Shantytown festival

<lurkd> *WEEEEEEEEE* *BAM* *sparkles*  Fireworks in the direction of Shantytown.
<|PuNKCaT|> *time jump back to their obodes yes?)
<lurkd> People start migrating through the streets slowly and make their way to the east side of Volthorne.
<lurkd> (we'll assume yes)
<lurkd> (4 hours before curfew)
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace straightens his outfit and offers an arm to his beautiful date :D
<Balthazaar> "Hey, little one! You want to go to the festival!?"
<lurkd> Catherine seems excited and is decked out with her dark blue dress.  "Yes!"
<lurkd> Melinda takes it and follows Jace.
<|PuNKCaT|> Riff totally turns up looking like a fallen angel and offers Jena a bunch of flowers
<Balthazaar> He offers her one enormous hand "You all set?"
<Gara> She takes them, does he have the weapon sset up they discussed?
<Gara> Helen comes down to them. "I'm with you two." She smiles. "It'll be good to get out."
<Snowshoe> Samael makes an appearance from somewhere or another, wandering through the streets towards where this is all happening.
<Balthazaar> "That it will."
<|PuNKCaT|> Yes he has jena
<lurkd> The moon is full and the festival is just starting as lanterns hang from the building and posts all over shantytown.  Hot street food wafts through the air as well as raucous laughter.  People gather to the center where the main stage is.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace leads Melinda towards the stage "What time is the contest?"
<lurkd> A Suliani dance troupe is performing some scenes from famous plays involving ancient Elven heroes.
<lurkd> An organizer looks at Jace.  "In about an hour... the signup is over yonder."
<Gara> Jena appears at east, smiles around.
<Gara> Helen sticks close to her daughter, making sure Suliani keep distance.
<|PuNKCaT|> Riff trails Jena looking uncomfortable
<lurkd> Suliani belly dancers wander through the crowd with finger cymbals.  An orc eating contest is in effect on the other stage.
<lurkd> It's crowded as hell.
<Balthazaar> Urgost walks behind Helen and Catherine, looking around for trouble.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace leads her towards the signup place, and they totally sign up
<Snowshoe> Samael wanders through the crowd, not particularly trying to avoid anything, watching people.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace is watching everything
<lurkd> Sam, you feel a tug on your robes.
<Puppet> Gretchen watches over from her concealed spot.
<Balthazaar> He notices the orc eating contest. "Pfft. Weaklings."
<Gara> "Want to go win that real quick, Urgost?"
<Snowshoe> Samael turns to look at whatever's tugging at him, wondering why so many things sneak up on him.
<Gara> Helen grins.
<lurkd> Sam, it's Oniera dressed in a hood and poncho.  "Hey... It's me."
<lurkd> "Mother said I could go on my own tonight."
<lurkd> The two orcs at the eating contest ravenously devour whole pigs.  Patrons in the splash zone cheer them on.  Clearly the majority of that crowd is from red spot as the yell obscenities and take bets.
<Gara> Jena doubts even she could do it.
<Balthazaar> He grunts. "No glory in eating something quickly."
<Snowshoe> "... Alright. Ever been to something like this before?"
<lurkd> Oniera gives him a look.  "Nope... never."
<Gara> "There's not?"
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace goes and buys some food from a vendor for himself and Melinda and circulates in the crowd, avoiding familiar faces without appearing to
<Balthazaar> "There's no fight or test of strength. They are not true orcs." The last was with disgust.
<lurkd> Cog is among the crowd as well, staring at people and being generally in the way.
<Snowshoe> "What do you think of this so far, then?"
<Gara> "So you'd rather they fight?"
<lurkd> Oniera: "Um... it's crowded."
<lurkd> *GONG*
<lurkd> A group of hooded individuals make their way into the festival.
<Balthazaar> "That is how it should be with my culture. They have clearly forgotten that."
<Gara> Helen looks at them.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace pulls Melinda back out of the way
<Snowshoe> Samael watches things happen.
<Gara> She steps infront of Catherine.
<Balthazaar> He lslo steps in front of Catherine.
<Balthazaar> *Also
<lurkd> The carry a platform, Celeste is adorn in an ornate bronze headress while in her naga form.
<Puppet> Gretchen watches the proceedings with a mixture of fascination and fear.
<lurkd> *They
<|PuNKCaT|> "Huh, the goddess has arrived"
<Gara> "Ah, her."
<|PuNKCaT|> "Wonder if Sam is around here somewhere too" talking to himself musingly
<lurkd> Celeste rests on the platform with pillows and a goblet of fresh blood as she is carried among the crowd.  Cultists follow in a line and then break off to visit their friends and distant family who still reside in shantytown.
<Balthazaar> He snorts. "Thought she'd turn up."
<Snowshoe> "Hm." Samael looks around the crowd, more concerned about looking for people who are going to try to start something.
<Puppet> Gretchen licks her lip.
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<lurkd> Celeste lounges and adjusts her bronze head dress.
<Gara> Helen continues to be relaxed, looking around.
<Balthazaar> He looks at Helen and Catherine. "Where we headed?"
<lurkd> A hobgoblin stands on a platform on the main stage.  "Excuse me!  Everyone  quiet down and gather!  We're about to have the opening ceremony!"
<Gara> Helen shuts up and pays attention.
<lurkd> \invite crom
<Gara> Jena shuts up and pays attention to pretty much everything but him. Looking for shooters
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<Puppet> Gretchen notes the presence of Helen and the orc. She's pretty glad she stopped talking to the former while she could.
<Balthazaar> Urgost snaps his head to the hobgoblin. ~Little prick thinks he can tell me what to do?~
<|PuNKCaT|> Riff is also tense beside Jena, scanning the crowd
<Balthazaar> He makes a mental note to rip the hobgoblins arms off later.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace sighs and scans the crowd looking at everyone
<Snowshoe> Samael idly wonders if conjuring floating lights would be enough to get everyone killed. He continues to look around the crowd, watching for anything unusual.
<lurkd> Announcer: "Alright, for the ceremony speech we have the esteemed bishop from the serpent cult."
<lurkd> An old Strix female shuffle up the steps dressed in cultist garb and jewelry.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace doesn't pay much attention to the stage, he's crowd watching still
<Balthazaar> Urgost loses interest in the stage, and starts looking around at the crowd.
<Puppet> Gretchen watches with polite interest... Though her eyes are on that cup of blood.
<lurkd> "*ahem* Greetings citizens!  Fist I would like to give thanks for the residents of Shantytown, who the serpent cult shares kinship to, for allowing me to give the opening ceremonial speech."
<lurkd> *clapping*
<Balthazaar> He looks down at Catherine. "Can you see?"
<lurkd> Catherine: "Not really."
<Balthazaar> "Here, sit on my shoulders."
<lurkd> "Secondly, I encourage all of you with wealth to spare to give what you can to the shantytown refugee fund for the homeless families devastated by the riots."
<Balthazaar> He squats down and picks her up.
<lurkd> Catherine allows Urgost to pick her up and she rests on her shoulders.  "Thanks."  She pats her head.
<Gara> Helen realizes that she is pretty goddamn loadded.
<lurkd> *his
<Balthazaar> He laughs. "Give to the poor. Not bloody likely."
<lurkd> "Now...."  She waits till it quiets down a bit.
<lurkd> "Situations are dire, our streets are unsafe, and some say that it is now worse than ever.  Some say, we are cast into rougher waters… in a skiff made of paper..."
<Gara> Jena nods.
<lurkd> "Shall we lose hope, in our darkest moments?  Ney… we can’t afford it.  We carry with us, a seed for this sterile world."
<lurkd> "When this plague is lifted, our seed of a city will grow.   This night is a reminder, that despite our disputes, we have a higher responsibility."
<Balthazaar> ~What the fuck is this idiot talking about?~
<lurkd> "A higher purpose that connects us all. Isn’t that worth fighting for… rather than amongst ourselves?  I hope so.  Thank you and be safe this night."
<lurkd> *clapping*
<Balthazaar> He looks at Helen. "What the bloody hell was that about?"
<Gara> "Stop killing eachother ya dumbasses."
<lurkd> Catherine: "Well /I/ thought it was a lovely message."
<Gara> "So did I."
<lurkd> The band moves in and starts playing music.
<Snowshoe> Samael continues to exist in a very nonspecific location.
<Puppet> Gretchen just sighs and hopes.
<lurkd> Oniera hangs on to Sam.
<Balthazaar> He laughs and goes to say something typically orcish, but then stops when Catherine chimes in
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace keeps his feelings off his face and leads Melinda towards the dancing in front of the band
<lurkd> Announcer: "Folks, we will have our annual dance contest in about half an hour."
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<Balthazaar> He looks at Helen. "You going to dance?" He smirks like a motherfucker
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<Gara> "No."
<Puppet> Are there any chairs in Gretchen's spot?
<lurkd> Announcer: "In the mean time, help yourself to some free wine and dancing."
<|PuNKCaT|> can be
<Balthazaar> He laughs again
<Gara> "God no."
<Puppet> Gretchen pulls one up. It's gonna be a long one.
<lurkd> Gretchen, there are crates stacked against buildings.
<Puppet> Sure, one of those.
<lurkd> Catherine:  "/I/ want to dance!"
<Gara> She chuckles. "Do you now?"
<lurkd> Oniera spots Catherine on top of Urgost, she tugs on Sam's robes and points.
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<Balthazaar> "..." He ponders whether or not to dance with Catherine.
<lurkd> Catherine: "Of course I do... I didn't dress up for nothing."
<Snowshoe> "Hm?" Samael looks.
<lurkd> Oniera: "Let's say Hi."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace swipes a couple of glasses of wine off a passing waiter and hands one to Melinda and then leads her onto the dance floor
<Balthazaar> "... Did you want me to dance with you?"
<Gara> "Alright, dancing it'll be."
<lurkd> Melinda drinks.  She seems a bit nervous.
<Gara> She laughs.
<Gara> "Oh god."
<Snowshoe> Samael shrugs, then starts heading towards the group. "Alright."
<lurkd> Catherine:  "Do you even know how."  She sports an impressive eyebrow raise she learned from Helen.
<Gara> "I hope he does."
<Gara> "More then you know."
<Balthazaar> "I know an Orc battle dance..."
<lurkd> Catherine climbs down and tugs Urgost along by the hand.  "Let me lead you oaf."  She grins.
<Gara> "Oh this is going to be funny."
<Balthazaar> He allows himself to be led along.
<Gara> Helen follows, so amused.
<lurkd> Catherine inadvertantly bumps into Melinda  *oomf*
<lurkd> Melinda: "Oh!"
<Gara> "Oh, we're sorry."
<lurkd> Catherine:  *gasp*
<Gara> Helen waits for the elven bitch to say a word about her daughter.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace looks at them "Uh Hi"
<Gara> "... Hi Jace."
<lurkd> Melinda says nothing fades back a bit.
<|PuNKCaT|> "Helen..... Melinda.... Mel, this is Helen"
<Balthazaar> Urgost stares at everyone.
<|PuNKCaT|> "And Catherine..... /her daughter/"
<Snowshoe> Samael continues to exist until dramatic timing dictates that he arrive.
<lurkd> Melinda: "Uh... a pleasure to meet you."
<Gara> "And how do we know her?" She gives an almost predatory smile to her.
<lurkd> Melinda: "...both."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace looks Helen in the eye "She's my Fiance"
<Gara> "I see."
<Balthazaar> Urgost looks from Jace to Melinda, and starts chuckling.
<|PuNKCaT|> (they are wearing matching outfits with a falcon clutching a rose in it's claws emboridered into the fabric)
<Gara> That sounds terrible. "Well, I'm glad you found someone."
<lurkd> Catherine very calmly leads Urgost away and heads for the dance area.
<|PuNKCaT|> He nods "Thank you"
<Gara> Her smile is glass for a moment, then fades.
<Puppet> Gretchen observes.
<Gara> "And I'm going to ask you why my daughter was so surprised to see her."
<Balthazaar> He is led!
<Gara> She keeps an eye on the orc.
<lurkd> Oniera: "Father, what is Catherine and that orc doing?"
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace shrugs elequently "Maybe because she knew we were forbidden to marry until I had some luck come my way"
<lurkd> Melinda: "...."
<Gara> "That sounds like a very eloquent load of shit."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace grins but says nothing
<lurkd> Catherine leads Urgost into a simple waltz, but doesn't wander far.
<Snowshoe> "Looks like they're going to dance, if I had to guess."
<Gara> "And I'd really like to figure out what's actually going on, because this involved my family."
<Balthazaar> He follows Catherines lead. His movements are surprising smooth and graceful.
<lurkd> Oniera: "Ah... and this activity is significant in some way?"
<Balthazaar> He smiles despite himself
<lurkd> Catherine:  "Huh... where did you learn that?"
<Snowshoe> "Depends on the context. Usually, yes."
<lurkd> Oniera wanders a bit from Sam and looks out at the dancers.  Helen and Jace can probably spot her easily.
<Balthazaar> "In the catacombs."
<lurkd> Catherine: "Dancing?  In the catacombs?"
<Balthazaar> "When I was a child a little younger then you."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace does spot her but doesn't reveal any surprise
<Gara> Helen smiles.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace looks back at Helen "I'll explain it sometime, but not here and now" he sounds quite final
<Gara> "We are going to speak later, Jacenty Da."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace nods
<Gara> She gives him a smile, and walks back to her daughet.
<Balthazaar> He nods. "My mother taught me. It gave us something to do when we weren't dealing with the other people doen there."
<|PuNKCaT|> He looks at Melinda and sighs, wondering how he's going to explain this
<Gara> Actually, no.
<Gara> She goees to Oniera.
<Gara> "Ah, hello."
<Balthazaar> "How about you Little One? Where did you learn?"
<Puppet> Gretchen looks to the naga, trying to make eye contact, wondering how omnipotent the goddess is.
<lurkd> naw
<lurkd> sry readct
<Puppet> She waits for the moment she turns to stare right at Gretchen. She assumes it's coming.
<lurkd> Oniera: "Um... hello.  How are you?"
<lurkd> Catherine: "Everyone learns how to dance real young."
<Gara> "I'm good. Catherine and Urgost are right over there, would you like to come over with us?"
<Puppet> Does it happen?
<lurkd> Gretchen you feel thoughts enter your mind.  ~What do you want Dhamphir?~
<Snowshoe> Samael continues to exist, watching things happen.
<Puppet> ~Nothing. Simply curious. And now my curiosity is sated.~
<Balthazaar> Urgost continues to hang out with Catherine
<lurkd> Celeste watches over the crowd as feylings wander around making sure the red spot gangsters behave.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace sips his wine and watches
<lurkd> ~Good.~  Gretchen, something pushes you off your crate and you fall on your ass.
<Puppet> She stops looking at Celeste and scans the crowd some more.
<Gara> Jena has located wine.
<Puppet> Or not!
<lurkd> Celeste chuckles to herself.
<Puppet> Gretchen picks herself up and swears in Celestial.
<lurkd> The music ends and dancers bow to their partners.
<Puppet> Gretchen returns to her seat, very much /not/ looking at Celeste. She's shaking.
<lurkd> Announcer:
<Balthazaar> Urgost clumsily bows to Catherine.
<lurkd> Announcer: "Alright, now we will have our dance contest.  Please clear the area for our contestants."
<Gara> Helen has found herself back with Catherine.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace squeezes Melindas hand and grins at her "Ready?"
<lurkd> Catherine bows and leads him back to Helen.  "That was fun!"
<Gara> "I'm glad!"
<lurkd> Melind nods and is led.
<Balthazaar> He smiles at Catherine.
<|PuNKCaT|> jace deposits their glasses and heads towards the dance floor
<Balthazaar> Urgost intercepts a walking waiter and grabs two tankards of ale off him
<Puppet> Gretchen continues to be somewhat terrified... Then wonders if Celeste is one of the gods who give her her power.
<lurkd> A space is cleared and couples head to the dance area.
<Balthazaar> He starts on one tankard
<lurkd> Celeste to Gretchen: ~No, I don't deal with vampires.~
<lurkd> Two grippli singers make their way to the stage along with other musicians.
<lurkd> The music starts.
<Puppet> Gretchen figured that would happen. She does her best to empty her mind.
<lurkd> .y irish waltz daft punk
<CROM> lurkd: Get Lucky - Vintage Irish Tenor Daft Punk Cover - length 3m 48s - rated 4.73/5.0 (13364) - 1,091,848 views - scottbradleelovesya on 2013.06.18 - http://youtube.com/watch?v=VyMD7vd-_U0
<Puppet> She's also pretty damned scared now.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace dances with Melinda
<Gara> Helen watches.
<lurkd> Melinda is light on her feet as usual.
<Balthazaar> He drains the first tankard, and throws it randomly into the crowd watching the dancers
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<lurkd> Cultists refill Celestes chalice, she orders a subordinate to give a cup of blood to the Dhamphir.
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<lurkd> Cultists refill Celestes chalice, she orders a subordinate to give a cup of blood to the Dhamphir.
<lurkd> Gretchen, a cultist approaches you with a cup of blood.
<lurkd> Celeste: ~I'm not all bad, have a drink on me.~
<Puppet> She veeeeery hesitantly takes it and drinks.
<Balthazaar> He makes a start of the second tankard
<lurkd> Gretchen, it's fresh and tastes young.
<Balthazaar> To Catherine. "Enjoying yourself?"
<lurkd> The tempo of the band changes and Melinda pulls out a red scarf as she dances with it.
<Puppet> Gretchen almost manages to stutter in her thoughts. ~Thank you.~
<Balthazaar> "We were fucking better than them..."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace matches Melinda, dancing gracefully
<lurkd> Catherine grabs a two pork pies from a nearby tray and hands one to Urgost.  "Yes I am."
<Gara> "I think so."
<Balthazaar> He takes one and takes a big bite.
<Balthazaar> Then he drains his second drink. Once again, when he's done, he throws it randomly into the crowd.
<lurkd> Melinda leaps into Jace's arms for a finale.
<lurkd> Jace reflex plz
<|PuNKCaT|> d20+7 catch her please
<CROM> |PuNKCaT|: catch her please: 8 (d20+7=1)
<|PuNKCaT|> (well shit crom you bitch)
<Balthazaar> He laughs. "Someones going to be sore tomorrow."
<lurkd> *bonk*  Bystander: "Hey who threw that?"
<lurkd> Jace is all butter fingers and drops her.
<lurkd> Melinda recovers and gives him a 'WHAT THE HELL' look.
<lurkd> Some of the crowd snickers.
<Gara> Helen claps.
<Gara> She considers shouting something, but it wouldn't make sense in this time.
<Balthazaar> Urgost laughs. "Got someone!"
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace shrugs helplessly
<Balthazaar> He also laughs at Jace and his fiance
<lurkd> The music goes back into a waltz.
<lurkd> Melinda whispers.  "Just ignore it.  Keep going."
<Gara> "I think Jace lost, guys."
<Gara> "What a shame."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace complies "Sorry honey"
<Balthazaar> "Ah, he needed to be knocked down a peg anyway."
<lurkd> Melinda's scarf falls out and blows to the far side of the crowd as the music ends.
<Gara> "Or 9."
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<lurkd> Melinda:  *sigh*  "It's alright..."  She does look disappointed as she goes to retrieve her scarf.
<Puppet> Gretchen's trying to keep her fear in her inner thoughts before realizing that there's probably no use bothering.
<lurkd> The crowd claps for the halfling couple who outdanced everyone else.
<lurkd> As Melinda bends down to grab the scarf, a hand reaches out and grabs her wrist pulling her into the crowd.
<lurkd> Perception everyone.
<Balthazaar> Urgost loudly boos the halfling couple. "Fucking midgets!"
<Balthazaar> d20+4
<CROM> Balthazaar: 8 (d20+4=4)
<Gara> d20+13 I'm a fucking ranger, hun.
<CROM> Gara: I'm a fucking ranger, hun.: 15 (d20+13=2)
<Snowshoe> d20+12 I can do a thing
<|PuNKCaT|> d20+8
<CROM> |PuNKCaT|: 14 (d20+8=6)
<Puppet> d20+3 motherrucker
<CROM> Snowshoe: I can do a thing: 29 (d20+12=17)
<CROM> Puppet: motherrucker: 11 (d20+3=8)
<lurkd> pause
<Gara> d20+8 Robot.
<CROM> Gara: Robot.: 11 (d20+8=3)
<lurkd> (fuck that's a lot of characters)
<Puppet> Everyone but Urgost hit the DC.
<lurkd> Yes.
<|PuNKCaT|> .........
<lurkd> Everyone but Urgost sees Melinda get pulled into the crowd.
<Gara> "... That seemed off."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace swears and belts across the dance floor to where she dissapeared
<Balthazaar> "What seemed off?"
<Gara> Jena graps the falsifed cane bow and /runs/
<Snowshoe> Samael follows after Jace, wondering who's about to die.
<Balthazaar> "The midgets winning?"
<lurkd> Sam, you see the top of Melinda's head heading for a darkened alley.
<|PuNKCaT|> ~No.. fuck no. just no~
<Gara> She whistles as she moves.
<Puppet> Gretchen sets down her recently emptied cup and... Fuck, there's people down there.
<Gara> "Melinda got plucked out of the crowd."
<Balthazaar> Urgost grabs Catherines hand, and follows after Helen
<lurkd> Melinda:  "Who are you, let me go!"
<Gara> Helen isn't moving.
<Gara> "Urgost, go, I've got Catherine."
<lurkd> Melinda is pulled into an alley away from the festival.
<Balthazaar> Except he doesn't
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace is running hard out after her
<Balthazaar> "Which way?"
<Gara> Helen points.
<Puppet> Gretchen goes at top speed in the direction she saw her go... Around the crowd.
<Gara> Jena shoves through people as she moves.
<lurkd> Urgost, you see the rest heading into the alley.
<Balthazaar> He sprints in the direction she pointed, shoving people out of the way
<|PuNKCaT|> Riff joins in the chase, following Jena, not knowing why
<Gara> "Get the /FUCK/ out of my way!"
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace doesn't bother speaking, he just dodges around people
<Balthazaar> "MAKE A PATH OR SO HELP ME I'LL GUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!"
<Puppet> Gretchen joins in the chase as soon as she can, probably just behind the main group when they hit a peopleless spot.
<lurkd> Jace, as you close in, the thing dragging Melinda looks like a gaunt human dressed in oversized robes with glaring red eyes and white skin.
<Balthazaar> He draws his morningstar as he runs
<Gara> Jena stops for just a bit to quick string her bow, moving.
<|PuNKCaT|> he pulls out the dagger he had concealed in his clothing and charges at it
<|PuNKCaT|> "Let her go you bastard!"
<Balthazaar> Urgost charges after them
<Puppet> Gretchen burns an hour of air barrier and runs in toward the fuck.
<lurkd> It throws her to the feet of another hooded figure at the end of an alley.  This one is crouched over the bodies of recently killed children.
<|PuNKCaT|> "Fuck!"
<lurkd> Thing: *snarl*
<lurkd> Master: "No no no, this one is much too old."
<Balthazaar> How close is Urgost?
<lurkd> Urgost is behind but closing in.
<Puppet> Gretchen's hood comes off. She looks PISSED. She doesn't bother to hide her fangs, she bares them as she charges.
<Balthazaar> He's raring and swinging his mace around his head
<Balthazaar> *Roaring
<lurkd> The master looks to see the group coming in and quickly scoops up Melinda by the neck.  "Nuh uh... not so fast."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace tries to dodge around the one in front, heading for Mel
<Snowshoe> Knowledge check to identify what this is?
<lurkd> It produces a blade and presses firmly on her neck but doesn't cut her.
<Puppet> Gretchen stops short.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace skids to a halt, shaking with rage
<Gara> Jena slides to a stop, nocking an arrow. "Jace back up."
<|PuNKCaT|> "Let her go, or so help me"
<Puppet> "[Leave my friends alone, bastards!]" She's shouting in Celestial.
<Balthazaar> Urgost stops, puts his morningstar away, and draws his greataxe.
<lurkd> pause
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace steps to the side to give Jena a clear shot
<lurkd> unpause
<lurkd> "Nobody blink!"
<lurkd> Melinda tries not to breath.
<|PuNKCaT|> Riff has dissapeared into the shadows
<lurkd> *greathe
<Gara> Jena keeps an arrow trained on the one.
<lurkd> (fuck spelling)
<|PuNKCaT|> (indeed)
<Balthazaar> ~Fuck, I hope Catherine's alright.~ He's growling similar to a crocodile, but he remains morionless
<lurkd> Another gaunt humanoid drops down next to it's master.
<Snowshoe> Knowledge check?
<lurkd> Master:  "My... she may be old, but I bet she still tastes exquisite."
<Puppet> ~[Should've killed them when I had the chance...]~
<lurkd> Snowshoe, yes.
<Gara> Jena continues to hold the master as her target.
<Gara> "Jace. Back. Up."
<Snowshoe> d20+16 Adding my wis mod because identifying a monster
<CROM> Snowshoe: Adding my wis mod because identifying a monster: 17 (d20+16=1)
<Gara> Which knowledge, Lurkd?
<|PuNKCaT|> "Not a fucking chance Jena......he's got my girl"
<Puppet> If Urgost's vision strays at all, he probably notices the fangs.
<Gara> "And if you don't back the fuck up, you won't. Move."
<Balthazaar> His vision doesn't stray
<Gara> d20+8 Nature if it comes up.
<CROM> Gara: Nature if it comes up.: 22 (d20+8=14)
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace takes a double stride backwards sweering the whole way
<|PuNKCaT|> swearing*
<Puppet> d20+7 Planes, religion, history?
<CROM> Puppet: Planes, religion, history?: 19 (d20+7=12)
<Gara> "Thank you." She manuvers so that he is behind her, to her right.
<Puppet> Er, +5
<Puppet> So 17
<lurkd> pause
<lurkd> for descriptions
<|PuNKCaT|> "You're not fucking welcome, if she dies......."
<lurkd> Sam, Jena, Gretchen, It's obvious they aren't cultists even though they are in robes.  Gretchen gets the feeling that these are the same creatures from before.  Sam and Jen knows the two gaunt figures are undead for sure.  Jen, probably a good chance that the master is either a necromancer or another undead.
<lurkd> unpause
<Snowshoe> Can samael detect magic without drawing too much attention to himself?
<lurkd> Yes.
<Snowshoe> He does that.
<|PuNKCaT|> nobody here is going to care
<Puppet> Gretchen waits for an opportunity to run in and cure.
<Balthazaar> Urgost grips the shaft of his axe /very/ tightly
<Gara> Jena stays cool.
<lurkd> Sam, he's not casting anything to animate those corpses, but he does have an innate power in him.  A dark power.
<lurkd> Celeste slithers in behind the group.
<lurkd> Master: "Well well well, if it isn't the serpent /whore/."
<Gara> "Divine politics. Is that..."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace glances behind him "Celeste"
<|PuNKCaT|> "Sams missus"
<Balthazaar> ~Ooooh, I'm going to enjoy killing these cunts. Nobody gets away with killing little ones like this.~
<Puppet> Gretchen's staring at the one holding Mel with utter hatred.
<lurkd> Celeste: "The only /whore/ I see here is you... Draven."
<Snowshoe> Samael readies a counterspell, just in case.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace freezes
<lurkd> Draven: *laughter*
<|PuNKCaT|> "Draven.........."
<Gara> Jena sighs.
<|PuNKCaT|> "well fuck"
<Puppet> Gretchen falters a little at the name. That doesn't need translation.
<Gara> "Yeah."
<lurkd> Draven: "I'm eating, so leave me be whore.  Big boss let's me do what I please."
<|PuNKCaT|> "I knew it......... I fucking /knew/ he'd do smething, but I never thought..."
<Balthazaar> "I'd like to take this moment to officially leave your service Draven. Now give us the girl."
<Gara> She looks at Jace. "I can't kill that."
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace nods...... his face is white "I know"
<Gara> She turns her attention back to Draven.
<lurkd> Celeste looks at them as if 'I got this'.
<|PuNKCaT|> "Celeste....... he's got my fiance....if you can do anything...... please"
<lurkd> She nods.
<Puppet> Gretchen steps aside for serpent bro.
<Balthazaar> He's grinning nastily at his old boss. The crocodile growl still emenating from his throat
<Gara> Jena clears, arrow still nocked.
<lurkd> Celeste: "I'm tired of groveling at Big Boss's feet.  And I'm tired of your obnoxious antics."
<lurkd> 3 black wolves are summoned from the shadows.
<lurkd> Draven:  "Spare me."
<lurkd> Celeste approaches him.
<Puppet> Gretchen eyes the closest undead with a predator's gaze.
<Balthazaar> He shifts his weight, and get's ready to spring into action.
<Balthazaar> He hasn't stopped grinning at Draven
<lurkd> Draven: "FINE!  You want to break the rules!?!"  He throws Melinda to the hungry wolves and transforms into a gaseous form, zipping up and out of the alley.
<lurkd> Celeste follows in her shadow form.  Both dissappear.
<Puppet> Gretchen runs at that undead and cures moderate.
<Balthazaar> Urgost rushes to the wolves
<lurkd> 1d6+2 wolf bite melinda
<CROM> lurkd: wolf bite melinda: 7 (1d6+2=5)
<lurkd> Melinda screams in pain.
<Snowshoe> Can Sam cast here?
<lurkd> Sam can cast
<Gara> Jena starts firing at wolves.
<Balthazaar> d20+11 At wolf
<Snowshoe> 2d4+4 fascinating this many HD of wolves
<CROM> Balthazaar: At wolf: 23 (d20+11=12)
<CROM> Snowshoe: fascinating this many HD of wolves: 10 (2d4+4=2, 4)
<Puppet> Can Gretchen cure?
<lurkd> The two ghouls try to spider climb up the walls.
<Gara> d20+6 Deadly shot.
<CROM> Gara: Deadly shot.: 10 (d20+6=4)
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace rushes towards Melinda
<Snowshoe> The closest enemies are affected first, get a DC 18 will save.
<Puppet> Does Gretchen get to one before it starts climbing?
<Balthazaar> 2d12+6 dam
<CROM> Balthazaar: dam: 16 (2d12+6=6, 4)
<lurkd> Puppet, yes, these are tall walls.
<Puppet> In which case.
<lurkd> pause real quick
<lurkd> puppet make your rolls
<Puppet> I haven't used a touch spell in combat before, roll melee right?
<Snowshoe> yes
<Puppet> d20+1
<CROM> Puppet: 8 (d20+1=7)
<Puppet> She misses.
<Puppet> But it's not discharged either, yes?
<lurkd> hang on
<lurkd> one thing at a time
<lurkd> Urgost you kill the wolf on Melinda.  Sam fascinates the other two wolves.  Jace grabs Melinda.  Gretchen misses her shot.  Gara, who is Jen shooting at?
<Gara> She was shooting a wolf.
<Balthazaar> Since he's there, Urgost grabs Mel and hoists her to her feet
<lurkd> Jen misses the wolf.
<lurkd> The other two wolves stare off into space and the two ghouls are still climbing up the steep walls out of the alley.
<Balthazaar> "Get behind us!"
<lurkd> Melinda limps away with Urgost and Jace.
<Snowshoe> The spell lasts as long as Samael maintains concentration, so he just keeps doing that.
<Puppet> Gretchen runs over and tries to use the cure moderate on Mel.
<Balthazaar> "Bloody hell." He supports some oher weight as she limps
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace doesn't stop swearing
<Balthazaar> "Kill those fucking wolves!" Over his shoulder
<lurkd> Puppet roll for that
<Gara> 2d20+6 Opening up on the ghouls, one each.
<CROM> Gara: Opening up on the ghouls, one each.: 40 (2d20+6=14, 20)
<lurkd> HIT!
<Gara> d20+6 Confirming critical hit.
<CROM> Gara: Confirming critical hit.: 7 (d20+6=1)
<Gara> Fuck you.
<Puppet> For a target that's moving predictably and not resisting?
<lurkd> Well both hit anyhow
<Puppet> d20+1 sure
<CROM> Puppet: sure: 7 (d20+1=6)
<Gara> d8+4 Not as satisfying.
<CROM> Gara: Not as satisfying.: 11 (d8+4=7)
<lurkd> No puppet, roll heal amount
<Gara> 8d+4 As watching one just die instantly.
<Puppet> Oh. K.
<Gara> d8+4
<CROM> Gara: 11 (d8+4=7)
<Puppet> 2d8+5
<CROM> Puppet: 15 (2d8+5=2, 8)
<Snowshoe> They get another save if they're being attacked.
<lurkd> Melinda is healed completely.
<Puppet> Gretchen turns back to the wolves, baring fangs.
<Balthazaar> "Here, you handle her." Urgost runs back to the battle place.
<lurkd> Both ghouls take hits and same damage.  They shriek in pain.
<Balthazaar> Urgost readies himself to chop some wolves
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace holds onto Melinda, staring back at everyone fighting
<Balthazaar> (Can I attack?)
<lurkd> Wolves are still gazing into space since nobody has touched them.
<lurkd> (yes)
<Balthazaar> d20+11 chop
<CROM> Balthazaar: chop: 25 (d20+11=14)
<Gara> Jena sustains fire on her turn.
<lurkd> Hit!
<Balthazaar> 2d12+6 Damage!
<CROM> Balthazaar: Damage!: 19 (2d12+6=6, 7)
<lurkd> Ded!
<Puppet> Gust of wind down the alley against the last wolf.
<lurkd> The two ghouls have almost made it to the roofs.  Still climbing.
<lurkd> Puppet, is there damage involved with that spell?
<Puppet> No.
<Puppet> Strength check on the wolf.
<Balthazaar> d12+6 dam reroll
<CROM> Balthazaar: dam reroll: 11 (d12+6=5)
<Puppet> Or wolves.
<lurkd> Kay, misread.  Wolf Urgost hit is still standing and snaps out of its trance.
<Puppet> Actually, are they small sized?
<lurkd> Medium
<Puppet> So yes, they get strength checks.
<lurkd> standby
<lurkd> Neither makes it.
<Puppet> They can't move forward.
<lurkd> *growl*
<Gara> 2d20+6 Sustainign fire on the fleeing vamps.
<CROM> Gara: Sustainign fire on the fleeing vamps.: 42 (2d20+6=16, 20)
<Puppet> Until Gretchen's next turn.
<Snowshoe> Samael drops the spell, which will last for another two rounds, and casts limp lash on one of the ghouls.
<Gara> d20+6 Give it to me this time man
<CROM> Gara: Give it to me this time man: 17 (d20+6=11)
<lurkd> Hit and confirm crit
<Balthazaar> "Come on you stinking dogs!"
<lurkd> Hit and Crit!
<Gara> d8+4 First arrow
<CROM> Gara: First arrow: 8 (d8+4=4)
<Gara> 3d8+12 Second.
<CROM> Gara: Second.: 22 (3d8+12=3, 3, 4)
<Snowshoe> d20 Ranged touch attack against whichever ghoul didn't get hit, rolling against their touch AC
<CROM> Snowshoe: Ranged touch attack against whichever ghoul didn't get hit, rolling against their touch AC: 12 (d20=12)
<Balthazaar> d20+11 let's finish this wolf off
<CROM> Balthazaar: let's finish this wolf off: 15 (d20+11=4)
<lurkd> The ghoul shrieks in pain but scrambles to the roof.  The other shrieks and bursts into flaming ash as the arrow flies through it's body.
<lurkd> Hold on Balth
<lurkd> Sam, you fail.
<Snowshoe> Well shit.
<lurkd> d20+2 bite Urgost
<CROM> lurkd: bite Urgost: 7 (d20+2=5)
<lurkd> Wolf snaps at the orc but misses.
<Balthazaar> (Attack now
<lurkd> The last wolf snaps out of it's trance.
<Balthazaar> ?
<lurkd> (yes)
<Balthazaar> d20+11 "Pathetic!"
<CROM> Balthazaar: "Pathetic!": 17 (d20+11=6)
<lurkd> Hit!
<Balthazaar> d12+6 "You die now!"
<CROM> Balthazaar: "You die now!": 16 (d12+6=10)
<lurkd> bap
<lurkd> redact
<lurkd> Wolf is chopped ded.
<lurkd> Everyone else finish off the last wolf.
<Gara> 2d20+6 If you insist...
<CROM> Gara: If you insist...: 16 (2d20+6=7, 3)
<lurkd> Hit!
<Gara> d8+4 Fucking...
<CROM> Gara: Fucking...: 9 (d8+4=5)
<lurkd> The wolf yelps as the arrow pierces it but still stands.
<Puppet> Gretchen runs in, hoping it doesn't have negative energy affinity, and inflicts moderate.
<Puppet> d20+1 or tries.
<CROM> Puppet: or tries.: 14 (d20+1=13)
<lurkd> Hit!
<Puppet> 2d8+5 it better not.
<CROM> Puppet: it better not.: 17 (2d8+5=7, 5)
<lurkd> Wolf howls and falls over dead.
<Balthazaar> Urgost goes to to the corpses of the two wolves he felled, and hefts one over each shoulder
<lurkd> The alley is silent as bits of undead ash fall over the wolf corpses.
<Puppet> Gretchen pants, fangs bared.
<Balthazaar> ~New pelts. Nice.~
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace walks towards them, Melinda clutched to his side..... "Thank you..... all.... so much"
<lurkd> Urgost, their, fur is as black as shadow.  A little bloody but still nice.
<Puppet> She walks back over to Mel, coming down from the adrenaline high. She looks concerned, but doesn't hide her fangs.
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<Balthazaar> "Pleasant bit of action, that."
<Gara> "Eh. Lackluster."
<Gara> "More an execution then a fight."
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<Puppet> "Are you alright?"
<Gara> "Yeah, ie Melinda healed or do I need to take a look at her?"
<lurkd> Melinda nods.  Shaken but alright.  "Thank you... "
<|PuNKCaT|> "Thank you Gretchen....... I owe you..... all"
<lurkd> Melinda shakily stands.
<Puppet> "I healed her fully, I think. She should be fine."
<Gara> "Alright." Jena continues to be useless skills wise.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace supports Melinda
<lurkd> Melinda:  "I am.  I will repay you."  She bows a bit.
<Balthazaar> Urgost stands with two armfuls of wolf. "I'm off home. going to make some rugs."
<|PuNKCaT|> "Thank you Urgost"
<lurkd> Everyone can hear people in the festival cheer.
<lurkd> It's distant.
<Puppet> Gretchen's breathing slows and she realizes she just gave away her secret to everyone in this alley. She hides her fangs and looks around nervously.
<Snowshoe> Samael shakes tension out of his hands. "Anyone feel like going after that one?" He points a thumb after the ghoul that escaped.
<Gara> "Yes."
<|PuNKCaT|> "I "Yes"
<Balthazaar> "Don't worry about it." He walks back to Helen and Catherine
<Puppet> "Yes."
<Puppet> Gretchen looks. Did anyone look down the alley during that time?
<Balthazaar> And he presumably goes home.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace hands Melinda off to Riff "I'll be back....we aren't letting that last one get away"
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<Snowshoe> Samael casts spider climb on the three of them, feeling rather burned-out. "That oughta last for a little over half an hour. Try to be at street level when that happens."
<Gara> "Lets go."
<Puppet> Gretchen goes after the bastard.
<Gara> Jena climbs, leading.
<lurkd> The vampire ghoul throws off it's heavy robes and books it across the rooftops to Red Spot.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace follows
<Gara> Jena looks for a trail, pushing herself, moving.
<Puppet> Gretchen goes after it full speed.
<Snowshoe> Samael stuffs his hands in his pockets and heads back to the festival, fighting down a roaring headache.
<|PuNKCaT|> jace folows using all the dexterity he owns
<lurkd> perception everyone
<Gara> d20+13 I will find you... And I will kill you.
<CROM> Gara: I will find you... And I will kill you.: 27 (d20+13=14)
<lurkd> Well everyone in pursuit
<Puppet> d20+3 busy here universe
<CROM> Puppet: busy here universe: 19 (d20+3=16)
<|PuNKCaT|> d20+8
<CROM> |PuNKCaT|: 22 (d20+8=14)
<lurkd> Everyone in pursuit can see the perp in the light of the moon out ahead.  It's naked and bounding towards Red Spot.
<Gara> What's the distance?
<lurkd> 100 feet
<Puppet> Gretchen regrets cures being touch spells... Ew.
<|PuNKCaT|> "Can you shoot it from here?"
<Gara> "Oh fuck the hell yes I can."
<lurkd> ROLL!
<Gara> 2d20+6 Execute, firing then running.
<CROM> Gara: Execute, firing then running.: 15 (2d20+6=2, 7)
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace barrels after them......
<lurkd> Miss and miss
<|PuNKCaT|> what is the range on a dagger,30ft is it?)
<Puppet> Gretchen's at his side.
<Gara> No, it's 10.
<Gara> Jena keeps running.
<lurkd> *panting*
<Puppet> Gretchen prepares a nice little cure moderate.
<Gara> As soon as she can, she fires more.
<lurkd> Fire away!
<Gara> 2d20+6 Fire away!
<CROM> Gara: Fire away!: 32 (2d20+6=15, 11)
<lurkd> Two HITS!
<Gara> 2d8+8 Gotcha, ya dirty bastard.
<CROM> Gara: Gotcha, ya dirty bastard.: 15 (2d8+8=5, 2)
<|PuNKCaT|> YES!
<lurkd> *SHRIEK*  The creature bursts into fire and dust.
<Gara> Jena smiles.
<Gara> "Target down, lets go home kids."
<Puppet> Gretchen stops and gives a fanged smile.
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace slows down and turns and hugs Jena "Thank you"  he lets go quickly, but he sounds so feircly angry
<Gara> "Want to go hunting in the spot for a bit?"
<Puppet> She follows Jace, breathing heavily. "[Those we...] Those were what was outside the safehouse."
<lurkd> Sam, your headache turns into a migraine
<lurkd> Oniera rushes toward Sam.  "Father!"
<|PuNKCaT|> "I'm not much use at it, I can come and watch you though.... I find myself burning for vengance"
<Gara> "Then lets hit some things. I wish I had something incendiary... could see how red that spot can get."
<Puppet> "I'm running out of spells faster than I care to admit..."
<Puppet> "I'll be back in Muroidea."
<Snowshoe> ~Ow.~ Samael considers going back home and not coming out for a week. "Hey Oniera."
<Puppet> Gretchen slides back down the wall in the alley.
<lurkd> "Father, something has happ-  are you alright?"
<Puppet> "Thanks, stranger."
<Gara> "Jace, decision time. Are we raising hell?"
<|PuNKCaT|> Jace nods and follows Jena
<|PuNKCaT|> "Lets burns the place down"
<Snowshoe> "Yeah, just met a really angry vampire and helped kill some minions. Cast a ton of spells and I think I could sleep for a week now. What happened?"
<lurkd> Sam, your head is flooded with images.  You see someone trying to bind Celeste's essence.  ~Sam... Oniera...~
<Gara> "I knew there was I reason I liked you." She slides down a building, bow in hand, a fierce smile on her face.
<Snowshoe> "Oh goddamnit."
<lurkd> Oniera sees it too.
<|PuNKCaT|> He follows, with the same feirce grin
<lurkd> "....mother..."
<Puppet> "I know less than you do... Huh?"
<Snowshoe> "Can you help her?"
<lurkd> "I... something is blocking me.... I can't feel her anymore."
<Puppet> Gretchen's confused.
<Gara> Helen walks over to Sam. "What's going on?"
<Snowshoe> "... /Fuck/." Samael sighs. "Think Draven got Celeste."
<Puppet> Gretchen looks Helen up and down and nods to her.
<Gara> "... What."
<Gara> "How. She's a goddess, that shouldn't... God fucking damn it!"
<Puppet> "... He's a vampire. She's a god. How?"
<Snowshoe> He rubs at one of his temples, willing the pain away. "He's got the guy she used to work for helping him. Don't really know how it works."
<Puppet> Gretchen's just fucking given up on hiding her fangs right now. Too stressful.
<Gara> "... If Draven got her, things are about to get really bad, really fast."
<Snowshoe> "Yep."
<Puppet> "Fucking vampires."
<Gara> "Goddamn it."
<Puppet> "No good pieces of..."
<Snowshoe> "Did you get the little guy?"
<Puppet> "Made the bastard explode into flames."
<lurkd> Sam detect magic.
<Snowshoe> "Well that works." Sam does that, his hand just permanently attached to the side of his head now.
<Puppet> Oh, also, Gretchen still has a cure moderate on.
<Puppet> "... Right, anyone hurt?"
<lurkd> Sam, the images are still trickling in.  You hear some holy celestial chanting with Draven's maniacal laughter in the background.
<lurkd> You can see Celeste regressing into a black viper.
<lurkd> Then the images stop.
<lurkd> Oniera sees all this too and falls to her knees.
<Puppet> She sighs and discharges the spell on Sam.
<Gara> "Oniera? What's happening?"
<Snowshoe> "Think Celeste's dead. Or as close as she can get." Does this heal headaches?
<Puppet> Fuck if I know.
<Gara> "..."
<Gara> Helen sits by a wall.
<Snowshoe> lurkd does cure moderate wounds cure headaches Y/N
<Puppet> "... A... God?"
<lurkd> Yes
<Gara> She tilts her head back onto it.
<Gara> "Yes."
<lurkd> "Mother isn't dead."
<Snowshoe> "Thank you." Samael sighs and drops his hand. "Can she come back from that?"
<Puppet> "Gods don't die... What /is he/ though?"
<Gara> "I don't know anymore."
<Snowshoe> "Basically a god."
<lurkd> Oniera: "Bound... something divine... something stronger."
<Puppet> "Well, I personally don't even care."
<Puppet> "A vampire is a vampire."
<Gara> "And he's more."
<Puppet> "And he's still a pushover for cure spells."
<lurkd> Oniera: "Draven can't trap mother, not by himself."
<Snowshoe> Samael wonders if he could invent something that lets him pull nearly two hours in unused spider climb back into himself. "So who?"
<Gara> "Then he has someone else, doesn't her."
<lurkd> Oniera: "I-I don't know.  I can't sense her anymore."
<Gara> "Then we have to assume he's bound."
<Snowshoe> "Do you know where she was?"
<lurkd> Oniera: "Only someone like a celestial being or an extremely powerful cleric can perform something like this."
<lurkd> She shudders.
<Gara> "Then we'll figure something out..."
<lurkd> "Why?"
<Puppet> Gretchen rubs her temple. "I'm sorry... I have to go home. I need a drink."
<lurkd> Oniera runs off for the cultist leaders to take her home.
<Snowshoe> "... Bye."
<Gara> "I wish I could drink."
<lurkd> FIREWORKS!
<lurkd> *POP* *CRACK* *BOOM*