread around to try to free a bound god, but it's not been very effective. There're people who collect them. Ah, I'll just need a little of your blood, miss, to make it think I'm you, see?"
  4544. <@DungeonLady> Fell looks to Rin. "A bag... Hmm, hmm. Afraid I don't have a bag, but would a box do?"
  4545. <Golasa> Out comes the knife. Golasa needs a lot of protein in her diet, with all the blood she loses in this job.
  4546. * @Dysna drinks her orange juice every morning. Helps with keeping her fluids up.
  4547. <RinTheThief> "Depends on the box, I guess."
  4548. <Aliken> (The legendary Box of Bunnies. Open it, and you are guaranteed to have an adorable face peering up at you.)
  4549. <Golasa> "...Before I agree to this deal, what book am I getting in exchange?"
  4550. <@Dysna> (Why are we locking Dysna up in a box?)
  4551. <Golasa> (She fits!)
  4552. <Aliken> (Dysna is a bunny?)
  4553. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, how about a nice book of the Void?" They look back to Rin. "Oh, just my own personal jewelry box. It's quite handy, see? Like the bags you're talking about."
  4554. <Golasa> "A useful element. All right, it's a deal."
  4555. <RinTheThief> Rin pauses. "... Not quite sold, sorry."
  4556. <@Dysna> (No, but she's adorable~)
  4557. <@DungeonLady> "No, no, see." Fell hurries inside, and then merges with a completely black book and a cubical box of a pale wood with dark black wood rings. Quickly, they open the box and turn it upside down. An impossible amount of assorted jewelry begins falling out.
  4558. <@DungeonLady> "It's gonna take a while to empty out. Just give it a while. Oh, yes, the book! I'll have to show you how to read it, of course."
  4559. * @Dysna quirks an eye-ridge-thing. "Why don't I hold the box while you deal with the book stuff?"
  4560. <@DungeonLady> The completely black book with black pages without any visible text might look familiar.
  4561. <Golasa> "Wait, where did you get this?"
  4562. <Golasa> (I lost my copy, right?)
  4563. <@DungeonLady> (You gave it away to Owl."
  4564. <Golasa> (Right)
  4565. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, I bought it from a fine gentlewoman with striking eyese. Said she was finished with it and the Library already had one, see?"
  4566. <Golasa> "I see."
  4567. * Golasa makes no other mention of her past encounter with it.
  4568. <@DungeonLady> "So..." Fell continues holding the box, shaking it now and then. Jewelry is still falling out. "How about those? Or I could just give you a widely accepted currency."
  4569. <Golasa> "I'll take the book and directions on reading it."
  4570. <Aliken> "I'll take currency for my few items. No protective equipment you know of? Ah well."
  4571. <@DungeonLady> "Done! Just give me a little moment..." Fell looks to Rin. "How about it? Imagine how much of your stuff it could hold! It's not just for jewelry." By this point, the jewelry pile's about as high as Aliken's knees.
  4572. <Golasa> (Dwarf knees, though)
  4573. <@DungeonLady> To Aliken: "Ten xex."
  4574. <Aliken> "Done."
  4575. * Golasa adds 'doesn't know how to haggle' to her mental notes on Aliken.
  4576. <Aliken> Aliken plans to see what she can buy when we're done with our business.
  4577. * @Dysna has had that in there for at least 4 sessions.
  4578. <@DungeonLady> "Ah, I'm almost done. You can hold it. Don't break my trust or it'll be really bad.," Fell says to Dysna then quickly pulls out some curiously dull crystals. Far less shiny than they should be, in a kinda unnatural way.
  4579. <Aliken> Aliken hands over the axe and enchanted arrows. Maybe she'll find some magical trinket or bit of jewellry here as a 'souvenir'.
  4580. * @Dysna shrugs, scrambling up to hold the box. "That one's the treasure hunting specialist. I'm just covering fire. And living with a dragon makes you much less likely to steal. Watching a clutchmate get incinerated after pocketing an enchanted brooch cured me and my siblings of that impulse."
  4581. <@DungeonLady> After forking over the crystals: "Right, about how to read it. The hard way's to not think about reading it. The far easier way's to look at it through a lenses that blocks your sight."
  4582. <Golasa> "Interesting."
  4583. <@Dysna> "That seems backward."
  4584. <Golasa> "Not necessarily."
  4585. <@DungeonLady> "And... dooone!" No more jewelry's falling out. By now the pile's above Rin's knees.
  4586. <RinTheThief> ((Sorry, was called upstairs))
  4587. <@DungeonLady> "Now all that's left for you is to put your stuff in it. If you decide you want it."
  4588. <@Dysna> "Well, is it 'it won't let you read it directly' or is it 'you might accidentally read it while reading something else'?"
  4589. <@DungeonLady> "See, it's like this... you can't see the void with your own eyes, right? Can't see something that's not there."
  4590. <@DungeonLady> "So if you look right at it, you won't find it."
  4591. <Golasa> "I've got some ideas."
  4592. <RinTheThief> "I'll hold onto the hand for now. No offense meant, I just can't wear a box on my back."
  4593. <@DungeonLady> "Mmhmm. Fifteen xex, then. You can shop around for something more to your liking in this marketplace."
  4594. <RinTheThief> "I can take that." She passes the hand over.
  4595. <@DungeonLady> Fell forks out another fifteen crystals. Then they take the box from Dysna and say, "Back into the box you go!" The jewelery begins tumbling back in a precise reversal of the way they fell out.
  4596. * @Dysna hums, and scratches something into her arm. "I'll have to look into that later."
  4597. <@DungeonLady> "And if you've nothing else to sell, I can take you to the auctioneer."
  4598. <Aliken> "Please."
  4599. <RinTheThief> "Let's."
  4600. <Golasa> "Very well."
  4601. <@DungeonLady> After a winding course through the stalls, the great frog leads you into an unmarked tent. Inside is a single tiny man, even smaller than Dysna, so withered with age that it's impossible to tell his race other than that it's something vaguely humanoid. He looks at Fell, who nods, then just says, "State your bid."
  4602. <@DungeonLady> Seriously, there's practically nothing but wrinkles everywhere you look on him.
  4603. <Aliken> "Offer of service with right of refusal by the bidders and sworn confidentiality for the seller by the five of us, who have previously defeated a godbeast of Crx, a champion of Crx, and the ancient sorceror Sun who had challenged the gods."
  4604. <Golasa> "Claims verified by Honest Fell."
  4605. <@DungeonLady> "I guarantee they're telling the truth!" Fell exclaims. The ancient man just closes his eyes for a few moments, then says, "The client is interested.. She asks for you to kill a dying god."
  4606. <@Dysna> "Which one?"
  4607. <Aliken> Aliken sucks on her teeth for a moment. "... right. Which one?"
  4608. <@DungeonLady> "One unknown to you." His eyes are open, staring right at you.. "One whose inability to die rends its world. One who has done nothing to deserve death, but even less to deserve its perpertual state upon the brink of death."
  4609. <Golasa> "Two questions."
  4610. <Golasa> "No, three."
  4611. <Golasa> "First question: Is the contract satisfied when we kill the God, or when the God dies?"
  4612. <@DungeonLady> "When the god dies by your doing."
  4613. <Golasa> "Second question: Do we get the jewel now, or upon completion of the task?"
  4614. <@DungeonLady> "Upon completion of the task. The client shall provide assurance if requested."
  4615. <@DungeonLady> (Make that "assurance upon request". Just a slight change of phrasing that sounded better to me.)
  4616. <Golasa> "And that takes care of my third question as well."
  4617. <Golasa> "What do you think? I think we might as well give it a try."
  4618. <Aliken> "I suppose it would be a mercy to the god, if what's reported is true."
  4619. <@DungeonLady> (Do you need anything sent to you for catchup purposes?)
  4620. <@DungeonLady> "So you place your completion of the task as your bid?"
  4621. <NineThePuma> (Last thing I got was "Assurance upon request")
  4622. <Aliken> "Yes."
  4623. <@DungeonLady> (Just C&Ped that to you.)
  4624. <@DungeonLady> "One confidental task from the slayers of Sun or a replica therefore, slayers of a godbeast, slayers of Crx's champion has been entered as your bid. All other bids have been retracted or found not as satisfactory by the client."
  4625. <@DungeonLady> "The client has now ended the auction."
  4626. <Golasa> "Hopefully you can give us some clue as to the location of this dying god."
  4627. <Aliken> "When the client is ready, we can get the target's location, yes."
  4628. <@DungeonLady> "Yes. The client is ready. You may prepare as you like or meet for further information immediately."
  4629. <Golasa> "Might as well get this over with."
  4630. <Aliken> "We can meet for further information, and I can do shopping after that."
  4631. <Dysna> (Are we rushing off to this meeting right now?)
  4632. <Dysna> (It's, uh, kind of late)
  4633. <Aliken> (We can call it, then. :)
  4634. <@DungeonLady> (No worries, I'm going to end this session very soon.)
  4635. <@DungeonLady> "Very well." The old man looks at all of you with those eerily large eyes.. "I am the client. I task you to find a way to end me."
  4636. <@DungeonLady> (And session end.)
  4637. <Golasa> ...!
  4638. <Aliken> Well, actually, that makes me a lot happier about the job.
  4639. <Aliken> When the client and the target are the same person, it clears up all my concerns.
  4640. <Golasa> We've got target consent!
  4641. <Golasa> Golasa is totally just gonna stab the guy next session.
  4642. <Golasa> To see what happens.
  4643. <Golasa> anyway I'm out
  4644. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 22 21:53:28 2013 -0700
  4645.  
  4646.  
  4647. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Apr 29 13:56:10 2013 -0700
  4648. <DungeonLady> Huh, everyone's here, eh?
  4649. <ProfessorProf> I beat you by about one second
  4650. <Aliken> I'm here.
  4651. <NekoIncardine> No kidding. :O
  4652. * NekoIncardine here
  4653. <NekoIncardine> DepressedPuma
  4654. <DungeonLady> Righto.
  4655. <DungeonLady> Roll +Cha to determine how well you do shopping around, since there're two of you with xex burning a hole in your pocket.
  4656. <@DepressedPuma> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  4657. <Golasa> That doesn't involve me, right?
  4658. <RinTheThief> Roll 2d6+2
  4659. <@DepressedPuma> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=4 ]{6}
  4660. <RinTheThief> (Answer: Poorly)
  4661. <DungeonLady> Yeah, Golasa, I don't recall you selling anything for xex.
  4662. <Golasa> Now, we were just assigned a task to kill a god, right? That seems like a conversation worth continuing.
  4663. <DungeonLady> Yeah.
  4664. <Golasa> "Interesting. Aliken, can I borrow your sword for a moment?"
  4665. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  4666. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{9}
  4667. <Aliken> "Certainly."
  4668. <Aliken> Also, I want to spout lore about godslaying...
  4669. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  4670. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  4671. * Golasa takes the sword and stabs our client with it.
  4672. <DungeonLady> No blood comes out. The old man blinks, then smiles sadly and wryly. "If only it was that easy. My true body is not here, but I can take you to it when ready."
  4673. <Golasa> "It was worth a try."
  4674. * Golasa hands the sword back to Aliken.
  4675. <Golasa> "How will we collect our reward after you're dead?"
  4676. <Aliken> "I suspect the sword may be useful as a ritual implement, in any event."
  4677. <DungeonLady> "I shall give it to you when I send you."
  4678. <Aliken> "Not that I'm a mage, but."
  4679. <Golasa> "I'll avoid that if I can. It's a useful sword to have around."
  4680. <DungeonLady> Aliken, you recall that the first recorded death of a god was when the power of death entered the world.
  4681. <Aliken> "You think it would be consumed in the use?"
  4682. <Golasa> "Absolutely, if we're talking about slaying a god."
  4683. <Golasa> "This isn't low-grade magic."
  4684. * RinTheThief looks very worried about this. The dude's hiding his actual body that is never a good sign.
  4685. <DungeonLady> "I can lend my power to your sword," the old man says. "By my power, people are born and they die."
  4686. <Golasa> "If your power would help our sword kill you, then why can't you kill yourself?"
  4687. <Aliken> "Indeed."
  4688. <DungeonLady> "Because I lack the full strength."
  4689. <DungeonLady> "And because much of my remaining strength woudl be consumed by my body struggling to stay alive, as all bodies do. Even when your will is to die."
  4690. <Golasa> "Well, shall we go, then? I don't have any other engagements."
  4691. * Golasa is actually looking forward to this.
  4692. <Aliken> "Well, I suppose we should investigate your body soon." Aliken sighs dispiritedly. "This really is a strange job."
  4693. <Aliken> Aliken wants to spend a little time poking around here first, but soon enough.
  4694. <DungeonLady> "I must warn you. As I said, my body will struggle to remain alive. I wonder what it will be to experience death myself," he says almost wistfully.
  4695. <Golasa> "I confess I've never killed someone who was so eager to help."
  4696. <Aliken> "I suspect it will be challenging enough as it is."
  4697. <DungeonLady> So, you guys poking around before you go kill a god?
  4698. <Golasa> I'm not doing any window shopping here.
  4699. <Aliken> I'd like to.
  4700. <DungeonLady> RinTheThief ?
  4701. <RinTheThief> Rin's efforts to find the Thing She Is OCD On having failed her for now, she is ready to pursue...
  4702. <RinTheThief> (Erm, ready to participate.)
  4703. <DungeonLady> Actually, you find it. A bag store.
  4704. <RinTheThief> "Here we go, THIS is more like it!"
  4705. <Aliken> I'm just looking to see what trinkets I can get for 10 xex. Nothing too particular in mind.
  4706. * RinTheThief also needs to judge how many xex she'd need for a decent bag. Then judge what the mummified hand is worth in the local currency...
  4707. <DungeonLady> There's a board advertising the prices. Basically, small for bags that can hold a ton of cat-sized things (base 5 xex)), medium (base 10 xex) for bags that can hold a ton of horse-sized things, and big (base 15 xex) for bags that can hold a ton of elephant-sized things.
  4708. <DungeonLady> Also, three different feature sets. Basic (base price), which is just a single compartment. Then the option for multipe compartments (+5 xex). Then the last one which goes back to a single compartment, but whatever you look for will always be on top (+10 xex).
  4709. <RinTheThief> "So... 20 xex will be enough for all current and likely possible needs. That... Seems like it'd be a good bit. Hopefully this payment will help..."
  4710. <Golasa> Hmm, actually, tell you what.
  4711. <Golasa> Golasa's gonna look for a new staff.
  4712. <Golasa> The old oak question mark is starting to show its age.
  4713. <Golasa> Something classy, in metal, with a proper focus gem.
  4714. <DungeonLady> Aliken, what kind of thing're you looking for?
  4715. <DungeonLady> Rin, while you're looking at the bags, you hear a familiar voice from behind. "Hail there Ryn!"
  4716. <Aliken> Just going to keep an eye out for interesting magical trinkets. Not necessarily looking for war gear, here.
  4717. <DungeonLady> Golasa, anything you're specially looking for in your staff?
  4718. <DungeonLady> (And roll +Cha)
  4719. <Golasa> Something that can draw power from the atmosphere quickly would be a plus. A glacial sapphire would be the best focus gem for her brand of magic.
  4720. <Golasa> !roll 2d6
  4721. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
  4722. <Golasa> nuuuu
  4723. <DungeonLady> You find someone advertising a staff that can contain a spell to release it later--and also declaring that they do custom jobs.
  4724. <Golasa> Let's take a look!
  4725. <DungeonLady> Rin, the greeter turns out to be that elf who apparently still doesn't believe in wearing proper clothes. He's standing right in the middle of the street in nothing but short pants.
  4726. <Golasa> oh good he found her and not me.
  4727. * RinTheThief sighs in exasperation. Not him *again*
  4728. <Aliken> Actually, is there any magic that does translations?
  4729. <Aliken> A device for that might be handy.
  4730. <DungeonLady> Textual translations seem to be either language-specific, or only let you write something that anyone'll understand, not read anything. However, you do find earrings and the like that profess to allow you to understand any spoken language.
  4731. <DungeonLady> That is, they'er geared to either reading a single language, or writing an universally understandable text.
  4732. <Aliken> Well, that's inconvenient. But the earrings sound useful. And maybe the contributions where I've been looking will be using the Universal Script in at least some cases.
  4733. <DungeonLady> "Wouldn't you know it, the guards don't want to allow me into Spire! Say I'm too indecent. They want me to cover up this natural and beautiful body!" He says this as if it's a great affront.
  4734. <DungeonLady> Golasa, the custom jobs look to be a little on the pricy side, though there's a sign saying "We accept special arrangements."
  4735. <Golasa> "What do you mean by special arrangements?"
  4736. * RinTheThief facepalm. Not like she's the most practical dresser herself, but... She at least covers her entire torso! Sheesh! :/
  4737. <Aliken> How much for a pair of earrings? And how do they look?
  4738. <Golasa> (woo accessorizing)
  4739. <DungeonLady> 8 xex. There seems to be a few different selections. A plain stub with a design of interlocking circles, a really gaudy dangling golden skull with gems for eyes and teeth, one marble ball that looks remarkably like an eyeball, and one stylized fish.
  4740. <Golasa> (GO FOR THE GOLDEN SKULLS)
  4741. <Golasa> (MAXIMUM SWAG)
  4742. <RinTheThief> ((Rin would favor the plain design herself))
  4743. <Aliken> The interlocking circles sounds tasteful and attractive.
  4744. <Golasa> (How non-swagular)
  4745. <Aliken> I doubt my last 2 xex are enough for anything big, but maybe I can get a nice non-magical ring or something.
  4746. <DungeonLady> "Special arrangements. If you have an object of specific note and interest to those interested in the arcane. Others're on a case-by-case basis."
  4747. <Aliken> Or cloth woven from dreams or some such stuff I'd not find on our world.
  4748. <RinTheThief> "So what are you doing here, then?", Rin asks. "Other than this place's increased... Tolerance, I mean."
  4749. <Golasa> "How about knowledge on the magical manipulation of the runic language of the gods?"
  4750. <DungeonLady> Yeah, you can get pretty much any non-magical item you like for 1 or 2 xex. Even gold and other precious minerals seem to be rather cheap.
  4751. <Aliken> I got a pretty good price for that axe.
  4752. <Aliken> And arrows.
  4753. <Golasa> Maybe they were secretly absurdly magical.
  4754. <DungeonLady> Yes, they seem to prize magical objects considerably more than non-magical ones.
  4755. <Aliken> Just how exotic are the textiles we can get here? Might be interesting to get something I can have tailored into a cloak back home.
  4756. <Golasa> Really ought to have gotten those identified.
  4757. <DungeonLady> The staff-maker, who appears to be a bipedal lizard, strokes their chin. "The better the knowledge, the better a staff I'll make."
  4758. <Golasa> "I'll throw in some jewel oils if it will seal the deal. Do you have any glacial sapphires?"
  4759. <DungeonLady> "Why, good woman, this's the place for adventurers to be! Other than Spire, of course."
  4760. <DungeonLady> The half-naked elf says that cheerfully.
  4761. <DungeonLady> "I can special order one," the staff maker says. "Shouldn't take longer than a day or two. A few hours if lucky."
  4762. <RinTheThief> "... Are you making money here?", Rin asks, curious. "Local currency of course."
  4763. <Golasa> "See to it."
  4764. * Golasa will impart what she learned about runecasting from the Yu-Gi-Oh Nudist.
  4765. <DungeonLady> Aliken, if it's interesting fabrics you're looking for, there're colorful ones, ones with intricate patterning, a few odd ones that seem to shift when you look at them, and so forth.
  4766. <Aliken> I'll look for something soft, warm, and in intricate patterns. I want to get myself a truly magnificent cloak made.
  4767. <DungeonLady> Okay, you get some really nice fabric.
  4768. <Aliken> I'm ready now.
  4769. <Golasa> If we're going to be legendary dungeon capturers, we should look the part.
  4770. <RinTheThief> Rin hopes to use some of her payment from this job to get one of those bags! And maybe some other shinies. But she's not (yet) comfortable risking memories...
  4771. <DungeonLady> (Rin, you did get offered 15 xex for the hand by Honest Fell.)
  4772. <RinTheThief> ((Oh, right. And she took that. So she's hoping this job will get her 5 more xex.))
  4773. <DungeonLady> The half-naked elf poses proudly, "Why, I'm making more of it than I can cover my head with! In fact, you wouldn't believe the scholars there're here!"
  4774. <DungeonLady> ((Yes, I'm aware "making more of it than I can cover my head with" doesn't really make sense.))
  4775. * RinTheThief pauses. So far, she actually would. "... I'll chat later. My group's expecting me, I suspect, though," she excuses, as she scoots away to meet up...
  4776. <DungeonLady> He strides after you on long legs. "Oh, they're here! How're those fine fellows?"
  4777. <DungeonLady> Rin, it'll take a little effort if you want to lose him.
  4778. <Golasa> (YOU HAVE TO SHAKE HIM)
  4779. <RinTheThief> Standard method of escaping annoying people #24: Scoot into a crowd and practice Social Stealth!
  4780. <DungeonLady> Roll +Dex :)
  4781. <@DepressedPuma> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  4782. <RinTheThief> roll 2d6+3
  4783. <@DepressedPuma> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  4784. <Golasa> Nice.
  4785. <DungeonLady> And you lose him in the bustling crowd. The last thing you hear of him is his fading cries of "Wait up! I'm losing you..."
  4786. * RinTheThief WHEW.
  4787. * RinTheThief slips back to the group's meet spot, ready as she's going to be for facing down a god. Logical progression she guesses, after a godbeast and champion...
  4788. <DungeonLady> Oh, yeah, Golasa, he promises you a good staff in exchange for you knowledge, but apparently sweetening the deal with those jewel oils would get you a higher quality staff.
  4789. <Golasa> Let's do it.
  4790. <DungeonLady> Anyway!
  4791. <Golasa> I can always get more spell components.
  4792. <DungeonLady> You reconvenue with the old man.
  4793. * Golasa is probably the last one back, considering the special order delay.
  4794. <DungeonLady> (So, you're waiting for your staff, Golasa?)
  4795. <Golasa> (Eh, I'll meet up with the others to at least let thtem know what's going on)
  4796. <DungeonLady> (I actually intended for it to be ready by the time you guys finished this, but if you want to wait tell me.)
  4797. <Golasa> Oh wait I misread the time on that.
  4798. <Golasa> Sure, we'll come back afterwards then.
  4799. <DungeonLady> The old man has a package ready for you. He open it... and you see an believingly stunning tear of crystal. It... really doesn't look or feel like something that could come into being from mundane means.
  4800. <Golasa> Does it have a magical aura Golasa can see, or is it just an impossibly beautiful jewel?
  4801. <DungeonLady> It's a crystal shaped like teardrop, but the way the light shimmers on it.
  4802. <DungeonLady> It does have an aura, but not of mortal magic.
  4803. <DungeonLady> It is beyond mortal magic.
  4804. <Golasa> "I'm guessing this is what Shana was looking for."
  4805. <Aliken> "... indeed. We'll have to renegotiate the reward with her, since I doubt she can offer or we want the killing of two gods as our pay."
  4806. <RinTheThief> "Indeed..."
  4807. <Golasa> "I don't remember any pay being offered, aside from our continued survival."
  4808. <Aliken> "She said she'd pay us twice what we paid for the tear."
  4809. <DungeonLady> "So..." The old man nods. "I am Khoro. Remember my name when I'm gone."
  4810. <RinTheThief> "Indeed. I suspect some other deal would need arrangement..."
  4811. <Aliken> "I shall."
  4812. <RinTheThief> "I shall."
  4813. <DungeonLady> "Now. Step into me." And he loses his form, unfurling into darkness and a pale gate of ivoery.
  4814. <RinTheThief> "... Here goes." And... In she steps, unless one of the others stops her.
  4815. <DungeonLady> (Ivory)
  4816. <Aliken> Aliken steps in bravely.
  4817. * Golasa falls in behind the others.
  4818. <Golasa> (Is Nine not here today?)
  4819. <DungeonLady> (Said he'd be late due to overscheduling and forgetting it's Monday.)
  4820. <Aliken> (Ahh.)
  4821. <Golasa> (OK)
  4822. <DungeonLady> You find yourself in a land of blackness and whiteness. The silent and peaceful emptiness of the darkness surrounding you, and the bright whiteness that you can see without light. You're standing on a small white outcropping, and there're many floating in the darkness, connected by white ropes between them.
  4823. <Golasa> Any sign of a dying god?
  4824. <DungeonLady> From below, a constant flow of wistly, translucent people comes through an ivory gate, one that seems to be battered and bent. Some of the wistly people seem to be trapped in the jagged edges of the broken gate.
  4825. <DungeonLady> From above, a constant flow of infants, flowing forward from one of the larger floating islands.
  4826. <Golasa> Where are they going?
  4827. <DungeonLady> The infants are passing down through the gate. Some of them likewise get stuck on it.
  4828. <DungeonLady> The constantly flowing wistly people seem to be passing through a torn net. Those that pass through the more intact parts become a bright white, while those that pass through the tears in the net remain in their faint colors.
  4829. <RinTheThief> "... I see. I think." Rin chooses not to state her guess aloud, lest she seem foolish.
  4830. <Golasa> "Do you?"
  4831. <Golasa> "I don't think any of us can do much better than an educated guess at what's going on here."
  4832. <Golasa> "I suspect that, in some sense... this entire place is Khoro's true body."
  4833. <Aliken> "This may be possible. I suppose we need to find... a heart, for lack of a better term."
  4834. <Golasa> "Well, there are two obvious possibilities."
  4835. <RinTheThief> "That passing the net is the key to getting out of here. Or that passing the net means something horrible happens to us."
  4836. <Golasa> "First is that the key to his death is at the origin of the flow of deceased spirits."
  4837. <Golasa> "Second is that the key to his continued life is at thet origin of the flow of new lives, and must be destroyed."
  4838. <RinTheThief> "And which leads where?"
  4839. <RinTheThief> "Are those the unborn passing to life, or the dead passing to their fates?"
  4840. <Aliken> "It's possible that both will need to be dealt with, actually."
  4841. <Golasa> "This is more than a little bit new territory for me."
  4842. <Aliken> "According to Khoro, I would imagine it is both."
  4843. <Golasa> "Then, let's pick one and get started."
  4844. <Aliken> "Let's head to the ivory gate, then. However we navigate in this place..."
  4845. <Aliken> Just single ropes connecting the white islands?
  4846. <DungeonLady> There're rope bridges and some ladders.
  4847. <DungeonLady> Rope ladders.
  4848. <Aliken> Ahhh, that's less complicated, then.
  4849. <Aliken> I'll try to chart a course for the ivory gate, then.
  4850. <DungeonLady> The rope bridge consisting of essentially three ropes with the top two connect to the bottom one.
  4851. * Golasa isn't crazy about these travel conditions but she'll bear with it. Nervously.
  4852. <Aliken> Aliken navigates the rope bridges carefully. At least she has a strong grip.
  4853. * RinTheThief starts to follow Aliken....
  4854. <DungeonLady> So you narigate down via the ladders and bridges, some of you rather gingerly. Finally, you come to the island the gates rest upon. They loom both impossibly large and about seven feet tall.
  4855. <DungeonLady> Depending on how you look at them.
  4856. <Aliken> Aliken starts to study the gates intently, making sure she isn't missing any details before she acts.
  4857. <Aliken> (I'd like to Discern Realities, if I may.)
  4858. <DungeonLady> Sure, roll for it.
  4859. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  4860. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  4861. <DungeonLady> What's obvious to the eye is that they'e been broken by some incredible force, by the way.
  4862. <Aliken> What here is useful or valuable to me? What should I be on the lookout for? What here is not what it appears to be?
  4863. <Golasa> Intentionally?
  4864. <DungeonLady> Even the island is partially split where the gates were broken.
  4865. <DungeonLady> You notice the decorations on the gate, some of them depicting cloaked figures with deep holes where the face would be, leaving an emptiness with only two bright dots.
  4866. <Aliken> Hmmm. That bears closer investigation.
  4867. <Aliken> Are the dots physical objects, or just a glow?
  4868. <DungeonLady> Another of the engraving shows the old man holding the gates in one hand and some kind of fountain in another hand. There's a bright light of some kind in his chest, and similiar lights in the gates and fountains.
  4869. <Aliken> Yeah, THAT'S not a tipoff. Pretty clearly associating the gate and the fountain with his heart.
  4870. <DungeonLady> The dots seem to be carefully carven stubs when you look closer.
  4871. <Golasa> (So I'm actually sort of confused about the topography of this place.)
  4872. <Golasa> (These gates are where the dead/born people are going? Where they're coming from?)
  4873. <DungeonLady> (The older people're coming from the gates.)
  4874. <DungeonLady> (They seem to be passing through the net and out into the darkness beyond.)
  4875. <Aliken> (It sounds like the dead are appearing from within the gate, appearing in mid-air.)
  4876. <Aliken> (Is the net on the same island as the gate, or elsewhere?)
  4877. <Golasa> (So there's just one gate? Where does the net come into all this I'm confuuuused)
  4878. <Aliken> (There's a gate of death and a fountain of birth, I think.)
  4879. <DungeonLady> (The network's suspended between other islands above the gate.)
  4880. <DungeonLady> (The net, that is.)
  4881. <Golasa> (So dead people come out of this gate and go upwards to the net?)
  4882. <Aliken> (OK. So, the souls are heading up, passing through the net, then drifting off wherever into the void.)
  4883. <DungeonLady> (Yeah, and then into the darkness beyond.)
  4884. <DungeonLady> (The newborn are coming from an island up above. You'd have to get higher up to get a good look. They're passing down through the gate.)
  4885. <Golasa> (OK, and this whoe setup has nothing to do with the new souls)
  4886. <Golasa> (...OK, wrong again!)
  4887. <Golasa> (The new souls are going into the gate that the dead are coming out of?)
  4888. <DungeonLady> And... you can faintly see a multiple of settings through the gate.
  4889. <Golasa> (I think I get it @_@)
  4890. <DungeonLady> They change very quickly.
  4891. <Golasa> "I think we chose the wrong side."
  4892. <Golasa> "This is the interface between the god and the world beyond. It's not the core."
  4893. <Aliken> "Agreed. The new souls head out and the dead come in. And I think a repair job to release the souls caught on it may be beyond us. Let's head up to the fountain, then. See this carving? The new souls are coming from a fountain."
  4894. * Golasa runs a hand over the carving.
  4895. * RinTheThief nods. "Let's move, then."
  4896. <Golasa> "Why should we repair anything? We're here to kill this place."
  4897. <Aliken> "True, but I feel bad for the souls stuck here at the moment. It was just a passing thought."
  4898. <Golasa> "I expect that once this place is destroyed, a new god of life and death will be born to deal with the remaining souls."
  4899. <Golasa> "A concept as powerful as that can't remain an empty space in the Great Wheel for very long."
  4900. <Aliken> "Well, it's time to climb."
  4901. <Golasa> "Oh, boy."
  4902. <DungeonLady> After an arduous and, for some of you potentially terrifying, trip over swaying rope bridges and ladders, you are standing in front of a cracked fountain. It seems to have the same 'impossibly enormous and only about regular sized' deal the gate has going on. However, the water seems to have slowed to a mere trinkle.
  4903. <DungeonLady> Out of that faint trinkle emerges the newborn souls.
  4904. * RinTheThief examines the fountain... Including, of course, checking for traps.
  4905. <DungeonLady> No traps... but there are more engravings of the cloaked figures with emptiness where their faces would be. They're ringing the whole thing, almost as if standing guard.
  4906. <RinTheThief> She also examines the 'source' of the flow, checking for things that might be blocking it...
  4907. * Golasa drops to all fours, grateful to be back on comparitively solid ground.
  4908. <DungeonLady> The primary blocker of the flow seems to be the broken rubble of the fountain itself.
  4909. <Golasa> "Looks like most of the work has been done for us."
  4910. <DungeonLady> It's definitely suffered from the same sort of force that broke the gate and tore the net.
  4911. <Golasa> "We just need to stop the rest of the flow."
  4912. <Aliken> "All right, I suppose it's time I get to work demolishing this thing." Aliken draws her sword, frowning thoughtfully. Khoro said he would empower her sword, so maybe it might be suited to the labor? She's reluctant to use it in such a way to ruin the blade, but...
  4913. <DungeonLady> It's then that you become aware of presences around you.
  4914. * Golasa stands up.
  4915. <RinTheThief> "... I guess." Rin would, in spite of the evidence provided, think UNblocking the flow was- SWORD OUT.
  4916. <DungeonLady> You are surrounded by figures in white cloaks, identical to those from the engravings. They stare at you with glowing eyes in the emptiness inside their hoods.
  4917. <Aliken> "I suppose this is the body fighting to defend itself. We were asked by Khoro to complete this work, and act on his behalf."
  4918. <DungeonLady> And... they stare. As if waiting for you to act.
  4919. <Golasa> "I'm not sure I like our odds in a fight..."
  4920. <RinTheThief> "No kidding. But we might have no choice," Rin ponders aloud...
  4921. <Aliken> "We may not be able to avoid one, however."
  4922. <RinTheThief> ((Gah afk a minute))
  4923. <@Dysna> (Family back in town, had to deal with them all being "zomg, I'm home!")
  4924. <Golasa> "Can they understand us?"
  4925. <@DungeonLady> ((ahhh!))
  4926. <Aliken> "It's not like they're responding."
  4927. <@Dysna> (Which is fucking stupid, but whatever. What all has been happening, in 15 words or less?)
  4928. <Golasa> (Here is a quick recap of our current situation:)
  4929. <Golasa> (Link: http://i.imgur.com/S36a8tX.png)http://i.imgur.com/S36a8tX.png
  4930. <Golasa> (We have to kill the god fountain.)
  4931. <Aliken> (I hope you like creepy white-robed figures with glowing eyes staring at you silently.)
  4932. <@Dysna> (I do)
  4933. <Aliken> (Then today is your lucky day!)
  4934. <Golasa> How many are there?
  4935. <@DungeonLady> Over a score.
  4936. <Golasa> Oh dear.
  4937. <RinTheThief> This could be a pain.
  4938. <Golasa> "I wonder if they'll let us withdraw."
  4939. <RinTheThief> Especially for someone who isn't good with metaphorical murder.
  4940. <Aliken> "We need to finish the job, though. Withdrawal doesn't really solve the issue."
  4941. <Golasa> "Well, if they haven't attacked yet, then we can assume they're only watching our actions."
  4942. <Golasa> "Either we disrupt the fountain and deal with the consequences, or we come up with a more subtle plan."
  4943. <Golasa> "I'm not sure if we have a way around fighting something, considering that we're on their home turf."
  4944. <RinTheThief> "... You're the one that knows how to handle these things hear. All I've got is a blade and some tools..."
  4945. <Aliken> "Golasa, do you think your magic can provide some barriers? I'd feel a great deal more comfortable about this if I knew I didn't have to worry about getting flanked."
  4946. <Golasa> "That depends on a number of factors."
  4947. <Golasa> "For instance, whether or not they'll attack if I start drawing a magic circle around the fountain.
  4948. <Golasa> "
  4949. <Golasa> "If it comes down to an emergency, I can try various things, but I can't make any guarantees."
  4950. <Aliken> "Let's try that. I'm hoping they only react to a direct threat."
  4951. <Aliken> "Since they're an unconscious mechanism."
  4952. <Golasa> "Be ready to act regardless."
  4953. * Golasa starts drawing a circle on the ground around the fountain.
  4954. <Aliken> "Indeed."
  4955. <Golasa> Two concentric circles, actually, separated by about a hands breadth.
  4956. * RinTheThief keeps tense, ready to react to the first sign of action from the things...
  4957. * @Dysna has her wand in hand, eying the Watchers
  4958. <@DungeonLady> A few of the figures begin approaching slowly. And yet they're closer more suddenly than their pace would suggest. Skeletal hands extend out of their sleeves, reaching out as if to touch.
  4959. <Aliken> Aliken knows how to deal with THIS. She lays into the nearest opponents wiith her gleaming sword, ready to make these guardians pay.
  4960. * Golasa abandons the circle. Clearly not enough time for it.
  4961. <@DungeonLady> Roll for Hack'n'Slash, Aliken.
  4962. <@Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  4963. <Golasa> "We're doing this the hard way, then!"
  4964. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  4965. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  4966. <Aliken> Thank the gods for 18 STR.
  4967. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+1d4+1 damage
  4968. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1d4+1 damage --> [ 1d10=8 1d4=2 ]{11}
  4969. <Aliken> 2 piercing.
  4970. <RinTheThief> Rin leaps back, then steps to the side to counter.
  4971. * @Dysna holds her ground, firing her wands to light one of the Watchers on fire!
  4972. <@DungeonLady> Rin, roll Hack'n'Slash. Dysna, roll too.
  4973. <@Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  4974. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{11}
  4975. <RinTheThief> Roll 2d6+3 Hack And Slash
  4976. <@Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  4977. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, as you chop into the closest one, its hand catches your arm, the fingers passing straight through your armor. You feel a chill steeping into you.
  4978. <@DungeonLady> Take 1d8+2 damage.
  4979. <Aliken> !roll 1d8+2
  4980. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d8+2 --> [ 1d8=2 ]{4}
  4981. <Aliken> "This is not a sustainable engagement here! We need an edge!"
  4982. <Aliken> I hope I at least demolished the one.
  4983. <@DungeonLady> A couple or so of them burst into flames. Aliken, your blow wrecked cut right through your assailant and it feels like you did a lot of damage. But it's still standing and gripping your arm. Which is steadily growing numb.
  4984. <Aliken> "Golasa, see if you can destroy the carvings while we fight! I hope that will take them down, because we aren't winning a straight fight here!"
  4985. <RinTheThief> Roll 1d8+1d4 Damage
  4986. <@Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 1d8=2 1d4=1 ]{3}
  4987. <Golasa> "I'll try!"
  4988. * Golasa drops to one knee and puts her hand on the perimeter of the fountain, trying to judge exactly how deep in over her head she is.
  4989. <Aliken> Aliken growls in fury, throws down her shield, and digs out her rondel to smash in the skull of her attacker. She needs to down the one latched onto her fast.
  4990. <@DungeonLady> Take 1d8+2 damage, Rin. It ignores armor.
  4991. <Golasa> Time for some creative magic under pressure. What if I wanted to perform a ritual, using the fountain itself as a magic circle, to disrupt the connection between the watchers and the carvings on the fountain?
  4992. <@DungeonLady> However, not all of the figures are moving in. Some seem to remain watching, while a few others've restrained some of the ones heading in toward you.
  4993. <Aliken> So how many are actually trying to kill us?
  4994. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+2
  4995. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+2 --> [ 1d8=8 ]{10}
  4996. <RinTheThief> "Ack!"
  4997. <@DungeonLady> About eight.
  4998. * RinTheThief can't take another hit like that... She backs off, reaching for her throwing knives...
  4999. <RinTheThief> (Correction. Her Bow and Arrows. Forgot I switched a while back)
  5000. <@DungeonLady> The figure follows after. It moves without visibly moving.
  5001. <RinTheThief> "Damn it, get this one off me! Another hit..."
  5002. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, if you want to disconnect the watchers... you'd need to link something else in their place.
  5003. <@DungeonLady> Whatever you link would likely go with the fountain.
  5004. <@DungeonLady> When it's destroyed.
  5005. <Golasa> Hmm... do I think my staff could handle the pressure for a few minutes?
  5006. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll hack'n'slash.
  5007. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  5008. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  5009. <Aliken> I am going to avoid damage, thank you very much.
  5010. <@DungeonLady> This your old staff? It could, but after that it'd pretty much be gone.
  5011. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+1d4+1
  5012. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1d4+1 --> [ 1d10=3 1d4=2 ]{6}
  5013. * RinTheThief attempts, more than before, to get away from the Watcher so she can start shooting at it safely!
  5014. <@DungeonLady> And Aliken's assailant crumbles, the cloak dropping to the ground flat, as if there was never anyone in there.
  5015. <@DungeonLady> Sure, Rin, Defy Danger. +Dex, sounds like.
  5016. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  5017. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  5018. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, you gonna help out your comrades? The ones you lit on fire seem to be quietly putting themselves out, but it's occupying them.
  5019. <Aliken> I'm going to fall back towards Golasa to screen her, and try and buy a few moments breathing time before I'm attacked again.
  5020. <@DungeonLady> And you nimbly spring back, Rin. Looks like you'll get a chance to get a shot or two off.
  5021. * @Dysna activates a different rune, letting the magic loose and attempting to knock the various watchers onto their incopoiral asses!
  5022. <@Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  5023. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{9}
  5024. <Golasa> All right, I'll totally sacrifice my staff to this endeavour.
  5025. <Golasa> It has served me well.
  5026. * Golasa totally isn't going to get emotional about losing it. At all. Nope.
  5027. <@DungeonLady> Very well. You begin the work of cutting them off one by one.
  5028. <@DungeonLady> And, volley away, Rin.
  5029. <Golasa> What happens to the watchers as they're cut off from the fountain?
  5030. * RinTheThief opens fire at the closest watchers first, hoping to drop a few of them and get some distance!
  5031. <@DungeonLady> They fade. Not all of those are the attackers.
  5032. <Golasa> "This isn't going to be fast enough on its own!"
  5033. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, what's your choice, by the way?
  5034. <@Dysna> (oh, uh... GM's option)
  5035. <@DungeonLady> You bow back your target, but a great deal of the force goes into you as well, sending you to the ground.
  5036. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, you basically defending Golasa against all oncomers?
  5037. <Aliken> Yeah.
  5038. <@DungeonLady> Roll +Con, then.
  5039. <@Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  5040. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  5041. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{8}
  5042. <@DungeonLady> (That's Dysna, by the way, that got knocked over while knocking over her target.)
  5043. <@Dysna> (Considering next option)
  5044. <@DungeonLady> Marigold is frantically ritual-weaving along with you, Golasa, by the way.
  5045. <@DungeonLady> Rin, go ahead and roll.
  5046. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Volley!
  5047. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Volley! --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  5048. <Golasa> AS WELL SHE SHOULD
  5049. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1d4 Damage!
  5050. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1d4 Damage! --> [ 1d8=5 1d4=3 ]{8}
  5051. <Aliken> (Fighting without my armor is scary, given I only survived the fight with the godbeast because of my armor, hah. XD)
  5052. <Aliken> (And there are a LOT of tough, lethal bastards here. Heh.)
  5053. <@DungeonLady> (Speaking of, which option you picking, Aliken?)
  5054. <Aliken> I get hold, which is either intercepting the first attack at the ritual-weavers so I take it, or halving the first damage against me, if I get engaged first.
  5055. <@DungeonLady> An arrow thuds home in the one that got really close to you. It seems considerly slowed by the hit, but keeps going. Still, judging by its movements, it's in about the same state of the one Aliken struck down.
  5056. <RinTheThief> Continuing to move back, Rin tries to figure out the next point of cover she can get...
  5057. <@DungeonLady> Okay, yeah, you get in the way of one heading toward Golasa and Marigold. Suck it up.
  5058. <Aliken> !roll 1d8+2
  5059. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d8+2 --> [ 1d8=8 ]{10}
  5060. <Aliken> "AUGH!" Aliken bellows in pain, then shouts defiance as she seeks to hack apart her assailant before it can kill her.
  5061. <@DungeonLady> Rin, there's a rather skinny tree you could at least force it to manuever it around a littttle to give you that bit of addded time. Or you could try jumping onto the dry part of the fountain for a better position.
  5062. * Golasa tries to direct the ritual to cut off the shades attacking Aliken sooner rather than later.
  5063. <RinTheThief> In the middle of Golasa's magic circle? BAD IDEA.
  5064. <RinTheThief> She tries jumping up the darned tree for a clearer shot - she's light, she's sure it can handle!
  5065. <@DungeonLady> And Golasa gets the right one. Aliken's assailant winks out.
  5066. <Aliken> (9 HP left. This is definitely scary.)
  5067. <@DungeonLady> It bends under Rin's weight. It doesn't seem to be a very stout tree. But still it bears up enough to give her a better shot.
  5068. <@DungeonLady> What about you, Dysna?
  5069. <@DungeonLady> You're on the ground, and another one of thsoe things're now approaching.
  5070. <Aliken> She's able to get up before she's attacked, then?
  5071. <Aliken> Ah, heh.
  5072. <RinTheThief> A shot which Rin promptly taks!
  5073. <RinTheThief> *takes!
  5074. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll for it, Rin.. :)
  5075. <Golasa> (I can tell you're doing your job as the meatshield because you're a hit or two away from death and I haven't taken combat damage in like eight sessions)
  5076. <RinTheThief> !Roll 2d6+3
  5077. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  5078. * @Dysna scrambles back and away, making sure not to be backing TOWARD any of these Watchers, before scrambling to her feet.
  5079. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1d4 Damage!
  5080. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1d4 Damage! --> [ 1d8=8 1d4=3 ]{11}
  5081. <Aliken> (It's my job, right? XD)
  5082. <Aliken> "Nice shot!"
  5083. <@DungeonLady> Rin's target collapses into a pile of cloth.
  5084. <@DungeonLady> Another of the attackers wink out as well.
  5085. <@DungeonLady> One of the non-attacking watchers approaches... and points at one of the other figures on the fountain.
  5086. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, roll +Dex for Defy Danger.
  5087. <@Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  5088. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{13}
  5089. <@DungeonLady> Your legs prove quicker than the entity's strange psuedo-teleportation.
  5090. <@DungeonLady> You can pop off a shot while running.
  5091. <@DungeonLady> Three attackers remain, by the way. One is chasing Dysna, while the rest all close in on Golasa and Marigold.
  5092. <Golasa> Erk.
  5093. <Aliken> Well, my job is to charge the ones headed for our ritualists. I need to buy them the time to win this for us.
  5094. <RinTheThief> If Rin's clear, she's going to focus on the ones closing in on Golasa and MArigold for another Volley!
  5095. <@Dysna> !roll 2d6+2 dex to shoot with the On Your Ass Runes
  5096. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 dex to shoot with the On Your Ass Runes --> [ 2d6=7 ]{9}
  5097. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll both of you.
  5098. <@Dysna> (-1 forward)
  5099. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  5100. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  5101. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+1d4+1
  5102. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1d4+1 --> [ 1d10=3 1d4=2 ]{6}
  5103. <@DungeonLady> Right, it's sent sprawling.
  5104. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Volley!
  5105. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Volley! --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  5106. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1d4 Damage!
  5107. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1d4 Damage! --> [ 1d8=3 1d4=2 ]{5}
  5108. <Aliken> Aliken attacks at the outer range of her sword's reach, sacrificing power for the ability to step aside and avoid getting grappled while she tries to deanimate the Watcher.
  5109. <Aliken> (Low damage roll. :D)
  5110. <@DungeonLady> Aliken stops one in its track. It reaches out at her. The other continues toward Golasa. The pointing Watcher is pointing at one of the figures on the fountain. This one seems to correspond to the one approaching Golasa, maybe?
  5111. * Golasa will try to unmake that one! It's a gamble.
  5112. <@DungeonLady> And... it indeed winks out, leaving only Dysna's pursuer, which is currently getting up from the ground. And Aliken's.
  5113. <Aliken> Aliken continues to fight to destroy the Watcher she is engaged with, cold sweat running down her face from under her helm.
  5114. <RinTheThief> Seeing that Aliken is in more trouble, she shoots at the one on Aliken!
  5115. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll, both of you.
  5116. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Volley!
  5117. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Volley! --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  5118. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1d4 Damage!
  5119. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1d4 Damage! --> [ 1d8=2 1d4=2 ]{4}
  5120. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  5121. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  5122. <RinTheThief> (Rin is On A Hot Streak. :D)
  5123. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+1d4+1
  5124. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1d4+1 --> [ 1d10=5 1d4=3 ]{9}
  5125. <@DungeonLady> And that one collapses.
  5126. <@DungeonLady> The pointer points out a final figure.
  5127. <RinTheThief> ((AFK a minute sorry >.o))
  5128. <Golasa> Then while Rin is AFK, unless someone else is taking a shot, I'll continue doing my surprisingly effective thing here.
  5129. <@DungeonLady> And the final one vanishes.
  5130. <@DungeonLady> And not too fast. Golasa's staff warps and twists, as if rotting.
  5131. <Aliken> Well, once we're no long in imminent danger of dying, I'll see if I can disassemble the fountain with straight up main force. I have Bend Bars, Lift Gates as a move, right?
  5132. * Golasa throws the remains of the staff into the middle of the fountain, in case it explodes.
  5133. <@DungeonLady> ((Puma had a family emergency apparently. o.o))
  5134. <Aliken> ((Oh my.))
  5135. <RinTheThief> ((Oh jeeze ._.))
  5136. <@DungeonLady> Well, yeah. You've got a god-slaying sword and brute force. Sure, go for it and roll.
  5137. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  5138. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  5139. <Aliken> I don't damage anything of value, I don't take forever and a day to do it, and, eh, it's even not too ridiculously loud.
  5140. <@DungeonLady> Your sword thuds deeply into it, opening up another crack. And again, as you swing again.
  5141. <@DungeonLady> And the fountain shatters under your blows.
  5142. <@DungeonLady> The flow of newborns completely stops.
  5143. <@DungeonLady> And... everything begins fading.
  5144. <Golasa> "Did we do it...?"
  5145. <RinTheThief> "... Unlikely. One death-defying encounter, for a god?"
  5146. <RinTheThief> "We're not through yet, I'm sure of it."
  5147. <Aliken> "I'm not sure. Let's just wait and see for a few moments, and then, if things don't change in here, we head for the gate."
  5148. <Aliken> Aliken shudders and drops down on her knees. "I hope we don't have to do that again. It was close, for me."
  5149. * RinTheThief uses a bandage to get a few HP back. (9/15)
  5150. <Aliken> Assuming that things still seem to be working here after a little bit, I'll be quaffing my healing potion; if ever there was a time for it...
  5151. <Aliken> Also, retrieving my shield.
  5152. <@DungeonLady> The watchers are gone, by the way.
  5153. <Aliken> Does it look like the gate is still functioning?
  5154. * Golasa watches her disintegrating staff quietly for a moment.
  5155. <Golasa> "...Aliken."
  5156. <Aliken> "Yes?"
  5157. <@DungeonLady> The souls are still coming in, it seems.
  5158. <Golasa> "I've lost track of how many times you've saved my life."
  5159. <Aliken> Aliken shrugs. "It's my job. And I'm reasonably sure you saved all our lives there."
  5160. <Golasa> "I always tried to insist that I've been going along fine on my own, but it was a pretty selfish way of thinking about this kind of life."
  5161. <RinTheThief> "Keep in mind how many times you've saved ours with your rituals, Golasa..." Rin breathes, focusing on getting her pulse back down for now...
  5162. <Golasa> "Thank you."
  5163. <@DungeonLady> And then: "IYou've done enough. There is little now stopping me from ending it by my own hand." The old man is standing there. His face is even more worn than before, as if he was now truly upon the brink of death.
  5164. <Aliken> "I am sorry that all we could do was aid your death. To have helped to slay a god..." Aliken looks troubled.
  5165. <@DungeonLady> "With the Wellspring of Life gone, little enough holds me..."
  5166. <RinTheThief> "... Will your world survive, without you?"
  5167. <Golasa> "More importantly, what will happen to the cycle of life and death in our world now?"
  5168. <@DungeonLady> He meets Aliken's eyes firmly. "You have done my world a great service and by extension me." A toss of his head toward the others. "My world will suffer while a new death and birth is brought into it. But that does not affect your world."
  5169. <Aliken> I can save my potion, then.
  5170. <Aliken> "I am pleased we could have served you." Half-muttering to herself, "This will SERIOUSLY require renegotiation with Shana."
  5171. <@DungeonLady> "So. It is time to leave as I end this."
  5172. <Aliken> "Indeed. Can you send us back to the Crossroads?"
  5173. <@DungeonLady> And everything goes dark.
  5174. <@DungeonLady> Before you find yourselves back in the tent.
  5175. <RinTheThief> "... I only hope we've taken the right path," Rin declares, after a second. "... And that my Lady can find a suitable way to pay us..."
  5176. <Aliken> "Once you get your staff, Golasa, I think we should head straight back to the Beautiful Dungeon. If nobody else objects to that plan."
  5177. <RinTheThief> "No argument here."
  5178. <Golasa> "Shana is probably getting impatient by now."
  5179. <@DungeonLady> And, indeed, by the tiem you get to the staff maker, it doesn't take too long before it's ready.
  5180. <Aliken> Aliken is already planning to change into one of her new fine dresses before actually entering the Beautiful Dungeon, and wear the Whisktail in her hair. She knows she doesn't need to be armored up for the Beautiful Dungeon now, after all, and it's courtesy!
  5181. <@DungeonLady> As for the trip back to Shana... It is uneventful. Even the maze no longer poses a obstacle.
  5182. <Aliken> Aliken is dressed her best, wearing a flower, and did her best to wash down from the dust of the road before heading in.
  5183. <Aliken> She would LIKE to make a good impression while negotiating with the elder gorgon.
  5184. <Aliken> (The flower Shana gave her, no less.)
  5185. <@DungeonLady> And there's Shana loafing right out in the open, her serpentine hair swaying around her. But she does wear a beautifully embrodiered veil.
  5186. <Aliken> I assume we let Rin carry the Tear?
  5187. <Golasa> She IS the one with the bag of holding
  5188. * RinTheThief kneels before her lady, her eyes closed, as she offers the Tear. "The price we paid was... Unusual," she observes.'
  5189. <RinTheThief> ((She didn't get the bag yet - she's hoping the payment will be tradable towards the bag, because she was 5 xex short of the one she wanted...)
  5190. <Aliken> "Shana, it is a pleasure to meet with you again. There was a complication which may make determining the reward... difficult."
  5191. <Golasa> (Oh)
  5192. <Aliken> (But Rin is also Shana's pet, so.)
  5193. <Aliken> (I figure letting Shana's pet be the one to offer the Tear was good manners.)
  5194. <@DungeonLady> Shana reaches out with reverence toward the Tear. "Such a beautiful prize. So tell me the story of its acqustion."
  5195. <Aliken> "A dying god had us travel inside him and permit him to die."
  5196. <Aliken> "I don't think either you or we really want the reward to be 'kill two gods'."
  5197. <Aliken> Aliken chuckles.
  5198. <RinTheThief> "In return, though we know not how much he bid for it - it was at auction - he delivered us the tear, before sending us away that he could fade."
  5199. <Aliken> "He was the auctioneer, actually. The previous owner."
  5200. <@AFKPuma> (Okay, just an extreme allergic reaction to what's -probably- mold)
  5201. <Aliken> (Ack. Nasty. >.<)
  5202. <RinTheThief> ((Yeek, nonetheless ;-;))
  5203. <@DungeonLady> (So your little sister'll be okay? Hopefully?)
  5204. <@AFKPuma> (Hopefully. We just need to purge the house)
  5205. <@AFKPuma> (And she's in her junior year of high school, so hopefully she can survive a little allergies)
  5206. <@DungeonLady> "An unusual arrangement. What exactly did you bid for this to come about?"
  5207. <@DungeonLady> (Wishing for the best for your sister.)
  5208. <Aliken> "We bid the service of a group of mighty heroes for a task, with the heroes reserving right of refusal and assuring confidentiality to the client."
  5209. <RinTheThief> "... How *do* you convert that to something tangible?", Rin wondered. Still thinking of her personal goals - magic items to aid her success as a Thief - after all...
  5210. <@DungeonLady> "So it seems I owe you two services. Perhaps I made too careless a promise to pay you twice the price. Well, it was certainly wroth it." She stares enthralled at the Tear in her hand.
  5211. <RinTheThief> "... My lady, you know, for you have taught me, that the best thing I can do is travel within my means. If you would allow it... I saw things in the Crossroads that were just out of the range I could afford. Would you provide me things I might be able to trade in that curious place, that I might better improve my ability to serve you?"
  5212. <Aliken> "What boons might you grant? I have no desire to leave you with an open debt to burden your mind, and am sure we could renegotiate something somewhat less open-ended."
  5213. <@DungeonLady> "Very well. Chipmunk. Bring me a blossom from the Pearllady flower." And what looks like a chipmunk in servant livery scampers off.
  5214. <@DungeonLady> "I could, of course, make you beautiful."
  5215. <Aliken> "That seems fair to me."
  5216. <Golasa> "That's hardly a fitting compensation for the murder of even one god."
  5217. <Aliken> "Call that 'one service'."
  5218. <@DungeonLady> "It seem there is disagreement over this." Is that a slight note of amusement in Shana's voice?
  5219. <Golasa> "We performed the original service together, so whatever we get, it should benefit all of us."
  5220. <Golasa> "I, for one, have no interest in being made more attractive to other people."
  5221. <Aliken> "Why don't we each ask one boon for ourselves now, and save the other service, then, for if we should need it?"
  5222. <RinTheThief> "... If this is acceptable to you, my Lady, it seems a practical choice."
  5223. <@DungeonLady> "A small boon each... I suppose I could grant that."
  5224. <Golasa> "Could you grant me something that I can see through, but that would block the more unsavory elements of my gaze?"
  5225. <RinTheThief> "Tools for trade towards a Bag of Holding or other magic items of value to a Thief would be of the most value to me, my Lady."
  5226. <RinTheThief> ((And then Golasa switched from a blindfold to sunglasses.))
  5227. <Aliken> "I will accept beauty."
  5228. <Aliken> ((Golasa then became JC Denton. Her vision is augmented.))
  5229. <Golasa> (NEXT STOP: THE DUNGEON OF CYBERPUNK)
  5230. <@DungeonLady> "'Unsavory,' you say." Shana's expression is hidden by her veil, but there's a slight acidic touch to her tone. "So you refer to our natural ability to gift others with beauty as such. Still. I shall overlook it."
  5231. <@DungeonLady> She turns the crystal over in her hand a few more time, gazing at it.
  5232. <Golasa> "I can see why it might seem that way to someone in your position."
  5233. <Aliken> "... I do hope the gift of beauty you offer me is NOT turning me into a crystal statue."
  5234. <@DungeonLady> "A veil, then, or eye lenses."
  5235. <Aliken> Aliken seems a bit hesitant there after the way Shana described gorgon gaze.
  5236. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, no, it would not be that manner of transformation. I have turned my attention to mastering many others."
  5237. <Golasa> "A veil would be preferable. There are plenty of people who I would prefer not see what my eyes look like."
  5238. <Aliken> "Thank you, then. Forgive me for the suggestion, just, the way you spoke to Golasa..."
  5239. <@DungeonLady> "Rin, my dear servant, the flower I am having my servant bring you is very valuable. I am loathe to part with any of my beauties, but you've done than enough to deserve it."
  5240. <RinTheThief> ((... Permission for Rin to suggest Sunglasses? XD))
  5241. <@DungeonLady> (Hah! If you really want to. They'd be tinted lenses or such in-world.)
  5242. <@DungeonLady> (Tinted eyeglasses, that is.)
  5243. <RinTheThief> "I understand, my lady." Rin drops to the ground entirely. Pausing, she continues... "I saw some things in the Crossroads. Like glasses, but tighter against the face and tinted, such that the eyes underneath them were concealed from view. Perhaps something like that would suit Golasa's needs?"
  5244. <Golasa> (I am seriously debating this)
  5245. <RinTheThief> (( (Link: http://gelbooru.com/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1825764)http://gelbooru.com/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1825764 Rider with sunglasses. ))
  5246. <RinTheThief> (( Sadly, finding images with both a hood and sunglasses that look appropriately awesome failed my Google-Fu ))
  5247. <Aliken> (Nah, Golasa will just spontaneously become JC Denton. Or Adam Jensen.)
  5248. <@DungeonLady> So, yeah. In the end, Aliken becomes consierably prettier (which will tend to affect people's initial impressions and such.) Rin is presented with two strikingly pretty and odd flowers. Golasa gets either a veil or sunglasses. And Dysna gets something that will likely have to be chosen later.
  5249. <Aliken> Well, that was an unusual reward. But hey! :D
  5250. * RinTheThief takes both flowers, being careful to take good care of them. Other than time to feed, she will want to get to the Crossroads ASAP to trade the flowers for xex, then pursue Magic Shinies. If you'd be game to get together on AIM to run that one-on-one at some point later this week perhaps? :o
  5251. <@DungeonLady> Yeah. I need to dip off to bed.
  5252. <@DungeonLady> Thus the summary I gave just now.
  5253. <RinTheThief> For now, rest well! o/
  5254. <@DungeonLady> And, yeah, Golasa also gets a spare. Just in case.
  5255. <@DungeonLady> Becaus,e seriously, Shana is that happy with her prize.
  5256. <Aliken> *hugs* Thanks for the fun, Kaja. And sleep well!
  5257. <Golasa> I'll take the veil, ultimately
  5258. <Golasa> well, I guess I get both
  5259. <Golasa> but I'll use the veil
  5260. <@DungeonLady> I suspect Rin was raised by bags at an early age.
  5261. <@DungeonLady> Or something.
  5262. <@DungeonLady> Something to explain her bag obsession. XD
  5263. <NekoIncardine> She's OCD'ing on the bags because she was so close to having one and didn't get it
  5264. <NekoIncardine> She's also thinking of other magic items honestly XD
  5265. <Golasa> I'm out
  5266. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Apr 30 07:35:50 2013 -0700
  5267.  
  5268.  
  5269. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Thu May 02 20:18:19 2013 -0700
  5270. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 06 13:43:29 2013 -0700
  5271. <DungeonLady> Hihi.
  5272. <NekoIncardine> o/
  5273. <DungeonLady> Alright! My power level is unlimited!
  5274. <ProfessorProf> !roll 2d6
  5275. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  5276. <ProfessorProf> OK, ready
  5277. <DungeonLady> Alright!
  5278. <NekoIncardine> :O
  5279. <NekoIncardine> BTW, we never did get to thievery aids - magic boots of some sort? - Rin might be able to get with her remaining 15 xex. But we can put that during this session unless we go right into an adventure sooo
  5280. <DungeonLady> Yeah, I just IMed some ideas to you.
  5281. <DungeonLady> So, you're returning to the Spiral, mmhmm?
  5282. <ProfessorProf> Boots that treat any wall or ceiling as if it were floor
  5283. <ProfessorProf> Anyway yes, let's go back to Spiral (Spire?).
  5284. <NekoIncardine> In the between-adventures time, Rin's purchased a few magic items to advance in her goal of being the Ultimate Sneak Thief. The Boots Of Phantom R not only mask her steps, but let her run or walk along walls and ceilings, while her Loot Bag can hold any number of objects up to the size of a horse, with the object she wants being the one on top every time. She had Golasa examine the Boots because they came
  5285. <NekoIncardine> from a slightly shady dealer.
  5286. <DungeonLady> Spire, yeah.
  5287. <ProfessorProf> I'ma check out those boots, then. Do they seem legit?
  5288. <DungeonLady> Legit enough, mostly. It seems like they might wear out if used for too long, but they'll recover.
  5289. * Golasa informs Rin as such.
  5290. * RinTheThief notes to later research upgrading the magic for longer continuous durations.
  5291. <DungeonLady> So, you guys planning on anything other than checking the dungeon board? Oh, yeah, and that guy in the chain mail from your last visit to the town? He calls out, "Hey, Golasa, I got some mail for you."
  5292. <Golasa> "Mail? That's rare."
  5293. * RinTheThief looks… Surprised.
  5294. <DungeonLady> "Yeah. Someone in a hooded robe and lots of veils."
  5295. <Golasa> Uh oh.
  5296. <Golasa> "...Let's have a look, then."
  5297. <Aliken> ((Hey, sorry, overslept.)
  5298. <DungeonLady> It opens, “To my beloved daughter." Knowing her, you can hear the acidic tone in her writing. "It’s been too long since we spoke. I don’t like crowds too much, so why don’t we meet up privately at the house at the road off the crossroad just outside town?”
  5299. <Aliken> Well, I'd like to resupply. And visit the shrine again.
  5300. <Golasa> Well, shit. Mom's in town.
  5301. <@Dysna> "Is this bad?"
  5302. * Golasa puts the letter away without revealing its contents to the party.
  5303. <Golasa> "Let's find a new dungeon and leave as soon as possible."
  5304. <Aliken> "Problem?"
  5305. <RinTheThief> "… What."
  5306. <Golasa> "Yes."
  5307. <@Dysna> "Well, if she says we gotta go, I guess we gotta go."
  5308. <RinTheThief> "How worried should we be about this problem trying to hunt us down?"
  5309. <Aliken> "What's going on?"
  5310. <Golasa> Hmm. To tell them or not to tell them.
  5311. <Golasa> "...My mother's in the area."
  5312. <RinTheThief> "Oh."
  5313. <Aliken> "I assume there has been a less-than-amicable parting."
  5314. <@Dysna> "Yup, I'm going to go find us a dungeon." With that, Dysna wanders away from the party!
  5315. <Golasa> "My tolerance for the civilized races is not an inherited trait."
  5316. <Aliken> "Is she going to take it out on the locals to draw you out?"
  5317. <Golasa> "I don't see why not. There's a reason that I was surprised when Shana considered you to be people, and not prey or obstacles."
  5318. <Aliken> "Maybe it would be best not to just flee, then."
  5319. <@DungeonLady> While scanning the dungeon board, you notice an unexpected name. Karness Werrson--it's not the name itself, but the title next to her name. The Duchess of the North. Apparently she's headed into the Dungeon of Teeth with a few others.
  5320. <Golasa> "Rgh."
  5321. <Golasa> "It's either run and hope she doesn't attack the Spire, or meet her and hope she doesn't kill us."
  5322. <Golasa> How powerful is she? Hard to say, Golasa's viewpoint isn't exactly balanced.
  5323. <Golasa> As far as she's concerned, Alraune could be the most dangerous person on the planet.
  5324. <Golasa> One gets that way about parents.
  5325. <Aliken> "Speaking of 'hoping she doesn't kill us', do you think you could provide magic to help provide some safety margin against her eyes?"
  5326. <Golasa> "Hmm."
  5327. <Golasa> Two questions for the DM.
  5328. <Golasa> 1: Those sunglasses I got from Shana - would they work in reverse?
  5329. <Golasa> 2: Could I make anti-gorgon eyewear, or is that beyond my abilities?
  5330. <@DungeonLady> As for available dungeons, there's Fools, Falsehoods, Conflict, Carnival, Fiery, Happiness, and Barbed. The Dungeon of the Spiral has "WHAT THE FUCK" written next to it... And the Boring Dungeon's still just sitting there unfinished.
  5331. <Golasa> (Spiral dungeon: (Link: http://i19.mangapanda.com/uzumaki/18/uzumaki-1137055.jpg)http://i19.mangapanda.com/uzumaki/18/uzumaki-1137055.jpg )
  5332. * @Dysna debates, ponders, and considers the various Dungeons and then shrugs, picking two out and heading back to the party.
  5333. <@DungeonLady> They would work both ways, it seems. As for duplicating them, it seems like you might have to enlist some help for that or take a fair chunk of time figuring out the intricate foldings of light in them.
  5334. <Aliken> (Yeah, that's what I thought of, which is a big reason I don't want to go there. >.>)
  5335. <@DungeonLady> Actually, they wouldn't work both ways, actually, but you could just take out the lenses and reverse them. No problem.
  5336. <@DungeonLady> That is, take them out and put them back in reversed.
  5337. <Aliken> (No level from getting the Tear, right?)
  5338. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, no level.
  5339. <Golasa> Well, for now I'll reverse the shades, but I don't think we have time to deal with duplicating them under the circumstances.
  5340. <Golasa> Actually, could I work the same with the veil? I can go without it if we're dealing with mom.
  5341. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, whoever wears it would just have to wear it backwards.
  5342. <Golasa> So that's two...
  5343. <Golasa> "Whichc one of you would be most functional with your eyes closed?"
  5344. * @Dysna slips up to the party, scratching her scalp, "Happiness or Falsehoods?"
  5345. <Aliken> "Are those really the only options?"
  5346. <RinTheThief> "I'd be screwed, to be frank..."
  5347. <@Dysna> "There were more, but I figured that we wouldn't want anything to do with Fools, Fire, and Conflict. The two are more likely to be testing of us rather than physically streneous."
  5348. <Golasa> "So it's Aliken or Dysna going without an aid, then."
  5349. <@Dysna> Marigold.
  5350. <Golasa> Man I keep forgetting about her.
  5351. <Golasa> "...Marigold, this is going to get very dangerous. You can go in blindfolded or you can stay behind. Your choice."
  5352. <Aliken> "I'll take the blindfold. Dysna needs her vision for shooting. Hopefully we won't need this to come to blows, anyhow."
  5353. <@DungeonLady> Marigold says, "I shall stay. You may find me in the library."
  5354. <Golasa> "Very well."
  5355. <Golasa> "Well, I guess I'm doing this, then."
  5356. <Golasa> She does not sound pleased about the idea.
  5357. <Golasa> "You can all stay behind if you want."
  5358. <Golasa> "This is my personal issue, and she may try to kill you."
  5359. <Aliken> "I'd want to be on hand to help, if needed."
  5360. * RinTheThief … Honestly does not seem sure what to do.
  5361. <@Dysna> "Wait, why am I shooting people?"
  5362. <Golasa> "I'd prefer you didn't, but it might be necessary."
  5363. <Aliken> "Golasa is going to meet with her mother, as asked, after all."
  5364. <@Dysna> "... Should we be assuming hostile intent?"
  5365. <Golasa> "Four chances in five."
  5366. <Aliken> "Golasa thinks she might attack. We'll see how things turn out, anyhow. But YOU are getting one of these protective items Golasa is using."
  5367. * Golasa hands Dysna the shades, and Rin the veil.
  5368. <Golasa> She stays blindfolded herself for now.
  5369. <Golasa> And gives Aliken her backup blindfold.
  5370. <Golasa> Of course she has one, who wouldn't.
  5371. <@Dysna> "Then we do this where we have control. We want to set things up so that we put her at a disadvantage."
  5372. <Golasa> "She already specified the meeting place."
  5373. <Aliken> Aliken blindfolds herself, and straps on her armor for the meeting.
  5374. <@Dysna> "Do you know how long she's been waiting?"
  5375. <Golasa> "How should I know? I just got the letter. I didn't even know she was on this continent."
  5376. <@Dysna> "You didn't ask the courier dude you got the letter from when he got it?
  5377. <Golasa> "I had other conerns on my mind!"
  5378. <RinTheThief> "They might not have known, anyways."
  5379. * RinTheThief takes the veil, applying it against her hood carefully - and thoroughl
  5380. <RinTheThief> *thoroughly
  5381. <Aliken> "Well, let's make sure we're well-rested and resupplied, anyhow, before we do this."
  5382. <Aliken> (How much does this resupply/inn stay/so on cost us this time? :) )
  5383. <@Dysna> "How could they not know when they had a letter given to them? Eh, whatver. Yeah."
  5384. <@DungeonLady> (5)
  5385. * @Dysna puts on the shades, humming in consideration as she goes off to purchase a hat.
  5386. <@Dysna> (How much for, like, a cowboy hat?)
  5387. <@DungeonLady> (2 coins)
  5388. <@Dysna> (Done deal!)
  5389. <Aliken> Aliken takes the time to visit the dungeon board before they're off, now that we're not in a huge rush, and note all the names.
  5390. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, you see them including the ones Dysna eliminated before even telling you. Also, that Duchess's name.
  5391. <Aliken> When she returns, she nods. "After this, I'm inclined to say we should visit the Barbed Dungeon or the Dungeon of Teeth. The Duchess of the North is headed to the Dungeon of Teeth, and that... might end up being important."
  5392. <@Dysna> (I had a perfectly in character and logical reason for eliminating those dungeons!)
  5393. <@DungeonLady> (Yeah, not really complaining here.)
  5394. <Aliken> "As for the Barbed Dungeon, I have personal reasons for wanting to investigate that."
  5395. <@Dysna> (Also, my computer is spitting "Reset me now pls" alerts at me. Brb)
  5396. <@Dysna> (oh, okay, so now it wants to do updates and THEN reinstall, I've got time)
  5397. <RinTheThief> (Gotta love OS updates. :/ )
  5398. <Aliken> "Anyhow, we can worry about the dungeon to do after we back Golasa up here."
  5399. <RinTheThief> "Hopefully this WON'T end in a fight..."
  5400. <Golasa> "It all depends on what she wants."
  5401. <Aliken> Have I heard of male gorgons, BTW? I'll roll to Spout Lore if you're not sure, Kaja.
  5402. <@DungeonLady> Well, you've heard legends...
  5403. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  5404. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{6}
  5405. <Aliken> (Hahaha. XD)
  5406. <@DungeonLady> (Was that a Spout Lore roll?)
  5407. <Aliken> Clearly I can't recall much. XD
  5408. <Aliken> (Yeah. XD)
  5409. <@DungeonLady> I didn't really call for one, but I suppose I would've given you something.
  5410. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, you're pretty sure you've heard some pretty substantial stories of male gorgons.
  5411. <Golasa> (Remember, roll when prompted)
  5412. <Golasa> (Also remember, you have a gorgons expert in the party :P)
  5413. <@DungeonLady> Of course male gorgons exist. You're sure.
  5414. <Aliken> Yeah, but I didn't want to ask embarrassing questions about 'are there boy gorgons?' when thinking about your father.
  5415. <Golasa> Touche.
  5416. <Aliken> Well, we should head out to the crossroads and see what Golasa's mother wants.
  5417. * Golasa looks pale today. Okay, paler than usual.
  5418. * RinTheThief poof
  5419. <Aliken> Aliken is fully-armored, and for once hasn't had to replace her shield.
  5420. <Golasa> poof?
  5421. <RinTheThief> ((AFK a sec… That was a mistell though))
  5422. * RinTheThief is in her normal outfit, but her hood drawn up to hold the veil FIRMLY in place.
  5423. <Golasa> Once we're close and she's sure nobody else is around, Golasa's de-hooding and de-blindfolding.
  5424. <Golasa> If anyone's taking a peek to take advantage of the protective gear, her eyes are gray and snake-ish.
  5425. * @Dysna is following along, the brim of her hat pulled low over the shades, eyes toward the ground, doing her best impression of a beaten down slave.
  5426. <Aliken> Aliken is marching along in full armor, perfect mouth frowning in thought.
  5427. <@DungeonLady> The house... looks somewhat disused. Weeds and all.
  5428. <@DungeonLady> Some of the roofing's fallen off and not been replaced.
  5429. * Golasa takes point, for once.
  5430. * RinTheThief stays FAR in the back. She does not have her bow out yet but...
  5431. <@DungeonLady> Inside, a woman reclines in a worn chair. She's thrown back the hood of her robe, and emerald green snakes undulate around her head. She looks up to Golasa as she comes in, and then it turns into a glare as she sees the others. "I see you did not see fit to grant me a private meeting like I asked for," she says in a nigh-growl.
  5432. * @Dysna follows just behind, still acting skitish; she gently takes Aliken's hand to help her deal with being blind.
  5433. <Golasa> "I..."
  5434. * Golasa freezes for a second. That voice.
  5435. <Golasa> Then, steels herself and stands her ground. "It's private enough."
  5436. <Golasa> Is she veiled?
  5437. <@DungeonLady> She wears no veil.
  5438. <Golasa> Naturally.
  5439. <@DungeonLady> Alraune's glare doesn't fade. "What now, you're having your comrades kill me? And how will they react when they learn the truth about you?"
  5440. <RinTheThief> "We are not here to fight, only to protect our ally should she be pulled into a fight."
  5441. <Golasa> "I-I'm not keeping secrets from them! And I'm not here to kill you, either!"
  5442. <Golasa> "Just tell me why you're here..."
  5443. <Golasa> Not sounding as confident as usual.
  5444. <Aliken> Aliken holds her tongue. Golasa made it clear her mother doesn't think much of other races, and she can't imagine anything she could say would help.
  5445. <@DungeonLady> "You've making no secret of your actions. Every prey I overheard were talking about your saving the country. Of /all/ things, saving the country."
  5446. <@Dysna> "And helping kill a godbeast."
  5447. <@Dysna> "That was kind of important."
  5448. * Golasa takes a step forward. "And what's wrong with that? What if I don't WANT to spend the next thousand years feared, bloodthirsty and alone?"
  5449. <@DungeonLady> She laughs scornfully. "How long will they consider you useful? And if not them, then other prey. Associating so closely with the prey, you can't keep it a secret future." Then she pauses at what Golasa just said, and it turns into an even deeper glare than before.
  5450. <Golasa> "You don't know ANYTHING about the other races!"
  5451. * Golasa is getting mad now, too.
  5452. <Golasa> "You just live in your own narrow little world, pretending you understand how everything works!"
  5453. <Aliken> "We do know that she is a gorgon. And we have no reason to fear her."
  5454. <Golasa> "You haven't changed in three years, and you won't change in another three hundred, unless it's be getting killed!"
  5455. <@DungeonLady> "At least I'm not heading to an early death like you. And your grandmother."
  5456. <Golasa> And my..
  5457. <Golasa> (oops)
  5458. <Golasa> "And my--
  5459. * Golasa falters.
  5460. <@DungeonLady> She laughs scornfully. "But even she wasn't as naive as you."
  5461. <Golasa> "...You never told me about my grandmother."
  5462. <@Dysna> "Wait, wait, three hundred? What's the life expectency of a gorgon?"
  5463. <Golasa> "Until they're murdered."
  5464. <@DungeonLady> "She associated too closely with prey. She died. There isn't much to the story." There's an underlying pain and anger in her voice.
  5465. <Aliken> "What was her name?"
  5466. <Golasa> "Why did you come back for me?"
  5467. <@DungeonLady> "Silence, prey. You've been interrupting our private conversation too much."
  5468. <Golasa> "Was it just to remind me how much you hate me?"
  5469. <@DungeonLady> "To warn you. Fame will only kill you."
  5470. <Golasa> "You're wrong."
  5471. <Golasa> "It's not that simple. You just think it is because all you ever do is kill people."
  5472. <@DungeonLady> "People. You actually call them people."
  5473. <Golasa> "They ARE people!"
  5474. <Golasa> "They have souls!"
  5475. <Golasa> "They know more about what it means to live than we do!"
  5476. <@DungeonLady> "Feeble ones that wink out after a few dozen years, if they're lucky. They live and die like rabbits, grasping at their brief lives as it slips out of their hands."
  5477. <Golasa> "A hundred years out here is worth ten thousand years hiding in the mountains and slaughtering everyone you meet."
  5478. <@DungeonLady> "Even that dwarf with you'll become wrinkles and bones."
  5479. <Golasa> "Do you even remember what it feels like to discover something new?"
  5480. <Golasa> "You've been dead since before I was born."
  5481. <Golasa> This is going about as well as expected.
  5482. <Golasa> Golasa would shut up but she loses control of her mouth when she's scared.
  5483. <@DungeonLady> She stands straight up and stares at Golasa in stony silence. Then, "I was of a mind to repair your own mistake for you, but I think I'll allow you to live it. See the consequences of your choices."
  5484. <Golasa> "..."
  5485. <RinTheThief> "… What does that mean?"
  5486. <@DungeonLady> Alraune waves her hand at Golasa's teammates. "They can't even withstand our gaze or mine, so they hide from it. If they ever catch a stray look from... And you want to associate that closely with such weak creatures? So be it!"
  5487. <@DungeonLady> "Leave. I don't wish to speak any longer."
  5488. <@DungeonLady> "Go. Live your mistake. And die from it."
  5489. <@DungeonLady> "I was trying to look out for you, you know."
  5490. * Golasa turns and leaves without another reply. Hopefully the rest of the party is smart enough to follow.
  5491. * RinTheThief indeed follows. Quickly.
  5492. <Golasa> As soon as she's out of sight of Alraune, she stops for a moment to lean on her staff, legs shaking.
  5493. <Aliken> Aliken follows after. "You going to be all right, Golasa?
  5494. <Golasa> "She's right, isn't she?"
  5495. <Golasa> "You understand me because you're adventurers. To most people, I'm a story used to frighten children."
  5496. <RinTheThief> "Perhaps. But more importantly, you are right."
  5497. <Golasa> "I can't keep this secret forever."
  5498. <RinTheThief> "Yeah? And who in the Nine Hells will hunt you down with three of the biggest badasses - ladies who faced down a god-beast and WON - on your side?"
  5499. <Golasa> "So that's how this ends, is it? Us against the world?"
  5500. <RinTheThief> "No. It ends with you having probably saved a few more countries and damn well earned your respect."
  5501. <RinTheThief> "Fear of the eyes loses out to gratefulness, in sufficient portions, I find."
  5502. <Aliken> "Head to my cities and swear acceptance of the law, and nobody there will judge you for what you are."
  5503. <Golasa> "I..."
  5504. <Golasa> "Thanks. I don't know if you're right or not, but thanks."
  5505. <Aliken> "Seriously, I'm a Fundamentalist. If you're willing to commit to being a Fundamentalist, race just doesn't matter to us."
  5506. <Golasa> "Let's just get moving to the next dungeon."
  5507. <Aliken> "So, Teeth, Fools, Falsehoods, Conflict, Carnival, Fiery, Happiness, Barbed Boring, and Spirals." Aliken digs a sheet of parchment with notes on it. "I honestly want to examine the Barbed Dungeon, or see what's happening with the Duchess in the Dungeon of Teeth."
  5508. <Aliken> "The Duchess of the North is headed to the Dungeon of Teeth with an expedition, see."
  5509. <RinTheThief> "… Aha."
  5510. <Aliken> "And I think it's safe to say we should disqualify the Boring Dungeon."
  5511. <Golasa> (Is the Duchess of the North that person we had dinner with?)
  5512. <@DungeonLady> One of them.
  5513. <@DungeonLady> You had dinner with the Duchess of the North and the Duke of the South.
  5514. <@DungeonLady> Who seemed to be feuding with each other.
  5515. <RinTheThief> "Saving the Duchess of the North - if she is in trouble - might be a good idea. Or might not."
  5516. <Aliken> "Given the uncertainty, I want- very much want- to investigate the Barbed Dungeon."
  5517. <Golasa> "Why that one?"
  5518. <Aliken> "Because it might have an entrance to the Library."
  5519. <Golasa> "...Hmm."
  5520. <RinTheThief> "Hrm."
  5521. * @Dysna is quiet, lost in thoughts. "You know, we should make ourselves into heroes. Not just for slaying a god beast, but for being Good."
  5522. <Aliken> "Golasa, would your glasses potentially work as protective wear for reading dangerous books?"
  5523. <Golasa> "I'd be better off creating new ones. I've been meaning to, for the Book of Void."
  5524. <Aliken> "And if the Duchess' expedition doesn't need us, we're just being busybodies."
  5525. <RinTheThief> "True."
  5526. <Aliken> "Well. If you think we should delay the expedition to the Barbed Dungeon so you can prepare protective gear, Golasa, I'd be willing to do that. We could take advantage of the downtime."
  5527. <Golasa> "Or we could use it to do another Dungeon."
  5528. <Aliken> "Can you enchant glasses while doing a Dungeon?"
  5529. <Aliken> "We'll need to take the break regardless."
  5530. <Golasa> "If I have the materials, and the Dungeon is deep enough, then certainly."
  5531. <Aliken> "Fair enough. So where do you think we should head for now?"
  5532. <Golasa> "I vote Teeth."
  5533. <RinTheThief> "Sure."
  5534. <Aliken> "It's time to see if we have a distressed damsel on our hands, hm?"
  5535. <Aliken> "I suppose you should head back into the city to make sure you have materials. I'll cover material costs for you, if you make me a set as well."
  5536. <Golasa> "I'll want to collect Marigold, anyway."
  5537. <Aliken> "Indeed."
  5538. <Golasa> So it's back to the Spire, then?
  5539. <Golasa> To our noble hub.
  5540. <Aliken> To get Marigold and your stuff you need to buy, yeah.
  5541. <Aliken> I'll make a quick visit to the shrine- does the priestess even recognise me?
  5542. <Golasa> What would I need to create a pair of glasses that protect the wearer against the adverse effects of reading arcane tomes?
  5543. <@DungeonLady> She does. It's often she sees a devout dwarf like you.
  5544. <Aliken> How does she react to how I've... changed?
  5545. <Aliken> I also tell her the story of Khoro- I'm feeling a weight on me after that.
  5546. <@DungeonLady> Hmm. What you would need... The first difficult part is not knowing what the exact adverse effects are. Without that you could create a general protection, but it might not be as effective as more speicific protection. Still better than nothing, though.
  5547. <@Dysna> How likely is the adverse affect to be fatal?
  5548. <Golasa> That would depend on the book, now, wouldn't it?
  5549. <@DungeonLady> So, for such a broad spectrum protective item, you'd want a pretty good variety of gemstone dusts and the like.
  5550. <Golasa> Let's go general, for now, since we don't know what it is. Although for myself, I'd like to construct a pair of glasses that let everything OTHER than visible light through.
  5551. <@DungeonLady> Having an assistant like Marigold definitely helps, so there's that.
  5552. <Golasa> Her alchemy background should help with the gemstone dust ratios.
  5553. <@DungeonLady> Alright, the other specific glasses should be simpler. You'll have to take the time to examine the glasses Shana gve you, but creating something like that'll be easier than trying to replicate those glasses. Eyes from a blind beast would be the best thing, but crushed black pearl'll do.
  5554. <@Dysna> (So, random question. If I were to get into a staring contest with Golasa, what would the likely result be at the five minute mark)
  5555. <@DungeonLady> (With or without special Shana glasses?)
  5556. <Aliken> (I have an unanswered question outstanding.)
  5557. <Golasa> (It varies by the strength of soul of the viewer, anywhere from stiffness of limbs -> total paralysis -> death -> turned into stone)
  5558. <@DungeonLady> The priestess's definitely startled to see the transformed you.
  5559. * RinTheThief spends some time testing her boots' functionality out and around, to make sure she knows what's safely within the limits.
  5560. <@DungeonLady> The boots' endurance seems to be a function of minutes.
  5561. <@DungeonLady> Really, neither extremely long nor short.
  5562. <Aliken> "A reward I got for recovering the Tear. Helping a god commit suicide... I still feel as if I have overstepped my bounds."
  5563. <Golasa> How much will the materials cost, and do I need to roll for any of the crafting?
  5564. <@DungeonLady> Roll? Perhaps if you were trying to do in dificult circumstances.
  5565. <@Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  5566. <Golasa> OK.
  5567. <Golasa> (I have an Item Enchantment Move, is why I keep asking)
  5568. <@DungeonLady> I'll have to look that up.
  5569. <Golasa> I'll link you to it after the session
  5570. <Golasa> Or now, if you want
  5571. <@DungeonLady> Oh, right. Roll +Int.
  5572. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3
  5573. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  5574. <Golasa> I'm going to go with 2: The enchantment has no unknown side effects.
  5575. <Golasa> Meaning it isn't permanent, and it has a weird limitation.
  5576. <Golasa> Should I decide the details, or will you?
  5577. <@DungeonLady> 50 gold of materials.
  5578. <Golasa> Done.
  5579. <@DungeonLady> Hmm, suggest something interesting.
  5580. <Golasa> While you're wearing them, you can't see anything that isn't the book you're reading.
  5581. <@DungeonLady> Cool.
  5582. <@DungeonLady> Going with that.
  5583. <Golasa> And they'll only last for a couple books.
  5584. <@DungeonLady> The priestess definitely looks troubled, Aliken. "There's very little precedent for that, so I can't advise you too much."
  5585. <Aliken> "I understand. Thank you for listening to me. It comforts me to have your support." I smile.
  5586. <@DungeonLady> So, you setting out?
  5587. <Golasa> I think so. Got my glasses and my sidekick.
  5588. <Aliken> I'm ready.
  5589. <@DungeonLady> "At least it wasn't an unawful action," the priestess says.
  5590. <Aliken> Actually, Golasa, it occurs to me that the neat thing about Enchanter is that it doesn't require a bunch of fancy materials and requirements.
  5591. <Aliken> You could still enchant stuff with a Ritual, I think.
  5592. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, I noticed that.
  5593. <Aliken> Indeed.
  5594. <@DungeonLady> Was why I went as cheap as I did.
  5595. <@DungeonLady> Maybe I should've waivered the cost. I suppose, next time.
  5596. <Golasa> Oh well, I've gotten off easy a few times in the past.
  5597. <Golasa> So we'll call it even.
  5598. <Aliken> Anyhow. We're off to the Dungeon of Teeth, then?
  5599. <@DungeonLady> So, as you head to the Dungeon of Teeth... You see a small cavalary force of soliders in the livery of the Duchess riding from the direction of the dungeon. And at the front, the Duchess. She seems to be nursing some wounds juding from the bandaging, and there're a couple rather more injured riding in the supply carts.
  5600. <@DungeonLady> This is after a day and a half.
  5601. <Aliken> Aliken draws to the side of the road. "Hail, once more, Your Grace."
  5602. * Golasa is wearing the veil now.
  5603. <Golasa> And reclaimed her various eyewears from the party, naturally.
  5604. <@DungeonLady> "Greetings, godbeast slayers."
  5605. <Aliken> "Have you overcome the dungeon this way? We were hoping to be the first to have the news, when we saw of your expedition."
  5606. <@DungeonLady> She looks at Aliken with a stern exprssion. "Lost a few good men, but I gained valuable treasures.. And found the wild tales from dungeon runners like you aren't exaggerated."
  5607. <Aliken> I nod. "I am sorry for the loss of your men."
  5608. <@DungeonLady> A brief consideration crosses her face. "I seek those with high qualifications."
  5609. <Aliken> "What for?"
  5610. <@DungeonLady> "I need stout arms and formidable talents. The Duke continues to seek to obstruct my claim to the throne."
  5611. <RinTheThief> ((Rin's response, if she weren't capable of controlling her mouth: "We're staying out of that shit."))
  5612. <Golasa> "I'm not interested in getting in the middle of politics."
  5613. <Golasa> Golasa: She's here because other people are too polite to say things.
  5614. <Aliken> "I fear I cannot become involved in the politics of your country."
  5615. <@DungeonLady> "So be it. But I will pay well for any dungeon treasures with military applications."
  5616. <Aliken> "We shall keep that in mind. The Dungeon of Teeth is cleared, then?"
  5617. <@DungeonLady> "It is. And I would advise you not accept any similar offer from the Duke, by the way."
  5618. <Golasa> "I'm sure you would."
  5619. <Aliken> "Understood."
  5620. <Aliken> Well, once the Duchess has moved on, since Golasa already has glasses ready, maybe we should hit the Barbed Dungeon after all.
  5621. <RinTheThief> "Understood."
  5622. <RinTheThief> Rin agrees with this plan!
  5623. <@DungeonLady> With a gesture from the Duchess, the force proceeds onward.
  5624. <Golasa> Sure, why not.
  5625. <@DungeonLady> After a change of course, you find yourself at a huge twisted thicket of thorny vines. A small opening can be found within.
  5626. <Aliken> Is it big enough to fit through safely?
  5627. <Golasa> "I'm guessing this is our dungeon."
  5628. <Golasa> Man it's nice to be able to see.
  5629. <Aliken> "I hope this actually has an entrance to the Barbed Library. I've been waiting for this ever since the Dungeon of Words."
  5630. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, if you're careful.
  5631. <Aliken> Well, then, time to squirm my way in.
  5632. <RinTheThief> Rin follows, caution in force as always...
  5633. * Golasa takes up the rear.
  5634. <Golasa> Well, ahead of Marigold, maybe.
  5635. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, Marigold's the one tagging behind. She can be heard faintly muttering, "This should be an interesting learning experience."
  5636. <Golasa> "You'll get a lot of those, following us around."
  5637. <Golasa> Her hearing is good.
  5638. <@DungeonLady> Inside... vines everywhere, forming a corridor that you have to step carefully through as not to step on a thorn.
  5639. <Golasa> Man, I seriously dodged a bullet getting this veil, huh.
  5640. * RinTheThief is controlled in her motions, perhaps more than usual. Better to slow down for now.
  5641. <Aliken> Aliken is glad for her heavy steel-toed boots, but steps carefully nonetheless, scanning the walls with interest.
  5642. <@DungeonLady> There're skeletons entwined throughout the vines, and a sign over one of them, in a wood tinted similarly to the vines, with fancy golden letters reading in your native language, "THOSE WHO COULD NOT ATTAIN KNOWLEDGE."
  5643. <Golasa> "I suppose we'd better set about attaining knowledge, then."
  5644. <Aliken> "I think we have the right place. Fortunately, I have an invitation." She digs out her key.
  5645. <RinTheThief> "Yeek."
  5646. <Aliken> "I wonder if we'll meet Owl?" Aliken seems distinctly cheerful.
  5647. <Aliken> "And given that that sign looked like it was in dwarven to me, I'm guessing the library uses the Universal Script I saw in the Crossroads Dungeon."
  5648. <RinTheThief> "Unsurprising..."
  5649. <Aliken> I'll be keeping an eye out for a keyhole, certainly.
  5650. <RinTheThief> ((o_o))
  5651. <Aliken> ((o.o?))
  5652. <Golasa> (Are we done for the night?)
  5653. <Golasa> (We have been going for a while.)
  5654. <Golasa> And Kaja appears to be idle on AIM.
  5655. <Aliken> I suspect she may be a sleepy monster by now.
  5656. <Golasa> Well then, we're good
  5657. <Aliken> Well, at least your mom is leaving you to your own devices.
  5658. <RinTheThief> ((I guess we're done for the night, then))
  5659. <Golasa> I guess my subplot ate up the whole session
  5660. <Aliken> I was surprised you didn't mention that Shana didn't seem to have problems dealing with us.
  5661. <Golasa> Didn't occur to me
  5662. <Golasa> But Alraune probably thinks Shana's gone soft
  5663. <Golasa> Kaja certainly made her enough of an asshole
  5664. <Aliken> She's a giant jerk.
  5665. <Golasa> YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ME MOM
  5666. <Aliken> She probably wouldn't even care that your friends risked their lives for you.
  5667. <Golasa> She'd object to the term 'friend' being used to refer to inferior beings.
  5668. <Aliken> But yeah. Aliken was totally serious about 'hey, come to my homeland, adopt the religion, you'll fit right in!'
  5669. <Aliken> The Fundamentalists are WEIRD.
  5670. <Golasa> Golasa's not very religious.
  5671. <Aliken> Of course, I think Aliken's likely sold Golasa on the idea that the Fundamentalists really would just be 'it's cool' about it. Heh.
  5672. <Golasa> Anyway I'm out
  5673. <Aliken> Later!
  5674. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 06 21:45:06 2013 -0700
  5675.  
  5676.  
  5677. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 13 11:25:55 2013 -0700
  5678. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 13 17:07:35 2013 -0700
  5679.  
  5680.  
  5681. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 13 17:08:21 2013 -0700
  5682. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d6
  5683. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
  5684. <Aliken> Is Nine online, Kaja?
  5685. <@kajarainbow> Not that I can see.
  5686. <Aliken> Well, I guess we have most of us.
  5687. <RinTheThief> (\o/)
  5688. <@kajarainbow> Hiyas.
  5689. <RinTheThief> (Yay, full party!)
  5690. <Aliken> So yes. Those who failed to find knowledge are skeletons. I'll be keeping an eye out for the lock that my key goes to. Also, hmm. Can I use my fanged book about the Barbed Library to permit me to Spout Lore for anything I should be keeping alert for while I'm here?
  5691. <@kajarainbow> So. You're in the Barbed Dungeon, which's taken the form of twisting brambles around you.
  5692. <@kajarainbow> If you've got something you're particularly curious about, you may.
  5693. <Aliken> Are there any hints as to entry to the library proper? Since, so far, we haven't seemed to find any books.
  5694. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  5695. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  5696. <@kajarainbow> Just corridors running here and there, though the largest main passage continues arcing ahead. You do recall something about seekers having to pass through the Brambles to get there. What's one notable peril you read about?
  5697. <Aliken> There is a maze of brambles with 'guides' that may be truthful- or not- that ensure the foolish are sent to certain death while the cunning may find the way to the entry.
  5698. <RinTheThief> Hrm...
  5699. <Aliken> "We should keep alert for the 'guides', whatever they are. There should be some about here. They're a... sort of test, it seems."
  5700. <RinTheThief> Rin stats examining the 'guides' more closely, once she is made aware of their existence.
  5701. <@kajarainbow> And, indeed, you see two such guide beckoning to you. Dressed in workman quality traveling clothes,, one with an apparent body of brambles and one with a friendly dwaven face.
  5702. <@kajarainbow> Oh, guess what, it's a friendly human face that Rin sees.
  5703. <Aliken> "You are guides, yes?"
  5704. <RinTheThief> Rin pauses, checking her intuition more closely… (Spout Lore?)
  5705. <Aliken> (Discern Realities.)
  5706. <Aliken> (You don't have lore you know, but you can try to notice stuff.)
  5707. <@kajarainbow> (Yeah, you can roll +Wis to see what you make out.)
  5708. <Aliken> Aliken studies them closely herself while waiting for a response.
  5709. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3 Logical
  5710. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 Logical --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  5711. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6
  5712. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{10}
  5713. <RinTheThief> (Whoo!)
  5714. <@kajarainbow> Both of you ask three questions.
  5715. <Aliken> What isn't as it seems? What should I be on the lookout for? What is about to happen?
  5716. * RinTheThief erm looks up the list
  5717. <Aliken> What happened here recently? •  What is about to happen? •  What should I be on the lookout for? •  What here is useful or valuable to me? •  Who’s really in control here? •  What here is not what it appears to be?
  5718. <Aliken> (List!)
  5719. <RinTheThief> What should I be on the lookout for? What here is useful or valuable to me? What here is not what it appears to be?
  5720. <@kajarainbow> The guide with the body of brambles has a sort of face formed out of said brambles, while the one with the familiar face is in fact a blur. Also, there're slight movements around you in the brambles. Things scurrying like lizards between the throns. They seem to be watching you for now.
  5721. <Dysna> (Sorry if I'm less responsive today. My roof sprung a leak.)
  5722. <@kajarainbow> Rin, you spot something glittering on a skeleton.
  5723. <@kajarainbow> (Oh eeek.)
  5724. <Aliken> Do they respond at all to my speaking to them, or are they just beckoning?
  5725. * RinTheThief inspects the skeleton closer, but is ready to step away on reflex...
  5726. <Aliken> (Ack, hope that doesn't make too much trouble.)
  5727. <@kajarainbow> Alikven, there's a general air of expectation. As of an invisible audience holding its breath.
  5728. <@kajarainbow> (Yeah, I hope so too.
  5729. <@kajarainbow> )
  5730. <Dysna> (I live in seattle)
  5731. <Dysna> (Draw your own conclusions)
  5732. <Golasa> (The weather in Seattle has been bizarre today)
  5733. <Aliken> "The friendly face of THIS guide is an illusion, I believe." She gestures to the dwarf/human/kobold?. "And the Barbed Library rewards those who would seek knowledge beyond their comfortable limits, I believe. So, I believe this guide is meant to lull those simply seeking confirmation of their comforts." She turns to the bramble-guide. "Whereas this guide wears the true face of the Barbed Library, I believe." She steps confidently towards the passage the bramble-guide beckons to.
  5734. <Aliken> "The friendly face of THIS guide is an illusion, I believe." She gestures to the dwarf/human/kobold?. "And the Barbed Library rewards those who would seek knowledge beyond their comfortable limits, I believe. So, I believe this guide is meant to lull those simply seeking confirmation of their comforts."
  5735. <Aliken> She turns to the bramble-guide. "Whereas this guide wears the true face of the Barbed Library, I believe." She steps confidently towards the passage the bramble-guide beckons to.
  5736. <Golasa> "You sound awfully confident."
  5737. <Aliken> "I can tell that the other guide is lying about its face. And avoiding lies is precisely what we should be doing now, with the guides."
  5738. <@kajarainbow> The two guides both bow.. And the walking bundle of brambles turns to lead the way.
  5739. * RinTheThief begins to follow, cautiously wondering if the workmanly one was the right answer...
  5740. <@kajarainbow> Rin, it looks like the skeleton had a bracelet with dark almost black and silvery white metals entwined.
  5741. <@kajarainbow> Doing anyting with it before you leave?
  5742. <RinTheThief> Rin pulls out a single arrow, and uses the fletchings to try and grab the bracelet from several feet away.
  5743. <@kajarainbow> You're able to tug it off. There's a sound of quiet whispering, but that stops.
  5744. <RinTheThief> … She will have Golasa inspect the bracelet, THOROUGHLY, when they stop. And she doesn't put it on or put it in her bag. A bit of twine will keep it at her side for now.
  5745. <@kajarainbow> "The path's straight and clear ahead of here," the bramble guide says. "The path's twisted with pain awaiting," says the blurred guide.
  5746. <Aliken> Is the path straight or twisted, by my own vision?
  5747. <@kajarainbow> Who do you trust more?
  5748. <@kajarainbow> This goes for the rest of you as well.
  5749. <Aliken> I trust the bramble guide more.
  5750. <RinTheThief> I trust the bramble guide.
  5751. <@kajarainbow> I probably should rephrase. Which words do you trust more?
  5752. <Golasa> (Sorry, was distracted)
  5753. <Golasa> (People are coming to look at buying my apartment)
  5754. <RinTheThief> Rin trusts the Bramble guide more. More or less. Still being cautious as hell
  5755. <@kajarainbow> (Ahhh. Will you be busy tonight, then, Prof?)
  5756. <Golasa> (No)
  5757. <Golasa> Golasa doesn't especially care which one of them is right on this particular question. It's the wrong question.
  5758. <Aliken> Honestly, what the blurred guide said sounds more like what I should expect from the Barbed Library, but Aliken already thinks the blurred guide has been presented as a liar. So perhaps the fact that it's what I should expect is precisely what makes it an effective lie.
  5759. <@kajarainbow> Oh, interesting. And what might the right question be, Golasa?
  5760. <Golasa> "Pain and twistedness aside, does it lead to where we want to go?"
  5761. <@kajarainbow> Both of them turn to look at Golasa. "And where do you wish to go?"
  5762. <Golasa> Thoughtful pause.
  5763. <Golasa> "The Barbed Library."
  5764. <@kajarainbow> "Very well." And then turn completely around and begin walking back in the direction you came from.
  5765. <RinTheThief> "… Wat."
  5766. <Dysna> "Reality warping dungeons. Did we expect anything less?"
  5767. <Aliken> "Are we to follow you, then, in order to find the Barbed Library?"
  5768. <Golasa> "Is that a no, then?"
  5769. <@kajarainbow> "The Library's this way down where we'e walking." They continue walking.
  5770. <Aliken> Aliken follows them, cautiously.
  5771. * Golasa also follows. "Where did that other path lead?"
  5772. * RinTheThief is also cautious as hell
  5773. * Dysna is walking approximately half a step behind, counting on her own ability to run away.
  5774. <@kajarainbow> "It led straight down and down and down," replies the bramble guide. "It led to pain," says the blurred guide. "Both were the truth," the former says.
  5775. <Dysna> "Unless you're the one that's supposed to decieve us, in which case it's entirely possible for us to think ourselves in circles. The cleverest of lies is one hidden in deception."
  5776. <Dysna> *hidden in truth
  5777. <Golasa> "Either way, I'm confident that the correct path won't be the safest one."
  5778. <Aliken> "Not the apparently safest one, anyhow. The incorrect paths will be even more dangerous, in the end."
  5779. <@kajarainbow> "You have to go somewhere one way or another," the brambled guide says while the blury one says, "That served its purpose. It wouldn't serve to lie to those directly seeking the Library. Impeding the seekers's a good way to lose your face."
  5780. <Aliken> Aliken fishes out her key. "I have been invited."
  5781. <@kajarainbow> "Now, the question, can you survive?" "And how determined're you for knowledge?" "Would you brave a rain of arrows?"
  5782. <Aliken> "I've braved worse than that before. I knew there would be risks when I got the invitation."
  5783. <@kajarainbow> Aliken and Rin, by this time you'd notice the rustling in the brambles increasing. The others see it now.
  5784. <Golasa> "Is a rain of arrows something we're likely to face?"
  5785. <@kajarainbow> "Arrows, no."
  5786. <Dysna> (You know, just a thought, but we've killed a godbeast. And a god. You'd think we were Epic Level by this point. I've been playing too much D&D)
  5787. <Golasa> (DW is never NOT epic level.)
  5788. <Golasa> Well this seems like a situation where the best defense may be a good offense.
  5789. <Golasa> I'm going to cast a spell to freeze the liveliness out of the rustling brambles.
  5790. <@kajarainbow> Oh hoo.
  5791. <@kajarainbow> Roll for it. :)
  5792. <Dysna> kajarainbow rolled --> error: malformed expression
  5793. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, Focus Aligned
  5794. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, Focus Aligned --> [ 2d6=4 ]{8}
  5795. <Golasa> good thing I'm so smart
  5796. <Golasa> I pick... My spell won't last long, and saps my energy for -1 Ongoing.
  5797. <@kajarainbow> There's a sudden ruckus from the nearby brambles as ice rimes them over. A majority of the moving figures're caught in them, but a sprinkling of barbs does rain from there accompanyed by an assortment of vocalizing noises.
  5798. <@kajarainbow> The guide continues walking as if they were being eplted with airborne throns.
  5799. <@kajarainbow> Er, werent'.
  5800. <@kajarainbow> (I keep typoing.)
  5801. <RinTheThief> With the number of barbs reduced, Rin crouches low to avoid as many of the rest as possible, moving after the guide.
  5802. <Aliken> Aliken raises her shield to screen the nearest person to her, counting on her armor to protect her against barbs.
  5803. * Dysna uses the guides as cover, following along.
  5804. <@kajarainbow> Alright, Rin and Dysna roll +Dex, and I'll assume Aliken's Defending Golasa (roll +Con).
  5805. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  5806. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{8}
  5807. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+2
  5808. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  5809. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Dex Defy Danger
  5810. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Dex Defy Danger --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  5811. <Aliken> I'll halve the damage Golasa takes.
  5812. <@kajarainbow> The two of you nimbly manage to weave your way underneath clover. Aliken, suffer 1d6 damage and Goalsa half of a 1d6 roll.
  5813. <Aliken> !roll 1d6
  5814. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=1 ]{1}
  5815. * Aliken hears thorns ping off her plate armor.
  5816. <@kajarainbow> You proceed onwards through the barrage. The ice's already visibly melting, but it does hold for a moment longer.
  5817. <Golasa> !roll 1d6
  5818. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
  5819. <Golasa> 1 damage!
  5820. <Golasa> "Ow!"
  5821. * Golasa hasn't taken actual damage in a while. She's getting soft.
  5822. <Aliken> "Let's hope we get there soon."
  5823. <@kajarainbow> The thawed skitterers in the brambles follow after, continuing to launch scattered fire at you "What woudl you give up for knowedge?" then blurred guide suddenly muses.
  5824. <RinTheThief> "It would depend on what knowledge I would be asked that of," Rin responded.
  5825. <Aliken> "I intend to spend the time to achieve it. If achieving knowledge costs me illusions, then the illusions deserved the sacrifice."
  5826. <Golasa> "Pride."
  5827. <@kajarainbow> (Just a warning, it seems like I didnt' get enough sleep today--I'm already getting sleepy. I'm still keeping going for now, just informing you.)
  5828. <RinTheThief> ((Noted.))
  5829. <RinTheThief> ((AFK a minute >o))
  5830. <Dysna2> (So do we keep going until you pass out or stop when you start feeling more tireder?)
  5831. <@kajarainbow> (Until we reach a good stoping point.)
  5832. <@kajarainbow> (Also, got an answer for that question about what you'd sacrifice for knowedge, Dysna, or are you not obhtering with it?
  5833. <Dysna2> (I didn't see the question)
  5834. <Dysna2> (I'm ignoring it.)
  5835. <@kajarainbow> (Righto.)
  5836. <@kajarainbow> "Illusion to illusion," says the first guide. "Dreams to dreams," says the other. And both vanquish like they never were.
  5837. <@kajarainbow> At least the path continues ahead.
  5838. <Aliken> (Somehow, I feel as if there's a witch involved. Hah. 'Illusion to illusion'.)
  5839. <Golasa> (If someone starts talking in red, I'm out)
  5840. * Aliken presses forward along the path, confident that something important has been achieved here.
  5841. <RinTheThief> (Don't give the DM ideas! That'd totally be in red if I could set colors in this client)
  5842. <Aliken> (I'll just invite you to a lovely Halloween party.)
  5843. <Aliken> (Golasa. :D)
  5844. <Aliken> (Happy Halloween, Maria.)
  5845. <@kajarainbow> Aliken, name an illusion you currently hold. Golasa, name something you hold pride in.
  5846. <Aliken> Hmmm. It's hard to know what you think is true that is just an illusion, by its nature.
  5847. <Golasa> I have a feeling that this is going to be a disastrous answer, but her magical talents.
  5848. <RinTheThief> (And then Golasa had Rin's class and Rin Golasa's.)
  5849. <Aliken> Aliken has firm confidence in the authority and majesty of the gods, even if many gods are opposed on some level to the ones she follows. But the gods as a whole deserve the faith of mortals.
  5850. <@kajarainbow> The pathway through the brambles widens, becoming an open spacious room in the middle of a bramble cavern.
  5851. <@kajarainbow> And a shadow flies overhead.
  5852. <Aliken> Aliken looks up instinctively, trying to figure what it was that flew over...
  5853. <RinTheThief> "Well. Crap."
  5854. <@kajarainbow> It's hard to be sure what it *is*. It looks almost like a combination of glowy-eyed owl, dragon, and tropical bird(the last because of the colorfulness of its feathered wings and the thorny caparace).
  5855. * Golasa raises her staff defensively.
  5856. <@kajarainbow> It sweeps down, heading toward a landing in front of you.
  5857. <Aliken> ... may I Spout Lore?
  5858. <@kajarainbow> I'll save you a little time. This coudl be a number of things--a test of commitment, test of something else, or a red redding. Note that people've died in those tests.
  5859. <Dysna2> (Is it bad that I want to call it a Luminoth Librarian?)
  5860. <Dysna2> (It isn't even a moth person)
  5861. <Golasa> Not trying anything until we know what it intends to do.
  5862. <Aliken> Is there a clear path past the spacious room, or does it dead-end in this room?
  5863. <@kajarainbow> The room continues onwards, and there's a faintly seen end at the toher end, but its' fairly large. You'd have to get closer to see the end of it.
  5864. <@kajarainbow> "Hallt! I am the Guardian," it says. "Those that seek what I guard shall not pass."
  5865. <Aliken> "And yet there are those who have sought and entered the Barbed Library."
  5866. <Aliken> "Is it the Library that you guard?"
  5867. <@kajarainbow> "It is not. Nevertheles, I feel hungry." It eyes you all with speculation.
  5868. <RinTheThief> "I'm kinda bony, not worth eating." This sounds like a practiced response. o_O
  5869. <Aliken> "And what is it that you feed off of?"
  5870. <@kajarainbow> "Anything that strikes my fancy."
  5871. <Golasa> "I'm not a prey animal."
  5872. <Aliken> "It would be uncouth for you to eat one who has been invited to the Barbed Library, I should think."
  5873. <@kajarainbow> "It woudl not be the first time I have done so. And prey animals do not exist, nor does predators. Everything strives for its own existence, whatever it might cost otehrs'."
  5874. <Aliken> "I believe I have a disproof by example on the clause 'whatever it might cost others'."
  5875. <Aliken> "I have repeatedly risked my life to save the lives of my comrades. This can be attested to."
  5876. <Aliken> "It takes but one blue flag to prove not all flags are red."
  5877. <@kajarainbow> "Yes, you band tother, valuing the survival of our those you've chosen to fight for. Just as a pack fights for its members."
  5878. <@kajarainbow> "And each group fights for itsellf."
  5879. <@kajarainbow> "If by some chance you should happen to not be eaten, I do recommend Sajak's treaatsie on the essence of natural conflicts.
  5880. <Aliken> "I shall keep that in mind. Nonetheless, I do not seek conflict with you."
  5881. <Golasa> "It would be a shame to deny fellow intellectuals the chance to enjoy such a treatise, wouldn't it?"
  5882. <Golasa> The difference is that Golasa doesn't expect it to work.
  5883. <@kajarainbow> "Possibly so. Nevertheless, I hunger."
  5884. <RinTheThief> "Then how else shall we discourage you?"
  5885. <Dysna2> "Aside from murder. Murder is bad discouragement."
  5886. <@kajarainbow> "One way or another, fill my stomach."
  5887. <Aliken> "Can your stomach be filled by abstracts or intangibles?"
  5888. <Aliken> "It would not surprise me to learn you could feed on the learning of facts."
  5889. <@kajarainbow> "I'll spare you Kovan's catalogue of the types of hunger. Nevertheless, it's a hunger of the stomach and not the mind."
  5890. <Golasa> "I met some very appetizing-looking guides on the way in."
  5891. <Aliken> Aliken actually bursts out laughing at Golasa's comment.
  5892. <@kajarainbow> "I ask you to trust me that they're most unappealing." The strange beast wrinkles up what passes for its facr.
  5893. <Golasa> "Very well. If you must, eat Rin first."
  5894. <Golasa> "More seriously, we're going to defeat you and move on."
  5895. <Aliken> "I regret if it comes to battle. You seem a more cultivated sort than the godbeast of Crx."
  5896. <@kajarainbow> "Believe me, I will not begruntle it if you seek to fight off or escape from me."
  5897. <Aliken> "Tell me, how did Owl deal with you?"
  5898. <@kajarainbow> "So many have visited the Library that I can scarcely remember a name or face. Nevertheless, I have bene fed with meat."
  5899. <Golasa> "We're wasting time. This thing isn't going to be appeased with something less than blood."
  5900. <RinTheThief> "The amounts we carry would scarcely begin to sate you, I am afraid."
  5901. <Aliken> "Right, then. Let's form up and cross this cavern. We can cut a slab off the Guardian for it to feed on when it tries to eat us."
  5902. <Aliken> "Golasa, if you can freeze up its wings, I'm sure I can screen the rest of you while it's on the ground."
  5903. <RinTheThief> "Only enough to get past, I presume?"
  5904. <Aliken> "I don't feel the need to slay the Guardian. Just get through."
  5905. <Golasa> (Did we hit our time limit for tonight?)
  5906. <Aliken> (Possible!)
  5907. <Golasa> Incidentally, would an earlier time work for others?
  5908. <Golasa> We chose this time slot I think partially because of me.
  5909. <Golasa> But I'm changing time zones next month.
  5910. <RinTheThief> ((Not really because of me. :< ))
  5911. <Golasa> Alas.
  5912. <Aliken> I could work with an earlier time. But, ah, Rin can't?
  5913. <RinTheThief> ((Alaska. :< ))
  5914. <Dysna2> Can do earlier
  5915. <Dysna2> but might not be an option.
  5916. <Aliken> Ah well.
  5917. <Golasa> o/
  5918. <Aliken> See you all. 'Twas fun!
  5919. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 13 20:33:15 2013 -0700
  5920.  
  5921.  
  5922. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 20 14:44:19 2013 -0700
  5923. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 20 17:13:16 2013 -0700
  5924.  
  5925.  
  5926. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Wed May 22 15:27:51 2013 -0700
  5927. <@Aliken> Hello, hello.
  5928. <NekoIncardine> \o/
  5929. <ProfessorProf> o/
  5930. <@Aliken> (Link: http://24.media.tumblr.com/e7a4a55c6ebcffe0c8deca0dcdf903d4/tumblr_mn68tukuuZ1qdlh1io1_250.gif)http://24.media.tumblr.com/e7a4a55c6ebcffe0c8deca0dcdf903d4/tumblr_mn68tukuuZ1qdlh1io1_250.gif Kitty antics.
  5931. <Aliken> Well, short of tossing Dysna to the Guardian, I sort of doubt we have the meat to feed it. Which means we may have to resort to other methods.
  5932. <Dysna> I'm being fed to a what now?
  5933. <Aliken> You AREN'T being fed to anything. You weren't here last session?
  5934. <Aliken> We're in a winding maze of brambles looking for the Barbed Library. And we encountered a large, erudite monster that has politely informed us that it's hungry and wants to feed. One way or another.
  5935. <Aliken> So I think discouraging the Guardian from taking its lunch with extreme prejudice is in order.
  5936. <Dysna> Oh, I was here for that. I didn't realize we were calling it the Guardian
  5937. <Aliken> It called itself the Guardian.
  5938. <@kajarainbow> Alright, ready to start?
  5939. <Aliken> Sword out and shield up.
  5940. * Aliken is ready, that is. :3
  5941. <ProfessorProf> Les go
  5942. * RinTheThief ready! (And enjoying an Acai bowl OOC'ly for dinner to make up for the pizza lunch << )
  5943. <@kajarainbow> And the Guardian takes to the air, uttering strange words as it does so--and you can actually see the words coming out of its mouth, forming in the air.
  5944. <RinTheThief> Rin quickly analyzes the environment - especially focusing on cover.
  5945. <ProfessorProf> Oh right that's where we were.
  5946. <Aliken> "Golasa, freeze up its wings if you can! I can't engage effectively if it's airborne!"
  5947. <@kajarainbow> There're many twisted whorls of brambles jutting out here and there, out of what looks like a proper dirt ground.
  5948. <Aliken> Aliken is tensing, readying for a charge once she gets a chance to engage.
  5949. <ProfessorProf> "Keep it busy for a minute!"
  5950. <Aliken> "Right, that." Aliken shakes her shield and sword to the ground, pulls out her crossbow, aims, and looses at the Guardian.
  5951. * Golasa begins incanting a spell to bind the wings of the Guardian.
  5952. <Aliken> Roll to Volley?
  5953. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> error: malformed expression
  5954. <Dysna> (Um, am I the dice bot or is Dicelord coming?)
  5955. <Golasa> (OH RIGHT)
  5956. <@kajarainbow> And the words loop around the Guardian, linking together into a set of rotating barriers. The bolt slams right into it and is deflected aside. You'd have to aim between the gaps.
  5957. <@kajarainbow> Rin, you taking up cover then?
  5958. <Aliken> I'm loosing again, this time aiming for where I can get an opening. Golasa asked me to buy her time, and this is the best I can do while it's in the air.
  5959. <@kajarainbow> Now roll for it.
  5960. <Aliken> !roll 2d6-1
  5961. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6-1 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{5}
  5962. <Aliken> Well, not too surprising, that...
  5963. <RinTheThief> Rin indeed moves to take cover - to get out of the beast's sight so she can strike it from an unexpected angle.
  5964. * Dysna aims her wands at the creature before attempting to shoot it full of arcane energy!
  5965. <@kajarainbow> Another bolt hits one of the barriers, this time shattering. And the Guardian screams in a very strange sound, as a swarm of... what looks like miniature versions of the strange owl-dragon-tropical bird like beast pours forth out of its mouth.
  5966. <@kajarainbow> Okay, Dysna roll for it. And Golasa as well.
  5967. <Aliken> Aliken curses, drops the crossbow, and scrambles to reclaim her sword and shield.
  5968. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3
  5969. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{6}
  5970. <Dysna> Fuuu-
  5971. <RinTheThief> (Does Rin need to roll to Stealth?)
  5972. <Golasa> I still have -1 from energy drain, but ice is in my element, so
  5973. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3
  5974. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=2 ]{5}
  5975. <Golasa> fuck
  5976. <@kajarainbow> (Hmm, sure, if she wants to avoid the attention of the swarm right now rushing all over the others.)
  5977. <RinTheThief> (Welp. Nat 2. :<)
  5978. <Aliken> (Man, Dicelord, you have it in for us tonight.)
  5979. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Stealth to hide from the swarm of... Things. And also the guardian for the moment.
  5980. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Stealth to hide from the swarm of... Things. And also the guardian for the moment. --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  5981. <@kajarainbow> Speaking of, the three of you are beset by the swarm. Take 1d10 damage., and you've got little things swarming all over you and pecking away, sinking their eager beaks into your flesh. Rin, what shall you do? You can escape notice, if you want to leave your team in trouble like this.
  5982. <Golasa> (PROGRESS)
  5983. <Aliken> !roll 1d10
  5984. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10 --> [ 1d10=7 ]{7}
  5985. <Dysna> !roll 1d10
  5986. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d10 --> [ 1d10=9 ]{9}
  5987. <Dysna> (Ow)
  5988. <Aliken> Aliken curses viciously, and proceeds to mash, pound, and otherwise reduce to a pulp her undersized assailants.
  5989. <@kajarainbow> (At last you guys get to apply your armor.)
  5990. <@kajarainbow> (Er, at least.)
  5991. <Aliken> (Do I get my shield, or have I not recovered it yet?)
  5992. <@kajarainbow> (Sure, you got a chance to grab it. I'll give you that much mercy.)
  5993. <RinTheThief> Rin chooses to escape notice, and start climbing along the wall to higher ground. Her plan is literally to jump on the guardian to throw him off.
  5994. <Dysna> (Is there shrubbery nearby that isn't Thorn Walls?)
  5995. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, about that... You'll have to figure out some way to cover your hands and stuff, or just take the thorns.
  5996. <@kajarainbow> Or figure out some other way to deal with the thorns.
  5997. <RinTheThief> Rin activates the Boots Of Phantom R, which should be thick enough for the thorns and allow her to just RUN up the darned wall!
  5998. <@kajarainbow> Cool. Right now you really do look like a dashing rogue, running right up the wall like it was nothing.
  5999. <Dysna> Hax.
  6000. <@kajarainbow> And while Rin's taking the long-term view so she can ambush the source of all this trouble, the rest of you've got those nasty little works in your faces. Even somewhat literally.
  6001. <Dysna> Shrubbery that isn't thorn walls?
  6002. <@kajarainbow> All of it's barbed.
  6003. <@kajarainbow> Honestly, the only reason your feet aren't already torn up is that you're wearing boots.
  6004. <Dysna> Crap.
  6005. <Aliken> Yeah, about these little bastards. I have thick gloves, metal plating, a shield, and heavy boots. I'm going to kill them in job lots.
  6006. <Dysna> How big are these things?
  6007. <@kajarainbow> Mouse-sized, about.
  6008. * Dysna is running around screaming something about bees in a perfect impersonation of someone panicking.
  6009. <Aliken> "Gerechtsheid!"
  6010. <Golasa> What are the results of my grim defeat?
  6011. <Aliken> You're covered in little bastards and you take 1d10 damage.
  6012. <Aliken> Roll to take damage, Golasa.
  6013. <Dysna> Aliken rolled --> error: malformed expression
  6014. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, just that.
  6015. <Golasa> !roll 1d10
  6016. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d10 --> [ 1d10=3 ]{3}
  6017. <Golasa> Ow.
  6018. <@kajarainbow> You didn't even get your spell off, and Marigold's already running for cover well away. If you want her to do something, you'll have to call her back. However, at least you're the least worst off of the lot.
  6019. <Golasa> "Rrgh!"
  6020. <Golasa> Okay, need a plan B.
  6021. <RinTheThief> Once Rin has her position... She ends the boot's effect, dropping directly onto the guardian! Of course, if she misses, she'll be too dead for it to hurt probably
  6022. <@kajarainbow> Right, and Golasa's your plan B?
  6023. <@kajarainbow> (And Rin, I'll get to you right after this.)
  6024. <Golasa> Hmm...
  6025. <Golasa> If I can't freeze it directly, I'll make flight harder!
  6026. * Golasa goes for ice again, but instead of trying to imbue a living being with it, she raises fixed columns of ice in various points throughout the chamber as navigational hazards.
  6027. <Aliken> You're still covered in gnawing mini-Guardians, you know.
  6028. <@kajarainbow> You're doing this even with those things in your face? Well, you can, if you tell me how you're Defying Danger.
  6029. <Golasa> Oh wait I may have missed something.
  6030. <Golasa> They're still clinging to my face?
  6031. <@kajarainbow> They're all over you.
  6032. * Dysna continues running around screaming about bees.
  6033. <Aliken> Yeah. You have a ton of mouse-sized mini-Guardians trying to eat you.
  6034. <Golasa> In that case, I'm going to use my skin and robes as a spell transmission medium to simply suck the liveliness out of them.
  6035. <@kajarainbow> Cool. Roll for it.
  6036. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3
  6037. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  6038. <Golasa> Drawbacks...
  6039. <Golasa> Unforseen side effects, affects more than anticipated.
  6040. <RinTheThief> (Oh this'll be fun :x)
  6041. <@kajarainbow> Hoo boy. Okay, the swarm begins collasping to the ground in a radius radiating out from you. And... the vines around you wither.
  6042. <@kajarainbow> The still alibe brambles begin moving.
  6043. <@kajarainbow> However, the swarm besetting you have fallen down as well, Aliken and Dysna.
  6044. <Aliken> Moving? Like, how vigorously moving?
  6045. <@kajarainbow> Sort of beginning to shift around you.
  6046. <@kajarainbow> Rin, the brambles shift just as you make your leap. Now, this is a dangerous move you're making, more so than usual. Roll for it, but if you suceed, you get your backstab and bonus damage on top of it for the drop.
  6047. <Aliken> Right, I'm bracing myself to engage the freaking brambles now...
  6048. <@kajarainbow> It sounds like a +Dex roll.
  6049. <@kajarainbow> Rin, that is.
  6050. <RinTheThief> Roll 2d6+3 Rin makes her drop, drawing her blade as she falls... Hopefully, right onto the beast!
  6051. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  6052. <RinTheThief> (WOO!)
  6053. <RinTheThief> Roll 1d8+1d8 Plus falling-inflicted damage, plus Rin's blade is probably now a handle for holding onto the darned thing until she can drop to a safe-ish landing!
  6054. <Dysna> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 1d8=1 1d8=7 ]{8}
  6055. <RinTheThief> (... Or she sure hopes so ._.)
  6056. <@kajarainbow> The Guardian roars in pain as your blade sinks right into what looks like a bad spot. Its flight falters, and it angles in for a quick landing.
  6057. <Aliken> Aliken takes the opportunity to charge the Guardian once it's on the ground! Now it's in HER element.
  6058. <@kajarainbow> "I surrender for any price!" the Guardian says out through coughed up blood, with Rin still clinging onto its bck.
  6059. * Dysna frowns at it.
  6060. <RinTheThief> (.... Did I just one-shot an encounter?)
  6061. <@kajarainbow> (You knocked off half of its HP in one go.)
  6062. <RinTheThief> (Damn. o.o;)
  6063. <Aliken> "Then let us pass and tell us how to find the entry to the Library from here."
  6064. <RinTheThief> Rin either doesn't hear the Guardian's pronouncement, or is too busy holding on for dear life as it comes to a landing ;_;
  6065. <@kajarainbow> Meantime, the brambles're still shifting. The vines slide past each other, and new brambles rise up around Golasa, but then stop.
  6066. <Aliken> Also, I look around. Is Marigold all right?
  6067. * Dysna calmly prepares to light the brambles on fire if necessary.
  6068. <@kajarainbow> She's got a few bite marks but compared to the rest of you she's barely hurt. However, she's still crouching warily behind a bramble outgrowth.
  6069. <Dysna> "You alright, Marigold?" Dysna doesn't look away from the vines, the tip of her wand glowing slightly.
  6070. <@kajarainbow> "Is that the price you ask?" The Guardian seems to be looking especially to Rin, who's still on its back.
  6071. <@kajarainbow> "As well as can be expected," Marigold says with a quiet and dry voice.
  6072. <Dysna> "I think I know why it's always hungry if it keeps its offspring in its stomach."
  6073. <Aliken> "I'd get clear of that outgrowth. I'm not trusting the brambles right now, and I want you close where I can protect you."
  6074. <RinTheThief> "... And an agreement you dont' attack us again if we have to come back this way?", Rin adds. "And, uh, permission to take my blade out. Which I know is going to hurt a bit?"
  6075. <RinTheThief> "But that's it."
  6076. <RinTheThief> Rin's polite enough, once the thing isn't trying to kill everyone! o_o
  6077. <@kajarainbow> "Very well let it be agreed..."
  6078. <Aliken> "All we wanted in the first place was to get to the Library without getting eaten."
  6079. * RinTheThief draws her blade out quickly, but straight, to minimize additional damage inflicted on the great beast. She's sorry, really! ._.`
  6080. <@kajarainbow> Marigold quietly comes out of hiding. She looks at Golasa.
  6081. <@kajarainbow> "Place your key upon the brambles," The Guardian says.
  6082. <Aliken> Aliken pulls out her key, and lays it upon the brambles.
  6083. <Golasa> (SORRY I was distracted ._.)
  6084. <Golasa> (catching up)
  6085. <Golasa> "We're safe now, Gold."
  6086. <Aliken> "Thank you."
  6087. * Dysna finally sheathes her wand, falling into a position half a step behind and to the left of Aliken
  6088. <@kajarainbow> They part, to reveal a set of great doors, its wood of similar coloration to the dark brambles.
  6089. <Dysna> (brb, gonna take care of some stuff reall quick. Might be as much as 15 minutes)
  6090. <@kajarainbow> "Let it be known that it would have forced you through a ordeal to discover that," the Guardian says.
  6091. * Golasa adjusts her robes, and files this encounter under Things To Learn From.
  6092. <Aliken> "Then I suppose this was our ordeal. I thank you."
  6093. * Aliken quickly checks to ensure the doors are locked before going ahead to unlock them if they are.
  6094. <@kajarainbow> "Tell me what world you hail from."
  6095. <@kajarainbow> The doors simply part at a touch. Beyond is a shadowy hallway, with a floor of dirt like the ground you stand upon... and walls of bookcases. Above, brambles arc.
  6096. <Aliken> "The fixed world of the city of Spire and of the kingdom of Welland."
  6097. <@kajarainbow> "Hmm-hmm.. A world of some interest to a few of the seekers that come here."
  6098. <RinTheThief> Rin wonders if there is anyplace here that'd be safe to set up a camp and rest some...
  6099. <Aliken> "One question, if you will- is there an index somewhere where I can find what the contents are, or is it simply a matter of searching?"
  6100. <@kajarainbow> "The Index lies deeper within."
  6101. <Aliken> "Then we shall seek it. Good fortune to you."
  6102. <@kajarainbow> "I knew I signed up for something dangerous," Marigold says to Golasa. She pauses a moment and lightly touches the bite marks. "I have something I'd like to look up."
  6103. <Aliken> And Aliken heads into the Library, simply browsing the titles of books she passes, possibly stopping to browse something that looks interesting. She's in no great hurry, now.
  6104. <RinTheThief> Rin is more cautious about the mooks here, to say the least
  6105. <Golasa> "I'm here to browse, mainly."
  6106. <@kajarainbow> "You're one of the immortal races, so I suspect you wouldn't understand the urgency with which we alchemist seek for thiis, but... I wish to check if they have formulas for immortality."
  6107. <RinTheThief> "Don't those come with side effects like total loss of morality?
  6108. <Aliken> "We can check the Index. And if you can find that, I'd certainly be interested in making use of your discoveries."
  6109. <Aliken> "But surely we can take a little time to get there."
  6110. <@kajarainbow> There's no rhyme nor reason to the ordering of the books. Many have rather mysterious titles such as 'Unlimited Shards', 'A Philosophical Treastie Upon' (the title cuts off there), 'The History of the Spine of the World', 'The Unnamable Names,' and so on.
  6111. <RinTheThief> Secretly, Rin wouldn't mind taking that kind of side effect for immortality. Depending on the kind of amoral psychopath she'd become.
  6112. <Aliken> Unlimited Shards? Hmm. Aliken gives that a quick browse, seeing if it's about what she thinks it's about.
  6113. <@kajarainbow> Marigold quirks an eyebrow, or at least she quirks her bald brow. "There is no reason to think that, old tales aside."
  6114. <@kajarainbow> And what do you think it's about, Aliken?
  6115. <Aliken> I suspect it might be discussing the nature of the Floating Worlds.
  6116. <@kajarainbow> The language's really flowery to the point where it's hard to be certain upon a glance. But it looks like it might indeed be.
  6117. <Aliken> I'll keep it with me and browse as we continue to the Index. Maybe I can find some things in here that might make travel between our world and Floating Worlds we have encountered earlier.
  6118. <Aliken> EASIER.
  6119. <Golasa> "You want to be immortal?"
  6120. <Aliken> "I certainly wouldn't object, if Marigold found the secret to it."
  6121. <Golasa> "A different employer might try to discuss the morality of it, but I'm not especially interested."
  6122. <Golasa> "Gold, you can look for whatever you want while you're here. Take a break."
  6123. <@kajarainbow> And then you come to the end of the hallway and... it's quite a dizzying sight.
  6124. <Aliken> I wonder if Owl will be around the Index...
  6125. <@kajarainbow> Bookcases stretch out in every direction. The floor, the walls, the ceiling. There don't even to be a clean diving point between those as they all curve smoothly, without angles. Gaps exist between the bookcases, that may be walked upon. Also, some of the many corridors spreading out from this central hurb strain what should be possible in terms of perspective--there're some that seem to outright vanish into a horizon.
  6126. <Aliken> Is there any sign of an index in this hub?
  6127. <@kajarainbow> In the center is... a single giant book, with a line in front of it.
  6128. <@kajarainbow> The line has a rather strange assortment. There's someone who kinda of resembles a humanoid butterfly, for example.
  6129. * Dysna gets in line. "What am I looking up?"
  6130. <@kajarainbow> And... Owl's also standing there. Shark's lazily sprawled out nearby eating what looks like a bagged lunch.
  6131. * Dysna doesn't know if we ever met owl.
  6132. <Aliken> Aliken waves to Owl. "Owl! We meet again."
  6133. <Aliken> We met Owl in the Dungeon of Words.
  6134. <@kajarainbow> That is, she's pulling things out of a bag and eating them. What looks like wet, drippy meat.
  6135. <Dysna> i missed that dungeon
  6136. <Aliken> "And Shark!"
  6137. <@kajarainbow> That was before you joined, Dysna, yeah.
  6138. <Aliken> Well, describe Owl again for the kobold, then. :D
  6139. <Dysna> Oh, okay. I'm familiar with Shark, at least.
  6140. <Aliken> Aliken is distinctly cheerful to meet old acquaintances.
  6141. <Dysna> I like her. Don't wanna piss her off, but she's definitely awesome.
  6142. * Dysna is in line, planning on looking up immortality and other relevant things.
  6143. <@kajarainbow> So, I'll describe Owl. She seems to have been named largely for her eyes, which are huge and almost solid red. In fact, blood runs down from her eyes. She's dressed surprisingly similar to Shark but overall looks more human. Really, the eyes're the only odd things about her.
  6144. * RinTheThief in line because Golasa will probably want to look up more things than however many are allowed, so may as well be ready to help.
  6145. <Aliken> "If you're looking up for all of us, I'm interested in researching the nature of the Floating Worlds and travel between them. Theological discussion might be interesting too."
  6146. <Aliken> I figure I might as well start on one topic and work from there.
  6147. <@kajarainbow> (Apparently Prof's computer just exploded, but he'll be back soon.)
  6148. <Aliken> There's so much here, best to avoid being overwhelmed.
  6149. * Dysna scratches that onto the back of her scaly hand with the tip of her wand.
  6150. <Golasa> !roll 1d6
  6151. <Golasa> !roll 1d6
  6152. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
  6153. <Golasa> OK, what did I miss
  6154. <Aliken> They're wearing a pink strophium and what else again? Remind me?
  6155. <@kajarainbow> Tell me the last thing you saw?
  6156. <Golasa> I think people were looking at the index?
  6157. <Golasa> or getting in line to.
  6158. <@kajarainbow> Also, you saw Owl and Shark there.
  6159. <Golasa> oh!
  6160. <@kajarainbow> Owl's in line, Shark's acasually eating a lunch that no sane librarian would allow in a library.
  6161. <Aliken> Aliken is greeting Owl and Shark cheerfully.
  6162. * Golasa tags along.
  6163. <Aliken> And Dysna volunteered to wait in line for us.
  6164. <@kajarainbow> "Oh, it's you. Hi," Shark says casually. Owl just looks at you quietly, like she's not sure why you're talking to her. But then she speaks. "Tell me of the 'dungeons' you've visited."
  6165. <Aliken> (Strophium: band of cloth tied about the breasts.)
  6166. <@kajarainbow> Well, Owl's got a thick jacket and a heavy looking bag as well.
  6167. <Aliken> "Let's see. First there was the Dungeon of Strength..."
  6168. <Aliken> What sort of pants did you say they had?
  6169. <Aliken> I forget.
  6170. * RinTheThief aids Aliken in honoring the request, quickly going through the major points of their stories
  6171. <@kajarainbow> Leather. Of an odd sort you haven't seen.
  6172. <Aliken> Aliken tries to tell Owl about the different dungeons they have visited in as much detail as she can, holding nothing back. This does mean she identifies Shana as the ruler of the Beautiful Dungeon.
  6173. <@kajarainbow> "So I see. Then your interruption wasn't unwelcome," Owl says. A faceless man also in line suddenly speaks up. "You're from that world afflicted with 'dungeons?"
  6174. <Aliken> "I am. We're professional explorers, basically."
  6175. <RinTheThief> "... Yeah." Rin keeps forgetting her world's not where most of the people here are from."
  6176. <Aliken> "I'm actually glad to meet you both again. You were friendly faces where I met you, and... well, I've finally found the Barbed Library. I'll have to start somewhere researching here..."
  6177. <RinTheThief> "This place is so massive... Where do people go to rest? You could spend weeks in here."
  6178. <Golasa> "It makes me wish I knew what I was looking for.
  6179. <Golasa> "
  6180. <Aliken> "Actually, that's something. I was curious if your ability to move between the Floating Worlds as you do is a teachable skill. Being able to return at will to some of the worlds I've visited would be terribly useful."
  6181. <Aliken> I'm using Charming and Open, what could I do to get them to teach me that?
  6182. <Aliken> And they get a question.
  6183. <@kajarainbow> "Mmhmm..." And suddenly you're pelted with questions from a few of the people in line who looks more interested in the topics. There're a great many of those questions, including stuff like "And why do you call them 'dungeons'?" as well as "What're your thoughts on being in a world being subject to interrworld sublimation?"
  6184. <Aliken> "A 'dungeon' is, essentially, a fortress, you see."
  6185. <@kajarainbow> "Knowledge has a price," Owl says curtly. "If you surey more of those 'dungeons' for me, I'll tell you."
  6186. <Aliken> (True point of etymology: that was the original meaning. 'Prison' came later.)
  6187. <RinTheThief> Rin adroitly handles the questions in a quick, but abstracted conversation, hoping to learn more of these outsiders' view of them!
  6188. <Dysna> (How Meta should the explanation of why they're called dungeons be? Cause that one is fun to answer.)
  6189. * Golasa is curious about this story herself.
  6190. <Aliken> "And from the perspective of most of those in my world, a 'dungeon' appears to be a fortified strongpoint grown around some sort of treasure."
  6191. <@kajarainbow> In a word: they seem to see you as sort of backwoods folks, being from one of the more stable worlds with little contact with other worlds.
  6192. <@kajarainbow> (No fourth wall breaking is my main restriction here.)
  6193. <Aliken> "I'll do survey work for you, sure, but it will be much easier to find you to deliver my results if you teach me first."
  6194. <RinTheThief> Rin's social confidence is finally starting to come back! \o/
  6195. <Golasa> Golasa never had social confidence!
  6196. <Aliken> "I'm growing fairly interested in how exactly the Floating Worlds work myself, so I think we have a certain congruence of interests here. Oh, and on a less serious note, are those clothes traditional where you two come from? You both dress so similarly."
  6197. <@kajarainbow> "Eh. I gave her my clothes," Shark says with a shrug.
  6198. <Aliken> "Why, did she lose hers?"
  6199. <@kajarainbow> It seems to be a method somewhat similar to the seeking devices Golasa made for you. Using linked objects to key upon theiir locations.
  6200. <Dysna> "A branch of adventurers, often referred to as dungeon crawlers, makes its living by going through old temples, abandoned castles, and the like, finding any artifacts of value (referred to as loot) and selling them to interested parties. Dungeon has been adopted to refer to these places even though it doesn't fit the typical definition of a dungeon. The whys and hows of dungeon creawling
  6201. <Dysna> are something I can give some detail on, but I'm primarily a researcher and this is outside my field of study."
  6202. <RinTheThief> "Of course, it's well in mine by now, but I'm not superbly scholarly about it..."
  6203. <Aliken> The method of travel between worlds, you mean, Dungeon Lady?
  6204. <Dysna> "Well, field of study in this case refers to the theoreticals rather than the practicals."
  6205. <@kajarainbow> This seems to have triggered a mini-argument about economical systems, which probably goes over many of your heads.
  6206. <@kajarainbow> Yeah Aliken.
  6207. <Aliken> Is it something I could replicate using the samples I have from the dungeons I've visited?
  6208. <@kajarainbow> That's how you get between worlds. Cut open an hole, have a means of moving through nothingness, and then something related to your destination to help you find it.
  6209. <Aliken> "So how do you cut a hole and move through the nothingness?"
  6210. <Golasa> "Hmm... I might be interested in something slightly different than the travel between worlds."
  6211. <@kajarainbow> Shark answers, "Oh, she still had them when I found her. But they wore out. Hey, you do know you guys're in a part where the only rule's is if you can make it, you can make it?"
  6212. <Aliken> "What exactly do you mean by that?"
  6213. <@kajarainbow> "Hmph." Owl looks at Shark. "Hey you. Give them one of your claws."
  6214. <Dysna> (Dibs.)
  6215. <Aliken> (Hey, I was the one asking for a means of travel.)
  6216. <Dysna> (But... slice-through-anything-sharpness =<)
  6217. <@kajarainbow> (Heh.)
  6218. <Golasa> "Remember the first dungeon we cleared together? The entrance and exit were in different countries."
  6219. <@kajarainbow> "What I said. There aren't really any laws or rights and wrongs or the other stuff Owl used to talk about." That actually earns Shark a sudden glare from Owl.
  6220. <Golasa> "I wonder if I could use that claw to affect a similar phenomenon. Most magi consider instant long-range teleportation to be impossible..."
  6221. <Golasa> (Hopefully t hat worldbuilding point is legit)
  6222. <@kajarainbow> (It's cool. ^.^)
  6223. <Aliken> "So why do you feel the need to inform us of this?"
  6224. <@kajarainbow> "See, someone does something you don't like, don't take it personal. They don't take it personal if you do something right back." Shark shrugs. "Hey, I felt like being friendly. Though not enough to just yank off one of my claws without something in return, hey?"
  6225. <Aliken> "Well, what would you want from us in exchange?"
  6226. <@kajarainbow> "Soemthing fun and exciting," Shark grins toothily. "By the way, you actually took on that guy in there? The bright and burning guy, you know him? Real gutsy there."
  6227. * Dysna shrugs. "Second most exciting thing we've done."
  6228. <Aliken> "Took him on, melted down his sword, and used some of the books from the Dungeon of Words to enchant mine with its power." Aliken unsheaths her sword partway, exposing the golden runes. "Fun and exciting? Well, I'm pretty flexible on that account. I just don't know your tastes."
  6229. <@kajarainbow> "That's rather a crude method of teleportation," says someone in an oddly shaped robe... it doesn't look like she has regular arms or legs under there. "But I suppose it'd be more in your means."
  6230. <Aliken> "The most exciting thing would be one that wasn't in a dungeon at all. Care to hear the story of us against Ironrain, Champion of Crx?"
  6231. <@kajarainbow> "What, you're doing storytime? Well, if it's a good one, sure." Shark chuckles.
  6232. <Golasa> "I'll leave you storytellers to it. I'm going to make use of my time in the library."
  6233. <Aliken> And Aliken recounts the epic battle against Ironrain and his pet godbeast. Perfectly honestly. It's exciting enough not to need embellishment.
  6234. <Aliken> "Hey, I'm just waiting for Dysna to get our turn at the Index."
  6235. <Golasa> "I'll browse until it comes up."
  6236. <@kajarainbow> "Crazy. You guys're really crazy," Shark says with great approval.
  6237. <Dysna> "I wouldn't say crazy."
  6238. <Dysna> "Rationality challenged, maybe."
  6239. <@kajarainbow> Some of the people, or what you presume to be people, in line actually get out of in front of Dysna and go to the back of the line.
  6240. <Aliken> "Hey, I figured we were the only ones around with a chance to keep him from causing more problems. But I'm still not sure what exactly to give you that's 'fun', you know?"
  6241. <Aliken> Huh, I wonder why they did that?
  6242. <RinTheThief> This... Confuses Rin. She decides to ask why they did that.
  6243. <Dysna> We're awesome.
  6244. <@kajarainbow> "Cool story," one of them says. "Intriguing data," another says.
  6245. <Dysna> Unless I'm mistaken, most of the people here are scholarly. Chances are we'll be hired to do some investigations for them before too long.
  6246. <Aliken> "I'm surprised neither of you commented on how different I look."
  6247. <RinTheThief> This is when Rin is reminded she will have a hard time understanding scholars
  6248. * Aliken chuckles quietly.
  6249. <@kajarainbow> "Oh, yeah, you can buy your place in line, did I mention that?" Shark says. "You can buy a lot of things, actually."
  6250. <Aliken> "So we just bought a better place in line by providing a story that some people found valuable? And buying and selling is the way of things, Gerechtsheid willing."
  6251. <@kajarainbow> The one in the kinda amorphous robes is still muttering about the 'crude' teleportation method and something about 'more elegant methods, like exploiting the intersectionality of all things'.
  6252. <Aliken> "... speaking of Gerechtsheid, I wonder if you two know of her and Waarheid? Not sure how known she is beyond my own world. And give me an idea what some things I could give you that would be 'fun' are, hm?"
  6253. <@kajarainbow> "If they feel like selling or buying. People herearounds do what they feel like," Shark says.
  6254. <Aliken> "True enough."
  6255. <Golasa> Intersectionality, eh?
  6256. <@kajarainbow> "Provincial gods, aren't they?" one of the people in line says. Aliken, how are you going to take that?
  6257. * Dysna points at the muttering one. "Hey, if you don't like the way we have to do it, you're free to figure out a way for us to do it that's cleaner and doesn't leave holes to alternate dimensions sitting around."
  6258. <Aliken> If it's true, it's true. It doesn't mean they don't deserve my support. "Perhaps they are. I wouldn't know."
  6259. <@kajarainbow> The mutterer launches into a rather strange explanation of how all places are one place, and it's just a matter of realizing that and taking advantage of it.
  6260. * Golasa is taking mental notes.
  6261. <Aliken> (Is Shark responding to my question to get a clearer idea of what her price might be?)
  6262. <Dysna> (I wonder if I can goad her into giving us a teleport spell)
  6263. <Golasa> (Pff, that's for chumps)
  6264. <Golasa> (Real wizards invent their own spells)
  6265. <Dysna> (Well, yeah, but if it's simple enough, I'll be able to cast it, and I've always been fond of Nightcrawler.)
  6266. <@kajarainbow> "Well, it was an enetertaining storytime, so I'll give you this." And Shark... slices off one of her fingers with her claws.
  6267. <Aliken> "I... my goodness. Can you get that finger back?"
  6268. <Golasa> (We may be thinking of different kinds of teleportation)
  6269. <Aliken> Aliken accepts the claw, though.
  6270. <@kajarainbow> "No biggie. If I couldn't recover from worse, I wouldn't be alive."
  6271. <Aliken> "Thank you, though. How do you two move through the nothingness? Since we have the first and the third parts covered."
  6272. <Aliken> (Oh, and Owl and Shark get a Charming and Open question from me.)
  6273. <@kajarainbow> What the mutterer's going on about, by the way, is getting a little harder to follow. "Great, now you've got her going on about it," the butterfly-like line stander says.
  6274. <@kajarainbow> Hmm, roll +Int to see how much you can gleam, but you'll likely have to do some followup research.
  6275. <@kajarainbow> (Actually, you know what.)
  6276. <@kajarainbow> (If you're interested, I'll let you pick up a teleportation rune as one of your rune options.)
  6277. <@kajarainbow> (You still would have to do some research, or wrangle more out of the mutterer.)
  6278. <@kajarainbow> And... it looks like it's finally Dysna's turn at the book, by the way.
  6279. <Aliken> So yeah. I'm interested in books about the nature of the Floating Worlds, I think. Metaphysics, histories, whatever.
  6280. <Aliken> Shark and Owl have helped take care of the 'travel' bit.
  6281. <@kajarainbow> "How we move... I swim." Shark shrugs.
  6282. <@kajarainbow> Owl says, "You should be able to discover that. You have that book, don't you?"
  6283. <Dysna> !roll 2d6
  6284. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  6285. <Golasa> I'm looking for two things.
  6286. <Aliken> "The one about the Barbed Library?"
  6287. <@kajarainbow> (And, yeah, forget that roll, but I'll apply it to a later roll later on, Dysna. ^.^)
  6288. <Golasa> A book about the metageometry of space, and an atlas of the planes.
  6289. * Dysna scribbles down titles and sections on her scales, pouing over the index as quickly as possible.
  6290. <RinTheThief> Rin, on a lark, looks up the nature of demons on some worlds. Her lady once told her something interesting about them, and they could be a path of power worth pursuing... Maybe.
  6291. <Aliken> "Marigold, let me know if you find anything, all right?" Aliken makes sure Marigold has her back.
  6292. <@kajarainbow> "No. That Book of the Void. You seem to have gotten it back." Owl looks at Golasa.
  6293. <Dysna> (Immortality, demons, atlas of the planes, metageometry, and how they came to be. Also a bit of Theology, but that's lowest priority)
  6294. <Aliken> "Ahhh, then she should be able to figure out that part. I'll come back with reports on our survey expeditions as we do them, then. I'm glad I ran across you two. I'm curious, what was this about you talking about 'right and wrong' earlier?"
  6295. <@kajarainbow> "I was a human once. I had certain notions," Owl says irritably, in a way that clearly indicates she doesn't want to talk about it any further. In fact wants very much to know how she can get you to shut up about her.
  6296. <Dysna> "So, if you were human, was Shark some kind of Elf?"
  6297. <Aliken> "Sorry, sorry."
  6298. * Aliken raises her hands appeasingly.
  6299. * RinTheThief blinks at "Was human", as if confused.
  6300. <@kajarainbow> Shark just snorts with laughter at Dysna's suggestion. Owl says, "Shark is what she alway was and will be."
  6301. <Dysna> "A Sharpness Elemental?"
  6302. <Aliken> Aliken starts giggling at the idea of a Sharpness Elemental.
  6303. <Dysna> "Hey, it makes sense to me alright?" Dysnai says with a blush.
  6304. <@kajarainbow> Owl pauses. "Mildly inaccurate, but she is indeed a conceptual being."
  6305. <Aliken> What do kobold blushes look like anyhow?
  6306. <Aliken> Aren't they scaly?
  6307. <Aliken> "Oh? What concept do you embody?"
  6308. <Golasa> (SORRY AGAIN I'm like triple-tasking augh)
  6309. <Golasa> "I did get it back, yes."
  6310. <Dysna> I imagine none of you would be able to tell she's blushing.
  6311. <Dysna> "Sharpness, claws, teeth, or Sahuagin. Are my various bets."
  6312. <@kajarainbow> (Well, you probably have good reasons to be busy.)
  6313. <@kajarainbow> "Eh, I don't wory about details like that," Shark says. "Deciding what to call me's something I leave to people who like categorizing things. You know, the bookish sorts here and such."
  6314. <Dysna> (The sad part is that my multi-tasking is just fluff writing for a game I'll probably not use ever. Siiigh.)
  6315. <Dysna> "Are you one of a kind?"
  6316. <Aliken> "Well, Owl, what concept does Shark embody. then?"
  6317. <Golasa> (uuuuuugh)
  6318. <Dysna> (I'm converting to dice bot)
  6319. <@kajarainbow> "Ain't anyone exactly like me, but people call people like me different things. I've been called an elemental, a demon, an Abstract, one of those snobby floating-worlders, and more."
  6320. <Golasa> (I'm here I'm here)
  6321. <Dysna> "... Hmmm..." Dysna closes her eyes, stepping out away from the index, after looking everything up. "Marigold, paper and quill so I can write these out please."
  6322. <@kajarainbow> Marigold brings out some of the writing mterials she always brings with her.
  6323. <@kajarainbow> (Alright, so you guys following up on those leads you're interested in?)
  6324. <@kajarainbow> (So, you reading the book yourself?)
  6325. * Dysna divides the paper into pieces, scribbling down the titles and locations of the various books that everyone wanted looked up. Demons for RinTheThief, a book on the origins of the Floating Realms for Aliken, immortality for Marigold, an atlas of known Realms and Metageometery for Golasa, and a book on invoking spirits for herself.)
  6326. * Aliken heads off to hunt down books Dysna locates for her and start in on the reading.
  6327. * Dysna is looking into invoking Shark as a patron of Sharpness as part of a plane shifting spell. She probably won't be able to cast it herself, but that's what Golasa's for.
  6328. <@kajarainbow> Alright, everyone who's reading books roll +Int.
  6329. <@kajarainbow> On a 10+, you get exactly the information you wanted, without consequences.
  6330. <Dysna> Roll 2d6
  6331. <KittyDice> Dysna rolled --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
  6332. <Dysna> damn
  6333. <Dysna> was a long shot anyway
  6334. <Aliken> roll 2d6+3
  6335. <KittyDice> Aliken rolled --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  6336. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3
  6337. <Golasa> roll 2d6+3
  6338. <KittyDice> Golasa rolled --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  6339. <Golasa> Consequences!
  6340. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+1
  6341. <Golasa> no ! anymore
  6342. <RinTheThief> Roll 2d6+1
  6343. <KittyDice> RinTheThief rolled --> [ 2d6=7 ]{8}
  6344. <Golasa> we switched bots
  6345. <@kajarainbow> For the ones who rolled 7-9 results, you can choose to get exactly what you wanted but with consequenes, or not exactly what you wanted but without consequences. Golasa, you kinda get off a little more freely on this since you can just sacrifice the glasses you created for this purpose.
  6346. <Golasa> Sacrifice? I may have missed something on my second computer crash.
  6347. <Aliken> You made some protective glasses, right?
  6348. <Golasa> For the Voidbook, yes.
  6349. <@kajarainbow> You made glasses for the purposes of shielding you from the consequences of reading dangerous texts.
  6350. <Aliken> And you can take consequences from your search.
  6351. <Golasa> But what do you mean by sacrifice.
  6352. <Aliken> The glasses can suck up the bad effects, rather than you.
  6353. <Golasa> Ah.
  6354. <Golasa> I'll take the consequences myself.
  6355. <@kajarainbow> You created glasses for the void book, yeah, but also additional ones.
  6356. <Golasa> Oh did I?
  6357. <Golasa> THen I'll use them for this.
  6358. <Golasa> Totally.
  6359. <Golasa> This is what thtey are for.
  6360. <@kajarainbow> Dysna, those books on invoking spirits? You find them, and there's some interesting reading, including talking about calling the attention of assorted entities by their names. Soon after, you feel something watching you, but there's no one when you look.
  6361. <Aliken> ... ominous.
  6362. * KittyDice makes a mental note to never be alone again.
  6363. <Dysna> (Whoops)
  6364. <@kajarainbow> Golasa, you find some odd books, including one with glossy papers that must've been produced by some strange method. On the front is a cover with a picture of what looks like that mutterer, looking really reclauntant to be in a picture while timidly waving what looks like a tentacle.
  6365. <Golasa> Sounds like we met ourselves a little celebrity.
  6366. <@kajarainbow> Also, a book with text that maks your eyes hurt just to look at, even through the glasses. As short as you realize the mysterious title of "The Atlas of Unknown Places" refers to "places that're unknown because they're better off unknown", your glasses melt. I doubt you wanted to continue reading it after that.
  6367. <@kajarainbow> You did find an apparently safer book with what it proclaims to be an "incomplete, but as exhuastive as I could make it given the scope of the task" listing of planes.
  6368. <Golasa> I won't continue to read it, but I'm definitely going to keep it.
  6369. <Golasa> Learning how to read it will be a new adventure.
  6370. <@kajarainbow> Rin, you still need to make that choice between exactly what you wanted with consequences and not exactly what you wanted but without consequences.
  6371. <Dysna> RinTheThief?
  6372. <RinTheThief> ((Hrm.))
  6373. <RinTheThief> ((Sorry, got phone called. Let's go for... The former.))
  6374. <@kajarainbow> (Sec, getting some water.)
  6375. <@kajarainbow> Right. Rin, what kinds of consequence might you get from looking up demons?
  6376. <Golasa> (If I might make a suggestion)
  6377. <@kajarainbow> (Fire away.)
  6378. <Golasa> (The more knowledge one gains about a specific demon, the greater the odds that it will start to learn more about you.)
  6379. <@kajarainbow> (Sounds good to me.)
  6380. <@kajarainbow> And, Aliken, you got off scot-free.
  6381. <Aliken> Well, hopefully I learn more about the nature of the Floating Worlds. There's a wider universe out there, and I'm curious.
  6382. <@kajarainbow> You now have books that you can settle in for some reading. If you try to bring them out, you'll encounter a checkout desk, with some purple-skinned man with four eyes who insists you bring them back within a month. "I hope you're late," he says with an unpleasantly suggestive grin.
  6383. <Aliken> Time to read.
  6384. <Golasa> I'll be taking at least one, if not all three with me.
  6385. <Golasa> For now, though, I'll dig into the Mutterer's tome.
  6386. <Aliken> Aliken doesn't mind spending a fair amount of time in the Library. We brought rations.
  6387. <Aliken> She checks on Marigold to make sure she found everything safely once she's done collecting her books, though.
  6388. <Golasa> Golasa isn't very good at doting on her assistant, so let Aliken handle her.
  6389. <@kajarainbow> (In other words, it's up to you how much of this actually applies to your magic.)
  6390. <@kajarainbow> Actually, should we call this session soon?
  6391. <Aliken> Sure.
  6392. <Aliken> It was fun!
  6393. <Aliken> Do we level?
  6394. <Golasa> Sure.
  6395. <@kajarainbow> Sure. You can choose to take a Move related to what you learn (for example, Dysna might choose to learn a Move related to contacting spirits if she wants).
  6396. <Aliken> I have another move on back order, so I take that.
  6397. <Aliken> What I do want is some more information about the Floating Worlds. :)
  6398. <@kajarainbow> I can give you more details on what you learn, but next weeks I'll ahve more details if you want.
  6399. <Aliken> Of course!
  6400. <Golasa> Is this a level up, or just a bonus Move?
  6401. <@kajarainbow> Er, taht is, you can make up some of the details.
  6402. <@kajarainbow> That is, you can take this stuff as your level up move.
  6403. <Golasa> Oh wait you said yes.
  6404. <@kajarainbow> Including pilfering moves from other classes related to what you learned.
  6405. <RinTheThief> Hrm...
  6406. <Golasa> +DEX, now it's up to +2.
  6407. <Golasa> And... Can I actually defer gaining a move from this level up?
  6408. <Golasa> I want to delay it until I conquer that book.
  6409. <@kajarainbow> Sure. And consquer which book?
  6410. <Golasa> The one that melted my glasses.
  6411. <Aliken> I get WIS to 13, now at +1.
  6412. <Aliken> And take arresting beauty as a move, as previously discussed.
  6413. <@kajarainbow> Given you're rolling it with your weak stat, the results should be hilarious.
  6414. <@kajarainbow> Anyway!
  6415. <Aliken> Well, thankfully, the drawbacks for missing aren't huge.
  6416. <Aliken> It's gravy in interactions.
  6417. <@kajarainbow> Feel free to contact me later.
  6418. <RinTheThief> Rin brings CHA to 18, for +3.
  6419. <Aliken> Charming!
  6420. <RinTheThief> She also reads the books on demons. What goes horrifyingly wrong?
  6421. <@kajarainbow> Well, Golasa suggested that the more you learn about a demon, the more it learns about ou.
  6422. <@kajarainbow> Which doesn't necessarily allow it to immediately act upon you, but it might learn things like what you want and offer that to you, for example.
  6423. <RinTheThief> Intriguging.
  6424. <RinTheThief> For now, though she's not an arcanist - the readings do little more than sate a curiosity.
  6425. <@kajarainbow> Actually, Dysna, I just thought of a possible Rune for your wand: the Cut rune.
  6426. <RinTheThief> Rin takes Evasion. Defy Dangers that land on 12+ let her transcend the danger - not only doing what she set out to do, but getting (DM's choice) a better outcome, true beauty, or a moment of grace
  6427. <@kajarainbow> Cool!
  6428. <RinTheThief> Next week being Tech Week for the Three Barons Faire, I will not be available :<
  6429. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Wed May 22 22:28:47 2013 -0700
  6430.  
  6431.  
  6432. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon May 27 18:03:12 2013 -0700
  6433. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Fri May 31 17:53:50 2013 -0700
  6434.  
  6435.  
  6436. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jun 10 17:40:12 2013 -0700
  6437. <Aliken> This will end so badly. :D
  6438. <@ProfessorProf> That's what I'm counting on
  6439. <kajarainbow> Hmm, Inc isn't online. Traffic again, maybe?
  6440. <@ProfessorProf> He's got something related to E3 going on. Did he say anything about it?
  6441. <Aliken> I've not heard anything.
  6442. <kajarainbow> I just checked my chat logs.
  6443. <kajarainbow> No mention.
  6444. <Dysna[ME3til-we-start]> Not a word from Inc since wednesday, methinks
  6445. <kajarainbow> Well.
  6446. <kajarainbow> Going to assume he's so busy he's forgotten to say something, or something.
  6447. <kajarainbow> Or, I dunno.
  6448. <kajarainbow> What do you guys want to do?
  6449. <kajarainbow> Play without him, try a random one-shot, or cancel session?
  6450. <Aliken> Unless there's a good in-world reason we might get separated in the dungeon that already exists, I vote 'one-shot'.
  6451. <@ProfessorProf> I'll go for any of these
  6452. <kajarainbow> For example, I could probably right now run a warm fuzzy game where you're all yokai making friends and helping people, heh.
  6453. <@ProfessorProf> sounds like Golden Sky Stories
  6454. <kajarainbow> Yeah.
  6455. * Aliken kittyest.
  6456. <kajarainbow> Though...
  6457. <kajarainbow> Honestly, with the setup I've got?
  6458. <kajarainbow> Separation of the party would be *trival*.
  6459. <kajarainbow> So I think I'll do that.
  6460. <kajarainbow> So. After a short trip, you find yourself riding up to... There's simply a small hill with a path spiraling around it, terminating at its peak. No sign of an entrance exists.
  6461. <Aliken> "How much you want to bet following the path takes you in?"
  6462. <kajarainbow> (Well, you walk, rather. I don't think you bought anything other than a single mule.)
  6463. <@ProfessorProf> (Don't we have a portal claw?)
  6464. <@ProfessorProf> (Why would we walk anywhere, ever.)
  6465. <kajarainbow> (The trick's calibration.)
  6466. <Aliken> You aren't a mage of the Horizon, so walking is what we do.
  6467. <kajarainbow> (What're you doing to help make sure you've got the right target?)
  6468. <Aliken> (Seriously, let's just hike until we're sure we have a usable technology.)
  6469. <@ProfessorProf> (BAH walking is so primitiiive but ok)
  6470. <kajarainbow> Alright. So you walk rather than using experimental portal technology.
  6471. <kajarainbow> Do you take the obvious spiral path, then?
  6472. <Aliken> "What do you think, Golasa?"
  6473. <@ProfessorProf> "If we're going to shy away from the path, we might as well avoid the whole dungeon. Let's go."
  6474. <Aliken> Aliken nods and starts walking along the path... @
  6475. <kajarainbow> After a slow transversal (which feels slower than it should be), you reach... You reach... You reach out and place another strand of the web into place. You've been trying to spin this web pattern ((Link: http://www.emporia.edu/dotAsset/80f1bdda-699a-4e18-8887-70533699e209.jpg)http://www.emporia.edu/dotAsset/80f1bdda-699a-4e18-8887-70533699e209.jpg), but insects keep flying into it and destroying your work. What shall you do about this nuisance?
  6476. <kajarainbow> There're three of you spiders, all working together.
  6477. <@ProfessorProf> (Didn't one of our players have a spider phobia)
  6478. <kajarainbow> (...*facepalms*)
  6479. <Aliken> (Is Nine aware we're started?)
  6480. <kajarainbow> (I should discard this scenario then.)
  6481. <@ProfessorProf> (We should at least check in on Nine)
  6482. <kajarainbow> (Sorry.)
  6483. <kajarainbow> (I should put on my GM notes in big red letters not to use spiders.)
  6484. <Dysna[ME3til-we-start]> I'm not dead
  6485. <Dysna[ME3til-we-start]> ME3 is still ongoing
  6486. <kajarainbow> (Different scenario then.)
  6487. <Dysna[ME3til-we-start]> I'm very carefully not reading that last one then
  6488. <kajarainbow> (Yeah, I fucked up. Sorry. x.x)
  6489. <kajarainbow> It’s your task as stage performers to hypnotize a young volunteer you’ve brought on stage. All you have is your spinning spiral discs and one other (reasonable for a stage performance) object you’ve brought with you. Right now the little boy’s hysteric after being startled by one of the stage lights suddenly shattering. He’s sobbing with tears and mucus running down his face. Good luck.
  6490. <kajarainbow> Also, if you're absolutely or even pretty sure that you aren't actually stage performers, roll +Wis.
  6491. <@ProfessorProf> "Getting into this business might have been a mistake."
  6492. <Dysna[ME3til-we-start]> "I wonder if I can cut metaphysical concepts with this rune?"
  6493. <kajarainbow> Or even have a reasonable doubt somewhere in your mind.
  6494. <@ProfessorProf> "Are either of you any good with kids?"
  6495. <Dysna[ME3til-we-start]> "I'm not allowed to play with hatchlings. Last time I did the leader, Tucker, decided pranking was the best methodology for training. I think he's still retrofitting our defenses"
  6496. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  6497. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{10}
  6498. * Aliken frowns. Something is wrong...
  6499. <Aliken> (Something is trying to sway dwarfmind from Truth! Intolerable!)
  6500. <kajarainbow> Aliken, you're pretty sure that you aren't a stage performer, and that you're in fact Aliken the famed dungeon explorer.
  6501. <Aliken> Aliken looks around at her fellow 'performers', the 'subject', and the 'spinning disc'... something is off here.
  6502. <kajarainbow> You see that you're standing on a circular stage with a spiral pattern. The stage lights have spirals in their glass.
  6503. <kajarainbow> There's still a crying kid standing there.
  6504. <@ProfessorProf> Well, of course. They've always been like that, haven't they?
  6505. <Aliken> Are my fellow-performers recogniseable as Golasa and Dysna?
  6506. <kajarainbow> Very much so. They're in their showy stage outfits, but you're the only one actually in your regular dungeon explorer outfit, complete with gear.
  6507. <kajarainbow> However, you still have the spinning disc and one reasonable item in your hands.
  6508. <@ProfessorProf> "Aliken, do something to calm this kid down."
  6509. * Aliken drops the disc with a shudder. "Golasa, snap out of it. Do you even recall how you got here?"
  6510. <@ProfessorProf> "What do you mean, how I got here?"
  6511. <Aliken> "What did you have for breakfast this morning? How did you become a performer? How did we meet?"
  6512. <@ProfessorProf> I try to remember any of these things.
  6513. <kajarainbow> Hmm. +Wis.
  6514. <@ProfessorProf> Do I remember how I became a performer if I fail or if I succeed?
  6515. <NineThePuma> "I had eggs. Also, bacon. Breakfast was delicious. I wonder if slapstick entertains hatchlings?"
  6516. <@ProfessorProf> !roll 2d6+2
  6517. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  6518. <kajarainbow> And... You remember the truth now, pretty clearly.
  6519. <@ProfessorProf> "I..."
  6520. <kajarainbow> The performer memories're now a little distant and misty, like they were a dream.
  6521. <@ProfessorProf> "...What is this place?"
  6522. <Aliken> "I think we're in the Spiral Dungeon. How in Waarheid's name is it doing this?"
  6523. <Aliken> Aliken clutches the hilt of her sword, like a talisman against magic.
  6524. <@ProfessorProf> "What dungeon? All I see is... hrrgh..."
  6525. * @ProfessorProf tries to focus.
  6526. <@ProfessorProf> "Dysna, what about you?"
  6527. <kajarainbow> Dysna, you may also make the roll if you wish.
  6528. <Aliken> Aliken prays quietly. "Waarheid, light my path. Help me that I may discern the truth as it exists in this situation..."
  6529. <kajarainbow> The young boy's wailing continues on loudly.
  6530. <Aliken> "Look, you can cut the act. We know you're not 'real'." Aliken snaps at him.
  6531. <@ProfessorProf> "Wait. How do you know that?"
  6532. <kajarainbow> There's a muttering at Aliken's outburst from the audience seated around the stage.
  6533. <@ProfessorProf> "Just because this isn't your reality doesn't mean it isn't someone's reality. Maybe it's his."
  6534. <Aliken> "Hypnotists? Really? Don't you have anything you can do to help counter illusions?"
  6535. <@ProfessorProf> "I don't feel like "illusion" is the right word."
  6536. <@ProfessorProf> "What if we just... leave?"
  6537. <kajarainbow> As in right off the stage and straight out the exit? Yeah, you could do that. There's an exit right there. Past the audience who by now's glaring at you.
  6538. <NineThePuma> (Okay, so, apparently, someone has decided that I absolutely must go to the community center and help them move tables around for a breakfast tomorrow.)
  6539. <Aliken> (Ah, let's just break, then.)
  6540. <NineThePuma> (And they're informing me now)
  6541. <NineThePuma> (We leave 5 minutes ago to be on time. >.<)
  6542. <NineThePuma> (I love these people)
  6543. <kajarainbow> (...They seem badly organized.)
  6544. <NineThePuma> (Yeah. This is pretty normal. Chances are they would have told me last night except I was out of town all weekend and spent today getting back in touch with my room)
  6545. <kajarainbow> (Alright, I'm going to call that you manage to exit the hall with only a few objects thrown at you by the audience. As for what you find outside, we'll find out next week. Alright?)
  6546. <@ProfessorProf> Yeah sounds like time to throw in the towel
  6547. <kajarainbow> (Since it looks like we're down to two now.)
  6548. <Aliken> Thanks anyhow. :)
  6549. <kajarainbow> (This is only scratching the surface, by the way.)
  6550. <@ProfessorProf> o/
  6551. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jun 10 19:21:30 2013 -0700
  6552.  
  6553.  
  6554. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jun 17 13:34:49 2013 -0700
  6555. <NekoIncardine> (o/)
  6556. <kajarainbow> Alright, looks like we might have an early start today.
  6557. <NekoIncardine> If we have all four of us, yes. Yay. \o/
  6558. <kajarainbow> Nine's apparently Leaguing it up right now.
  6559. * @Aliken is a kitty.
  6560. <@kajarainbow> Except in my Golden Skies game. There you're a fox.
  6561. <Aliken> Tragic!
  6562. <@kajarainbow> Because I forbid you to play the cat, yeah.
  6563. * NekoIncardine pings Nine[League] . << >>
  6564. <Nine[League]> Nope.
  6565. <Nine[League]> Dealing with Character Creativity Overload in the best way imaginable.
  6566. <NekoIncardine> Au, no early start then?
  6567. <Nine[League]> If you guys start, my ranked team will probably be upset
  6568. <NekoIncardine> Aha. Then please pull out after one game?
  6569. <Nine[League]> I'll be back in time for game
  6570. <ProfessorProf> I guess that means I have time to get dinner going
  6571. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, I guess you guys can just get stuff like that done in the meantime.
  6572. * ProfessorProf plays FF5 while waiting
  6573. * Aliken mew.
  6574. * NekoIncardine yawn.
  6575. <Aliken> I have been napping.
  6576. <@kajarainbow> Reading the Inverse World classes.
  6577. <Aliken> Inverse World?
  6578. <NekoIncardine> ???
  6579. <@kajarainbow> Dungeon World supplement.
  6580. <@kajarainbow> Setting.
  6581. <Nine[League]> Kay
  6582. <Nine[League]> I'm here
  6583. <NekoIncardine> Interesting
  6584. <@kajarainbow> Alright!
  6585. <@kajarainbow> Who's ready?
  6586. <Nine[League]> Not Neko
  6587. <Aliken> *mew!*
  6588. <Nine[League]> Neko needs to take out the trash
  6589. * NekoIncardine handy, ignore Nine. :v
  6590. <Nine[League]> BUTZ ISN'T AWESOME, COME BACK, PROF
  6591. <ProfessorProf> I am already here.
  6592. <ProfessorProf> I was always here.
  6593. <Nine[League]> Also, I totally just had an ARAM vs Team Riot
  6594. <ProfessorProf> !roll 1d10000000
  6595. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 1d10000000 --> [ 1d10000000=2447 ]{2447}
  6596. <Aliken> !roll 1d1
  6597. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d1 --> [ 1d1=1 ]{1}
  6598. <@kajarainbow> Uncanny.
  6599. <@kajarainbow> Anyway!
  6600. <@kajarainbow> You just left the stage.
  6601. <Aliken> @
  6602. <RinTheThief> (So, where's Rin been during this? XD)
  6603. <Golasa> Missing
  6604. <Golasa> The dungeon is odd
  6605. <Dysna> Did you guys continue after I had to quit?
  6606. <@kajarainbow> You were the crying kid, or one of the audience.
  6607. <@kajarainbow> We didn't.
  6608. <Aliken> We fled the stage.
  6609. <Aliken> Is all.
  6610. <RinTheThief> Rin looks... More than a little confused at the scene she just saw, but seems to have shaken off the spell of this place. For now. "What on earth...?"
  6611. <Golasa> "Oh, you're with us again."
  6612. <RinTheThief> "I..." She shakes her head. "Is this what we're up against? And what do we do to clear it?"
  6613. <Aliken> "Glad you're with us. And damned if I know."
  6614. <Dysna> "Guyyyyysssss... why are we running?"
  6615. * Dysna has failed to shake off the spell for the sake of comedy.
  6616. <@kajarainbow> Outside the stage lies darkness.
  6617. * RinTheThief doesn't seem entirely sure of herself for a few moments either, actually. Once they're in the darkness, she seems to get her mind back together a little more.
  6618. <Golasa> "You'll understand eventually, Dysna."
  6619. <Aliken> Aliken is going to try something. "Just stay still for a moment, please, Dysna." She draws her sword, and rests the rune-etched blade against Dysna's forehead.
  6620. * Dysna ducks away. "Hey now, you kill godbeasts with that."
  6621. <Golasa> So what's outside?
  6622. <Aliken> "I'm not cutting you with it."
  6623. <Golasa> "Dysna."
  6624. <Golasa> "If we're circus performers, then why would Aliken have killed godbeasts?"
  6625. <@kajarainbow> And then... you were sailing upon a ship, until it was suddenly seized by a violent force and smashed into some rocks. You find yourself clutching to the remains of your ship as they circle the great whirlpool that had wrecked your ship. Those of you who've broken free of the spell are aware that you being sailors is just an invented backstory.
  6626. <RinTheThief> Does Rin need to Defy Danger to fully regain awareness here?
  6627. <@kajarainbow> Marigold's cursing like a sailor, but everything she says comes out as spiral symbols.
  6628. * Golasa ignores Marigold for now.
  6629. <@kajarainbow> Hmm. I'll say so, just to make it interesting. Roll +Wis.
  6630. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  6631. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{7}
  6632. <@kajarainbow> Not you, Aliken.
  6633. <Aliken> Aliken gets her bearings, and looks to see which of her friends would be easiest to swim to.
  6634. <Aliken> And from there the easiest rocks to get to.
  6635. * Dysna is clinging to wreckage, cursing with a surprising creativity and breadth of vocabulary for her, now dressed in classical pirate wear with an eyepatch and a tricornered hat thing before finding a section of rope for the rigging and throwing it to Marigold, since no one else seems to be trying to save her.
  6636. * Aliken plans to use her powerful chest and arms against the current.
  6637. <Aliken> (Marigold is a friend, Dysna. XD)
  6638. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6
  6639. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=3 ]{3}
  6640. <@kajarainbow> Right now Marigold's nearest. You'd have to roll +Str to overcome the whirlpool's force.
  6641. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  6642. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  6643. <@kajarainbow> But, hmm. It's Rin that's closest and not already grabbing onto a rope.
  6644. <Golasa> "There has to be a pattern to this. Do we have an actual goal?"
  6645. <RinTheThief> Rin's still totally under the spell, and freaking the hell out. Her outfit is more billowy than usual, but otherwise, from her position on one of the masts, she's still relatively normal-looking - which may be contributing to why she isn't seeing through the spell, at all.
  6646. <Golasa> As far as Golasa's concerned, the actual shipwreck situation is pretty unimportant.
  6647. <Golasa> The real problem is the tenuous nature of reality.
  6648. <Aliken> Aliken swims with powerful strokes towards Marigold, struggling against the current. "Marigold! Grab onto me!"
  6649. <RinTheThief> Well, what was one of the masts. Still, she doesn't have a lot of space to maneuver to and she's visibly freaking out.
  6650. <@kajarainbow> Dysna, Marigold grabs onto your rope as Aliken swims to her.
  6651. <Aliken> "I'm going for the rocks!"
  6652. <@kajarainbow> Now roll +Str, Aliken.
  6653. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  6654. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  6655. * Dysna ties one end of it around herself before attempting to swim in the general direction of Rin!
  6656. <@kajarainbow> Pulling on Marigold's weight is a little much, and both of you go under a little, water entering your mouths and noses before you manage to snatch onto the rock, smashing into it a little.
  6657. <@kajarainbow> Take 1d6 damage. Armor does apply at least.
  6658. <@kajarainbow> Shield doesn't.
  6659. <Golasa> "Last time, we could just exit stage right. This time, the boundaries of the world are less defined."
  6660. * Golasa is still on the sinking ship.
  6661. <@kajarainbow> And Golasa is calmly making observations as she circles around the whirlpool on a sinking ship.
  6662. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+0 strength, swimming to retrieve Rin?
  6663. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+0 strength, swimming to retrieve Rin? --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  6664. <Aliken> I'm wearing my ARMOR in this scenario? Swimming in plate terrifies me.
  6665. <RinTheThief> "Golasa, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!", Rin shouts. "Get to safety, THEN you can philosophize!"
  6666. <Aliken> !roll 1d6
  6667. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
  6668. <Golasa> "Oh, fine! On the off-chance that this is real enough to be dangerous..."
  6669. * Golasa jumps overboard and swims.
  6670. <@kajarainbow> Dysna, a piece of debris smashes into you. You choke a little on water and take 1d6 damage, but you manage to make it to Rin.
  6671. <@kajarainbow> Golasa, do you have any destination in mind?
  6672. <Aliken> Aliken coughs and sputters, clinging to the rock and looking to see if she can grab onto any rope from her position without leaving the rock.
  6673. <Golasa> the same rock that Aliken has fled to.
  6674. <Dysna> !roll 1d6
  6675. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=6 ]{6}
  6676. <Dysna> Ow.
  6677. <@kajarainbow> Aliken, it feels like you are and aren't wearing your plate armour. It's sorta weird.
  6678. <Aliken> Indeed.
  6679. <RinTheThief> Rin manags to grab Dysna's rope, and focuses on moving up it so she can help Aliken balance.
  6680. * Dysna Presumably the other end of the rope is still in Marigold's arms and within Aliken's reach. "Reel us in!"
  6681. <@kajarainbow> Okay, Golasa, roll +Str.
  6682. <Aliken> "I have it!"
  6683. <Golasa> Str? I can't swim with Dex?
  6684. <Golasa> That will make this harder!
  6685. <Aliken> Aliken clings with one arm to the rock while she heaves with her other.
  6686. <Golasa> !roll 2d6-1
  6687. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6-1 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{5}
  6688. <@kajarainbow> You'd have to overcome the water's force.
  6689. <Golasa> Well shit.
  6690. <Golasa> I DIDN'T THINK THIS THROUGH
  6691. <Aliken> Swimming is very much a Strength thing.
  6692. <@kajarainbow> Not always. But when swimming against currents and whirlpools and stuff, yup.
  6693. <RinTheThief> Time to figure out a spell to save your butt, and quickly, eh? :P
  6694. <Golasa> We'll see. What's the result of my failure?
  6695. <@kajarainbow> Golasa, you find yourself pulled underwater. The torrent of water around you feels very real.
  6696. <Aliken> "Waarheid help me." Aliken tries to lash the rope to the rock, then dives and swims for Golasa, trusting in Rin and Dysna to not drown at the moment.
  6697. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, +Str like before.
  6698. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  6699. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  6700. * Golasa reflects briefly on the fact that she's never had to swim against a strong current before.
  6701. <Aliken> Aliken grabs onto Golasa's collar and heaves her up to the surface. "HANG ON!"
  6702. <@kajarainbow> Rin and Dysna, you can pull yourselves onto the rock.
  6703. <Aliken> +Str again?
  6704. <Golasa> "Aughk!"
  6705. <@kajarainbow> Yup.
  6706. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  6707. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  6708. <RinTheThief> Rin keeps clambering up the rope until she's against, then on the rock, still trying to figure out how to get OUT of here after she's stable on the rock!
  6709. <@kajarainbow> Golasa, take 1d4 damage from the water in your lungs. Armor-ignoring.
  6710. <@kajarainbow> But at last, after a struggle, all of your'e reunited upon the same rock.
  6711. <Golasa> Ha! The joke's on you, I have no armor!
  6712. <Golasa> !roll 1d4
  6713. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d4 --> [ 1d4=1 ]{1}
  6714. * Golasa scrambles onto the rock with Aliken's help.
  6715. <@kajarainbow> And I see the joke's on me for your damage roll. :)
  6716. <Golasa> "None of this is real, anyway," she mutters, but her resolve on that point is a bit shaken.
  6717. <@kajarainbow> It's only once that you get a chance to recover and take things in that you notice the huge spiral in the sky over the whirlpool, mirroring its shape.
  6718. <Golasa> We're what, on a rock in the middle of the ocean?
  6719. <RinTheThief> "What are you talking about?!", Rin responds - yeah, even if she'd recovered earlier, she's pretty thoroughly enspelled now
  6720. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, Golasa.
  6721. <Golasa> "Where was this ship headed, Rin?"
  6722. <Aliken> "Right! We're safe for the moment!" Aliken scans the horizon, looking for something- anything- we could use as a destination. "We'll talk about it later, Rin!"
  6723. <Golasa> "Where did we come from?"
  6724. <Dysna> "I hope the rest of the crew are alright!"
  6725. <Aliken> Is there room on our rock for any more survivors?
  6726. <Golasa> "Why did you become a sailor?"
  6727. <Golasa> "How. Did. We. Get. Here?"
  6728. <RinTheThief> Rin blinks a few times, as if trying to gather the answers in her head, but... "Uh..."
  6729. <Dysna> "I became a sailor because SHE-" at this Dysna points at Aliken "Wanted to hunt some pirate, and we heard a rumor he was at Spiral Island, and so we set sail for there."
  6730. <@kajarainbow> Rin, you may now roll _Wis again.
  6731. <Aliken> (Man, this ocean adventure, I feel like the hero of the moment.)
  6732. <Dysna> (You have a strength score that isn't 10. Congrats :P)
  6733. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6
  6734. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
  6735. <@kajarainbow> Rin, you can come up with perfect answers for everything Golasa asked.
  6736. <RinTheThief> ... Nope, she's still totally under the spell. "... I joined soon after that, at a stop on the way, remember?"
  6737. * Golasa sighs.
  6738. <Golasa> "Forget it. It's you and me, Aliken."
  6739. <Golasa> "What do you make of this one?"
  6740. <RinTheThief> "What's that supposed to mean?! Are you okay, Golasa?"
  6741. <Aliken> "I get the feeling that, if anything, we might want to aim for the spiral in the sky. I'm guessing the whirlpool is bad news."
  6742. <Golasa> "Going up there? Sounds ambitious."
  6743. <Aliken> "How to get into the sky is not my specialty, though.:
  6744. <Golasa> "Well, first we'll need some materials."
  6745. <Aliken> "I'm glad you're all right."
  6746. <Golasa> Are there any boat pieces nearish the rock?
  6747. <Aliken> Aliken squeezes Golasa's shoulder, momentarily, and closes her eyes for a moment, just catching her breath.
  6748. <@kajarainbow> A few snared onto it or nearby rocks. If you want more, you'll have to come up with a way to get some of the pieces spinning by.
  6749. <Golasa> I'm going to cast a spell to freeze some of the water, extending a bridge out and trapping at least one larger chunk of boat.
  6750. <@kajarainbow> Marigold's lying on the rock, still wheezing a little.
  6751. <@kajarainbow> Sure, roll.
  6752. <Aliken> Well, I have the length of rope. I lash it to a piece of wreckage as a makeshift grapnel to cast for wreckage.
  6753. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, in domain
  6754. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, in domain --> [ 2d6=7 ]{11}
  6755. <@kajarainbow> Aliken, roll +Dex.
  6756. <Aliken> "Rin, check Marigold, make sure she can breathe properly."
  6757. <Aliken> !roll 2d6-1
  6758. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6-1 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{7}
  6759. <@kajarainbow> You snare it, but you feel like your arms're being yanked out of their sockets, and you find yourself being pulled toward the water.
  6760. <@kajarainbow> Golasa, pick one complication.
  6761. <Golasa> -1 ongoing.
  6762. <@kajarainbow> Okay!
  6763. <Aliken> "Waarheid!" Aliken grits her teeth and hangs on for all she's worth.
  6764. <@kajarainbow> There's now a perfectly shaped bridge of ice spanning out into the whirling water. The large wreckage piece you were aiming for snags onto it.
  6765. <@kajarainbow> Aliken, +Str time.
  6766. * RinTheThief watches Marigold, checking to make sure she's okay in general...
  6767. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  6768. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  6769. <Aliken> I'm guessing I have to lose the rope, but Golasa's done better than me, huh?
  6770. <@kajarainbow> Well, you can lose the rope, suffer really bad rope burn, or get pulled into the water and catch yourself on another rock.
  6771. <Golasa> lose the rooope it's not even reeeeal
  6772. <Aliken> Yeah, I'm losing the rope, Golasa's caught wreckage for us.
  6773. <Golasa> "I got us a way out of here. Can any of you wrestle this into something all five of us could stand on?"
  6774. <@kajarainbow> Marigold seems to have mostly coughed up the water in her lungs, but she's still speaking in spirals.
  6775. <@kajarainbow> She sounds disgruntled.
  6776. <Aliken> Right. Do I have my sword?
  6777. <@kajarainbow> Yeah.
  6778. <Aliken> I'm going to try and see if just resting the flat of the blade against Marigold's forehead helps. If the spellbreaking properties it has work that way.
  6779. <Aliken> It's worth an experiment.
  6780. <@kajarainbow> She blinks and looks at you strangely, Aliken.
  6781. <@kajarainbow> Like you were the weird one.
  6782. <Aliken> "Just stay calm. I'm trying to see if I can fix your comprehensibility problem here."
  6783. * Dysna draws her wand from somewhere and cuts a hole in the sky.
  6784. <@kajarainbow> Well. Anywhere specific or just firing it off at some random skyward direction?
  6785. <@kajarainbow> Also, uh, anyone trying to get that wreckage Golasa got?
  6786. <RinTheThief> Once Marigold is okay, Rin goes to check the wreckage out, though this entire situation's still confusing her honestly...
  6787. <Dysna> Just a random spot. She's trying to make a spot.
  6788. <Dysna> *make a point
  6789. <Aliken> Does Marigold even let me try my attempt to use the sword? And, if so, does it work?
  6790. <@kajarainbow> Yeah, you touched it to her forehead. She's still speaking in spirals. Whatever it is, it's apparently not magic, or at least mortal level magic.
  6791. <@kajarainbow> So, yeah, Dysna cuts a spiral-shaped hole in teh sky.
  6792. <Aliken> I put the sword away, and join Rin in helping fetch the wreckage for Golasa.
  6793. <@kajarainbow> The two of you manage to haul it ashore.
  6794. <Aliken> "OK, Golasa, what now?"
  6795. <Golasa> Is it big enough for five people to stand on?
  6796. <@kajarainbow> Just barely.
  6797. <Golasa> This seems like a good time to play around with maging an enchanted item.
  6798. <Golasa> I would like to enchant the debris chunk to have negative weight.
  6799. <Golasa> making*
  6800. <Aliken> "So what's the plan, Golasa?"
  6801. <RinTheThief> "And is it going to get us back to port?"
  6802. <Golasa> "Give me a moment."
  6803. <Golasa> "More or less, yes."
  6804. <Aliken> "All right, then."
  6805. <@kajarainbow> Well, it'd require something affiliated with the void. But you sorta get this feeling that it'd be easier to enchant it to be strongly attracted to spirals.
  6806. <@kajarainbow> It's this funny intuition. Where did that come from?
  6807. <Golasa> Hmm, risky.
  6808. <Golasa> Since there's another spiral right next to us.
  6809. <Golasa> Are the spirals spinning in the same direction?
  6810. <@kajarainbow> Hmm! Now that you look at it, the spiral seems to change its direction of rotation while you aren't looking.
  6811. <@kajarainbow> The sky spiral, that is.
  6812. <Golasa> Then I'm going to get it in my sights when it's spinning the opposite of the whirlpool, and use the rotation direction to attract my magical debris chunk to it rather than the whirling death pool below.
  6813. <Golasa> "All aboard."
  6814. <@kajarainbow> The wreckage begins trembling as you work.
  6815. <@kajarainbow> Marigold seems to have recovered enough to help you work.
  6816. <Aliken> Aliken climbs onto the wreckage as Golasa tells her to. "Aboard the boards."
  6817. <Golasa> "Quickly would be better."
  6818. <Golasa> "Har har."
  6819. <RinTheThief> "Right," Rin says, following on board...
  6820. <Aliken> "I wood not delay on getting aboard, Dysna."
  6821. * Dysna rolls her eyes. "I still think my teleport spell would get us back to shore better, but whatever."
  6822. <Golasa> "You're going to get quite board if you get left behind."
  6823. <@kajarainbow> Dysna, you getting on?
  6824. <@kajarainbow> You're all boarded just as the wreckage jerks upwards into the sky. You find yourself hurdling into the sky spiral and then...
  6825. <Aliken> Aliken grins as Golasa joins the punning.
  6826. * RinTheThief groans at the pun as the wreckage moves...
  6827. * Dysna moved onto the board at the last possible second.
  6828. <@kajarainbow> You're several of billions of tiny lights laid out in spiral arms around a center. Outside your gathering lies the void... and the distant, not yet seen approaching enemy you've been waiting for. In your grips rest spiral weapons of vast, unimaginable power. A spiral sword, a spiral arrow, a spiral wand, a spiral staff.
  6829. <Golasa> (And then everything was Gurren Lagann)
  6830. <@kajarainbow> (Yeah, the inspiration for this sequence is obvious.)
  6831. <Golasa> Are the awakened among us still awakened?
  6832. <@kajarainbow> Yes.
  6833. <Aliken> (Ahahahahahahaha. Do the impossible! See the invisible!"
  6834. <@kajarainbow> And the dreamers are still dreamers.
  6835. <Golasa> "Well this is a creative turn."
  6836. <Aliken> "I have to wonder if we're making real progress or not. It's impossible to tell."
  6837. * Golasa tries to assemble into a humanoid form.
  6838. <@kajarainbow> You become a humanoid shaped star.
  6839. <Golasa> "Whoever's out there, we're tired of playing this game! The result is going to be the same, no matter how many worlds you drag us through!"
  6840. <@kajarainbow> Marigold clutches her bottles filled with spirals. She speaks in spirals, "It's not a game."
  6841. <Dysna> ((Welp, I'm completely lost.))
  6842. <Golasa> "Like hell."
  6843. <Golasa> ((WE ARE STARS))
  6844. <Aliken> "What is it, then?"
  6845. <@kajarainbow> (Basically, you're stars in a spiral galaxy, yeah.)
  6846. <@kajarainbow> Marigold answers Aliken, "Insight."
  6847. <Aliken> "Insight into us?"
  6848. <Aliken> "And is this really Marigold speaking, or..?"
  6849. * RinTheThief holds the arrow in hand, quietly awaiting her foe without question. Someone might need to try and wake her up again?
  6850. <Golasa> "Of course it isn't."
  6851. <Dysna> ((Yeah, but I'm not familiar with GL so I'm kinda lost :P))
  6852. <Golasa> "Rin, give it up, already. There's no ancient enemy. You're not a star, or whatever this is."
  6853. <Golasa> "Remember your mistress."
  6854. <Golasa> "Remember Shana."
  6855. <Aliken> ((Short version: Spiral Energy is the energy of growth, potential, and evolution. It causes awesomeness, and is inherent in humanity. Eventually humanity punches out evil gods as big as galaxies.))
  6856. <@kajarainbow> "This's the surface, but deeper than before." She looks at Aliken and Golasa.
  6857. <RinTheThief> "...."
  6858. <RinTheThief> !dice 2d6
  6859. <Golasa> (!roll)
  6860. <RinTheThief> (Erm, right, needed to wait for a signal to roll a save again anyways sorry ._.)
  6861. <Golasa> "So then alll of these worlds are part of a greater spiral. A spiral of worlds."
  6862. <@kajarainbow> (This would be a perfectly good time really.)
  6863. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6
  6864. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{4}
  6865. <Golasa> (ffs Rin)
  6866. <RinTheThief> (ffffff)
  6867. <Aliken> ((Man, the dice hate you, Rin. XD))
  6868. <RinTheThief> "... Are you okay, Golasa?"
  6869. <RinTheThief> (Well, it doesn't help that she has 0 WIS. If she had even a +1 she could've partially woke up by now.)
  6870. <@kajarainbow> "The spiral's just one way to understand."
  6871. <Golasa> "What's at the center?"
  6872. * Dysna has taken the form of nebula in the shape of a dragon. She growls something incoherent, tail shifting from side to side as she bares her 'teeth' waiting for their foe to manifest.
  6873. <Aliken> ((If what's at the center is a little Japanese town, NOOOOO~ But I know it isn't.))
  6874. <@kajarainbow> "Understanding. The cycle of time."
  6875. <Golasa> "Hmm."
  6876. <@kajarainbow> "Rebirth."
  6877. <@kajarainbow> "It's... many things."
  6878. <Golasa> "I want to see it."
  6879. * Golasa starts heading towards the center of the galaxy.
  6880. <Aliken> Aliken clutches easily to her sword of stars. "I don't mind going through these challenges, if I actually know we're getting somewhere by facing them"
  6881. <RinTheThief> "Golasa, what are you doing?!"
  6882. <Golasa> "I'm going to see the center!"
  6883. <@kajarainbow> "You can't hurry understanding," Marigold spiralspeaks calmly.
  6884. * Golasa is losing her temper.
  6885. <Golasa> "I'm not going to just play along with all these visions at the pace you decide!"
  6886. <Aliken> "So we just survive each trial until we're through this. I can do this."
  6887. <Golasa> "I'm either going further in now, or I'm leaving!"
  6888. <Golasa> "I'm not part of your spiral!"
  6889. <Golasa> "I have a will of my own!"
  6890. <RinTheThief> Rin blinks at Golasa's turn of phrase, still confused but perhaps starting to finally catch on to what's going on a little?
  6891. <@kajarainbow> Marigold sighs. "So few patient seekers those days."
  6892. <Aliken> Aliken starshrugs. "I'm willing to play along, now that I have a better idea what's happening."
  6893. <Golasa> "Either show me what's next, or stop me. I'm going forward."
  6894. <Aliken> "I was just afraid we were making no progress."
  6895. <@kajarainbow> "The seeker enters the darkness and the unknown, faces ordeals, and finally attains understanding."
  6896. <Golasa> "Sounds great! Let's move on to the next ordeal."
  6897. <@kajarainbow> Marigold points out into the void. "It approaches."
  6898. <Aliken> "We haven't even faced this one, Golasa. And I'm reasonably sure we can't learn anything and our host can't learn anything about us if we don't face the ordeals in front of us. Cover me."
  6899. <Golasa> "So we can't advance forwards until we defeat what's behind us."
  6900. <Golasa> "Fine, then. Let's see this ultimate enemy."
  6901. <@kajarainbow> And suddenly the farthest out stars begin winking out.
  6902. <Aliken> Aliken presses out to the very rim of the spiral of stars, holding a sword of blazing light against the darkness, ready to be the first to meet the enemy and stand between it and the other stars.
  6903. <@kajarainbow> As if assaulted by some unseen enemy. The emptiness... suddenly feels terrible, far more vast and consuming than before.
  6904. <Golasa> "Hmm... is the enemy space itself?"
  6905. * RinTheThief looks confused. There's nothing to shoot, but allies are falling! What can she do?!
  6906. <@kajarainbow> "It's that which is not."
  6907. <Golasa> "Then this isn't an enemy that can be overcome by destroying it. You can't destroy that which doexn't exist."
  6908. * Aliken sends light blazing into the emptiness from herself and her sword, burning defiance against the nothingness. She does not intend to fall now, and perhaps she can be a shield for the others so long as she endures.
  6909. * Golasa calls upon the fires of the universe's genesis.
  6910. * Golasa creates.
  6911. * Dysna in her draconic aspect, spreads her wings, enshrouding a few clusters in them, defending what life there is in this sector of the 'galaxy'
  6912. <@kajarainbow> Aliken, roll +Con and do the Defense move. Dysna, you also.
  6913. * Aliken blazes fierce blue-white.
  6914. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+1
  6915. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{5}
  6916. <Aliken> (Oh crap.)
  6917. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+1
  6918. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{5}
  6919. <Dysna> (Oh crap.)
  6920. <@kajarainbow> Golasa, roll +Int.
  6921. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3
  6922. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  6923. <@kajarainbow> The terrible weight of nothingness crushes Aliken and Dysna underneath them, snuffing them out for a moment before the fires forged by Golasa rekindles them. Nevertheless, they take 1d8 damage. Armor non-applicable.
  6924. <Aliken> !roll 1d8
  6925. <Dysna> !roll 1d8
  6926. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d8 --> [ 1d8=8 ]{8}
  6927. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d8 --> [ 1d8=7 ]{7}
  6928. <@kajarainbow> Ow. o.o
  6929. <Golasa> We're doing awesome.
  6930. * Dysna roars in defiance, refusing to allow the emptiness to consume that which she's decided to protect, her tail gently coiling around Golasa's metaphorical ankle in thanks and a stubborn insistance that she'd be protected.
  6931. <Aliken> Right. Time to reassess strategy. Aliken pulls back as she's overwhelmed, trying to study the encroaching nothingness as see if she can logically assess where she can do the most good. Maybe she can organise some other stars into something stable to resist the emptiness, or she can find a vulnerable point to rekindle life in dead stars, SOMETHING.
  6932. <Aliken> (Trying to Logically assess the situation.)
  6933. <@kajarainbow> "Impatient one, be glad that you've been considered to know this lesson," Marigold says toward Golasa.
  6934. <RinTheThief> Rin finally fires an arrow of pure light into the force of this darkness, the power of the spiral seeking to create light even in the deepest of darkness!
  6935. <Golasa> "This isn't a solution, though. This question has no answer."
  6936. <Golasa> "You can't win a war against non-existence itself. Everything dies eventually. You don't HAVE to fight it."
  6937. <Golasa> "The important thing is what you do with the corner of reality you're given."
  6938. <Golasa> "So what are we really trying to accomplish here?"
  6939. <@kajarainbow> "It's a question without ending and a war without ending," Marigold spiralspeaks. "Time ends, but then is reborn."
  6940. <Dysna> ((You know, it occurs to me. If Dysna dies, how does resurrection work?))
  6941. <Aliken> ((Magnets.))
  6942. <Golasa> ((You roll death.))
  6943. <Golasa> ((It's scary.))
  6944. <@kajarainbow> (There's a specific move for when your HP hits 0.)
  6945. <Aliken> ((Rin or me get to roll anything?))
  6946. <@kajarainbow> (It's indeed scary.)
  6947. <@kajarainbow> The situation seems to have frozen...
  6948. <Aliken> Well, that gives plenty of time to study the situation, at least.
  6949. <Golasa> "Then this is just the nature of reality. There's no reason for us to be a part of this. Neither side will ever win, no matter what we do."
  6950. <Aliken> "Does the rebirth of time depend on the actions of the living?"
  6951. <@kajarainbow> "And yet, you're fighting that war without knowing it."
  6952. <@kajarainbow> "Fighting to live."
  6953. <@kajarainbow> "The smaller war echoes the greater."
  6954. <Golasa> "Of course we are. Every living thing seeks survival by nature."
  6955. <Aliken> "Indeed. Life is always worth fighting for."
  6956. <Golasa> "Where are you going with all this?"
  6957. <Aliken> "I think we need to continue to be heroes."
  6958. * RinTheThief blinks, STILL confused as hell by Golasa's crazy ramblings about the pointlessness of fighting this darkness that dares form in front of them. Why isn't Golasa fighting?!
  6959. <Dysna> "Not fighting to live. Fighting to protect. To ensure that no matter what, life would continue. There's a difference between fighting for yourself and fighting for those you care about."
  6960. <Aliken> "Our being a metaphorical beacon against the darkness makes a difference on more levels than we know."
  6961. * Dysna may or may not have cast off the spell.
  6962. <Golasa> "Then let's change the rules."
  6963. <Aliken> "If I am understanding correctly."
  6964. * Dysna may or may not have gotten bored of philosophical debates that she couldn't take part in to stay in character.
  6965. <Golasa> "Victory is impossible. Let's turn this galaxy into the greatest beacon we can while it dies."
  6966. <Golasa> "If we destroy both, then something new can replace them."
  6967. <@kajarainbow> "Once upon a time, people worshipped the cycle of rebirth, the cycle of time. Now... They've turned to other gods," Marigold muses.
  6968. <Aliken> "There is no way I am going for that. I will not fail to protect what I can while I can."
  6969. <Aliken> "I have trust in my gods."
  6970. <@kajarainbow> Marigold looks to both Aliken and Golasa. "Is that your answers?"
  6971. <Dysna> (brb)
  6972. <@kajarainbow> She taps Dysna and Rin upon the shoulders. "Awaken."
  6973. <@kajarainbow> "The purpose for your dreaming's done."
  6974. <Aliken> "I will do what is right no matter what. Others deserve my protection, and life must be protected."
  6975. * RinTheThief blinks, suddenly free of the spell, and confused as can be. "Wait... What?"
  6976. <Golasa> "If your question is the universe, then I answer by not answering. There's nothing to say."
  6977. <@kajarainbow> Even Marigold's now blinking in a startled fashion.
  6978. * Dysna blinks. "Like the wings, but they're not me."
  6979. <@kajarainbow> And the environment dissolves into a cave, every surface covered with carved spirals and shapes including spiral forms.
  6980. <Golasa> "And here's the fourth trial."
  6981. <Golasa> I'm guessing the shape of the cave itself is indicative of a spiral.
  6982. <Aliken> Aliken studies the carvings, seeing if there's any representation amidst all the spirals, or just spirals.
  6983. <Aliken> Of course.
  6984. <@kajarainbow> Yes.
  6985. <Golasa> "Let's go inward."
  6986. <Aliken> "In to the center, yes."
  6987. <RinTheThief> "... I swear, if I end up thinking I'm someone's maid or something, I'd better at least be awesome about it."
  6988. <@kajarainbow> A voice speaks, "One of stillness and coldness, is that your final answer?"
  6989. <Golasa> "I still don't acknowledge that I've been asked a real question."
  6990. <Aliken> Aliken chuckles. "I don't think they'll mess with our memories again. The purpose has passed."
  6991. <@kajarainbow> A pause. "You've reached further than most seekers recently, and yet it does not seem you'll reach the end. Tell me, what do you seek?"
  6992. <Golasa> "Truth."
  6993. <Aliken> "I want to know things, accomplish some good in the world, and accomplish some good for myself. Floating Worlds are pulling our world apart, and each one we explore might help us learn a little more to protect the world."
  6994. <Aliken> "Plus, you know, if I can cut a profit in the process, I'm for that."
  6995. <Golasa> "Do you want specifics? I have a lot of truths I'm looking for."
  6996. <Aliken> "It looks like there are some interesting things to learn here, if you're willing to share."
  6997. <RinTheThief> "I... Still don't know what I seek for sure," Rin said. "Not... Anymore."
  6998. <Aliken> Aliken smiles at Rin. "Help me protect our world. It's a good goal to go with for now."
  6999. <@kajarainbow> "Once my name was known, but it is one never recorded. It can only be known, not written or spoken. The ancients revered my name, and they carved parts of it."
  7000. <Golasa> "You're the spiral."
  7001. <Dysna> "The end of a story."
  7002. <Aliken> "Clearly. You seem like a god worthy of respect. I do not believe reverence to you would conflict with reverence to truth and justice."
  7003. <@kajarainbow> "I can give you this truth: many shall die should the world be swallowed into dungeons, yet life shall prevail. In time, too, those worlds shall be dissolved and all reborn. I shall be revered once again, and then slowly forgotten again."
  7004. <Golasa> "Is that one of this world's futures? Being consumed by the dungeons?"
  7005. <@kajarainbow> "It is one of the arms of the spiral of time."
  7006. <Aliken> "That said, I think it is our place to protect things as far as possible. An end may come and then a rebirth, but there is no need it happen yet."
  7007. * Golasa picks up one of the spiral rocks to see if she can carry it with her out of this area.
  7008. <@kajarainbow> "Yes. The living strive, and thus are beloved by me."
  7009. <@kajarainbow> "I have little further to teach you. There would be no purpose to further trials."
  7010. <Golasa> "Can I take a memento of your spiral with me?"
  7011. <@kajarainbow> "You may."
  7012. <Golasa> "Thank you."
  7013. <Aliken> "Thank you for your attention. I am sorry I reacted... poorly... in the first challenge."
  7014. * RinTheThief just walks, slowly... Still not sure what to think here...
  7015. <Aliken> ((I am amused at how calm and respectful I've become once I've gotten my bearings here.))
  7016. <Aliken> "Can I know your name?"
  7017. <@kajarainbow> A strange knowledge, more feeling than words, enters Aliken's head.
  7018. <Aliken> She inclines her head. "Thank you. I will remember you."
  7019. <@kajarainbow> "I have also been spoken of as KYP. It is not my true name, but it has been used in the past."
  7020. <Aliken> ((Is KYP an Elder God I know of, or not associated with them?))
  7021. <@kajarainbow> (Make that KJP)
  7022. <Aliken> ((KJP?))
  7023. <@kajarainbow> (It's one of the more inscrutable Elder Gods.)
  7024. <@kajarainbow> (Seemed to be associated with transcental experiences.)
  7025. <Aliken> ((Does it have the same history of conflict with civilised peoples the others do?))
  7026. <@kajarainbow> (Not all of the Elder Gods had a history of conflict with civilized people, really. Some did, but not all.)
  7027. <Aliken> ((*nods* Right. OK, then.))
  7028. <Aliken> "Well, in towards the center..."
  7029. <Aliken> Aliken walks deeper into the cave, fingers trailing on the carved walls.
  7030. <Dysna> ((Guile's theme... cannot escape...))
  7031. * RinTheThief follows, slowly and cautiously. Even with everyone reassuring her there's no more illusions...
  7032. <Golasa> Onwards.
  7033. <@kajarainbow> In the center... there seems to be a hole cut into the floor. Inside is the scenery of the hill you entered from.
  7034. <Golasa> "And the center is back here."
  7035. <Aliken> "I suppose this is farewell, then."
  7036. <Aliken> Aliken sketches a salute to nowhere in particular, looking about the cave one last time before climbing into the hole.
  7037. <Golasa> Down we go!
  7038. * Dysna hops down after the rest of the party.
  7039. * RinTheThief jumps down as well.
  7040. <@kajarainbow> Atop the hill, the sprial remaisn unchanged. Nearly unchanged. Now in the center rests a curious flower. It's living, and yet its petals're glittering, crystalline... it seems to have diamond flowers. The petals look like this: (Link: http://s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/jun_09_5064_morning_flower_spiral.jpg)http://s3.frank.itlab.us/photo-essays/small/jun_09_5064_morning_flower_spiral.jpg
  7041. <Golasa> "Well, that was weird."
  7042. * Golasa tosses the spiral rock to Marigold.
  7043. <Golasa> "How's this for an essence of the infinite?"
  7044. <Aliken> "May we take this, KJP?"
  7045. <Aliken> Aliken looks to the flower.
  7046. <@kajarainbow> She catches it, studying it. "Yes... this should do." She seems to have returned to speaking in regular written words.
  7047. <RinTheThief> "... No loot. Bleh."
  7048. <@kajarainbow> Aliken, there's no answer. Or rather, it doesn't feel particularly forbidden.
  7049. <Aliken> Aliken plucks the flower, picking apart the five petals and handing one of each of the beautiful petals to her companions.
  7050. <Aliken> "A keepsake."
  7051. <@kajarainbow> Each of you now have a diamond petal.
  7052. <Golasa> "I'm sure I can come up with something to do with it."
  7053. <Aliken> ((And five petals! That includes Marigold.))
  7054. <Golasa> Level up?
  7055. <@kajarainbow> Not sure. This was a short dungeon.
  7056. <Aliken> The number of personal chats with gods I have had is neat. :D
  7057. <@kajarainbow> I'm really curious about that planned project of Golasa's.
  7058. <@kajarainbow> So, end session or go on slightly longer?
  7059. <Golasa> This is a good stopping point for me.
  7060. <Aliken> This looks like a good place to stop.
  7061. <@kajarainbow> Well, okay. But mind telling me about said project over IM?
  7062. <Aliken> We need to address the Spire's job for us soon.
  7063. <Aliken> Putting it off will have bad effects, I'm sure.
  7064. <Golasa> Oh sure
  7065. <Golasa> Alright, I'm out
  7066. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Wed Jun 19 19:50:41 2013 -0700
  7067.  
  7068.  
  7069. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jun 24 11:18:49 2013 -0700
  7070. <@kajarainbow> Okay!
  7071. <ProfessorProf> BASE
  7072. <@kajarainbow> Hey NineThePuma you here?
  7073. <@kajarainbow> Inc isn't here yet. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a traffic related delay again.
  7074. <NineThePuma> Beat you here
  7075. <@kajarainbow> Anyway.
  7076. <NineThePuma> Just, uh, dealing with some stuff for a different campaign.
  7077. <Aliken> Mm.
  7078. <NineThePuma> Will be ready to go when it’s game time though
  7079. <@kajarainbow> Uh, it's game time about now? Though Inc isn't here anyway.
  7080. <@kajarainbow> Yet.
  7081. <NekoIncardine> ((Sorry for my delays ._.))
  7082. <@kajarainbow> No worry, no worry. Five minutes ain't bd.
  7083. <@kajarainbow> bad.
  7084. <Golasa> Ready to roll
  7085. <Aliken> Not bd, either.
  7086. <@DungeonLady> Hey NineThePuma I don't know when you thought game time is, but it's six minutes ago.
  7087. <Golasa> ~_~
  7088. <@DungeonLady> Alright. You guys just cleared the Spiral Dungeon.
  7089. <RinTheThief> Rin's still confused by the place. To say the least. But whatever. They're out of there and that's OK by her
  7090. <RinTheThief> Level 8 get?
  7091. <Golasa> I don't think we got a level from it.
  7092. <@DungeonLady> Know what, I'll give it to you guys after all.
  7093. <Golasa> All righty!
  7094. <@DungeonLady> So are you returning to the Spire as usual?
  7095. <Golasa> I'm gonna put a point into CHA to represent how Golasa's been becoming less of an asshole.
  7096. <Golasa> Yes.
  7097. <@DungeonLady> Cool, cool.
  7098. * RinTheThief takes Alchemist, and puts a point into WIS to get a positive modifier there and maybe resist another trap like the ones she ran into in that last place...
  7099. <Golasa> I pick Spell Mastery.
  7100. <Golasa> And point out that I still have a rain check on my Level 7 Move.
  7101. <@DungeonLady> Oh, you skipped picking one? Well, you can take that, yup.
  7102. <Aliken> I'm raising DEX to 9, and getting Superior Warrior.
  7103. <Golasa> I'm still holding off.
  7104. <Golasa> Until Golasa's Experiment is complete.
  7105. <@DungeonLady> Oh hoo.
  7106. <@DungeonLady> Right. As you return, you notice that the guard around the town seems to have intensified. And there's a hastily erected wall of wood and... are those giant bones of some sort with glowing runes?
  7107. <RinTheThief> Rin's new ability lets her brew her own potions from both existing types *and* new ones. She describes the effects, and the DM offers limitations.
  7108. <@DungeonLady> A proper stone fortification seems to be in progrss behind that wall.
  7109. <@DungeonLady> Cool, cool.
  7110. <Golasa> "Say what you want about operating out of Spire, it never gets boring."
  7111. <Aliken> Passing by the gate guards, Aliken ventures, "Has something happened while we were out?"
  7112. <@DungeonLady> "Both the Duke and the Duchess sent delegates. They pissed the Master off, and now he's got us worked to the bone building up defenses."
  7113. <RinTheThief> "... Threats of possible war, in other words," Rin observed. "That's... Bad."
  7114. <Aliken> "I suppose it was bound to happen after what Ironrain did. Good luck to Spire." Aliken nods seriously.
  7115. <@DungeonLady> "The Duke and the Duchess're already fighting it up out there. Damned nobles. Bet they wanted us to kowtow to one of them."
  7116. * RinTheThief sighs. "Never a break around here, it seems." And here she was thinking about manipulating her way into building an alchemistry lab in the Spire's shadow - a thieve's lair worthy of the name.
  7117. <Aliken> "Carry on, trooper. Thank you for your work."
  7118. <@DungeonLady> "Maybe we need a rebellion like the dwarves..." The guard muses.
  7119. <RinTheThief> "I think you've got one by default at this point, if they're outside and you're keeping them out."
  7120. <Golasa> "I'm not getting involved if I can avoid it."
  7121. <Golasa> Politics.
  7122. <@DungeonLady> "Ah, but aren't they god-crazy or something? Oh, um, no offense if you're one of those religious sorts."
  7123. <@DungeonLady> "Yeah, but I meant one where we off the nobles. I've got family out there, you know. The fighting's making things hard for them..."
  7124. <Aliken> "If you can defend the law and avoid the machinations of nobles, then you have begun. And yes. You may find it of interest to listen to the priestess of Gerechtsheid in the great shrine here in Spire."
  7125. <@DungeonLady> The guard sighs. "Oh, right, go right in. I'm not holding you up any longer."
  7126. <Aliken> Aliken smiles as she enters.
  7127. <Aliken> Oh, you know what?
  7128. <Aliken> I'm going to roll +CHA here, relying on my beauty while I'm talking to the guard to make a deeper impression.
  7129. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  7130. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
  7131. <Aliken> Well, not so much. XD
  7132. <@DungeonLady> "Er... You trying to hit on me?" The guard eyes Aliken oddly.
  7133. <Aliken> "No, no." Aliken shakes her head.
  7134. <@DungeonLady> "Well, if you say so..." He's still looking at you a bit strangely, but he does wave you on.
  7135. <RinTheThief> Once the group's back in town, Rin's investigating potential locations. "I need to prepare a base. I've become a thief of pretty damn great renown with you all and I don't even have a lair, that's just... Kind of wrong on some level."
  7136. <Golasa> I'm going to set Marigold on hitting that alchemical holy grail, now that we have the base for it.
  7137. <Aliken> "Well, if we fulfill our job for the Master, we'll have our own world to make a home in, right?"
  7138. <Golasa> Also, is Spiral still on the dungeon board, and if so, does it still say WHAT THE FUCK next to it?
  7139. <Dysna> “Ooh, lairs.”
  7140. * Dysna follows Rin around looking at Lairs.
  7141. <Aliken> "Golasa, you should see if you can figure out how to *move* using that freaking Book of the Void, I think?"
  7142. <RinTheThief> "True. But we'd have to establish a whole city in that world first. Otherwise it's a Cave In The Middle Of Nowhere. Not a very stylish lair, you know?"
  7143. <Aliken> "Did Shana really have a whole city? We'll have to see how the world is equipped after we get it."
  7144. <RinTheThief> "My lady isn't a thief. Different traditions and rules, you know?"
  7145. <@DungeonLady> Marigold... is actually looking kinda excited. In fact, it looks like she was just waiting for the word before rushing off to start work. She does toss Golasa a hastily scribbled down address... and also a request for extra pay for the whole 'afflicted with textual speech' thing.
  7146. <Aliken> "As far as I know, you've not exactly been stealing from the people- which, bear in mind, I approve of- and we'd likely have access to Spire anyhow."
  7147. <Golasa> "How much?"
  7148. <RinTheThief> "A Thief is many things. Stealing from the common folk's a crap payoff - ugly and boring."
  7149. <@DungeonLady> She didn't specify.
  7150. <RinTheThief> "... I'd love to go rob the Duke *and* Duchess blind to stop their warring, though. Just saying."
  7151. <Golasa> Well, she can have extra pay if she'll tell me how MUCH extra pay.
  7152. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, looks like she was in too much of a rush to start on on that whole alchemical holy grail. Because, you know, alchemical holy grail.
  7153. <Golasa> Then she doesn't get an answer until I get a number.
  7154. <@DungeonLady> Anyway! Rin's scouting for a potential lair.
  7155. <@DungeonLady> The rest of you doing anything?
  7156. <Golasa> I'll study the Void book to see what I can learn about the nature of the Between and how we can navigate it more easily.
  7157. <Aliken> I'll visit the priestess, and tell her about my encounter with a friendly Elder God. That was a bizarre experience.
  7158. <@DungeonLady> Oh, yeah, Spiral got marked off... and what looks like the same handwriting as the WTF guy says just "Seriously?"
  7159. <RinTheThief> Rin's focusing on shadier parts of town - places where frankly property law is terribly enforced and she could get away with using some Goldenroot and wit to manipulate some asshole out of the title to a suitable location for a small lab, by virtue of their not being able to prove they were poisoned. |3
  7160. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, tell me something interseting you learn about the Between and I'll tell you what else you learn (or you can ask me to tell you something first if you'd rather.)
  7161. <Golasa> Hmm...
  7162. <RinTheThief> This is a large city in a medieval fantasy setting, there's a lot of places where that's feasible. Sadly. ESPECIALLY with the Guard focused on building defenses in a panic.
  7163. <Golasa> Any time an object passes through the Between, it leaves a nigh-undetectable alteration in the void fabric, permanently altering the shape of the nothingness in infinitely subtle ways.
  7164. <@DungeonLady> Yeah. And it seems like there aren't some of the laws you'd expect, and enforcement's sometimes a little lax anyway. It doesn't take too much looking to find the seedy parts of town.
  7165. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, the priestess seems both surprised and impressed by your tale. She listens closely before remarking, "I recognize the god, but not the name."
  7166. <@DungeonLady> Rin, roll +Cha.
  7167. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  7168. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  7169. <Aliken> "I did correctly by offering it respect, I hope?"
  7170. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, very interesting. And, yes, it's those ripples that you have to manipulate to travel through the void. By perturbing it in certain ways, you can cause a shifting of your frame of reference, as the void changes such that your location in it's closer to where you want to be.
  7171. <Golasa> Hmhmhm, interesting.
  7172. <@DungeonLady> There're instructions on constructing something that will more or less reliably create the right alterations, though it requires an appropriate object to be placed in it to form the destination goal.
  7173. <@DungeonLady> It's not magical, precisely... but the dimensions're a bit weird. Actually, they look a little impossible--there's one that appears to be listed with a negative dimesion, for example.
  7174. <Golasa> Sounds like a challenge.
  7175. <Golasa> For now, I shall assemble materials and do what assembly is physically possible.
  7176. <@DungeonLady> And, hmm. Any questions you would like answered bout the void?
  7177. <Golasa> The rest isn't to be done here.
  7178. <Golasa> Not unless Aliken has anyn.
  7179. <Golasa> any.
  7180. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you find some sap of a gnoll who looks like a dishonest fellow. He grins broadly, thinking he's gotten the better of you, as he walks away after giving it to you for free.
  7181. <RinTheThief> ... Rin investigates the place thoroughly for traps as soon as he's gone.
  7182. <@DungeonLady> Oh, know what, roll.
  7183. <RinTheThief> What stat?
  7184. <@DungeonLady> +Dex, since I'm presuming you're using that trap move.
  7185. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Trap Expert
  7186. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Trap Expert --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  7187. <RinTheThief> (Not a Defy Danger so Evasion doesn't come into play. But I do Hold 3 to identify the trap if any in the house and what activates it.)
  7188. <@DungeonLady> In the meantime, the priestess gives a little thought to Aliken's question before replying, "Some would say that there're certain correct ways to honor the gods. But I belive it's most important to follow the tenants of justice and truth above all. Anything else is up to the individual."
  7189. <@DungeonLady> "But could you leave an offering? It's not necessary, but it would help in the upkeep of this shrine." She smiles gently.
  7190. <Aliken> I pull out the crystal petal and hand it over to her.
  7191. <@DungeonLady> "Oh..." She blinks as she looks at it. "Well, this's one of the more unusual offerings I've gotten. Though I've gotten some strange things since the dungeons started appearing."
  7192. <@DungeonLady> "Thank you, though.
  7193. <@DungeonLady> "
  7194. <Aliken> "It's what I found on the last expedition, anyhow. I hope it will help with the upkeep. Do you know, I heard a gate guard speaking that he thinks it may be time to cast off the nobles? I wonder to what extent this reflects the general mood in Spire."
  7195. <@DungeonLady> Rin, what unexpectedly fiendish and clever trap do you find?
  7196. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, no materials're specified, only the dimensions. But it did specify it had to be perfectly smooth.
  7197. <Golasa> Hmm.
  7198. <RinTheThief> The gnoll had a god damn *explosive* rigged up on a closet door. Standard plan: Blow up the new inhabitant, take their magic stuff which tends to do better at surviving explosions than the inhabitants, move on to another valueless property before the guards show up. Of course, normally he grabs their money first and doesn't hand them the title, but...
  7199. <Golasa> I still have those perfectly purified silver chains from like five dungeons ago. If I melted that down, could it reach the requisite smoothness?
  7200. <@DungeonLady> "Yes, I'd heard something to the effect. But I'd prefer it if they at least had justice in mind, rather than merely throwing off the nobles' shackles."
  7201. <@DungeonLady> "Still, now might be a good time to begin sermonizing about a better justice than what the nobles offer."
  7202. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, that'd work.
  7203. <Aliken> "That's probably the case. Spire may be fertile ground for accepting the gods and the law as things are now."
  7204. <Golasa> then it shall be so.
  7205. <@DungeonLady> Yes, a diabolical scheme, isn't it? With a little work, you can reclaim the explosives, but it'd take a good chunk of the day.
  7206. <RinTheThief> Rin, naturally, works to break the trap, and burns a hold on "What else is located here?"
  7207. <RinTheThief> She's willing and able to take her time. The gnoll handed her the title and keys.
  7208. <Aliken> "Is there anything you would wish of me to help? As always, I am grateful for your guidance."
  7209. * Dysna sets up shop outside, humming a tune as she traces the runes carved into her scales.
  7210. <@DungeonLady> "Yes. And I do not believe the masters of the spire will interfere with anything we establish. They seem primarily concerned with keeping the city stable enough not to trouble them."
  7211. <RinTheThief> Once Rin's done that, and had a locksmith change the locks, she's starting to figure out what she'll do with the location. That'll be quite the challenge, honestly..
  7212. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, what manner of shop?
  7213. <Dysna> The kind where I get comfortable and keep an eye out for the gnoll we got the place from.
  7214. <Aliken> The 'loitering as a sentry' shop, buy a kobold today!
  7215. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you find a corpse that's been hidden in the wall and covered over by fresh plaster.
  7216. <@DungeonLady> Uh, Rin, were you letting the kobold tag along?
  7217. <@DungeonLady> And that corpse explains the smell. At least it's not *that* old.
  7218. <RinTheThief> She'd have let Dysna near *after* she'd gotten the place, but not *in* until she'd dealt with the traps... And now the corpse. Anyone of note when she quickly traces the rumor mills?
  7219. <Dysna> Well, I’d thought I was trailing rin, but oh well xD;
  7220. <@DungeonLady> Hard to tell. It might be one of the petty criminals that've disappeared recently.
  7221. <RinTheThief> Rin sighs, looking annoyed, and gets a Guard to investigate, telling him she just bought the place cheap and then found the corpse. She doesn't note the bomb.
  7222. <@DungeonLady> The Guard doesn't look too concerned after a quick glance at the corpse. She tells you she'll send for the corpse removal wagon.
  7223. <Dysna> (Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead!)
  7224. <RinTheThief> ... Rin of course checks if there's anything resembling anything of value on the corpse before the wagon shows up. Because she's Rin.
  7225. <@DungeonLady> (And I find myself for some reason picturing the gnoll looking like the Grinner in this: (Link: http://rustyandco.com/comic/level-3-14/)http://rustyandco.com/comic/level-3-14/ )
  7226. <@DungeonLady> It looks like the corpse's already been thoroughly checked over and stripped clean. Even one of his teeth looks like it might've been recently pulled out (a gold or silver tooth perhaps).
  7227. <@DungeonLady> (BRB, getting water.)
  7228. <RinTheThief> Drat. Oh well. A confused gnoll criminal (she of course reported who he was!) and a free place is a great start for Rin's next plan.
  7229. <@DungeonLady> Now what're you all doing next?
  7230. <Aliken> After my visit to the priestess, I'm going to make sure I'm resupplied, check the available dungeons, and check in with Golasa at the inn to see how her work is going. And visit Marigold to ask her about what she's turned up about 'immortality' from the Barbed Library.
  7231. <Golasa> Once I finish the first part of making the device, I'm waiting on Golasa.
  7232. <RinTheThief> Once Rin's got the party back together, she's going to ask Golasa and/or Marigold how much would be involved in magically securing this place against petty house break-ins and such. She wants a secure lair ESPECIALLY given whe she plans to do with the place...
  7233. <Golasa> er
  7234. <Golasa> on Marigold.
  7235. <@DungeonLady> Oh, and if any of you stop by the Jolly Bottom where you've been generally staying on your returns to town, you'll notice the innkeeper seems distraught.
  7236. <Aliken> "What's wrong?"
  7237. <Aliken> Aliken's sure to ask when she drops in to speak with Golasa.
  7238. <@DungeonLady> "Well. It's my brother. His inn, well..."
  7239. <Aliken> "Yes?"
  7240. <RinTheThief> "Oh?" Now Rin looks worried.
  7241. <@DungeonLady> "It's turned into one of those damned dungeons."
  7242. <@DungeonLady> And also, Marigold seems to be still busy if any of you visit her. Her lab's full of strange smells and smoke.
  7243. <Aliken> "We'll look into it immediately after we see if we can stop any more dungeons from appearing. I think we had best deal with that before things get any worse."
  7244. <Golasa> That means she's doing good work.
  7245. <Golasa> Can she give an estimate? Would we be better off clearing another dungeon while we wait?
  7246. <@DungeonLady> "Couple of days," she irritably snaps.
  7247. <Aliken> "We should make our expedition into the Void before we do your experiment, I think."
  7248. <Golasa> "The expedition to the Void is part of the experiment, but if you want to do one of your own, I'll tag along."
  7249. <Aliken> "Right. We're heading off to fulfill the Master's contract."
  7250. <@DungeonLady> "I understand... But if you help my brother, I'll give you a lifetime of free stays."
  7251. <Aliken> "I'll be sure to address that as soon as possible; I'm just concerned what may happen if I deal with that first."
  7252. <RinTheThief> "Indeed...."
  7253. <@DungeonLady> Also, there seems to be a lot more names with military or noble titles popping up on on the dungeon board.
  7254. <Aliken> "If you can help us get to the disturbance in the Void, Golasa, we'll see if we can't stabilise the situation."
  7255. <Aliken> I dig out Shark's claw.
  7256. <Golasa> Do we actually know that there's a disturbance in the void?
  7257. <Aliken> Yes, we do.
  7258. <@DungeonLady> What's been mentioned is that there's a 'heart' to the whole dungeon thing.
  7259. <Aliken> And the Master informed us it should be obvious upon entering the Void.
  7260. <Golasa> Well, then!
  7261. <Golasa> Let's go take a look.
  7262. <Golasa> I'm bringing the unfinished device with me.
  7263. <RinTheThief> Rin is cautious as hell of course...
  7264. <Aliken> I slice open an entry to the Void...
  7265. <@DungeonLady> Once you look closer... there're countless points of colors in the emptiness. Other worlds, perhaps. A great many of those colorful patches seem to be close... very close. There's even one just to the right of the hole that you could reach out and touch. Its colors remind you of swishing beer with foam.
  7266. <Golasa> So we've got a portal open the void right now?
  7267. <Aliken> Yeeeeep.
  7268. <Golasa> I throw a rock through.
  7269. <Aliken> Is the 'disturbance' or 'heart' apparent? I can rather guess what the beer-colored world is. >.>
  7270. <Golasa> The Dungeon of Drinking
  7271. <@DungeonLady> And... in the center of the cluster of those worlds, there's... a throbbing, bright patch that reminds you of blood and bricks and steel.
  7272. <@DungeonLady> Iron, actually.
  7273. <@DungeonLady> The rocks sails a brief way before stopping.
  7274. <Golasa> Interesting.
  7275. <Aliken> "I THINK we've found our disturbance." Aliken nods to the throbbing crimson patch.
  7276. <Golasa> "Well, who's going to be the brave one to take the first step?"
  7277. <RinTheThief> "... Not it!"
  7278. <Aliken> "We need something associated with the target world to help navigate ourselves there, first. Let's stop at an abbatoir before we head in."
  7279. <Golasa> "I'm not sure that's right."
  7280. * Golasa focuses on the Anomaly. Does it seem more alive or dead?
  7281. <Aliken> I'm going to see if we can buy a bloody beef heart. Maybe it's not from the target world, but I suspect the association will work.
  7282. <Aliken> It's throbbing and pulsing.
  7283. <Aliken> It's a *heart*.
  7284. <Golasa> Hmm.
  7285. <Golasa> It's worth a shot.
  7286. <@DungeonLady> So are you just passing the time until Marigold finishes?
  7287. * RinTheThief not prepared to speak here either way. She still doesn't fully understand the dungeoneering stuff as well as she wants to think she does and she darn well knows it.
  7288. <Aliken> Buying a beef heart and then heading in for the 'Heart' in the Void.
  7289. <Golasa> I think we're heading out into the void.
  7290. <Golasa> While she works.
  7291. <Golasa> As soon as someone volunteers to go first.
  7292. <Golasa> or we draw straws.
  7293. <Aliken> I'll go first, we just need something to help guide us to our destination, based on the books we read.
  7294. <Aliken> Which is why I chose to get us a heart.
  7295. <@DungeonLady> Right now I'm trying to decide whether to let a heart work.
  7296. <Golasa> Well there's another step before that.
  7297. <Golasa> The device isn't complete.
  7298. <Golasa> I plan to finish it inside the Void, where the geometry is more unusual.
  7299. <@DungeonLady> Cool!
  7300. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, that'd help greatly.
  7301. <Golasa> So we may be ever so briefly stranded in the void.
  7302. <@DungeonLady> Right.
  7303. <@DungeonLady> So what're you taking with you for preparation?
  7304. <@DungeonLady> In general. Other than the heart and device.
  7305. <Aliken> Hmmm, you know what?
  7306. <Aliken> What was the priestess' name again?
  7307. <Golasa> Whatever tools I needed to buildi what I could so far, and all my usual adventuring gear.
  7308. <RinTheThief> Rin has her gear, as well.
  7309. <Aliken> I'm going to see if she can come along and act as an agent of the gods with us on this quest.
  7310. <Aliken> If she's even WILLING to.
  7311. <@DungeonLady> Wait, you're asking the priestess along?
  7312. <Dysna> “You know, I think you just might be a bit crazy.”
  7313. <@DungeonLady> Also, any of you have anything prepared for the trip back?
  7314. <Aliken> Yeah, I'll ask her along if she's willing to go.
  7315. <RinTheThief> Besides our stuff which comes from our world and thus logically would do the job?
  7316. <Aliken> I totally understand if she's NOT.
  7317. <Aliken> Yeah, we are not short on stuff that could serve as beacons to our world.
  7318. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, alright.
  7319. <Golasa> I have plenty of tokens of home.
  7320. <Aliken> But I figure it's worth asking her.
  7321. <Dysna> ((You know, not to completely derail, but it occurs to me to ask whatever happened to the guy I replaced)
  7322. <@DungeonLady> As for the priestess, she says, "Thank you for asking, but I have things to do here."
  7323. <@DungeonLady> (The guy you replaced?)
  7324. <Dysna> (There was a player before me, wasn’t there?)
  7325. <@DungeonLady> (College.)
  7326. <Dysna> (Oh. That’s... yeah)
  7327. <Aliken> "Of course. Give me your blessing before I go, at least?"
  7328. <@DungeonLady> (Specially he had class overlapping the game time. And hasn't come back after that. I presume he's got plenty of things to keep him busy in life now.)
  7329. <Dysna> (Asking cause I got asked why I can’t do things mondays)
  7330. <Aliken> Without knowing the specifics of what's in the heart, just my general adventuring gear will have to do.
  7331. <@DungeonLady> "Certainly." And she gives her blessings, asking for truth and justice to guide you.
  7332. <Aliken> Well, I guess I'm as ready as I'll be.
  7333. <@DungeonLady> (Ah. I'm still a little confused. Are you asking if I'd replace him with you, or something? If he returned, I was planning to add him back in as a fifth player.)
  7334. <Dysna> (Oh, no, I just got asked and we had a brief conversation about it and then it was in my mind, cause it occured to me that when I signed up I had thought of it as a “until he stops being unavailable” but then he hasn’t stopped in months and thought I’d inquire to see if he’d died or something)
  7335. * Dysna has her wands? She’s ready.
  7336. <@DungeonLady> And with that, you embark into the void. After not too long, you start to feel like you're losing all frames of references... there's not really a feeling of gravity nor a feeling of floating. Just the sight of the color spots around you and the open cut behind you keep you roughly anchored in a sense of place.
  7337. <Golasa> Well! That's weird.
  7338. <Golasa> Time to build a Device.
  7339. <RinTheThief> Rin is carefully taking efforts to stay with the group. She's possibly deployed rope to aid with this.
  7340. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, the rope is helping you guys stay together... which's a good thing as one of you looks like she's a hundred feet off. Or is that just a trick of perception?
  7341. <@DungeonLady> It's hard to tell in this emptiness.
  7342. <Golasa> Which one of us is it.
  7343. <@DungeonLady> Aliken.
  7344. <Aliken> Hmmm. Is there a reason I can tell I seem to be far off?
  7345. <@DungeonLady> As far as you can tell, Rin's awfully close. Uncomfortably close, actually--she's almost right in your face.
  7346. <@DungeonLady> Move an inch and you might bump your nose into her.
  7347. <Aliken> ... huh. Well, anyhow, I need to wait for Golasa to finish her device.
  7348. <Golasa> Is the Void Geometry helping with the impossible angles?
  7349. <@DungeonLady> Very much so.
  7350. <@DungeonLady> In fact, it's proving surprisingly trival now.
  7351. <@DungeonLady> Just a matter of being careful to get the measurements right and build it precisely.
  7352. <@DungeonLady> In due time you finish it.
  7353. <Aliken> Once she has the device, I'm going to try and hand off the heart to her, and see where we can go.
  7354. <Golasa> "All right, let's see if this works. Everybody hold on."
  7355. * Golasa puts the heart into the locator node.
  7356. <@DungeonLady> It's proving hard to reach her, and you have to use the rope just to her.
  7357. <Aliken> Well, thank goodness for rope.
  7358. <@DungeonLady> The node tugs... and it tugs toward a different world that has more fleshy colors, until it begins tugging back toward the desired world.
  7359. <@DungeonLady> After an unknown time, it's within reach.
  7360. <Aliken> All right. I think this is where I use the claw again to breach into the Heart of the Void.
  7361. <@DungeonLady> Not the heart of the Void itself, it's well...
  7362. <@DungeonLady> Okay, tell me what you think of when you think the word "dungeon".
  7363. <@DungeonLady> What most embodies it to you?
  7364. <Golasa> moss-covered stone walls, esoteric and dangerous puzzles, laws of physics that don't quite sync up with reality.
  7365. <Golasa> and monsters.
  7366. <Aliken> From our experience? It's a relatively contained world with its own laws, plenty of dangers, and opportunity.
  7367. <@DungeonLady> Aliken.
  7368. <@DungeonLady> I'm not asking you what the dungeons so far've been like.
  7369. <@DungeonLady> I'm asking you what you would think of as an archetypal dungeon.
  7370. <Aliken> A dungeon is a fortress.
  7371. <Aliken> Plain and simple.
  7372. <Dysna> I’m having flashbacks to the Temple of Elemental Evil.
  7373. <Aliken> It's layers of protection defending a core.
  7374. <Golasa> (don't say Tomb of Horrors don't say Tomb of Horrors)
  7375. <RinTheThief> Rin sees caves and structures, strange and complex traps designed often as not to humiliate even more than kill, fiendish monsters, and of course grand treasures and magical items beyond compare.
  7376. <Aliken> The particulars may vary, but the fact of it being a fortified strongpoint remains a constant.
  7377. <@DungeonLady> As you brech the walls of the world and step into it, you see stone walls around you that lead into T-intersections in both directions. A skeleton lies by the wall halfway down one of those directions. There's an inscription upon the wall. It reads simply, "Find the heart."
  7378. <@DungeonLady> And we'll end there, okay?
  7379. <Golasa> All right.
  7380. <Golasa> Time for the Dungeon of Dungeons.
  7381. <Dysna> ... Well, this is as good a stopping point as any.
  7382. <Aliken> Well. This will certainly be a thing.
  7383. <RinTheThief> Dang. o_o;
  7384. <Dysna> It’s almost midnight and we’re at the start of a wonderful journey
  7385. <@DungeonLady> Yup. The Dungeon of Dungeons.
  7386. <Dysna> DungeonDungeonLady is your new name
  7387. <Aliken> Oh dear.
  7388. <Golasa> o/
  7389. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jun 24 20:59:14 2013 -0700
  7390.  
  7391.  
  7392. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 01 16:26:00 2013 -0700
  7393. <NekoIncardine> Hrm
  7394. <NekoIncardine> Today, in Odd Ideas I was Thinking About
  7395. * @Aliken thinks about kitties.
  7396. <NekoIncardine> I had a dream last night about an RP system where you rolled a number of dF... But the number varied by situation.
  7397. <NekoIncardine> SPecifically, it was XdF+Modifiers, and X was a representation of how potentially chaotic the situation was
  7398. <NekoIncardine> (dF is either +, -, or 0.)
  7399. <@Aliken> Doesn't the Law of Large numbers tend to mean that things get *less* swingy with more dice?
  7400. <NekoIncardine> THat was one concern, yes.
  7401. <NekoIncardine> But basically, I like the idea of mixing-and-matching bits of M&M, Dungeon World, and FATE the more I think on it
  7402. <NekoIncardine> DW's initiative-free play with the Hard Choices, FATE's Aspects Core, and a customization mechanic more in M&M's line
  7403. <@Aliken> Eh, I could pass on Aspects.
  7404. * @Aliken attempts the Kaja-Summoning Ritual.
  7405. <@Aliken> Anybody have a goat?
  7406. <NekoIncardine> Sorry, ran out a week ago
  7407. <@Aliken> Pity.
  7408. * NekoIncardine used an IM instead. Less dramatic but HEY
  7409. <kajarainbow> What?
  7410. <kajarainbow> IM?
  7411. <@Aliken> Instant message.
  7412. <@Aliken> I asked if Inc had a goat for the Kaja-Summoning Ritual.
  7413. * @Aliken puts away the sacrificial dagger.
  7414. <@kajarainbow> Okay, now trying the Nine-summoning.
  7415. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+255
  7416. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+255 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{263}
  7417. <Golasa> I've been grinding my INT
  7418. <@kajarainbow> XD
  7419. <NekoIncardine> Already attempted the Nine Summoning
  7420. <@kajarainbow> Okay.
  7421. <@DungeonLady> Alright, let's get started.
  7422. <Aliken> So here we are in the Dungeon of Dungeons. You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
  7423. <Aliken> Or something.
  7424. <@DungeonLady> So, you're in a mossy stone hallway. T-intersections both ways. One of those directiosn has a skeleton just before the intersection.
  7425. <Golasa> "So which are we thinking, skeleton or no skeleton?"
  7426. <Aliken> Aliken pulls out her rondel. "I think I'll just mark each intersection as we pass, sequentially, so that we know if we loop back on ourselves. It will get VERY easy to get disoriented here."
  7427. <Aliken> "I'm not sure we have much option other than an exhaustive search."
  7428. <Golasa> I suppose a traditional labyrinth is one thing we haven't come across in our travels.
  7429. <RinTheThief> "Right-hand trick? though this place probably has a way to handle that, too..."
  7430. * RinTheThief already starting to eye out for traps...
  7431. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  7432. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=12 ]{15}
  7433. <Golasa> "Right-hand trick probably won't work here."
  7434. <Aliken> "Well, if I give each way we head a unique mark, we can at least get our bearings, depending."
  7435. <Golasa> "We didn't stasrt at a dead end, so it can loop."
  7436. <Golasa> start*
  7437. <@DungeonLady> Okay, Rin, where're you checking for traps?
  7438. <Aliken> Whatever way we go, the first turning we make, I'll scratch an A by the turning so we know we went down that corridor. Then a B on the next one, and so forth.
  7439. <Aliken> In the event I run out of letters, then AA, AB, AC, et cetera.
  7440. <RinTheThief> Rin basically just keeps moving along the corridor, looking for any type of trap and what might trigger it.
  7441. <RinTheThief> (So for the next three spots of interest: Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?)
  7442. <@DungeonLady> Right, you checking toard or away from the skeleton?
  7443. <Aliken> How does it look like the skeleton died? If there's evidence in the state of the bones, anyhow.
  7444. <RinTheThief> Toward the skeleton first.
  7445. <@DungeonLady> It looks like much of the skeleton was crushed.
  7446. <RinTheThief> "Well, that's a very bad sign in the very first room.
  7447. <Aliken> "I'll be trusting to you to identify trapped passages."
  7448. <@DungeonLady> Okay, yeah, there're a series of pressure plates running across the width of the hallway about where the skeleton is. They're fairly well-disguised and only the very slight gaps around them to allow for motion betrayed their presence.
  7449. * RinTheThief looks for other things that might be hidden - especially deactivation levers...
  7450. <@DungeonLady> And by the way, there seems to be similar gaps in the wall for a moving section, around where the pressure plates're.
  7451. <Aliken> If the entire hallway is trapped, isn't that a good sign it's NOT the way to go?
  7452. * RinTheThief ticks off a use of Adventuring Gear for a pole, and pokes one of the wall gaps.
  7453. <@DungeonLady> Not the entire thing. Just a strip about where the skeleton is.
  7454. <@DungeonLady> You don't find any deactivation mechanisms, but it looks like you can step across the plates. Just have to watch out for the second set behind them.
  7455. <@DungeonLady> The wall gaps don't react. It looks like this might be a trap where the wall slides in to crush you.
  7456. <RinTheThief> "Two sets of plates, looks like the walls move if you trip them. Cautious movement would let us pass. Or flight magic or something."
  7457. * Dysna teleports to the other side.
  7458. * RinTheThief calmly activates her Boots Of Phantom R to walk along the wall across to the other side!
  7459. <Golasa> "Show-offs."
  7460. <Aliken> Aliken steps over the plates as instructed by Rin, following after her.
  7461. <Golasa> Are the plates sparse enough that there's no difficulty in crossing once we know where they are?
  7462. <@DungeonLady> You'd just have to take a wide stride to cross them.
  7463. <Golasa> Sounds easy enough.
  7464. <RinTheThief> Rin's just... EXCESSIVELY cautious right now
  7465. * Golasa carefully crosses.
  7466. <@DungeonLady> And... there's an inscription on the wall at the intersection. "Trust not your senses."
  7467. <Golasa> "This is getting better and better, isn't it?"
  7468. <Golasa> Just another T-intersection?
  7469. <@DungeonLady> It's one of the T-intersections at the ends of the first hallway.
  7470. <Golasa> Either Im confused about the shape of this area, or that would be back the way we just came.
  7471. <Aliken> "Waarheid, if I have any favor in your eyes, this would be a wonderful time for you to give me some inspiration."
  7472. <Golasa> Either way.
  7473. <@DungeonLady> Think of it as a "H".
  7474. <@DungeonLady> You were in the middle of the H.
  7475. <@DungeonLady> Now you're on the left side of it.
  7476. * Golasa closes her eyes and taps the ground with her staff to feel out the shape of the area, like she did back when she had the blindfold.
  7477. <Aliken> I think, Golasa, the skeleton was still on the middle bar of the H, just to the left of us.
  7478. <Aliken> Now we're at the left arm.
  7479. <Golasa> In case any part of it is not what it looks like.
  7480. <Aliken> Aliken prays.
  7481. <@DungeonLady> Your senses tell you that the T-intersection's actually a four-way intersection.
  7482. <Golasa> "Clever."
  7483. * Golasa advances towards the wall.
  7484. <RinTheThief> "... Huh."
  7485. <Golasa> "I knew all that time with the blindfold was good for something."
  7486. <@DungeonLady> And, yeah, it provides no resistance.
  7487. * Aliken follows after Golasa. "I'm glad for it, certainly."
  7488. * Dysna hums quietly, trailing at the back of the group, shooting glances down the side paths.
  7489. <@DungeonLady> The side paths turned off at right angles.
  7490. * RinTheThief follows Golasa, her caution still up...
  7491. <@DungeonLady> And after several turns and a couple of dead ends, you find the hallway opening into a room. There'a a pool of water running down each side of the room, leaving a walkway in the center. At the other end are six levers in the wall.
  7492. <RinTheThief> Rin, of course, is focused on her Trap Sense...
  7493. <Golasa> "I like this dungeon."
  7494. <Aliken> Aliken looks in the water, but does not touch.
  7495. * Dysna wonders if we brought a bucket
  7496. <RinTheThief> *Waits for call for Trap Sense check*
  7497. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll.
  7498. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Trap Sense Check
  7499. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Trap Sense Check --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  7500. <RinTheThief> (Hold 3, yay)
  7501. <RinTheThief> (Question 1: Is there a trap here and what activates it?)
  7502. <@DungeonLady> No standard trap, but something's off about the water. You don't think it's really water.
  7503. <@DungeonLady> It's not as shiny as water should be.
  7504. <Aliken> (Poke a pole in it!)
  7505. * RinTheThief uses the pole from earlier... No, not yet. Question 2: What else is hidden here?
  7506. <@DungeonLady> The 'water' is even more clear than water, so that you can easily enough see that there's a pressure plate at the bottom of both pools.
  7507. * Dysna is debating doing something very stupid.
  7508. <Aliken> "Is it safe to cross the walkway, Rin?"
  7509. <Golasa> "Don't drink it, Dysna."
  7510. <RinTheThief> "I believe so... BUt those levers and the plates in the water, they worry me."
  7511. <Dysna> "Of course not. It's probably purified alcohol or something. I was going to light it on fire."
  7512. <Aliken> "I'm going to look at the levers and see if I can figure anything out, then."
  7513. <Aliken> Aliken stumps across the walkway to examine the levers carefully.
  7514. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, Discern Reality.
  7515. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  7516. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  7517. <Golasa> "Don't do that either."
  7518. <Golasa> "At least not until we know what this room is about."
  7519. <Aliken> (What here is not what it appears to be? What is useful or valuable to me? What should I be on the lookout for? Are there any marks or inscriptions on the levers?)
  7520. <@DungeonLady> (Four questions? Do you have a move that adds an extra question or something?)
  7521. <Aliken> (No, but 'marks and inscriptions' I'm assuming is pretty obvious and is likely 'useful' anyhow.)
  7522. <@DungeonLady> There're slight colored bands on each the levers. The first one has one, and it increases up to six on the sixth. They're green on the first and third, red on the second and fourth, and yellow on the fifth and sixth.
  7523. * Golasa pulls the first lever.
  7524. <Aliken> "Golasa..!"
  7525. <Aliken> "Could we wait until we've examined everything thoroughly?!?"
  7526. <@DungeonLady> There's a click. A portion of the wall at the bottom vanishes, along with the first lever, leaving a gap where it was.
  7527. <Golasa> "That's interesting."
  7528. <Aliken> Well, now that that bit of wall has vanished, I'll look in the newly opened gap.
  7529. <Golasa> "They're levers with colored markings on them. Rin didn't see a trap. What more information were you going to get without pulling one?"
  7530. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, you notice something gleaming and sharp deep inside the gap where the first lever was.
  7531. <RinTheThief> "... Yeek."
  7532. <Aliken> Hmmm.
  7533. <Aliken> I have an armored gauntlet. I'm going to try and see if the sharp thing is loose.
  7534. <@DungeonLady> It's too small for your hand to fit inside.
  7535. <Aliken> "If I had to guess, don't pull levers two and four." I try lever three.
  7536. * Dysna hides the fact that she has tiny hands.
  7537. <Golasa> Could I fish it out with a knife?
  7538. <Golasa> Or a wand?
  7539. <Golasa> If I had a wand.
  7540. <@DungeonLady> It's pretty deep inside.
  7541. <RinTheThief> Maybe a mage hand type effect?
  7542. <Golasa> Hmm, yes. Could I use my arcane powers to pull it out?
  7543. <Golasa> Not that that's stupidly dangerous or anything.
  7544. <@DungeonLady> Another click. A little more of the wall at the bottom vanishes, along with the third lever.
  7545. <@DungeonLady> Oh, yeah, by the way, the pools aren't *that* deep. You could poke the plates with a pole, for example. Just saying.
  7546. * RinTheThief looks in the gap....
  7547. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, a similar sharp thing inside there.
  7548. <Aliken> (Use~ the~ pole~)
  7549. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you could try.
  7550. <RinTheThief> "... Move away from the levers. Let's try something."
  7551. <Aliken> Aliken moves away.
  7552. * RinTheThief pokes one of the pressure plates in the 'water' with a pole
  7553. <@DungeonLady> Okay, what's your pole made out of?
  7554. <Golasa> (Never a good sign)
  7555. <RinTheThief> Wood.
  7556. <@DungeonLady> As the pole enters the water, the submerged section of it dissolves.
  7557. <RinTheThief> "... Well. Uh."
  7558. <Aliken> "Let me try something."
  7559. <Aliken> I flip a coin into the 'water' and see what happens.
  7560. * Golasa tries Unseen Servanting the mysterious wall object out. While standing clear, just in case she pulls it out too hard and impales herself.
  7561. <Aliken> Does the coin survive?
  7562. <@DungeonLady> It sinks to the bottom of the pool. Looks fine.
  7563. <Aliken> Are the pressure plates no more than like, three feet deep or so?
  7564. <@DungeonLady> Yeah.
  7565. <@DungeonLady> Oh, yeah, the wall object...
  7566. <Aliken> I pull out my sword.
  7567. <Aliken> And use the blade to try and push down the plate.
  7568. <@DungeonLady> As it's pulled out, it reveals itself to be a sharp barb on a chain.
  7569. <@DungeonLady> And as Aliken pushes the plate, the chain retracts forcefully, and the gaps in the wall disappear.
  7570. <Golasa> "Hey!"
  7571. <@DungeonLady> The number of colored bands on the levers've changed.
  7572. <Golasa> "Oh this is getting interesting."
  7573. <Aliken> Now what's on the levers?
  7574. <RinTheThief> "... Huh."
  7575. <Golasa> And did Levers 1 and 3 return?
  7576. <@DungeonLady> 1st: 3 green. 2nd: 1 red. 3rd: 2 green. 4th: 5 red. 5th: 6 yellow. 6th: 3 yellow.
  7577. <@DungeonLady> One of the plates've been depressed--and it remains depressed.
  7578. <RinTheThief> "Hrm."
  7579. <Golasa> What were they before?
  7580. <@DungeonLady> They were numbered in order from 1 to 6. Same colors.
  7581. <Aliken> "Let me try and depress the other plate. I have a suspicion."
  7582. <Aliken> And I proceed to do so.
  7583. <@DungeonLady> The colored bands change once again.
  7584. <Aliken> What now?
  7585. <RinTheThief> Does either plate move?
  7586. <@DungeonLady> 1st: 6 red. 2nd: 4 red. 3rd: 5 green. 4th: 1 yellow. 5th: 2 yellow. 6th: 3 green.
  7587. <@DungeonLady> Both plates remain depressed.
  7588. <Aliken> I will pull levers 4 and 5, in that order, now.
  7589. <@DungeonLady> They vanish into similar gaps as before. along with sections of the wall at the bottom.
  7590. <Aliken> Lever 6, then.
  7591. <Golasa> (I'm certainly lost)
  7592. <RinTheThief> (Me too.)
  7593. <Aliken> (I'm just experimenting at the moment.)
  7594. <@DungeonLady> A little more of the wall at the bottom vanishes, along with the lever.
  7595. <Aliken> ... OK, here goes nothing. Lever 2.
  7596. <@DungeonLady> Three barbs on chains spring out of the gaps at Aliken.
  7597. <Aliken> Figures.
  7598. <@DungeonLady> So, what do you do in response to the barbs trying to impale Aliken?
  7599. <Golasa> I got nothing, I'm afraid.
  7600. <Aliken> Throw up my shield.
  7601. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll +Str.
  7602. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  7603. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  7604. <@DungeonLady> The barbs thrust through the shield, but stop there. Then they retract, leaving holes in the shield.
  7605. <Aliken> I toss aside the shield.
  7606. <@DungeonLady> And the missing levers reappar, along with the wall sections.
  7607. <Golasa> "So it's not just numeric order, then."
  7608. <Golasa> "It attacked when you pulled a green lever."
  7609. <Aliken> "Red lever."
  7610. <Aliken> "Greens and yellows have been safe so far."
  7611. <Aliken> "I was hoping we'd get markings one through four in green and yellow."
  7612. <RinTheThief> "Huh..."
  7613. <Aliken> I'll try 4563, now.
  7614. <Golasa> Hang on tho.
  7615. <Aliken> Wait a second...
  7616. <Golasa> Oh wait my bad.
  7617. <Aliken> I think I just figured something out.
  7618. <Aliken> Never mind, I DON'T try 4563.
  7619. <Aliken> I'll try pressing on the first plate again, I have a suspicion.
  7620. <@DungeonLady> It remain depressed.
  7621. <Aliken> OK, 4563, then, since we're stuck with two depressed plates.
  7622. <@DungeonLady> Click. Click. Click. Click.
  7623. <@DungeonLady> And there're now four gaps where levers were.
  7624. <RinTheThief> "So, wait, what?"
  7625. <Aliken> Ugh. I'm going to look around to see if there's any way to reset the plates in the water.
  7626. <@DungeonLady> You see none.
  7627. <Aliken> Is there enough of Rin's pole to use to trigger a lever off to the side?
  7628. <Golasa> "2 next."
  7629. <@DungeonLady> The first lever with 6 red bands and second lever with 4 red bands remain.
  7630. <RinTheThief> She has like two feet of pole left, and passes it over.
  7631. <Aliken> Eh, this pole is useless.
  7632. <Aliken> "Golasa, can you trigger that second lever with magic? I don't want to be in front of this when we try it."
  7633. <Golasa> "Let's give it a try."
  7634. * Golasa tries to pull the 4-bands lever from off to the side, hopefully out of barbing range.
  7635. <Golasa> Using magic.
  7636. <Golasa> Because I'm a wizard.
  7637. <@DungeonLady> Click. It disappears.
  7638. <Aliken> "Let's try the last one, then..."
  7639. <RinTheThief> "Please tell me that acid isn't going to fill the room when we pull this..."
  7640. <Aliken> "I could, but I'd be lying if I said I knew that."
  7641. <@DungeonLady> So, yeah, you pulling it.
  7642. <Golasa> I'll do it.
  7643. <Golasa> Last lever, let's go.
  7644. <@DungeonLady> Click. And the largest chunk of the wall so far disappears. A doorway now remains where the levers were.
  7645. <RinTheThief> "..." Rin looks through the doorway for traps."
  7646. <Aliken> "You know, I still don't believe I fully figured that one out. It bothers me."
  7647. * Aliken has the dissatisfied feeling of somebody who has 'solved' a puzzle through luck.
  7648. <Golasa> "I think it was descending color, then ascending number."
  7649. <@DungeonLady> Since I believe you still have hold, I'll let you spot the plate right there in the middle.
  7650. <Golasa> "Either way, hey, we solved it."
  7651. <Aliken> I assume Rin tells us to avoid the plate?
  7652. <RinTheThief> ...
  7653. * RinTheThief ticks off another Adventuring Gear to grab a second pole, metal this time. And pokes the plate from a distance.
  7654. <@DungeonLady> CLANG. The walls slam together, catching the pole between them. And then they slide apart again.
  7655. <RinTheThief> "That plate? Avoid it." Wall-running again!
  7656. <Golasa> "I really appreciate having you in the group, Rin."
  7657. <Aliken> And yes. I step over that plate.
  7658. <Golasa> Avoiding plate.
  7659. <@DungeonLady> So, yeah, you pass beyond.. and into more twisting passages. Really, it's a good thing you've been marking them, as you notice yourself going in a loop a couple of times. Yup... wait, there was a passageway there before.
  7660. <@DungeonLady> What was a T-intersection is now a right angle turn.
  7661. <Golasa> "The walls are moving."
  7662. <RinTheThief> "... Yeah. And subtly enough to not be heard."
  7663. <Aliken> Have we already taken the turn that the right-angle turn wants us to go on? Or is the disappeared path one we already took?
  7664. <@DungeonLady> You've already taken that path.
  7665. * RinTheThief pokes the wall that wasn't here a minute ago..
  7666. <@DungeonLady> That is, the disappeared path is one you didn't take before.
  7667. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you poking it with your hand?
  7668. <RinTheThief> ... With the remains of the second pole.
  7669. <@DungeonLady> Well, the metal pole's still in decent shape. Just slightly flattened.
  7670. <@DungeonLady> And a maw opens up in the wall, snapping at the pole.
  7671. <RinTheThief> "... Living walls. Great."
  7672. <Aliken> "If it lives, we can kill it."
  7673. <Aliken> Aliken pulls out her sword. Likely still damp from the pool. And hacks at the mawed wall.
  7674. <@DungeonLady> The wall spits out the pole, whose end's been bent and twisted by its teeth.
  7675. <@DungeonLady> Where're you hacking at it?
  7676. <Aliken> Aiming beneath the maw that appeared.
  7677. <@DungeonLady> Sparks fly as your sword scrapes the living wall. There's only a slight scratch. The maw clatters open and shut rapidly. It almost seem pissed off.
  7678. <Golasa> "This seems counterproductive."
  7679. <Golasa> "Care to try reasoning with it?"
  7680. <Aliken> Hmmm. Does the interior of the maw look softer?
  7681. <@DungeonLady> And it lunges, leaving the passageway it was blocking off.
  7682. <@DungeonLady> Somewhat, yes.
  7683. <Aliken> Well, then, that suggests a plan.
  7684. <Aliken> Stab it INSIDE the mouth brutally enough to ruin its attempt to bite. But you said it just cleared the passageway it was blocking off? Then we don't really need to defeat it, do we?
  7685. <RinTheThief> No, but it is a WALL. THAT IS ATTACKING US.
  7686. <@DungeonLady> Yeah. Aliken, it's lunging at you, you know.
  7687. <@DungeonLady> So, you stabbing it there?
  7688. <Aliken> Yeah, I'm going to ruin its day in the mouth.
  7689. <@DungeonLady> Roll to Hack'N'Slash, then.
  7690. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  7691. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  7692. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  7693. <Aliken> I'm avoiding retaliation.
  7694. <Aliken> !roll 1d10+1d4+1
  7695. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, roll damage.
  7696. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1d4+1 --> [ 1d10=2 1d4=2 ]{5}
  7697. <Aliken> ...
  7698. <@DungeonLady> How much armor piercing do you have, again?
  7699. <Aliken> 2.
  7700. <@DungeonLady> Righty.
  7701. <@DungeonLady> It recoils at the stab in its mouth and quickly withdraws toward the passage it was blocking off.
  7702. <@DungeonLady> Any of the rest of you doing something?
  7703. * Dysna teleports to be behind the wall!
  7704. <RinTheThief> Drawing her blade and moving with extreme caution, that's what.
  7705. <@DungeonLady> Okay, yeah, Dysna, roll for that move.
  7706. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+1
  7707. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+1 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{5}
  7708. <Dysna> Welp
  7709. <Dysna> I think it Knows I'm There and I might not have made it all the way
  7710. <@DungeonLady> You land... right in front of it. Reflexively, it snaps at you, catching your arm. Take 1d10+1 damage.
  7711. <Aliken> Well, if it snaps, it gives me another opening to try and murder it, right?
  7712. <Dysna> !roll 1d10+1
  7713. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d10+1 --> [ 1d10=10 ]{11}
  7714. <Dysna> ... Have we healed since the last time I took damage?
  7715. <Aliken> We should be fresh for this dungeon.
  7716. <Dysna> Okay
  7717. <@DungeonLady> You're fresh for this dungeon, yeah.
  7718. <Dysna> Cause, otherwise I think I just died xD
  7719. <@DungeonLady> You do get to apply any armor you have.
  7720. <Dysna> Which is none
  7721. <Aliken> I get a chance to try and make another assault now that it's snapped again?
  7722. <@DungeonLady> You do know your HP's base+total Constitution (not just the modifier), right?
  7723. <Dysna> Yeah
  7724. <Dysna> I've just had a lot of littl bits of damage that add up in the last dungeon
  7725. <Dysna> Speaking of which.
  7726. <Dysna> "Ow, son of a gnome."
  7727. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, it'd be a little harder since its chewing on Dysna's arm, not just gaping wide for a bite.
  7728. <Golasa> So what's the condition and position of this thing?
  7729. <Aliken> Well, I try and strike at it to encourage it to let Dysna go.
  7730. * Dysna gets bit and tries to scramble back, growling and pointing her wand at the wall thing, shooting it in the face with her Agony rune.
  7731. <@DungeonLady> It's nearly receded into the passage it was blocking off--there's a little slight bit of a gap behind it.
  7732. <Aliken> Even if its outer hide is basically invulnerable.
  7733. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, roll. for it.
  7734. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3
  7735. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=12 ]{15}
  7736. <@DungeonLady> It very *rapidly* lets Dysna's arm go and recedes into the passageway behind... and keeps receding.
  7737. * RinTheThief CAREFULLY moves to chase!
  7738. <@DungeonLady> It keeps receding. It seems to be fleeing now.
  7739. <Aliken> I pursue. This thing needs to taste steel. More or less literally.
  7740. <@DungeonLady> (BTW, Dysna, any extra effects you're applying with that roll?)
  7741. <@DungeonLady> (Basically I want to know if I should be writing down some damage.)
  7742. <Dysna> (Oh, uhhhh... The next attack on it is an automatic hit and it takes a bit of damage, which I am now going to roll)
  7743. <Dysna> !roll 1d4
  7744. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d4 --> [ 1d4=3 ]{3}
  7745. <@DungeonLady> Rin and Aliken, +Dex to catch up.
  7746. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  7747. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
  7748. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  7749. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  7750. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you can just stab it if you like.
  7751. <Dysna> ((Completely unrelated, but Kaja, I need to start closing IM windows with you. It plays hell with my chat logs))
  7752. <@DungeonLady> (Eh?)
  7753. <@DungeonLady> Roll damage directly, Rin.
  7754. <Dysna> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  7755. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, what're you doing?
  7756. <Golasa> I'm shorting out on ability to brain this fight, is what. Uh...
  7757. <Golasa> It's receding away from us into the hallway, right?
  7758. <@DungeonLady> Yup.
  7759. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1d4+3
  7760. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1d4+3 --> [ 1d8=5 1d4=4 ]{12}
  7761. <RinTheThief> (... Wait, subtract 3)
  7762. <Golasa> Thennnnn I'm just gonna follow the team. It's already doing what we want, so why bother it more?
  7763. <@DungeonLady> And the others've got a major case of the aggressives.
  7764. <Golasa> I think they've got this one under control.
  7765. <@DungeonLady> Anyway! A strange crystalline fluid's now ozzing out of its mouth. It keeps pulling away.
  7766. * RinTheThief carefully avoids touching the fluid, stalking the thing but no longer running after it.
  7767. <Aliken> Well, I've fallen behind, so I fall in to screen Golasa and Dysna.
  7768. <Dysna> In my defense, it bit me
  7769. <RinTheThief> .... And then she backs off to join the others.
  7770. <@DungeonLady> And then it suddenly slams aside and flattens itself into the wall on your right and clenches its mouth tightly shut.
  7771. <Aliken> Well, we at least have a new direction to try for now.
  7772. * Dysna pokes it with her wand. "If you bite me again, I will invoke the Element of Sharpness and slice you to bits."
  7773. <@DungeonLady> Note that it hasn't sunken into the wall, but it's pressing itself against it. It seems to be about a foot thick.
  7774. <@DungeonLady> There's a slight tremor.
  7775. <Golasa> "Hmm."
  7776. <Golasa> "You think it's safe to just go past it, or should we kill it?"
  7777. <Aliken> "Let it be. If it causes trouble again we'll deal with it."
  7778. <RinTheThief> ".... Very well."
  7779. * Golasa lets Aliken go past it first, just in case.
  7780. <@DungeonLady> The living walls remains unnmoving.
  7781. <@DungeonLady> Singular.
  7782. <Golasa> OK, onwards we go.
  7783. <Aliken> Aliken marches past it. "I mean, it hasn't shown a great deal of evidence of being a thinking being, but it's not like we need to be bloodthirsty here."
  7784. <@DungeonLady> And, yup, you march on.
  7785. <Dysna> (brb, dinner.... apparently? It's kind of late, but whatever)
  7786. <@DungeonLady> Until the walls, floor, and ceiling begin twisting like a cockscrew.
  7787. <Golasa> This dungeon delivers, man.
  7788. <Golasa> On dungeonhood.
  7789. <RinTheThief> Well. Great.
  7790. <Aliken> (I regret to say that my mental image from 'cockscrew' is sort of terrifying.)
  7791. <@DungeonLady> I don't know if I'm giving you a good enough picture of it, so... Basically the floor twists onto where the wall would be and then the ceiling and the other wall and back. Likewise, the left wall twists onto the ceiling and then other wall and other floor. And so on.
  7792. <Aliken> Yeah, I gather.
  7793. <Golasa> Does gravity shift with it?
  7794. <Aliken> (I think you meant 'cork' screw, dear. XD)
  7795. <@DungeonLady> Well, you'd have to test that, Golasa.
  7796. <@DungeonLady> (...Yeah. Corkscrew.)
  7797. <Golasa> All right!
  7798. <Golasa> From my bag of Assorted Spell Components I produce a glass marble, and roll it down the corkscrew.
  7799. <@DungeonLady> It rolls across the floor, even when it twists upside down.
  7800. <@DungeonLady> So, yeah, around and around.
  7801. <Golasa> "Well, I'm guessing this is either an illusion or safe."
  7802. <Aliken> "Well, I suppose we should head on in."
  7803. <Aliken> Tromp tromp tromp.
  7804. * RinTheThief follows. Carefully...
  7805. <@DungeonLady> So basically you're marching down the twisting floor?
  7806. <Dysna> (Cockscrew)
  7807. <Dysna> (Well shit)
  7808. <@DungeonLady> (Corkscrew.)
  7809. <Golasa> Yes.
  7810. <Dysna> (I knew this would get kinky eventually)
  7811. <@DungeonLady> So, how many of you're following Aliken into the corkscrew?
  7812. <Golasa> I am!
  7813. <Dysna> I'm gonna try to walk on the wall while I'm following
  7814. <@DungeonLady> The result's about the same as trying to walk on normal walls, without magical wallwalking boots.
  7815. <RinTheThief> "This is... Uh..."
  7816. <Golasa> "Close your eyes and it's just like a normal hallway."
  7817. <@DungeonLady> And then something clicks underneath Aliken's foot. The pressure plate sinks in. And the corkscrew begins spinning.
  7818. <@DungeonLady> (The one time Rin didn't bother checking for traps... >.>)
  7819. <Aliken> (We're so screwed.)
  7820. <RinTheThief> (... Well. Shit. x_X)
  7821. <Aliken> Hey, are there any handholds I can grab a hold of?
  7822. <Golasa> "RUN!"
  7823. * RinTheThief moves, but will actively try to pull whoever is the slowest along. "FFFFFFFFFFFFF-"
  7824. <Aliken> Well, I'll just scramble along, at least there should still be a down so it will be POSSIBLE.
  7825. <@DungeonLady> You could try to grab onto to the clinks between bricks.
  7826. <@DungeonLady> It'd be a little difficult, mind. They aren't that wide.
  7827. <@DungeonLady> Everyone who're running, roll +Dex.
  7828. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2 Probably Defy Danger
  7829. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 Probably Defy Danger --> [ 2d6=6 ]{8}
  7830. <Aliken> I'll grab onto the bricks and try to ride this out.
  7831. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  7832. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  7833. <Golasa> meeedium successful
  7834. <RinTheThief> (Evasion comes into play!)
  7835. <RinTheThief> ( When you defy danger on a 12+, you transcend the danger. You not only do what you set out to, but the GM will offer you a better outcome, true beauty, or a moment of grace. )
  7836. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3
  7837. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  7838. <Aliken> What do I roll, if anything?
  7839. <Dysna> (Rin is so awesome that the hallway ceases to be a corkscrew?)
  7840. <RinTheThief> (We'll find out)
  7841. <Aliken> (Rin has one of those awesome ninja leaping scenes.)
  7842. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll +Str.
  7843. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  7844. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  7845. <@DungeonLady> Oh, awesome. Rin, you skate across the spinning hallway like it was nothing.
  7846. <Golasa> So everyone but me
  7847. <Golasa> Golasa is a pro adventurer
  7848. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, you're a little battered and bruised. Take 1d4 damage.
  7849. <Golasa> On a full succcess?
  7850. <Aliken> I can buy it.
  7851. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, you stumble a fair bit and get pretty banged up. Take 1d8.
  7852. <Aliken> Full success here means you are exposed to as little of the incredibly crappy situation as possible.
  7853. <@DungeonLady> But the three of you make it across.
  7854. <Golasa> !roll 1d8
  7855. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d8 --> [ 1d8=5 ]{5}
  7856. <Golasa> "Urgph!"
  7857. <@DungeonLady> And Aliken, clinging stubbornly, manages to ride it out until it stops. But her fingers're pretty sore.
  7858. <Aliken> "Ow... ow... ow..."
  7859. <Aliken> "Rin, you are pretty incredible, you know that?"
  7860. * RinTheThief looks stoic. "I forgot to watch for the traps. Bloody hell. We'd best stop and heal..."
  7861. <Aliken> Aliken wipes sweat from her face.
  7862. <Aliken> "Well, on the bright side, the wall will likely have trouble pursuing."
  7863. <Golasa> "I can't believe I stil have some potions. Those things don't go bad, do they?"
  7864. <RinTheThief> "... I dunno?"
  7865. <Aliken> "After about sixty years or so, yeah."
  7866. <Golasa> "Well, then."
  7867. <Golasa> Down the hatch.
  7868. <Aliken> "A lot of it is in alcohol suspension, so it keeps well."
  7869. <Golasa> "Eurgh, they still taste terrible."
  7870. <Dysna> !roll 1d4
  7871. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d4 --> [ 1d4=4 ]{4}
  7872. <Dysna> (15 damage! in another 8 I'll die!)
  7873. <Golasa> You have 23 HP???
  7874. <Golasa> I'm so fragile
  7875. <@DungeonLady> (Damn. Rolling max damage twice in a row. That's pretty bad luck.)
  7876. <Aliken> (*I* only have 23 HP. o.o)
  7877. <Aliken> (What's Dysna's CON?)
  7878. <Golasa> (Yeah how does that work)
  7879. <Aliken> (10 HP for being a fighter + 13 CON.)
  7880. <@DungeonLady> (Spellslingers have 8 HP. Which means she'd have to have 15 constitution.)
  7881. <Golasa> (sturdy creatures)
  7882. <Golasa> (I'm only 4+Con)
  7883. <Aliken> (Dysna is a tough little lizard.)
  7884. <@DungeonLady> (By the way, how much longer can you guys go on?)
  7885. <Aliken> (I'm *kitty*! :3)
  7886. <Aliken> (Yeah, I can continue.)
  7887. <Golasa> (It's getting late for me.)
  7888. <Golasa> (I have work again, so)
  7889. <@DungeonLady> (Want to break, then?)
  7890. <Golasa> (Yeah.)
  7891. <Aliken> (Sounds good to me, then.)
  7892. <Golasa> This truly is the Dungeon of Dungeons.
  7893. <@DungeonLady> (Dysna, might want to drink a potion or bum one off someone else.)
  7894. <Golasa> All we need is the Cloaker Mimic Monster Walls Room and we're gold
  7895. <Aliken> I wonder if we'll find a dam's control station in here.
  7896. <Aliken> We already FOUGHT the monster walls.
  7897. <Golasa> that's not The Room, though.
  7898. <Golasa> There was a way in 1st edition to have a room where
  7899. <Golasa> -the walls are monsters
  7900. <Golasa> -the floor is a monster
  7901. <Golasa> -the ceiling is a monster
  7902. <Golasa> -the coatrack is covered in coats that are monsters
  7903. <Golasa> -the coatrak itself is also a monster
  7904. <Aliken> The coatrack was a mimic?
  7905. <Golasa> yes.
  7906. <Golasa> the coats are cloakers.
  7907. <Golasa> the rest are obscure D&D monsters.
  7908. <Aliken> Yeah.
  7909. <@DungeonLady> That was actually another dungeon.
  7910. <Aliken> That is a jerk room. XD
  7911. <@DungeonLady> That you guys passed up.
  7912. <Aliken> Oh? Which one? XD
  7913. <Aliken> Also, could you spill the secrets of the Room of Six Levers? I SORT of figured it out, but I still have a sour feeling that it wasn't as neat and tidy as I had hoped.
  7914. <@DungeonLady> Falsehood.
  7915. <Aliken> Having to rely on 'guessing' on that last bit based on, 'well, I guess save red for last, even if it's out of numeric order' doesn't leave me feeling like I deserve full marks for having worked out the full system for how it worked.
  7916. <@DungeonLady> Ascending numbers, but done in pairs of colors.
  7917. <Aliken> Ah, so we could have done it without any pressure plate depressed?
  7918. <Golasa> I was right!
  7919. <@DungeonLady> No.
  7920. <@DungeonLady> The pressure plates showed you the right numbers.
  7921. <Aliken> The numbers before the plates were lies?
  7922. <Aliken> Hah.
  7923. <Golasa> Anyway I'm out
  7924. <Golasa> o/
  7925. * RinTheThief poof
  7926. <Aliken> Night, Nine. :)
  7927. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 01 21:31:20 2013 -0700
  7928.  
  7929.  
  7930. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 08 15:01:04 2013 -0700
  7931. <@kajarainbow> We'll be waiting on Inc. Nine won't be showing up for this or the next two sessions. He and I've already discussed how to handle his character.
  7932. <@kajarainbow> Basically out-of-state trip without internet.
  7933. <Aliken> Ahhh.
  7934. <Aliken> Hello, Prof. :)
  7935. * Aliken absently wonders if gorgons get stoned for fun.
  7936. <@kajarainbow> Well, turns out you weren't late after all.
  7937. <NekoIncardine> :3
  7938. <Aliken> Hello!
  7939. <Aliken> I notice neither Prof nor Kaja chose to react to my pun. >.>
  7940. <@DungeonLady> If I was more facially expressive, I would've rolled my eyes IRL.
  7941. <@DungeonLady> Oh, hey, Nine, you're here after all?
  7942. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> Yeah, I got a phone call and had to opt out
  7943. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> So now I'm alone for the next two weeks
  7944. <@DungeonLady> This seems to be turning into a thing where people I expected to be late/not here are turning up after all.
  7945. <@DungeonLady> For this session.
  7946. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> But, uh, going to be mildly distracted for the next half hour. Trying to cook
  7947. <RinTheThief> To be fair, I'm only not late because I got Fucking Lucky on traffic
  7948. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> I'm not good at that
  7949. <Aliken> Well, a mild bit of luck for us.
  7950. <RinTheThief> Checked one of the webcams on the road I just took and it's Stop And Go now
  7951. <ProfessorProf> hello
  7952. <@DungeonLady> Well!
  7953. <Golasa> Well.
  7954. <RinTheThief> Hrm.
  7955. <@DungeonLady> Everyone ready?
  7956. <RinTheThief> Besides what looks to be a spider bite on my right thigh that's hurting just enough to be extremely annoying, yes. :D
  7957. <Aliken> I'm ready.
  7958. <Golasa> As I'll ever be.
  7959. <@DungeonLady> Advancing once more into the labyrinth, you find the walls giving out, turning into a maze suspended in emptiness. In the midst, a set of stairs spiraling down into the floor (with no apparent sign of them below the floating stonework platform they're on). Scattered around this maze are what looks like the gleam of precious metals.
  7960. <@DungeonLady> And then you realize that the sections aren't completely connected.
  7961. <Golasa> "Hmm."
  7962. <@DungeonLady> It's all broken up into many sections all floating apart from each other.
  7963. <Aliken> Hmmm. Can I tell if there are places where the sections broken apart might match up with another nearby section?
  7964. <@DungeonLady> Why don't you tell me?
  7965. <Aliken> I think it's likely that these dungeon sections all fit together like pieces of a puzzle, and that either there's a way to bring them together or to simply walk from one point to another section floating far away. A giant maze you could work out visually, but...
  7966. <RinTheThief> "... Well. This is a particularly annoying puzzle. Golasa, got an idea?"
  7967. * Golasa picks up a rock and rolls it towards one of the spots where the path breaks off and has a connectable piece elsewhere. Let's see if it falls off the edge or if it continues on the other chunk.
  7968. <@DungeonLady> It suddenly jumps to the other section... and the one you're on starts fading.
  7969. <Aliken> "Run!"
  7970. <Aliken> Aliken sprints to get off the section we're on.
  7971. * RinTheThief bolts after Aliken. "Crap!"
  7972. * Golasa runs!
  7973. <@DungeonLady> And you all frantically scramble onto the next section, the slowest of you nearly falling into the emptiness.
  7974. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> "Do we have an end goal so we can plan a route?
  7975. <Golasa> "It looks like we have to all move together, and can't turn back."
  7976. <Golasa> "We should try to map this out ahead of us."
  7977. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> "Exactly!"
  7978. <Aliken> "Agreed."
  7979. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> "... Guys, what happens if you try to leave through a connection that's already vanished?"
  7980. <Aliken> Aliken pulls out some parchment and a pen from her pack and starts trying to work out a map route that hits as much treasure as possible on the way to the stairs.
  7981. <Aliken> "I'm going to try to make sure I don't do that."
  7982. <Aliken> Using a use of exploring gear for the parchment.
  7983. <Aliken> Should I roll +INT?
  7984. * Golasa rolls a rock back in the direction we just came.
  7985. * Dysna[MildlyAFK] tries to map out the sections in her head with an alternate route: hit every single section if possible before hitting the stairs
  7986. <Aliken> "Don't do that..!"
  7987. * Aliken tries to stop Golasa before she rolls the rock.
  7988. <@DungeonLady> Hmm, roll +Bond to interfere.
  7989. <@DungeonLady> Speaking of Bonds, I just realized we haven't adjusted them. Oh well.
  7990. <@DungeonLady> Not in a while.
  7991. <RinTheThief> We haven't been using them for what they're intended to be used for so...
  7992. <@DungeonLady> Know what, just roll +Dex.
  7993. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  7994. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
  7995. <Aliken> ... crap.
  7996. * Dysna[MildlyAFK] snipes the rock with her wand's Cut rune!
  7997. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> !roll 2d6+3
  7998. <Dicelord> Dysna[MildlyAFK] rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  7999. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> WEll fuck
  8000. <@DungeonLady> The rock is cleaved right in twain just before the dropoff. One of the halves falls upon the edge and balances precariously, as if it'll fall any moment now.
  8001. <@DungeonLady> And what shall you do?
  8002. <RinTheThief> Rin's rapier comes out, to flick that half back from the brink!
  8003. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  8004. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  8005. <@DungeonLady> Oh, very well. You neatly flick that half back, aborting the experiment. But now you won't know what might've happened. Though it could've been bad. Or not. ^.^
  8006. <@DungeonLady> Who knows?
  8007. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, how do you feel about this? What'll you do now?
  8008. <Aliken> "Let's not risk crashing out the section we're in before I have a planned route, all right?"
  8009. <Golasa> "Fair point."
  8010. <@DungeonLady> Alright, that settled, you can start mapping.
  8011. <@DungeonLady> Roll +Int to do the mapping.
  8012. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  8013. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  8014. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  8015. <Aliken> I assume I get a good route that passes by as many of these intriguing gleams as possible.
  8016. <@DungeonLady> It becomes apparent that there're a fair number of dead-ends--and some of those gleams're on them. But you're fairly confident you've got a good route that claims as many of those as are accessible, while still taking you to the stairs.
  8017. <Aliken> "I think I have a good route. Not all of the treasure looks like it will be accessible on a trek through this maze. I expect some of it is just traps to draw people into dead ends. We should be able to claim a fair amount of the treasure, though."
  8018. <RinTheThief> "Of course, a lot of it's probably trapped..."
  8019. <Golasa> "That's your job to catch."
  8020. <Aliken> "Well, it's a good thing we have you to help, isn't it?"
  8021. <Aliken> Aliken grins.
  8022. * RinTheThief nods. "Yeah. Let's make sure this works out, then."
  8023. <Aliken> So I take the route I've just marked out, and let Rin scout for traps along the way.
  8024. <@DungeonLady> Okay, roll, Rin.
  8025. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  8026. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  8027. <RinTheThief> (Woo!)
  8028. <@DungeonLady> It's subtle, but you notice that all of the piles of items adorned with assorted metals and gems, including some you haven't seen before, are on sub-platforms just ever so slightly visibly separate from the main sections. If you remove something from them, they might begin disappearing.
  8029. <@DungeonLady> The sub-platforms, that is.
  8030. <RinTheThief> "Hrm."
  8031. <RinTheThief> "Okay, so, guys? If we start grabbing the gold, either it, or the floor we're standing on, will start disappearing. I think."
  8032. <RinTheThief> "Our best bet to get the most stuff is to replace the weight as we remove it somehow. Blocks of ice would be enough.
  8033. <Aliken> Aliken looks to Golasa.
  8034. * Golasa ponders.
  8035. * RinTheThief pulls out her Bag. "... Even then, we gotta shovel the crap out of it."
  8036. <Golasa> "If we're replacing weight, we need some weights. I don't trust taking any stones from the platform we're already on."
  8037. <RinTheThief> "Exactly. Can you generate ice from the moisture in the air or something perhaps?"
  8038. <Golasa> Let's find out!
  8039. <Golasa> I'm going to sketch out a magic circle and attempt to create a weight of ice inside it.
  8040. * RinTheThief also examines the trap more closely to determine if ADDING weight will cause problems, or only weight dropping below a key point.
  8041. <@DungeonLady> Well. It's not a trap precisely. It's more that the treasure's actualy on its own section.
  8042. <@DungeonLady> Separate from the one you're on.
  8043. <Golasa> In that case!
  8044. <Golasa> Slight change of plans.
  8045. <Golasa> Instead of a weight of ice, a disk of ice.
  8046. <@DungeonLady> It's just very close together--only the void instead of mortar betrays the separation.
  8047. <Aliken> I think the idea is that the instant we leave the treasure platform, the treasure platform disappears. And it could lure us into leaving another platform too early.
  8048. <@DungeonLady> Right. I can't think of anything interesting enough going wrong to require a Cast a Spell roll.
  8049. <Golasa> Then, next step!
  8050. <Golasa> Using magic, slide the disk under the entire treasure pile,
  8051. <Golasa> and bring it all over at once.
  8052. <@DungeonLady> Oh, hoo. Now that's interesting enough to require a roll for.
  8053. <RinTheThief> "... Huh."
  8054. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 INT
  8055. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 INT --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  8056. <Golasa> wham bam bamina.
  8057. <@DungeonLady> Right, you neatly scoop it all up. The treasure platform fades out.
  8058. <RinTheThief> "... I wonder if that's the only design?" Rin starts going through, looking for anything of dungoneering interest (weapons, items, the like) before bagging the rest for later splitting.
  8059. <@DungeonLady> It's all assorted twinkets, but you do notice a gaudy falcon statue with rather interesting runes and way too many gemstones.
  8060. * Golasa makes a note to look more closely at that later.
  8061. <Golasa> "Shall we be moving on towards the exit, then?"
  8062. <RinTheThief> Once the money's out... "Onward!"
  8063. <@DungeonLady> The rest all go similarly, complete with scooping up treasure, and you make it to the stairs down richer and with a great amount of the floor missing.
  8064. <Aliken> "That was a good dungeon section."
  8065. <Aliken> Aliken nods.
  8066. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> "Hee, gold."
  8067. <RinTheThief> "Odd to see that there were no change-ups in methods on this floor, though..."
  8068. <Aliken> "Well, it's not like somebody was guaranteed to hit any individual hoard first."
  8069. <RinTheThief> "A fair point."
  8070. <@DungeonLady> And so you proceed onward... The new dungeon floor seems a little more natural, the walls're of twisting stone instead of brickwork. It's all nearly overgrown with moss, and the air feels a little moist.
  8071. <Aliken> "I wonder how many floors there are here?"
  8072. <Aliken> Once again, it's time to systematically explore a labyrinth.
  8073. <@DungeonLady> And then you come upon a cloak, simply lying upon the ground.
  8074. <Golasa> "Rin."
  8075. * RinTheThief eyes it, carefully... (Trap check!)
  8076. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  8077. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  8078. <RinTheThief> "An arbitrary number. As many as you need, basically."
  8079. <@DungeonLady> Completely clear of traps, as near as you can tell.
  8080. <RinTheThief> ... Time for the ten foot pole. She pokes the cloak a bit.
  8081. <@DungeonLady> The cloak stirs.
  8082. <@DungeonLady> That wasn't just the poking.
  8083. <Aliken> Aliken backs off, resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. She doesn't draw yet, though.
  8084. <RinTheThief> "..." She tries to swish it to one side. "It's probably alive."
  8085. <Aliken> "Probably eats necks, I imagine."
  8086. <@DungeonLady> And the cloak rears up. Inside is darkness.
  8087. <Golasa> "Cloaker?"
  8088. <@DungeonLady> It lunges, attempting to swallow up the pole within that darkness.
  8089. * RinTheThief draws her rapier, pulling the pole back and taking several steps quickly. "Of a sort."
  8090. <Aliken> Aliken draws steel and brandishes. "Back! If you don't want to perish here!"
  8091. * Aliken doesn't have high hopes it can understand, but, really, who can tell with a living cloak?
  8092. <@DungeonLady> It sweeps smoothly toward Rin as if it doesn't fear either sword.
  8093. <Golasa> While Aliken is being threatening, Golasa sends an ethereal snake of ice to bite into the cloakthing.
  8094. <@DungeonLady> Roll for Cast a Spell!
  8095. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  8096. <Aliken> Well, if it doesn't respond, Aliken is going to plunge her blade through its exterior. Try to avoid the black void within.
  8097. <Golasa> I was going for Black Magic, actually!
  8098. <@DungeonLady> Black Magic then.
  8099. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Black Magic
  8100. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Black Magic --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  8101. <Golasa> Dang, I don't have any special effect on a 12 for that Move.
  8102. <@DungeonLady> Oh? What did you have?
  8103. <Golasa> uh, nothing. Is what I was saying.
  8104. <Golasa> I have a bonus on 12+ for Cast a Spell, but not Black Magic.
  8105. <Golasa> Anyway my tags are Near and Elemental (Ice).
  8106. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, roll to Hack'n'Slash.
  8107. <Golasa> Should I roll damage?
  8108. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  8109. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  8110. <@DungeonLady> Nevermind that. Defy Danger--it's actually being careful.
  8111. <@DungeonLady> +Dex if you want to try to get quickly behind it.
  8112. <@DungeonLady> Because it's completely folded back, presenting only darkness to you.
  8113. <Aliken> "Damn. Rin, flank it. It can't turn to face us all at once."
  8114. <@DungeonLady> Speaking of which, it swallows up the ice snake.
  8115. <Golasa> "This is new."
  8116. <RinTheThief> Rin nods, running up the wall to the ceiling to get past the creature, then jumping down to stab it from behind!
  8117. <@DungeonLady> Nice. +Dex, Rin.
  8118. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  8119. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=2 ]{5}
  8120. <RinTheThief> (fffffff)
  8121. <@DungeonLady> The thing suddenly throws itself back and flattens as Rin drops, forming a pit of darkness into which she drops.
  8122. <Aliken> Aliken charges forward to reach out and grab Rin's hand.
  8123. <@DungeonLady> +Dex, Aliken.
  8124. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  8125. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{8}
  8126. * RinTheThief panics, reaching to grab Aliken's hand! >.o
  8127. <@DungeonLady> You manage to yank Rin back, but the both of you're scrambling off balance as the pit of darkness begins advancing toward you, only the very slightest tips of its edges exposed.
  8128. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, Golasa, have something you want to do in response?
  8129. <RinTheThief> "Pin it down somehow!", Rin shouts as she starts to scramble back.
  8130. <Aliken> Aliken stumbles back, off balance, resting both hands on her sword, unable to fight at the moment.
  8131. * Golasa tries to cast a spell to freeze the underside of the cloaker to the ground.
  8132. * Dysna[MildlyAFK] wonders if there's a way to solve this with cutting!
  8133. <@DungeonLady> Sure, roll, Golasa.
  8134. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, In Domain
  8135. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+4 Cast a Spell, In Domain --> [ 2d6=7 ]{11}
  8136. <Golasa> Success!
  8137. <Golasa> I'll go with the -1 Ongoing.
  8138. <@DungeonLady> Right! And ice forms underneath it. It wriggles very slightly, but seems to be mostly stuck.
  8139. <Aliken> Hmmm.
  8140. <RinTheThief> "Now the question is how to kill it."
  8141. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> !roll 2d6+3 Slicey slicey cut to ribbons
  8142. <Dicelord> Dysna[MildlyAFK] rolled : 2d6+3 Slicey slicey cut to ribbons --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  8143. <@DungeonLady> Where'd you be cutting, Dysna?
  8144. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> Just general slicey dicey.
  8145. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> Not particularly well thought out behyond "that thing needs to die"
  8146. <Aliken> Hmmm. I'm going to kneel and check to see if there's any place I can get my dagger underneath that thing.
  8147. <@DungeonLady> It... doesn't seem like there's much to cut, Dysna.
  8148. <@DungeonLady> At most, you manage to nick its edges.
  8149. <@DungeonLady> Speaking of... Aliken, you'd have to chip through the ice binding it.
  8150. <Aliken> "OK, people, stand back. I think I can finish it, but I'll need to break through a section of the ice."
  8151. <Aliken> "So be careful."
  8152. <Aliken> I'm going to try and pick a good spot and work carefully to get my dagger under without totally freeing it by breaking the ice.
  8153. * RinTheThief stays back, pole out to give Aliken an emergency grip just in case...
  8154. <@DungeonLady> Suddenly, as you bring your dagger close, it goes limp.
  8155. <Aliken> "What the..?"
  8156. <Aliken> So, what, there's no room under it or something now?
  8157. <@DungeonLady> There's just barely room, but... it doesn't seem to be trying to resist now.
  8158. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> !roll 2d6 Resist Desire To Adopt It
  8159. <Dicelord> Dysna[MildlyAFK] rolled : 2d6 Resist Desire To Adopt It --> [ 2d6=12 ]{12}
  8160. <RinTheThief> (XD)
  8161. <RinTheThief> ".... Let it go. See if it's smart enough to run."
  8162. <Aliken> Aliken sheathes her dagger. "Let's hope this doesn't come back to bite us."
  8163. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, are you releasing the spell?
  8164. <Golasa> Hmm...
  8165. <Golasa> Not yet.
  8166. <Golasa> "So if I let it go, and it attacks again, what are we doing?"
  8167. <RinTheThief> "Breaking it."
  8168. <Golasa> "Because that was going so well before."
  8169. <RinTheThief> "I've got another plan."
  8170. <Golasa> "I'm holding you to that."
  8171. * Golasa releases the cloaker.
  8172. <@DungeonLady> And it slowly lifts itself up, drooping in what almost seems like a submissive fashion.
  8173. <RinTheThief> "..." Rin slowly begins to approach, moving as if to pass it. No aggression obvious in her intent.
  8174. * Aliken tromps behind Rin, weapons away.
  8175. * Dysna[MildlyAFK] follows behind the dwarf.
  8176. <@DungeonLady> It doesn't make any motion toward Rin. Instead, it slowly drifts toward Aliken, still drooping (and presenting its exterior rather than its all-swallowing inside to her).
  8177. * Dysna[MildlyAFK] pats it on the hood on the way past.
  8178. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> "Good giant cloak creature."
  8179. <@DungeonLady> It drops into Dysna's hand.
  8180. <Aliken> "I'm not going to hurt you now. I have no reason to press a grudge over this."
  8181. <RinTheThief> "Let's just... Keep moving."
  8182. <Aliken> "Agreed."
  8183. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> ((I missed whether we know where we're going or not))
  8184. <Golasa> "I still don't trust it."
  8185. <Aliken> (We just need to explore right now."
  8186. <Aliken> "So if it betrays us, then we deal with it. I'm confident in our ability to adapt."
  8187. <Dysna[MildlyAFK]> "So, giant cloak creature. Do you know the way to the heart of the dungeon of dungeons?"
  8188. <@DungeonLady> It doesn't answer that question.
  8189. * Dysna[MildlyAFK] pouts at it.
  8190. <Aliken> "Come on, we'll find our way."
  8191. <@DungeonLady> (Getting worn out here.)
  8192. <Golasa> (I'm fine with stopping here)
  8193. <RinTheThief> (Seems as good a point as any.)
  8194. <Aliken> (This was interesting. And we've made a floor's worth of progress. I'm a bit surprised the cloak surrendered.)
  8195. <@DungeonLady> (If you'd brought your dagger closer than that, you would've seen it shake violently and try frantically to escape from the ice.)
  8196. <@DungeonLady> (...Or do your dagger share the antimagic property of your sword?)
  8197. <@DungeonLady> (Well, even if it didn't, it still had good reason to be nervous in that position.)
  8198. * Dysna[MildlyAFK] is happy she made the save to resist adopting it
  8199. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Jul 09 12:40:56 2013 -0700
  8200.  
  8201.  
  8202. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 15 15:15:00 2013 -0700
  8203. <kajarainbow> Hiyas.
  8204. <ProfessorProf> !roll 2d66
  8205. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 2d66 --> [ 2d66=89 ]{89}
  8206. <@Aliken> !roll 6d66
  8207. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 6d66 --> [ 6d66=209 ]{209}
  8208. <NekoIncardine> !roll 2d6
  8209. <Dicelord> NekoIncardine rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=8 ]{8}
  8210. <NekoIncardine> \o/
  8211. <@Aliken> Hello, everybody. :)
  8212. <ProfessorProf> Hello
  8213. <ProfessorProf> !roll 4dF
  8214. <Dicelord> ProfessorProf rolled : 4dF --> error: malformed expression
  8215. <ProfessorProf> dang
  8216. <NekoIncardine> !roll 4d3-8
  8217. <Dicelord> NekoIncardine rolled : 4d3-8 --> [ 4d3=7 ]{-1}
  8218. <NekoIncardine> That's the best way to do it sadly
  8219. <ProfessorProf> roll20 has dedicated Fudge dice support, I think
  8220. <DungeonLady> Anyway.
  8221. <ProfessorProf> yup
  8222. <DungeonLady> Nine's being non-responsive, so...
  8223. <@Aliken> We've just subdued a cloak and were on our way.
  8224. <ProfessorProf> Oh right, the cloak.
  8225. <ProfessorProf> Incidentally I'll be a bit unresponsive at the start here, since I'm making dinner
  8226. <@Aliken> I suppose we should press on exploring the maze after this.
  8227. <Golasa> Is game started?
  8228. <DungeonLady> I needed to charge up my neurons a bit.
  8229. <@Aliken> Ahhh. Neuron charge!
  8230. <DungeonLady> Alright.
  8231. <DungeonLady> Are you in the mood for a fiendish puzzle, nasty trap or two, bizarre monsters, or a mix?
  8232. <RinTheThief> Hrm
  8233. <@Aliken> A fiendish puzzle sounds diabolical to me.
  8234. * RinTheThief honestly would be most interested in a mix
  8235. <Golasa> Mix! Mix!
  8236. <DungeonLady> Gotcha.
  8237. <DungeonLady> So, after passing through more of the twisting cavernous passages, you come into a roughly craven cave covered with symbols.
  8238. <DungeonLady> There're some scorch marks on the floor and walls.
  8239. <@Aliken> Hmmmm. Examining the symbols, can I make sense of any of them?
  8240. <DungeonLady> And figures dimly visible ahead. They don't seem to be approaching yet.
  8241. <DungeonLady> Aliken, as you scan over the symbols, one of them suddenly flashes with a fiery light. And a gust of fire blasts out at you.
  8242. <RinTheThief> "!"
  8243. <@Aliken> I hit the deck promptly and try and avoid it best I can.
  8244. <DungeonLady> Yeah, +Dex time.
  8245. <@Aliken> !roll 2d6
  8246. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  8247. <DungeonLady> Okay, yeah, choose between losing something to the fire or being singed a bit.
  8248. <@Aliken> I think my shield might get torched.
  8249. <DungeonLady> Okay, your shield heats up until it's red-hot and you drop it quickly.
  8250. <Golasa> You go through those things.
  8251. <DungeonLady> What're the rest of you doing?
  8252. <DungeonLady> Well, shields're practically medieval abrasive armor anyway with how much they got destroyed in real history.
  8253. <DungeonLady> Also, the figures seem to have noticed the popping from the fire burst. They're beginning to approach.
  8254. <Golasa> I'm using my magical senses to scope out the spot that burst came from.
  8255. <DungeonLady> What exactly can you sense with them, again?
  8256. <RinTheThief> Rin watches the runes to see if they have a pattern to going off if you try and pass them....
  8257. <Golasa> Mmm, scratch that, actually, I don't think my senses are very useful here.
  8258. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  8259. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  8260. <Golasa> Instead I'm going to gather some frost at my feet to prepare to raise a wall of ice at a moment's notice.
  8261. <DungeonLady> As you look at them, another burst of fire jets out from one of them.
  8262. <DungeonLady> You're pretty sure now it's triggered by looking at the wrong symbols.
  8263. <DungeonLady> (That was to Rin.)
  8264. <@Aliken> Well, I see where the scorch marks are, right? Maybe I can examine symbols that aren't around the scorch marks. Figure out where the trapped ones are by the evidence they've left behind.
  8265. <DungeonLady> Oh, yeah, and you might want to dodge or something, Rin.
  8266. <RinTheThief> "So if we want to pass, we do not look at the symbols, got it?
  8267. * RinTheThief backflips to try and avoid the fire. Stupid sequence of events failure.
  8268. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  8269. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  8270. * Golasa puts her old blindfold back on.
  8271. <DungeonLady> No problem. You leap cleanly out of the way.
  8272. <DungeonLady> The approaching figures're clearer now. They're naked featureless, pastly white humanoids carrying what looks like pick weapons designed for punching through armor. Notably, they don't have any eyes.
  8273. <Golasa> "What do we have here?"
  8274. <DungeonLady> Aliken, by looking carefully at the symbols not covered by sear marks, you manage to see... that they're unfamiliar. But that flame jet did come from something like a circle with horns.
  8275. <DungeonLady> From your memory, anyway.
  8276. <DungeonLady> Oh, yeah, and some of the seem to have spears.
  8277. <DungeonLady> The eyeless humanoids.
  8278. <RinTheThief> "Halt," Rin declares, reaching for but not drawing her Rapier.
  8279. <@Aliken> Aliken tries to step towards her comrades as quietly as possible. Then steps away when Rin speaks.
  8280. <DungeonLady> They draw back the spears, preparing them to throw. But they seem to be waiting for you to do something.
  8281. <Golasa> "Make the call, Ali."
  8282. <@Aliken> Aliken makes a slashing movement across her mouth, and gestures Rin and Golasa over.
  8283. * Golasa is blindfolded, unfortunately, so she doesn't see the gesture. Rin?
  8284. * RinTheThief comes over. "Closer, Golasa."
  8285. * Golasa shuffles closer to the team.
  8286. <@Aliken> Aliken whispers. "Hostiles are blind. Think they rely on hearing. Skirt around, no sudden movements, no talking."
  8287. <DungeonLady> (...Ugh. I seem to be having trouble focusing, and I'm kinda feeling a little achy.)
  8288. <@Aliken> (Take a break, dear.)
  8289. <@Aliken> (Sometimes it's one of those days.)
  8290. <RinTheThief> (Indeed ._.)
  8291. <DungeonLady> (Yeah, it doesn't seem to be a very good night for focusing. -_-)
  8292. <@Aliken> *hugs the Kaja*
  8293. <@Aliken> Try and feel better.
  8294. <RinTheThief> (Be well)
  8295. <Golasa> (Are we done for the night?)
  8296. <DungeonLady> (yeah, sorry. :( )
  8297. <DungeonLady> (Sorry my brain spazzed out and seems to be aching now and stuff.)
  8298. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 15 20:04:07 2013 -0700
  8299.  
  8300.  
  8301. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 22 14:32:20 2013 -0700
  8302. <kajarainbow> Oh, hey, everyone's here.
  8303. <NekoIncardine> Now the question is if we're paying a semblance of attention
  8304. <kajarainbow> hmmmm
  8305. <kajarainbow> Speaking of, what's this Argonia thing?
  8306. <ProfessorProf> I'm in
  8307. <NekoIncardine> It appears to be Elder Scroll related
  8308. <NekoIncardine> But not sure
  8309. <Aliken> Hello.
  8310. <Aliken> I'm paying attention, honest!
  8311. <kajarainbow> hi
  8312. <kajarainbow> No, you're all cream muffins.
  8313. <kajarainbow> Anuyway.
  8314. <kajarainbow> Anyway.
  8315. * Aliken is creamy and delicious.
  8316. <kajarainbow> I guess I'll just assume Nine isn't here.
  8317. <kajarainbow> Let's get started.
  8318. <Aliken> (I think I just was suggesting we skirt around the hostiles, taking advantage of their blindness.)
  8319. <kajarainbow> Right. And they seem to be following you with the aim of their spears.
  8320. <kajarainbow> Not only that, they seem to have placed themselves just behind some of the fire-spewing runes.
  8321. <Aliken> So they seem to be tracking my movement even while I attempt to be quiet?
  8322. <Aliken> Guess I'm not quiet ENOUGH, hah.
  8323. <ProfessorProf> Or that's not the sense they're using.
  8324. <ProfessorProf> "Look, let's either parley with them or kill them already."
  8325. * RinTheThief not sure what to say here... Crap.
  8326. <Aliken> "Point taken. Can you speak? We come here not to cause harm to you."
  8327. <DungeonLady> A clicking sound comes from one of them. They remain tense, ready to launch their spears.
  8328. <Aliken> "We seek only to explore further, but we are ready to fight if we are attacked." Aliken is tense, ready to go for her weapons.
  8329. * RinTheThief pause. "Of course there'd be a language barrier." Her hand remains at her rapier for now...
  8330. <Aliken> Wait a second.
  8331. <Aliken> Is their clicking a language?
  8332. <Aliken> Because if it is, I should understand it.
  8333. <Aliken> I bought those earrings.
  8334. <DungeonLady> Oh, wait, right, yeah, you have those things.
  8335. <DungeonLady> I had forgotten.
  8336. <Golasa> wait, what things
  8337. <Aliken> I had almost forgotten myself.
  8338. <Aliken> I bought earrings that allow me to understand any spoken language.
  8339. <DungeonLady> Right, the clicking seems to be to the effect of "Leave."
  8340. <Aliken> I back off slowly. "We'll gladly leave if you help us figure out how to get deeper into this dungeon."
  8341. <DungeonLady> I forgot, do those earrings help you be understood, too?
  8342. <Aliken> "Leave." I follow that by attempting to imitate the clicking sound they made for 'leave'. "Leave." Clicks.
  8343. <DungeonLady> Nevermind, checking my log.
  8344. <Aliken> No, but they DO make it a lot easier to work out how to speak a language.
  8345. <Golasa> "Now what's going on?"
  8346. <Aliken> "I, ah, know one word of their language so far. I'm hoping they speak more so I can make myself better understood."
  8347. <DungeonLady> This seems to anger them, and the speaker makes more clicks that is along the lines of demanding to know who you are to tell them to leave.
  8348. <Golasa> "What word is it?"
  8349. <Aliken> (You tell us leave. Us no tell you leave.)
  8350. <Aliken> "Just got a bit more, that helps."
  8351. <Aliken> (Leave is) "leave."
  8352. <Golasa> "Sounds like some simple-enough negotiation. Let's switch to the universal language of violence."
  8353. <Aliken> "Wait wait wait! I'm hoping that once they speak more, I'll learn enough to communicate effectively."
  8354. <DungeonLady> The following clicking is something to the effect that they don't care about your words/language. They don't want you trepassing into their home.
  8355. <Golasa> "They made their stance clear on word one!"
  8356. <Aliken> (Not want trespass. Want leave. Not us home. Us no your words.)
  8357. * Golasa rolls her eyes.
  8358. <Aliken> ((And yeah, I'm deliberately trying to restrict vocabulary to what's been explicitly said by them.))
  8359. <Golasa> Invisibly.
  8360. <DungeonLady> Their clicking states a desire for you to take another way. Straight back through two intersections and then two lefts, a straight, and three rights.
  8361. <Aliken> "All right, we have directions, let's get out of here."
  8362. <RinTheThief> (Sorry. X_x)
  8363. <Golasa> "Wait, really?"
  8364. <Golasa> "I can't believe that keeps working."
  8365. <DungeonLady> ((Something kept you busy?))
  8366. <Aliken> "Yeah. Come on, follow me."
  8367. <RinTheThief> ((Yeah. :/ Okay I'm in a better position now. At least for a bit.))
  8368. <Aliken> "Straight twice, two lefts, one straight, three rights."
  8369. <Aliken> "Let's see where that goes."
  8370. <Aliken> Aliken is hurrying out to follow the directions and leave these people as quickly as possible.
  8371. * RinTheThief follows. Cautiously.
  8372. * Golasa follows.
  8373. <Golasa> "Are we clear of those runes?"
  8374. <Aliken> Aliken tells Golasa as soon as we're clear.
  8375. * Golasa swaps blindfold back to veil.
  8376. <DungeonLady> After a certain point after the third and final right, the passage becomes considerably smoother, until you're walking through a smooth cylinder.
  8377. <RinTheThief> "... Well this isn't ominous as hell." Rin is watching for tripwires and the like. Especially ones possibly attached to giant boulders.
  8378. <DungeonLady> No tripwires, but you do notice the ground seems to be becoming a little softer.
  8379. <RinTheThief> "... Like we're descending into the belly of some sort of creature."
  8380. <Aliken> "Right. Do we have a way to confirm this?"
  8381. <Golasa> "Are you SURE we got good directions, Aliken?"
  8382. <RinTheThief> "I sure don't."
  8383. <Aliken> "Well, if this is attempting to kill us, we have justification to head back and slaughter them, don't we?"
  8384. <Golasa> "Indeed."
  8385. <Aliken> "So you think we're in something's gullet? Let's head back to where it first starts. I have an idea for a test."
  8386. <RinTheThief> "Yup."
  8387. * Golasa tries to feel out where this tunnel is going with the base of her staff.
  8388. * RinTheThief moves back....
  8389. <Aliken> Aliken heads back, checking for where the ground changes from hard stone to whatever it is.
  8390. <DungeonLady> Golasa, how exactly are you using your staff to try to find out where this tunnel's going?
  8391. <Golasa> The way I used it to scout out where things were when I was still perma-blindfolded.
  8392. <Golasa> Tremorsense.
  8393. <DungeonLady> Aliken and Rin, the transition seems to be pretty gradual but eventually you think you're back on solid ground. Probably.
  8394. <DungeonLady> Right. The sounds ahead are more muffled, as if the tunnel ahead gets softer and softer.
  8395. <Aliken> I'm going to find where the ground is soft. "Stand further back than I am, because... well..."
  8396. <Golasa> Hmm.
  8397. <Aliken> I pull out my dagger.
  8398. * Golasa backs away.
  8399. * RinTheThief too.
  8400. <Aliken> I kneel, and try to cut the floor, to see if I can get a sample of the material for close examination. If the floor bleeds, I'm certain we shouldn't proceed.
  8401. <DungeonLady> With a little work you cut out what... seems to be oddly soft rock. It looks like rock, but feels unnaturally soft.
  8402. <DungeonLady> The floor begins filling back in where you cut the sample out.
  8403. <Aliken> "Well, the floor isn't bleeding, at least. But it's refilling where I cut out a sample. This sound like any magic you've ever heard of, Golasa?"
  8404. <Golasa> Hmm...
  8405. <Golasa> Permission to Spout Lore?
  8406. * RinTheThief blink. "Well. Uh."
  8407. <RinTheThief> "Don't we have to kill the heart of this place to stop the dungeon override thing?
  8408. <RinTheThief> "Maybe this IS the right way... Just a horrifyingly dangerous one."
  8409. <DungeonLady> Go ahead, Golasa.
  8410. <Golasa> ...hang on
  8411. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Spout Lore
  8412. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Spout Lore --> [ 2d6=12 ]{15}
  8413. <Golasa> And bonus
  8414. <Golasa> I have the move Arcane Knowledge
  8415. <Golasa> When YOU SPOUT LORE OR DISCREN REALITIES ABOUT SOMETHING MAGICAL OR OTHERWISE ARCANE, on a 10+ the GM will also tell you a little-known secret about the subject.
  8416. <DungeonLady> Thinking about what you might be able to know.
  8417. <Golasa> You can skip that bit if there's nothing there.
  8418. <DungeonLady> You know of a method of softening stone, but doing it combined with a regenerative effect on such a large scale is both impractical and unheard of. Thus this wasn't the work of mortal hands. But you're certain this was done for a *purpose*.
  8419. <DungeonLady> In fact, you recall reading of an odd incident in which such a patch of softness was once used to catch a mage's enemies, by trapping them in ground so soft that it gave no solid footing, causing them to sink in more and more.
  8420. <Golasa> "Trap."
  8421. <Aliken> ((Good thing The Winter is practically tailor-made to counteract this.))
  8422. <Aliken> "How so?"
  8423. <RinTheThief> ((Never mind my boots' advantage.))
  8424. <Golasa> "This was done intentionally. It's something you do to sink someone halfway into a wall, not a natural formation."
  8425. <Golasa> "Do we take this on on our terms, or do we go back and beat the life out of some clicking spear people?"
  8426. <Aliken> "Right. I say we try to explore past this, if you have a way to petrify the ground into behaving. Else, we exact some vengeance on those spearmen."
  8427. <Golasa> "Hah, leave the petrification to me."
  8428. <Golasa> Time to pour some of my latent natural magic into counteracting whatever's going here.
  8429. <RinTheThief> May I try to Spout Lore about how to deal with Quicksand, which this stuff is sorta like?
  8430. <DungeonLady> There's not enough similarity between it and quicksand to really deal with them in the same way. One's water-soaked sand, and the other's more like one of those super-soft cushions.
  8431. <DungeonLady> Golasa, you writing a description right now, or should I tell you to roll for Cast a Spell?
  8432. <Golasa> Oh sorry, I can do more than that.
  8433. * Golasa goes to somewhere between the soft and hard parts of the corridor, and draws a line going all the way around the floors and ceiling. Using the entire circular column of the hallway as a magic circle.
  8434. <Golasa> Then, it's a matter of trying to instill the hardness from one side on to the other side, with as much force as my medusa roots can allow.
  8435. <DungeonLady> Audacious. I like it. Without something to allievate that, though, it's going to be personally draining. Also, it's a fairly large scale magic you're doing here--you aren't sure where it'd stop.
  8436. <Golasa> Bring it.
  8437. <DungeonLady> So you're going to just do it? Very well!
  8438. <Golasa> I'm the legendary Golasa!
  8439. <Golasa> I can handle a little corridor.
  8440. <DungeonLady> The surge of magic flows through you, and you suddenly feel exhausted. Take a physical debility. And the corridor hardens.
  8441. <Golasa> Huh, I guess this became a Ritual at some point.
  8442. <Golasa> I'll take a hit to CON.
  8443. <Aliken> Aliken offers Golasa an arm as Golasa sags.
  8444. <Golasa> "Urgh."
  8445. <Golasa> "Not... impressed, dungeon."
  8446. <Aliken> "I'll help you walk, if you need it."
  8447. <Golasa> "Just give me a moment to catch my breath."
  8448. <Aliken> "All right." And as soon as Golasa is ready, I move on.
  8449. * Golasa drops into the back of the group.
  8450. * RinTheThief nods... And follows Aliken, bow out to start shooting immediately.
  8451. <DungeonLady> The petrified section of hallway continues on for a considerable way--easily a quarter of a mile at least. Then finally it ends, and beyond... you find stone statues. They seem to be of the same featureless humanoids that you encountered in the cave filled with fire-emitting symbols.
  8452. <Golasa> "I wonder if this is my handiwork."
  8453. <DungeonLady> Well, you can't say if they're the exact same ones, but they're the same general kind.
  8454. <Aliken> "I wouldn't be surprised."
  8455. <Aliken> Well, is there a way on from here?
  8456. <Golasa> "Sometimes I frighten myself."
  8457. <DungeonLady> Yes, it seems to lead onward into... wait, there're two passages to the right and left seemingly leading into more of the maze, but ahead is another room with what looks like another set of stairs in its center.
  8458. <Aliken> "More stairs. Looks like our way deeper in, hm?"
  8459. <RinTheThief> "... Or a red herring."
  8460. <Golasa> "I say we risk it."
  8461. <DungeonLady> And you notice that the walls're pitted with holes. Lots of them.
  8462. <Aliken> "Rin..?"
  8463. <RinTheThief> "There's holes. Lots of them."
  8464. * RinTheThief watches closely for a pressure plate or the like.
  8465. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Trap Sense!
  8466. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Trap Sense! --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  8467. <Aliken> "Yes, there are. Can you, ah, check this area?"
  8468. <DungeonLady> The floor's got a massive crisscross of circles and square shapes, resulting in it being broken up into many triangular and curved semi-triangular tiles. And... any of them, absolutely any of them could be pressure plates. They've all gotten that looseness to them.
  8469. <RinTheThief> "... There's a literal ton of pressure plates. Great."
  8470. <RinTheThief> Do I have any idea how to disable them BESIDES one by one for several hours?
  8471. <Aliken> "We have several heavy stone statues just standing around, right?"
  8472. * RinTheThief looks at the statues. "True. But who knows if the plates reset or not?"
  8473. <DungeonLady> The more you look at it, the more it looks like a really elaborate affair. The ceiling, surprisngly enough, has a similar arrangement. And... actually, it seems like a lot of it's more made to slide easily in or out.
  8474. <RinTheThief> What of the walls?
  8475. <Aliken> Might I study it carefully and attempt to Discern Realities?
  8476. <DungeonLady> Holes that could easily shoot out a variety of nasty things. But you also notice that they're dived up into sections, so that they could slide in.
  8477. <DungeonLady> Honestly, this is the most ridiculously elaborate and overdone apparent traps you've ever seen.
  8478. <DungeonLady> Lots that could go wrong with such complexity, which is why trap builders don't do that kind of thing. That and the expenses of it all.
  8479. <RinTheThief> "What if it's built to fail?", Rin ponders aloud.
  8480. <Golasa> "Is that the sort of thing we want to test?"
  8481. <Aliken> "So it's some sort of huge puzzle trap, then? Argh. Shouldn't we at least test what it does when triggered?"
  8482. <RinTheThief> "No. Not at this size. The door will lock or something
  8483. <Golasa> "What's the plan, then?"
  8484. <Aliken> "So, what do we do?"
  8485. <Aliken> Aliken defers to the trap expert.
  8486. <RinTheThief> "... The statues would be the best bet, to start. It'll take a bit to push them alone, but.."
  8487. <Aliken> "I can break them up."
  8488. <Aliken> "That should make them easier to move."
  8489. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3 Bend Bars, Lift Gates
  8490. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 Bend Bars, Lift Gates --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  8491. <RinTheThief> "Ideally we need pieces that weigh about as much as a human."
  8492. <Aliken> (I get to choose three- nothing of value is damaged, it doesn't take a long time, it doesn't make too much noise.)
  8493. <DungeonLady> You easily enough break them up into chunks of about human weight each.
  8494. <Aliken> "All right, you have your pieces."
  8495. <RinTheThief> "... Then here we go."
  8496. * RinTheThief moves one human-weight-ish piece into the room, onto a few of the plates, then BACKS THE HELL OFF.
  8497. <DungeonLady> No response.
  8498. <RinTheThief> ...
  8499. * RinTheThief rolls it further in with the pole from earlier.
  8500. <DungeonLady> After about a pole's length in (or about 10' in), there's suddenly a cackling sound. Then a strangely tinny voice speaks, "Welcome to the Witch's Gauntlet." Another cackling sound.
  8501. <RinTheThief> "What."
  8502. <Golasa> "Oh boy."
  8503. <Aliken> ((Oh snap it's Beatrice.))
  8504. <Aliken> "I... can't say I expected that."
  8505. * RinTheThief just watches. From a safe distance.
  8506. <DungeonLady> "Can you survive the first challenge, the deadly spinning dance of blades?" Pillars start to pop out of the floor all across the room. And... are those blades unfolding out of the pillars?
  8507. <Aliken> "Suddenly, I am very glad we sent the rock in first."
  8508. <Golasa> "So much for built to fail."
  8509. <DungeonLady> Rin, you've never seen such a needlessly overcomplicated trap before. There're more logical mechanisms that could've been used than this.
  8510. <RinTheThief> "This isn't just a trap. It's too bloody complex. It's some kind of amusement attraction."
  8511. <RinTheThief> "... Of death."
  8512. <DungeonLady> The pillars begin spinning, filling most of the room with a twirl of blades. But the ones around the statue you pushed in seems to grate on it, as spark fly. And... they grind to a stop a the rest of the pillars continue spinning.
  8513. <Aliken> "Did we just jam some of the blade pillars? I think I know how we can deal with this first movie."
  8514. <DungeonLady> Eventually it all stops and most of the pillars, except the ones that got stuck on the statue, slide back into the floor.
  8515. <Golasa> "That was anticlimactic."
  8516. <Golasa> "Think we can just sit out the second challenge, too?"
  8517. <Aliken> "We still have more statue pieces. We can jam all the pillars we need to clear a path."
  8518. <RinTheThief> "... Yeah. Let's try that." Another piece is carefully rolled in."
  8519. <DungeonLady> Another cackling. "Hope you enjoyed your dance. Now for some refreshments as you relax and enjoy a drink of arsenic and steel. Our servers'll serve showers of it to you!" More cackling. Clicking can be heard from all the walls.
  8520. <DungeonLady> (It's doing that as your'e pushing the statue piece in.)
  8521. <Aliken> "Hey, Golasa, sounds like we'll have liquid. Can you freeze it as it comes in? We can clog the holes."
  8522. * Golasa gets ready.
  8523. <DungeonLady> And then sharp steel bolts're flying everywhere, except into the hallway where you're watching.
  8524. <Aliken> "... very well, not liquid, never mind."
  8525. <Golasa> "I think we're OK."
  8526. <RinTheThief> "... Yeek."
  8527. <DungeonLady> More cackling. "Wasn't that refreshing? And now to end it all off with a nice pointy massage." Yet another round of cackling.
  8528. <Golasa> "Let's just stay here."
  8529. <RinTheThief> "Agreed."
  8530. <DungeonLady> The walls click and spears pop out of them. They begin sliding inward... and some of them stop as they run into the stuck pillars.
  8531. <Golasa> This is the best trap ever
  8532. <Aliken> "It may trigger again if we enter, but if we jam enough of the blade pillars, maybe we'll have time to get through. And this trap is ridiculous, isn't it?"
  8533. <RinTheThief> "Holy crap what were they *thinking* when they made this!?"
  8534. * RinTheThief rolls a third boulder in to stop more pillars.
  8535. <RinTheThief> "Our safest bet's putting enough stones down to stepping-stone all the way to the stairs."
  8536. <Golasa> "Why don't we just wait it out?"
  8537. <Golasa> "There can only be so much of this."
  8538. <Aliken> "Because I imagine it will trigger AGAIN when we enter."
  8539. <Golasa> "Half the mechanisms are already broken!"
  8540. <Aliken> "So we make sure stage one is harmless to us by ruining the mechanisms."
  8541. <DungeonLady> By this point you can assume the cackling. "Oh, did we forget the flambes? Mustn't forget that."
  8542. <Aliken> "Somebody had FUN with this trap, at least."
  8543. <DungeonLady> Some of the floor tiles open up. And the room's turned into a sea of flames.
  8544. <Aliken> ((Kaja, this trap is awesome. I want you to know it. :D))
  8545. <DungeonLady> "And that's it. Now, you mustn't be untidy guests. Let's clean up and get ready for the next guests."
  8546. <RinTheThief> "... They call this a gauntlet like it's humanly survivable. What the hell."
  8547. <Aliken> "And yet, we'll survive it because it's easy enough to break it."
  8548. <Golasa> If it starts resetting, that's our time to move.
  8549. <Aliken> "I'm amused that it's still TALKING to us after it assumes we're all corpses."
  8550. <DungeonLady> And metallic broom begin popping out, to push everything into the chutes that open up into the ground. The statues're being swept into them.
  8551. <RinTheThief> "... Oh. Great."
  8552. <Aliken> Does it look like we have time and room to dash across?"
  8553. <Golasa> "Now!"
  8554. <DungeonLady> You might. Or might not.
  8555. <Aliken> Well, Hell. Golasa called it, let's do it.
  8556. * RinTheThief moves, panicky as hell the entire way! >_o
  8557. <Aliken> Dashing across during the cleanup phase.
  8558. <DungeonLady> Okay, +Dex, all of you.
  8559. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2 Dex
  8560. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 Dex --> [ 2d6=3 ]{5}
  8561. <Golasa> fuck
  8562. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  8563. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  8564. <Aliken> How's Marigold doing on the dash?
  8565. <DungeonLady> Marigold didn't go with you on this dungeon.
  8566. <DungeonLady> She's still working on that refining for Golasa's project.
  8567. <Aliken> Ahh, OK.
  8568. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  8569. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  8570. <Golasa> This was a good plan.
  8571. <RinTheThief> (Well. Crap.)
  8572. <Aliken> I'm glad I bought up my Dex.
  8573. <Aliken> If I hadn't, I'd be screwed right now.
  8574. <Golasa> Like me!
  8575. <DungeonLady> Here's the deal. You can get all the way across and take a hit, stop short in the parts with the broken pillar, or rescue Golasa.
  8576. <Golasa> I'm still at full HP, just go for it
  8577. <Aliken> ... screw it, I'm rescuing Golasa.
  8578. <Golasa> tooo niiiiiiice
  8579. <DungeonLady> What about you, Rin?
  8580. <RinTheThief> Rin chooses to focus on getting Golasa to the broken pillar first.
  8581. <Aliken> (Hey, I'm already saving her, save yourself!)
  8582. <Golasa> (I have quite good DEX but every time I rely on it I roll like a 3)
  8583. <RinTheThief> (Rin's helping!)
  8584. <DungeonLady> Okay, as you all sprint ahead, Golasa trips on a broken tile sticking out of the ground. And the pillars begin popping out, and both of you find yourself rapidly turning to push her back into the safe section with the broken pillars. And you manage to make it into that safe section just as the blades nick you in the back. Take 1d4, soakable.
  8585. <DungeonLady> Make that 1d6.
  8586. <Aliken> !roll 1d6
  8587. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
  8588. <Aliken> Aliken suffers trivial damage through her armor.
  8589. <Golasa> do I take the damage, or is being double saved enough?
  8590. <DungeonLady> Being double saved is enough.
  8591. <Golasa> "Of all the things..."
  8592. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d6
  8593. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=4 ]{4}
  8594. <RinTheThief> Rin definitely takes a hit.
  8595. * Golasa is more drained from that spell than she thought.
  8596. <Aliken> "All right, the pillars are enough cover for stages one and two. Golasa, PLEASE tell me you can smother flames."
  8597. <Golasa> Aren't the flames gone?
  8598. <Aliken> (Stage one is starting up again.)
  8599. <Aliken> (The recording is, I'm assuming, starting again as well.)
  8600. <Aliken> (So blade pillars are popping up.)
  8601. <DungeonLady> (Yeah, it's repeating.)
  8602. <Golasa> Maybe we can get across this ridiculous gauntlet before it gets that far?
  8603. <Golasa> I don't have a great idea of how big this area is.
  8604. * RinTheThief watches for a gap... Then declares, "NOW!"
  8605. <DungeonLady> And the pillars're spinning and then they stop and begin to retract. You know what's next. And it's a fairly large room. You're maybe a third of the way to the stairs.
  8606. <Golasa> Yikes.
  8607. <Aliken> (That would be our gap.)
  8608. <Golasa> Can we get to safety before the blade shower?
  8609. <Aliken> Yeah, how long was that period the first time around?
  8610. <DungeonLady> Yeah, if you rush right now.
  8611. <Golasa> Then let's freakin rush.
  8612. <Aliken> Rushing right now, then.
  8613. <RinTheThief> Rin leads the rush!
  8614. <DungeonLady> And you rush back as the speech about refreshments begins.
  8615. <Golasa> Back? Was the only safe place back where we started?
  8616. <Aliken> "OK, we need to jam more pillars during the first stage if we want to do this."
  8617. <Aliken> (I think it was twice as far to the stairs as to back where we started.)
  8618. <Aliken> (So we only had time for the beginning.)
  8619. <RinTheThief> ("Quite."
  8620. <RinTheThief> *"Quite."
  8621. * RinTheThief begins gathering more rocks, but waits on tossing them in until the brooms cross... Then decides to try tossing one AT one of the brooms.
  8622. <Golasa> (Is Kaja still here?)
  8623. <Aliken> (Why wouldn't she be?)
  8624. <Golasa> (Extended radio silence?)
  8625. <DungeonLady> So you're tossing a human-weight statue piece at a broom.
  8626. <DungeonLady> Sounds like a test of +STR.
  8627. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6
  8628. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{7}
  8629. <DungeonLady> It comes short of where you wanted it, but manages to snap off a broom handle.
  8630. <RinTheThief> Rin barely observes the results before trying a second time! >:(
  8631. <Aliken> Aliken takes the rock from Rin and tosses for her.
  8632. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  8633. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=9 ]{12}
  8634. <DungeonLady> The part of the handle above the broken section continues thrusting, as if still trying to sweep.
  8635. <DungeonLady> Oh, hey, Aliken, which section of the broom're you aining at?
  8636. <DungeonLady> Wherever it is, you hit it square on.
  8637. <Aliken> How are they structured, exactly? Bristles attach to handle attaches to..?
  8638. <DungeonLady> They seem to be extending out of the walls and ceiling.
  8639. <RinTheThief> Rin's hoping they're heavy enough to trigger the gauntlet - or keep it from tiggering on some plates.
  8640. <Aliken> I'm going to try and hit the handle as close to the ceiling as possible, so it breaks off the whole broom.
  8641. <DungeonLady> Perfect aim! It snaps right off.
  8642. <Golasa> Sounds like the trap is disabled?
  8643. <RinTheThief> No. But it might break more now. Especially with more pieces getting rolled in too to create more cover.
  8644. <Aliken> Hardly. We're just breaking bits of it off to break more pillars until the first stage is easily bypassed.
  8645. <DungeonLady> There're now two broken brooms, and two thrown statues lying around as the brooms retract back in. The voice immediately starts back up for the pillar section of the gauntlet without pausing.
  8646. <Golasa> "Let's see how it handles not having the broom to clean it up each cycle."
  8647. <Golasa> "Let it run through a few times and everything should jam."
  8648. * RinTheThief tosses more rocks in. "Aliken, next time the brooms show up, try and break another couple."
  8649. <RinTheThief> We can safely assume this takes a few cycles. Man are the flame things running out of oil yet?
  8650. <Aliken> "Understood."
  8651. <DungeonLady> They show no sign of running out of oil. But you do steadily wreck the trap for a few cycles. By the time you run out of statue pieces, you've got a path of broken pillars across to the stairs.
  8652. <Aliken> "And now it's easy." And while the pillar stage goes, I cross along the path of broken pillars."
  8653. * RinTheThief follows. Whew. x_X
  8654. <Aliken> ((The Witch's Gauntlet is hilarious and awesome.))
  8655. <Aliken> "I still think it sounds like somebody was enjoying themselves quite a bit making this trap."
  8656. <DungeonLady> It's an easy dash across. You make it and are a decent way down the stairs before you hear stage two starting.
  8657. <Golasa> "I'm surprised it kept working this long."
  8658. <Aliken> "I think it works because the laws of the dungeon make it work."
  8659. <Golasa> "Well, this IS the Dungeon of Dungeons."
  8660. <RinTheThief> "We should try and find a place to safely rest by now... This has been a while."
  8661. <DungeonLady> ((Speaking of, it's midnight and I could use a break.))
  8662. <Golasa> This is a fine stopping point
  8663. <DungeonLady> ((This next floor will likely be the final one.))
  8664. <Aliken> ((This was fun, Kaja. Thanks. :D))
  8665. <RinTheThief> ((May I suggest we get a Bone in the form of a Convenient Rest Spot then? :P And man, that trap was great, yes ))
  8666. <Aliken> ((Also, I am amused at using petrified monsters as trap-wreckers.))
  8667. <DungeonLady> ((It was actually partially inspired by a sequence in a manga I read, though some details're considerably different.))
  8668. <DungeonLady> ((But the idea of an overly elaborate sequence of deadly traps stuck with me.))
  8669. <DungeonLady> ((Oh, yeah, I just remembered something I was thinking of doing.))
  8670. <DungeonLady> ((You'll run into it next session.))
  8671. <DungeonLady> ((It's pretty much the bone you asked for.))
  8672. <Aliken> ((Cool!))
  8673. <RinTheThief> ((Interesting!))
  8674. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Jul 23 03:15:08 2013 -0700
  8675.  
  8676.  
  8677. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 29 12:35:45 2013 -0700
  8678. <NekoIncardine> o/
  8679. <kajarainbow> hi
  8680. <@Aliken> OK, looks like it's just Prof left. :)
  8681. <kajarainbow> Said he'll be here in a while.
  8682. <@Aliken> Ah, OK!
  8683. <Golasa> (Link: http://25.media.tumblr.com/1960e1a8c6435e2b9a9ebca889fa0ee5/tumblr_mq62pfvdp41qewacoo1_500.jpg)http://25.media.tumblr.com/1960e1a8c6435e2b9a9ebca889fa0ee5/tumblr_mq62pfvdp41qewacoo1_500.jpg
  8684. <Golasa> Gorgon humor.
  8685. <NekoIncardine> Beautiful
  8686. <Golasa> !roll 2d1
  8687. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d1 --> [ 2d1=2 ]{2}
  8688. <@Aliken> Heh. :)
  8689. <DungeonLady> Okay, Nathan, give me OP status.
  8690. <Aliken> The crown is thine.
  8691. <Golasa> To be fair, I was playing it until 30 seconds before game
  8692. <@DungeonLady> Well, you don't have a track record of missing sessions and being late.
  8693. <Nine[League]> (Sorry for vanishing, I accidentally closed)
  8694. <Aliken> Down the stairs after the Witch's Gauntlet!
  8695. <@DungeonLady> Right.
  8696. <Aliken> Aliken shakes her head as everybody passes through the absurd trap. "SOMEBODY was clearly enjoying themselves making that trap."
  8697. <Golasa> "Well, you should do what you love."
  8698. <@DungeonLady> (Sorry, Nine, I kicked you because I saw your [League] thing, got pissed off, and thought you were going to miss the game or be late again.)
  8699. <Dysna> (I have League open, and just got out of a game)
  8700. <@DungeonLady> (Anyway.)
  8701. <Aliken> "We're living the dream, hah."
  8702. <Golasa> "I wonder how much deeper the dungeon of dungeons goes."
  8703. <Golasa> "Maybe we'll be wandering in here for the rest of the year."
  8704. <@DungeonLady> Downstairs... you come to what looks like a heavily fortified gate, with a portcullis and all. Behind it is some weird humanoid critter with a rounded snout and dangling ears like a dog or lopear rabbit. They're loafing while leaning on their spear, but suddenly jumps to alert.
  8705. <@DungeonLady> They speak in an unfamiliar tongue into something that you can't see because it's on the same wall as the gate. A booming voice suddenly speaks, "Name and business!"
  8706. <Golasa> (Aliken should be able to understand it)
  8707. * RinTheThief looks at the group as if to get an idea what to do here...
  8708. * Golasa doesn't go first.
  8709. <Dysna> (I'm having flashbacks to Labyrinth)
  8710. <@DungeonLady> They're kinda adorable looking, actually. Like this: (Link: http://1d4chan.org/images/f/fe/Cutebold_adventure_party.gif)http://1d4chan.org/images/f/fe/Cutebold_adventure_party.gif
  8711. <@DungeonLady> Oh, I should clarify, it's the booming voice is in your common tongue.
  8712. <@DungeonLady> The trade tongue all of you use.
  8713. <Aliken> "I am Aliken Mechtildsdochter. We have come to the Dungeon of Dungeons to find a way to save our home world."
  8714. <@DungeonLady> Whatever the odd humanoid spoke into, it seems to be some kind of translation device.
  8715. * Dysna approaches the gate, head tilting as she inspects the creatures.
  8716. <Golasa> Golasa lurks at the back of the group, content to be the cool mysterious one.
  8717. <@DungeonLady> There's sort of an echo after Aliken speaks, in the same unfamiliar tongue as the guard's.
  8718. <Aliken> Aliken listens to her own words in the translated language, filing away the scraps of this language in her mind.
  8719. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, there's one guard, and they're dressed in mail and a tabald.
  8720. <Aliken> "These are my companions, Rin, Golasa, and Dysna."
  8721. <@DungeonLady> "What's your business in this town?"
  8722. * RinTheThief pauses, but lets Aliken lead this charge
  8723. <Aliken> "We seek to explore deeper into this world. If you are willing to trade for rest and resupply, we have gold."
  8724. <@DungeonLady> "Hm. Turn in your weapons for safekeeping or bind them. That includes your magical tools."
  8725. <Golasa> "You can't have my staff."
  8726. <@DungeonLady> "Bind it, then. Don't have any bindings? We keep some around here."
  8727. <Golasa> "That will be fine."
  8728. <@DungeonLady> "And put that cloaker on a leash."
  8729. <Aliken> "I'll bind my weapons, then. I'd prefer to keep them on my person."
  8730. <RinTheThief> "I will bind them," Rin declares, pulling out some rope to tie her rapier closed, and de-stringing her bow.
  8731. <@DungeonLady> The guard pulls out what looks like some strings with elaborate knots tied in them. To Golasa and likely Dysna's eyes, they would form a magical circle when tied around something.
  8732. <Golasa> Hmm.
  8733. <Golasa> Well, they can be removed if necessary.
  8734. * Golasa isn't about to lose to a piece of string.
  8735. * Dysna frowns, gently caressing her wand as though comforting it.
  8736. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, from the look of them, their functions seem to be to use the weapons difficult to use without taking considerable effort to remove them. There's also an alarm component of some kind.
  8737. <Aliken> Aliken ties her sword and dagger into their sheaths with the bindings provided.
  8738. <Golasa> I'm fairly sure that if I start using magic, they'll know about it, alarm or no.
  8739. <@DungeonLady> Alright, so you all going along with it?
  8740. <Golasa> Yes.
  8741. <RinTheThief> Yep.
  8742. <RinTheThief> Rin doesn't volunteer that her BOOTS are magical, but it seems weapons are their concern anyhow.
  8743. <Aliken> "'Magical tools'... I imagine that translation earrings aren't your concern?"
  8744. <@DungeonLady> "Let's make that clear. Tools for spellcasting."
  8745. <Golasa> Technically most of Golasa's belongongs qualify as Tools For Spellcasting, but she won't volunteer that thought.
  8746. <Golasa> Sounds like we're in agreement, though.
  8747. <Aliken> "Understood."
  8748. <@DungeonLady> Anyway, after your compliance, the guard says, "Welcome to Dungeonhome." The gate begins rising as if on its own accord.
  8749. <Golasa> "Dungeonhome, huh."
  8750. <Dysna> "Not sure what we expected it to be called."
  8751. * RinTheThief looks around at what's beyond the gate.
  8752. <Aliken> Aliken strides in. "Going to be good to get out of the armor and relax for a bit."
  8753. <Golasa> "I was expecting things to get more sinister-looking as we got deeper in."
  8754. <@DungeonLady> Beyond seems to be... a wide passage with many doors opening in its sides.
  8755. <@DungeonLady> To Aliken, it'd be familiar underground construction. There's a certain similarity to it created by practical considerations.
  8756. <Dysna> (Okay, I'm having flashbacks to Dwarf Fortress)
  8757. <@DungeonLady> The doors have signs besides them.
  8758. <@DungeonLady> They seems to have some kind of translation effect on them, because their're appearing in your native tongues.
  8759. <Dysna> "Note to self, see about getting details on this enchantment."
  8760. <RinTheThief> "Quite."
  8761. <Aliken> "Given what I heard when I went shopping for translation magic, I imagine it records what the person writing was THINKING at the time, since apparently translation magic depends on having thoughts to interpret if the language is entirely unknown. In this case, the target language is unknown."
  8762. <@DungeonLady> There doesn't seem to be an inn, though there's a note saying that guests should head to the temple for lodgings.
  8763. <@DungeonLady> What inhabitants you see passing by in the hallway seems to be mostly the same type of small round-snouted humanoids as the guard, but there're scatterings of other species here and there.
  8764. <@DungeonLady> There *is* a tavern of some kind that judging from the sign also sells food provisions.
  8765. <@DungeonLady> And an alchemist.
  8766. <@DungeonLady> And if there're anything else you want to find, I'll tell you if it's there.
  8767. <Aliken> "Who's for a hot meal before we find the temple to sleep?"
  8768. <@DungeonLady> There's a blacksmith, though they seem to focus mostly on tools, not weapons.
  8769. <RinTheThief> "I think that's a wise choice, yeah."
  8770. <Golasa> "Might as well."
  8771. <Golasa> "But we also need to figure out what we're looking for."
  8772. <RinTheThief> "Which... Is a bigger concern."
  8773. <Aliken> "Well, I imagine the tavern and temple might be the best places to ask for information anyhow."
  8774. <Golasa> "Assuming that these people even have the answers."
  8775. <Dysna> "You know, it occurs to me that we might have wanted to develop some sort of divination ritual to find the heart of a dungeon rapidly."
  8776. <Golasa> "We've never spent much time at the heart of a dungeon."
  8777. <RinTheThief> "Very true..."
  8778. <@DungeonLady> So you heading to the tavern, then?
  8779. <Aliken> If nobody else objects.
  8780. <Golasa> SUre.
  8781. <RinTheThief> Yup
  8782. * Dysna will follow the party rather than wandering alone
  8783. <@DungeonLady> The first thing you notice inside is the /fucking manticore/. He's sorta leaning his forelimbs onto one of the tables while he works away at a giant hunk of mantieed meat on a platter. You have no idea how the fuck he got in there, the door isn't that large.
  8784. <Golasa> "Ah."
  8785. <@DungeonLady> The tables're all craven out of stone, in fact they seem to have been craven out of the cave itself, they're still joined with the floor and all.
  8786. <@DungeonLady> There're lanterns filled with light purple flames.
  8787. <Golasa> "Well, it IS an inn inside a dungeon."
  8788. <@DungeonLady> Once you stop being distracted by the manticore, whenever that is, you'll notice the three familiar faces at another table. In this case, a familiar chest--there's the naked elf, as usual wearing nothing but short trousers. He's busily yakking away about his dungeon adventures to Owl, who seems to be taking notes, and Shark, who seems to be ignoring him while she munches on her own dish.
  8789. <@DungeonLady> (Tell me if it got cut off.)
  8790. <RinTheThief> 9Nope!)
  8791. <Aliken> "Hey, if it isn't our old friends!"
  8792. * RinTheThief visibly ay yay yays at the elf's presence.
  8793. <Aliken> Aliken waves cheerily at Owl, Shark, and That Fucking Elf.
  8794. * Dysna darts over, bouncing. "Shark! :D"
  8795. * Dysna managed to produce a sound that can only be described with an emoticon.
  8796. * Golasa sighs.
  8797. <@DungeonLady> Owl looks up briefly from her notes. Shark raises an eyebrow but does wave a little. The elf waves vigorously. "Oh, hallo, hallo! Why don't you come over? I'll tell you about my adventures, too!"
  8798. <Aliken> "So, Owl, you've been studying these 'dungeons' around our own world. We think there may be a way to stop them from consuming our world in this Floating World- I wonder if you've figured any more?"
  8799. <@DungeonLady> "That would've been interesting to observe," Owl says dryly. "Nevertheless, iit isn't often that I get to observe the sort of disruption of Floating Worlds you're talking about doing."
  8800. <Golasa> "Hang on."
  8801. <Golasa> "What will happen to the Floating Worlds if we finish what we've begun here?"
  8802. <@DungeonLady> "That isn't a question with a certain answer. Much would depend on the specifics of the disruption and the Floating Worlds."
  8803. <@DungeonLady> "Likely many of them would lose their dungeon natures."
  8804. <Golasa> "Would the worlds be destroyed?"
  8805. <@DungeonLady> "And revert to their natures."
  8806. <@DungeonLady> "They would change. Destructively or not, I cannot say for sure."
  8807. <Golasa> "Hmm."
  8808. <Dysna> "So... the price of saving our world is, potentially, genocide. Good to know."
  8809. <@DungeonLady> "Wanna hear about the time I wrestled a dragonbear into submssion using nothing but a magical lasso and my limber muscles?" the elf says.
  8810. <RinTheThief> "No."
  8811. <Aliken> "Well, the destruction isn't certain. Whereas what happens if we don't act rather is. It's a pity we don't have better intelligence."
  8812. <@DungeonLady> Owl says, "Potentially. With study, a careful method could probably be found."
  8813. <Golasa> "Either way, in the case of our world's fate weighed against that of another, the choice is obvious."
  8814. <Golasa> "Even if it makes you our enemy."
  8815. <@DungeonLady> "It's not as if we'll really be affected," Shark says. "Our home'll outlast anything you could possibly do to it, and it's not like we care about the other worlds."
  8816. * RinTheThief looks around her. "I wish I could say the same about that last part..."
  8817. <Aliken> "Well, I'd prefer to avoid needless destruction in any event. Do you have any idea where the heart of this particular Floating World is? We've gone through a great deal of its defenses so far, and it'd be nice to know how much more we have to go through."
  8818. <@DungeonLady> "This town is wrapped around the heart, so I imagine you would have to face one final layer of defense."
  8819. <@DungeonLady> Owl says.
  8820. <Dysna> "So, we get to murder our way through a city. That'll go well in the history books."
  8821. <@DungeonLady> "What about the time ripped two runes out of a dead god's head?" the elf says.
  8822. <Aliken> "Wait, you ripped runes out of a dead god's head?"
  8823. <@DungeonLady> "No, the heart is just beyond this town," Owl clarifies.
  8824. <Dysna> "Oh good. The locals are adorable."
  8825. <Golasa> "Then there's no need for us to linger. We should eat and move on."
  8826. <@DungeonLady> "Oh, yeah. Let me tell you, it was really difficult..." and the elf begins to launches into a detailed accounting.
  8827. * Golasa is in a hurry to not be around Naked Elf much longer.
  8828. * RinTheThief too.
  8829. <Golasa> She eats quickly, only meat.
  8830. <RinTheThief> Rin sticks to the full standard.
  8831. <Aliken> Aliken orders a hearty meal and eats cheerfully.
  8832. * Dysna must have been gone for Naked Elf.
  8833. <@DungeonLady> (He first showed up before you joined the game. He made quite an impression, as you can see.)
  8834. <Golasa> (Golasa beat him at a Children's Rune Game.)
  8835. <Golasa> (Sort of.)
  8836. <@DungeonLady> (Golasa cheated and won a technical victory. Though the elf thought it clever.)
  8837. <Golasa> (A technical win by surrendering on the first turn)
  8838. <Aliken> (He's basically a total lunatic.)
  8839. <Dysna> (Wait, it's a guy?)
  8840. * Dysna rereads
  8841. <Dysna> (I somehow misread "Chest" as "Breasts")
  8842. <Aliken> (Hah.)
  8843. <@DungeonLady> "Hmm. I'm interested in seeing what you're going to do," Owl says. Shark just shrugs. "Guess I won't be getting dragged along for this business much longer."
  8844. <@DungeonLady> "Oh! Why don't I come along, too?" the elf exclaims.
  8845. <Aliken> Aliken looks to Golasa.
  8846. <Golasa> "...I think your talents could be put to better use elsewhere."
  8847. <@DungeonLady> "Surely there won't be a better place than this delightfully exciting venture!" the elf says.
  8848. <@DungeonLady> Owl just says, "We'll meet up tomorrow noon. Go make your preprations now."
  8849. <Golasa> "I am confident that such a place exists."
  8850. <Golasa> "Finding it is your first quest."
  8851. <@DungeonLady> "I'll go get my stuff ready!" And the elf runs out. Then Owl shrugs. "We leave early morning."
  8852. <Aliken> Aliken nods. "I'll head to the temple to arrange shelter."
  8853. * Golasa isn't sure whether or not she managed to stop Elf from following them.
  8854. * Dysna wishes she learned how to partition herself into multiple bodies for the purposes of distracting the elf
  8855. * RinTheThief is pretty sure Golasa didn't. Bloody hell.
  8856. * Dysna is pretty sure we'll have at least 5 hours head start.
  8857. <@DungeonLady> "At any rate, he served his purpose to me," Owl says. "He was fucking boring," Shark says.
  8858. <Golasa> "Do you think he'll be following us?"
  8859. <Dysna> "Hours behind at worst."
  8860. <@DungeonLady> Both of them shrug.
  8861. <Golasa> "We'd better move quickly."
  8862. <Golasa> "Either that or we can talk him into going first, and he'll set off all the traps for us."
  8863. <@DungeonLady> The tavern owner comes over and names a price that seems to be in weights of pure gold.
  8864. <Golasa> Uh oh.
  8865. <Golasa> Are our coins pure gold?
  8866. <Aliken> Most likely are.
  8867. * RinTheThief hastily attempts to calculate.
  8868. <Aliken> Aliken digs out coins for the tavernkeeper to weigh.
  8869. <@DungeonLady> They take about five, and bites the fifth in half before handing you back one of the halves.
  8870. <Golasa> that'll do!
  8871. <Golasa> 416.5 coins remaining.
  8872. <RinTheThief> 580.5 coins remaining.
  8873. <Golasa> Spell components are expensive.
  8874. <@DungeonLady> The high-end stuff, anyway.
  8875. <@DungeonLady> At the temple, which has a statue of some bizarrely many-armed snouted humanoid, each hand with a different tool or weapon in hand,, your rooms're offered to you for free as long as you help clean up or leave a donation.
  8876. <@DungeonLady> If you want, you can do a little shopping either before you sleep or in the early morning. There aren't any dangerous objects like weapons or poisons for sale, but you can probably get other stuff.
  8877. * RinTheThief doesn't bother. She still has some poisons handy and will just go with that
  8878. * Dysna buys some random sculpture in the form of a dragon.
  8879. <Aliken> They take 4.5 apiece, or for all of us together?
  8880. <Golasa> I'm good.
  8881. <@DungeonLady> Let's say apiece.
  8882. <Aliken> OK.
  8883. <Aliken> I'll leave four and a half coins for the temple as a donation, hah.
  8884. <RinTheThief> 10 and a half here, leaving 570.
  8885. <Golasa> 0.5 from me.
  8886. * Golasa isn't very keen on gods.
  8887. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, the sculpture costs about 9 coins if in a common material, or more if it's in a precious material.
  8888. <@DungeonLady> Make that 19.
  8889. <@DungeonLady> And you start out early in the morning...
  8890. * Dysna just picked something at random as a souvenier.
  8891. <@DungeonLady> 19, then.
  8892. <@DungeonLady> (And I'm running out of juice, so we'll start the final floor next week.)
  8893. <Golasa> (OK.)
  8894. <Aliken> OK!
  8895. <Dysna> (Alrighty)
  8896. <RinTheThief> (All righty. :3)
  8897. <HaruhiPuma> ... what the fuck
  8898. <NekoIncardine> (XD)
  8899. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Mon Jul 29 23:56:50 2013 -0700
  8900.  
  8901.  
  8902. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Aug 05 17:45:48 2013 -0700
  8903. <@kajarainbow> Right!
  8904. <Aliken> Left!
  8905. <NekoIncardine> Down!
  8906. <Aliken> :3
  8907. <@kajarainbow> Ready to venture into the perilous mysteries of the FINAL FLOOR of the ULTIMATE DUNGEON?
  8908. <NekoIncardine> (Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3GZDq8RSdw)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3GZDq8RSdw
  8909. <Aliken> o.o
  8910. <ProfessorProf> Eh, it just barely beats going on a megalomaniacal rampage.
  8911. <ProfessorProf> So sure.
  8912. <RinTheThief> What is with the 4?
  8913. <Aliken> Maybe there will be cookies and beautiful monsters for us to rescue on the final floor.
  8914. <Dysna4> (Technically, that should be Nine[League] -> Nine[PathOfExile] -> Dysna, but whatever)
  8915. <@DungeonLady> So, you found a whole little town filled with scarily adorable people. And now you're about to venture into the next floor.
  8916. <Aliken> A lovely demoness held prisoner by a wicked knight or something. Oop, IC.
  8917. <RinTheThief> Onwards and inwards
  8918. <Aliken> Indeed. Suiting up and heading out once we've rested.
  8919. <ProfessorProf> No point hanging around.
  8920. <Aliken> Aliken resists the temptation to pet the cutebolds while dealing with them.
  8921. <Aliken> So tempting.
  8922. <@DungeonLady> The walls're of black marble with red veins, lining a hallway that continues onward as far as you can see. Bones in assorted shapes and intactness are spewn everywhere, littering the floor in a layer.
  8923. <RinTheThief> Well, that's not forboding as hell.
  8924. <RinTheThief> Rin, naturally, is watching the hell out for traps
  8925. <@DungeonLady> No traps as far as you can tell.
  8926. <ProfessorProf> "This is what I was expecting from this dungeon."
  8927. <@DungeonLady> (BRB)
  8928. <Aliken> "Looks sinister."
  8929. <@DungeonLady> (Back)
  8930. <@DungeonLady> You do notice that what you can see of the more intact skeletons show no signs of violence.
  8931. <Aliken> "Golasa, any traces of magic on the dead here?"
  8932. <Aliken> "That you can discern, anyhow."
  8933. <RinTheThief> "Could be something else. Gas traps." Rin's eyes remain cautious.
  8934. * ProfessorProf checks ahead to see if there's any signs of magic amidst the bone-covered corridor.
  8935. <ProfessorProf> oops
  8936. * Golasa checks ahead to see if there's any signs of magic amidst the bone-covered corridor.
  8937. <@DungeonLady> Roll to Discern Reality.
  8938. <Dysna4> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  8939. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2 Discern Realities
  8940. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 Discern Realities --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  8941. <Golasa> No escape
  8942. <@DungeonLady> Ask your questions.
  8943. * Golasa actually looks up how Discern Realities works
  8944. <Golasa> What should I be on the lookout for?
  8945. <Golasa> What here is not what it appears to be?
  8946. <Golasa> What is about to happen?
  8947. <@DungeonLady> There is nothing to be on the lookout for. Nothing's about to happen. And somehow you feel that's the problem. Yes... the hallway itself isn't what it appear to be. With the knowledge gained from your study of spatial magic, you can discern the neverending loop the hall's been woven into. Those bones here? They almost certainly died of dehydration, starvation, or both.
  8948. <Golasa> "Hah... clever."
  8949. <Aliken> "What's clever?"
  8950. <Golasa> "If you were to watch carefully enough, you might be able to recognize certain bones again and again.""
  8951. <Golasa> "This hallway is infinite."
  8952. <Aliken> "Well, then. Can you break the spell?"
  8953. <Golasa> "Tricky. I'd like to try some things first."
  8954. <Golasa> "Let's head back."
  8955. <@DungeonLady> So. Did you step completely into the floor?
  8956. <Golasa> I think we did.
  8957. <RinTheThief> Rin would've been cautious if Golasa was, but that might not help if Golasa stepped in
  8958. <@DungeonLady> What about you, Aliken and Dysna?
  8959. <Aliken> It honestly sounded to me like we were walking for a bit.
  8960. <@DungeonLady> Right.
  8961. <@DungeonLady> The stairs back?
  8962. <@DungeonLady> They're gone.
  8963. <Golasa> "A two way loop, then. I'm impressed."
  8964. <Golasa> "It's a very difficult trap to create, but escaping it is even harder."
  8965. <RinTheThief> "So what do we do? Destroy the wall?"
  8966. <Golasa> "That might or might not work. In case it collapses the dungeon on us, I'd prefer to exhaust some other options first."
  8967. <Golasa> "First trick is to try and figure out where the seam is. Someone with better eyesight than me would be good for the task."
  8968. <Aliken> "Don't enchantments tend to require some runes, enchanted objects, or the like to maintain the enchantment? As I understand it, these traps are essentially linked teleporters, right?
  8969. <Golasa> "It's not quite that simple."
  8970. <Golasa> "Most enchantments are based on a magic circle, but this is a special case."
  8971. <Golasa> The closed space creates an infinite loop, and that loop itself becomes the magic circle."
  8972. <RinTheThief> "If anyone' sgoing to see a visible seam, it's me... But it might not be visible."
  8973. <Golasa> "Don't just look for a literal seam. Any slight inconsistency, anything that looks out of place."
  8974. <Golasa> "Any two adjacent places that don't look like they should be adjacent."
  8975. <Aliken> "It likely shall be. No matter how carefully they constructed the corridor, they're going to have great difficulty lining the stone up correctly on each end."
  8976. <Aliken> Aliken brushes her fingers along the wall, studying the crimson veins in the marble and the alignment of the wall panels.
  8977. <@DungeonLady> It takes the two of you a good while of searching--near to half a hour. But finally you find, one, a slight disjoint in the veins. Most of them're actually lined up correctly, but there's one that ends abruptly.
  8978. <@DungeonLady> Aliken, this is a precision beyond any you know of.
  8979. <Aliken> "Golasa, we have it. The seam is here."
  8980. <Golasa> "Let me see."
  8981. * Golasa leans close enough to avoid accidentally making eye contact with anyone, then pulls her veil back for a better look.
  8982. <Golasa> "Remarkable. I'm almost too impressed with this craftsmanship to be upset that I'm caught in it."
  8983. <Golasa> What would I need to do to force open a gap between the two linked ends of the corridor?
  8984. * Dysna4 fidgets with her wand.
  8985. <@DungeonLady> Divert the magical circle.
  8986. <@DungeonLady> That is, create your own and connect the end with it.
  8987. <Golasa> Hmhm, I think I can do one better.
  8988. * Golasa clears a space around the seam, and draws a magic circle crossing over the middle of it.
  8989. <@DungeonLady> Dysna, are you thinking of doing something?
  8990. <RinTheThief> "Golasa, I'm going to be direct. Are the odds of this ending in our horrific deaths much higher than usual?"
  8991. <Golasa> "Do you really want to know the answer to that question?"
  8992. <Golasa> The circle is split across the seam, drawn on one half with chalk and on the other half with that dirt from another world she picked up ages ago.
  8993. <Golasa> The symbol is one, but the material is split perfectly along the seam.
  8994. <Golasa> "I'm going to need a volunteer for this next bit."
  8995. <Aliken> "What exactly do you need from me?"
  8996. <RinTheThief> "I'll help."
  8997. * RinTheThief walks to the right place.
  8998. <Dysna4> Lets try the ritual first and my impulsive irrational behavior can be attempted afterward. :P
  8999. * Golasa draws her ceremonial dagger. "Give me your hand."
  9000. * RinTheThief ... Offers it.
  9001. * Golasa pricks Rin's finger and extracts a couple drops of blood into a small vial.
  9002. <Golasa> Then, she does the same for herself, in a different vial. She hands Rin back her blood.
  9003. <Golasa> "At the same time that I pour this onto my half of the circle, you do it to yours. Make sure none of your possessions or body parts are across the seam."
  9004. <RinTheThief> "... Got it."
  9005. <RinTheThief> Rin moves carefully to the appropriate point.
  9006. <Golasa> "Careful..."
  9007. * Golasa upends her vial onto the chalk half of the circle.
  9008. * RinTheThief upends her vial onto the dirt half of the circle in sync.
  9009. <Golasa> The actual function of the circle is simple - it's a self-replecating pattern.
  9010. <Golasa> Each half will, upon activation, expand to become a full circle in its own right.
  9011. <Golasa> This should force the seam to open to permit both circles to exist at once.
  9012. <@DungeonLady> Hmm. Roll to Cast a Spell.
  9013. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+3 Cast a Spell
  9014. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+3 Cast a Spell --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  9015. <Golasa> oh boy
  9016. <Golasa> oh wait I get to choose the drawback
  9017. <Golasa> My spell has unforseen side effects, and might draw unwanted attention.
  9018. <@DungeonLady> There's a sudden wave of vertigo, and you all feel like the world's spinning around you.
  9019. * Dysna4 is only slightly regretting not trying to just cut a hole in the wall.
  9020. <@DungeonLady> Rin's end pops out into an open room of the same red-veined black marble, while Golasa's continues on slightly longer before ending in a dead-end with the words "To those reading this, you've been very clever. You may continue on, and welcome to your doom."
  9021. <Aliken> "... hah."
  9022. <RinTheThief> "GOLASA!", Rin shouts, not sure where Golasa ended up...
  9023. <@DungeonLady> The words're written on the wall that the hallway terminates in, I mean. They're in glowing red letters.
  9024. <Golasa> "Of course, this was a possibility..."
  9025. <Aliken> (I think you're still visible to each other.)
  9026. <Golasa> Are we?
  9027. <Aliken> (Imagine that suddenly one end of the hallway ends in a dead end, the other in a room, rather than stretching on endlessly.)
  9028. <Aliken> (So all you'd have to do to see each other is look back into the hallway."
  9029. <RinTheThief> (Oh.)
  9030. <Golasa> Just confirming this with the DUngeon Lady.
  9031. * RinTheThief doesn't shout then.
  9032. <@DungeonLady> (That is what happened here.)
  9033. <Golasa> OK.
  9034. <RinTheThief> "... Well, that worked."
  9035. <Golasa> "I think whoever put this here was expecting us to solve it, though."
  9036. <Golasa> "No doubt whatever waits ahead is much worse."
  9037. * Golasa turns around and catches up with Rin.
  9038. <RinTheThief> "Makes me wonder how many people disappointed whoever put this here..."
  9039. <Aliken> "Just look at the bones."
  9040. <Aliken> "Come on, let's press forward."
  9041. <@DungeonLady> The room glistens. Compared with the bone-spewn hallway, it is amazingly clean.
  9042. <@DungeonLady> Cleaner than anything you've ever seen in this dungeon.
  9043. <@DungeonLady> If any of you've ever seen a hallway obsessively maintained by servants working constantly to keep it shining, that's about this level of cleanliness.
  9044. <RinTheThief> "Something's keeping this place up," Rin said. "But what." Immediately, she starts eyeing out for traps.
  9045. <Golasa> Is there anything in the room?
  9046. <@DungeonLady> Rin, roll.
  9047. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Trap Sense
  9048. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Trap Sense --> [ 2d6=8 ]{11}
  9049. <RinTheThief> Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it? What does the trap do when activated? What else is hidden here?
  9050. <@DungeonLady> Golasa, it's completely and utterly barren from what you can see.
  9051. <Golasa> Any exits?
  9052. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you notice a glistening of moisture ahead of you, right where the hallway ends in the room. There's something slightly moist and nearly invisible there.
  9053. <@DungeonLady> There's another hallway at the other end of the room.
  9054. <Golasa> "These days, a clean, empty room frightens me more than a room filled with spinning knives."
  9055. <RinTheThief> "There's a moisture in here, right at the entrance. Something concealed."
  9056. <@DungeonLady> And, Rin, whatever it is, it's completely filling the entrance to the room.
  9057. <Dysna4> "Gelatinous cube?"
  9058. <Golasa> "Oh, that would be fun. I've never seen one in person before."
  9059. <RinTheThief> "Or something like that."
  9060. * Golasa takes her old backup knife and tosses it at the empty room.
  9061. <@DungeonLady> It seems to stick in midair, and then quiver before something pulls it in. And it begins dissolving in midair.
  9062. <Golasa> "Gelatinous Cube."
  9063. <RinTheThief> "So, now what? Do we freeze it solid?
  9064. <Golasa> "Dysna, do you think you could clear a path with some pyrotechnics?"
  9065. <RinTheThief> "Or is the entire room just one big cube? I have no clue how you'd stop that."
  9066. <Dysna4> "Maybe... I'm not sure though."
  9067. <Golasa> "Knowing this place, it's probably safe to assume it's filling the entire room."
  9068. <Golasa> "I wouldn't ignore the possibility of a second trap, either."
  9069. <Dysna4> "Also, new rule: if it looks like a treasure chest I shoot it before you get close."
  9070. <Aliken> Hmmm.
  9071. <Aliken> How have my people traditionally dealt with cubes? May I Spout Lore?
  9072. <Dysna4> (I'm of the understanding that ooze reproduction strategy generally goes like this: One Ooze. Idiot with a sword swings at ooze. Dead idiot. Multiple oozes.)
  9073. <@DungeonLady> Roll away. But I'll say straightaway that those things aren't exactly common. They aren't really natural beings.
  9074. <Dysna4> DungeonLady rolled --> error: malformed expression
  9075. <Golasa> Of course they're not natural. What kind of creature evolves into a perfect rectangular prism?
  9076. <Golasa> Only wizards could be that ridiculous.
  9077. <Aliken> !roll 2d6+3 Spout Lore
  9078. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 Spout Lore --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  9079. <RinTheThief> Mind, there's also Gelatinous Octahedrons. They're worse, because they move. (Slowly.)
  9080. <@DungeonLady> Okay, the most common way you can recall? Dying and the survivors running away. But there was a method....
  9081. <Golasa> (One of the most infamous Gelatinous Cube experiments of yore involved a king who ordered the greatest wizard in the realm to build him a gelatinous cube in the shape of a statue of himself. It scarcely needs be said how that king met his demise.)
  9082. <@DungeonLady> (Gods, Golasa, you nearly paralyzed me with laughter. XD)
  9083. <@DungeonLady> What was that method, Aliken?
  9084. <Aliken> Jellied flame. (I.e., Greek fire.)
  9085. <Golasa> Did we bring any of that?
  9086. <Aliken> "Good news, they can be killed by burning. Bad news, they douse normal flame, so you need magic or jellied flame to keep burning."
  9087. <Dysna4> "What about lots and lots of flame?"
  9088. <Golasa> "Dysna's flame might work. Magical fire isn't easily doused."
  9089. <Golasa> "It's worth a try, at least."
  9090. <Aliken> "If you keep pouring on fire, sure, that will burn it out, it just will smother ordinary wood flame. The wood flame will HURT it, but it doesn't spread."
  9091. <Golasa> "Then let's leave it to our resident wand-slinger. I'm useless when it comes to fire."
  9092. <@DungeonLady> So, Dysna, you pouring on the flames, huh?
  9093. * Dysna4 draws her wands. "If we all die, I'm blaming the thief."
  9094. <Dysna4> And thus begins a barrage of firey death!
  9095. <Dysna4> (Roll a thing, or just assume that my infinite mana pool is good for tons of fire, or...?)
  9096. <@DungeonLady> You know what, I'm not going to call on a roll for this.
  9097. <Dysna4> (Also: adventurer's maxim: when in doubt, apply fire.)
  9098. <@DungeonLady> It takes a lot of fire and a fair bit of time. A strange and foul stench fills the air as Dysna's wand scorches the cube. (It's kinda of a smell like burning plastic or rubber, but none of you would recognize that.) Eventually Dysna's flaming bolts continue clear on into the hallway on the other end without stopping. The floor of the room's covered with a puddle filled with black, scorched streaks.
  9099. <Golasa> "Ew."
  9100. <RinTheThief> "We probably don't want to touch whast's left..."
  9101. <Aliken> "You see how the burnt parts turn black or cloudy gray? Those bits aren't corrosive anymore, they've been burnt out."
  9102. <Golasa> Is it regenerating at all?
  9103. <@DungeonLady> Given how transparent it was, it's hard to tell. You don't see any sign of it doing so, though.
  9104. <Golasa> "We'd better hurry."
  9105. <RinTheThief> "Right."
  9106. * RinTheThief moves fairly quickly, sticking to the burnt-looking areas and letting Dysna burn ahead.
  9107. * Dysna4 just walks along, burning anything that looks like it might not be burnt cube.
  9108. <@DungeonLady> Yeah, you continue on to the other end of the room uneventfully and...
  9109. <@DungeonLady> Rin, I'm not going to make you use up all your hold from that previosu trap check since you only really got the answers to one or two questions.
  9110. * RinTheThief watches for a second trap.
  9111. <RinTheThief> And, more importantly, its trigger.
  9112. <@DungeonLady> So, here's the deal. You notice that the floor, walls, and ceiling at a certain point have a sort of seam. The whole thing's a set of giant pressure plates.
  9113. <@DungeonLady> There isn't really a safe point to walk.
  9114. <@DungeonLady> Even with your boots.
  9115. <RinTheThief> "... That is a LOT of pressure plates. Bloody hell."
  9116. <Golasa> "Say what you want about the Dungeon of Dungeons, it certainly keeps you on your toes."
  9117. <Golasa> "Do you know what they trigger?"
  9118. <RinTheThief> What does the trap do when activated?
  9119. <@DungeonLady> Near as you can tell, the whole thing drops down to flatten you.
  9120. <RinTheThief> "... Classic drop trap. Except it's on every surface."
  9121. <Aliken> "Hmmm. Golasa, given what I know of your magic... you could potentially immobilise a pressure plate, yes?"
  9122. <RinTheThief> "The good news is, there's a bunch of ways to break them, and the plates don't go very far back."
  9123. <RinTheThief> "One better. Golasa, how quickly can you generate a very large block of ice in midair?"
  9124. <Golasa> "How quickly do you need me to generate it?"
  9125. <@DungeonLady> Actually...
  9126. <@DungeonLady> They go all the way back.
  9127. <RinTheThief> Lemme put it this way: Can they be triggered with a ten-foot pole?
  9128. <Golasa> all the way back to what?
  9129. <@DungeonLady> As far as you can see. Pressure plates.
  9130. <RinTheThief> "Disabling them one by one could take a very, very long while, and I'll have to be delicate with each. But if we can trip the trap from a safe distance, we might be able to break it.
  9131. <@DungeonLady> You can trigger them with a pole, yeah.
  9132. <Golasa> "Let's find out what happens when one goes off, at lesat."
  9133. <RinTheThief> "Back off, then."
  9134. * RinTheThief ticks off an Adventuring Gear use for another pole. And triggers one from a safe distance with a heavy tap, followed by tossing the pole back so it is not crushed.
  9135. <@DungeonLady> The ceiling ahead drops down with a crash.
  9136. <@DungeonLady> Then it rises back up.
  9137. <RinTheThief> How quick is the rise back up, and what's above the ceiling?
  9138. <Golasa> I'm guessing a ton of stone.
  9139. <RinTheThief> These would be Rin's particular foci for this concept.
  9140. <@DungeonLady> A lot of stone, yeah.
  9141. <@DungeonLady> Basically, it's all a giant block as nearby as you can tell.
  9142. <RinTheThief> "Hrm. Well, this could be annoying. Our best bet, honestly, would be an explosion to crack the floor panels, see if I can get at the mechanisms underneath."
  9143. <Aliken> "Very well."
  9144. <RinTheThief> "Any ideas?"
  9145. <Golasa> "Well, we could try the explosion, or I could try to make an ice bridge down the center of the corridor. I don't know how long I could make it without it breaking, though."
  9146. <RinTheThief> "And the corridor's pretty long. We'd have an easier time just freezing the ceiling in place, probably..."
  9147. <Golasa> "This really is a spectacularly cruel trap."
  9148. <Golasa> "Let's try the floor first."
  9149. <Golasa> "Aliken, you're good at breaking things, right?"
  9150. <Aliken> "I suspect it would be easier to freeze the floor solid so it doesn't trigger, rather than trying to freeze the ceiling so strongly it resists the force of the trap."
  9151. <Aliken> "As long as the pressure plates *don't move down*, they don't trigger, right, Rin? And the weight of any one of us is far less than the weight of the ceiling."
  9152. <Golasa> "Of course, if that spell failed, we'd all die instantly."
  9153. <RinTheThief> "Quite."
  9154. <Aliken> "I still suspect that's our best bet."
  9155. <RinTheThief> Hey, didn't Shark and Owl intend to follow us? Where are they in all this?
  9156. <@DungeonLady> ...*headdesk*
  9157. <Aliken> Why don't we just say they've been watching quietly and giggling at our quaint methods thus far?
  9158. <Aliken> I can totally see Owl just studying what we do.
  9159. <RinTheThief> ( sorry ;_; )
  9160. <@DungeonLady> (Hmm. I was going to have them not be there when you left, but show up just now. But I guess that might work too.)
  9161. <@DungeonLady> (No, it's my fault for forgetting.)
  9162. <@DungeonLady> So, those two walk up behind you. For some reason they'd been nowhere to be seen when you departed. "You did quite a job on the hallway and that cube," Owl says.
  9163. <Golasa> "Your help was greatly appreciated."
  9164. <Golasa> Sarcasm drip.
  9165. <Aliken> "It's what we do for a living. If we weren't good at it, we'd be dead."
  9166. <Aliken> Aliken shrugs.
  9167. <@DungeonLady> Owl just shrugs. Shark grins and then giggles.
  9168. <Golasa> "I don't suppose one of you could cut this trap in half."
  9169. <Aliken> "Actually, if we want access to the mechanisms under the pressure plates without setting the plates off... Shark, might I request you lend us a hand? One full of claws to slice off the tile atop the plates."
  9170. <Aliken> "Carefully cutting it off is likely safer than smashing it."
  9171. <@DungeonLady> Owl gives you a look that says 'You can't handle it yourself?' But Shark just chuckles. "Oh, sure! You want me to dig down under there, huh?"
  9172. <RinTheThief> "That'd work, yeah."
  9173. <Aliken> "Don't press the plate down, if you will, for your own safety."
  9174. <@DungeonLady> She flexes her claws and cuts a neat triangle in the plate. They don't even bulge.
  9175. <Golasa> "Take it away, Rin."
  9176. <@DungeonLady> "Worry not! Zero-friction claws!"
  9177. * RinTheThief looks into the mechanism, CAREFULLY.
  9178. <Aliken> "Very impressive." Aliken grins.
  9179. <@DungeonLady> Well.
  9180. <RinTheThief> If she can get at it, she'll work to crack it.
  9181. <@DungeonLady> There's this triangle cut in the plate, right?
  9182. <@DungeonLady> And... it doesn't lift out.
  9183. <@DungeonLady> It's more like the whole thing's one giant block of stone.
  9184. <RinTheThief> "... Bloody hell, who built this? The cut isn't deep enough to get at the mechanism!"
  9185. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  9186. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{6}
  9187. <@DungeonLady> "You know, did anyone ever tell you that you're hot in a way that makes them want to eat you?" From the way Shark grins hungrily, she's not using 'eat' in a sexual way.
  9188. <RinTheThief> ((Racking my head over what to try NOW. >_o))
  9189. <Aliken> "I can safely say that I have never been told that."
  9190. <Golasa> "I wonder if this is a red herring."
  9191. <@DungeonLady> (...Uh, yeah, what happens when you botch an 'appeal with your beauty' against a shark demon.)
  9192. <@DungeonLady> (That's what happens.)
  9193. <Golasa> "Maybe there's some alternate route we're not seeing."
  9194. <Aliken> (Yes. Yes it is.)
  9195. <Golasa> "Alternately, let's use the trap against itself a bit. Does anyone still have a way to activate the trap without getting crushed by it?"
  9196. <RinTheThief> "The pole's still good."
  9197. <Golasa> What Golasa is going to do with magic:
  9198. <@DungeonLady> "Hmph. I can check if there's even anything on the other end," Owl says.
  9199. * RinTheThief readies it. "Lemme know when you want me to trip it."
  9200. <Golasa> Create a solid cone of ice, as dense and hard and sharp as possible
  9201. <Aliken> "Please do, Owl."
  9202. <Golasa> levitate it into the hallway, and balance it sharp point down at the place we already cut open a bit.
  9203. <@DungeonLady> Owl steps up into the air and simply begins strolling midair down the hallway.
  9204. * Golasa mutters something about outworlders.
  9205. <Aliken> Aliken whistles appreciatively. "Very useful."
  9206. <Golasa> "Well, let's not set the trap off until our flying friend isn't in it."
  9207. * RinTheThief nods, looking frustrated that this trap is beyond her...
  9208. <@DungeonLady> After a brief while, Owl comes strolling back. "The hallway just ends."
  9209. <RinTheThief> "... A red herring. Should've known."
  9210. * RinTheThief starts looking for hidden doors. Slowly. :|
  9211. <Aliken> "Thank you, Owl. That saved us... a great deal of trouble."
  9212. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  9213. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{4}
  9214. <Golasa> "...The dead end."
  9215. <Golasa> "Were we going the wrong way from the beginning?"
  9216. <Aliken> (Ack, wasn't meaning to roll there.)
  9217. <Aliken> "We could recheck that dead end in the first hallway."
  9218. <Golasa> "That's what I'm suggesting, yes."
  9219. <@DungeonLady> Rin, you don't seem to be finding any in the immediate vicinity.
  9220. <Aliken> "All right, let's head back there."
  9221. <Aliken> I'm going to check over that wall with the glowing letters. Discern Realities?
  9222. <@DungeonLady> (If we take that as your roll against Owl...)
  9223. <Aliken> (I didn't even know if I should roll, I accidentally did that. >.>)
  9224. <Aliken> (*was playing with ctrl-V*)
  9225. <@DungeonLady> So, the wall that says "To those reading this, you've been very clever. You may continue on, and welcome to your doom."?
  9226. <Golasa> "Of course."
  9227. <@DungeonLady> The dead-end.
  9228. <Golasa> "It said right here. 'You may continue on'."
  9229. <Golasa> "And we turned around and went the other way."
  9230. <Aliken> "Indeed."
  9231. <Aliken> Aliken sighs.
  9232. <Aliken> (If I should roll against her, at least give me mercy and let me roll knowing that I should. Or not, I guess. XD)
  9233. <@DungeonLady> (Actually, do go ahead and roll.)
  9234. <Aliken> !roll 2d6
  9235. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{11}
  9236. * Golasa pokes at the dead end with staff.
  9237. <@DungeonLady> The staff goes straight through.
  9238. <@DungeonLady> Like the wall wasn't there.
  9239. <Golasa> "I've gone soft."
  9240. <Golasa> "I would've seen this in a second back when I was still blindfolded."
  9241. <Golasa> "Let's go, my friends."
  9242. * RinTheThief moves. Time to watch for NEW traps.
  9243. <@DungeonLady> You continue on and...
  9244. <@DungeonLady> Let's resume next week.
  9245. <Golasa> haha of course
  9246. <Aliken> "Sad thing is, I thought of that for a moment, but then dismissed the thought."
  9247. <Aliken> Oh man cliffhanger. :D
  9248. <Aliken> Thanks for the fun. :)
  9249. <@DungeonLady> What awaits ahead is... yeah, I want to have a little more time than we've left to handle it.
  9250. <NekoIncardine> I look orward to it :3
  9251. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Aug 06 11:34:53 2013 -0700
  9252.  
  9253.  
  9254. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Mon Aug 12 14:35:28 2013 -0700
  9255. <DungeonLady> Okay, tell me when ya'll are ready.
  9256. <@Aliken> *meow*
  9257. <NekoIncardine> Myarr
  9258. <ProfessorProf> I'm ready.
  9259. * DungeonLady revs up her chainsaw
  9260. <DungeonLady> So, you dismantled an infinite hallway, scorched your way through a gelatinous cube, and discovered a dead end full of traps only to discover that the correct route was back the way you came from. And so you passed through the secret passage in the first dead end.
  9261. <Golasa> (Are we in fact all here and ready?)
  9262. <RinTheThief> (Yes!)
  9263. <@Aliken> (*meow meow meow~* I'm here.)
  9264. <DungeonLady> Well, then.
  9265. <DungeonLady> What you discover before you is...
  9266. <DungeonLady> Unimaginable wealth.
  9267. <Dysna> (Found a good stopping point for AC:Bro, am now here)
  9268. <DungeonLady> Columns everywhere.
  9269. <DungeonLady> A huge, stately room filled from wall to wall with glittering things, weapons, armor, and more.
  9270. <Golasa> "Well, this seems awfully convenient."
  9271. <@Aliken> "Rin, exactly how trapped is this?"
  9272. <DungeonLady> And in the center.
  9273. <Dysna> "So, I'm of the opinion that there's probably some sort of curse on every single coin."
  9274. <DungeonLady> (Not finished with the description. >>)
  9275. <RinTheThief> ((Waiting for description to end BEFORE I start trapseeking.))
  9276. <DungeonLady> In the center, therre is a huge red glowing, throbbing sphere, and coiled around it is a dragon that seems to be formed out of the same material as the core. It chuckles. "So you have come," and uncoils from around its core.
  9277. <Golasa> "You would be the Heart of the Dungeon, yes?"
  9278. <DungeonLady> "Correct. Few reach this far. Truly you are true heroes. You shall triumph, or you shall peril. That is what you sought, is it not?"
  9279. <@Aliken> "Good day. We've come about our world being absorbed into various Floating Worlds. We should really prefer that this stop."
  9280. <RinTheThief> "I'd put that as more important than any triumphs. I do rather like our world, after all."
  9281. <DungeonLady> "But is it not your wish for adventure, treasure, and glory that brought me into full existence?"
  9282. <@Aliken> "Wait, what?"
  9283. <Golasa> "Our world... created you?"
  9284. <DungeonLady> "The first dungeon was only a little fragment of a dream. But the marveous heroes that found it strove against it. They died, and the victors conquered it. And, stirring, I woke a little more."
  9285. <DungeonLady> "You worshipped what laid within my halls. With your greeds, your ambitions, your curiosity, your excitement, oh, I do so love you heroes."
  9286. <Dysna> "Do you mean us in particular, or just us in the sense of our greater identity as dungeoneers?"
  9287. <DungeonLady> "With those feelings of worship, you awakened me more and more."
  9288. <DungeonLady> "I speak broadly."
  9289. <@Aliken> "Oh, Truth and Justice fucking on the bridal bed." Aliken is totally unnerved.
  9290. * Dysna has been in the presence of a dragon before. This one is not her master, and thus she doesn't have any real care about it. "Oh, good."
  9291. <Dysna> "So, I'm going to be the first to admit that I'm not the sharpest hammer in the shed, but from my understanding, the acceleration of dungeons appearing is causing a destabilization of our world. Were you intentionally giving a source of sustenence cancer and killing it?"
  9292. <DungeonLady> "And now you have to come to conquer me. The Dungeon of Dungeons. Let your hearts burn brightly with your desires. To save your world, to be heroes. You shall perish, or you shall trimph."
  9293. <DungeonLady> "As you fed me, I grew."
  9294. <@Aliken> "We may be fairly skilled at the explorer trade, but still, I would prefer if we can reach an amiable settlement." Aliken visibly reasserts control over herself again. "We are not fundamentally here for theft and murder, and so we would prefer if things could be handled reasonably."
  9295. * RinTheThief reaches for her bow. "Somehow, I suspect reason is not going to have its day here."
  9296. <Golasa> "Then there's nothing more to talk about, is there?"
  9297. <Golasa> "It's do or die."
  9298. <@Aliken> "It wouldn't be just not to try and negotiate in good faith, even if we expect a poor resolution."
  9299. <Dysna> "Not really, but it would be nice to believe that if he's going to take the form of a Dragon he can at least have the courtesy to be as intelligent as one.
  9300. <RinTheThief> "And don't even start on that goddamn 'Kill me now and I will only rise again as long as there is adventure in the human heart' crap. Because we'll just kick your ass again."
  9301. <DungeonLady> "Fascinating," Owl says. She ponders a moment. "I would rather this be intact for me to study, but I might as well study the shattered remains."
  9302. <Dysna> (I totally forgot they were with us)
  9303. <DungeonLady> "Then your wish is an end to this all?" the Dungeon Heart says. "An end to adventure?"
  9304. <Golasa> "Hah."
  9305. <Golasa> "You think that adventure will die without you to support it?"
  9306. <Golasa> "The civilized races are plenty skilled at making life complicated."
  9307. <DungeonLady> Shark just snorts. "Hey, you ridiculous thing, you think you define adventure?"
  9308. <Dysna> "I would argue that adventure is waking up in the morning and not knowing where you're going to go to bed."
  9309. <DungeonLady> "I see. An end to this particular adventure, then," the Dungeon Heart says.
  9310. <Golasa> "I'll agree to that much."
  9311. <RinTheThief> "Or something like that. But one thing's for sure - we can't have you eating our world."
  9312. <Dysna> "Honestly? As much as I love my party, I want to go home and see my hatchling again."
  9313. * Golasa brandishes her staff. "It took us so long to get here, that I won't be satisfied with a lackluster finale!"
  9314. <DungeonLady> "Aliken. I have watched your many attempts to turn things around with words. Admirable it is. But such will not satisify my burning heart!"
  9315. <Dysna> (If there is a Hot Blooded Shoenen Speech coming, can we not have it come from the villain?)
  9316. <@Aliken> "Your burning heart? REALLY?"
  9317. <Golasa> (Overruled!)
  9318. <Golasa> (Hot-blooded shonen villains are the best!)
  9319. <Dysna> (... Fiiine)
  9320. <Golasa> (BATTLE WITHOUT MERCY IS WHAT SUSTAINS US)
  9321. <@Aliken> "Shark, I do believe your dinner is served."
  9322. <DungeonLady> "To strive, that is what I aspire for! To struggle just as you have struggled! To know the same conflict and excitement as you!"
  9323. <Dysna> "... Then stop this game of taking over our world, and come compete."
  9324. <DungeonLady> Shark raises an eyebrow. "First, that doesn't look edible. Secondly, that's a fucking big meal. Ah well, since Owl seems set on helping you for some bizarre reason, I'll chip in."
  9325. <Golasa> "Words are cheap."
  9326. <Dysna> "Really, you sound like that hatchling who ran the obstacle course and then whined about it being easy. Go find an adventure and stop running other people's."
  9327. <RinTheThief> "And you'd destroy entire worlds for it, so casually?"
  9328. <DungeonLady> The Dungeon Heart says to Dysna, "It is not a game. It is my nature."
  9329. <RinTheThief> "That's not an adventure. That's being the NPC for someone else's adventure."
  9330. <@Aliken> (NPC? Rin knows the term? XD)
  9331. <Dysna> (How Meta can we get without breaking character, do you guys think?)
  9332. <DungeonLady> Then to Rin, "Be as it may be, such is my existence."
  9333. <Dysna> "There's no competition in control. It's only through chaos that you can have a challenge."
  9334. <RinTheThief> (That was a minor screwup on my part but the sentiment still stands. :V)
  9335. <@Aliken> Aliken draws her sword. "All right, it looks like we're on, people."
  9336. <DungeonLady> "If my existence offends you, then carve away that part of it!"
  9337. <@Aliken> "Golasa, do what you can to keep it grounded, will you?"
  9338. <@Aliken> And with that, the dwarf charges, wielding the strength of a sword of legend.
  9339. <Dysna> "The exact same circumstances repeated over and over are monotony. Imagine, if you will, that every day you must get up, kill three men, dance around a chimera, and then infiltrate a castle and extract a princess. The first time, an adventure, the second, an adventure, the third, a waste of time as the princess is just going to get kidnapped again and you are tired and sore. While I
  9340. <Dysna> can commend the imagination to vary adventures for so long, I must say that it is time for you to roll."
  9341. <DungeonLady> "Know this. I am the dungeon!" And the floor begins shifting. Familiar pillars rise up.
  9342. <DungeonLady> The same pillars as in the Witch's Gauntlet.
  9343. <Golasa> Oh, shit.
  9344. <Dysna> (... Was I here for that one?)
  9345. <Golasa> (I don't think so.)
  9346. <DungeonLady> (It was a ridiculously elaborate series of deathtraps within a single room.)
  9347. * RinTheThief quickly glances to see how high the pillars will go. If it's not "To the ceiling", she's jumping on top of one to get out of the way of the blades. Then? It's time to start shooting arrows in the direction of that heart.
  9348. <DungeonLady> (In this case, blades pop out of those pillars and they spin.)
  9349. <DungeonLady> The dragon, or the heart?
  9350. <RinTheThief> She focuses on the dragon, for the moment.
  9351. <@Aliken> "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck Golasa we need something to jam these pillars NOW!"
  9352. <DungeonLady> Okay, Rin, with your boots you can scale it easily enough.
  9353. <Golasa> Is the treasure still here?
  9354. <DungeonLady> Yup.
  9355. <Golasa> "Seek high ground for now!"
  9356. * Golasa scales the nearest mountain of riches.
  9357. <Dysna> (What's the height of the lowest blades?)
  9358. <DungeonLady> (Low enough to still turn you into gibbets even if you try ducking under them. Just as a reference point.)
  9359. <DungeonLady> Golasa, +Dex
  9360. <Dysna> (I'm two and a half feet tall. It seemed like a good question)
  9361. <DungeonLady> Rin, you get to pop off a shot.
  9362. <@Aliken> Aliken heads after Golasa... in order to grab chunks of armor and other solid-looking pieces of teasure to try and jam the pillars like we did with the Witch's Gauntlet.
  9363. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2
  9364. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 --> [ 2d6=7 ]{9}
  9365. <RinTheThief> (Roll it?)
  9366. <DungeonLady> (Yup.)
  9367. <DungeonLady> (Actually.)
  9368. <DungeonLady> (Where're you shooting it?)
  9369. <DungeonLady> Aliken, hmm... +Dex, I'm thinking? Or +Str.
  9370. <@Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  9371. <RinTheThief> (She'll start by aiming at the Dragon.)
  9372. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=4 ]{7}
  9373. <DungeonLady> ( I meant where on the dragon? Or just its general direction?)
  9374. * Dysna darts after Golasa and Aliken, but keeps her eyes on the dragon.
  9375. <DungeonLady> (Oh, I forgot, do your armor have any specific armor-penerating capabilities or anything?)
  9376. <DungeonLady> (Er, arrows)
  9377. <DungeonLady> Dysna, +Dex
  9378. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3
  9379. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  9380. <RinTheThief> (The arrows can 'corner' but that's about it)
  9381. <DungeonLady> (Right!)
  9382. <RinTheThief> (Right now she's just going for bodyshots)
  9383. <DungeonLady> Rin's arrow clatters off the dragon's scales.
  9384. <DungeonLady> Golasa and Dysna, you get winged by the blades as they begin spinning. Take 1d6
  9385. <Golasa> !roll 1d6
  9386. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=5 ]{5}
  9387. <RinTheThief> "Armor. Should've known."
  9388. <Golasa> oof.
  9389. <Golasa> Well, what's a mage for if not doing the impossible?
  9390. <RinTheThief> Then - time for plan B! She goes for the softest-looking spot she can see, which is probably the eyes.
  9391. <DungeonLady> Aliken, because you slowed down to throw the heavy stuff around, you suffer 1d8, but you do stop several of the pillars.
  9392. * Golasa taps into the stillness of stone to try and still the pillars as well. At least some of them.
  9393. <@Aliken> (Do the impossible. See the invisible.)
  9394. <@Aliken> !1d8
  9395. <@Aliken> !roll 1d8
  9396. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d8 --> [ 1d8=4 ]{4}
  9397. <DungeonLady> Golasa, Cast a Spell.
  9398. <@Aliken> Aliken largely ignores it. Armor!
  9399. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+4 Spell in domain
  9400. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+4 Spell in domain --> [ 2d6=7 ]{11}
  9401. <Dysna> !roll 1d6
  9402. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d6 --> [ 1d6=2 ]{2}
  9403. <Golasa> I'll go for -1 ongoing.
  9404. * Dysna inspects the dragon and the heart, checking to see if the two are still in contact.
  9405. <DungeonLady> Rin, the pillar you're standing on begins to spin... but stops as Golasa's spell takes hold. You're jolted a bit, but you do get a chance for another shot... just as the dragon opens its mouth and a flood of pulsating red light pours forward.
  9406. <Dysna> (The dragon shoots lasers. I have no idea how I feel about this)
  9407. <Golasa> (Man lasers are like the second-most common thing for dragons to shoot)
  9408. <@Aliken> (The next most common after rockets.)
  9409. <Dysna> (O.o okay then)
  9410. <Golasa> (I was going to go with fire but sure)
  9411. <RinTheThief> (Hah.)
  9412. <DungeonLady> So, yeah, there's deadly red light shooting at Rin.
  9413. <RinTheThief> Rin chooses NOT to take the shot, jumping behind the pillar to get cover instead! Looks like she'll have to use her blade if she wants to win this.
  9414. <DungeonLady> +Dex, Rin
  9415. <DungeonLady> Aliken and Dysna, what're you doing?
  9416. * Dysna inspects the dragon and the heart, checking to see if the two are still in contact.
  9417. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  9418. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=10 ]{13}
  9419. <DungeonLady> They're separated.
  9420. <@Aliken> Are the pillars in my way for a charge at the dragon?
  9421. * Dysna is considering options.
  9422. <DungeonLady> Rin, you gracefully dance behind a pillar as the red light streaks past. Just as the last of it passes you, you get a chance for a completely free shot.
  9423. <DungeonLady> Aliken, they're sorta in a staggered layout. Also, the ones Golasa didn't stop're still spinning.
  9424. <RinTheThief> (As in, Just Roll For Damage?) Rin takes it!
  9425. <@Aliken> Right, I'll be focusing on on jamming more pillars with Heavy Shit, then, so that the battlefield is usable again.
  9426. * Dysna fires a random blast from her wand at the Heart to see how protected it is.
  9427. <DungeonLady> (No, you still have to roll to Volley. I should've phrased that better.)
  9428. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Volley
  9429. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Volley --> [ 2d6=7 ]{10}
  9430. <DungeonLady> Now damage.
  9431. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8 Damage
  9432. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8 Damage --> [ 1d8=3 ]{3}
  9433. <Dysna> (Or, actually, can the heart move?)
  9434. <DungeonLady> Dysna, neither the dragon nor the heart reacts as your shot zips into it. It'd take more than a regular shot.
  9435. <@Aliken> (Do I roll anything?)
  9436. <DungeonLady> No need, Aliken.
  9437. * Dysna /grins/ as the Heart doesn't move, invoking her Cut rune and preparing to launch a barrage of shots!
  9438. <DungeonLady> Yeah, roll now, Dysna.
  9439. <DungeonLady> Rin, your arrow lodges in one of the dragons' eyes. Another one grows out on its head, but that does look like it hurt it a little.
  9440. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3 and a seven or higher is treated as a ten or higher
  9441. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 and a seven or higher is treated as a ten or higher --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  9442. <Golasa> "It's too heavily armored for conventional attacks right now..."
  9443. * Golasa calls up a circle of tendrils of cold energy to grab and wear away at the dragon's armored hide.
  9444. <RinTheThief> "I don't agree. But bigger stuff would help, yes.""
  9445. <DungeonLady> (Golasa, that Cast a Spell or Black Magic?)
  9446. <DungeonLady> Dysna, tell me what results you get to apply.
  9447. <Golasa> (Cast a Spell.)
  9448. <Dysna> Slicey and basic damage
  9449. <DungeonLady> (Roll for it.)
  9450. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2 Cast
  9451. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 Cast --> [ 2d6=8 ]{10}
  9452. <Golasa> whew
  9453. <Golasa> for my condition...
  9454. <Dysna> !roll 1d4 my damage is low when I'm using Cut
  9455. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d4 my damage is low when I'm using Cut --> [ 1d4=4 ]{4}
  9456. <Golasa> My spell has unforseen side effects, and might draw unwanted attention.
  9457. <DungeonLady> Dysna, your shots break thorugh the hard shell of the heart, causing red light to pour out and the dragon to flinch.
  9458. <DungeonLady> (BRB, I need to take care of osmething)
  9459. <Dysna> (So, since the encounter includes a stationary target, I'm just going to pour as much damage onto it as I can.)
  9460. <Dysna> (Since I only have a 25% chance of missing and can't take penalties)
  9461. <RinTheThief> Rin decides to go in with her Rapier (and it's ever-so-handy ability to pierce armor) and see if she can get a chance to start stabbing!
  9462. <DungeonLady> (Back.)
  9463. <DungeonLady> The ice's tendrils drive into the dragon, shredding much of its armor. But much of that ice remains embedded within it, jutting out in deadly spikes. And the dragon turns its head to Golasa, pouring forth another torrent of light.
  9464. <DungeonLady> Meantime...
  9465. <DungeonLady> The room begins twisting into a familiar shape you recognize from the spinning corkscrew hallway trap.
  9466. <Golasa> OH GOOD
  9467. <DungeonLady> But Owl speaks a word.
  9468. <DungeonLady> A word that isn't just a word, it's a truth.
  9469. <DungeonLady> A truth so horrific that it shouldn't exist. The malicious, hungry truth sinks its shadowy foulness into the floor, eating through it.
  9470. <DungeonLady> The room shivers, but does not spin.
  9471. * Golasa meanwhile, dives behind the nearest inert pillar.
  9472. <DungeonLady> (See, Aliken? Sometimes using your beauty to make people like you does pay off. XD)
  9473. <@Aliken> (Hahaha. XD)
  9474. <DungeonLady> Golasa, you probably know what I'm going to ask for.
  9475. <Golasa> !roll 2d6+2 Dex?
  9476. <Dicelord> Golasa rolled : 2d6+2 Dex? --> [ 2d6=10 ]{12}
  9477. <DungeonLady> Yup. You escape the blast completely.
  9478. <@Aliken> If I have a clear shot at the dragon now, I should like to make it regret paying attention to Golasa.
  9479. <DungeonLady> (Is there anyone I'm missing or skipping over?)
  9480. <Golasa> I can help you with that!
  9481. <Golasa> Unless I'm too busy hiding behind a pillar.
  9482. <Dysna> (Effect of the reed light pouring out of the heart?)
  9483. <DungeonLady> (It's just bleeding light.)
  9484. <Dysna> (Alrighty.)
  9485. <DungeonLady> Rin and Aliken, you get to close in.
  9486. <DungeonLady> Just as the dragon swings a tail embedded with spiky ice at you.
  9487. <@Aliken> Right. I'm going to aim at one of the wounds the ice is sticking out of, and try to cut off the tip of its tail.
  9488. <DungeonLady> The pillars sink in and disppear.
  9489. <RinTheThief> Well, only one thing to do there! Jump it and stab the tail to punish its attempt!
  9490. <DungeonLady> What the hell. Hack'n'Slash, both of you.
  9491. <@Aliken> !roll 2d6+3
  9492. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=11 ]{14}
  9493. <@Aliken> Superior Warrior kicks in!
  9494. <@Aliken> I deal damage, avoid attack, and impress, dismay, or frighten the enemy, all at once.
  9495. <Golasa> go for impress
  9496. <Golasa> it's the most thematic here
  9497. <@Aliken> !roll 1d10+1d4+1
  9498. <Dicelord> Aliken rolled : 1d10+1d4+1 --> [ 1d10=7 1d4=3 ]{11}
  9499. * Dysna is pretending she's a little spell casting turret and is shooting shots at the Heart until the heart either stops bleeding off light or is a million pieces on the ground, whichever comes first!
  9500. <@Aliken> (I think the DM decides which.)
  9501. <DungeonLady> And you, Rin? You were going for it with your rapier?
  9502. <RinTheThief> Yes.
  9503. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3 Hack And Slash
  9504. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 Hack And Slash --> [ 2d6=5 ]{8}
  9505. <DungeonLady> Rin, you jab your rapier into a vulnerable spot, but the sharp ice pokes hard into you.
  9506. <DungeonLady> Deal your damage and suffer 1d10
  9507. <@Aliken> I deal 11, 2 piercing.
  9508. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d8+1d4 Damage!
  9509. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d8+1d4 Damage! --> [ 1d8=3 1d4=1 ]{4}
  9510. <RinTheThief> !roll 1d10 Taken.
  9511. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 1d10 Taken. --> [ 1d10=4 ]{4}
  9512. <DungeonLady> Aliken, in a mighty blow at a weakened point, you chop off most of the dragon's tail. "That hurt," the dragon says in an amazed and oddly pleased voice.
  9513. <DungeonLady> Dysna, yeah, roll for it.
  9514. <Dysna> !roll 2d6+3
  9515. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=6 ]{9}
  9516. <RinTheThief> (Rin's at 6 HP... Some healing would probably be wise. x.x)
  9517. <Dysna> Crack shot triggers, so she treats it as a 10-12 roll
  9518. <Dysna> !roll 1d6+1d4 I think for damage to the Heart?
  9519. <Dicelord> Dysna rolled : 1d6+1d4 I think for damage to the Heart? --> [ 1d6=5 1d4=4 ]{9}
  9520. <@Aliken> "I imagine you didn't see what happened to the godbeast, since that was no dungeon. And you are no godbeast." Aliken shifts to press the attack, attempting to demolish the nearest wing before it gets the idea to fly off.
  9521. <DungeonLady> The heart cracks into pieces. And so does the dragon.
  9522. <Golasa> "Did we do it...?"
  9523. <RinTheThief> "Of course it's not that easy. Hands still on weapons."
  9524. <DungeonLady> (Seriously, though, you guys did some massive damage rather fast once you got rolling.)
  9525. <Dysna> (I contributed! :D)
  9526. <DungeonLady> "Is this what it is to face danger?" A voice whispers. "So exciting and terrifying. Was this what the heroes felt?"
  9527. <Dysna> "Honestly, invisible spirit of dungeons, I'm just annoyed that you're going to be a two phase boss. We killed a god beast and helped a god die."
  9528. <Dysna> "It's really hard to trump that."
  9529. <DungeonLady> "I... Tell me. Do you not enjoy facing the dangers of my halls? Knowing that you might bleed and die within them? You desire my dungeons, and now you reject them? Why?"
  9530. <Dysna> "Mortals are full of conundrums. Some relish the challenge, of testing themselves. Others simply want fame and fortune, which is usually gained through doing things that others were too afraid to. But most of them fear death, and are not quick to embrace it."
  9531. <Golasa> "We seek more than pleasure out of our lives. The darkness makes the light brighter."
  9532. <@Aliken> "I enjoyed the *opportunity*, frankly. The danger is beside the point. Besides, at the rate you're going, you'll break our world, and that's just unacceptable."
  9533. <Dysna> "I am not an adventurer. I'm a researcher and librarian. I didn't desire your dungeons and really just want to go home and see my hatchling again. The fact that along the way I got to meet the elemental manifestation of the concept of sharpness is a perk, but I was primarily supposed to find the reason for the dungeons existing."
  9534. <DungeonLady> Silence. Then, "Mortals're confusing."
  9535. * Dysna laughs. "Tell you what. Can you occupy a form that isn't a plane of existance?"
  9536. <DungeonLady> Shark and Owl seem to be gathering up some of the shattered shards, incidentally.
  9537. <Golasa> "On that point, we are in agreement."
  9538. <DungeonLady> "Nevertheless. I spread. And I grow. You would have to cut away that part of me."
  9539. <Dysna> "Why cut? Can you not choose how you grow? Could you not grow spiritually, or mentally?"
  9540. <DungeonLady> "Can not you choose to cease breathing?"
  9541. <DungeonLady> A pause. "Was that what you call sarcasm?"
  9542. <Dysna> "From me or you, cause you sounded pretty sarcastic to me."
  9543. <Golasa> "If eating our world is your nature, then we're going to kill you."
  9544. <Golasa> "No hard feelings. It's the way of life."
  9545. <@Aliken> "You succeeded in sarcasm, yes. Owl, I have a question. Given your studies, what should I try to break to kill this being?"
  9546. <Dysna> "... Wait, do you feel pain when portions of you are destroyed?""
  9547. * RinTheThief simply watches, rblade out
  9548. <Dysna> (I'm now imagining Rin on roller blades)
  9549. <DungeonLady> "Death... Will I then never get to know a heroic death? Already I feel parts of me numbing."
  9550. <Dysna> "I wonder... Shark, could you cut off its need for growth if Golasa and I can bind it into a stable form?"
  9551. <DungeonLady> "I want to understand! Understand what makes you embrace risk and death, and reject it!"
  9552. <Dysna> "Cause you do good at cutting and metaphysical concepts sound like a challenge you might want to try."
  9553. <DungeonLady> Shark raises an eyebrow and then shrugs.
  9554. <DungeonLady> Owl sorta.. sighs. Then, "That sounds like an interesting experiment."
  9555. <Dysna> "Hey, Aliken's rubbed off. I might have developed a saving people thing."
  9556. <@Aliken> "We embrace risk because one cannot live without risk. Better to meet it head-on and seize advantage for the future than try to deny that life has dangers."
  9557. <Golasa> "If you can't go against your nature, then... I pity you."
  9558. <DungeonLady> "Truly the attitude of heroes!" the voice says in adirmation.
  9559. <@Aliken> "Because of what you've done, a simple innkeeper who, to my knowledge, never embraced risk at all was nonetheless plunged into it. Seeking risk for its own sake is the province of madmen and fools."
  9560. <DungeonLady> In response to Aliken.
  9561. <DungeonLady> "But I love those madmen and fools. Nevertheless. It occurs to me that it never occurred me to try."
  9562. <DungeonLady> "To me, it was an inevitable part of my nature. But is that a heroic attitude?"
  9563. <Golasa> "Do you know what I am?"
  9564. <Dysna> "Crazy, potentially beautiful, and a powrful arcanist?"
  9565. <Golasa> "...A gorgon. I was talking about the fact that I'm a gorgon, living among the civilized races."
  9566. <Golasa> "I know what it means to go against one's nature."
  9567. <Dysna> "You are? Since when?"
  9568. <Golasa> "You didn't know that?"
  9569. <DungeonLady> "Gorgon. Golasa. Mage. One who rejects her ancestry and fears it. One who seeks knowledge and understanding. One who... ah."
  9570. * Dysna has not been paying attention. Or might be trying to lighten the mood.
  9571. <Golasa> "Your nature is to destroy, as is mine."
  9572. <Golasa> "I've chosen a different path."
  9573. <DungeonLady> "Very well. I shall suppress my growth."
  9574. <Golasa> "See to it that you do."
  9575. <Golasa> "I'll be taking one of these shards as a keepsake. If you fail to overcome your nature, we'll be back."
  9576. * Dysna hums gently, still chasing an errant thought. "So, spirit of dungeons, can you manifest in a reasonably sized form or was the dragon as small as we're getting?"
  9577. <@Aliken> "We appreciate that we could reach a reasonable conclusion. I didn't know you were a mother, incidentally, Dysna."
  9578. <DungeonLady> "No. I shall not reject the part of my nature that destroys. Your path isn't mine. I love those who drive themselves toward the brink of death and destruction! But... Yes. I believe I know what I may now do."
  9579. <@Aliken> "What shall you do?"
  9580. <DungeonLady> "I shall appear only before thsoe that embrace that spriit I seek for."
  9581. <DungeonLady> "The madmen and the fools, as you called them, and also those with something they willing risk themselves for."
  9582. * Dysna sighs gently. "Ouroborus."
  9583. <DungeonLady> "Yes. I believe I know how to do this. Whenever you desire me, there I shall be! To those seeking a challenge, I shall rise from teh ground!"
  9584. <@Aliken> "I believe that this shall resolve the matter, then."
  9585. <Dysna> "Lets go home then
  9586. <Dysna> ."
  9587. * Golasa takes one of the scattered shards that Owl was after.
  9588. <Golasa> If any are left.
  9589. <@Aliken> "Indeed. We have our reward to claim."
  9590. <@Aliken> Aliken doesn't set to looting the room. It would seem unreasonable, after reaching a settlement with the dungeon.
  9591. <Dysna> "And I will finally go home."
  9592. <DungeonLady> "I acknowledge you as the victor. You may claim the treasure," the dungeon says.
  9593. <Golasa> "Is this it, then? Is the final treasure actual treasure?"
  9594. <Golasa> "I'll take it over Friendship, at least."
  9595. * RinTheThief LUDICROUSLY OBSESSIVELY watching for traps now.
  9596. * Dysna sticks her tongue out at Golasa "What's more valuable than the journey and the friends you make upon it?"
  9597. <DungeonLady> "It is real and true."
  9598. <Golasa> "Diamonds the size of horses, is what."
  9599. <DungeonLady> Rin, roll.
  9600. <@Aliken> Aliken works on assessing the treasure to try and pick out the most valuable items to shovel into Rin's bag.
  9601. <Golasa> Let's wait until Rin checks for traps here.
  9602. <Golasa> You never know.
  9603. * Dysna sighs and glances toward Shark and Owl. "So, have you two ever met a dragon?"
  9604. <DungeonLady> "Nah," Shark says. Owl doesn't say anything.
  9605. <RinTheThief> !roll 2d6+3
  9606. <Dicelord> RinTheThief rolled : 2d6+3 --> [ 2d6=12 ]{15}
  9607. <Dysna> "Care to?"
  9608. <DungeonLady> Rin, wherever you look, you seen to see traps. In fact, they seem to be appearing and arising in response to your attention.
  9609. <RinTheThief> "So many traps. I should have figured."
  9610. <Dysna> "Rin, stop being paranoid. The place shapes itself to our expectations."
  9611. <Dysna> "We thought the Dungeon of Dungeons would be crazy heavy on traps, so it was. We thought that room would be made of gelatinous cube, so it was."
  9612. <Golasa> "Well, hopefully you can disarm the traps you found. Which piles of treasure haven't you inspected?"
  9613. <RinTheThief> "... If you're talking a quick check..."
  9614. * Dysna takes to wandring around the room, looking for a charm or trinket that is tied to the spirit of dungeons.
  9615. * RinTheThief breathes. She attempts to focus her thoughts on the presumption of there NOT being a trap.
  9616. <DungeonLady> The closest thing would be the shards that Shark and Owl've mostly picked up (and one of which Golasa picked up).
  9617. <Dysna> (I'm gonna go look for food, but assume that Dysna is following the party after she finds any trinket; she's specifically looking for something that could be used to communicate the spirit without coming back)
  9618. <DungeonLady> Once you're done gathering up stuff, the dungeon speaks, "Name your destinations."
  9619. <Dysna> "Home."
  9620. <Golasa> Once there's some safely non-trapped, Golasa's just going to get as many jewels as she can carry. Maximum money density!
  9621. <Golasa> "Spire.""
  9622. <@Aliken> "The Spire. I need to report success."
  9623. <RinTheThief> "Spire. I have more I must do."
  9624. <RinTheThief> Rin's also obsessively gathering gems, gold, and most importantly Shiny Magic Items. Shiny, Shiny, Awesome Magic ITems.
  9625. * Golasa just wants to be able to retire and fund her crazy magic experiments for a while.
  9626. <@Aliken> I'm going to be interested to check up on Marigold and see if she's had success with her studies she's been doing since the Library.
  9627. <DungeonLady> Any additional loose ends you can think of, or do you want to narrate your own epilogues? (Oh, yeah, and I can also give you answers like that.)
  9628. <@Aliken> We need to check on the innkeeper's brother.
  9629. <Golasa> I havent finished my grand experiment!
  9630. * Dysna wonders if there's a charm to, essentially, create inventory stacking: one coin can actually contain like 50k coins, so a purse can hold essentially infinite weath.
  9631. <Golasa> Marigold was even helping me prep for it.
  9632. <DungeonLady> Marigold's completed her preparations of the required substance.
  9633. <Golasa> "Dysna, I'll need your help for this."
  9634. <RinTheThief> Rin... For now, at least, is done. Richer, and ready to start a different sort of adventure.
  9635. <@Aliken> But yeah, I intend to rescue his brother.
  9636. <DungeonLady> (Uh, Dysna went to her own home?)
  9637. <Golasa> oh right.
  9638. <Golasa> Well I'll work without her then!
  9639. * Dysna is going to see her hatchling, thanks.
  9640. <Golasa> Can I borrow Shark, or is he gone, too?
  9641. <Golasa> or was SHark a girl.
  9642. <Golasa> I can't remember.
  9643. <DungeonLady> Girl.
  9644. <@Aliken> Shark is a girl.
  9645. <Golasa> Right, what am I thinking, a male character of note in this campaign
  9646. <DungeonLady> Well, Owl seems to be tagging along after Aliken for some reason, and Shark's following after her.
  9647. <@Aliken> The master of the Spire is male!
  9648. <@Aliken> He's about the most important male in the campaign.
  9649. <Golasa> "Shark, I need to borrow your talents for a historic experiment."
  9650. <DungeonLady> That naked elf is male, but you guys hate him. XD
  9651. <Golasa> I said of not
  9652. <Golasa> e
  9653. <Golasa> Naked Elf is not of note
  9654. <DungeonLady> Haha, yeah.
  9655. <Golasa> And that's final
  9656. <Golasa> Well since we seem to be wrapping up, I'll summarize the experiment:
  9657. <Golasa> 1: Talk Shark into opening a rift into the World Between.
  9658. <DungeonLady> "Sounds interestinng," Owl says.
  9659. <Dysna> Dysna's master is male
  9660. <Golasa> 2: Venture out into it, bringing along my two perfect mirrors, and my alchemical substance that Marigold produced.
  9661. <Golasa> 3: Use magic to spread droplets of the substance in all directions, then bring them to a stop.
  9662. <@Aliken> If Owl's sticking around, I'll volunteer to help her with gathering observations when she explores. It will be something to do, between retiring back to my own personal Floating World. I should probably also visit Rin's mistress again at some point, it'd be worth keeping up the friendship.
  9663. <Golasa> 4: Scry the droplets to see if they are moving even the tiniest bit. Since they ignore all physical forces, only the flow of space itself could be moving them.
  9664. <Golasa> (Is there any measurable drift?)
  9665. <DungeonLady> (I'm interested in where this is going, so sure.)
  9666. <DungeonLady> (Thre's drift.)
  9667. <Golasa> 5: Calculate the direction of the drift, then note the opposite direction.
  9668. <@Aliken> I'm curious as to what the personal world we get is like, too. :D
  9669. <Golasa> I'm passing on that world, you can have it.
  9670. <Golasa> 6: Get Shark in here if she's still interested, and put her between the two mirrors, creating an infinite chain of reflections between two magic circles. A very powerful formation.
  9671. <Golasa> 7: Align the mirrors with the drift, and ask Shark to cut open a portal into the mirror facing the way the drift is coming from, effectively opening a gate crossing an infinite distance in that direction.
  9672. <Golasa> 8: If calculations and crackpot theories are right, then I should come to the point of origin of all worlds.
  9673. <@Aliken> (And then a gorgon appears the Dungeon Lady's room.)
  9674. <Golasa> What's there?
  9675. <Golasa> I'll be happy even if it's empty.
  9676. <Golasa> I can work with it. The space itself will be my canvas.
  9677. <@Aliken> (A small, cute cat licking her paw.)
  9678. <DungeonLady> ...Yeah, it's empty. Except for remanents of creation energy drifting around.
  9679. <Golasa> Very well.
  9680. <Golasa> Into that empty space, I will set a scrying crystal adrift.
  9681. <Golasa> Then, it's back to the prime material plane, and using that crystal to study the latent energy of the creation of the universe for a long time.
  9682. <Golasa> It might take years for all I know.
  9683. <Dysna> (I now have Dysna's epilogue written)
  9684. <Golasa> But what I'm after
  9685. <Golasa> is a spell to create worlds.
  9686. <Golasa> I've got time. Gorgons live until they're killed.
  9687. <Golasa> I guess the only question left
  9688. <Golasa> is whether or not I can finish it within the lifetimes of my peers.
  9689. <DungeonLady> Owl... is still fascinated by this. She's still hanging around you to see what happens.
  9690. <DungeonLady> Twenty years. It takes you twenty years.
  9691. <Golasa> Golasa knows that there are only so many paths available to her.
  9692. <@Aliken> Well, I've pretty much summed up what my plans are. Retire in the world I'm given, with the wealth I've accumulated, help Owl do her thing, since she's decided I'm a friend, see if Marigold finishes her immortality research, try and rescue the guy's brother, try and maintain a friendship with Shana and Rin. Visit Golasa, too. Probably have lost track of Dysna, who left on her own.
  9693. <Golasa> She could become like Alraune, a monster that preys upon humans.
  9694. <@Aliken> You can tell me the details on that.
  9695. <Golasa> She could live among humans, constantly under fear of reprisal or exile.
  9696. <Golasa> But instead, she chooses a third path, and leaves this world for one of her own devising.
  9697. <Golasa> Twenty years after the fall of dungeons, she bids the prime material plane farewell, aside form as a place to visit.
  9698. <DungeonLady> So, Golasa, doing anything about the two demonic hangers-on you've acquired? Or are you allowing them to indulge their curiosity? (Well, Owl's anyway)
  9699. * Dysna has essentially retired from adventuring: the occasional letter is all the contact she has with the party unless they come see her, and she sends the occasional artist sketch of her and her family. There's a return address, and an open invitation to visit; Golasa is offered a place of honor for as long as Dysna's tribe endures.
  9700. <Golasa> They're free to come by every now and then.
  9701. <Golasa> Because of Shark and Owl, Golasa eventually fades into myth, not obscurity.
  9702. <@Aliken> Aliken is going to see if she can use travel through the void as a slightly quicker way to visit Dysna than hiking there.
  9703. <Dysna> (Considering they're protected by a nigh immortal almost godlike being, her tribe is probably gonna endure forever)
  9704. <Golasa> Legends speak of a hidden world, full of crystal towers, deep within the forgotten corners of the universe, where a wizard of immense wisdom and power studies the arcane secrets of the universe.
  9705. <DungeonLady> Aliken, that world's a nice one. Pastoral and green, though the Master does offer to build you something.
  9706. <Golasa> Precious few have seen it, but always just enough to keep the rumor alive, in its own corners of the Barbed Library.
  9707. <Golasa> And that's all for me.
  9708. <DungeonLady> Rin, what about you?
  9709. <@Aliken> I have myself a manor house built, make sure there's regular access to Spire, and hire a few servants to keep up the house, cook, and the like, and bring supplies in.
  9710. <@Aliken> I also allow any who wish it to settle in my world, if they buy a plot of land and pledge to respect the Law.
  9711. <@Aliken> I offer the priestess a plot of land free of charge, if she wishes it.
  9712. <DungeonLady> She promptly sets to building a temple.
  9713. <@Aliken> It may be just a touch more insulated from the coming civil war than other places.
  9714. <@Aliken> How does Marigold's immortality research work out? Or does she drop out of contact with me? I assume I can save the innkeeper's brother as he asked?
  9715. <DungeonLady> Speaking of...
  9716. <@Aliken> Does Shana ask me not to visit, or does she figure I'm fine as a friend?
  9717. <DungeonLady> The majority of the dungeons seem to have disappeared and those trapped within released.
  9718. <@Aliken> Does Owl want me to help with her exploring?
  9719. <@Aliken> Oh, convenient.
  9720. <DungeonLady> The dungeon board disappeared along with the dungeons.
  9721. <DungeonLady> Ah, yes, the civil war. So, the Master of the Spire is nearly fatally wounded by an assassin wielding weaponry looted from dungeons. The resulting backlash by his disciples results in the deaths of the Duke and Duchess as well as horror stories about a plague of terrifying monsters not of this world. The civil war splutters to a halt and some soldier with no noble blood crowns himself king.
  9722. * Dysna was already a trusted and favored member of her tribe, and as time goes on she deepens her cataloguing of the arcane for her master's experiments. Her primary contribution to the rest of the world is a paper entitled "Understanding the Size of Reality" which, in very loose terms, tells how to teleport. Needless to say, no one realized that was what the paper was about and so
  9723. * Dysna the secret of teleportation is lost except to a particular tribe of kobolds.
  9724. <@Aliken> Owl? Marigold? Shana?
  9725. <DungeonLady> Marigold develops a longevity potion but continues work on an elixir of true immortality.
  9726. <@Aliken> I'll see if I can't buy potion from her. Medicine!
  9727. <DungeonLady> Owl as mentioned before, hangs around Golasa a lot. She also drops in on Aliken now and then but slowly drifts away. Shana calls Aliken over for tea periodically.
  9728. * Dysna has a secret though, one that she keeps from everyone but her master. When work is light and she won't be missed, she performs a ritual using the shard she took from the Dungeon of Dungeons, and returns to whence it came, to visit the spirit in the hopes of eventually persuading him to gain some perspective by spending time inhabiting the body of a mortal. Of course, this
  9729. * Dysna doesn't do anything, and Dysna eventually dies without having changed its course
  9730. <@Aliken> I'm happy enough to stay on good terms with Shana, Golasa, Rin, and Dysna.
  9731. <DungeonLady> One night, Aliken wakes up without a toe. It was severed in an impossibly sharp and neat way. An anonymous note reads, "It wasn't that delicious after all."
  9732. <Golasa> Hahahahaha
  9733. <@Aliken> Hahahaha.
  9734. <Golasa> Now all we need to do
  9735. <Golasa> is have another campaign set in this world
  9736. <Golasa> with these characters as mysterious background NPCs
  9737. * Dysna makes a point to send letters to Shark, but knows they'd never be read.
  9738. * Dysna 's letters to Shark, having never been read, are as mysterious as they are unread. Which is to say, very.
  9739. <@Aliken> It is not that long before enough people drift into Aliken's world to make for a town.
  9740. <@Aliken> There are doubtless people discontented with the current troubles in the land, after all.
  9741. * RinTheThief started in the Spire, but soon moved to cities beyond. The Civil War of the Spire, more than any other event, was Rin's backdrop, as she pursued perfect, even legendary thefts and incidents. It is said that Rin The Phantom was the very emblem - the originator, in fact - of the Gentle Thief. No guard would stop her, but neither would they die trying. No trap would best her, disabled perfectly with a
  9742. * RinTheThief minimum of damage.
  9743. <RinTheThief> And always, always, always, there was a single sigil carved into the location of her thefts - the simple shape of the human heart.
  9744. <RinTheThief> Perhaps she used some of Marigold's longevity potions, or perhaps it was Shana's experimentation, but Rin lasted - and stayed young - longer than any human should have ever had a right to. Never retiring, never stopping, and never pursuing power - only wealth, and the zen of the perfect theft.
  9745. <Dysna> (And Rin eventually took the alias of Kasumi Goto)
  9746. <@Aliken> Between periods of quiet retirement, Aliken periodically makes expeditions to explore more of the Floating Worlds, occasionally making trading ventures back and forth from the Crossroads, seeing strange sights and accumulating wonderful treasures to fill her life with pleasure.
  9747. <Dysna> (And/or became a Sidereal exalt)
  9748. <Dysna> (... So, are we done? xD)
  9749. <@Aliken> Unless Kaja wants to add anything further.
  9750. <DungeonLady> (unless anyone have anything they want ot ask me or add or whatever)
  9751. <Golasa> I'm done.
  9752. <Dysna> So, is my character the only one that actually dies on time?
  9753. <Golasa> sounds like it!
  9754. <Golasa> Well. I guess "On time" is subjective for a gorgon.
  9755. <RinTheThief> Death is an ugly thing. Of course Rin would avert it.
  9756. <@Aliken> And I make a point of trying to recruit a priest of Waarheid to help run the temple with the priestess.
  9757. <Golasa> Golasa would die eventually, probably.
  9758. <Golasa> Forever is a very long time.
  9759. <DungeonLady> Oh, right, there're legends that, now and then, to the mad, foolish, desperate, ambituous, etc. a mysterious entrance will appear. Those that enter either disappear or find great rewards.
  9760. <DungeonLady> Also, after the whole incident with the reprisals, Spire achieves true independent status.
  9761. <DungeonLady> No one challenged it.
  9762. <@Aliken> Being a planar explorer helps fill Aliken's desire for learning.
  9763. <Dysna> Well, Golasa is functionally immortal, Aliken has those longevity potions, Rin's got an eternal youth thing going. Dysna dies at the ripe old age of one hundred and fourty three, and all members of her party are invited to it.
  9764. <Dysna> Her death, not the funeral. It's not a sudden death, she's old, she knows it, and she asks them all to visit one last time.
  9765. <@Aliken> Aliken comes.
  9766. * Golasa comes, of course.
  9767. <RinTheThief> Rin comes, with a final gift.
  9768. <@Aliken> So, tell me, does Rin try to rob Aliken, who's been accumulating her own treasures through exploration and planar trade, or does Rin consider that off-limits?
  9769. <RinTheThief> Off-limits. Strictly.
  9770. <Dysna> It's a day of reminiscing about the past, of hearing how her friends are doing, of telling tales of her life (which still bring blushes to the faces of her hatchlings, her hatchlings hatchlings, and her hatchlings hatchlings hatchlings where applicable), and she passes in her sleep.
  9771. <Golasa> And so another one of Golasa's ties to this world is cut.
  9772. <@Aliken> Well, farewell to Dysna. Aliken would try and get Rin and Golasa to visit her, if they wanted, in that Aliken
  9773. <@Aliken> Is probably easier to find than the other two.
  9774. <RinTheThief> It is only after Dysna's death that Rin pursues - and unless stopped by Golasa or her associates, attains - a path to Golasa's world - to see what her friend has attained.
  9775. <Golasa> Rin is on the short list of people whose presence she puts up with in her new home.
  9776. <Dysna> (Well, part of Dysna's initial plan was to drag Golasa to live with her tribe for a while, and so that Golasa would always have people who knew her for her)
  9777. <@Aliken> Aliken visits as well, if permitted.
  9778. <Golasa> She's content to remain a mythical figure to them.
  9779. <Golasa> Like Elijah!
  9780. <Golasa> Aliken, Dysna, Rin, Owl and Shark are the only people who really get to visit Golasa's world.
  9781. <Golasa> And Naked Elf that one time, but we don't talk about it.
  9782. <Golasa> Because we still don't know how he got in.
  9783. * Dysna never does.
  9784. * Dysna stayed at her home forever, and theoretically never left her mountain.
  9785. <Golasa> Well, she's got her hands full with the tribe, so that's fair. No bad blood there.
  9786. <@Aliken> I imagine Golasa finds it weird that Aliken keeps up a friendship with Shana.
  9787. <Golasa> Not really. I mean, she knows what Aliken is like.
  9788. <Golasa> Golasa won't be paying Shana any visits, though.
  9789. <@Aliken> What is Aliken like? XD
  9790. <Golasa> Too friendly for her own good.
  9791. <DungeonLady> Speaking of Naked Elf. At some point he was found drowned in a pool of alcohol, with a bunch of dead monsters no one had ever seen, and a crown of flowers on his head. No one knows what the hell happened there. He died as he lived: insanely.
  9792. <@Aliken> ... indeed.
  9793. <RinTheThief> ... Sounds about right. :|
  9794. <DungeonLady> His life became an eternal source of punchlines to jokes.
  9795. <@Aliken> At some point Aliken looks to cultivate romance, although with whom?
  9796. <DungeonLady> Life and death.
  9797. <Dysna> (If we're done, I'm gonna go either play League or more AssCreed:Bro)
  9798. <DungeonLady> (yeah, mostly done, I think.)
  9799. <@Aliken> (Go have fun! It was awesome gaming with you.)
  9800. <DungeonLady> Also, I didn't expect the bit with the dungeon to turn out like that.
  9801. <NineThePuma> Saving people thing?
  9802. <@Aliken> Where we convinced it to play nice?
  9803. <DungeonLady> I was kinda being spontaneous.
  9804. <@Aliken> *nods*
  9805. <Golasa> Man, it's been ages since I saw a campaign END.
  9806. <Golasa> Like, with an ending.
  9807. <Golasa> Unless a Mouse Guard 2-shot counts as a campaign, which it doesn't.
  9808. <NineThePuma> I think this might be my first time
  9809. <@Aliken> I am very pleased by this. :)
  9810. <NineThePuma> It was quite gentle.
  9811. <@Aliken> Hah. XD
  9812. <NineThePuma> I'm going to leave before I turn that statement into a sex joke
  9813. <RinTheThief> Hah
  9814. <@Aliken> Out of curiousity, Kaja, who does Aliken succeed in settling down with, in time?
  9815. <Golasa> I finished two D&D games in college
  9816. <Golasa> Surely that would be Aliken's decision
  9817. <@Aliken> Well, it's a big future for Aliken, and it's hard to know who she'd meet or grow closer to.
  9818. <DungeonLady> I'll let you decide that.
  9819. <@Aliken> Hmmm.
  9820. <DungeonLady> The priestess did strike my mind immediately as the most likely candidate, though.
  9821. <@Aliken> Then it is she. :)
  9822. <Golasa> Gay dwarves? IMMERSION RUINED
  9823. <Golasa> (No, not really)
  9824. <@Aliken> I know, and dwarf women without beards. What kind of world is this?!?
  9825. * Golasa remains single, which lines up with my thought that she's probably asexual
  9826. <Golasa> Anyway I guess we're done here
  9827. <Golasa> good campaign
  9828. <Golasa> Good luck with your next project
  9829. <@Aliken> I enjoyed you as a co-player. :)
  9830. <Golasa> o7
  9831. <@Aliken> And thanks, Inc, for your part in things. :)
  9832. Session Close (#lordsofdungeons): Tue Aug 13 07:02:40 2013 -0700
  9833.  
  9834.  
  9835. Session Start (Gamesurge:#lordsofdungeons): Sat Aug 08 22:38:09 2015 -0700
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