Don has joined the game.

[Don] Aloha

[James] I am away from the keyboard.

[Sedlack] howdy, all

[James] I am back at the keyboard.

[Don] Hey, awesome map of saxlund, dude

[James] Yes, indeed. Very nice.

Brian has joined the game.

[James] SEBBY!

[Jeff] I think we should go visit the shire

[Master] Thanks!

[Brian] Maybe Gandalf will put on a fireworks show!

[James] Is north UP on the Saxlund map?

[Brian] Hey, I gotta go AFK for a few, but wanted to log on to see messages. I'll be back in 15 minutes or so.

[James] need to test something...

[James] Arkady: DEX check: (d20+3) [5+3] 8

[Master] kewl.

[Master] Yes.

[Master] James -- yes.

[James] Praxis: Wilderness Lore: (d20+1) [6+1] 7

[Master] So Czina is kind of on the border of the orcish lands.

[James] Huh. Sound isn't working.

[Master] Are you using the Master/Client or the Client Only version?

[James] master/client

[James] I find most of the sounds annoying, but I do want to be notified if someone sends me a private message.

[Jeff] Does anyone know if Hall will be starting for KC today?

[Sedlack] Not offhand

[Sedlack] It's too late for roster changes in my league anyway

[Jeff] Yahoo gives ten more min

[Master] Jeff -- no, but Oates is listed as "probable."

[Master] Jared sends his regrets.

[Jeff] cool, thanks

[Master] Once Angie shows, we can start -- Joe said he might be delayed.

[Wellington] Okay, time to get into character.

[Wellington] Joanne, we happy?

[Joanne] Oh, yeah. We're happy.

[Wellington] My name's Wellington, and there's no way you're talking your way out of this shit.

[Don] Can someone exec-summary the last session?

[Joanne] Did you see the size of the wand cannon that he fired at us?

[Master] Did anyone save the text of it? I find it to be pretty quick reading, all told.

[Don] well, yes, www.blahedo.org/serendair

[James] Yes, I've got a copy too.

[Don] I'm trying to read it now, I was just wondering if someone could summarise

[Sedlack] The crappy situation in Czina is in large part due to this Eflense guy

[Master] Once you edit out all the WOO WOO KOR and Aliens references, there are only 30-40 lines, tops.

[Sedlack] Eflense has dragon turtles and lizardmen, as well as humans

[James] And his stooge the Mayor runs Townsville, er, I mean Czina

[Sedlack] We want to kick the ass of a cast of thousands

[James] Actually, I'd rather we reduce the cast first, before the ass kicking. :-)

[Sedlack] Right. Well, that was the "executive summary"

[James] So the idea now is the basic Smash 'n Grab

[James] Angie's coming on-line in a minute.

[Don] right, got it, thanks.

[James] We were planning to jump a lizardman patrol, and find out what kind of hold he has on them.

Angie has joined the game.

[Angie] Greetings

[Sedlack] Hi, Angie!

[James] Gah, I set the CD-R burn for 2x instead of 8x...

[Don] doh

[James] And now it is stuck at 4% done... that's not a good sign.

[Master] Hee.

[Tamora] So much for that blank.

[James] So we don't have maps, but I think we're ready.

[James] Meanwhile, back at the inn....

[Master] Hee.

[Master] Okay, is Brian back?

[Master] Guess not.

[Master] You reconvene at the inn. Dralafi is characteristically silent.

Wellington waits

Joanne looks nervous and out of her depth, but very very excited.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] While [Master] bates

[James] So let's mount up, we're going to look for a lizardman patrol.

[Master] Breakin' down the fourth wall, baby.

[James] Same GMW arrow/bolt setup as before.

[Master] Okay, everyone figure out where you are on that sucker.

[Master] Does everyone have the layout of the center of Eflense's camp?

[James] yes.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Jawohl

[Roger (Jeff)] yes

Jeff has left the game.

[Defthon (Don)] glad you called attention to it. :)

[James] Ruh Roh!

[Lia (Angie)] Got it

Jeff has joined the game.

[Master] Eflense is camped about two thirds of the way through Galloway westward from Czina.

[Master] BTW, political note:

[James] ... you're a liberal democrat?

[Master] Eflense currently controls all of and the Pennines.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] All of what and the Pennines?

[Master] He controls areas to the sides of the rivers, 20-50 miles out as well.

[Master] Sorry, all of Mercia.

[Master] Eflense itself is a barony in northwest Mercia.

[Defthon (Don)] so he has a dumbbell-shaped gerrymandered district?

[Lia (Angie)] Warning, my hands are not working well today, so my typing could get interesting

[Master] He has Densburg, but none of the other major points on the map.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So the "Eflense" in red on the map is where the camp is, and not where the Barony is, right?

[Master] Angie -- sorry to hear that, and noted. If you'd like to set up a voice chat with me or James, that might be a good approach.

[Master] Other way around.

[Master] Sorry, said northwest, meant northeast.

[Defthon (Don)] no, the EFlense in red is the barony.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm on the phone with James

[Master] Bueno.

[Defthon (Don)] The camp is near the H of Heironeus, I think.

[Master] Feel free to voicechat me, then, for maximum effect. :)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay, the NW/NE mixup threw me

[Master] Closer to the i on Heironeous.

[Master] Yah, I figured that out right away when you asked. M'badd.

[Master] He controls nothing south of the rivers; that's still Horse Lord territory.

[Master] By the way, the rivers are imaginatively named "The Cumbria," "The Dens," and "West River."

[Master] WIth "West River" being the east-west one that intersects the north-south "Dens."

[Master] Yes, people live on the east part of the West river. I swear, this whole continent is on opium.

[Master] Did I miss anything?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] You're the DM, you'd know

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (that they're all on opium)

[Master] Hee.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Jeez, the radio is playing xmas songs. ACK.

[Master] Please do ask questions if anything is unclear.

[Defthon (Don)] If it's by the 'i', how is there a big river by the camp?

[Master] It's south of the i, on the Saxlund.

[Master] :)

[Master] I need a laser pointer or something. :)

[Defthon (Don)] On the West River, then?

[Defthon (Don)] Ya, really. Suggest it to the klooge guys.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The Saxlund is the river at the bottom

[Master] The West River is an east-west river going from the border of old Saxlund into the Dens.

[Master] The Dens runs north-south from the Blasted Lands into the Saxlund.

[Defthon (Don)] Oh aha. alles klar.

[Defthon (Don)] I was confused when you said just three river names.

[Master] Right.

James has left the game.

[Master] The Cumbria runs north-south into the Saxlund as well.

[Defthon (Don)] ruh roh!

[Master] Enh. He'll be back. :)

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, the Cumbria I got.

[Master] Okay, so when we left the intrepid group, you'd just flown out to an area near Eflense's camp and checked it out

[Master] Anyone have knowledge: nobility?

[Master] Or a really huge Sense Motive?

[Defthon (Don)] Are Wellington and Joanne with us?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Or bardic lore?

[Master] Yes.

[Master] Bardic Lore would have a gigantic penalty; this would be used to interpret the layout of the camp.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Knowledge (nobility & royalty): (d20+3) [13+3] 16

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oh, my badd. I misinterpreted the purpose

[Master] No worries.

[Lia (Angie)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [6+14] 20

[Master] Shottamip starts picking out heraldry in the various parts of the camp.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How fun.

[Lia (Angie)] James is working on his connection

[Master] Essentially, the center of the camp has Eflense, his personal guard,

[Master] (tell James to reboot, Angie -- I'm getting a lot of abortive connections from him.)

[Master] what appears to be some kind of Wizard's Corps, and a Temple of Hextor.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hextor?

[Lia (Angie)] It's not his station, his DSL line is down

[Master] Around them is an unheralded area which is obviously the Lizardmen.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] LE, god of tyranny

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let's avoid the Wizard/Cleric Corps, yes?

[Master] Including a beaching area for the Dragon Turtles. Wilderness Lore?

[Lia (Angie)] james is going to work on the DSL line and will call me back

[Master] (Bardic Knowledge ok for this one.)

[Master] Ok, roger that, Angie.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Wilderness Lore: (d20+6) [9+6] 15

[Master] Arkady: bardic knowledge: 21

[Lia (Angie)] He asks that I not get him killed

[Master] Hee.

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Wilderness lore: (d20+4+2) [16+4+2] 22

[Master] These are obviously not mature dragon turtles, as they grow to some 40 feet long.

[Master] These Dragon Turtles are the size of extremely large horses.

[Master] ...more like small elephants.

[Master] They're ridden by 3-4 Lizardmen.

[Defthon (Don)] Gaah.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Fastitocalettes.

[Defthon (Don)] ?

[Master] The Lizardmen are armed with short swords, wooden shields, and longspears. Simple but fairly effective. They wear Studded Leather armor.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 'fastitocalon' = 'dragon turtle'

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (at least in zAngband)

[Master] Around the camp, with roads radiating out so that the center folks can ride through them quickly, are the various vassals of Eflense.

[Brian] hey guys i'm back...finished catching up

[Master] Each vassal keeps more or less to his own area, and they all provide what can be generously described as "foot soldiers."

[Lia (Angie)] AKA thugs

[Master] Some extremely complicated calculus of loyalty to the Baron and size and quality of force supplied determine's each vassal's position in the camp.

[Master] Finally, there are at least two mercenary companies, which have their own colors.

[Master] One appears to be a siegeworks specialist.

James has joined the game.

[Master] The other . . . it's not so clear.

[James] Anyone save the transcript?

[Master] Don, could you . . . yah.

[Defthon (Don)] doing so right now

[James] THX.

[Master] What is clear is that it is the vassals who do the patrolling and basic security for the camp. They are obviously viewed as more expendible than the lizardmen.

[Lia (Angie)] So it could be hard to capture a lizard

[Defthon (Don)] www.blahedo.org/serendair/transcript-031116-1.html

[Master] There would be some effort involved, yes.

[Master] Perhaps even a modicum of cleverness.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC ya think?

[Master] Oh -- the larger vassals have various temples and shrines.

[Lia (Angie)] do we do clever?

[Defthon (Don)] *temples*?

[Master] Fahrlaghn is reasonably popular, as is Kord.

[Defthon (Don)] Not exactly the most mobile of camps, eh?

[Master] No, this sucker moves slow.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We have a wizard now, he ought to be able to do clever.

[Master] *laughs*

[Master] Overall, about 2000 individuals. 1000 Lizardfolk, 100 Eflense folk, 900 in vassals and mercenaries.

[Master] Plus or minus.

[Defthon (Don)] Those are great odds. Bring 'em on.

[Lia (Angie)] LOL

[Brian] maybe we can get the local paladins of heironus to rise up against them to help us

[Brian] is this a little easier to distinugish from angie?

[Brian] not really

[Defthon (Don)] Didn't you have white, Brian?

[Brian] what colors aren't being used?

[Master] Yah, Aric should be white. And proud.

[Brian] ok i can do that

[Brian] i used to be cyan

[Master] Confederate flags on the back of his pickup truck and all that.

[Brian] i figured klooge had lost my setting

[Brian] howard dean is the candidate for me! anyway back to the lizardmen

[Defthon (Don)] Wow, from subtle to unsubtle to 2x4 in just six lines

[Master] Who are more Kerry supporters, by and large. I think they like the hair.

[Defthon (Don)] Good work

[Defthon (Don)] Anyway.

[Master] Yah, the =jarf vibe is to beat a joke into the ground, then start digging so you can beat it more.

[Master] I've had to go to great efforts not to follow this pattern around Tamora, who gets a mite impatient.

[Defthon (Don)] So we're still going to try capturing lizardmen?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Perhaps one of us could disguise him/herself as a lizardman and sneak into the camp that way

[Master] But we digress.

[Defthon (Don)] As if.

[Roger (Jeff)] What's the Alchemy DC for tear gas?

[Master] What's tear gas?

[Defthon (Don)] I'm thinking the least protected lizardmen are the turtle riders

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What are you "as if"ing, Don

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ?

[Defthon (Don)] notwithstanding the dragon turtles themselves, of course.

[Defthon (Don)] I was as-if-ing the disguise idea.

[Defthon (Don)] You don't think they'd catch on?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Change Self, man.

[James] Huh, that's a good idea Don. We're likely to catch a DT rider patrol out alone somewhere.

[Defthon (Don)] Works better if you have some notion of their cultural stuff.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Granted

[Defthon (Don)] What do they speak, draconian? Shot can speak it, but what do any of us know about blending into lizardmen culture?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Any patroller is a good idea. Do the DTs patrol?

[James] I think the disguise would work better w/ more up-close exposure to lizardmen.

[Defthon (Don)] Even if the DTs don't patrol, they're right on a border to the camp.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] The language is called "draconic" btw

[Defthon (Don)] OOC er, right, knew that

[Lia (Angie)] I also speak draconic, but don't do subtle

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (Draconians, otoh, are those evil creatures made from good dragon eggs in Dragonlance.)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, we can always use Tongues to get around the "who speaks what language" problems

[James] yup.

[Lia (Angie)] Can Vel get closer to the lizarddmen?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do we really want to sneak in? It seems simpler to start with the "grab a few" idea.

[Defthon (Don)] They don't do patrols, though. The vassals do that.

[Master] Right. The Lizardmen are pretty tightly controlled by Eflense, it seems.

Joe has joined the game.

[Master] JOOOOOE

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Joe!

[Joe] Greetings all.

[James] Joe!

[Master] Don, could you catch JOe up with a transcript?

[Lia (Angie)] Iwas thinking sneak as prelude to grab

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Does the camp form a semicircle bounded by the river?

[Master] Essentially. It wiggles a little based on the terrain.

[Joe] OW

[Joe] MY ARMS

[Joe] YOU GUYS

[Master] Heh.

[Joe] SERIOUSLY

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So they're counting strongly on the river as a defense for the central area.

[Master] Tam -- yes.

Joanne watches this discussion avidly.

[James] So can we create a little disturbance, and draw off a DT patrol?

Wellington watches it with a little less importance attached to it.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hmmm...we might be able to catch them off-guard by coming at them from out of the river

[Master] You don't see any DT patrols.

[Defthon (Don)] That's what I've been thinking, yes.

[Lia (Angie)] How long can you hold your breath?

[Master] Or, rather, none that leave the camp. The DTs are used mainly for internal security.

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "Water Breathing"

[Shottamip (Tamora)] "Invisible and Flying"

[Defthon (Don)] Do we have a notion of how we'll subdue a lizardman, btw?

[Master] "Wet Plate Mail"

[Master] Why with a green lizardman gun!

[James] Whack the lizardman on the head until he stops moving?

[Roger (Jeff)] anvil

[Defthon (Don)] OOC is the gun green, or the lizardman?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Amusingly, I was specifically thinking "Subdue." Which is the name of one of my spells.

[Master] OOC: Yes!

[Defthon (Don)] Ah, convenient.

[James] The spell is fine too.

[Lia (Angie)] We do want the lizard to talk

Velkyna (Joe) snaps out of the daydreaming she's been in the last half hour.

[Defthon (Don)] Yes, and he can talk once we've got him away from the camp.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm just saying it is harder to get usefull info from dead

[Defthon (Don)] Hence, "subdue".

[Velkyna (Joe)] Info is also limited to a certain number of questions.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (from the dead)

[Lia (Angie)] So how close does Shot need to get for "subdue"?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, let's keep our captive

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (s) alive.

Master says, "Why not have Shottamip teleport somewhere, cast Subdue, grab the guy, and teleport back? Quick, easy, painless."

[Shottamip (Tamora)] 440 feet and line of sight

[Master] Oops, that was supposed to be Wellington.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Seems like a reasonable plan. As long as she's accurate.

[Wellington] Hell, have her fly over the outer camp, stay invisible, wait for a Lizardman to take a leak or something, and go wild.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "I can also, y'know, bonk someone on the head. All sneaky-like."

[Wellington] Even better, do it at night. Shot, how's your night vision?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't believe it would come along on the teleport. It must be willing.

[James] Does Shot feel OK with this plan? All the risk is on her.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I get a sneak attack for subdual damage with a club or sap)

[Wellington] I think "unconscious" counts as willing. I could be wrong.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Now, if I can get close enough to talk to one... a simple charm or something could fix the willingness.

[James] Yes, I believe Wellington is correct.

[Defthon (Don)] I was thinking more "subdue" then "invisible" and cart him off by hand, but I like Wellington's idea too.

[Defthon (Don)] But don't you have to be super-familiar with an area for TP to work?

Wellington shrugs

[Lia (Angie)] But does subdue mean unconscious?

[Velkyna (Joe)] _I'd_ make sure he was unconscious _and_ subdued.

[Wellington] Here's the problem, too. He's got to have some kind of magic wards wandering around.

[Wellington] What happens if Shot is detected and they drop an antimagic shield or something on the area?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, but this is a huge fucking army.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They can't be everywhere.

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, I was just thinking about that.

Wellington glances at Shottamip

[Arkady (James)] Yes, they've got lots of wizards, and they're likely to have many preparations.

[Arkady (James)] I know I would.

[Defthon (Don)] But if we were planning to cart it off by hand, that's less of a worry, no?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Sense Motive: (d20+6) [6+6] 12

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [19+14] 33

[Velkyna (Joe)] BOOM

[Lia (Angie)] WOW

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm perfectly willing to take some risks for whatever we think is most likely to succeed.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

Wellington subsides

Arkady (James) smiles a little.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (sense motive: the last few months have made Shottamip feel pretty invincible :)

[Master] Oh, before I forget -- HBBD Chris!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Thanks.

[Arkady (James)] So how many rings in the tree?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] 29?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 28.

[Brian] 28, right?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Happy Fucking Birthday!

[Velkyna (Joe)] So, we sneaking in magic or mundane?

[Lia (Angie)] Or both?

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Broke, blind, or bedlam?"

[Roger (Jeff)] Yes, might as well do both.

[Defthon (Don)] I think the sneaking should definitely be magic.

[Arkady (James)] Fly in low and slow, invisible, from the river.

[Lia (Angie)] Any idea if they have protections in that direction?

[Lia (Angie)] (We would)

[Aric (Brian)] This isn't my area. I just want us to do what's most likely to work, and try to avoid casualties. If we want to win over the Lizardmen, killing a bunch of them won't help.

[Arkady (James)] Very true.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

[Arkady (James)] At the very least, we want them to leave, and not be so pissed off that they come after us.

[Lia (Angie)] How about Shot goes magic, with Vel as backup?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That does send the highest-powered team.

[Defthon (Don)] Seems reasonable.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (Go Sun card.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm okay with that.

[Arkady (James)] Fine w/ me.

[Roger (Jeff)] Me too

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Seems alright, as long as the rest of us are close and message'd up

[Lia (Angie)] So where should the rest of us wait?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] How wide is the river?

[Arkady (James)] On carpets, by or over the river.

[Arkady (James)] Keep in mind, Message only has about a 200' range.

[Defthon (Don)] Right, so how wide is the river?

[Defthon (Don)] And how much cover is there on the other side?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Once I start casting a spell, anything in a certain range is going to hear. That's a concern.

[Defthon (Don)] Ooh, good catch.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't know that we can sneak out after that.

[Defthon (Don)] Well, we'd want to have a single isolated LM to subdue anyway

[Velkyna (Joe)] ... or two.

[Defthon (Don)] Do LM wander off to take a leak?

[Lia (Angie)] So can Vel scout to find someone alone?

[Velkyna (Joe)] They have to go on patrols or something, maybe three or four at a pack.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What's the scale on that camp map?

[Master] Def -- yes, but not as far as one would like.

[Master] It's not entirely to scale.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We keep saying "they have to patrol," but I think the GM is telling us that they don't.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Hm.

[Master] You observed for only a few hours, but so far as you can tell, the Lizardmen do not leave the camp in anything

[Lia (Angie)] Any info on what size groups they do go out in, and when?

[Defthon (Don)] Right, we can't catch them on patrol, yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Do we want to try to nab a lizardman officer in a tent or something? Maybe the officers get some alone time.

[Master] other than squad level, riding the turtles, to scare the fuck out of the vassals and come back.

[Defthon (Don)] Which is why we need to sneak in to catch one

[Defthon (Don)] Good thought, Vel.

[Arkady (James)] For my edification, what's squad-level in actual numbers?

Velkyna (Joe) looks mildly shocked that someone acknowledged a suggestion of hers.

[Master] 8 or so.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "startled"

[Defthon (Don)] Hey, what's the radius on a silence spell?

[Master] With two squads making up a platoon of 16.

[Velkyna (Joe)] FIFTEN FOOT RADIUS

[Arkady (James)] Silence is 15'

[Velkyna (Joe)] It used to be in the name.

[Master] Actually, gimme another Bardic Knowledge/Wilderness Lore/ et cetera

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: bardic knowledge: (d20+12) [12+12] 24

[Master] Info on Lizardmen culture.

[Master] Oh!

[Master] There's a new SRD out at opensourcegaming.org

[Defthon (Don)] If Vel carried a silence spell to a lizardman officer, Shot could start her chanting (from just outside th radius) without the LM raising alarm.

[Master] We are NOT migrating to 3.5.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Woo.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Why would we? It's just a scam to get us to buy more books anyway.

[Master] But there are some rules clarifications regarding which Knowledge skills apply Synergy bonuses to which skills,

[Master] and there are a batch of new Feats, some of which do not suck.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The problem there is that they'd still hear Shottamip

[Defthon (Don)] Yes, but how long does it take to chant the spell?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, others in the camp would hear. I don't mind if the target hears.

[Master] Finally, James and Brian should scan the new Bard/Monk classes over and ask if they want any changes made.

[Defthon (Don)] How loud is it?

[Velkyna (Joe)] She can mutter.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If we're sending Vel in, all quiet like, it would seem to make more sense to just have Vel subdue the Lizardman

[Arkady (James)] It doesn't have to be _that_ loude.

[Velkyna (Joe)] It doesn't have to be bellowed.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I think I have to use a normal speaking voice?

[Defthon (Don)] Can Vel do that?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I can bang 'em on the head, with a club.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What can't Vel do?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (as she stated, she'd get sneak attack damage, as subdual damage)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Then how do we remove him without notice?

[Aric (Brian)] Mike, I'll look it over before the next gaming day.

[Defthon (Don)] Hrm....

[Velkyna (Joe)] (in other words, 1d6 + 6d6 of subdual on one pop.

[Defthon (Don)] That's convenient.

[Roger (Jeff)] Is it possible to do a subdual coup-de-grace?

[Master] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] It's not a coup.

[Defthon (Don)] We don't want to _kill_ it.

[Arkady (James)] Shot monitors Vel, when she sees the LM drop (perhaps using her familiar to communicate), she moves in and teleports all.

[Lia (Angie)] Could Vel move the LM to somewhere Shot can cast the teleport?

[Velkyna (Joe)] It's an attack against an awake target, just like any other sneak attack.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That has merit.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That would work reasonably well.

[Defthon (Don)] Does she have enough familiarity to TP back here?

[Roger (Jeff)] But lizardmen go to sleep, right?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] sure, anyplace we set down and I look around for a bit

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Presumably they sleep in shifts

[Shottamip (Tamora)] unless I have really bad luck.

[Arkady (James)] Well, where is our base camp? On the south side of the Saxlund river perhaps?

[Master] A little ways off, but sure.

[Master] The south side of the Saxlund is a steppe-y area, with little in the way of inhabitants.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] A few miles out seems wise, not to be noticed.

[Lia (Angie)] How does distance affect the teleport?

[Defthon (Don)] So, not much cover, then.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Doesn't. I could teleport home if Seren's Folly weren't in the way.

[Master] Not a ton, no.

[Arkady (James)] OK.

[Defthon (Don)] Summary so far:

[Defthon (Don)] They don't leave camp, so we sneak in to get one.

[Lia (Angie)] Also, if we are planning for the possibility of the LM returning we should be careful how much he sees

[Defthon (Don)] Vel and Shot will do the sneaking, somehow.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Somehow?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh. yeah, Shottamip.

[Defthon (Don)] Exact method of subudal undecided, but leaning towards Vel sneakattacking.

[Velkyna (Joe)] She'll have to figure something out.

Wellington cuts up a pear and offers a slice to Aedean

[Arkady (James)] Or just keep the LM blindfolded.

[Defthon (Don)] LM goes down and Shot TPs herself, Vel, and LM back to our base a few miles south.

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I don't think we should let the lizardman return until after we've done our thing

Wellington shrugs and offers it to Joanne.

[Defthon (Don)] Well, we can keep him tied up, yes.

Joanne accepts it nimbly and eats it quickly.

[Lia (Angie)] I mean if we end up "recruiting" him

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'll make him cooperative. No problem.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can get a few days off one spell.

Wellington offers a slice to Dralafi with a small smile.

Dralafi looks startled at the act and accepts.

Wellington munches.

[Defthon (Don)] Mode of sneaking: invisibility?

[Velkyna (Joe)] For me, yeah.

[Defthon (Don)] That's best for Shot at least.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Invisible and flying, I can be fairly quiet.

Praxis swoops in and steals a slice from Wellington's hand.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Plus I'm all sneaky like.

[Defthon (Don)] Right.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't have Vel's mad skillz.

[Defthon (Don)] So is there anything else to work out?

Wellington starts, then shrugs and cuts another one.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Who does?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Plus, Vel will be deliver a Silence spell.

[Arkady (James)] Praxis, mind your manners!

[Velkyna (Joe)] what silence u got?

Wellington smiles.

[Arkady (James)] I got the spell. Can cast it on an object.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, I don't see any use from a silence spell... did I miss something?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can't silence the whole camp, so people are bound to hear.

[Velkyna (Joe)] i say u got to silence me

[Roger (Jeff)] where to TP to is still undecided, right?

[Arkady (James)] So the LM doesn't make noise when he gets whacked on the head.

[Defthon (Don)] That was to prevent the LM raising alarm, but we've changed plans.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So that suspicions aren't immediately raised if Vel doesn't knock him out on the first try

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, sure, Vel could be silenced.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, but anything inside the silence, like, say, me CLUBBING a baby seal, would be silenced.

[Master] Okay, Shot and Vel are flying in quietly, landing somewhere, bonking a Lizardman, and TP'ing back?

[Defthon (Don)] Good point, Aedean.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh, good idea. I was counting on Vel to take him out in one silent blow. :)

[Defthon (Don)] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] BONK BONK

[Master] Keep in mind that Shot cannot cast spells within a Silenced area.

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Master] ...or am I missing something?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, hit him, then throw the pebble or whatever away.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll drop the silence rock when it's time to TP.

[Defthon (Don)] Fortunately, she can stand just outside the 15' radius.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] She can't cast them if she's Silenced.

[Master] Right.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, I have to touch them to TP.

[Velkyna (Joe)] SILENCE ROCK

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, right, the pebble thing then.

[Arkady (James)] So Vel throws away the rock after the bonking.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shall we pick a temporary campsite now so I can get familiar with it?

[Lia (Angie)] Having silence occur could also be a distraction

[Defthon (Don)] Inventory: invis (on Vel and Shot); silence (pebble); TP (Vel, Shot, & LM)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Vel has the Ring

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Arkady (James)] But improved invis on Vel would be a good thing.

[Master] Before you die, Vel uses the Ring.

[Defthon (Don)] Also the flying in---Shot's got shoes; how does Vel fly?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Vel sneaks.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ImpInvis would be preferrable as there's an attack involved.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Vel's sneaking is superb.

[Roger (Jeff)] over water?

[Velkyna (Joe)] FLAWLESS SNEAKING

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: I'm wandering off for about 10 minutes to pick up carryout. Be back in a few.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] It wouldn't surprise me.

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't think I can carry a full-size human. Maybe a gnome or halfling.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Can someone dump me on that side of the river via carpet?

[Arkady (James)] Perhaps someone should fly Vel in on a carpet.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Jinx!

[Arkady (James)] The pilot and carpet would be invis too.

[Velkyna (Joe)] You can even dump me a ways downriver.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll hoof it upriver.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Not if we dropped her off sufficiently far from the camp

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How do I avoid losing Vel?

[Defthon (Don)] The camp is huge, though---more than 2000 people.

[Defthon (Don)] Hold hands?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] um.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Right. We'll go together.

[Lia (Angie)] Message?

[Arkady (James)] Have your snake stay w/ Vel.

[Master] Does Roger know "Fly"?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] ooh.

[Roger (Jeff)] one sec

[Arkady (James)] You can check in on Vel via empathy.

[Defthon (Don)] This works better if the dropoff is near the beach.

[Master] Also, excellent idea.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, we use Message or the familiar and landmarks.

[Roger (Jeff)] yes

[Arkady (James)] empathy w/ familiar has 1mile range.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "I'm near that big ass tree."

[Master] Well, pipe up already!

[Master] :)

[Arkady (James)] OK, fly spell on Vel, improved invis on Shot and Vel. Silence on rock.

[Master] Good old rock.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Nothing beats rock.

[Arkady (James)] Except paper.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, I think our empathic link would keep things sufficiently clear.

[Roger (Jeff)] I didn't know fly wasn't target:personal

[Velkyna (Joe)] Poor predictable Bart.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Who has Fly?

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, we're set then?

[Master] Roger has Fly.

[Arkady (James)] Shot does the improved invis, Roger does the fly.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I

[Arkady (James)] Arkady does the silence.

[Velkyna (Joe)] FEEL SO ALIVE

[Velkyna (Joe)] FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME

[Velkyna (Joe)] AND I THINK I CAN FLY

[Master] (I can't deny Joe.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I think I can fly)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ironically, "Learning to Fly" is the song presently playing on RealPlayer.

[Master] Okay, to sum up:

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We have "Silent All These Years."

[Master] Vel and Shot fly over to the camp, being all stealthy-like.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Heh

[Defthon (Don)] OOC "Hotel California" here. Not a good omen.

[Master] They find an isolate sleeping lizardman and land near him.

[Arkady (James)] Well, they are silent and invis. That should be sneaky enough.

[Master] Then they pop him one, drop the Silence, and TP out of there.

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Master] Did I miss anything?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sounds like an accurate summary

[Defthon (Don)] Nope. Finding a LM sleeping indoors would be ideal

[Master] Okay, gimme a Spot check from Vel and Shot.

[Master] The better the check, the more inclement the encounter.

[Defthon (Don)] as it'd be more likely to know stuff

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel pulls a smooth oaken club out of her haversack. She pats it against her off hand, a satisfied look on her face.

[Defthon (Don)] inclement?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] You mean "less inclement", right?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Spot: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+12+1) [9+12+1] 22

[Master] Sorry, yes.

[Master] Beloved?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Spot: (d20+8) [20+8] 28

[Master] Ok, give me ten minutes.

[Lia (Angie)] COOL

[Velkyna (Joe)] BOOM

[Defthon (Don)] awesome, Shot

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Strictly speaking, if Vel is carrying my familiar, then that's less by 2.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC "Good Shot!"

[Defthon (Don)] ;)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Heh.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So, I hope you don't have a problem with snakes?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Whole lotta nothing going on in the IAA FFL.

[Roger (Jeff)] Dude, A.Thomas is outrushing M.Faulk

[Velkyna (Joe)] SNAKES?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Uh oih.

[Velkyna (Joe)] WHY'D IT HAVE TO BE SNAKES?

[Lia (Angie)] How are we keeping in touch with you?

[Arkady (James)] If you don't mind, I'd like to send Praxis along to keep in touch.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Nah, I'm just messing with ya.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That sounds sensible.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll just be a menagerie here.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So, you get a small green snake wrapped twice around your forearm for the next few minutes.

[Lia (Angie)] Hopefully complete with a lizard man

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm guessing. You're bigger than I am. She goes 3 or 4 times around my arm.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel's fairly lithe and skinny.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Call it 2.75 times.

[Defthon (Don)] Or possibly 2.6667.

[Defthon (Don)] Approximately.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] More like 2.4862948

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm still waiting from my .111111 copper piece from the bum rushing of the manor compound.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] She's smarter than, say, Defthon, so she won't bite you by accident or anything.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I WISH Defthon would bite me by accident or something.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ROWR

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, it annoys me when Defthon accidentally bites us

[Roger (Jeff)] LOL

[Aedean (Sedlack)] i m 2 slo

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Defthon (Don)] Hmm.

[Master] Shottamip spots a lizardman napping between a campfire and the river. Sux to be introverted.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 3rd and 7...You must throw to the tight end

[Don] I am away from the keyboard.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Vel, your move...

[Master] The creature is about six and a half feet tall, and it sleeps in its armor. It has a musty smell, not unpleasant.

[Master] When the Silence radius passes over it, it shifts in its sleep.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll sneaky up to it, club at the ready.

[Master] Move Silently being totally irrelevant here.

[Master] Gimme an initiative roll.

[Master] Lizardman Soldier #1: Initiative: 3

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Initiative: (d20+7) [3+7] 10

[Master] He looks like the silence might wake him up soon.

[Master] Vel goes first.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll quickly size him up and spank him around the neck/pressure points.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Attack 1: Base Attack [w] hits AC: ((d20+9)) [(16+9)] 25

[Master] That's a hit.

[Master] Roll subdual damage.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Base sneak attack damage of (6d6) [(3+3+3+5+5+1)] 20

[Velkyna (Joe)] Roll #1: (d3) [3] 3

[Velkyna (Joe)] So 23 total.

[Master] It doesn't work quite like it would on a human, but Vel gets the job done.

[Master] He's down.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] All right, throw the pebble off into the river a ways.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will stow her club, and try to heave the massive fucker over her shoulder.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Then toss the pebble and look for Shot.

[Master] He weighs about 260.

[Velkyna (Joe)] OOOOOOF

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I put a hand on Vel's arm.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Luckily, no one will hear the pebble splash

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [43] 43

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No problem.

[Master] Shottamip leaves.

[Arkady (James)] Don't need to carry him, right?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Uh...

[Master] Suddenly, a batch of torches flare up, and an immensely loud alarm goes off.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel doesn't necessarily know that.

[Master] Yep.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No Vel?

[Master] Heh.

[Master] Everybody leaves.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] OOOkay.

[Master] Apologies.

[Master] Lemme map up a campsite right quick.

[Roger (Jeff)] !

[Velkyna (Joe)] You know, we maybe should've left conventionally if things we going smoothly.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Once we get back, I think we want to load up on the carepts and hightail it a ways.

[Aric (Brian)] IT'S A TRAP

[Shottamip (Tamora)] D'you know, that didn't occur to me.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I thought the campsite was already " a ways" away

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You should have brought it up a bit earlier. :)

[Lia (Angie)] It's probably justsome sort of ward

[Velkyna (Joe)] I didn't occur to me either.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We should get the hell out of here, posthaste.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I didn't think that you'd be able to carry the guy.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Not very well.

[Velkyna (Joe)] My weight factor at STR10 is 33 lbs, which means I think I can max carry 6-8x that.

[Velkyna (Joe)] At a very minimal movement rate, which would've been fine on a carpet.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh well.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let's go have a chat somewhere, shall we?

[Velkyna (Joe)] ayup.

[Don] I am back at the keyboard.

[Master] Note: Not to scale and not comprehensive.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ... ?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How far away from the river and the camp are we?

[Master] The campsite. It's not to a good scale, and don't count the cots. :)

[Master] Couple miles.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We're HUGE!

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'M A GIANT

[Master] Hee.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Maybe we should go further?

[Master] They didn't see/hear what you did as you blinked out.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] But they might decide to search the area... hm.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Clearly, some of us are sharing cots. Question is: who?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I suppose we'd see them coming.

[Velkyna (Joe)] PICK ME PICK ME

[Master] Joanne gets cold at night.

[Master] Square/cube law and all that.

[Master] Plus, malnutrition.

[Arkady (James)] I'll ask Praxis to fly straight up, and have a look out.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel has a bedroll and a winter blanket and a wool cloak.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shall we try to gently wake our guest?

[Master] Lome Surinen does so, as well.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think we can figure something out.

[Roger (Jeff)] I think we should tie him up first

[Dralafi] I don't have much to do here. I'll take a carpet up.

[Velkyna (Joe)] USE ROPE

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, that would be unfriendly.

[Arkady (James)] We're not friends yet.

[Lia (Angie)] But we want to be

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel can be nearby for another clubbing if necessary.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can convince him more easily if the environment doesn't seem, ya know, at war.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If we disarm him, we should be fine

[Velkyna (Joe)] "In the event of mishap."

[Arkady (James)] OK

[Roger (Jeff)] ok

[Master] He is simply armed, with a short sword, a shield, a small knife, and a longspear which you left behind.

[Arkady (James)] But yeah, let's have Vel stay invisible.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will go invisible via Ring and be nearby with the club.

[Master] No boots, just leather armor over a cloth jerkin.

[Arkady (James)] Dammitt! I always wanted a longspear!

[Master] Well, it'll cost ya . . . 2 gp.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sounds like a personal problem

[Velkyna (Joe)] Huh huh uh huh uh huh ... you said "jerkin"

[Lia (Angie)] Who's questioning?

[Master] Who speaks Draconic?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shot

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Me me me.

[Master] That's what Lizardmen speak.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Wake him up nicely for me and I'll take care of everything.

[Lia (Angie)] And me, but I think Shot is a better choice

[Arkady (James)] Works for me. Lia can be the bad cop.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You can translate for them, if you like.

[Master] That's a really good approach.

[Master] A simple CLW will wake our little buddy.

[Lia (Angie)] I think most of the rest of us should not be present

[Arkady (James)] Oh, good idea.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] CLW.

[Wellington] I'd like to be here.

[Wellington] I'll be quiet.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Stick around.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ditch a Det. Evil for it.

[Roger (Jeff)] I will be in the tent and peek out of the flap

Joanne looks to Vel for direction.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If I'm going to tell him that we're all his friends, we may as well all be in sight.

[Defthon (Don)] But not necessarily right up close.

[Lia (Angie)] I'd rather wait toe reveal our numbers

[Arkady (James)] Well, we don't want to show our whole hand just yet.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If he has high magic resistance, then someone can knock him out again.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Before going invisible, Vel pats Joanne on the shoulder. "Stay by Aric," she says, assuringly.

[Defthon (Don)] In fact, it'd make sense to have most of us in a cluster listening to Lia translate.

Joanne nods

[Defthon (Don)] (Or Shot translate if Lia interrogates, of course.)

[Joanne] Eric's tied for "most imposing"; where do y'all want him?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Actually, I think I can try multiple times.

Aric (Brian) smiles at Joanne, indicating a spot partially obscured by his bulk.

[Lia (Angie)] I do think Shot should have some visible backup

[Master] Dangit, I thought I'd un-chatted her.

[Master] ok

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, Aedean'll be present, since he's chucking the CLW anyway

[Lia (Angie)] Shot should question

[Aedean (Sedlack)] And Lia's playing bad coop

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I have to at least be the one to start off the with spell.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] with the spell.

[Velkyna (Joe)] To reiterate, Vel is invisible with her club at the ready.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Are we ready?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 3-on-1 is pretty good against an unarmed person

[Master] Weapons sheathed, I assume?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah

[Arkady (James)] yes, that's fine.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Except possibly Vel, yes.

[Lia (Angie)] Yes

[Velkyna (Joe)] Well, except for Vel (invisible)

[Master] Bueno, let's rock.

[Defthon (Don)] How are we getting translations?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lia

[Velkyna (Joe)] Arkady/Tongues?

[Defthon (Don)] Way over there? Or is she Messageing?

[Master] Arkady should use a Tongues and Message spell to do a nifty UN-style instant translation.

[Arkady (James)] I'll do it. We want Lia to be the silent imposing type.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] DON'T WAIT FOR THE TRANSLATION. ANSWER THE QUESTION.

[Arkady (James)] I conference in everyone.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC What is that from Joe?

[Master] ST VI

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Aedean?

[Master] Aedean leads, then Shottamip follows.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (ayup)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yep. Let's do it

Lizardman Soldier awakens with a start, then reaches for his weapons automatically.

[Master] Shottamip?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Geas: compels the target creature to obey her command

[Master] Aedean, Arkady, Defthon -- Spellcraft checks.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We are your friends and companions; you want to travel with us and answer our questions.

[Master] Dralafi: Spellcraft: 16

[Velkyna (Joe)] (is that the actual Geas spell, or a "Shottamip name" for something else?)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Spellcraft: (d20+1+5) [7+1+5] 13

[Arkady (James)] no spellcraft.

[Defthon (Don)] agh, don't have that---what's the check?

Dralafi snorts and shrugs

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Int

[Master] Skilled only.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oop

[Master] Oh, Roger, too. Thanks!

Lizardman Soldier shakes his head, confused.

[Roger (Jeff)] Roger: Spellcraft: (d20+9) [14+9] 23

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What's your name?

Lizardman Soldier says something not incredibly pronouncable by humanoid tongues.

[Lizardman Soldier] "Sslet'm" in a human tongue.

[Lizardman Soldier] Where am I . . .?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm Lady Shottamip. We're camped here.

Lizardman Soldier looks relaxed but still way off-balanced.

[Lizardman Soldier] Oh. Okay.

[Lizardman Soldier] I must have lost my memory when I was hit on the head.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Okay guys, where do we want to start?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Not surprising; do you feel okay now?

[Lizardman Soldier] I am fit to serve, my Lady.

[Lizardman Soldier] (thinks for a moment; his head cocks like that of a bird.)

[Lizardman Soldier] Is a Lady like . . . a shaman? Human titles are hard to remember?

[Defthon (Don)] Ask him what his rank is.

[Arkady (James)] Ask him who is his commander, from there, work into where he's from.

[Lia (Angie)] Why does he wofk for Elfense?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] This last part is key

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hmm. Probably a lot like a shaman, yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (tell him you're a commander type for the humans)

[Lizardman Soldier] Thank you, my lady.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm a commander among the humanoids.

Lizardman Soldier sits up straighter.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What is your rank or status among your people?

[Sslet'm] I am a warrior.

[Sslet'm] In the New Ways, I am called a Private.

[Defthon (Don)] Damn.

[Lia (Angie)] New Ways?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Why have your people come to this land, and agreed to take orders from Eflense?

[Velkyna (Joe)] New World Order

[Defthon (Don)] Since being recruited to the army of Eflense.

[Master] Does Lia say that out loud?

[Velkyna (Joe)] NO

[Lia (Angie)] No

[Defthon (Don)] Lia, you should keep quiet...

[Sslet'm] Er.

Sslet'm looks like that was a lot of questions at once.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] *sigh*

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How did your army come to be in this land?

[Sslet'm] My . . . army? I am sorry, milady (he looks distressed, which is almost comical on his reptilian face), but I do not understand you?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Huh.

[Sslet'm] Oh!

[Sslet'm] You mean the warband!

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, thank you.

[Sslet'm] Yes, we are bound by oath to the human Eflense.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Suxxor)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Why did you choose to swear this oath?

[Sslet'm] Or, rather, I am bound by oath to my clan, and our chiefs say that such an oath exists.

Sslet'm is pleased by this precision

[Defthon (Don)] (so are we)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do you know why your chiefs have done this?

[Sslet'm] I am sorry, my Lady, but it is not my place to question these things.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh well.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Anyone?

[Sslet'm] Eflense gave us the New Ways, and they have made us strong.

[Sslet'm] He gave us the New Lands, and our women are fertile and have many children.

[Defthon (Don)] Who is his commander, and what is the chain of command?

[Defthon (Don)] Describe the New Ways.

[Defthon (Don)] Where are the "Old" Lands?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Please tell me more about the New Ways.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Eflense is smart. He will make us go.)

[Sslet'm] The New Ways are the ways of war which he has taught us.

[Defthon (Don)] In 200 words or less, compare and contrast life before Eflense to current life with the New Ways.

[Sslet'm] The drills and the human weapons, which we have learned to maintain.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How long ago did your people move to the New Lands?

[Sslet'm] He taught us of ranks and formations.

Sslet'm looks very proud of his success in this

[Defthon (Don)] Does Eflense give commands directly to the lizardmen, or does Sslet'm hear only from his warband leaders?

[Sslet'm] Not long . . .

[Master] jas

[Shottamip (Tamora)] A few moons?

[Roger (Jeff)] WEE JAS

[Angie] I am away from the keyboard.

[Sslet'm] More . . . three full years, I think.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Where did you live before that?

[Sslet'm] I do not remember it well, as I was a . . . child? Yes, that is your term.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (their life cycle is pretty short)

[Sslet'm] We wandered very much, and my . . . parents? told me that we were once in a very different place.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You know that the New Lands are better, and your people are happier there.

[Sslet'm] But Semuanya found us at last, and now we are prosperous.

[Angie] I am back at the keyboard.

[Sslet'm] Yes, that is so.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Please, who or what is Semuanya?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Lizard man god = Semuanya)

[Master] (Shottamip would have known that. S'cool.)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Okay. Nifty.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So their lives are better now and they feel that they're back in touch with their god.

[Aric (Brian)] Message: It will not be easy to wrest Elfense's control.

Sslet'm glances away from Shottamip and spots Lia. He gasps.

[Velkyna (Joe)] THE DRAGON ARMOR

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Is something wrong?

[Velkyna (Joe)] USE THE DRAGON ARMOR

Sslet'm 's eyes are the size of saucers

[Defthon (Don)] oops.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Holy shit, we should fake Lia/Defthon with the dragon armor as Semuanya returned.

[Defthon (Don)] (I'd be wearing dragon armour too)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Semuanya is male)

[Sslet'm] E . . . ah . . .

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I hope that dragonscale armor isn't a killing offense, or this may be hard to explain.

[Aric (Brian)] (But he's a god right? They can change that.)

[Sslet'm] Ss . . . t'k

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "I am wearing your cousin"

Lia (Angie) steps forward slightly

Sslet'm 's eyes widen yet more.

[Lia (Angie)] Why are you afraid?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lia's armor is what again? From some sacrified good dragon?

Sslet'm breathes a sigh of relief.

[Sslet'm] You are . . . wearing armor.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Lia's is the gold dragon IIRC; Defthon is red dragon)

[Lia (Angie)] Yes, what did you think?

[Defthon (Don)] I'm red, yes.

[Master] Emerald dragon, actually.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, we have no full dragons among us at this time.

Sslet'm shakes his head.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh, rigjht.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC NICE CAVEAT

[Sslet'm] That I was dead.

Sslet'm perks up

[Sslet'm] We are told that the Orcs are lead by a half-dragon, yes? He is evil incarnate.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, that is right.

[Sslet'm] This is part of the New Ways, that we should know about these things.

[Sslet'm] I was distracted by the armor, and did not see the human face atop it.

[Lia (Angie)] I am only descended from dragons.

[Defthon (Don)] Interesting. Wait, what alignment are the lizardmen?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Did we expect them to be anti-orc? Are all humans anti-orc around here, including Eflense?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I thought lizardmen were neutral.

[Wellington] About a decade ago, the Horse Lords were our border against hte orcs.

[Wellington] ...from what I've gathered.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Thanks.

[Wellington] Then a big-ass army came up and fucked 'em.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "or so I've heard"

[Wellington] Killed most of 'em, then just . . . left.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How kind.

[Lia (Angie)] The armor is both gift and the result of my own oaths

Joanne has the look of someone whose world just made a tiny bit more sense.

[Sslet'm] Yes, yes! We have our oaths which bind us and make us strong. It is the same everywhere.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Sslet'm, how do you receive instructions for your warband? Do you get orders from your warband leaders?

[Arkady (James)] You know, it is starting to occur to me that maybe, just maybe, we could just talk to Eflense about all this.

[Sslet'm] In the new ways, we have Sergeants and Lieutenants. They pass on orders from our chiefs.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Defthon, what else did you want to know about that stuff?

[Sslet'm] They call our chiefs generals, but they are chiefs as well. The old ways and the New Ways find ways to be next to one another.

[Sslet'm] In this way, we are strong in both ways, as is a house built of wood and of stone.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I like this guy.

[Master] (it is obvious that he memorized this line, but he feels it when he says it.)

[Arkady (James)] Ask about the clans' relations to the humans in the warband.

[Master] The Lizardmen are Neutral, very much so, but Neutral creatures fear the kind of evil which the Triumvirate represents.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] By the way, he's going to be happy to stay with us for nearly two weeks now.

[Aric (Brian)] Mess: Def may have a point. Rather than defeating this army, getting them to ally (and maybe ask that they lay off Czina) against the orcs may be more helpful.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What is the relationship between your people and the humans with whom you travel?

[Aric (Brian)] (whoops, arkady, not def. sorry)

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think we have to get them to back off Czina somehow. That may not be possible, since empires like the warm-water seaports. (Joe speaking, not Vel btw)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Remind me, why is Eflense bad? He's pillaging Czina for its wealth?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shot: yes

[Velkyna (Joe)] He's basically raping the city of all its worth.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Is he otherwise evil? Burning down villages and raping the populace, stuff like that?

[Arkady (James)] Maybe he's not as aware of local conditions as he should be.

[Wellington] Yes.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes to which?

[Arkady (James)] It could be the Mayor behind most of the actual abuse.

[Wellington] He has done these things, as well, to places which have defied him.

[Lia (Angie)] He destroyed some of the protections in Czina

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So he really wants to be a king and is willing to do evil things to get it.

[Lia (Angie)] And threatened more

[Sslet'm] I do not know, Lady Shottamip. I am sorry, but such matters are for the chiefs.

[Defthon (Don)] But is not himself evil, perhaps? Just neutral?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't really want to offer him a throne for some cooperation, necessarily.

[Arkady (James)] At first cut, he doesn't seem as eeeeevil as the Triumverate though.

[Lia (Angie)] His actions do not speak well

[Velkyna (Joe)] Kind of a neutral, leaning towards evil.

[Arkady (James)] Yes, there is substantial room for improvement.

[Arkady (James)] Substantial. :-)

[Lia (Angie)] I am concerned that he is using these people for his own ends

[Lia (Angie)] and I do not think this will end well for them

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That does tend to be what armies are all about.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm having really mixed feelings about this whole thing.

[Lia (Angie)] He has set them up

[Defthon (Don)] On the one hand, Eflense's really not a good guy

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm not.

[Aric (Brian)] Mess: Ask him if he has been involved in attacking those who oppose Eflense, and what he feels about that.

[Defthon (Don)] but he could be really useful against the triumvirate for now.

[Defthon (Don)] Good question Aric.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Have you participated in attacks with your warband?

[Sslet'm] Yes.

Sslet'm looks happy to have a simple question with a simple answer.

[Lia (Angie)] Unless he is working for the Triumvirate

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Tell me about them - what people did you fight? Where?

Sslet'm shifts

[Sslet'm] The ways of the humans are not the ways of our folk.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If we could redirect Eflense against orcs, to be emperor of the former orc lands, I could live with that. But I dunno how

[Shottamip (Tamora)] feasible that is.

[Sslet'm] Even when all are fed and there is stock for the winter, still they struggle amonst themselves.

[Sslet'm] And so our oaths bind us to fight for Eflense.

[Sslet'm] He has . . . other humans who fight for him. Some will keep their oaths, and others need to be reminded.

[Defthon (Don)] So the LM are enforcers. Interesting

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I think that we have a simple, honorable warrior who does what his leaders tell them and doesn't know a ton about why.

[Sslet'm] Mainly, I have helped to remind those humans who would have broken their words.

[Defthon (Don)] Sounds like Eflense is bringing a lot of order into the lives of the LM....

[Lia (Angie)] For the moment

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I am stepping off, feel free to ask questions in my voice

[Lia (Angie)] Sslet'm, how do you chose your oaths?

Sslet'm sizes Lia up.

[Sslet'm] Some oaths you choose. Others choose you, yes?

[Defthon (Don)] To Sslet'm via Shot: How long have you been camped at this location?

[Sslet'm] I am young, and I am not wise. I choose the oaths which my chiefs advise me to choose.

[Sslet'm] A few days. We stop and start.

[Defthon (Don)] Were you readying to move anytime soon?

[Lia (Angie)] There is always a choice, or it is not an oath.

Sslet'm bares his teeth in a reptilian smile.

[Sslet'm] The choice is in whether or not to keep the oath. The oath itself . . .

Sslet'm looks sad for a moment, then banishes the ideas from his mind.

[Defthon (Don)] (What a fascinating philosophy.)

[Joe] I am away from the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] What? Please tell me

Sslet'm looks deliberately blank.

[Lia (Angie)] Oaths are very important to understand

[Lia (Angie)] I want to understand yours

[Joe] I am back at the keyboard.

[Sslet'm] Human paths are not the same as those of my people. You will understand through our actions.

[Arkady (James)] Can I tell if there's some other compulstion going on w/ this guy?

[Master] Try a detect magic?

[Arkady (James)] OK, detec magic

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Sense Motive can also do this)

[Master] The Geas burns brightly; it's a powerful spell. But it is the only one which affects him.

[Arkady (James)] How about both?

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [15+14] 29

[Master] (Do a Sense Motive too, if you'd like -- -4 Circumstance penalty for nonhumanoid)

[Master] Sslet'm is not brilliant, but he sits and thinks things through. He keeps a lot to himself.

[Master] He does, however, share the standard Lizardman devotion to survival at all costs.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sslet'm leads a partially examined life

[Master] lol

[Lia (Angie)] The actions of your people concern me

[Lia (Angie)] because they are being used to influence humans

Sslet'm cockes his head and examines Lia more closely.

[Sslet'm] I do not understand humans and their ways.

[Sslet'm] Every time I believe I have found some invariant, some explanation, I am confounded again.

[Lia (Angie)] But you take actions against some humans

[Defthon (Don)] With the exception of letting Czina run down, what is it that we have against Eflense again?

[Defthon (Don)] (via Message, of course)

[Lia (Angie)] He brought in the Mayor

Sslet'm nods.

[Defthon (Don)] That counts as part of "letting Czina run down".

[Arkady (James)] Lia, tell him about Czina. He's a down-to-earth kind of guy.

[Sslet'm] This is your responsibility? You are to care not about your tribe but all . . . humans?

[Sslet'm] A chief among chiefs?

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Lia (Angie)] I have chosen oaths wihich bind me to more

[Sslet'm] They must be onerous.

[Shottamip (James)] We do not rule all humans, nor do we wish to.

[Lia (Angie)] sometimes, but that is my choice

Sslet'm stands and stretches (if you let him).

[Lia (Angie)] Sure

[Sslet'm] He's huge -- 6'6" or so, and he stands with an easy discipline.

[Lia (Angie)] This is why I want to understand the oaths of you and your people

[Sslet'm] There are two ways to understand an oath.

[Sslet'm] The first is to speak of it. The second is to see it done.

Defthon (Don) quietly brings his hand a little closer to the hilt of Tsohanoai

[Sslet'm] I have done the first, and there is only the second remaining, yes?

[Velkyna (Joe)] When he stands, Vel makes sure she's in a position to club him if he tries something.

[Lia (Angie)] Cool it guys, I'm willing to risk this

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (I'm back)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (She's not paying much attention to the conversation, she's focused on her task)

[Master] It is obvious by now that Sslet'm was playing dumb at first and is unwittingly revealing his capacity during this conversation with Lia.

Defthon (Don) doesn't draw his sword, but is ready to.

Sslet'm notices Defthon's armor.

[Arkady (James)] (to group) just how smart are LM normally?

[Sslet'm] (mutters) Semuanya preserve me; I am the servant of demigods.

[Lia (Angie)] We have many oaths made among us

[Master] Bardic or Wilderness

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: bardic knowledge: (d20+12) [20+12] 32

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Wilderness lore: (d20+4+2) [11+4+2] 17

[Master] A smidge below humans, on average.

[Defthon (Don)] oh sorry

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (And Aric isn't even glowing yet.)

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Defthon (Don)] What is Sslet'm doing now?

[Sslet'm] If one throws a pebble into a pond, one sees a ripple, yes?

[Lia (Angie)] usually

[Sslet'm] And if one throws a few pebbles in, you see different ripples, but you could, perhaps, if you knew the pond well enough, predict them.

[Sslet'm] This is my people and their oaths.

[Sslet'm] But humans . . . I sit by the river and hold a stick so that the water flows around it.

[Defthon (Don)] FASCINATING

[Sslet'm] And I cannot tell where the wake will end or how it will shift.

[Defthon (Don)] Did our lizardman just introduce chaos theory into the discussion? I think he did.

[Arkady (James)] (to group) a lizardman philosopher, who'd have thunk it?

[Sslet'm] And if I hold five sticks, then only someone who had swum the river their whole life could know how the wakes would combine.

[Roger (Jeff)] Zzzzz

[Sslet'm] This is humans and their oaths.

[Lia (Angie)] Indeed, many humans use oaths without respecting their importance

Sslet'm looks frustrated.

[Sslet'm] But our people's oaths are pebbles.

[Sslet'm] Human oaths are sticks, stones, flotsam and jetsam.

Sslet'm shakes his head.

[Arkady (James)] I guess he's saying, that LM make oaths, and stick to them. And that's that.

[Sslet'm] I do not have the words, and there is more to be gained from watching.

[Lia (Angie)] What should I watch?

Sslet'm grins

[Sslet'm] Everything. Always.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: when we caught him alone, with mike's introvert comment, i was expecting bad goth lizardman poetry

Defthon (Don) scans the horizon

[Arkady (James)] I asked Praxis to provide top cover, has he seen anything?

[Lia (Angie)] I am concerned that Eflense is using your peoples oaths

Sslet'm shrugs

[Lia (Angie)] Without respect for teh cost to your people

[Sslet'm] This is a discussion for our chiefs, if anyone.

[Defthon (Don)] You know, I really wonder.

[Defthon (Don)] Just how bad *is* what Eflense is doing?

[Defthon (Don)] He's bringing a whole region under common rule

[Master] Do you say this out loud?

[Defthon (Don)] and we have little evidence that he's really abusing it

[Lia (Angie)] He is draining these lands

[Defthon (Don)] (via Message)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (yeah, except he's bringing chaos to other areas ... LAWFUL GOOD BOY)

[Defthon (Don)] What areas is he bringing chaos to?

Joanne gives Def a furious look.

[Defthon (Don)] If as Wellington suspects, he's planning to move into Czina,

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Personally, I'm upset he's imposing so much order on the lives of the Lizardmen

[Velkyna (Joe)] Um, Czina?

Wellington shrugs.

[Arkady (James)] Well, Eflense, through the Mayor, is definitely sucking dry Czina.

[Defthon (Don)] then that's just a temporary thing; and that might be the Mayor's doing anyway.

[Lia (Angie)] His actions leave these areas vulnerable

[Roger (Jeff)] If Eflense is willing to trade with the elves, good, if not, kill him

[Defthon (Don)] To...?

[Lia (Angie)] Elfense brought in the Mayor

[Praxis] I've got something coming in from the north. It's invisible.

[Arkady (James)] Incoming! Battle Stations!

[Lia (Angie)] And he is USING these people

[Defthon (Don)] Who, the lizardmen? They're a warband. They'd be fighting anyway.

[Master] Everyone, please clean up your temporary mods.

[Defthon (Don)] They're fighting better now and they seem happy with the situation.

[Lia (Angie)] Until the other shoe falls

[Arkady (James)] temp mods clear! Check!

[Dralafi] Can we have this conversation later?

[Defthon (Don)] It appears we're going to have to.

Dralafi touches down.

[Arkady (James)] Dral was flying?

[Wellington] Do we hide, ambush, or flee?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Do we know what is coming in yet?

[Arkady (James)] Praxis?

[Defthon (Don)] Does Praxis have a lock on how big or how many?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Dral was on the carpet.

[Praxis] Looks like a carpet.

[Lia (Angie)] Temp mods good

[Praxis] Some humanoids on it.

[Defthon (Don)] How many?

[Velkyna (Joe)] We should either go, or ambush for more questioning.

[Praxis] It's a long way off.

[Defthon (Don)] How far is it?

[Praxis] More than one, less than ten.

[Arkady (James)] Hmph, prolly 4 to 8 people then. Likely to be some mages.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok...

[Defthon (Don)] What time of day is it?

[Praxis] They're just past the river on their way here.

[Master] Late night.

[Defthon (Don)] Stamp out the fire?

[Master] I figured you hadn't really had one; it was just for decoration.

[Arkady (James)] BTW, Arkady has Detect Scrying running 24x7 normally. Unless he had to use his 4th level spell the previous day.

[Defthon (Don)] Uh, ok.

[Master] Or, more to the point, that you had some way of avoiding the smoke trail. :)

[Master] Arkady -- noted. Gimme a sec.

[Defthon (Don)] Smoke? I'm more worried about light.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hmm. I wonder what these folks' intentions are

[Lia (Angie)] Are they coming from the camp

Arkady (James) turns to address Sslet'm.

[Arkady (James)] Would someone be looking for you already?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If they're coming from the other side of the river, I think they're coming from the camp.

[Defthon (Don)] How much moonlight is there?

[Arkady (James)] OOC: Remember, we don't know we alerted them to the snatch.

[Master] ok

[Master] Not a ton.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm pretty sure they know something happened.

[Master] of moonlight.

[Defthon (Don)] But some? We need to extinguish all the lights here.

[Master] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Um, there was an alarm and shit.

[Defthon (Don)] And spread out a bit.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC but we didn't hear it, Joe.

[Wellington] Decide.

[Wellington] Hide, ambush, or flee.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Who heard it then?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Didn't Vel and Shot hear it?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I hardly think those are ouyr only three options

[Defthon (Don)] No, it happened after you left.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Why would Kimmitt have mentioned it if someone didn't hear it?

[Master] Vel and Shot passed on the info, don't worry.

[Master] It happened instantaneously with the casting of the telport. You got a quarter-second taste.

[Arkady (James)] I say, let them find Sslet'm, and see how many there are.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm inclined to stick around and see what they do, but if someone disagrees I'm open.

[Wellington] What, are we going to parley with Eflense after stealing his dearest secrets?

[Defthon (Don)] I *don't* think we should let them get Sslet'm, though.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What secrets?

[Aric (Brian)] But if Sslet'm is now on "our side", isn't he at risk if they catch him having befriended us?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I think we should stick around and be ready for trouble, but that's not quite the same as an ambush

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I agree with Aric.

[Wellington] You know more about the Lizardmen than the rest of Saxlund combined.

[Defthon (Don)] Lights are out. We're scattering a bit. How much cover, Mike?

[Defthon (Don)] Boulders, bushes? Or are there trees?

[Master] Not a lot.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel stows her club and draws her crossbow.

[Master] A few.

[Sslet'm] What is happening?

[Velkyna (Joe)] She makes sure she's close to Joanne and that Joanne knows it.

[Lia (Angie)] Shot?

[Defthon (Don)] Tell him someone's coming, and we're preparing *in case* they attack.

[Praxis] They seem to know exactly where we are, but they're approaching carefully.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I say that.

[Arkady (James)] With her permission, I cast invis on Joanne.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] He never answered the "would someone be looking for you already" question, did he?

Sslet'm reaches for his weapons automatically, then looks imploringly at Shottamip and Lia.

[Lia (Angie)] Does anyone stay with Sslet'm?

[Master] He doesn't have the context to do so; he doesn't know he was kidnapped.

[Defthon (Don)] Someone certainly should, yes.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lia, d'you think we should give him back his short sword?

[Master] He thinks he got hit on the head and lost a day or two.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We don't have his short sword.

[Lia (Angie)] How safe is it?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Those were left back at the camp.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Sslet'm, do you speak any language other than this one?

[Master] The only thing you left was the longspear.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I thought only the spear was left

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh. M'badd.

Sslet'm takes a moment to respond.

[Sslet'm] A little Common, yes?

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Defthon (Don)] Good thing we were Messageing

[Arkady (James)] I was asking in Draconic. Tounges, remember.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I vote for returning his weapons, any dissent?

[Praxis] They're still approaching; what do we do, boss?

[Defthon (Don)] Hey, you know your spell better'n we do.

[Arkady (James)] Maybe Lia in Shot stay w/ Sslet'm, the rest hide.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm OK

[Aric (Brian)] what if he realizes it's his own people and decides to fight with them?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Then Geas messes him up

[Aedean (Sedlack)] But I suspect it's more likely humans than lizardmen

[Defthon (Don)] Spread out so we can't be fireballed (but not too far apart), hide behind trees and rocks and let them make the first move.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] He's just a foot soldier, I think any of us could take him, honestly.

[Praxis] You spread out.

[Lia (Angie)] And I'd rather not get him killed

[Praxis] What do I do?

[Arkady (James)] If it is less than 100 minutes from the snatch, Praxis should still be invisisble.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Can you get a better look at them yet?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'll give him his weapons.

[Arkady (James)] Praxis: find some place to hide and keep a look out.

[Praxis] Yes . . . there are four of them on a carpet.

[Praxis] Praxis: Spot: 17

[Praxis] Okay, I'll use moon glare to keep out of sight.

[Defthon (Don)] I lean my bow on a tree for easy access, and draw my sword (letting me see invis)

[Arkady (James)] I'll hide somewhere myself.

[Roger (Jeff)] Roger is still hiding out in the tent.

[Master] That's not the most inconspicuous thing you could do.

[Master] What with the flaming and all.

[Defthon (Don)] It doesn't flame unless I tell it to, I thought.

[Master] Nope; blade's made of flame.

[Defthon (Don)] The description you gave was inconsistent---says that sometimes the glow goes away.

[Defthon (Don)] In any case, if it's gonna glow I won't draw it

[Roger (Jeff)] I thought that it was like a light saber

[Defthon (Don)] I'll just hang on to the bow and wait for them to come visible.

[Master] Glow comes and goes, but it's always there.

[Master] brb

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'll be ready to dispel magic on the carpet, if they make an aggressive move.

[Arkady (James)] Good idea, I'll prep a dispel too.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] .

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Heh

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Stupid Kansas City. There go all my Xdollars

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I've got a lot of dispels on tap, if it comes to that.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll echo the "stupid KC".

[Aedean (Sedlack)] brb

[Sedlack] I am away from the keyboard.

[Roger (Jeff)] I bet on that game as well.

[Master] Ok, lemme think.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shaun Alexander. One rush, 55 yards. Mmmmm.

[Arkady (James)] I'm going to take a 5min break. Angie'll take care of Arkady.

[James] I am away from the keyboard.

[Sedlack] I am back at the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] So who's hidden?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If we get the opportunity later, it occurs to me that I *might* be able to read thoughts from across the river.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Screw you, Hasselbeck!

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel is invisible. I believe Arkady put an invisi on Joanne as well.

[Praxis] The carpet is approaching.

[Master] Who isn't hidden?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Me

[Lia (Angie)] I'm not

[Aedean (Sedlack)] It's probably not worth the bother for me.

[Aric (Brian)] i'm not glowing right now, and i'll try to Hide in the bushes, shadows, whatever's handy

[Master] Hide rolls for the hiders.

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Hide: (d20+9) [20+9] 29

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Hide: (d20+0+2) [3+0+2] 5

[Master] Hee.

[Roger (Jeff)] Roger: Hide: (d20+12) [14+12] 26

[Defthon (Don)] Ugh.

[Master] And there we have the difference between the two philosophies.

[Defthon (Don)] So much for standing behind a tree.

[Lia (Angie)] Aedean: Hide: (d20-1-5) [14-1-5] 8

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No need to rub it in Def's face

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Wow, he could get a -5.

[Lia (Angie)] Or does he do invis?

[Master] The carpet is about 200 feet up, 400 feet away.

[Master] Shottamip gets a magical message: Would you accept a parley?

[Master] Actually, change that.

[Master] Lia would get the message.

[Aric (Brian)] Well this is starting off refreshingly different.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How's that work? Should I do a spellcraft check?

[Lia (Angie)] OOCHow do I answer

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (I'm certainly willing to talk)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Talking is okay.

[Defthon (Don)] Does she consult us?

[Lia (Angie)] I tell Shot

[Defthon (Don)] I'm down with parleying.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm still curious about the method here.

[Master] Second message:

[Master] If you agree, light your bonfire.

[Aric (Brian)] (ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO EFLENSE)

[Master] If you do not agree, draw your sword.

[Defthon (Don)] Heh

[Defthon (Don)] Does Lia broadcast this to us?

[Lia (Angie)] Pass that on

[Aedean (Sedlack)] message should still be going

[Defthon (Don)] I vote for talking to them.

[Lia (Angie)] Shot, can you?

[Defthon (Don)] Assuming they're serious of course.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] One way to find out

[Defthon (Don)] We should maybe not all go out there just yet, naturally.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Assuming that we have tinderboxes around, I can light the fire.

[Aric (Brian)] Let us talk if it will save damage to both sides.

[Lia (Angie)] Works

[Defthon (Don)] The invis folks can stay so for the moment.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm wandering back to the fire

[Master] Gimme a sec to finish creating the NPCs.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh you better believe I'm staying invisible.

[Lia (Angie)] So we are agreed, shot please light the fire

[Defthon (Don)] Reposition your tokens, btw.

[Aric (Brian)] dude, it's arkady's brtohter

[Aric (Brian)] same chin

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "Darkady"

[Defthon (Don)] Arkady and Ivellian's love child, even.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'll ask Sslet'm to move to the back, away from the fire.

[Aric (Brian)] ooc: i'm still waiting to meet Dee

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Who talks? Arkady or Lia, maybe?

[James] I am back at the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I vote Arkady

[Arkady (James)] OK

[Velkyna (Joe)] Ditto

[Arkady (James)] Hello

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I think Mike's still prepping the last NPC

[Aedean (Sedlack)] And there he is

[Master] The carpet touches down.

[Commander] Madam.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Holy symbol on the Cleric?

[Arkady (James)] Hello

[Master] Hextor.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] ooc: Should evil men be so handsome?

[Arkady (James)] You did well to find us so quickly.

[Velkyna (Joe)] NOT GOOD

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hextor?

[Commander] *glances at Arkady*

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Lawful Evil)

Commander looks back at Lia.

[Velkyna (Joe)] EEEEEEEEEEEEVIL

[Velkyna (Joe)] (god of violent destruction, IIRC)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (tyranny)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh, great.

[Master] Tyranny.

[Master] Not violent destructin.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Defthon, time to give up the "maybe he's a nice guy at heart" thesis.

[Master] Erythnul is violent destruction.

[Velkyna (Joe)] That's actually even more EEEEEVIL

Commander waits.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Especially from my viewpoint

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Mine too.

[Defthon (Don)] Yup, that did it for me, nemmind.

Lia (Angie) looks back

[Lia (Angie)] yes

[Lia (Angie)] ?

[Commander] You kidnapped one of my soldiers.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I was wondering about that - I thought war-types might be more inclined to respect someone who looked like a warleader than a diplomat.

[Master] (a flat statement, no questioning or implications.)

[Arkady (James)] yes.

Commander glances at Arkady, then returns his gaze to Lia.

[Commander] You then interrogated him.

[Commander] I presume.

[Lia (Angie)] We talked of his oaths

Commander snorts

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Interesting that none of his people came along.

[Lia (Angie)] To which HE has held

[Shottamip (Tamora)] And this guy considers Sslet'm to serve under him.

[Commander] If he had held to his oaths, he would not have spoken.

[Commander] But I imagine you found ways around that.

[Lia (Angie)] Oh?

Commander waits for Lia to catch up.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] \me glowers, mostly at the other Cleric

Commander is satisfied that she has done so.

[Commander] Even if you were to return my soldier to me, you have still taken something from me.

Commander smiles, chillingly.

[Arkady (James)] Perhaps we can give you some information in return.

[Lia (Angie)] What would that be?

[Commander] How shall you compensate me, half-elven?

Commander glances at Arkady.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (BY NOT KICKING YOUR ASS)

Commander holds the gaze for a little while.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How tough do these guys look?

[Commander] You will return him to us, and we will have a discussion.

[Master] You could take them, though of course, you are under a flag of parley.

Arkady (James) turns to Sslet'm

[Master] However, the rest of the army might be a bitch.

[Arkady (James)] What will happen to you if you return with them?

[Master] Time out.

[Master] That's not a question which makes sense to Sslet'm. He's already beyond confused.

[Master] Arkady would know this.

[Arkady (James)] ok

[Master] Again, Sslet'm does not believe that he was kidnapped and enscorcelled.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We will not hold him against his will

Sslet'm looks at Shottamip.

[Lia (Angie)] We already have

[Sslet'm] (whispers) What is going on?

[Defthon (Don)] Go ahead, Sslet'm, you can return to them.

Sslet'm looks to Lia for confirmation.

[Defthon (Don)] (Conf. to Shot: I wouldn't lift the Geas just yet, of course)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (That was for their benefit, not ours)

[Lia (Angie)] We will not hold you against your oaths

[Sslet'm] I am relieved, then?

[Lia (Angie)] That depends

[Lia (Angie)] ?me looks at cocmmander

[Master] Sslet'm is asking if you are officially transferring him to a different command. That's all.

[Arkady (James)] OOC: Angie says her hands aren't working too well.

[Master] Ok.

[Master] James, could you type for her?

[Lia (James)] Yes, you are relieved.

Lia (James) looks towards the Commander.

Sslet'm nods. "Thank you for healing me."

Sslet'm trots over to the Commander's carpet.

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Commander] Climb on, soldier. There is room.

[Commander] Now. Regarding the rest of my payment.

[Defthon (Don)] ("we're all friends here")

[Lia (James)] Yes?

[Commander] Who are you, how many of you are there, and why did you . . . borrow my soldier?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] message: skip the how many.

[Lia (James)] We are concerned with the situation in Czina.

Wizard starts looking at the spells which bind Sslet'm

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'll keep an eye on him. I want to see what he can do.

[Commander] You borrowed a lizardman to understand Czina better?

Commander snorts

[Defthon (Don)] We wished to understand the organisation of your forces, to know who to talk to next.

Commander looks at Defthon.

[Defthon (Don)] That seemed to be the least destructive way to do so.

[Commander] Don't fucking lie to me, Paladin.

Defthon (Don) raises an eyebrow.

Commander looks back down at Lia.

[Commander] Since I need to put it in small words,

[Commander] Why are you spying on my army?

[Commander] Who are you?

[Lia (James)] OOC: we're discussing the situation...

[Lia (James)] OOC: we're not really looking to start a fight here...

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I really do not think this line of questioning is going to prove productive. I think we need to consider options for taking these guys out and/or bailing ... (OOC))

[Defthon (Don)] We don't care about your army; we just want to get Czina back on its feet and actively trading again.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] *shrug* we could put on the table that we were curious whether we would need to stop them.

[Lia (James)] We are here to establish trade with Czina, however the situation ended up being a lot more complicated.

[Defthon (Don)] Trying to do that in Czina proved counterproductive; so we needed to come investigate upriver.

[Commander] Who.

[Commander] Are.

[Commander] You.

[Lia (James)] Because of the political situation here.

[Commander] What is your fucking name?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I guess we need a name for our gang :)

[Lia (James)] I am Lia.

[Commander] Good.

[Commander] Paladin?

[Lia (James)] (OOC: yes, we do need a name for our gang.)

[Defthon (Don)] I am Defthon.

[Commander] Gnome?

[Master] wait wait

[Master] sorry.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Am I even in line of sight here?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Plus the gnome race issue.

[Commander] He's hovering.

[Commander] Who is the blonde halfling?

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, for fuck's sake. I'm Def, this is Lia, Arkady, Wellington, Aric, Shottamip, Roger, Aedean, Dralafi. Does that help you any?

[Master] Or is Shottamip died brown again?

[Lia (James)] (OOC: what's Shot's cover name?)

[Commander] Good.

[Defthon (Don)] ("cover"? Eh?)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I hadn't thought about it, so say it's blonde for now.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] And to whom are we speaking?

[Commander] Now. You kidnapped my soldier to interrogate him about the structure of my army because you wish to do something about Czina.

[Defthon (Don)] We're here to investigate why the hell Czina's trade dried up completely.

[Lia (James)] (OOC: you know, when she's going around, looking like a halfling.)

[Commander] That is some of the information I desired.

[Defthon (Don)] Didn't get far in Czina, came upriver, saw a huge army and needed to figure out who to talk to.

[Lia (James)] And why Czina is being run into the ground by a corrupt administration.

[Commander] Baron Eflense will meet with you under a flag of parley, should you so desire.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We were assuming that human commoners wouldn't recognize a gnomish name.

[Defthon (Don)] Which is what I was trying to say earlier when you kept fixatin on, of all things, our names.

[Commander] Paladin, will you please stop fucking lying to me?

[Velkyna (Joe)] IT'S A TRAP

[Commander] You don't kidnap a soldier to "figure out who to talk to."

Aric (Brian) steps forward and turns on the pants.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (DETECT LIE THEY HAVE)

[Aric (Brian)] Please. We can keep this civil.

[Commander] You do it to scout out an army.

[Defthon (Don)] Feh.

[Lia (James)] (Talk like Yoda, we do)

[Commander] So please stop assuming I'm as stupid as you are.

[Commander] It's fucking insulting.

[Commander] Okay.

[Commander] I was sent to contact you and find out who you are, and I have.

[Commander] The Baron will meet with you if you'd like.

[Lia (James)] How should we arrange the parley?

[Commander] You will be contacted in one day with information about location.

[Lia (James)] (OOC: are we going to stay in this camp?)

[Lia (James)] OK.

[Commander] If you do not come to the parley, the Baron will assume that you are hostile and we will find you and kill you.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (Still watching the wizard. Did I get any visible reactions to consider?)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (That would be an incredibly bad idea, to stay here)

[Commander] Good bye.

[Master] The carpet lifts off.

[Master] Shottamip:

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Umm, if we don't stay here, they'll apparently hunt us down anyway

[Master] Spot check, then a Spellcraft check.

[Lia (James)] (That's what I figured. I thought we'd book out of here as soon as possible.)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Spot: (d20+8) [12+8] 20

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Spellcraft: (d20+16) [15+16] 31

[Shottamip (Tamora)] decent

[Master] He figured out the Geas, but he can't do anything about it.

[Master] ok pause for me to order pizza and stuff while y'all discuss this.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We're not staying here.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] But we may want to stay in contact somehow.

[Master] Arkady -- someone is scrying.

[Arkady (James)] Ack! We're being watched.

[Velkyna (Joe)] This is a complete pooch screw.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do those include sound?

[Arkady (James)] Can I try an opposed scry check?

[Defthon (Don)] (Message: Are we actually interested in talking to Eflense? I don't care much either way now.)

[Master] Sure.

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: INT check: (d20+2) [18+2] 20

[Velkyna (Joe)] Nice.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Talking to him does give us access to him

[Master] Nope.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do we want to size him up? I can see advantages to that.

[Defthon (Don)] Tightly controlled, and he's not going to let us have weapons.

[Arkady (James)] (OOC: for a second there, I thought Mike said someone was crying here.)

[Master] I know all there is to know about the scrying game.

[Defthon (Don)] Besides, if we agree to parley under truce, I'd be uncomfortable breaking the truce.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Someday soon I'm going to tell the moon about the scrying game.

[Defthon (Don)] Unless they did first, of course.

[Defthon (Don)] (this is all by Message, btw)

[Arkady (James)] Oh yes. We're under strict no-talking-outloud rules.

[Arkady (James)] But perhaps we'd better chat about how the parley went well...

[Defthon (Don)] Vel was the only invisible one, right?

[Arkady (James)] ... or something like that.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] And Joanne

[Shottamip (Tamora)] And Praxis

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Only PC.

[Defthon (Don)] Right, but I didn't name anyone who was actually invis.

[Lia (Angie)] Well, if any of you think we might want to work with him, I'm willing to talk

[Aric (Brian)] I don't need weapons.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] More information is always better.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't think we possibly want to work with him, but I still am willing to talk.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm a lot less interested now that I've seen he's a Hextor follower.

[Arkady (James)] Eh, lawful evil. Not much room to negotiate there...

[Defthon (Don)] But it might not hurt to check him out---

[Defthon (Don)] *if* we think he'll stick to the truce.

[Defthon (Don)] Which if he's LE he just might.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Just because the cleric is LE doesn't mean he is.

[Aric (Brian)] He may be evil, but he is lawful evil.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Bear in mind the cleric could be NE.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Give me 10 minutes and I'll see what I can find out

[Roger (Jeff)] Would the elves be willing to trade with him?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Which is to say that Divination might be an appropriate way to find an answer to the specific question of whether the truce will be honored

[Arkady (James)] Well, I have no idea what to do at this point.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean will do a Divination, asking whether Eflense and his men will honor the parley truce if we meet with them.

[Arkady (James)] (Through message: Oh, and try to cover your mouths when you're whispering... the scryer might be able to read lips.)

[Arkady (James)] Sounds good. But do you want to do it here? Or should we move out?

[Arkady (James)] I guess moving out would be seen as a sign of aggression though.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (If the scryer can follow us, moving does us little good)

[Lia (Angie)] I think small group should stay hereand wait for parley instructions

[Master] You don't need to stay here.

[Defthon (Don)] tha heck? I just got like six dice roll sounds but nothing printed out.

[Master] Me too.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right. They seemed to find us well enough last time

[Master] Must'be been a bug.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] sorry

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I didn't know the sound would broadcast

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Master] Ah.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] In fact, I think that would be a bug.

[Defthon (Don)] Er, but they told us that leaving would be an act of agression.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Here's the problem. We're now on Eflense's radar. Any further sneaking or surgical strikes are not possible.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, they said that not showing up for parley would be declaring ourselves hostile.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We're pretty much limited to parley or all-out offensive.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Nothing about moving camp.

[Defthon (Don)] O I C

[Velkyna (Joe)] And the latter is obviously not feasible given their numbers.

[Arkady (James)] BTW Mike, I got a 20 on my opposed scry check. Was that good enough to see who's scrying on us?

[Master] Nope.

[Arkady (James)] Rats.

[Velkyna (Joe)] At some point they're going to figure out (divination, etc.) who we are exactly and where we're from and/or why we're here.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Which isn't directly hostile to them ("open Czina for trade").

[Velkyna (Joe)] But still threatening, I'd think ("we want to free Czina for trade, emphasis on free")

[Arkady (James)] Who's idea was it to go up against any army, anyway?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right. I think we definitely show up for parley. I just want to know in advance whether it's a trap

[Defthon (Don)] Are they going to be constantly scrying for the next 24 hours?

[Master] The scry drops

[Velkyna (Joe)] That's odd.

[Defthon (Don)] guess not.

[Arkady (James)] I'd count on it. Eflense probably has multiple wizards to do that.

[Master] Only Arkady knows this.

[Arkady (James)] I tell the group.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (well yeah)

[Master] kewl

[Velkyna (Joe)] BTW, all this is OOC.

[Master] Just being . . . precise.

[Velkyna (Joe)] If I were Eflense, unless I'm Mr. Word-is-bond, I'm going to snuff out these instigators at my earliest convenience.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean continues Divining

[Master] Wjat

[Master] What's the phrasing of the question again?

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, probably our best option for our continued survival is to run away as fast as possible.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Will Eflense and his men honor the parley truce if we meet with them?

[Master] Gimme d100

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Roll #1: (d100) [73] 73

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Whew.

[Master] Heh.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Would not have liked to have had to blow my mulligan

[Master] "Honoring the parley will be his inclination, but not his oath."

[Defthon (Don)] Interesting.

[Arkady (James)] LOL!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hmm

[Shottamip (Tamora)] his oath? Who d'you think HE is bound to?

[Jeff] I am away from the keyboard.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Possibly his god.

[Velkyna (Joe)] If he's a cleric or the like.

[Arkady (James)] Angie is reminded of "Pirates of the Carribean". These are more sort of guidlines, than rules.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] More likely, he might be under obligation to someone else

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Or it could just mean that he's inclined to respect the truce, unless we piss him off sufficiently

[Defthon (Don)] That was my reading.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Either way, we should be prepared for trouble.

[Lia (Angie)] Aren't we always

[Aric (Brian)] When do we ever NOT find trouble?

[Master] When the DM gets bored.

[Arkady (James)] Are we prepared for the possibility of bailing on Czina?

[Arkady (James)] In that, we may not be able to fix that city.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We need to bring _something_ back to the elves.

[Velkyna (Joe)] That's our whole mission here.

[Arkady (James)] I don't think they intended us to take on a whole army by ourselves though.

[Aric (Brian)] If nothing else, we can apprise them of the situation.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] It doesn't seem right to walk away and say, "go on, be exploited." Could you live with yourself after that?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Probably not. My view is that if he's recalcitrant and reneges on the truce, then we got access to the inner circle.

[Jeff] I am back at the keyboard.

[Aric (Brian)] I think we should at least try to speak to Eflense.

[Aric (Brian)] If he refuses to do anything about Czina, we withdraw.

[Arkady (James)] Well, the only hope of succeding in the Elves' mission to to speak to Eflense.

[Aric (Brian)] Go back to the elves.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right, and when it doesn't work, it'll be that much easier to take him out

[Aric (Brian)] You know.

[Aric (Brian)] I wonder how much he fears Estin

[Aric (Brian)] If he knows of them at all. I realize they're far away.

[Aric (Brian)] We do still have the Estin tokens of hospitality, showing that we are favored by Duke Estin.

[Aric (Brian)] Perhaps that could be a bargaining chip as well.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] This guy is hardly a vassal of the Duke. I don't think the tokens would matter.

[Arkady (James)] That's an interesting idea.

[Aric (Brian)] He may prefer to open up trade, and get profit from that, rather than continuing to crush the neighboring people.

[Arkady (James)] But yeah, I don't think he'll care about Estin.

[Lia (Angie)] And we are not doing this for the duke

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Not that connections couldn't be mentioned, for leverage, but the tokens in particular aren't going to mean anything.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Appealing to his pocketbook does seem to be the best diplomatic option at this point

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Does a man who worships a god of tyranny care about his pocketbook very much?

[Lia (Angie)] The question may become what are we willing to sacrifice for trade?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Money is power

[Lia (Angie)] I have to say my inclination is to find a way to bring this guy down

[Arkady (James)] Oh, Mike, what did you get us into this time?

[Aric (Brian)] We may not wish to decide he necessarily must be a Hextor worshipper until we meet him.

[Aric (Brian)] Wow that's convoluted grammar. Sorry.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] As is mine. Luckily, I don't have that whole "being a man of my word" problem that plagues some of the rest of you.

[Arkady (James)] LOL

[Master] Hee.

[Lia (Angie)] I am willing to see if there is some explanation for his actions

[Lia (Angie)] but his actions are nnot encouraging

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Indeed

[Arkady (James)] OK, so we're going to wait and parley?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That's the course I favor

[Defthon (Don)] sounds good to me.

[Lia (Angie)] Do we All stay?

[Master] Are you spending the night here?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I see no real percentage in moving.

[Arkady (James)] D'Accord.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I want to move somewhere defensible.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Please.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I would prefer a more defensible location. With walls.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That's reasonable.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I don't know that we'll be able to get the benefit of walls

[Arkady (James)] If they want to attack us, they can easily overwhelm any defenses we could find.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What options do we have for that?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] A cave?

[Velkyna (Joe)] We could try to find an inn in a nearby hamlet.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The more defensible, the more they'd have to throw at us.

[Master] Sit on top of something he would prefer not to destroy?

[Master] Oops, that was supposed to be Wellington.

[Wellington] Sit on something he doesn't want to hurt?

[Defthon (Don)] Such as...?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That could work, too. Did you have something specific in mind?

[Aric (Brian)] I wouldn't want to stay in an Inn, in case he attacks. I don't want the people to have to experience any more suffering.

Wellington thinks

[Wellington] Damn, can't think of anything.

[Wellington] Maybe we'd be better off seeking sanctuary.

[Defthon (Don)] Right. Such as...?

[Wellington] Heironeous's Hall or something.

[Arkady (James)] If we were all bottled up in a cave, it would be easier to block it off and just trap us.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Explain the Hall

[Wellington] Except for the whole "teleport" thing.

[Arkady (James)] ... discounting teleport.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ugh..paladins

[Wellington] Dunno much about them, except that they're a little ways to the north of here.

[Wellington] ...and Eflense hasn't taken them down yet.

[Lia (Angie)] They might be willing to trade info on Elfense

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hey, let's check them out for info at least.

[Arkady (James)] OK. Sounds good.

[Wellington] Okay, I'm gonna do some map-making, then.

[Master] Hee.

[Master] o,

[Master] k.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] *sigh* Paladins are no fun.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Present company excepted, of course.

Defthon (Don) raises an eyebrow.

[Roger (Jeff)] Hopefully they will have a library.

[Aric (Brian)] The "lawful good" part bugging you, Aedean?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No gambling, huh?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I stand by my statement.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lia's bitchin'.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] only half of it

[Lia (Angie)] I can certainly think of worse company to keep

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Obviously, lawful evil is worse

[James] I am away from the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] When does Don need to take his break?

[Defthon (Don)] In an hour.

[Lia (Angie)] So, do we go knock on the Hall's door?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay. I'm starting to get hungry, but that should be fine

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think we need a game plan for the Eflense conversation. We shouldn't go in there and be all "FUH FUH FUH" and time-wasty. We should have an agenda.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 1) We want Czina open for trade.

[Velkyna (Joe)] The conversation's going to go about as well as the Commander conversation if we try that.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 2) His shenanigans are screwing up the economy

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 3) What is his major malfunction?

[Defthon (Don)] Nonetheless, I think we're better off sticking to the "we don't care about _you_ just _Czina_" tack.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We should mention the Triumvirate threat if we think he's not allied with the Triumvirate. "Helping the elves helps you in the long term".

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Screwing the elves will lead to you getting screwed by a terrible force."

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'd phrase it as the orcish threat, rather than the Triumvirate threat

[Velkyna (Joe)] Fair 'nuff.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Same thing, essentially.

[Master] Hm.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right. But it's probably better not to mention them on the off chance that he's not aware of them.

[Master] Okay, I didn't plot out the Hall, which means I need a sec to figure out how they're laid out.

[Master] Oh!

[Master] Okay, that works.

[Master] Gimme a moment.

[Velkyna (Joe)] The Triumvirate may be worth mentioning in the event that Eflense is all "I'm not concerned about some orcish rabble." Um, dude, they're not rabble, they've got badass organization.

[Aric (Brian)] Didn't Sslet'n (sp) mention the triumvirate?

[Aric (Brian)] he knew one of them was a half-dragon

[Aric (Brian)] if *he* knew, Eflense definately knows.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oh, right.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Was he talking about the Triumvirate?

[Lia (Angie)] who wants to do the talking?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, checked the logs. He knows the orcs are "led by a half-dragon".

[Aedean (Sedlack)] This time around, Arkady will probably be the choice that works best

[Aedean (Sedlack)] How wide is the river near the camp? And how deep?

[James] I am back at the keyboard.

[Defthon (Don)] If the map's to scale, the paladin hall is a few hours away, no?

[Lia (Angie)] I don't know, where are we?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Near "Eflense" I thought.

[Defthon (Don)] No, we are south of the river that is straight south of the paladin hall.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No, we're near the 'i' in Heironeous

[Aric (Brian)] Looking at the map, I would be interested in visiting the Order of the Open Palm.

[Defthon (Don)] Given that it took us several hours to get from Czina to here, it'll take a significant amount of time to get there.

[Defthon (Don)] We're straight south of the 'i', yes, but on the other side of the river.

[Aric (Brian)] just as a note

[Defthon (Don)] The camp being right *on* the river.

[Master] You're on the south side of the river.

[Master] A couple miles south.

[Master] There's a pic of the Hall

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Looks kind of familiar

[Defthon (Don)] So the Hall is a few hours' flight away, right?

[Lia (Angie)] isn't it the middle of the night?

[Defthon (Don)] yes.

[Lia (Angie)] So we are talking about flying to the Hall

[Lia (Angie)] How long should that take?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm pretty bad with the travel times.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Few hours, I'd guess

[Defthon (Don)] It's like I'm Velkyna or something.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Looks to be about 1/3 the distance from here to Czina. So what was that?

[Velkyna (Joe)] WELL COME

[Lia (Angie)] Are there any other options for defensible terrain?

[Defthon (Don)] Closer to half, and that was "several hours".

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right. And few is half of several

[Arkady (James)] Bed down or move out?

[Roger (Jeff)] move

[Velkyna (Joe)] Move

[Aedean (Sedlack)] May as well move out

[Lia (Angie)] If we are moving, let's go

[Lia (Angie)] Any votes for staying here?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] no

[Arkady (James)] no

[Lia (Angie)] Any objections to heading for the Hall?

[Velkyna (Joe)] PEOPLE, we are LEAVING.

[Master] Okay.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean will go, but he'll grumble

[Defthon (Don)] Whatever. Moving right along.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Aedean's cute when he grumbles.

[Velkyna (Joe)] And Defthon's cute when he's indignant.

[Master] Using the maps and suchlike you have, you fly east, then north (to avoid Eflense's camp).

[Master] Reasoning that major roads would lead to major places, you find a likely road and follow it northeastward.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (How wide/deep is the river?)

[Master] Quarter-mile wide, plenty deep.

[Master] Big river.

[Master] Not the Mississippi, but big.

[Velkyna (Joe)] If we're on the move, Vel drops her invisibility. I assume Joanne's has expired (spell) by now.

[Master] ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] DEEEEEEEEEP RIVERRRRRRRRR

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 1/4 is pretty damn wide

[Velkyna (Joe)] I figure no inviso to alarm the paladins.

[Master] Yah, it's a major deal.

[Master] The land turns quite fertile as you get farther north, and you see many villages with sleeping livestock and suchlike, quite tidy.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I love Duloc, very clean.

[Master] Then you crest a hill and see the image I sent y'all.

[Master] It's huge and it's gorgeous.

[Lia (Angie)] So who gets to knock (Defth)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Is that a castle or an Orthanc kind of tower?

[Defthon (Don)] I imagine I'll talk here?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] It would make sense

[Arkady (James)] Oh yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Or a ziggurrat kind of thing?

[Master] Orthanc kind of tower.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Kewl.

[Angie] I am away from the keyboard.

Velkyna (Joe) is appropriately impressed.

[Defthon (Don)] We should descend to near ground level for the final approach

[Defthon (Don)] then land a few hundred feet from the entry.

[Defthon (Don)] So as not to alarm them. :)

[Master] The surrounding gardens and suchlike seem overgrown and weedy.

[Defthon (Don)] That's odd.

[Arkady (James)] Huh.

[Angie] I am back at the keyboard.

[Aric (Brian)] (IT'S A TRAP)

[Master] You land in front of the main gate, which is closed.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] They're probably busy with more important things

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Or else, they're holed up inside and can't come out to deal with the gardens

[Defthon (Don)] I'm a little surprised nobody's come out to investigate. I'd think they'd have a watch.

[Defthon (Don)] Well,

Defthon (Don) walks up to the entrance and bangs on the door.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Either that, or they're all dead

[Defthon (Don)] oh, der. What time is it?

[Master] 1:18 HST.

[Lia (Angie)] Its very early morning?

[Arkady (James)] Game time or real time?

[Velkyna (Joe)] game time.

[Defthon (Don)] Gametime, thx. :)

[Master] Very early morning gametime.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, that explains a little

[Defthon (Don)] but someone should still be at the gate, I'd think.

[Master] Heironeous is really into this whole military precision thing. I think you're right.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] But there's no answer?

[Lia (Angie)] Is the gate locked? (or just closed)

[Master] Just closed.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] May as well go inside

[Arkady (James)] HELLOOOOOOOO!

Defthon (Don) pushes the gate open gently.

[Velkyna (Joe)] LET ME CHECK FOR TRAPS

[Master] You step into an enormous hall. Four statues of paladins act as pillars for a ceiling which arches thirty feet into the air. A translucent reflecting pool is at the center.

[Joanne] Holy . . .

[Defthon (Don)] yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ... shit

[Defthon (Don)] Vel, it's a Paladin hall. You think there'd be traps?

[Arkady (James)] Joanne should prolly be visible by now.

Defthon (Don) walks forward a bit and calls out.

[Defthon (Don)] Hello? Anybody home?

[Master] Looks like a decent Marching Order...

[Master] Listen check for Dral and Aedean.

[Master] Dralafi: Jump: 13

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Listen: (d20+6+2) [12+6+2] 20

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Arkady (James)] Attack Formation Sierra!

[Master] Dralafi: Listen: 19

[An old man's voice] Who's there?

[Lia (Angie)] do we ALL hear that?

[Master] Yes.

[Defthon (Don)] We are a group of travellers who seek refuge for the night. With whom am I speaking?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I'm going to rearrange the marching order a little)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (there ... didn't like Roger out there on the flank)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Point

[An old man's voice] Be welcome in this hall, travellers. Heironeous provides safety to those who respect his spaces.

[An old man's voice] You may lay out your bedrolls under one of the statue pillars.

[Wellington] This is beyond strange.

[Defthon (Don)] I'll say.

[Wellington] Wouldn't a hall imply worshippers? Where is everyone? Why would they all leave?

[Wellington] Is it safe here?

[Defthon (Don)] Well, I guess we do as he says; let's set up in the corner

[Defthon (Don)] Safer than out there, at least.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm kind of creeped out, frankly.

[Galen] It is safe, travellers.

[Defthon (Don)] Hello!

Galen walks out from behind a pillar.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm uncomfortable, but that's to be expected.

[Galen] I had to be sure of your intentions. Your confusion speaks volumes as to your desires.

[Galen] I am Galen.

[Defthon (Don)] I am Defthon

[Defthon (Don)] We have been travelling around and needed a safe place to stay the night.

[Galen] You bear Pelor's mark, lad. Are you a Paladin, then?

[Defthon (Don)] Yes.

Galen visibly relaxes

[Galen] Good, good.

[Defthon (Don)] Are you in charge of this place?

[Galen] Now, why is a nice paladin like you telling half-truths?

[Defthon (Don)] I'll tell the whole truth in a moment, but it is complicated.

[Galen] I am not in charge of this place. I live here. Those who have that honor are not currently present.

Galen stops at that.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Man, Def's getting his chops busted left and right today.

[Defthon (Don)] No doubt asleep; we can meet them in the morning.

[Defthon (Don)] The short version of the story is, we've come from the south to investigate Czina's... dormancy;

[Galen] I fear I cannot offer you bedrooms, but you are welcome to rest on this floor; it has held travellers' bodies before.

[Galen] The south?

Galen peers at Lia and Dralafi.

[Defthon (Don)] and discovered the great army massing along the river.

[Galen] I see.

[Defthon (Don)] The floor is fine; we are well pleased just to have the walls around us.

[Galen] More than the walls, lad.

[Galen] This place is safe from divination or scrying. You are safer here than you know.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC OUTSTANDING.

[Defthon (Don)] I should tell you, though; we have actually had some interactions with the army---

[Defthon (Don)] we expect Eflense to try to summon us to parley tomorrow.

[Defthon (Don)] We haven't fully decided what we will do,

[Defthon (Don)] and we don't trust him very far.

[Defthon (Don)] Thus the need for a safe place to spend the night.

[Galen] This place is safer than most.

Galen looks sad

[Defthon (Don)] I suspect he will not try to attack us tonight, but I would not want to abuse your hospitality by keeping this from you.

[Galen] But see to your own defenses; the denizens of this castle cannot protect you if you are attacked.

[Defthon (Don)] I see.

[Defthon (Don)] That is, still, far more than we otherwise would have had.

[Galen] I am glad to offer you what little I may, sir.

[Defthon (Don)] Thank you, sir.

[Lia (Angie)] So, watches?

Galen wanders off

Arkady (James) bows to Galen.

Galen makes appropriate goodbyes first, of course.

[Arkady (James)] I'll take 1st. Who's with me?

[Defthon (Don)] Well, hopefully we'll be able to talk to them some more in the morning.

[Defthon (Don)] I'll take last.

[Defthon (Don)] Ten minute warning, btw.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'll take last, as is the tradition

[Roger (Jeff)] I'll take second

[Shottamip (Tamora)] middle for me

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm open to whatever is left.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We're probably only talking like 6 hpours, max, anyway.

[Galen] You have, for once, an uneventful evening.

[Defthon (Don)] Really, Galen? :)

[Master] gar

[Aric (Brian)] Make sure whoever needs rest to recharge their spells gets it.

[Defthon (Don)] Hey, how is Eflense going to contact us through the wards?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Someone should be outside, maybe.

[Lia (Angie)] I could go outside

[Arkady (James)] I can go outside.

[Arkady (James)] ... in the morning. And wait for contact.

[Lia (Angie)] OOC so we are assuming he can contact us wherever we are?

[Defthon (Don)] Well, he can always send a carpet.

[Velkyna (Joe)] OOC: No, I'd think he wouldn't be able to contact us through the temple wards.

[Arkady (James)] He can just have someone scry for us.

[Defthon (Don)] Presumably he scried us until we actually got inside here, so he'd know we're here.

[Master] He did not.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Arkady would've sensed the scrying.

[Arkady (James)] Yup.

[Lia (Angie)] So we do send someone back to our previous camp?

[Lia (Angie)] or just go outside?

[Arkady (James)] I'll just go outside

[Lia (Angie)] So it is morning now?

[Master] Yes.

[Roger (Jeff)] (memoing spells)

[Defthon (Don)] Any of the paladins come down?

[Master] The sun rises, birds chirp, and eerie silence fills the hall.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia will go outside with arkady

[Velkyna (Joe)] I have a feeling most of the paladins are away for some reason.

[Defthon (Don)] Hunh.

[Velkyna (Joe)] And Galen's about it.

[Defthon (Don)] That could be, though I can't understand why.

[Defthon (Don)] Where would they be?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We could ask.

[Defthon (Don)] Ask where? Ask who?

[Velkyna (Joe)] They could be off fighting something/someone. Or they fought something/someone and lost.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Galen seemed pretty sad about something.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC and in a fit of really bad timing, I have to go now. :P

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We could presumably ask Galen

[Defthon (Don)] Is Galen around anywhere?

[Defthon (Don)] I'm reluctant to go further into the castle without invitation.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] He could presumably be found

[Master] Arkady, you are being scried on.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "upon".

[Arkady (James)] Noted.

[Master] "scryed"

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Wave for the camera.

[Roger (Jeff)] UPON HERE

[Roger (Jeff)] UPON HERE

[Arkady (James)] I'll try not to look directly at the sensor.

[Master] Hee.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Ok, leaving now. Back in about 1.5 hours. Call my cell if you need to.

[Master] See you soon!@

[Velkyna (Joe)] Y'all gonna make me lose my cool.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Later, Don. Have fun.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Anyone else want to take a look around?

[Lia (Angie)] So Lia and Arkady are outside, is everyone else inside?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I assume so

Velkyna (Joe) looks nervously at the suggestion. "I'd rather not. This place is kind of freakish."

[Lia (Angie)] And does Arkady tell Lia about the Scry?

[Arkady (James)] No, not yet.

Arkady (James) sets up a white banner.

[Arkady (James)] I mention to Lia why I did that.

[Arkady (James)] ... and say that we are probably being spied upon right now.

Lia (Angie) goes back inside to inform the rest

[Velkyna (Joe)] Where'd he get the white banner ... and don't tell me his underwear.

[Arkady (James)] Emergency pants!

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: Hey! Where're my pants?

[Lia (Angie)] Parley here in 12 hours

[Arkady (James)] I don't think using Aric's pants would be appropriate.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oh, is that what that meant?

[Arkady (James)] Yes.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, in that case, I won't feel bad at all about wandering around the place.

[Lia (Angie)] So what do we want to say, and who's talking?

[Lia (Angie)] I don't think we should intrude on the hospitality of the Hall

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I already outlined what I consider to be the major talking points.

[Arkady (James)] I guess at this point, we just be straight-up with the guy.

[Arkady (James)] We won't meet in the hall, of course. Outside a ways.

[Lia (Angie)] how straight up?

[Lia (Angie)] And who all will be present?

[Arkady (James)] We'll just talk about trade, and our concerns with the condition of Czina.

[Arkady (James)] Just the people seen before should be present. Rest should stay in hiding/invisible.

[Lia (Angie)] So if he agress to trade, do we ignore the bullyboy routine?

[Roger (Jeff)] yes

[Arkady (James)] Well, if the bullyboy routine continues, there won't be anything to trade.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right. His behavior is counterproductive to trade

[Shottamip (Tamora)] "If he agrees to trade"? Are you all nuts? Anything he agreed to would be near meaningless.

[Arkady (James)] If he's interested in making money, he'll at least listen to us.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I just want the chance to scope them out.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] And we should try to give them as little info about our capabilities as we can.

[Lia (Angie)] I have serious doubts about this guys word

[Roger (Jeff)] But if he agrees to trade with the elves, then nothing else is our problem

[Lia (Angie)] And I would prefer not to make an agreement we do not intend to honor

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We only have to kick his ass if he doesn't agree to trade.

[Master] Ten more minutes of discussion, and then we'll transfer over to the other map and start the meeting.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I assume we're going to be going to Eflense, not him coming to us. If we're indeed speaking directly to Eflense during this chitchat. And if that's the case (going to him) this is going to be belly-of-the-beast type of shit.

[Arkady (James)] I don't think we can kick his ass, BTW.

[Lia (Angie)] What else is our problem is up to us

[Shottamip (Tamora)] The wellbeing of thousands of good people will be affected by what we choose to do, and that's *certainly* our problem, Roger.

[Roger (Jeff)] I guess

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, we have a much better chance kicking the ass of whatever detachment is sent to the meeting than we do of kicking the ass of the whole army.

[Lia (Angie)] I am not willing to leave conditions as they are, even if we get the trade

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, but what will the detachment-ass-kicking accomplish, in the bigger scheme of things?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If Eflense is gone, we've cut off the head.

[Arkady (James)] I agree, I definitely want to see a change for the better in Czina. But how are we going to accomplish that?

[Lia (Angie)] That assumes we can get to Elfense

[Aedean (Sedlack)] They said we'd be meeting with him

[Velkyna (Joe)] Unless he's got some kind of Metatron arrangement, I assume we're meeting with the real deal.

[Lia (Angie)] and that we are willing to break the truce of Parley

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Obviously, I have less of a problem with that particular issue than others.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] But, what are you going to do otherwise?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] You're unwilling to leave things as they are.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Will we have a better opportunity to do something about it later?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If we seem irritating/interfering but weak, he might start things for us.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That, too.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] It would also be nice to know what these paladins are up to.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] They might be the army we've been looking for.

[Lia (Angie)] I have no objections to fighting back, but I do not think planning to hit back first is a good idea

[Arkady (James)] Well, can someone scare up Galen, and ask him what's going on?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'd be happy to go see if I can find him.

[Lia (Angie)] Why don't we concentrate on what we say to Elfense, first?

[Master] Another minute or two.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 1) I've already said what I think we need to say

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 2) Mike is going to jump us right into the meeting, and it might be nice to have that info before we meet with Eflense

[Shottamip (Tamora)] *sigh* maybe we should let Aedean talk, just to speed things up.

[Lia (Angie)] OK, we ask for trade and he says yes(or no) then what?

[Arkady (James)] If he wants to take point on this one, that's fine by me.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If yes, then we bring up the issue that draining the city is not good for trade.

[Aric (Brian)] I say, if he agrees to trade, we return to the elves and say so. Same thing if he says no.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If no, I'm inclined towards mild provocation

[Aric (Brian)] In either case, I dn't think we're prepared to take on an army.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The army won't be there

[Master] Are we anywhere near consensus?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Why would we want to tell the elves what the guy from the barony on the other side of the kingdom says?

[Aric (Brian)] Right, but if things go badly ... they will come.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think enough of a show of badass is goign to be there.

[Arkady (James)] Becuse Eflense is running the show...

[Velkyna (Joe)] Because it affects Czina.

[Aric (Brian)] Because that guy currently controls Czina, whether we like it or not.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] But he shouldn't be, and he doesn't have the right to give us a definitive answer for the city. In my opinion.

[Arkady (James)] Vel, Joanna, and Praxis are going to hide, yes?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Well, anyways.

[Joanne] I'm cool with that.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Sure.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Who's going to do the talking?

[Arkady (James)] I can if you want.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] They're probably more inclined to trust you.

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, probably.

[Arkady (James)] They've seen that Olidimarra holy symbol...

[Master] We set?

[Arkady (James)] OK.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I guess so

[Velkyna (Joe)] Check.

[Lia (Angie)] sure

[Roger (Jeff)] ok

[Master] This is the lawn out front; go ahead and arrange yourselves.

[Master] Who is invisible?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Vel, Joanna, Praxis

[Arkady (James)] Vel, Joanna and Praxis should just hide in the temple.

[Arkady (James)] and possibly be invisible too.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] that works too

[Velkyna (Joe)] Invisible.

[Aric (Brian)] Joanne and Praxis at leat. We may need Vel if things go badly.

[Dralafi] I'll cover a flank.

[Velkyna (Joe)] How far from the temple are we meeting them?

[Dralafi] I figured right in front, so as to have one back to a wall and a place to retreat to.

[Master] Does everyone have the map?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Then I'll be right inside the doors, ready to come to help in the event of mishap.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] y

[Arkady (James)] y

[Master] ok just making sure.

[Velkyna (Joe)] yes

[Lia (Angie)] got map

[Master] Go ahead and arrange yourselves, pls.

[Aric (Brian)] should i take a flank, or stay up near the front?

[Aric (Brian)] also, should i make my clothes glow?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Up front is good

[Arkady (James)] They may have see invis. May be better to have the invisible people inside too.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Right, which is what I said.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Joanne is going to be deep in the temple, I'll be at the doors, just inside and out of view.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let's try NOT to display lots of capabilities, yes?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Put me on the Message so I get the play-by-play.

[Arkady (James)] Roger that.

[Arkady (James)] Everyone is on Message.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We'll only tip our hand if we're going all in.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Keep the god-touched stuff down, keep the flaming talking swords down, etc.

[Master] Are you arranged?

[Arkady (James)] y

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right, well drawn swords would be bad form anyway

[Lia (Angie)] sure

[Aric (Brian)] shot: got it. my clothes are merely white.

[Master] Dral and Def have bows strung but not nocked.

[Aric (Brian)] (although realistically that reduces my CHR, but i'll worryabout that if we get into combat)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm hiding deep in my cloak back here.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'd switch Def and Aric's places. Aric's more mobile.

[Master] With a rush of air, eight figures suddenly appear.

[Velkyna (Joe)] DIMENSIONAL ANCHOR

[Velkyna (Joe)] REPEAT

[Velkyna (Joe)] DIMENSIONAL ANCHOR

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What spell?

[Master] You recognize the Commander, out on the flank, as well as one of the guards and wizards.

[Master] Teleport.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The stone is at the ready

[Master] Three of them.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] ty.

[Master] In the center is a man in resplendent armor, with an air of command. He is about five foot

[Master] ten inches tall, shaved, with a helmet and cape. He is built like a man who has fought

[Master] all his life and stands with tremendous arrogance.

[Baron Eflense] Good afternoon.

[Arkady (James)] Hello

[Baron Eflense] Before we begin -- we meet here to parley under a flag of truce.

[Arkady (James)] Yes.

[Arkady (James)] We agree.

[Baron Eflense] So be it.

[Baron Eflense] Baron Eflense: Sense Motive: 17

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [16+14] 30

[Baron Eflense] You announced yourselves to me by capturing one of my soldiers and enscorcelling him.

[Baron Eflense] I have, at times, enjoyed more polite openings to a relationship.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: is enscorcelling a real word?

[Arkady (James)] Yes. We wanted to get more information on the nature of your army.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] of course

[Baron Eflense] Still, you are obviously persons of power and some honor, since you returned him to me unharmed.

[Baron Eflense] So -- what is it you desire from me, that you need such information?

[Arkady (James)] Thank you. We originally came to this area to open up trade to Czina.

[Baron Eflense] From which area?

[Arkady (James)] However, we found the situation somewhat more difficult than we expected.

[Arkady (James)] Trade with the Elves in the south.

[Roger (Jeff)] (It's in my Shorter OED)

[Baron Eflense] You comprise an envoy from an Elven kingdom?

[Arkady (James)] Yes.

[Arkady (James)] We approached the mayor of Czina, but were completely rebuffed.

Baron Eflense looks at Aric, then begins to laugh.

[Baron Eflense] Forgive me.

[Baron Eflense] Please, continue.

[Baron Eflense] I am fascinated by this discussion already..

[Arkady (James)] The mayor was quite rude to us, strangely so.

[Arkady (James)] A good ruler of his people would try make the lives of his citizens better. Yet he was not interested in this at all.

[Arkady (James)] In fact, he seems only interested in fattening his own coin purse.

Baron Eflense holds up a hand.

[Baron Eflense] I have councillors already.

[Baron Eflense] I am not interested in your views on how I or my vassals should manage their rights.

[Baron Eflense] You want to open Czina up to trade with the elven kingdoms.

[Baron Eflense] You approached the mayor, who declined.

[Baron Eflense] Then you decided to reconnoiter my army, in order to decide whether or not to kill me outright.

[Baron Eflense] You decided not to.

[Baron Eflense] Did I miss anything?

Commander snorts derisively.

Wizard chuckles

[Arkady (James)] We wanted to see what was going on here. And how a thug like the Mayor of Czina could hold rule over his city.

[Baron Eflense] You are insulting my hand-picked vassal, sir.

[Arkady (James)] I apologize for not finding better words to describe him.

[Baron Eflense] Pfeh.

Baron Eflense looks at Lia.

[Arkady (James)] But I take it, his actions meet with your complete approval?

[Baron Eflense] Stop bothering me with your lackey's clumsy posturing.

[Arkady (James)] (I would be the lackey, right? :-)

[Master] (Yes. He takes Lia to be the commander, based on her obviously enormous wealth.)

[Baron Eflense] So -- you are half-elven, at least.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Obviously)

[Arkady (James)] (we're discussing a response)

[Baron Eflense] And you wish to open a trade route between here and the elf lands.

[Lia (Angie)] I am not a ruler here

Baron Eflense ignores this.

[Baron Eflense] I am not interested in trade with people who steal my military secrets and plot to murder me.

[Lia (Angie)] And we have beensent to open trade for the elves

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm making little "MEH MEH MEH" hand gestures behind the door.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (out of sight)

[Baron Eflense] Your request has been considered and denied.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They will ream us on this one.

[Baron Eflense] Further, you are not welcome in lands controlled by House Eflense.

[Baron Eflense] If you choose to continue to grace us with your presence, tread carefully.

[Arkady (James)] And those would be? That seems to have changed a lot recently.

Baron Eflense smiles predatorily.

[Baron Eflense] I imagine you'll have to show a bit more capacity for keeping up with the times than you have so far.

[Baron Eflense] This audience is concluded.

[Velkyna (Joe)] DIMENSIONAL ANCHOR

[Master] The three wizards start casting Teleport spells.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Dimenisonal Anchor, on Eflense

[Master] Okay, initiative.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Initiative: (d20-1) [9-1] 8

[Roger (Jeff)] Roger: Initiative: (d20+4) [4+4] 8

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Initiative: (d20+4) [12+4] 16

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Initiative: (d20+7) [13+7] 20

[Arkady (James)] I'm not sure this is a good idea.

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: Initiative: (d20+3) [18+3] 21

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Initiative: (d20+3) [3+3] 6

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Initiative: (d20+6) [6+6] 12

[Velkyna (Joe)] They will ream us on this one.

[Cleric] Aedean, were you Holding that action?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What is going on? Is it Aedean?

[Cleric] Baron Eflense: Initiative: 17

[Master] Sorry about that.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, once it looked like things were wrapping up

[Arkady (James)] I really don't think this is a good idea.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They will ream us on this one.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm tired of wimps Tp'ing away from us

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, but in this case, I thought we were going to let him go.

[Master] You cast the spell; a set of previously Invisible Ioun stones flare into existence.

[Master] Ranged touch attack.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They will ream us on this one.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Attack: Light Crossbow [1] hits AC: ((d20+7-1)) [(6+7-1)] 12

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Mulligan

[Master] ok.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Attack: Light Crossbow [1] hits AC: ((d20+7-1)) [(4+7-1)] 10

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Crap

[Master] Hang on.

[Lia (Angie)] WHAT IS HE DOING????

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No armor bonuses, though

[Master] THe first one would have hit; let's just go with that.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay

[Master] The green ray shoots forth and is immediately absorbed by the newly-evident Ioun Stones.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They will ream us on this one.

[Master] They glow lavender and green.

[Master] Eflense winks as he and his men disappear.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Fucker

[Lia (Angie)] WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!

[Master] You have a few moments before they come back in fore.

[Master] force.

[Master] Hurry.

[Arkady (James)] OK, we're out of here.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Like running will do any good

[Lia (Angie)] You have another suggestion

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Not really, no.

Roger (Jeff) readies a fireball

[Lia (Angie)] SO do we run, hide in the Hall, or fight?

Arkady (James) readies a dispel magic

[Wellington] Roger, can you teleport?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I say we fight

[Arkady (James)] Well, we don't have a choice now, do we?

[Roger (Jeff)] (Next level Roger can)

[Dralafi] Inside the temple. It is far more defensible.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can take us all somewhere else in 60 seconds.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What do you all want?

[Master] Shottamip Paunen is: Gone in 60 seconds.

[Aric (Brian)] perhaps we should consider retreating to the elven lands

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I have a Lot of Teleports these days.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Run is okay, fight is okay

[Lia (Angie)] I vote for run since we do not know who we will be fighting

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Okay.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I just figure they'll scry to figure out where we run

[Lia (Angie)] and I'd rather not test the hospitality of the hall

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You think they'll follow us to elven lands?

[Arkady (James)] No, I don't think they'll care.

[Roger (Jeff)] I concur on the TP to Elven lands.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] It's quite a ways from their backup after all.

[Arkady (James)] Check that. Arkady will get out his wand of darkness instead.

[Arkady (James)] Any sensors show up, slap a darkness on 'em.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] ooc: Remind me of a good place to go. Floating city? Some other random city that I don't remember the name of?

[Master] Cloudhome absolutely has to have some kind of scry wards on it.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Nailoglas, maybe?

[Master] Otherwise, Nailoglas, where your allies are.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Cloudhome works too

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Cloudhome. Scry wards. I like that.

[Arkady (James)] We need to tell the Elves we failed.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Grab packs and carpets, get in groups of 3.

[Master] I figured you had stuff pretty much grabbed.

[Arkady (James)] Let's get Joanne out on the 1st trip.

[Velkyna (Joe)] What the hell happened, that caused my computer to churn like the bejeebus for upwards of the last five minutes?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] going

[Master] Couldn't tell you, honestly.

[Master] First roll.

[Aric (Brian)] Are we taking Wellington with us?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [82] 82

[Arkady (James)] I don't think he wants to hang around here.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I think I'm okay up to something in the 90s right?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Coming bak

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [16] 16

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [94] 94

[Master] no prob

[Velkyna (Joe)] My computer thrashing mightily. I may be AWOL in a minute or two.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [61] 61

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Last group. Did we miss anyone?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [39] 39

[Master] You appear quickly on Cloudhome.

Arkady (James) confronts Aedean.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let's find somebody and apologize for dropping in without warning.

[Arkady (James)] What the hell was that?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I wasn't done talking

[Ivellian] Er . . . hi.

Arkady (James) throws up his hands and stalks off to a far corner.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel goes viibl

Joe has left the game.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hi, Ivellian. Sorry to surprise you like this.

[Arkady (James)] Ruh Roh!

[Ivellian] No trouble at all.

[Ivellian] You look a bit rushed; should I be worried?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] They probably won't follow us here

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We don't think so, not here. We didn't want to bring trouble to you.

[Lia (Angie)] What, exactly, did you hope to accomplish Aedean?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] But we had run into a bit of it.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Keep him around. Try to apply some pressure. No one else around here seems willing to take risks to get the job done.

[Ivellian] I'm sorry to hear that.

James stalks back, and just stands there fuming.

Ivellian glances back at Arkady.

[Lia (Angie)] What Pressure were you planning to apply?

[Arkady (James)] We can explain the whole history to him.

Aramil Xiloscent wanders by and crosses his arms, unwilling to interrupt Lia when she's angry.

[Lia (Angie)] and how did you not picture this ending with Elfense after us in a big way?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Guys, I can't get us all back today with any margin for error, so we're going to have to stay here until tomorrow at least.

Joe has joined the game.

[Joe] Well fuck.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I pictured it with no more Eflense, frankly.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Plenty of time to make new plans.

[Aramil Xiloscent] I'm gonna go do a thing.

[Praxis (James)] So how's Asratia doing?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I have a great plan. Let's unleash the machine on the orc lands.

[Ivellian] Very pregnant, but still very much herself.

Ivellian raises his eyebrows.

[Ivellian] Okay, I don't want to be part of this conversatin.

Velkyna (Joe) throws up her hands. "Sweet fuck on a crutch."

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, on Eflense!

[Praxis (James)] And then unlease it on the lizardman lands too?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Maybe.

Velkyna (Joe) suddenly looks around, her face in a panic. "Wait. Where the fuck is Joanne?"

[Velkyna (Joe)] Where the _FUCK_ is Joanne?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Still invisible, I think. Joanne, say something.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (Whoops, Michael's in the bathroom.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (oops ... )

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Praxis, is Joanne here?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I wanted a little drama and there he goes)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (it was a good plan)

[Praxis (James)] Yeah, can't you see, she's right over there.

Praxis (James) points.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] There we go.

[Praxis (James)] Oh, right.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] She's silent with shock.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] She IS suddenly on a floating dead thingie after all.

Praxis (James) flies off to go look for a snack.

[Lia (Angie)] I don't blame her

Velkyna (Joe) grabs at the air near Joanne in the area where Praxis was pointing. Grabbing invisible cloth, she relaxes considerably.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Oh thank fuck."

[Lia (Angie)] So, do we return to clean up the mess, or move to the next target

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I think we pretty much blew that situation as soon as we kidnapped the soldier

[Arkady (James)] Well, we should talk to Nailo to see what he'd like us to do next.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We don't seem to do so well with the diplomatic work

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Presumably he still wants us to do the same thing. Open up some trade and find some human armies to work on the orcs.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, but I seem to recall Czina being key to all of that

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Then maybe we better come up with a plan, eh?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] You already have my vote

[Shottamip (Tamora)] There wasn't any promise that we could waltz right in and have everything set in a week.

[Lia (Angie)] So it sounds like we need to clean up our mess

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If we still want to do the Czina thing, yes

[Velkyna (Joe)] What about some smash and grab? Start hitting some soft spots in Eflense? The army's down the river, who's guarding the home front?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Piss him off, maybe throw him off balance.

[Arkady (James)] We could always go beat up the Mayor of Czina.

[Joanne] S . . . sorry.

[Joanne] Um.

[Joanne] Where are we?

[Lia (Angie)] I'm certainly in the mood to hit something

[Velkyna (Joe)] We're on a flying dead fish.

[Joanne] Oh. Thanks.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Or, rather, a fortress on a flying dead fish.

[Velkyna (Joe)] A giant flying dead fish.

[Velkyna (Joe)] A magic, giant flying dead fish.

[Joanne] A flying fortress fish.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Pretty much.

[Joanne] Ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh, and there's this elf god.

[Joanne] Well, yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] As a baby

[Aedean (Sedlack)] brb

[Joanne] Oh.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Inside this pregnant dragon.

[Velkyna (Joe)] In that building over there.

[Sedlack] I am away from the keyboard.

[Velkyna (Joe)] She's going to give birth to it in a couple weeks.

[Lia (Angie)] have we confirmed that there are scry wards in place?

Joanne is basically incapable of processing that statement.

Velkyna (Joe) pats Joanne on the back. "Welcome to my last week."

[Aramil Xiloscent] Hm?

[Aramil Xiloscent] Yes, of course there are. Charis is a sort of living ward.

[Arkady (James)] We're not being scryed upon now, right?

Joanne comes back to herself suddenly.

[Joanne] Elves.

[Helian Galanodel] Many of us, yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, we're back in the elven lands I talked about.

[Joanne] Hey! I'm still invisible. Is that rude?

[Lia (Angie)] We just teleported out of a bad situation going to worse with many wizards on the other side

[Wellington] I think Aedean's idea was a good one.

Velkyna (Joe) laughs. Not really. Don't sweat it.

[Joanne] Um, ok.

[Sedlack] I am back at the keyboard.

[Helian Galanodel] It is a pleasure to see you once more, Dragonslayer.

[Sedlack] I am away from the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] What idea would that be?

[Wellington] Betraying and killing Eflense.

Velkyna (Joe) is actually distracted by Joanne's condition and misses the reference from Helian.

[Wellington] If it had worked, it would have done very much good.

Wellington shrugs

[Lia (Angie)] IF it had worked

[Wellington] Guess we should keep a "see Invisibility" around or something.

Wellington shrugs

[Wellington] Life is risk.

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, well, maybe it would have worked better if he told us what was going to happen.

[Joanne] Huh?

[Velkyna (Joe)] What?

[Aramil Xiloscent] Ain't that the truth.

[Helian Galanodel] Maybe now . . . but someday perhaps not so much.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, well, maybe the meeting would have gone better if you had stuck to the prepared remarks, rather than insulting the Mayor

Wellington shrugs

[Helian Galanodel] I am Helian, sir.

[Arkady (James)] (OOC, I am quite amused, though Arkady is kind of pissed.)

[Wellington] Wellington. A pleasure to meet you.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Whoever invisibled Joanne, could we get that shut down? Thanks.

[Helian Galanodel] Welcome to Cloudhome.

[Arkady (James)] done.

[Wellington] Thank you.

Velkyna (Joe) gets out of the way for the introductions.

[Wellington] What is Cloudhome, precisely?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (to Joanne) There you go.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm sorry, excuse my poor manners

[Helian Galanodel] It -- oh, hello, ma'am.

[Helian Galanodel] It is as Vel said.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Sorry about that, sir. She was invisible from our most recent engagement.

[Helian Galanodel] Nothing to be sorry for.

[Helian Galanodel] Goodness, you are young, even for a human.

Velkyna (Joe) nods, a little nervous suddenly.

[Helian Galanodel] (to Joanne)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh! Um, this is Joanne.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Joanne, this is Helian.

Helian Galanodel takes Joanne's hand and kisses it.

[Joanne] Oh! Um.

[Helian Galanodel] A pleasure to meet you.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Helian's kind of in charge here.

Joanne courtseys!

[Joanne] The pleasure is mine, sir.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] brb

[Sedlack] I am back at the keyboard.

Helian Galanodel smiles

[Sedlack] I am away from the keyboard.

[Helian Galanodel] At any rate, Vel is quite correct. This is a flying creature which is much like a fish.

[Helian Galanodel] We keep a fortress on it, and it is protected from magic due to the fact that an ancient dragon resides in the temple there.

[Helian Galanodel] That dragon carries the child of Corellon Lorethian through a millenium.

[Helian Galanodel] Though I'm not sure that she will be prepared to give birth in a mere two weeks.

[Helian Galanodel] ...as much as that might please our Bright Lady.

[Arkady (James)] Oh, that's interesting...

[Arkady (James)] That next fight w/ Tristian will be coming up shortly.

[Helian Galanodel] And I'm not really in charge; Ivellian is. But he does let me shout orders sometimes.

Helian Galanodel smiles gently, helping Joanne to adjust.

Velkyna (Joe) giggles nervously. "Well, I did say 'kind of.'"

[Wellington] (whispers) Amazing . . .

Helian Galanodel turns that smile onto Vel.

Wellington wanders a little bit.

Velkyna (Joe) smiles back, a little more at ease.

[Defthon (Don)] Back now. Gimme a minute to go through the chatlog.

[Joanne] Are there, um, a lot of these?

[Velkyna (Joe)] DON

[Helian Galanodel] We only wish.

Lia (Angie) steps after Wellington

[Wellington] Hm?

Wellington kneels to touch the skin of the ray.

[Lia (Angie)] Try not to wander, it's impolite

Wellington looks alarmed.

[Lia (Angie)] (qiuetly)

[Wellington] I -- I'm sorry.

[Sedlack] I am back at the keyboard.

[Wellington] It's just so much, yes?

[Lia (Angie)] That's ok, perfectly naturall

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Hey Joanne, check this out." She leads Joanne over to the edge of the ray.

[Lia (Angie)] and yes, it's so much

[Joanne] OH MY FUCK!

Velkyna (Joe) grabs onto Joanne's belt to make sure she doesn't fall.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Amazing, isn't it?

[Joanne] !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joanne] !!!!!!!

Lia (Angie) turns back to group

Joanne lets the wind fly through her hair

[Velkyna (Joe)] I like to look down every now and again. Clears my thoughts.

[Joanne] I want to tie a belt and hang off the back.

[Lia (Angie)] Helian, is there somewhre we could talk for a bit?

[Helian Galanodel] Yes, the guest hall is open, as is the temple, if you care for Asratia's counsel.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Ah. Vel coughs. "That might not be such a good idea."

[Shottamip (Tamora)] ?

Joanne turns to Vel and hugs her tightly.

[Joanne] Thank you.

[Lia (Angie)] I don't know that we need to disturb here anymore than we already have

Velkyna (Joe) nods, patting Joanne on the head. "Sure."

Joanne steps back, obviously energized.

[Lia (Angie)] Her, sorry

[Helian Galanodel] As you wish.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Unless, of course, she wants to see us.

Velkyna (Joe) ushers Joanne back to the group.

[Lia (Angie)] But we do need to discuss our next move

[Arkady (James)] Well, the attack on Cloudhome should occur within a couple weeks.

[Arkady (James)] Maybe we should just stay here and prepare.

[Lia (Angie)] First things first

Lia (Angie) turns to Aedean

[Velkyna (Joe)] (HERE COMES THE BOOM)

[Lia (Angie)] I'm sorry I was so angry

[Lia (Angie)] I thought we had decided to stick to the parley truce unles Elfense attacked

Aedean (Sedlack) is somewhat surprised to be hearing an apology

[Lia (Angie)] (Gutting other party members is bound to get you talked about)

[Lia (Angie)] That was OOC

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I got anxious. I thought we'd be unlikely to have a better chance to deal with the Eflense issue

[Aric (Brian)] hey, i need to go afk for a bit. i'll be back in a little while.

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] Did you think he wouldn't have protections?

[Joe] I am away from the keyboard.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Need to make a phone call.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We would have had to deal with him eventually.

[Arkady (James)] I'm sorry too. I think we are all frustrated with the situation in Czina.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If it had worked, it would have been a fine move.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] His protections might have been less under the aegis of the parley.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Especially with a paladin running around in the group.

[Arkady (James)] OOC: We going to have a quickie dinner break or something?

[Helian Galanodel] I'm good for that, actually.

[Joe] I am back at the keyboard.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I've already eaten, but whatever the group wants.

[Roger (Jeff)] (I ate in front of the comp)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I just grabbed a snack from the vending machine

[Arkady (James)] (Did you get crumbs in the keyboard?)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I ate while we debated something or other.

[Roger (Jeff)] (I held it upside down and whacked it a few times)

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, really back now.

[James] I am away from the keyboard.

[Defthon (Don)] How long ago was the last time we were on Cloudhome?

[Velkyna (Joe)] A couple days, I thought.

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, is that all. I was thinking a month or two.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] A little longer than that, I think

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think we only spent two nights-worth out on the Czina run.

[Defthon (Don)] Nevermind, then; our "future slip" is still a ways off.

[James] I am back at the keyboard.

[Master] It's been a bit under a week.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right, plus a few days flight time

[Master] Maybe a week exactly.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Probably a little longer, actually, we spent a few days in Nailoglas

[Master] Ooh, that's right.

[Master] So maybe a week and a half.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That's about right

[Defthon (Don)] Ok.

[Defthon (Don)] So, what do we do now?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] A good question

[Angie] I am away from the keyboard.

[Defthon (Don)] Eflense's all pissed at us; we're not going to re-establish trade in Czina anytime soon.

[Arkady (James)] Yup.

[Roger (Jeff)] Unless we take him out

[Defthon (Don)] ...which is going to be orders of magnitude more difficult now.

[Defthon (Don)] We're not gonna get anywhere near him.

[Angie] I am back at the keyboard.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Personally, I'd like to slap the smug out of Eflense, but I acknowledge that's on the rash side.

[Roger (Jeff)] Yeah. I'm not saying

[Arkady (James)] What's more, when where away from places like this, we can be expected to be spied upon at any time.

[Roger (Jeff)] Just saying

[Velkyna (Joe)] He's just saying and that's all he's saying.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Eflense might not care if we're not fucking around with his shit.

[Arkady (James)] Well, only if he's got bigger fish to fry.

[Arkady (James)] Is there some way we can manuver him into fighting the orcs?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I think he's got enough stuff still to deal with in his own backyard.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I personally don't see why attacking would be "orders of magnitude more difficult now." Really, he had lots of protection before, and he still does.

[Defthon (Don)] ...but now he's looking for us.

[Defthon (Don)] We could try to lure the orcs northward, I suppose.

[Defthon (Don)] Except the horse lords are in the way.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We would've had some element of surprise, but on the up side we have a better idea of his badassness.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] As soon as we made our first raid on the edge of his army or something, he was going to be looking for us.

[Arkady (James)] Maybe do the classic border raids between Eflense and the orcs. Make each think the other did it.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] And he didn't seem to have that much trouble finding us.

[Arkady (James)] OK, I'm confused on the overall geography.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Except it'll be hard to pull offf such tricks if we're constantly being watched

[Velkyna (Joe)] (is there a Nondetection spell any more?)

[Arkady (James)] Well, we can detect when we're being watched. and then block the sensors w/ darkness and silence spells.

[Arkady (James)] But that's annoying.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Nondetection would only work on one of us

[Velkyna (Joe)] I thought there used to be an area-effect Nondetection and/or it affected N targets based on level?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (oh well)\

[Velkyna (Joe)] So, here's my read on the situation and our options:

[Aedean (Sedlack)] There's "False Vision", which does an area

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Reading up now

[Velkyna (Joe)] Option #1: Bum rush Eflense, try to take him out.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Option #2: Start dicking with Eflense, attacking his holdings, overthrow the mayor, etc.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Option #3: UNLEASH THE BEAST (the machine)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Option #4: ....?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sadly, FV only lasts a minute per level

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, we could ask the elves for input

[Arkady (James)] Well, Scrying only lasts 1min / level

[Velkyna (Joe)] Talking/diplomacy seems like it was never an option for us unless we made preposterously tactical errors.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We'd only have 1 FV, he has many scriers

[Arkady (James)] Yes, but that's only if he thinks he's getting bad info.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, but they'd get to see reality for a bit before we knew to cast it.

[Arkady (James)] Well, 1 round I guess. Does scrying start off hazy and then come into focus, like in the movies? :-)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Don't think so

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm leaning toward Aedean's option 2. Take Czina back for the people, move from there.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh, that was Vel with the numbering this time. My bad.

Velkyna (Joe) shrugs. I'm used to it.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] My main concern with that is that Eflense will be out for blood right now, so it might be easier to help Czina out if that trail cools a little

[Defthon (Don)] Possibly.

[Defthon (Don)] THe main thing, though, is, how much support can we expect from the people of Czina?

[Arkady (James)] None, to be pessimistic.

[Arkady (James)] Might be like Iraq. :-)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I sure wouldn't expect many to come forward _before_ we get rid of the Mayor

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Even then, it might be iffy, with the spectre of Eflense hanging around

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do remember that the Mayor is a nothing surrounded by low-level thugs. He might just leave if we told him we were serious.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Myabe we should hit some of his soft spots to the north in Eflense proper, to draw him northward first.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If not, I don't think it would be more than a couple-day task.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Thirty minutes, tops.

[Arkady (James)] It would be cool to annoy him enough, that his wizards spend all their time scrying for us.

[Joanne] He'd run.

[Wellington] Yeah.

[Wellington] He'd run back to Eflense.

[Wellington] If you didn't kill him.

[Defthon (Don)] The Mayor?

[Arkady (James)] And then hit him somewhere (like with another army) when his doesn't have mage support.

[Wellington] Yep.

[Defthon (Don)] Thing is, if we piss him off he won't have his mages scrying for us.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Why not?

[Defthon (Don)] He'll have one mage scry, then teleport a bunch in to incinerate us.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hit and run tactics could work to some extent

[Aedean (Sedlack)] It takes a significant amount of time to get a scrying set up

[Arkady (James)] We want to set a trap for him with false vision. That would be exciting.

[Arkady (James)] 1 hour casting time, and it lasts just 1min/level.

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So, what, hit him somewhere, set up the False Vision, try to draw his mages away, then???

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Wellington] Step 1

[Velkyna (Joe)] Make up your mind Brian. ;)

[Aric (Brian)] sorry, hit the button too many times. i'm back, give me a few to catch up

[Master] Step 1: False Vision

[Defthon (Don)] Step 3: Profit!

[Master] Step 2: ?

[Defthon (Don)] whoops

[Master] :)

[Arkady (James)] Step 1: False vision someone looking sort of vulnerable and attackable (yeah, that's not a word.)

[Arkady (James)] Step 2: set up an ambush for the mages and fighters that TP in.

[Arkady (James)] Step 3: run like hell afterwards.

[Arkady (James)] Because we don't want a follow-up attack.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm skeptical.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That Ioun Stone is a real bitch

[Arkady (James)] What happened back there anyway? Why didn't the D-anchor work?

[Velkyna (Joe)] He had an ioun stone of absorption.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The Ioun Stone absorbed the spell

[Velkyna (Joe)] It ate the spell.

[Arkady (James)] Ah.

[Defthon (Don)] There's only so many charges on those things, right?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Correct.

[Defthon (Don)] Still, it'll take a while to use 'em all.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, like 100 spell levels' worht

[Master] Dogpile on the Baron!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Obviously, hitting him is better.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] My concern is that he might TP in with his cronies and absorb all our area effect spells

[Velkyna (Joe)] Except I'm sure he's got a helm of teleportation. Everyone on this continent does.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] When they can Fireball and we can't, life is not so nice

[Arkady (James)] I can't imagine him wanting to risk himself like that.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Depends how much of a grudge he's holding

[Arkady (James)] So far we've annoyed him, but we haven't shown ourselves to be a serious threat yet.

[Velkyna (Joe)] All evil warlords want to watch their enemies die an elaborately slow death.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Actually, I don't think we've even annoyed him yet. He seemed bemused by our ant-like efforts.

[Defthon (Don)] After elucidating all their nefarious plans, of course.

[Defthon (Don)] Hey!

[Defthon (Don)] There we go!

[Arkady (James)] Angie is somewhat skeptical of this plan. :-)

[Defthon (Don)] We need to goad him into concocting an elabourately slow death scene for us, preceded by a full disclosure of his plans.

[Defthon (Don)] Then escape.

[Defthon (Don)] Simple!

[Velkyna (Joe)] GENIUS

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, I think this plan is fraught with complications.

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, pff.

[Arkady (James)] What? It always works in the movies!

[Joanne] What are movies?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I say we either take out the mayor, ask the elves for advice, or UNLEASH the BEAST

[Arkady (James)] (Of course, Kimmitt has seen all the movies...)

[Defthon (Don)] Ask elves for advice in any case, since we're here.

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Personally, I vote for UNLEASH THE BEAST. Same as two weeks ago.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sure. They might be less enthused about the whole trade idea, given the state Czina's in

[Master] For the record, while Ivellian would be happy to offer advice, if you ask him for help he will be . . . disappointed.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (UNLEASH is also my favored option)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I didn't say anything more than advice was required

[Roger (Jeff)] That's still on the table? Alright!

[Roger (Jeff)] UNLEASH

[Aedean (Sedlack)] THE

[Velkyna (Joe)] BEAST

[Defthon (Don)] Nicely done.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Roger, Vel, and Aedean start doing the wave.

Joanne giggles and joins in.

[Wellington] The, ah, beast?

[Arkady (James)] Well, I'm not as against it as I was. Can we just release one somewhere, and try to destroy it under more controlled conditions or something?

[Velkyna (Joe)] You know. The beast.

[Lia (Angie)] Ithink that is a very bad idea

[Defthon (Don)] Terrible idea.

[Aric (Brian)] This idea, it is terrible.

[Lia (Angie)] I don't think we want to save Czina from Eflense by destroying it

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Umm, I wasn't suggesting unleashing it on Czina

[Velkyna (Joe)] No, we unleash it on the orcs.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Then let it hit Eflense.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Then we let the elves stop it.

[Velkyna (Joe)] 'Cause they know how to.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Like they said.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Two weeks ago.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The Eflense hitting is optional, as far as I'm concerned

[Arkady (James)] I thought that we would have to stop it.

[Velkyna (Joe)] No, the elves said they were "confident" they could stop it.

[Velkyna (Joe)] You don't trust the elves?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm just suggesting that we go with the second option we had before, since the first didn't pan out.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I don't think it merely "didn't pan out". I think it tripped, fell in the river, and fucking drowned.

Velkyna (Joe) puts her hands up. "Not that I'm saying 'I told you so or anything'. I'd never do that."

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Anyway, I think we should either unleash the beast or hit the mayor

[Master] Heh.

[Master] Are we getting anywhere, or are folks kind of zoning out?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm fine. Can't speak for everyone.

[Lia (Angie)] i'm zoned

[Master] Hee.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I can keep going

[Defthon (Don)] As for trusting the elves, well, I trust the elves just fine, but Asratia was pretty strongly against it.

[Master] Okay, time to make a decision of some sort.

[Defthon (Don)] (Not zoned, just rereading archives ;)

[Master] :)

[Arkady (James)] Well, we can go after the Mayor, and then see what happens.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'd be up for that

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Or the rest of us could ditch Lia, Defthon, and Aric

[Master] Hee.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Thing is, we take down the mayor, didn't we decide that would just piss off Eflense, he'd come down, rape the city again, and put someone else in? And, y'know, make things worse?

[Aric (Brian)] sort of zoned, but i cna keep going

[Master] It's not that I want to keep or stop going.

[Master] It's that I want some kind of resolution. :)

[Master] ONce you decide what to do, I'll start implementing.

[Master] You understand.

[Master] So:

[Master] Pro-BEAST:

[Arkady (James)] I don't think it will mean he'll have to invade the city again or anything. He'll just have to move back into Czina for a while. And install a new mayor

[Aric (Brian)] i am still opposed to unleashing the beast. but i will acquiesce if the group desires it

[Master] Jel, Shot, Roger, Aedean.

[Master] Anti-BEAST:

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Jel?

[Master] Def, Lia, Arkady

[Velkyna (Joe)] Rasm plasm a tasm eatin' the puddin'.

[Master] (Vel/Joanne)

[Master] :)

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, I'm still against.

[Master] Wait, sorry.

[Master] Shottamip is anti-BEAST.

[Master] Aric is willing to be convinced.

[Master] Dral is not here. :)

[Master] By numbers, the anti-BEAST faction has it.

[Master] ...so far as I can tell.

[Velkyna (Joe)] That's probably about right.

[Master] If that's so, then how do you plan to take on Eflense?

[Aric (Brian)] any way of convincing the formians to do it?

[Master] Or is there some other clever idea you can think of?

[Arkady (James)] Take out the mayor as a first step, I think.

[Master] The live ones on a different plane or the dead ones on this one?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I didn't think they were the type that was convinceable.

[Lia (Angie)] i'm out of clever

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If we could think of some other clever idea, we wouldn't be in this position

[Arkady (James)] We've still got to reduce his support.

[Roger (Jeff)] Allies would definitely help, though.

[Master] YOu need allies, and Czina is not likely to produce them.

[Master] So go find some other ones.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do we still want to consider finding out what's up with the lizardman alliance? 'Cause we didn't.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No one would let me talk to the paladins

[Arkady (James)] Is there anyone else in this region the elves can trade with?

[Master] Also, there's some good investigation to be done as to the Lizardmen. Maybe hit their current home area?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Czina has the only port, that was the big thing.

[Aric (Brian)] It seemed fairly straightforward - Eflense brought order and prosperity to the Lizardmen. Thus they support him.

[Arkady (James)] But we did find out what's happening w/ the LM, sort of.

[Master] James: Well, there are the other elves, but they're starting to get pretty loopy.

[Lia (Angie)] i like working on he lm

[Lia (Angie)] the LM, sorry

[Arkady (James)] However the alliance w/ the LM started, Eflense seems to have full support of them now.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Lawful Muddled"

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I think that they made some kind of oath, and then got prosperous. Not quite the same thing.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] People reward or blame the President for the economy, regardless of whether he has anythuing to do with it

[Defthon (Don)] Well, certainly all the LM that are with Eflense are with Eflense.

[Defthon (Don)] Are there others elsewhere?

[Velkyna (Joe)] We never did find out what the deal with the paladins of Hieronymous was.

[Master] All the statements which are tautologies are tautologies.

[Lia (Angie)] and I am suspicious of the renewed contact with the LM god

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, I wonder what they're up to now.

[Arkady (James)] The paladins, that is.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No one listens to us, Vel

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I spoke too soon

Velkyna (Joe) sighs.

[Velkyna (Joe)] The burden of being right. We're all Cassandra up in here.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Of course, they may look for us there first

[Lia (Angie)] So do we go back and ask about the paladins?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I say we try hitting up the other folks in Czina.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The paladins, the rangers, the Boccobians

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm kind of afraid Eflense is going to target the paladins because of us.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] etc.

[Arkady (James)] I'm sure he was going to hit them sooner or later anyway.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If they weren't there, then they probably aren't in increased danger.

[Roger (Jeff)] I'll ask the Boccobians

[Roger (Jeff)] But I think we should investigate the paladins first.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] They seem like our best bet for alliance

[Defthon (Don)] I'm certainly down with that.

[Aric (Brian)] maybe we could TP back, ask galen to come with us, and bring him here to ask him more?

[Lia (Angie)] Realizing Elfense may have a trap waiting for us there

[Arkady (James)] I'm good for paladins, even if they are a pain in the posterior occasionally.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, that would be the risk associated with this plan, yes

Defthon (Don) sighs.

[Master] How do you intend to approach the Hall?

[Defthon (Don)] I certainly think we should at least talk to Galen some more.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "occasionally"?

[Arkady (James)] I don't think we should come back here any more than necessary. I'm worried about getting traced somehow.

[Defthon (Don)] Why bring him back here though?

[Defthon (Don)] Once we're in the Hall, unscryable, we might as well stay and talk there.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] There's no point to bringing Galen here. The paladin Hall is scry-proof

[Arkady (James)] Well, from Aedean's point of view, probably quite often. But still.

[Arkady (James)] Yeah, if we want to talk to Galen, then let's just go there.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] How do we want to get there? TP? We could presumably TP directly in

[Defthon (Don)] I bet we can't...

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'd be willing to be that as well.

[Aric (Brian)] might we want a day or two to wait to let eflense cool off a little?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, we can TP in and hope they're not looking at that particular moment

[Defthon (Don)] But we could probably TP to just outside the Hall and then walk in.

[Velkyna (Joe)] But we can obviously TP right in front of the place. Eflense did.

[Defthon (Don)] hee

[Velkyna (Joe)] JINX

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, we have to wait at least a day anyway to let Shottamip rest.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, we have to wait a day regardless

[Aedean (Sedlack)] JINX

[Defthon (Don)] heheh

[Shottamip (Tamora)] One group to visit and come back would be fine.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Don's getting spanked all over the place.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] But I don

[Arkady (James)] Keeping up a 24x7 watch on the temple would be a pain in the butt. Unless he just dropped off some spies there.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Just watch out for the swarms of black crows.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (sorry) don't want to take us all again. (' is way too close to enter on this keyboard)

[Arkady (James)] I'd rather TP to a location nearby, and cruise in.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So if 3 people want to try it, just let me know.

[Lia (Angie)] Defthon?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I say we send Lia, Defthon, and Aric

[Defthon (Don)] Sure.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, that's pretty much the talking-to-paladins dream team.

[Aric (Brian)] fine with me

[Arkady (James)] fine.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] And, if they get killed, then we can unleash the beast

[Velkyna (Joe)] UNLEASH

[Defthon (Don)] hmm.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Man, way to leave me hanging guys.

[Lia (Angie)] thanks for the vote of confidence

[Velkyna (Joe)] Harsh.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yeah, if we all die, do what you like.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I was waiting for "BEAST". I did "THE" last time

[Lia (Angie)] So lets go if we're going

[Defthon (Don)] Aedean just wants to go to Casa Bonita.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Tropical the island breeze

[Defthon (Don)] Who's TPing?

[Lia (Angie)] what's our plan for problems?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Is that supposed to be a joke?

[Arkady (James)] run away?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'd say "port back"

[Defthon (Don)] Well, not exactly;

[Defthon (Don)] I was just asking because someone'd given a list of three people that didn't include you.

[Defthon (Don)] So I was confused.

[Roger (Jeff)] I'll create a wand!

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I take up to 3 people WITH me, you see.

[Roger (Jeff)] I can help I can help

[Roger (Jeff)] nevermind

[Defthon (Don)] right.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do you want to go right outside, or a little ways away? I'd prefer right outside because

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I know that area better, but tactical considerations do apply.

[Lia (Angie)] I think right outside is best

[Defthon (Don)] I suspect that it doesn't matter tactically.

[Velkyna (Joe)] OOC: Can Arkady cast Detect Scrying on someone else, so they know if they're being scryed? Or can he only cast it on himself?

[Defthon (Don)] If we drop in a ways away, we still have to go through the entryway.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Anyone want to do prep spells first, in case of ambush?

[Master] self only.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Dragon Scales: provides the target with a +4 armor bonus to AC for the next 12 hours

[Velkyna (Joe)] Suxx0r

[Defthon (Don)] I could bless us, I guess, but that's not much.

[Arkady (James)] Unless they're scrying right at that second, I don't think it will be a problem.

[Master] Gimme a sec, I gotta figure out what Eflense would leave to guard the area.

[Velkyna (Joe)] GREAT

[Defthon (Don)] "if anything".

[Master] ...if anything.

[Arkady (James)] Same GMW arrows and bolts as before.

[Defthon (Don)] ;)

[Defthon (Don)] YO ESTOY EN FUEGO

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We can all be invisible, if you'd like. Hasted, even.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Well, unless Eflense has p0wnd the paladins, I don't think he'd have the balls to drop a cadre of guards in the paladins' courtyard.

[Lia (Angie)] invisible is good

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, I think that if anything we'll have to worry about visitors on our way *out*.

[Lia (Angie)] Ican use the boots

[Defthon (Don)] Invisible's ok, I guess, but we'll need to drop it once we're inside anyway.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Then we should wait, because the spells only last so long.

[Lia (Angie)] Allright

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shall we go?

[Lia (Angie)] Ready

[Defthon (Don)] As soon as our DM is ready....

[Velkyna (Joe)] ...

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ....

[Velkyna (Joe)] .....

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ......

[Roger (Jeff)] THE

[Aedean (Sedlack)] BEAST

[Velkyna (Joe)] Better late than never, boys.

[Defthon (Don)] hehe

[Master] a moment.

[Master] ok, almost ready.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What happens twice in a moment, once in a minute, but never in a thousand years?

[Defthon (Don)] 'm'?

[Master] m

[Arkady (James)] ?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] of course, I was just reminded of it

[Velkyna (Joe)] Mmmmmmmm.

[Master] Okay, who's going?

[Master] Shot, Lia, Aric, and Def?

[Defthon (Don)] Me, Aric, Lia

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I think so

[Lia (Angie)] yes

[Defthon (Don)] Shot TPing.

[Defthon (Don)] yes

[Defthon (Don)] Ugh, my connection is totally laggy now.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So, Ivellian, where's this cave?

Defthon (Don) sighs.

[Master] Where do you TP to, exactly?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Okay, let's go!

[Defthon (Don)] Just outside the front gate of the Hall.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [71] 71

[Aric (Brian)] hey guys i've gotten a call from my mom

[Aric (Brian)] i'm behind

[Aric (Brian)] still talking...give me a minute

[Master] Initative.

[Defthon (Don)] Wow, that map is fucking gi-mongous.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Initiative: (d20+3) [20+3] 23

[Master] Yeah, I gotta start saving them as jpegs or something.

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Initiative: (d20+2) [2+2] 4

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aric: Initiative: (d20+4) [12+4] 16

[Defthon (Don)] What have you been saving them as?

[Master] png

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Initiative: (d20+6) [13+6] 19

[Master] You appear.

[Defthon (Don)] PNG is not great for grphics with all that variegation. Still, shouldn't be *that* bad.

[Master] There are four men lounging in front of the temple. One is wearing Wizards' Robes, while the others are in armor.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Can I wave "hi" as a free action?

[Master] Yes.

[Master] A piercing shriek goes off as you trip an Alarm spell.

[Defthon (Don)] Why do I always manage to roll such crappy initiative?

[Master] I think they're surprised.

[Master] Go first, love.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] A surprise round! yay!

[Velkyna (Joe)] Well, Don. I think your pally's be fucked.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Haste: gives the target an extra partial action and a +4 haste bonus to AC for the next 12 rounds

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Arrrr

[Shottamip (Tamora)] hm.

[Defthon (Don)] Was that on yourself, Shot?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] yes

[Shottamip (Tamora)] fireball or haste someone?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] or slow them

[Velkyna (Joe)] If he's surprised, he can't counter.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] so many options

[Velkyna (Joe)] Though he count have an anti-spell thing up.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] yes, so I lean towards trying an offensive

[Arkady (James)] FIRRREEEBARRRUUUUUU!!!!!!

[Velkyna (Joe)] "could", sorry.

[Arkady (James)] Or haste Aric or Defthon.

[Lia (Angie)] slow

[Velkyna (Joe)] Someone NEEDS to start whaling on the mage. Somehow.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] or enervate the mage, another option

[Defthon (Don)] Mike: did we ever resolve whether reach was measured from the centre of the token or from the edge?

[Roger (Jeff)] You could bring in reinforcements

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We're only 10-15 feet from them.

[Defthon (Don)] Cause it's almost certainly about to be relevant.

[Aric (Brian)] (I am the reinforcements.)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm thinking Slow Group. Anyone want to debate?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No

[Defthon (Don)] We're in the middle of a surprise round.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Slow Group: slows up to 12 creatures for 12 rounds (slowed creatures can only take a partial action each turn, and they suffer -2 penalties to AC, melee attacks, melee damage, and Reflex saves) (Will save negates, DC (10+3+7) [10+3+7] 20)

[Defthon (Don)] Debating seems a little unrealistic... ;)

[Lia (Angie)] your call

[Shottamip (Tamora)] well, yeah.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Will saves?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Well, I think we're allowed a little OOC strategery.

[Defthon (Don)] A little, yes.

[Master] Wizard Will Save: 15

[Shottamip (Tamora)] yes

[Master] Sergeant 1 Will Save: 22

[Master] Sergeant Will Save: 14

[Master] Sergeant Will Save: 16

[Master] Everyone is Slow except for one of the Sergeants.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Great.

[Master] Lia.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm thinking Sgt 1 is the beefcake.

[Master] You can achieve your dreams. I'm living proof.

[Velkyna (Joe)] HIT

[Velkyna (Joe)] THE

[Lia (James)] Activate the boots.

[Velkyna (Joe)] MAGE

[Master] ok

[Lia (James)] thinking....

[Lia (James)] move and smack the mage

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Lia (James)] whoops.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] GREAT

[Aedean (Sedlack)] CLEAVE

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Wow! What a great cleave!"

[Master] Tumble to avoid AoO from one of the sergeants.

[Defthon (Don)] You guys really need to coordinate better.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] AoO to get the wizard?\

[Velkyna (Joe)] They can't AoO when surprised.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I thought)

[Master] ooh, that's right.

[Master] Good thinking.

[Lia (James)] Lia: Tumble: (d20+7) [13+7] 20

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Velkyna (Joe)] She made her tumble anyway.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] , GREAT

[Lia (James)] OK.

Velkyna (Joe) sniffs. I'm so proud.

[James] Lia targets Wizard. Distance: 7'05"

[Lia (James)] Lia: Attack 1: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+18)) [(1+18)] 19 [CRITICAL MISS]

[Master] Lia misses.

[Master] Aric.

[Lia (James)] Sorry Angie.

[Defthon (Don)] DOH

[Velkyna (Joe)] Sweet Jeebus.

[Aric (Brian)] ok, i'm going to run around the group, and come in for a tiger's leap at the wizard from behind

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ah. So it's going to be one of _those_ battles

[Velkyna (Joe)] TIAAAAAAAGA LEAAAAAAAAPUUUU

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I was just about to reccomend flanking.

[Lia (James)] Is that a wall?

[Lia (James)] The grey area?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Aric fears no wall.

[Master] It's the shrine.

[Aric (Brian)] is it a wall? i thought it was a patio/entrance

[Master] Aric is good with the hopping and the running along the wall.

[Master] Because it's sexy.

[Aric (Brian)] yay

[Lia (James)] LOL

[Aric (Brian)] ok to do the tiger's leap?

[Master] Yes.

[Aric (Brian)] it needs a charge

[Master] OFF THE TURNBUCKLE

[Velkyna (Joe)] (He never lets me do that, and I've got the damn Slippers)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Monks Love Walls

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Attack: Tiger Leap (via Sandals) [S] hits AC: ((d20+11)) [(4+11)] 15

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Did you ever ask?

[Master] Roll damage.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] woo

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Damage: Tiger Leap (via Sandals) [S] does ((2*(1d10+4))) [(2*(2+4))] 12 points of damage.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Slow baby

[Master] Ok.

[Master] Next.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Actually, I've asked several times. He would make me blow a feat.

[Defthon (Don)] I don't think I can get to the wizard...

[Master] Which Feat was I going to require, I forget.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] or pick up a level of Monk, apparently :)

[Master] :)

[Defthon (Don)] I'm next, right?

[Master] It's that whole Monk/Wall thing. And then you get into my Matrix fetish.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Bang on a Sergeant, then

[Master] Def.

[Velkyna (Joe)] You were going to make me pick up a Slipper Feat.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Defthon, hit the ones in front so that they don't run at me.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Like Track and Wilderness Lore.

[Master] Ah.

[Velkyna (Joe)] AND I BROUGHT UP THE MATRIX FETISH DAMMIT

[Master] Hee.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Then again, my AC is pretty sweet right now.

[Velkyna (Joe)] AND YOU STILL TURNED ME DOWN

[Master] Life is so hard.

[Defthon (Don)] heh. Attack #1:

[Master] You're probably right, though -- Vel's absurd Tumble would make it quite possible.

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Attack 1: Tsohanoai [b] hits AC: ((d20+9+3+3)) [(3+9+3+3)] 18

[Master] That's a miss.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Slowage?

[Master] Oop, forgot the slow.

[Master] And the flat-foot

[Defthon (Don)] +2 if he's evil, but prolly not.

[Master] That's a hit.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok.

[Master] And he's evil.

[Lia (James)] EEEEVVVVIIIILLLLLL!!!!!!

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Damage 2: Tsohanoai [b] does ((1d10+3+3*1.5)) [(3+3+3*1)] 10 points of damage.

[Don] Defthon targets Sergeant. Distance: 5'00"

[Master] Okay, that should be 13 damage.

[Master] No, wait.

[Master] I'm lost.

[Master] It's 10.

[Defthon (Don)] the EEVIL bonus is only to hit, I think (checking)

[Master] I"m good now.

[Velkyna (Joe)] No, the EVIL bonus is all over.

[Velkyna (Joe)] For the Sun blade.

[Master] Yes, it is.

[Master] ok 13 damage to the Sergeant.

[Master] You weren't within 5 feet, so that should be it.

[Defthon (Don)] Right.

[Master] Shot.

[Velkyna (Joe)] MMMMMMMagic missile.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lia's already hasted, so ...

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Haste: gives the target an extra partial action and a +4 haste bonus to AC for the next 12 rounds

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Haste: gives the target an extra partial action and a +4 haste bonus to AC for the next 12 rounds

[Master] Woo!

[Master] HastyLia.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Don't forget your temp modifiers guys.

[Aric (Brian)] who all is hasted?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] all of us now.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, updating my temps

[Aric (Brian)] what temp mods does that give? (sorry)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] All of my vampires have superior Celerity

[Shottamip (Tamora)] +4 to AC and +4 to Touch AC, Brian

[Aric (Brian)] is AC flat footed AC?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] no

[Master] No.

[Master] They are two different things, both of which have temp mods.

[Defthon (Don)] Regular AC is listed as just "Armor Class"

[Defthon (Don)] that threw me too

[Aric (Brian)] ok, thanks. i'm good

[Master] Okay, Lia's up.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean never has a penalty for being flat-footed

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yo! Bum rush the show!

[Master] Hee.

[Lia (Angie)] full attack on the wizard

[Master] That's gonna leave a mark.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Attack 1: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+18)) [(18+18)] 36 [POSSIBLE CRITICAL HIT (x2)] Rolling again...

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Attack 1: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+18)) [(9+18)] 27

[Lia (Angie)] Lia's attack of 27 (probably) hits Wizard [PROBABLY A CRITICAL HIT]

[Master] Roll damage.

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Y'know, I really like the idea of taking out one of his wizards and some sergeants here.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Damage 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] does ((2d6+11)) [((2+5)+11)] 18 points of damage.

[Lia (Angie)] what about the crit?

[Master] roll it.

[Defthon (Don)] Where is the Slow damage penalty being taken care of wrt Klooge?

[Lia (Angie)] I'm sorry, idon't remember what to roll

[Aedean (Sedlack)] damage again

[Velkyna (Joe)] temp penalties on Kimmit's end, I'd think.

[Master] Just roll the same damage again. :)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] just make a second damage roll

[Master] I'm taking care of temp penalties the same way, yah.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Damage 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] does ((2d6+11)) [((2+6)+11)] 19 points of damage.

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Master] Cleave.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] CLEAVE?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That was quick.

[Defthon (Don)] That was fast.

[Master] She did 35 points of damage in one round.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "Roger (33/33)"

[Velkyna (Joe)] I SAY U GOTS TO CLEAVE ME

[Roger (Jeff)]

[Lia (Angie)] and I get 2 more hits

[Shottamip (Tamora)] plus she has another partial action when she's done cleaving.

[Velkyna (Joe)] what cleave u got

[Defthon (Don)] Not entirely unexpected. Nevertheless, that *was* fast.

[Velkyna (Joe)] No, she gets the cleave, THEN she gets the rest of her full attack, THEN she gets her extra partial.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] right.

[Angie] Lia targets Sergeant. Distance: 3'08"

[Velkyna (Joe)] It's going to be lovely and majestic.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Justified and ancient

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Attack 1: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+18)) [(13+18)] 31

[Lia (Angie)] Lia's attack of 31 (probably) hits Sergeant

[Master] Damage.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Damage 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] does ((2d6+11)) [((1+2)+11)] 14 points of damage.

[Master] Okay, hit him again. :)

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Attack 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+13)) [(2+13)] 15

[Lia (Angie)] Lia's attack of 15 (probably) hits Sergeant

[Shottamip (Tamora)] CLEAVE

[Velkyna (Joe)] Imsosure that in a surprise-round combat, Vel is no where to be seen. Snif!

[Master] Damage.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Damage 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] does ((2d6+11)) [((2+6)+11)] 19 points of damage.

[Master] Roll your final attack.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Attack 1: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+18)) [(9+18)] 27

[Lia (Angie)] Lia's attack of 27 (probably) hits Sergeant

[Master] Damage.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Damage 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] does ((2d6+11)) [((5+5)+11)] 21 points of damage.

[Master] Cleave.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] CLEAVE!

[Shottamip (Tamora)] CLEAVE

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Shottamip (Tamora)] She's a whirlwind of righteous vengeance.

[Angie] Lia targets Sergeant. Distance: 4'09"

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Attack 1: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+18)) [(18+18)] 36 [POSSIBLE CRITICAL HIT (x2)] Rolling again...

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Attack 1: Claidemn Soluis [t] hits AC: ((d20+18)) [(11+18)] 29

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hopefully, the Sergeant doesn't play Incleaveable as a Coup Fouree

[Lia (Angie)] Lia's attack of 29 (probably) hits Sergeant [PROBABLY A CRITICAL HIT]

[Master] hee.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Heh.

[Master] Roll damage x2

[Velkyna (Joe)] CREVE

[Aedean (Sedlack)] critcritcrit

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Damage 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] does ((2d6+11)) [((1+3)+11)] 15 points of damage.

[Aric (Brian)] That's one group that wishes it hadn't woken up this morning.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Damage 2: Claidemn Soluis [t] does ((2d6+11)) [((3+4)+11)] 18 points of damage.

[Master] ow.

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Lia (Angie)] OOC THAT WAS FUN

[Master] The other guy's out of Cleave range.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] None of them even got to move.

[Master] Sorry.

[Velkyna (Joe)] NO

[Velkyna (Joe)] DEMAND

[Velkyna (Joe)] MORE

[Velkyna (Joe)] CLEAVE

[Master] Aric's turn.

[Defthon (Don)] what the hell is going on with the initiative?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] [Sergeant] Shit!

[Master] I messed it up and now I"m fixed.

[Sergeant] Game over man, game over!

[James] LOL

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Does he look scared yet, or still surprised?

[Defthon (Don)] I imagine Lia's little display might've been a little demoralising. :)

[Velkyna (Joe)] I don't know if you've been keeping up with current events, but we just got our asses kicked out there, man!

[Wizard] They mostly only come out at night. Mostly.

[Master] Aroc

[Master] Aric's up.

[Aric (Brian)] ok, run up to the sergeat

[Aric (Brian)] sergeant

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah! Bishop will go! Great idea. man!

[Defthon (Don)] and say "BOO"

[Shottamip (Tamora)] 5-ft move

[Aric (Brian)] and ki strike him, lightning fists syle

[Master] Count coup for extra XP!

[Lia (Angie)] we didn't want to keep any alive did we?

[Master] Warm it up.

[Velkyna (Joe)] SPEAK WITH DEAD

[Shottamip (Tamora)] nah

[Defthon (Don)] Not particularly.

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Attack 1: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) hits AC: ((d20+7)) [(9+7)] 16

[Master] damage.

[Velkyna (Joe)] As a reminder, take at least the wizard back with you guys. Speak with dead, as well as RAISEPROOF

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Damage 5: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) does ((1d10+5)) [(8+5)] 13 points of damage.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] good point

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Attack 2: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) hits AC: ((d20+7)) [(11+7)] 18

[Master] ok.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Nuke the bodies from orbit. It's the only way to be sure

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Damage 5: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) does ((1d10+5)) [(4+5)] 9 points of damage.

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Attack 3: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) hits AC: ((d20+7)) [(18+7)] 25

[Velkyna (Joe)] It doesn't matter when it's Arcturian, baby!

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Damage 5: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) does ((1d10+5)) [(8+5)] 13 points of damage.

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Attack 4: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) hits AC: ((d20+4)) [(14+4)] 18

[Sergeant] Vel, have you ever been mistaken for a man?

[Velkyna (Joe)] No. Have you?

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Damage 5: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) does ((1d10+5)) [(3+5)] 8 points of damage.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How many hits do you get with that?

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Attack 5: Lightning Fists (Ki Strike) hits AC: ((d20+1)) [(14+1)] 15

[Master] N, apparently.

[Aric (Brian)] 5

[Shottamip (Tamora)] wow.

[Velkyna (Joe)] How many hits does it take to get to the center of a Eflense Sergeant?

[Master] One

[Master] Two

[Shottamip (Tamora)] 5?

[Master] Three

[Master] Four

[Master] CRUNCH

[Master] Five.

[Aric (Brian)] 15 a hit?

[Master] 15's a miss.

[Lia (Angie)] LOL

[Master] Four.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You have another hit from the haste.

[Master] He's um dead.

[Velkyna (Joe)] NOT NECESSARY

[Shottamip (Tamora)] oh.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Pummel the corpse

[Velkyna (Joe)] KEEP WHALING ON HIM

[James] Well, there's -7HP, and then there's _dead_.

[Master] Dead.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Can we burn the bodies or something to keep them from being recovered?

[Lia (Angie)] we came to talk to some paladins

[Velkyna (Joe)] They can't all be dead, can they?

[Master] Okay, we're going to discover a little bit of the mystery of this place in about ten minutes when I fix all the plot holes in the previous mystery I had planned.

[Defthon (Don)] ayup.

[Defthon (Don)] hee

[Velkyna (Joe)] I save vs. spells to disbelieve.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Kimmitt works for the Wachowski Bros.

[Aric (Brian)] i get three hits now. LF gives me two more, but all are at -5

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If we stand for a minute and a half and watch them, they're guaranteed to all be dead.

[Aric (Brian)] so it's "only" +7 for the first couple, then +4, then +1

[James] Burning the bodies makes ressurection much more expensive.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right. Burning means it would have to at least be Resurrection, rather than just Raise Dead

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Good. Want to get started? Maybe away from the front door., to be polite.

[Aric (Brian)] you think he'd ressurect a few random guards? maybe the wizard, but if he has enough already

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Doesn't hurt to be thorough

[Master] ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think it sends the proper message to Eflense.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Nothing else to do while the DM mysteriously blocks the door. :)

[Master] "Fuck you and fuck your mom."?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes.

[Master] Ready.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Fuck you. And furthermore, fuck you with Mentos."

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "Your mother sucks cocks in Hell"

[Master] Did I tell you about the time I boofed your grandad?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Anyone have a spare canvas or cloak in a backpack? To wrap up the wizard?

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Hey Eflense? Is your refrigerator running? Because if it is, it probably runs like you ... very homosexually."

[Defthon (Don)] LOL

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "Absorb this"

[Defthon (Don)] Hey, I've got a bag of holding; wanna stuff him in there?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Grand.

[Defthon (Don)] they're cool that way.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Mmmm...Bodybag of Holding

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can't use them, but I've been told.

[Defthon (Don)] Can't? Huh.

[Defthon (Don)] Anyway, let's go inside.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Shottamip is an extradimensional space

[Master] You go into the temple.

[Defthon (Don)] That explains so much, really.

[Defthon (Don)] Galen?

[Defthon (Don)] Or whoever is on duty?

[Galen] You alive, lad?

[Defthon (Don)] Yes.

Galen runs forward.

[Galen] I heard the fightin', didn't know what to expect.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hello again.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I'm utterly shocked that the place wasn't ransacked while we were gone.)

[Galen] Ma'am.

[Defthon (Don)] We hoped to talk about our situation with you and ask your advice.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm afraid we left a bit of a mess outside your door.

[Galen] Oh.

[Galen] Well, not a problem.

[Galen] Now, what can I do for ya, lad?

[Defthon (Don)] Well, we wanted to ask you---and the paladins in general---about the conflict with Eflense.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: we've walked into the scottish part of serendair!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aye

[Master] (No, that'd be:)

[Defthon (Don)] OOC hee. Btw, are we all Messaged? The four of us, at least?)

[Master] Ach, laddie, you dinnae have to speak ta ol' Galen like that, all formal and such.

[Defthon (Don)] For one thing, where are the other paladins?

Galen gets quiet.

Galen reaches into his pocket and hands it to Def.

[Galen] (a piece of paper, sorry)

[Defthon (Don)] (his pocket?)

Defthon (Don) reads the paper

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No, "it"

[Master] What. Is. It?

[Master] (It's it)

[Master] What is it?

[Velkyna (Joe)] IT'S IT

[Master] What is it?

[Defthon (Don)] (ni!)

[Velkyna (Joe)] IT'S IT

[Master] What is it?

[Velkyna (Joe)] IT'S IT

[Master] ok

[Master] The paper has two sentences:

[Master] The first:

[Master] I can't bring myself to say it aloud.

[Master] The second.

[Master] They're all dead.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: I KNEW IT

[Velkyna (Joe)] OOC: Yeah.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Dangit.

Defthon (Don) stares at the paper.

[Master] It's been two years, lad.

Defthon (Don) looks up, and shows the paper to the group

[Galen] Two years alone here, tryin' to keep the place up.

[Defthon (Don)] My word.

[Aric (Brian)] did eflense do this?

[Defthon (Don)] Was it... Eflense?

[Galen] Nah, nah.

[Defthon (Don)] What then?

[Galen] I'm pretty sure he still thinks we're here, or at least some of us.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (If it was

[Defthon (Don)] Yes, or he would have tried to take the Hall.

[Galen] You saved me a right bother, killing those men. If they'd been left much longer, well, Eflense would've put two and two together.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (If it was Duke Estin, I'm going to be pissed off.)

[Galen] No, they died gloriously in battle, or so I suppose.

[Aric (Brian)] who was your foe?

[Galen] Down fightin' with the Horse Lords during the Orc Wars.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh.

[Defthon (Don)] Ouch.

[Galen] THey heard about the attack and rode off, every last man jack of 'em.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You never got any work back?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Word, sorry

[Defthon (Don)] (Damn paladins, can't trust 'em a bit)

[Galen] Left a few squires behind, and after a few months, I sent the lads home; I couldn't vouce for their safety.

[Galen] Not a word, not a man, not a note.

Galen slumps suddenly.

[Aric (Brian)] So Eflense took advantage of the Orc War to increase his own power base?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] It obviously has caused upheavals which make it easier for a tyrant to take more land.

[Galen] There are tears running down his cheeks.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Is it possible the paladins were captured or, I dunno, trapped somewhere, that we could find them and free them?)

[Galen] Ya'd think . . . ye'd think a few of 'em would make it back, don't you?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] There, there.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC I just don't even know where to go with this.

[Galen] Tell an old man what happened, maybe?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (Possible, yes)

[Galen] They weren't stupid men; they knew when to fight and when to move away.

[Galen] And here I am, tryin' to keep this beautiful place up, and I know some day some fella's gonna figure it out.

Galen sobs

[Lia (Angie)] You have done well, alone for so long

[Defthon (Don)] Well, unless they were surprised by an overwhelming force.

[Defthon (Don)] (Like the triumvirate...)

[Lia (Angie)] but perhaps now we can help?

[Galen] I hope so, cause I'll be honest, I wish I'd died with 'em, I truly do.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I think we could try to find something out.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Arkady's very good at that.

Galen sniffs

[Galen] Sorry, sorry.

Galen wipes his eyes and nose with a handkerchief.

[Galen] Someone oughta take care of this place.

[Lia (Angie)] Well, Elfense is

Aric (Brian) walks over, and lets his clothing glow somewhat.

Aric (Brian) pats Galen on the shoulder.

[Lia (Angie)] Elfense is likely to send more forces soon

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (It's not like allies are running up to us to offer their services - it may well be worthwhile to track some down, aside from it being a good thing to do)

[Velkyna (Joe)] STEP UP TO THE PLATE DEF

[Master] Spend your Purity of Body points to comfort Galen.

[Aric (Brian)] You have done all you can to keep the place in order.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ew

[Aric (Brian)] Your comrades would be proud of what you have done.

[Master] Call it Purity of Mind. Nice pants.

[Aric (Brian)] The Triumvirate again seems to be the root cause of the problems. We must stop them.

Galen blows his nose again.

[Galen] Yer right, lad.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ... BY UNLEASHING THE BEAST

[Aric (Brian)] Are there any other free people in this area who would be willing to work with us against the Triumvirate or Eflense?

[Galen] I been doing just exactly what they want I should be doin'.

[Galen] Ah, I don't know, I really don't. Don't get a lot of news here.

[Galen] Better that way, really.

[Defthon (Don)] Who used to be in the area, then?

[Galen] It's sheepherders and manor houses.

[Galen] I forgave 'em their tithes, told 'em to look after their own defense.

[Galen] Said we'd been hurt bad by the wars so we'd be spendin' some time rebuildin' inside 'ere.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Are there no-teleporting wards on the building, sir?

[Galen] Yes, there are, ma'am.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Worth checking.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do you feel safe staying here? They may send more groups to haunt your door.

[Galen] It's been me and the Stain Glass golems for a while now. I taught 'em to cut grass just the other week.

[Lia (Angie)] ??

[Galen] This is my place, I think. And I've a few tricks up my sleeve yet.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We should stop by when we can - to clean out small groups :)

[Galen] Is there a way I could contact you?

[Defthon (Don)] Shot?

[Aric (Brian)] Message: You know, if we do manage to get any sort of armed resistance to the Triumvirate/Eflense, this would be a good base.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yeah, I was thinking that.

[Defthon (Don)] Yup

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm really not into contact spells; I'm all offense and defense.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That's Arkady and Aedean.

[Galen] Way o' the world.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Aedean ... would you be able to divine vaguely if the paladins are still alive or what happened to them, etc.)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hmm...

[Master] Okay, we've gotten done what I wanted to get done today -- you got to know Eflense and have an idea of what defeating him will entail.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I don't think it would be easy...

[Master] I know most of you have work tomorrow of various types, so I'd like to think about ending,

[Master] BUT

[Master] I'm hyped now and would be good for December.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If it were easy, someone else would have done it.

[Master] So let's see if we can nail down a December day to do it.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm open

[Velkyna (Joe)] Lemme check with the Social Coordinator.

[Defthon (Don)] Tricky.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm in Providence for the first two weekends.

[James] I'm open

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Saturday the 20th is bad for me

[Master] Let's do this a little more systematically.

[Roger (Jeff)] I'd have to check, I can say for certain right now

[Aric (Brian)] the weekend of the 13th i'm looking at going to iowa with the deanites

[Master] December 6th?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] fine

[Aric (Brian)] the 6th is feng shui for me

[Aric (Brian)] i could do the 7th

[Defthon (Don)] Bad.

[James] 6th is fine

[Defthon (Don)] 7th also bad.

[Master] ok chime in

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm free when you are.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We have a christmas party the 7th. We've also got a christmas party or two usually other weekends. But they're usually saturday parties. If we did another Sunday gameage I'd probably be available.

[Master] Ok the 14th, then?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Probably.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Would be OK with me

[Lia (Angie)] ok

[Defthon (Don)] not as bad as the 7th, but not good---I'll be someone's houseguest that day

[Master] Hee.

[James] ok

[Master] Let's tentatively plan for the 14th.

[Defthon (Don)] Ugh.

[Aric (Brian)] i'll be in iowa that weekend

[Master] Ooh, suxx0r.

[Aric (Brian)] but if i'm the only straggler, don't let me stop you

[Master] The 20th/21st?

[Master] That's just too close to xmas.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 20th bad; 21st ok

[Lia (Angie)] ok

[James] ok

[Master] Or is the 20th ok?

[Aric (Brian)] 21st i could probably do

[Defthon (Don)] 20th/21st ok by me

[Aric (Brian)] 20th is probably FS again

[Master] Because if it is, we could probably finagle it.

[Defthon (Don)] where will you two be then?

[Master] 21st sounds pretty doable.

[Master] Let's plan on it. I don't knwo where we'll be precisely.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I _should_ be free that weekend.

[Aric (Brian)] feng shui is harder to move, since one of our players works at least one weekend day

[Shottamip (Tamora)] *IF* we can travel, babe, we might want to be on the move then.

[Master] Okay, we're tentatively planned on the 21st.

[Defthon (Don)] but you'll be in IL by then?

[Master] If we have to cancel, we do.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] no idea

[Master] We could be at a place with broadband, tho. :)

[Aric (Brian)] hey

[Defthon (Don)] ah.

[Aric (Brian)] if you come to Illinois for Xmas

[Master] Yes?

[Aric (Brian)] we could try to do a session live :)

[James] That would be cool.

[Master] That would be awesome, except for Jared and Jeff.

[Defthon (Don)] That's what I was thinking. :)

[Master] But we could fake it with a speakerphone of some sort, I think.

[Lia (Angie)] and me

[Aric (Brian)] eh, they're newbies :)

[Defthon (Don)] And Angie?

[Master] Ooh, right, Angie's in DC now.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Except, y'know, people are awol.

[Defthon (Don)] Right

[Master] It's worth talking about. Not technically insurmountable, esp. with webcams.

[Master] Okay, I feel pretty good, and it's time for many of you to sleep.

[Master] This is what I want:

[Aric (Brian)] we can talk in email

[Master] You to tell me which 2 places you're going next.

[Aric (Brian)] oh how much XP for tonight? :)

[Velkyna (Joe)] We're going to UNLEASH THE BEAST

[Master] So I can get some serious dungeon-crawling axxion put together.

[Master] Enough debate and politics; time to kill stuff.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let's say goodbye to Galen, walk outside, and teleport back, okay/

[Velkyna (Joe)] *hargle*

[Master] ok.

[Lia (Angie)] ok

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [28] 28

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay

[Shottamip (Tamora)] ok

[Lia (Angie)] are we taking the wizard?

[Master] 700 XP all around; thanks for loads and loads of fun!

[Velkyna (Joe)] YES

[Shottamip (Tamora)] All clear there.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, he's in a bag,

[Shottamip (Tamora)] and Aedean needs to prep a speak with dead

[Master] Ah, call it 800.

[Master] :)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Noted

[Defthon (Don)] We'll be in touch, Galen.

[Defthon (Don)] The wizard's in my bag. :)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] bye all

[Velkyna (Joe)] Does Aedean have any divinations we could use right now? It might be useful to see what happened to the Paladins.

[Aric (Brian)] oh

[Roger (Jeff)] by

Tamora has left the game.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Divination only works on future courses of action

[Aric (Brian)] should we offer galen refuge on cloudhome should they come back in overwhelming numbers?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] and I don't have one prepared

Jeff has left the game.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I was more prepped for fightin'

[Lia (Angie)] bye all

[Velkyna (Joe)] There's no general "ask a question" thing?

[Master] g'night!

[Velkyna (Joe)] Like Contact Other Plane (though that's a higher level) ... Commune?

[James] Arkady can find out what happened.