Don has joined the game.

[Sedlack] Oops, forgot to give myself XP for last session...

[Don] Sorry I'm late, I was waiting for an IP

[Don] Didn't think to just try the same one

[James] Chris: Arkady now has a +22 Use Magic Device for scrolls, so if you want me to have a go at it next time...

[Master] Sad but true.

Don is receiving the map...

Don has received the map.

[Brian] as a note, KW is now up to 2.1.5 if anyone didn't upgrade

Ryan is receiving the map...

[Master] Hey, Don, you got the transcript for last session somewhere?

Brian is receiving the map...

[James] Yes, we were waiting for an IP e-mail. Then I decided to just try the last one.

Ryan has received the map.

Brian has received the map.

[Master] Weird, I sent it out half an hour ago.

[Don] Yeah, I just posted it about forty minutes ago. It's at the usual place.

[Don] You should send it again, then...

[Master] ok

[Brian] oh mike, quick clarification for the antimagic field

[Brian] magic items don't work, so my taigaa liipu won't work. but innate abilities like ki strike will?

[Master] yes

[Master] re-sent

[Don] Ok, I have my temp mods calibrated to offset Tsohanoai

[Don] If you catch me using the eeeevil version accidentally, let me know.

[Master] Tamora's having difficulty connecting; once she and Jeff are here, we're good to go.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] got my temp mods set

[Don] I am away from the keyboard.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] jared's not joining us either?

[Master] Jared's always busy. Fucker has a life.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] what a dorque

[James] I need to roll HPs, are you ready?

[Don] I am back at the keyboard.

[Master] Ready

Client has joined the game.

[James] (1d6) [1] 1

[James] Dammit!!!!!

[Master] Sorry, man.

[Ryan] =)

[James] 3 of the last 4 level-ups, I rolled a 1.

[Sedlack] Welocme to "Roger's World".

[Turcanaur (Brian)] you need to just fake it

[Turcanaur (Brian)] (1d6) [18] 18

[Don] For reference, transcripts are at http://www.blahedo.org/serendair/

[Master] clever.

[Ryan] That sort of thing is the reason that the group I played with in grad school re-rolled HP every session: no extreme of luck was ever permanent.

[Don] That's just bizarre.

[James] That can change your tactics a bit, if you're feeling "up" that day.

[Ryan] I found it much more interesting; what options you have changed with resources available

[Don] Hey, someone post the IP we're connected to, I can't check it now that I'm in.

Client has left the game.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] I'm feeling lucky...I summon the great god Google!

[Ryan] Also, IMO, one bad roll is more of a loss than one good roll is a gain, so I preferred a less stressful setup; you could get lucky or get screwed, but not forever.

[James] 66.8.204.196

[Don] Thx

[Master] "So fucking ask for help! We asked for help from the elves to cure the blue plague! Your fucking blue plague! The elves asked for help from us! That's what civilized people do! They fucking ask for help!"

[Master] oops

Client has joined the game.

[Don] Mike, your second email never arrived either. Where are you emailing from?

[James] A bit dialog from some other time/place?

[Master] Imsanet.

Client has joined the game.

[Ryan] BTW, Master, are you sticking with this color or going back to yellow? You look too much like Don.

[Don] Odd.

[Master] Back to yellow.

[Don] Can we start? I have to leave in an hour and a half.

[Master] test

[Master] In about a minute.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] We need a picture of Nailo standing on a big Luftwelffe Gryphon carrier with a big "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" banner above him.

[Master] Nah, Nailo's a good guy. Now those fuckers down in Ryle and Envap . . . they're seriously messed up.

[Ryan] more context, please?

[Master] That was meant to be enigmatic.. ;)

[Ryan] yes, but I don't even know who Nailo is.

[Angie] Our elf buddy

Jeff is receiving the map...

[Don] He's the guy that founded Nailoglas, yes?

Jeff has received the map.

[Master] Sorry -- Lacian Nailo is the head of the border elves.

[Don] Oh, right.

[Master] He's the one Nailoglas is named after.

Sedlack is receiving the map...

Sedlack has received the map.

[Ryan] Angie, you may want to change your color to your usual lighter blue; you look too much like Don.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] i was just thinking on the "civilized people ask for help" bit

[Angie] Ryle and Envap refer to elf lands farther south

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, that was a bit weird

[Client] testing

[Jeff] color test

[Turcanaur (Brian)] hey tami

[Turcanaur (Brian)] (i assume)

[Don] yay!

[Tamora] yeah it's me

[Angie] is this color better?

[Master] That was an accidental paste.

[Ryan] Angie: yes, thank you.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I kind of figured it was an accidental something

[Master] Okey dokey

[Master] So, as we all recall, you were riding gryphons, catching up to Fugue. I assume you figured out before you lifted off what the plan was. What was it?

[Ryan] surround and smack her.

[James] Uh, catch up to her, and then shoot her dead?

[Ryan] kill her, and take her stuff and her pocket change

[Don] Beat her up and get her stuff?

[Ryan] this is D&D, right? =)

[Don] heeee

[Master] What was the process by which you were going to do that?

[Don] I forget, do we know yet about the no-magic zone?

[Master] yes

[James] The people on the griffons were going to just follow her.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right...

[Turcanaur (Brian)] i think i was running

[Ryan] we must keep her from getting away, and we need to not get in each others' way, so we ned to surround her.

[Don] So we write off the magic folks for the moment and focus on the nonmagical badasses.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We wre just about to see something when last session ended

[Ryan] those on the griffons should go past her and circle back, and drive her back towards the folks on foot

[Defthon (Don)] Surround her and beat her up. She can't be *that* hard.

[Angie] how did we load how many griffens?

[Master] Two griffons, loaded by the groupings of the icons.

[Ryan] look at the map

[Defthon (Don)] I'm seeing four groups.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Three gryphons, Mike

[Master] THanks -- three gryphons, and one group of those left behind.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] There are three groups

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The gryphon group

[Master] The Turcanur/Joanne group

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Joanne, on Turc (on foot's) back

[Master] And the non-raptured.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] And the rest

[Master] (Turcanaur)

[Angie] I don't have the map?

[Defthon (Don)] Who's nonmagical? Aric and Vel are probably the most.

[Master] Thanks for the heads up

[Defthon (Don)] Me and Lia are next

[James] Arkady was non-magical. Though I think Praxis went w/ Joanne

[Don] Angie: double click the campagin list

[Defthon (Don)] Is Arkady a fighter though?

[James] I meant - useless w/o magic.

[Master] Praxis went with Joanne. Arkady stayed behind, I remember now. So the highest Cha person in the group is prolly now Defthon.

[Defthon (Don)] Right.

[James] Arkady isn't much of a fighter.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm ranking people by fighting ability in the null zone.

[Defthon (Don)] Aric and Vel are mostly unaffected, I think

[Defthon (Don)] Lia and I have some minuses

[Master] Lia is affected but still ridiculously badass.

James is receiving the map...

[Defthon (Don)] but, right, are still decent.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] i'm missing a lot of dex

James has received the map.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] so my AC is down quite a bit

[Defthon (Don)] Where do Dral and Ss's stand?

[Master] Dral's good but not great; Ss'sra is decent but nothing to write home about.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, I'm thinking Dral and Aedean should stay flying and rain down arrows from above

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Or Dral should

[Master] You may recall that Ivellian said not to expose the gryphons to combat.

[Defthon (Don)] while Lia and I, and Vel and Ss's fly around back

[Ryan] is aedean good enough to shoot decently from moving griffonback?

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, ok. They can be *really* high then. :)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] As a rule, Aedean is not good enough to shoot.

[Defthon (Don)] And the two around-back gryphons land, we dismount, and approach Fugue from three directions

[Master] If I had gotten that advice, I would not plan to fire from gryponback. My 2c.

[Defthon (Don)] Turc from the south, Lia and I from (say) the northwest, and Vel and Ss's from the northeast.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That's fine. We can have some folks get ahead of her and all land, doing ground-based combat

[Ryan] yes, land them all, approach from all around her. stopping the mammonth will be an issue, though.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, Dral and Aedean can menace from another direction after dismounting, then.

[Master] You're approaching her from the east, so you probably want to do Turc from the east and the gryphons from the other three compass directions.

[Ryan] so i suppose that means we need to keep one in the air and moving faster than her until she gets the hint and stops?

[Angie] I would also think the penalty to firing from the griffon would be significant

[Angie] do the griffons fly fast enough for us to get around ?

[Master] Yes.

[Defthon (Don)] We're overtaking her, so yes.

[Defthon (Don)] Why is Joanne being brought into this instead of staying with the MUs?

[Ryan] vel wanted it that way

[Master] She's easy to carry and wanted to be useful.

[James] Joanne can shoot with a xbow, she's more useful than some of us.

Defthon (Don) sighs.

[Defthon (Don)] Ooh, that's true.

[Defthon (Don)] Well, so we've got two coming from each direction, then.

[James] How's she ever going to get XP if we keep shielding her from danger?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I vote that Dral/Aedean should be either N or S

[Defthon (Don)] Ok.

[Master] heh

[Ryan] I vote we use the order we already have.

[Defthon (Don)] I was thinking Vel and Ss's from thw west

[Ryan] Ss'sra and vel from N, dral and aeadan from S, lia nd def go past

[Defthon (Don)] Because a lizard man is likely to give Fugue a little more pause than otherwise.

[Ryan] but any of those work. not very important just now

[Defthon (Don)] We do still have to get her to stop her mammoth, right?

[Defthon (Don)] Hey Vel, are you going to be able to flank Fugue?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Probably not

[Velkyna] One way to find out.

[Defthon (Don)] Or does her roguity nullfiy that?

[Defthon (Don)] Ah.

[Angie] Can Ss'sra do anything with the mammoth?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (There's a "can't be flanked, except by rogue N levels higher thing)

[Ryan] N=4

[Defthon (Don)] Aha. Ok.

[Defthon (Don)] Likely not, then, but anything's possible.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] without magic, and with the probable drugs, it will not be easy

[Master] Something like this?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Something like that, yes

[Defthon (Don)] That's what I was thinking.

[Defthon (Don)] Any objections?

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] No

[Angie] looks good

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Which mastodon is she actually on?

[Master] As you approach on the gryphons, you see two mastodons running (or however mastodons move quickly)

[Defthon (Don)] "lumbering"

[Master] Fugue is behind the head of the lead one, and she turns around when you are near. She is holding something up either to shield herself or to show you.

[Master] It appears to be a book. Spot checks.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] Turcanaur: Spot check:(d20+6) [18+6] 24

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] Ss'sra: Spot check:(d20+12) [9+12] 21

Brian has left the game.

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Spot check:(d20+2+3+1) [20+2+3+1] 26

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Spot check:(d20+16) [14+16] 30

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Spot check:(d20+6-2+8) [17+6-2+8] 29

Brian has joined the game.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] But, I ought to have a -5 or so on that, due to anti-magic

[Turcanaur (Brian)] whoa, got a java IO exception that kicked me out

[Master] Sorry bout that.

[Master] ok

[Defthon (Don)] Set your temp mods!

[Ryan] that was getting me last time

[Lia (Angie)] -5 for me too

[Turcanaur (Brian)] um, i have nothing. no maps, no icons, etc

[Ryan] double-click your name]

[Master] Lia's keen half-elven eyes tease out some of the book's information.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If there were a temp mod for Spot specifically, I would

[Master] It looks expensive, gilded and carefully bound.

[Don] Chris: you have something that specifically helps Spot?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yes: Eyes of the Eagle

[Lia (Angie)] me too

[Master] Velkyna unhitches her crossbow from a leather strap near the griffon's neck, and cocks and loads it while steadying the griffon straight ahead with her legs.

[Ryan] Lia has the same item

[Don] Huh. Nemmind then.

Brian has left the game.

[Ryan] whoops

[Defthon (Don)] I thought we were dismounting before fighting??

[Master] I suspect he's rebooting.

Brian has joined the game.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] vel and i have to past her first

[Defthon (Don)] You're already past her...

[Brian] whatever happened screwed up KW for me

[Brian] had to restart

[Master] Are you back in now?

[Turcanaur (Brian)] i'm goog

[Turcanaur (Brian)] er good

[Master] ok

[Don] He's agoog. That's like agog, only moreso.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] don -- not according to Mike's descriptive text

Velkyna has her crossbow trained on Fugue, but the book is blocking her shot.

[Velkyna] Fuck . . . that's probably the damn book she stole. Bitch.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] man, i even got a 24 on my spot check. for me, that's insane :)

[Defthon (Don)] I actually got the highest spot check at 26. That's unheard of.

Ryan has left the game.

[Don] Man down!

[Lia (Angie)] shoot the mount?

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, so where are we now exactly? Mike?

Velkyna uncocks the crossbow and descends to land in the appointed spot.

Ryan has joined the game.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] jave exceptions all round

Fugue brings the mastodons to a halt

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] i'm restarting too

Ryan has left the game.

Fugue has them lie down and hides betwen them

[Defthon (Don)] Ooh, what a stinker.

[Defthon (Don)] Ss'sra, anything you can do to make the mastodons move?

Fugue waves what appears to be a white undershirt, seeking to parley.

[Defthon (Don)] Dral, do you have a clear shot

[Lia (Angie)] pretty good mount control there

[Defthon (Don)] ...interesting.

Ryan has joined the game.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Talking is all good by me

[Turcanaur (Brian)] Thief Fugue! Surrender now and we can avoid bloodshed!

[Turcanaur (Brian)] ....

[Turcanaur (Brian)] Ok. Beat me to the punch.

[Don] (I keep pressing A but all they say is "..."!)

[Fugue] (Who wants to take the lead as spokesperson?)

[Ryan] what;d I miss?

[Master] SOrry, that was me.

[Master] Fugue set down and waved a white shirt as a sign of willingness to parley.

[Defthon (Don)] I guess I'll do it.

[Brian] who's got the highest cha?

[Defthon (Don)] (me)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean and Def would be the two logical choices

[Brian] well vel says def's the hot one, so sure, go ahead.

[Defthon (Don)] You want to both approach from opposite directions?

[Master] Defthon steps forward and Aedean glances at him, then assents silently.

[Defthon (Don)] , Aedean?

Dralafi has a bow drawn

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Only one should approach

[Defthon (Don)] 'k.

[Master] Hang on, you can't talk right now; the message spell isn't working. Simple communicatins by gesture only.

[Defthon (Don)] OIC. Sorry.

[Defthon (Don)] Forgot.

Joanne gets down from Turcanaur's back and cocks her crossbow.

Mastodon whuffles and wheezes, a bit out of breath

[Defthon (Don)] So, you would be Fugue. You've waved a white flag; you wish to surrender?

Turcanaur (Brian) crosses his arms, keeping an sharp eye on Fugue and her mounts.

[Fugue] I wish to parley, dragonslayer.

Ss'sra (Ryan) comes along to look after the mastodons

[Defthon (Don)] Negotiation is a good start.

[Fugue] Only one of you, for now, or I begin destroying items.

[Fugue] Tell the lizardman to step back.

Defthon (Don) waves Ss'sra back a bit.

[Don] (How can she see Ss'sra? He's the other side of the mastodon.)

[Ryan] sure, whatever.

[Master] good question

[Fugue] Yes, I am Fugue.

Fugue waits for Defthon to introduce himself.

[Defthon (Don)] I am Defthon Tsohanoaivaar. We have been sent by the mages of Boccob.

[Defthon (Don)] I believe you have some of their things...?

Fugue is wearing nondescript, tight-fitting clothing that does not restrict her movements.

[Velkyna] I can't see! What's she doing?

[Master] Def -- that's not really accurate; they are your things, really.

Defthon (Don) is keeping a few feet of distance between himself and the dextrous thief.

[Don] Well, they were the mages' things. They'll be ours once we recover them.

[Fugue] And why would half-elven gryphonriders care about the possessions of Boccob?

Defthon (Don) grins.

[Fugue] Has not the Tower remained neutral in your war?

Fugue spits

[Defthon (Don)] Because they have been promised to us.

[Fugue] The tower gives tribute to Nailo's elves?

[Don] I actually can't quite remember how we got the Boccobians to give us stuff. Flying by ear...

[Master] They just kind of did.

[Defthon (Don)] I wouldn't call it tribute.

Fugue 's eyes narrow.

[Fugue] "how old are you, warrior?"

[Defthon (Don)] Why do you care? Are you with the... opposition?

[Fugue] Oh yes, I am most obviously an orc.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm not sure why you should care about that, either.

[Brian] You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor! Take her away!

[Don] She's hum... ah! Didn't realise.

[Master] sorry!

[Don] Der. Changing tactics.

[Ryan] they said something about a prophecy, actually.

[Master] Fugue is obviously a gnome -- the first one you've seen on this Continent.

[Lia (Angie)] OOC (maybe they don't want the bad guys on their doorstep?

[Don] Anything else I should know about?

[Master] I forgot to mention that part, my bad. She is unarmored and carries a short sword and dagger.

[Defthon (Don)] You don't look much like an orc, nor one that I would expect to throw in with them.

[Ryan] aren't gnomes all evil here?

[Fugue] Apparently even the mercenaries of Boccob are masters of learning.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (That's the dwarves you're thinking of)

[Master] Ss'sra hasn't even heard of gnomes.

[James] OOC: She's insulting us...

[Defthon (Don)] Our group is not from around here. We know what gnomes are.

[Fugue] I am not allied with the orcs. How old are you?

[Fugue] ...ah.

[Defthon (Don)] How did you come to this continent?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ooc: she wants to see whether Defthon is legal

[Ryan] OK< so I'm confused. Will someone please explain to me then why Sottamip has to hide what she is, and what it is she pretends to be instead?

[Defthon (Don)] The trip isn't exactly an easy one.

[Master] ok

[Master] 300 years ago, the humans and gnomes fought a war.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ooc: I _just_ got the IP e-mail

[Master] The humans won, and gnomes are unheard-of, except as legends in human lands as evil wizards.

[Master] Shottamip passes as a halfling, of which there are plenty.

[Master] Ss'sra doesn't know this, actually -- he is simply unfamiliar with the concept of gnomes.

[Ryan] (I still haven't gotten the IP email)

[Fugue] This . . . ah.

[Fugue] You were tossed here by the wyld storm.

[Fugue] And the Tower is playing its usual politics. Good for them.

[Defthon (Don)] You didn't answer my question.

[Fugue] Very well -- I propose the following terms.

[Defthon (Don)] ...yes?

[Ryan] I'm trying to keep OOC and IC discussions separate with the name thing, but it doesn't seem to be working. :)

Fugue ignores Defthon

Defthon (Don) patiently waits for the proposed terms.

[Fugue] I will give to you the items which I just gathered from the Tower. You will allow me to leave in peace. In addition, you will swear by whatever gods you serve that, once you have done whatever it is the Tower wants you to do, you will seek out my people, the Svirfneblin, and fight for their freedom.

[Fugue] The dwarrow are cruel masters.

[Defthon (Don)] Oooh, we've heard of them.

Fugue casts her eyes downward.

[Fugue] You have won a great victory for them this day.

[Defthon (Don)] Letting you leave in peace is likely to pose no problem; I have to consult my party on the rest, though. Give me a moment.

[Fugue] The second term is as important as the first, warrior.

Fugue slinks down between the mastodons and allows Defthon to withdraw.

[Defthon (Don)] ...I'll ask.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, so now I guess I go around from group to group and consult.

[Velkyna] Bob, hold the fucking fort here.

Velkyna jogs to wherever Def goes first.

[Defthon (Don)] What do people think about fighting the dwarrow for a while?

Ss'sra (Ryan) ignores Vel, going to see about the mastodons after all.

[Master] go to where you're going, Don.

[Ryan] we need to all gaterh to talk

[Defthon (Don)] I don't think Fugue's going anywhere.

[Master] These will be multiple conversations, possible. Ryan -- is Ss'sra approaching Fugue?

[Defthon (Don)] Ss'sra, be gentle!

[Velkyna] As Ss'sra approaches, Fugue holds up a book; it is obviously the Boccob's Blessed book.

[Master] (sorry)

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] yes. we all need to go somewhere to talk, and anywhere from me to anyone else in the party is mostly towards her

[Master] She is holding a torch underneath it.

[Defthon (Don)] Ss'sra, back up!

[Master] As Ss'sra closes . . . you get the picture.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] we can't consider your terms unless we can talk to each other. so where should we stand, then?

Defthon (Don) shouts:

[Master] She does not appear to even hear him; as Ss'sra backs up, she pulls the book away from the torch.

[Defthon (Don)] Stay back from the mastodons, folks. Meet up by where Lia is.

[Dralafi] I'll stay here, if you don't mind. Keep an eye on her.

[Defthon (Don)] If someone wants to stay on the south side that's not a bad idea, but I think we're probalby ok.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, great.

[Ryan] which looks indistinguioshable from me walking straight towards her for the first fifty feet anyway. Sheesh!

Defthon (Don) relays Fugue's story.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] aeadan and dral have to walk through her to get there.

[Defthon (Don)] Walk around, duh.

[Master] Ss'sra -- you probably want to take a Great Circle route to Lia, rather than a straight line rout.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] No, we can walk around

Joanne waits until she sees Vel walk toward the group.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, so.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (which I sort of indicating by going over towards Joanne first)

Velkyna is obviously livid.

[Velkyna] What the fuck was up with that little book burning?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] She's just using what leverage shge has

[Defthon (Don)] We get the stuff if we let her go and agree to fight the dwarrow, are her current terms.

[Lia (Angie)] I have previous commitments I will not ignore

[Turcanaur (Brian)] What are the dwarrow?

Velkyna sputters Let her go?

[Defthon (Don)] Vel, she's sort of backed into a corner right now. Calm down.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm just relaying.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Freeing the svirfneblin would probably help us in the long run

[Velkyna] I [i]AM[/I] CALM

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] fight for the freedom of her people, which will probably involve more enemies than just the one she mentioned

[Joanne] Svirfwhosit?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We _are_ on an ally-gathering mission

[Defthon (Don)] Svirfneblin.

[Joanne] Gesundheit.

Velkyna cracks a hint of a smile.

[Defthon (Don)] I have no great problem with letting her go, and I'm neutral on the idea of saving her people.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] Could you begin from the beginning Def? Who are these people, who are they fighting, and why should we be involved?

[Velkyna] No great problem?

[Defthon (Don)] The dwarrow are really nasty, I've heard, and this does seem to be a worthy cause.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] I'll help save her people if they'll help save mine.

[Lia (Angie)] Where are her people?

[Don] Is that a player or a character request, Brian?

[Turcanaur (Brian)] both

[Brian] if i've heard of them IC i don't remember

[Velkyna] No, wait, we are not agreed on this "let her go" shit.

[Defthon (Don)] Oh. The dwarrow are evil dwarves. (Possibly the only dwarves on this continent?) Apparently the remaining gnomes are enslaved by them.

[Defthon (Don)] Vel, I didn't say we were, I just stated my own position.

[Defthon (Don)] Calm down.

[Velkyna] I AM CALM

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] I'd rather kill her and be done with it as well.

[Lia (Angie)] Vel, what do you suggest?

[Defthon (Don)] So you've shouted.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What is your objection to letting her go, Vel?

[Velkyna] She'll just come back and try to steal the shit later. We have to turn her over to Boccob.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] If she returns what the Tower of Boccob was to give to us, and we can avoid bloodshed, I do not mind letting her go.

Velkyna looks exasperated

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] Vel is right.

[Defthon (Don)] I disapprove of theft, but I can see that hers was something of a desperation quest to save her people, so I am somewhat forgiving.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Personally, I am loath to dispatch any of Olidammara's children into the hands of authority if it is unnecessary to do so

[Turcanaur (Brian)] Why Vel, I'm surprised. I thought you usually really liked people who try to steal our stuff.

[Defthon (Don)] Especially as we will still get the stuff. :)

Turcanaur (Brian) gives a "just kidding" smile to Joanne.

[Master] For the record, I am RP'ing Vel here as Joe requested and have no personal stake in the outcome. No metagame, please. :)

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] If we can keep it.

Velkyna turns on Turcanaur, sputtering, and almost blows up at him before his sheer size and the gentleness of the remark gets through.

[Velkyna] This is different.

[Don] Wow, good RP Mike, I didn't even realise it wasn't Joe until you pointed that out. The yellow should have clued me in, I guess.

[Lia (Angie)] How does she propose we help her people?

[Defthon (Don)] That was left vague, which could work to our advantage.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] She said we could do it when our "task for the tower was done".

[Defthon (Don)] In particular, we would be bound to "fight for their freedom", not to "free them".

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] Fight for their freedom, when we are done with what the tower wants of us.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] That seems to me that it would give us some time for our previous committments.

[Velkyna] (to Turcanaur) Joanne was a kid stealing a handful of coins so she doesn't starve. Fugue's a professional thief stealing a handful of magical artifacts for ... for whatever the fuck reason.

[Defthon (Don)] So the starting point and the terms of the contract are both somewhat open.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] In any case, I would be in favor of helping her people be freed from a force of evil.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] They may be useful in fighting the Triumvirate, and perhaps we could even help heal the riff between the Gnomes and the Humans.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Perhaps, Vel, you would like to ask her her motive in stealing the items?

[Defthon (Don)] Having a whole people as allies can only be a good thing.

[Tamora] Just to mention, while Shot's not around at the moment, she might be kind of irked to hear that Vel had just killed the first gnome she's seen in months.

Velkyna looks at Aedean.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] what reason do we have to believe they won't decide to join with eflense, hmm?

[Velkyna] Yeah, I want to talk to here.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] she said it was for the fight.

[Defthon (Don)] Gratitude to us?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Sense Motive check:(d20+6-2) [8+6-2] 12

[Turcanaur (Brian)] (to Velkyna) I realize this, Vel. But perhaps Fugue is also in dire straights, with her people enslaved. I try to look for the best in people. Everyone is capable of redemption.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] unlikely to last long at all

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Does she _actually_ want to talk?)

[Defthon (Don)] I dunno, Ss'sra, Fugue's done pretty well for herself.

[Master] she wants answers even more than she wants to kill her.

Ss'sra (Ryan) rolls his eyes at this talk of "redemption"

[Defthon (Don)] I'm a little leery of letting Vel talk to Fugue, "calm" though she may be.

[Lia (Angie)] Vel's fine.

[Master] do you say that out loud?

[Defthon (Don)] Ummm... yes.

[Velkyna] Oh, Pelor's asshole, I won't kill her unless she tries something, all right?

[Defthon (Don)] Hmmm.

[Master] "Pelor's asshole is apparently meant as a curse, not as a term of endearment for Defthon."

[Turcanaur (Brian)] Now that's an interesting expression.

[Don] Fascinating.

[Defthon (Don)] Let's get a game plan together of what-all we need to ask Fugue.

[Defthon (Don)] 1) Whereabouts are her people?

[Lia (Angie)] how can we help her people?

[Defthon (Don)] 2) What kinds of numbers (Svirf, Dwarrow) are we talking about?

[Lia (Angie)] Will they help us?

[Defthon (Don)] 3) How was she planning to use the Stuff to help her?

[Defthon (Don)] 4) Will they help us vs Eflense after we rescue them?

[Defthon (Don)] Anything else?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ...or against the Triumvirate. Eflense may well not be an issue by the time we take care of the dwarves

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] if yes to 4, what guarantees can she give? what position is hse in to negotiate on behalf of her people? will they do what she tells us they will?

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] of course, we can't trust her answers to those, but you know what I mean

[Master] The svirfneblin are probably not good allies against Eflense; the dwarf lands are some distance from here.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I think we'll have to play 4 by ear, unless she has some official status

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] WE TAKE CARE OF EFLENSE FIRST

[Defthon (Don)] 4a) ...and the Triumvirate?

Joanne is startled but obviously agrees.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Joanne agrees with whom aboiut what?

[Defthon (Don)] I agree with Aedean, no point in calling her authority into question since she can't prove it anyway

[Don] Mike means Vel.

[Master] (with Ss'sra)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oh, right. Aedean's definitely in the "get Eflense first" boat, as well.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, 4b) ...and do you have the authority to back it up, or can you at least say how likely your people are to agree to it?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] It doesn't make sense to go traipsing off before we finish what we're doing here

[Defthon (Don)] Keep in mind that if they don't, we'd only be obliged to help them a bit, not free them.

Velkyna shakes her head.

[Velkyna] She'll promise us the fucking moon, but she's not queen.

[Defthon (Don)] Well, the terms would let us do our Boccob thing, which is basically our Eflense thing, first.

[Velkyna] And even if she is, she'll back out once her people are safe.

[Defthon (Don)] ...which is why I think 4b is pointless, but other people were suggesting it.

[Velkyna] I want to talk to her.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] THe other question, of course, is what could she do to us if we didn't keep our side of the bargain?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right. I think we have just have to use our best judgment, and take a chance about what the gnomes will do

[Don] Are gnomes usually some alignment?

[Master] They tend to be Good.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ...but it's a gamble I'm willing to take

[Defthon (Don)] Sure. I mean, she's gambling on us, too, really.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, how's this sound, I'll go back to her first to make sure she knows what's going on, then I'll wave Vel forward to ask the questions, possibly excluding 4b?

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] if we go there, and she is powerful among them, we may not be able to leave until it is over, win or lose.

[Defthon (Don)] Ss'sra: this would be after Eflense.

[Lia (Angie)] It's also possible she is lieing about all of this

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Enh. You get enough chips in the pot, and you have to play out the hand.

[Lia (Angie)] Don, sound good

[Defthon (Don)] Ok. Here goes.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Or you could let Vel talk to her

Ryan has joined the game.

Defthon (Don) approaches Fugue with his hands up

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Since Vel wants to talk to her anyway

Fugue watches her carefully.

[Master] (him)

Ryan has left the game.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] Lia: very likely. Defthon: but relevant to your assumption that we could leave after only some of the fighting.

[Ryan] have to fragging restart again

[Master] (sorry; I need to try a few more things.)

[Defthon (Don)] Fugue: I think we are tentatively agreeing to your terms, but one of our members wants to ask you a few questions first. Can I wave her over? I'll go back to the group so there'll be only one of us here.

Ryan has joined the game.

[Ryan] arrrrrrrgh

Fugue thinks for a moment and nods.

Ryan has left the game.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, thanks.

Ryan has left the game.

Defthon (Don) waves Vel over to Fugue and starts back to the group.

Ryan has joined the game.

[Defthon (Don)] Vel: she's vulnerable, be nice.

[Ryan] Nods at what?

[Defthon (Don)] (he says, as they pass)

[Velkyna] Pfeh.

[Lia (Angie)] ooc nods at Vel talking to her

[James] OOC: So we have Kimmitt as Fugue talking to Kimmitt as Joe as Velkyna.

Velkyna walks up to Fugue. Her usual shyness has been overwhelmed by her obvious fury.

[Defthon (Don)] Yup.

[Defthon (Don)] Goes fast that way, eh?

[Velkyna] Are you the gnomes who unleashed the blue plague? What the fuck is up with that?"

Fugue looks baffled.

[Ryan] will someone please fill me in on what has happened in the last two minutes as my connection has repeatedly bootoed me out?

[Defthon (Don)] AH HA!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ooc: As long as Kimmitt handles the "Chat as" properly

[Velkyna] Magical plague? Killed lots of people?

[Fugue] I . . . I don't know what you are talking about.

[James] OOC: I thought we determined that the gnomes _didn't_ release the blue plague.

[Master] Not the most recent outbreak, back during the gnome wars.

[Velkyna] Velkyna: Sense Motive check:12

Velkyna narrows her eyes

[Velkyna] All right.

[Velkyna] Let's talk about your terms.

Fugue looks a bit bewildered and off balance.

[Velkyna] Where are your people?

[James] OOC: Ryan: I just e-mailed you the chat buffer.

[Fugue] In the dwarrow lands, scattered in underground settlements.

[Defthon (Don)] http://www.blahedo.org/serendair/transcript-040612-1.html

[Velkyna] Fine.

[Velkyna] How many gnomes and dwarves are we talking about here?

[Fugue] The dwarrow are legion . . . my people -- maybe a few thousand, living as slaves.

[Fugue] Velkyna: Sense Motive check:11

[Velkyna] All right.

Tamora has left the game.

[Velkyna] What were you planning to do with the artifacts?

[Fugue] They are very useful; I planned to use them to set my family and friends free and find a base.

[Velkyna] Fine.

[Velkyna] Velkyna: Sense Motive check:4

[Brian] Yup! That's exactly what she wanted them for!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ooc: Vel's so cute when she tries to Sense Motive

Tamora has joined the game.

[Velkyna] What do we get after we set them free. Will they help us against the Triumvirate?

Fugue laughs

[Don] I *really* need to make better use of Sense Motive.

Velkyna looks really pissed.

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Fugue] If you can defy the might of the dwarves of Serendair and give us our freedom, you will not need our help against anything. But you shall have whatever you want, that I guarantee. I do not expect you to save us; I expect you to make up for what you have cost us.

[Don] Vel's gonna love *that* response.

[Velkyna] Cost you? Cost you?

[Velkyna] This isn't your stuff, you THIEF.

[Defthon (Don)] Heh

[Velkyna] The elves haven't had any fucking children since before either of us were born! The orcs killed --

[Velkyna] Ah, fuck it.

Velkyna stalks off.

Velkyna flashes anyone who catches her eye a dark look.

[Velkyna] What?

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] Nothing

[Defthon (Don)] Well?

[Velkyna] She says she's stealing shit for some kind of resistance and thinks we owe her for stopping her.

[Defthon (Don)] That's not exactly how I'd put it, but yeah, that's basically what she told me.

[Ryan] Which is what I said before you asked.

[Velkyna] So in her twisted little mind, we'll pay her back later by doing what she planned to do with the stuff she stole.

Velkyna smoulders

[Lia (Angie)] Sounds like typical logic around here

[Defthon (Don)] We don't _have_ to do this. But I think it is a worthy goal---not to detract from our other goals, of course.

[Velkyna] This whole fucking continent is on opium.

[Defthon (Don)] Also, it gets us the Stuff without her trying to burn it or anything.

[Ryan] And you people collect powerful enemies at an alarming rate.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] Can we stick any sort of magic do-dad on her to let us keep track of her?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm glad to see I'm having such a profound effect on our paladin

Velkyna shakes her head.

[Ryan] That she couldn't get rid of? Hah.

[Don] Anyway, I have to go and watch mathrulz get married. I think I've made Def's position clear. Ta!

[Velkyna] She's too smart for that, I'll tell you that for free.

[Master] have fun!

[Don] I am away from the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm OK with the terms as long as she understands our priorities

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The way I see it, she tried to pull something off and screwed up. We don't owe her anything, but we're nice people and we probably would have helped the gnomes anyway

[Turcanaur (Brian)] a peaceful resolution to this conflict is preferred.

[Lia (Angie)] Time is wasting

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If she thinks she's making us do it, it's no skin off our noses

[Velkyna] Fine.

[Velkyna] Let's do it.

[Ryan] (Ryan is amused by the concept of making someone swear an oath to _Olidamarra_)

[Joanne] Vel...

[Velkyna] What?

Velkyna softens

[Velkyna] It's fine, it's fine.

[Velkyna] I'll go do it.

Velkyna looks to Defthon for confirmation.

[Lia (Angie)] Go ahead

[Velkyna] I'm Velkyna.

[Velkyna] We agree.

Fugue nods.

[Fugue] Bring the cleric here and swear to his god that you will adhere to the terms.

[Velkyna] No, dammit!

[Ryan] (LOL!)

[Velkyna] We agreed, we'll fucking do it. If we were like you, an oath wouldn't bind us.

[Ryan] (Hell, yes! We'll all happily swear to the god of chaos and trickery!!!)

Fugue looks stung.

[Lia (Angie)] I don't think so

[Velkyna] We've agreed. Hand it over, and you get to go.

Fugue looks nervous, then decides.

Fugue opens a sack, slowly, so as not to alarm Vel.

Fugue hands Vel a rod, two rings, and the book she threatened earlier.

[Fugue] She then pulls out four assorted magic items and hands them to Vel.

Velkyna narrows her eyes at Fugue. "We were told that there were a number of other items. I don't think this is everything."

[Velkyna] Velkyna: Sense Motive check:20

Fugue defeatedly hands Vel a potion.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Nice roll, Vel!)

[Fugue] I was getting there.

[Velkyna] Sure you were.

Velkyna puts the items in a bag and pointedly turns her back on Fugue.

[Velkyna] Aedean, is this a Rod of Absorption?

[Velkyna] And these rings, Wizardry and Wishes?

[Velkyna] And this book, is it Boccob's Blessed Book?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Spellcraft check:(d20+1+5) [10+1+5] 16

[Lia (Angie)] How will we find her people later?

[Lia (Angie)] no magic

[Master] They're not on this plane, and y'all are pretty creative.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (A Spellcraft check is not in and of itself, magical, but it might yield some info anyway, worth trying)

[Lia (Angie)] I expext Shot will be motivated

[Ryan] If we die of old age trying to find them, then we need never fight the numberless hordes of evil dwarrow, eh?

[Master] Aedean, so far as you can tell, these are either the items or extremely clever forgeries.

[Master] (Sense Motive check)

[Ryan] for whom?

[Master] Aedean

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Sense Motive check:(d20+6-2) [1+6-2] 5

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Bleah.

[Velkyna] Well?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Looks okay to me.

Velkyna turns and shouts

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Of course, there's only so much I can tell without the use of magic

[Velkyna] If you fucked us here, we will find you!

Fugue mounts and begins riding westward.

[Lia (Angie)] So, back to the temple?

[Lia (Angie)] or Tower

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Don't worry, Vel. If she gave us forgeries, it should be quite easy for me to find her.

Fugue nods tersely, still tense.

[Master] dang

Velkyna nods tersely, still tense

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay, let's head back to the Tower

[Master] You fly and jog back to the Well without incident. When you are most of the way to the volcano, you feel a lurch as the wave of nullity recedes and your magic items start working again.

[James] Yay!

[Master] With the aid of shrinking spells, you get everything back into the Tower.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yay! Temp mods cleared!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So, what's the lowdown on the swag?

[Roger (Jeff)] welcome back!

[Master] The four major items are exactly as expected.

[Master] A Rod of Absoroption, a Ring of Wizardry, a Ring of THree Wishes (!), and a Boccob's Blessed Book.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Only 1 wish left on the Ring, though, right?)

[Master] (Right, I couldn't remember how many I said were on it before.)

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oh, in that case, you said there were three wishes... :)

[Master] heh, I'm looking it up. :)

[Lia (Angie)] brb

[Angie] I am away from the keyboard.

[Master] Yes, one wish and Wizardry III

[Master] THe potion is, ironicallly, a Potion of Sneaking.

[Master] For the extra four items, gimme a d%

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Roll #1: (d100) [42] 42

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] (d100) [1] 1

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] =)

[Master] A Lyre of Building.

[Master] another d%

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Roll #1: (d100) [51] 51

[Roger (Jeff)] A what?

[Master] A Broom of Flying.

[Master] (descriptions are in the SRD -- the Lyre of Building helps with creating and maintaining structures.)

[Master] The Broom of Flying is precisely what it sounds like.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Roll #1: (d100) [37] 37

[Master] a Horn of Blasting.

[Master] Last one...

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Roll #1: (d100) [21] 21

[Ryan] once a week, the lyre builds 300 man-days of tunnels, bruildings, etc. per 30 minutes of playing. can also negate atacks against structures made in a small area.

[Master] A Staff of Healing.

[Master] That's the swag!

[Master] (the Staff has all of its 50 charges)

[Angie] I am back at the keyboard.

[Master] As you may recall, this room looks out onto the rocky terrain below.

[Master] You can see that an extremely violent storm is currently in progress.

[James] Huh, with Arkady's perform check (+20) he can basically just keep playing it forever.

[James] (the lyre of building, that is.)

[Roger (Jeff)] Is it a wyld storm?

Ryan has left the game.

[Saminda] This is the most violent of the wyld storms we've yet seen.

[Saminda] It could last weeks, and it will bring many creatures near here.

Ryan has joined the game.

[Lia (Angie)] Joy

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Whaddya know? My char sheet went away

[James] mine too

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] restart needed again, for goodness' sake!

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] oh -- or maybe mike's crashed this time. :}

[Saminda] I recommend that some of you take the time to study, while others perhaps sweep the area for survivors and creatures.

[Master] char sheets shoudl be visible now

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] not to me. perhaps I do need a restart after all. sigh

Ryan has left the game.

Ryan has joined the game.

Ryan is receiving the map...

Ryan has received the map.

[Arkady (James)] There is some new magic I would like to study.

[Saminda] I very much recommend against teleporting through this . . . we will keep the gryphons safe.

Saminda nods. Excellent.

[Master] Ok, that's it!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay.

[Master] 350 XP each, thanks for a very nice morning!

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] That's it?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We should probably discuss swag division at some point

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, he said it'd be short

[Lia (Angie)] Are we splitting next time?

[Master] Yes, so please send me dates and preference for group.

[Lia (Angie)] and do we know when next time is?

[Master] One group will be very hack and slashy with some interaction with rescued people/critters.

[Lia (Angie)] sorry

[Master] Very probably not until mid-July.

[Master] Given Tamora and my's plans to go to Illinois from June 26th to July 12th.

[Master] Thank you, everyone!

[Master] :)

[Arkady (James)] Hopefully, we'll have time to get together.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I believe you already have my dates, and definitely put Aedean down for the hack, slash and (particularly) search for survivors group

[Master] Oh! THe second group will be a bit studious with some chatting and a bit of a mystery.

[Master] excellente

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] regardless of eventual loot division, clearly whoever is going fighting, rather than studying/chatting, should take most of the items for in-combat use.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Except that stuff like Ring of Wizrdry might not be useful to any of the hack n slashers

[Arkady (James)] That's fine.

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] true, but we'll see.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (I kind of figure that Roger and Shot are probably both going to hang out here)

[Arkady (James)] Can anyone use the ring of wizardry except roger?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] In principle, Roger Shot ot Arkady

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] any arcane caster

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Any arcane spellcaster

[Master] I am away from the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The Boccob's Book is definitely only useful to Roger

[Arkady (James)] Ohhhh..... (*drool*)

[Roger (Jeff)] Mmm. boccob .mmM

[Tamora] Shot's actually not at all studious - it's not like she carn learn new spells from books - so I may go out with the rescue party.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That is, if Arkady can cast third level spells

[Lia (Angie)] We might not want to leave all of the MUs here

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] and shot with extra fireballs is way cool

[Arkady (James)] Yes, he can, where did you think the GMW arrows and bolts come from? :-)

[Tamora] What does the ring do?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I don't have every spell level memorized, thought it might be lower lev for Bards or something

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Doubles your third level spells

[Tamora] that's very nice.

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Arkady (James)] Bards have sucky spell progress though, as befits a hybrid/compromise class.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] ok, sorry, had a long phone call. need a few minutes to read and catch up

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hey, Mike, what's the Rod of Absorption's status?

[Lia (Angie)] i think Kimmet is Away from keyboard

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] whats' the book of boccob do?

[Turcanaur (Brian)] or the ring of wizardry?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] It's a really good spellbook

[Ss'sra (Ryan)] spelbook. excellent weight to sspels rastio

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The RoW doubles an arcane caster's 3rd level spells

[Turcanaur (Brian)] yeah just saw that. sorry.

[Turcanaur (Brian)] anyway i need to get going

[Lia (Angie)] So I asseme we'll rest before next sessions?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Anyway...We can probably divide up swag and stuff over e-mail

[Turcanaur (Brian)] good to (briefly) play with everyone again. see you all in a month or so, some before that hopefully at don's party & stuff

[Arkady (James)] That's fine.

[Arkady (James)] I'll try to make Don's pool party too.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm guessing we'll rest between sessions (have to wait for the storm to die down anyway)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] But, since Mike's not here, I can't answer that definitively

[Lia (Angie)] that's email for loot division, group preference and dates

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yepper

[Lia (Angie)] thanks for playing, see you later

Brian has left the game.

[Arkady (James)] Later.

Ryan has left the game.

Angie has left the game.

James has left the game.

Tamora has left the game.

[Master] I am back at the keyboard.

[Master] Sorry, back

[Master] Yeah, rest between sessions. :)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay. Good.

[Master] Lunchtime!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Later

Sedlack has left the game.

Jeff has left the game.