<DM-R> Well, actually, you're all esconcing from the shady inn where you interrogated Bloodnose. <Foster> Quickly quitting the region is more like it. * Fordran quits the region crisply behind Foster. * Sam is following Fordran! <DM-R> Er. I'm not sure where my brain got ensconcing * Erias brings up the front. <DM-R> Dessconcing. <DM-R> Escarping. <DM-R> Flarging. <DM-R> Grant: "Huh? What?" * DM-R * Grant chases behind everyone else leaving. <DM-R> Grant: "Where are we going?" <Foster> "We got what we needed. Now we sleep, and we plan." <Fordran> "Anywhere but here, looks like. I was hoping for my bed." <Foster> "An inn we haven't stayed at yet would probably be best." <Sam> "Where they can be convinced not to ask questions with enough cash?" <DM-R> (Any particular one?) <Erias> "Damn. You're probably right." <Foster> "Eh. It's not like we're hauling a body. They have no reason to ask qusetions." <Erias> (I don't care which. We look for an inn that doesn't look too sucky.) <Foster> (agreed) <Erias> "I know this sounds odd coming from me, but I'd actually really like a place with a decent bed. I haven't been sleeping well." <DM-R> The first inn (with open doors) that you spy upon leaving the docks district has a rooster with a jester's cap painted over its door. <Erias> (does it have a door in the doorframe?) <DM-R> Double doors, wooden, open. <Sam> (gak) <Erias> Sold! <DM-R> There are a handful of patrons drinking in the common room. * Erias shrugs. "Looks good to me." <Foster> "Agreed." * Fordran shrugs. <DM-R> The bartender looks up as the lot of you enter. * Erias walks up to the bar. <DM-R> He looks you over, but continues to dry mugs. <DM-R> "M'y I help you?" <Erias> "Could we have..." Erias glances back at the others "two rooms?" <DM-R> He scratches his balding head. * Fordran shrugs some more. * Sam tries to look cheerful and non-threatening at the barkeep. <DM-R> "Yeh, we got two." <Erias> (Or we could each have a room to ourselves, and die) <DM-R> "Gimme a minnit ta clear out the last folks' stuff." <Erias> "Uh... " <Erias> "Okay... " * Erias looks puzzled. <Fordran> "Erm." <DM-R> To the back room, "Fordran!" <Erias> "I'd prefer not to kick anyone out, honestly." * Fordran looks up. <DM-R> A smaller, skinnier version of the barkeep (probably about 8), comes scuttling out. <DM-R> "Man the bar, I gotta put these folks up." <Erias> "Uh." <DM-R> To Erias, "Yes'r?" <Erias> (who's talking? the barkeep or his son?) * Fordran looks confused. <DM-R> (Barkeep still) * Fordran shakes his head. * Erias repeats himself. "I'd prefer not to kick anyone out. Are these rooms unoccupied?" <DM-R> The Barkeep totally doesn't notice your confusion, Fordran. <DM-R> He scratches his head agian. <DM-R> "Well, y'see, they checked in, 'n' they never checked out. Havn't seen'm in tree days." <Fordran> "Tourists?" <Erias> "Hunh. That's odd." <DM-R> To the boy, "Fordran, make sur y'get exact change." * Fordran 's expression clouds slightly. <DM-R> To Fordran (Drakesbane), "Ayr." <DM-R> He shrugs at Erias. * Fordran looks at Erias. <Erias> "We have some friends coming into town. What did these people look like?" <DM-R> "Wann'm'r not?" <DM-R> "Oh er..." <Erias> "...sure. We'll take 'em." <DM-R> He excercises his massive intellect. <DM-R> "Shorter'n you. Taller'n that'n (pointing at Sam)." <DM-R> "Browwwwwwn...? Hair?" <DM-R> "Funny clothes." * Sam looks vaguely upward. <DM-R> "M'kay, I'll be a minnit." * Erias nods distractedly. <DM-R> He walks upstairs, wiping his hands on his barkeep apron. <Fordran> "Guess it's a more common name than I thought." <DM-R> There's some quiet scraping and a bit of soft thumping. <Erias> "I don't think I've heard it before, honestly." <Fordran> "I mean, I think my folks made it up." <Erias> "Hey, kid. Fordran." <DM-R> The barkeep/innkeeper stumps back down the stairs, brushing dust off of his shirt. * Fordran shakes his head again. <DM-R> Li'l Fordran: "Yes'r?" <Erias> "Did yer dad name you after someone?" <DM-R> "Yes'r, his great-grandad." <Fordran> "How about that." <Erias> Hunh. <Erias> (damned time travel plot foreshadowing) <DM-R> (You guys are so paranoid.) <Sam> (hush you.) <DM-R> (I blame Pat.) <Erias> (I blame Pat and all the people who are out to get us.) <Sam> (there will be time for blame transfer later.) <DM-R> Innkeeper: "A'right, come'n up." * Fordran follows on upstairs. * Erias follows as well. * Foster follows along. <DM-R> He points to the 2nd door to the left, and the last door in the hallway. * Sam goes upstairs. * Erias opens the 2nd door. * Fordran follows Erias somewhat absently. * Foster goes down to the last door. * Erias glances in. "This'll do. How much?" <DM-R> "That'n has a bit of squeaky winder, but there's'n lamp oil." <Fordran> "It'll do." <DM-R> "If'n you need food, come down t'tha kitchen." <Erias> "Yeah, let's get something before we sleep." <DM-R> He seems a fairly uninterested person. <Foster> "Sounds good." <DM-R> "5 silver a night. Each." <Foster> "Easy enough." * Erias gives him 3 gold. <Erias> (uh... tell me if I miscounted) <DM-R> "Unf. Think thar's some leek soup left 'n some bread. More t'marrow." <Erias> (er, undercounted) * Fordran was in mid-reach for his pouch of gold when Erias had his gold out. <DM-R> (Well, Apol doesn't count... so.) <DM-R> (2.5) <Erias> (oh, wait, we have grant now. that's... oh, right.) <Erias> (okay. overpaying a bit is okay, I guess.) <DM-R> (k) <DM-R> He takes it, and stumps back downstairs. <Erias> "I don't think we need to pay him to ignore us, honestly." <Erias> "Let's get some food." <Sam> "Excellent idea." <DM-R> At some point, he handed one key per room. * Erias heads downstairs (after stowing his key). <Foster> "Indeed not. And food sounds good." * Foster does the same. <Erias> "Fordran! Could we have some food? Whatever you've got is fine." * Fordran starts. * Erias grins somewhat wearily at PC Fordran. <Fordran> "I don't think I'll ever get used to that." <Erias> "I don't think you'll have to." <Fordran> "I guess that's true. I mean, what are the odds?" <DM-R> Li'l Fordran goes into the kitchen, returning with a small cauldron in a bear hug. <Fordran> "Let me get that." * Fordran gets up and helps. <Foster> "Wouldn't be able to tell you without access to accurate census data." <Fordran> "Accurate what now?" <DM-R> He puts the pot of leak soup on your table, then goes back for bowls, spoons, and the loaves of mostly-not-quite-stale bread. <Sam> "Accurate whosawhatsit?" <Erias> "I think he's talking about a spell." <Foster> "...never mind." <DM-R> Apol sticks her snout in the cauldron and snuffles. <DM-R> s/her/its <DM-R> (habit) <Erias> "Apol... stop that." <DM-R> Apol: "Doesn't smell like meat." <Foster> (In this adventuring party, we use dishes like civilized sentient beings" <Foster> s/"/)/ <Erias> "It's not. It's vegetables. If you need meat, I've got some dried strips in my pack..." <Sam> "It isn't. My family made this quite a lot." <Foster> "Smells good, in any case." * Erias takes a bowl of stew and starts spooning stew into his mouth with a piece of bread, taking the occasional bite from the loaf. <DM-R> (So eatity-eatity?) <Foster> Indeed. <Erias> We eat. * Fordran eatities. <Erias> (gigity-gigity.) * Fordran remembers after a bite or six to say a small prayer of thanks to Pelor. * Sam probably gets told to use a spoon at some point. * Fordran may or may not have noticed. * Erias remembers after Fordran prays to say a small prayer of thanks to Pelor. <Erias> "Sam... stop that." <Erias> The party is evidently exhausted. <Sam> "Sorry. Not used to spoons." <Erias> Are there others around? <DM-R> The few people drinking have left at some point. <Fordran> "What else would you..." *slurp* "...use for soup?" <Erias> "Oh. Yeah, I don't mind. I wasn't really thinking about it." <Sam> "The bowl is somehow insufficient?" * Erias glances around. "So... should we discuss things in our rooms?" <Foster> "I suggest that we sleep first and plan tomorrow." <Erias> "Alright." <Fordran> "I'm with Foster." * Sam nods. <Fordran> "I think I've had enough excitement for one day. Thinking just might be too much." <Sam> (cut to final fantasy sleepy music?) <DM-R> Li'l Fordran looks out at some point, and clears away the dishes and cauldron. <Sam> (nah, that would be too easy) <Fordran> (/use tent) <DM-R> Okay, the party retires to their rooms. <Erias> I'm ready to fast-forward to tomorrow whenever. <DM-R> Any night-time prep? <Erias> ^tomorrow^midnight assassination <Erias> "Given the circumstances, I suggest we set a watch in each room." * Sam meditates 'n stuff before bed. <Erias> Three shifts. <Sam> "Not unreasonable." <Erias> "I'd like first or last watch." <Fordran> "I'll take last shift. I'd like to greet the sunrise." <Foster> "I'll take the first." <DM-R> How are you splitting the rooms? <Erias> "I'll take first in Fordran's room. Someone who doesn't mind middle should join us." <Sam> "I shall take a middle watch." * Foster suspects that he and Apol will be sharing. really comes down to Sam/Grant. <DM-R> Grant: "Eh, I'll take watch until y'wake up. I slept a lot t'day anyway." <Erias> (Fordran, Sam and I are in the 2nd door; Foster, Apol and Grant are in the room at the end.) <Erias> (Unless Sam and Grant want to switch.) <Foster> "Works for me." <Sam> (no switchy.) <Erias> (Okay, we can skip time now.) <DM-R> Okay, first watch passes uneventfully. <Fordran> (six months pass) <Sam> (/stab) * Erias wakes up Sam and goes to sleep. * Sam watches or something. <DM-R> 2nd watch passes uneventfully <DM-R> Sam wakes up Fordran, I'm assuming. <DM-R> Grant does not wake up anyone. * Fordran gets up and faces the oncoming sunrise. <DM-R> What will you do after your prayers, Fordran? <DM-R> The other two are still asleep * Apol has joined #ddi <Fordran> (About what time did we all go to sleep?) <Apol> (the Real Slim Apol stands up) <DM-R> maybe 9 pm <Sam> (why did i just think of weird al's angry white boy polka?) <Erias> (I just thought of "the real slim santa", another parody) * Fordran will quietly put on his armor and watch the sunrise for an hour or so. <Erias> (If we're taking four hour shifts... it's probably 12 hours overall that we sleep.) <DM-R> Oh, right, heal back nonlethal and hp <Fordran> (woot) <Erias> Oh, right. <Erias> (I didn't think to heal people last night. I hope no one needed it.) <Foster> (what is it, level/day?) <Sam> (didn't need it here) <Fordran> (Crap, forgot about the healing too) <Fordran> (I'm good) <Erias> (level/day hp, level/hour subdual, I think) <DM-R> (Think so) <Erias> (I'm good. just had to heal some subdual.) <Fordran> (sounds right) * Fordran will wake people when it seems like it's about 9am. <Erias> (damn you! it's five minutes early! now I can't prepare spells!) <Fordran> (nooooooooooooo) * Sam sits up, meditates, stands, stretches, /monkflex, etc. * Foster stretches. * Fordran goes through a second set of morning prayers with Erias. <Fordran> (now i get twice the spells!) * Erias twitches violently as Fordran wakes him up. <Erias> "Wait, how..." * Foster sits up swiftly. <Fordran> "Yes?" <Erias> "I... I fell asleep..." * Erias shakes his head. * Foster taps his forehead, shrugs. <Fordran> "...Yes. You did." <Fordran> "We all did. I just got up earlier." <DM-R> Grant: to Foster "Eh, finally up, eh?" * Erias looks at the floor and runs a hand through his hair. * Apol yawns and opens an eye. <Fordran> "You all right?" <Fordran> "Pelor has blessed us with another day." <DM-R> Grant: "I s'pose we should go see th' others." <Foster> "Yes. Thanks for keeping watch." <Erias> "Yeah, I alright. Perfectly normal." He laughs softly. <Foster> "Indeed we should." * Fordran looks skeptical. <DM-R> Grant: to Apol "Comin' lizard?" * Apol stuffs all the loot on the floor back into the bag and pounces on Grant. * Erias stands up. "Let us greet the morning. A bit late, I'll admit, for me." <DM-R> Grant: "Yarr!!" <Fordran> "The sun still shines. It is not late." <Apol> "Yes, ok okok. Where are we going now?" * Erias goes through that set of morning prayers that were mentioned, with Fordran. <Foster> "Down the hall." <DM-R> He heads over to the other room, and tries the door. <DM-R> (Did you lock it?) * Foster stows his gear. <Fordran> (F: "The sun is a mass of incandescent gas." E: "A gigantic nuclear furnace." F: "Where hydrogen is turned into helium." E: "At a temperature of millions of degrees.") <DM-R> hahaha <DM-R> (Not enough "Yeas" and "verilies" imo) * Foster knocks on the Religious Folk's door. * Sam answers the door. <Fordran> "...without the light it gives." * Fordran gets up. <Apol> (Gee, those Pelorites speak in weird tongues...) <DM-R> Grant: "Oy there." <DM-R> Erias and Fordran are whispering something as Foster, Grant, and Apol enter. * Fordran looks at Erias oddly, then turns to the rest. <Fordran> "Pelor... bless you this day." <DM-R> Grant has left the door open as he entered. If someone's closing it, say so. * Sam closes the door. <Erias> "Good morning, everyone." <Foster> "Hello." <DM-R> Grant: "Urnf." <Erias> "I thought about our situation last night on watch, and I feel I should share a few other details about our enemies." <Fordran> "Is it safe to speak here?" * Fordran looks at Foster. * Erias looks at Foster. <Foster> "As did I, but please go first." * Sam sits. back against the closed door. * Foster shrugs. <DM-R> (Suddenly, a spear pierces three feet out of the door. Ouchy.) <Foster> "Nobody is scrying us." <Erias> "Well, feel free to contribute... I imagine we have similar stories. I was captured by a pair of humans." <Sam> (oh, so that's what i had inside me...*bleed*) <Foster> "Was one of them the woman we saw in the dining room at the Marinus?" <Erias> "One controlled my mind and drew me away from the camp." <DM-R> (Full of the wholly spear-it.) <Erias> "Yes. And..." <Erias> (dm, was the other the guy she was talking to?) <Fordran> (zomgdie) <Erias> (...did I recognize the other?) <DM-R> (Erias, yeah. Though you might've gotten confused which was doing the suggesting, but ok) <Fordran> "...That woman?" <DM-R> (oh, oops, misread context.) <DM-R> (Yes, the woman from the bar, and the one she was yelling at) <Erias> "...and the other was the man she spoke to in the bar." <Foster> "Hm. She was the one who captured me, as well." <Erias> "I believe he cast some magic over me. When I reached them, she attacked me more powerfully than any opponent I've faced, and I was unconscious within a few seconds." * Fordran scratches his head. * Sam listens intently, looking quite serious. <Erias> "These are Gray's associates. Henchmen, perhaps. And if he has these, he may have others." <Fordran> "Weren't they arguing about something in that restaurant?" <Erias> "We have been working to find him, to find his lair, and the holding place of these captives. But even when we find him, attacking him directly is likely suicide." * Erias pauses. "Yes, they were. I thought it must be a ruse." <Foster> "That was, er, a message to me, I believe." <Fordran> "But why? To get attention? They still caught us unawares." <Apol> "A message to you? Yelling at each other is a message?" <Erias> (I'm looking for logs... argh. Nevermind.) <Erias> "So why did they want to send you a message? Would you like to tell more about your experience?" <Fordran> (i dont' remember, and honestly, i doubt fordran would have either.) <Foster> "They seem to practice the same variety of magic that I do, though with different foci, and the woman must have recognized something about my nature that caused her to challenge me in public, and come to collect later." <Foster> "I have it on good authority that Gray is especially hunting people like me, and like Charles, the man we met in his prison." <Erias> "... and like me." <Foster> "Indeed." <Foster> "I am honestly not sure why you were taken." <Erias> "I am." <Fordran> "Which is...?" <Foster> "I suspect it has something to do with the Church's involvement in all of this." <Erias> "Are you certain it was your nature that she became aware of?" <Foster> "I am fairly certain of this, yes. Why do you think you were taken?" <Erias> "I worry about the extend of the scrying that has been done upon us. I hope that we were merely monitored once we arrived in town and became problematic -- perhaps after we were seen in the bar." <Foster> "For my part, I fear that I became problematic before the bar." <Erias> (sorry, conferring) <Foster> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 12 | [d20=11] [+1=1] * pst has joined #ddi <DM-R> Foster is looking at Erias, with an odd expression. * Erias looks at Foster. <Foster> "Erias, I believe we need to have a brief conversation. Preferably in private." <Erias> "As you wish." * Foster leads the way back to the other room. * Fordran watches them leave. "What is going on?" * Sam shrugs. <Apol> "This *is* strange." *mumbles something about goat candy* <Sam> "I can only guess that I am 'problematic' by association." <Fordran> "Did ... did you say goat candy?" <DM-R> Grant: "Damn tasty, goat candy." * DM-R Grant nods. <Fordran> "I grew up on a farm, and I've never heard of goat candy. What is it?" <DM-R> Grant: "Well, y'heard of rose candy, right? Same principle." He licks his lips. <Sam> "Where I grew up, goats were more useful alive than dead." <Sam> "Or candied." <Fordran> "Egh." <DM-R> Grant: "So, Fordran, I heard ye natterin' ta Erias about some dream yesterday? Wassat all about?" <Apol> "Well, Bob had some machines where he hooked up the goats. The vats would bubble up and the gray lotus usually wilted by that point. Then as the goat hair was disintegrating then I'd hand Bob the sugar." <Fordran> "Hm? Ah, yes. That. I'd ... well, I might as well wait for Foster to get back and explain it to everyone at once." <DM-R> knocking on the door <Sam> "If I ate goat, I'd still find that repulsive." <Sam> "Who is it?" <Foster> "We've returned." * Sam opens the door. <Fordran> (dopplegangers!) <DM-R> (woot!) * Erias (or at least it _looks_ like Erias!) enters. * Foster reenters. <Fordran> "Welcome back." <Sam> (Hi, how are you doing? How whas your OW MY PANCREAS) <DM-R> Grant: "What was that all about?" * Sam closes the door. "Problematic, you said?" <Apol> (We replaced Erias and Foster with Folgers Crystals. Let's see if anyone notices.) <Erias> (Folgers. It's australian for beer.) <Fordran> (Erk.) <Erias> "We wanted to compare notes." <Sam> (do i get a +4 competence bonus for not being a coffee drinker?) <Foster> "Indeed." <Fordran> "Anyway. I was just about to tell Grant about my dream. Figured I'd wait for you, Foster." <DM-R> (You are able to resist Foster's brazen charms.) * Erias nods. <Foster> to Sam: "I'll explain once Fordran finishes his explanation." <Erias> (Little did he know about my godlike paladin will save. And heterosexuality.) <Fordran> "Basically... in my dream, I saw a kindly old man, who I knew to be Pelor. He was sitting by a pool, and there was a boy with him... the boy was wearing an eyepatch." <Fordran> "On the eyepatch was a symbol -- the symbol of that new church here in town." <Fordran> "The boy was playing with some wooden figures, and treating them badly. Then he put them on a toy boat." <DM-R> (/me holds up the notecard that says "Pause for dramatic effect.") <Fordran> "He tried to pour water on the boat, but the boat was shielded by some invisible power, and I knew that Pelor was protecting the boat." <Fordran> "And then I looked at the boy again, and all I saw was blackness and evil." <Fordran> "Then I woke." * Fordran sits back. <DM-R> Grant: "So... that means the church is evil?" * Sam looks uncomfortably at Fordran. * Fordran nods. <Foster> "Well, the church certainly doesn't seem to be up to much good." <Apol> "So... that means Pelor is protecting evil?" <Fordran> "There is something hiding behind that church's face." <Fordran> "No -- Pelor was protecting the people, the people the boy -- that is, this fledgling church -- was mistreating." <Erias> "It sounded like Pelor was protecting the normal people from that evil. But allowing the evil to continue...?" <Fordran> "I believe it is a sign that I..." <Erias> "I don't understand all of it." * Fordran looks at Erias. <Apol> "oooh." <Fordran> "...that we must save these people, as we are instruments of Pelor's will." * Erias looks at Fordran, and nods. <Erias> "Ah, I see. That _we_ are that shield." <Foster> "Subdeacon Mozwell is rather unsavory, they're apparently all tied in with Gray's brain-draining, kidnapping organization, and then there's the disintegrating people when they die." * Fordran looks at Foster at that. <Erias> "...he's also evil. For what it's worth." <Erias> "...the what?" <Erias> "oh. right." <DM-R> (Oh come on. You're all so jaded. Why couldn't disappearing in a flash of light be holy and miraculous?) <Erias> "The direction I was going when I brought up my capture was this:" <Erias> (because I have the plot-breaking, at-will paladin ability of discernment) <Fordran> "What are we going to do against this? If this Gray is as dangerous as you say, we clearly cannot attempt to challenge him and this church directly." <DM-R> (I didn't say good holy) <Erias> "Exactly. I had thought of hiding in the crates in the warehouse, to be taken away, but this may be foolhardy." <Foster> "As far as I can tell, the best we can hope to do is sabotage Gray's operations and eliminate some of his underlings." <Erias> "We can investigate the church fully, by force if necessary, but that will be quite public." <Fordran> ("What you're saying is, we need to grind more before he becomes even-con.") <Erias> (I don't mind eradicating bad holy. It's in my mandate.) <DM-R> Grant: "Why can't we jus' sneak inta tha church?" <Fordran> "That might be a good idea." * Erias looks down at his shining armor. <Sam> "Has Gray a discernible purpose or goal beyond simple cruelty?" <Erias> "...uh. We can try that." <Foster> "He has a point. There are several sewer entrances nearby." <Fordran> "A public inquiry may not suffice. I suspect they would have several cover stories to explain what they're doing." <Erias> "I suspect that Gray is gathering power from his captives, somehow." <Erias> "I do not know for what purpose." <Fordran> "Why, they're disintegrating people in plain view and it's accepted." <DM-R> (Fiona says, "I still think it's goat candy operation.") * Erias nods at Fordran. "True." <Sam> (that's not kosher!) <Erias> ("It also could be a goat candy operation.") <Fordran> (Kambing<tm> Sweets) <DM-R> Grant: "Hey, Foster, you know how Gray kept'n eye on me?" <Erias> "Sneaking into the church sounds like a decent idea. We should think about what to do when we get caught, though." <DM-R> Grant: "If you do that, why can't ye stick me in a crate an' just watch?" <Fordran> "But you'll be in grave danger." <Erias> "Or we could go ahead and try the crates." <Foster> to Grant: "Unfortunately, I don't think that's within the scope of my powers." <DM-R> (Not pushing it as DM option) <DM-R> (playing Grant as the brilliant single-track strategist he is) <Foster> "From what I could tell, Gray was draining people of their power and storing it in an enormous crystalline matrix, possibly for later use. I destroyed or atleast heavily damaged one of the major reservoirs, but that did not seem to be much of a setback for him. If nothing else, it made him angrier with me." <DM-R> Grant: "Ah. Nev'rmind then." <Foster> "My first encounter with his minions, I think, was about a week before I encountered you folks." <Fordran> "Who... what were they?" <Erias> "Well, we need to do the following: Find Grant's lair. Defeat his henchmen. Defeat his invisible, powerful guards. And defeat him." <Erias> "We may need to consider strategies for those goals independently." <Fordran> "I'm having trouble with that third part." <Erias> "I am, too." * Fordran thinks. <Erias> "Do you have any magic that can reveal the shape of hidden things?" <Apol> "We need distractions." <Foster> "I had saved a gnome from death at the hands of robbers, who had stolen a priceless piece of art depicting a rather powerful and dangerous entity from him." <Apol> "I can see hidden things." * Erias looks back and forth from Apol to Foster. <Fordran> "Some of the older clerics in one of the Churches I trained at knew how to focus Pelor's light around them such that hidden things were revealed." <Erias> (to Apol) "Really?" <Erias> "I'm sorry, Foster, go on. Apol, let's talk about that in a moment." <Apol> "Or more like I know where they are if they are near me." <Foster> "When I caught up with them later, it was in the bar that we visited last night, which had been specifically recommended to them as a place to lie low by the person they sold it to." <Apol> "Ok." <Fordran> "I can't do it myself, but I think I could invoke that same power if it were written onto a scroll, or focused into a wand." <Foster> "I lost track of them as they were leaving, only to find them being brutally killed by what looked like a man with iron grey hair, dressed in grey robes, who telekinetically removed the coins from their pockets before crushing their necks like snail shells. * Fordran blinks. <Fordran> "Please tell me that's Gray, and not a minion." <Erias> "I think that sounds like Gray." <Foster> "When I attempted to stop him by blasting him with a frost bolt, it passed straight through him. * Erias winces. * Apol holds on to neck and shakes head. <Sam> "He sounds like a threat to...well, everyone." <Foster> "That indicates, to me, that I was dealing with something that was either incorporeal, or an incorporeal ccreature capable of projecting an illusion." <Foster> "The next day, while I was taking a look at the Church, I spotted a similar figure looking out of an alleyway at me." <Foster> "When I gave pursuit, I lost track of it, and shortly thereafter, bumped into you." <Fordran> "Ah. That I remember." <Erias> "Alright, things are starting to fall into place." <Foster> "Given what you've told me from out first encounter, I think that the man or creature assumed my appearance while it fled, then cast a fire bolt at Erias in order to delay my pursuit." <Apol> to Foster, "Yeah, you shot us with a fireball." <Fordran> "Except for our plan." <Erias> "Interesting." <Fordran> "Clever man." <DM-R> Grant grunts. * Sam mumbles, "Wait...incorporeal? Um..." <Erias> "Alright. So as far as I see it, we need a way to find Gray: either the crates / warehouse, or the church. We need a way to fight the henchmen, which might be possible if we are together and well-prepared. We need a way to fight invisible, incorporeal guards. And then... I'm not sure what we can do to prepare for Gray." <Erias> "Apol, you said you can actually see invisible creatures?" <Fordran> "What about your Order, Erias? Can they provide support?" <Apol> "I can tell when they are near." <Foster> "Honestly, I believe that our best bet is to avoid combat, or really, any encounters at all with Gray himself." <Apol> "And pretty much where they are if they aren't hiding in something." <Erias> "I have called upon my order for support. I do not know how long until they can send aid, nor in what form it will come." <Foster> "Should we encounter him, escape should be our highest priority." <Erias> "I suppose Foster is right. Much as it pains me to leave someone so evil alive and active..." <Erias> "It is senseless to engage when we cannot win." * Fordran nods. <Erias> "Then perhaps we should investigate the church for the time being -- by stealth -- and see what we find." <Foster> "Indeed." <Foster> "There was the sewer entrance." <Erias> "If aid arrives from my Order, we may be better equipped to attack more directly." * Erias nods. * Fordran takes a breath. <Foster> "And the back room that we did not explore." <DM-R> (which one?) <Erias> "That is probably..." * Erias turns to Fordran. <Foster> (The marble room that we broke the grate leading up into?) <DM-R> (Oh, you mean the room that they went through to rescue you~?) <Fordran> (grate's fixed btw) <Foster> (Oy) <Erias> (how well did we explore the sewer under the church?) <Foster> (Not very well at all) <DM-R> (Just the one branch to the grate, which you left alone, and the Otyugh nest) <Erias> (did it seem like there are unexplored areas, or would it just be an alternate... ah.) <DM-R> Grant: "So... whatcha want me ta do?" * Fordran thinks. * Erias looks at the others. <Foster> "You should probably keep a low profile, for now." <Foster> "If Gray gets his hands on you again, nobody willbehappy." <DM-R> Grant scowls. <Foster> (argh. my laptop's space bar is being a pain) <DM-R> Grant mumbles something under his breath about Gray being unhappy if he gets his hands on him. <DM-R> (So, we got plan?) <Apol> (yep, keep a low profile, take up a hobby... something like basket weaving.) <Foster> (It seems that way) <DM-R> (ggrrrrrrrrr) <Erias> "Okay, wait, before we go." <Erias> "Apol. You said you could see invisible creatures." <Erias> "Can you try to instruct us if we meet them in battle?" <Fordran> "Sense them." <Apol> "I know where they are if they are near me." <Apol> "Yes, I will let you know." <Erias> "Foster, you've been in town longer than any of us. Do you know of a shop where we might purchase magical scrolls or wands?" <Foster> "Argus is likely our best bet." <Erias> "...and he's gone." <Fordran> "If there were someone who sold divine magical items, I might be able to find something of use." <Fordran> "Preferably, not from the new church in town." <Foster> "There's also at least one other shop that I know of." <Erias> "Ah, well that's a possibility." <Foster> "Of course, the church is likely our only source for divine magic." <Sam> "How shall I prepare?" <Erias> "I suggest we stop there on our way to the sewer. I want to be better prepared." <Erias> "...ah. Hmm." <Fordran> "Strike that, then." <Apol> "Well, I might have stuff at my tower." <Fordran> "Your... tower?" <Apol> "But that's far away." <Fordran> "Oh." <Foster> "Ah." <Apol> "Bob's not around anymore, so it's mine." <Erias> "Wait, Apol, you use wands, don't you?" <Erias> "And Foster, are you capable of... that sort of magic?" <Apol> "Yes, I have one that has pretty lights, want to see?" <Foster> "I'm not particularly adept with it, but if it comes down to it, I can give it a shot." <Erias> "Not just yet, Apol." <Erias> "Well, let's stop by the shop in any case. Perhaps we can find something one of you can use." <Foster> "I believe that Apol is probably better at it than I am." * Foster looks slightly bemused. <Apol> "I have another one that makes the squirrels quite. They got so angry with me. It was funny." <Apol> (quiet not quite) <Erias> "Alright, are we ready to go?" <Fordran> "I suggest breakfast, first." <DM-R> Grant: "So's I just stay here then?" <Foster> "Breakfast would certainly help." <Fordran> "Someplace safe." <DM-R> Grant sighs. <Fordran> "Or you could come with." <DM-R> Okay, you go downstairs for breakfast. <DM-R> Li'l Fordran brings a basket of freshly baked bread (from the Farmer's Fair!) and mugs of spiced wine. * Erias eats, etc. <Erias> "Ooh." * Foster ingests heartily. * Fordran remembers his prayers his time. <Erias> ...and when we're ready, we head for the shop. <DM-R> The freshly sated party leaves a trail of breadcrumbs on their way to the magic shop. * Sam mumbles. "Magic. Bah." <DM-R> It actually looks like a house when you approach. <DM-R> It's situated in the residential district, but has a sign up, with a crystal ball. <DM-R> Who's knocking? * Foster is. <DM-R> (Fort save) <DM-R> (Just kidding) <Foster> (ha ha) <DM-R> The knocker says, "Ifth open." * Foster opens the door, nodding congenially at the knocker. * Fordran looks at the knocker curiously. * Sam pretends not to notice the talking door thingy. <DM-R> "Whaft oo wukin aft?" * Fordran looks away. * Fordran follows Foster. * Apol greets the knocker in draconic. <DM-R> This is essentially the magic items section of the PHB, up to 3rd level spells. <DM-R> Just lemme know what you want. <Erias> (Kickass.) <DM-R> "Ffowry, dun sfpeak wiffard." * Fordran looks for a "Divine" section. * Apol exchanges knock-knock jokes with the knocker. <DM-R> It's a bit sparse, but tell me what you want anyway. <Fordran> Scroll of Invisibility Purge. * Foster browses idly. <DM-R> Level? <Erias> 3. <Fordran> Minimum, so 5th level caster. <Erias> right. <Fordran> A pair of those, if possible. <Erias> oh, that's divine, by the way. <DM-R> Yeah. <Fordran> Actually, just one. <Erias> I have enough to buy one. * Fordran will ask for two, then look through his coin purse and then ask for one. <DM-R> As you look through the haphazardly arranged scrolls, trying to find labels or markings, the shopkeeper comes over. <Fordran> "Speak with Plants... no." <DM-R> She's an elderly woman, pale skin and hair dyed blue. * Sam asks for (in slightly different words) a ghost touch weapon, expecting funny looks and/or something far out of his price range. <Fordran> "Animal Trance... no." <DM-R> She finds your Invisibility Purge scrolls behind her counter. <Erias> "Indivisibility Purge?" <Erias> "Ah, excellent." <DM-R> "That's 450g each. 800 for two." <Foster> (ooh, combopack bargain~) * Erias winces. <Fordran> "Hm. More than I expected." <Erias> (actually, Erias probably has no idea how much they cost normally.) * Fordran considers haggling, but admits to himself that he's not that good at it. <Erias> "Can we get them for 750 if we're trying to save your missing townsfolk?" <DM-R> to Sam: "I don't carry weapons, beyond the odd athame or so." <Erias> "No, really, I know that sounds flippant, but... we really are." <Erias> (I'll try a diplomacy roll if that's reasonable.) <Erias> (...do we even _have_ 750 gp?) <DM-R> She arches an eyebrow at Erias. "People should know better than to get lost. Just as they should know better than to haggle." <Fordran> (I have enough for one...) <DM-R> (go for a diplomacy roll if you want) <Erias> |roll d20+8 <tafal> 11 | [d20=3] [+8=8] <Erias> (meh.) * Foster moves closer to Fordran, says "I can contribute 50 gold or so, if necessary." in a low voice <Fordran> (action point!) <DM-R> (The price goes up 20%~) <Foster> (tafal hates trained skill rolls) <Fordran> "I've... got it." * Erias looks unperturbed. "We will do our best, then, to help with what we have." <Sam> (what's the spell that goes into ghost touch weapons? grr...) * Erias blinks. * Fordran counts out 450 gold. * Fordran never really considered the idea of banks, or the like. <Erias> "I will pay half of that, Fordran. We can settle it later." <Fordran> "Worry about it not. Pelor will provide." <Foster> (Sam: Etherealness) <DM-R> (Is anyone getting anything else?) * Fordran takes the scroll. <Fordran> "Pelor bless you this day." * Fordran notes that his coin purse is much, much lighter. * Sam looks at his very, very small pile of coins, and apologizes profusely to the shopkeeper for wasting so much of her precious time. <DM-R> She nods curtly, feeds the coinage into an animate vault. <Erias> "Actually... do you have any scrolls that protect from Evil?" <Fordran> "I can do that without scrolls, Erias." <Erias> "Ah, I see. Never mind." <DM-R> "The spell, or a charm for idiot farmers?" <DM-R> She grunts at Fordran's comment, and satisfied that she's not getting any more money, wanders away again. * Erias nods and follows the others out. * Fordran looks over some scrolls in a stack. <Fordran> "Greater Magic... Wang?" <DM-R> "Be ffeeing oo." <Erias> "Well, that should help a bit, at least." <Erias> "Let's head for the sewer." <Foster> "Indeed. Of course, it's probably best used as a last resort." <Fordran> "Wait a minute." * Fordran looks for a place to put his scroll. <Fordran> "Let me get a case for this." * Erias looks at Fordran. * Erias nods. <Fordran> "Sewer." <Fordran> "Wouldn't want to get this wet." <Erias> "Ah, right." * Fordran wanders back in to procure a scroll case. <Erias> We get a case and proceed to the sewer. (Unless Fordran wants to play it out.) <DM-R> Ok, you get a case. * Fordran hands over that 1 gp. <Apol> Apol is still at the door taking to the knocker, ".. No, cows go Moo! Not CowsGo Who! ahahaha" <DM-R> In fact <DM-R> You got it free of charge! <DM-R> It has a monogrammed M on it. <Fordran> (Woot!) * Fordran walks back out. "Turns out there was a special, and I'd forgotten to get this." <DM-R> Knocker: "Don't geft it." <DM-R> (So, same sewer entrance as before) <DM-R> (?) <Fordran> (Flamestrike the doors) <Erias> Sure. <Foster> Guess so. * Sam looks askance at the knocker, mumbling something about being happier when he was more ignorant of magic. <Erias> (if only we had a druid... we could cast faerie fire on them) <DM-R> The cellar doors are back in place. Recently replaced, but unpainted. <Fordran> "That was quick." <Erias> "Have to keep in the other sewer monsters, I imagine." <Fordran> "Wonder if they're expecting the intruders to come back." <Fordran> "Surprises, or so." <Erias> "Ah. Well, we should keep our eyes open." * Erias tests the door to see if it's locked. <Fordran> ("Lead on. May the Grace of the Divine protect you.") <DM-R> Yep. <Fordran> (er, save you) <Foster> "I'll get that." * Erias steps back. <Fordran> "You have a key? Or--" <Foster> |roll d20+15 <tafal> 27 | [d20=12] [+15=15] <Erias> "I just don't ask any more." * Foster touches the lockplate. * Sam prepares for an explosion. <Erias> (Erias explodes.) <Sam> (Eewww, Erias-colon.) <DM-R> You hear a click. * Erias waits, and seeing no one doing anything, tries to open the door. <DM-R> Erias pulls the door up, and the chains fall from underneath, the padlock on the loops, open <Fordran> "Well done." <DM-R> The late morning light shines into the interior of the small warehouse room. <Foster> "Thanks." <Erias> "Impressive." <DM-R> Short set of steps into the dimness. * Erias walks in. <Sam> "Shall I get out my light?" * Foster fishes his out of his bag, secures it to its strap. <Fordran> "I shall provide my own." * Apol takes the chains and padlock and puts them in the sack. * Fordran readies his buckler, and calls upon Pelor. (Light) <DM-R> The recently replaced grate is in the middle of the floor. * Sam shrugs, enters. <DM-R> Nothing else is in here. * Erias readies his shield. <DM-R> Anyone closing the cellar doors? * Foster does so. * Erias walks to the grate. * Erias tries to open the grate. <DM-R> It lifts easily. <DM-R> It's been oiled recently <DM-R> And someone forgot to lock it. <Erias> Heh. <Erias> "...hey." <DM-R> You love the sewer-fresh stench. <Fordran> "Hm?" <Erias> "Maybe when he said they leave people in crates in a warehouse..." <Erias> "Maybe they get taken through the sewers to the church." <Fordran> "...And then what?" * Erias shrugs. "Dunno." <Foster> "You raise an interesting topic." * Erias starts to lower himself carefully into the hole. <Fordran> "When's that next shipment due?" <Foster> "Tonight." <DM-R> Erias: Freeclimbing? <Erias> "Tonight, I think." <Erias> How far is it? <Erias> I remember getting out without trouble. <DM-R> 30 ft <Erias> ...oh! <DM-R> You never came through before. <Fordran> "We're a touch early, then. Maybe we should have a look around, and then come back later?" <Erias> "Is this the warehouse in question?" <DM-R> (I thought you were going to sneak into the church this way) <Foster> (Yeah, that was the plan) <Erias> (that was the plan) <DM-R> (Not wait for the drop off, which you had deemed dangerous?) <Erias> (correct.) <DM-R> (Ok, just checking) <DM-R> So, rope, lower, I'm guessing? <Foster> Indeed. <Erias> Yes. <Erias> "If we don't find anything, we can go to the warehouse tonight." <DM-R> You settle comfortably into the knee-deep sewage. <Foster> |roll d20+15 <tafal> 28 | [d20=13] [+15=15] <Erias> DM: _is_ this the same place Grant told us about? <DM-R> Yes. <Erias> Okay. <DM-R> And Bloodnose. * Fordran checks the wall for invisible bits. <Fordran> (about where it was last time.) <Erias> Oh, right. That's who I was thinking of. <DM-R> Fordran: nothing. * Foster climbs down the rope, stands on top of the sewage. <Fordran> "Well... the secret entrance that led to you is, in fact, not here anymore." <Erias> "That doesn't surprise me." * Fordran climbs down the rope, fails to stand on top of the sewage. <Erias> "Damn, this really doesn't smell good. I guess I got used to it last time." <DM-R> http://wuut.net/dnd/bmat/bmat.cgi?id=16&mapthing_id=199 <DM-R> You guys are coming in from the East branch <DM-R> Ignore the silly monsters * Sam climbs down, sinks in, makes foul-smell-face. <Fordran> (Aaaah! Insurance!) <Erias> "I suggest sticking to the right-hand wall." <Erias> "I was told once that it's a good way not to get lost in a dungeon." <Fordran> "How does that work?" <Foster> "At the very least, it should take us somewhere interesting. <DM-R> In the light of your light sources, you make your way along the right tunnel wall. <Sam> (slosh slosh, stink stink) <DM-R> Listen checks. <Sam> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 11 | [d20=8] [+3=3] <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 6 | [d20=3] [+3=3] <Foster> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 13 | [d20=12] [+1=1] <Apol> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 17 | [d20=8] [+9=9] <Fordran> (tafal == hate) <Erias> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 8 | [d20=7] [+1=1] <Apol> "I hear something. Something around the corner." * Foster readies himself. <Erias> (slosh slosh --pause--) * Fordran stops, strains his ears. * Erias re-readies his shield. <DM-R> When you stop, you hear the steady sloshing of a few pairs of legs. <DM-R> And some chatting. <Erias> (damn) <DM-R> And then those of you without darkvision see a circle of light against the North wall, from the South <Apol> (So those insurance salemen *really* are there!) <Foster> (did we remember to close the grate?) <DM-R> (Sure.) <DM-R> (Apol probably untied the rope too) <DM-R> "... more tonight." * Fordran puts away his Glowing Buckler. * Erias tries to be... um... inconspicuous. * Foster stows his token. * Erias listens carefully. * Apol moves forward very very quietly. <DM-R> "This is getting tedious." <DM-R> "How do so many of the unconverted wind up dead in the sewers anyway?" * Erias grimaces. * Fordran doesn't see that. * Fordran smirks. <DM-R> "Anyway, I'll patrol Left, you take the North junction, meet you back here, then we'll cover right." <DM-R> "I don't see why we bother, there's been nothing down here since Yawin killed that thing." <DM-R> You see the pair of armor-clad Church soldiers conversing in the junction. <DM-R> "It's our duty to administer last rites if we find any dead unconverted, you know." <DM-R> "Besides, double pay for sewage duty, who can complain?" <DM-R> "Gaaah. I'll never get this stink out of my armor." <DM-R> "Shush. Go on, I'll meet you back here in 10." <Erias> (quietly) "Okay. Let's move. The way they came from." * Fordran nods. <Fordran> (ninja left) * Sam puts away the Chainsaw of Un-Monkly Dismemberment. * Foster nods as well. <DM-R> *SLOSHSLOSHsloshslosh* <DM-R> You head south. * Erias moves slowly and quietly. Hopefully. * pst has joined #ddi <DM-R> Light can be seen from the opening in the church's basement <DM-R> Ok, you approach the opening. <DM-R> Who's going in first? <DM-R> Or... are you? <DM-R> There's still tunnel past it. * Fordran looks at the opening apprehensively. * Fordran whispers, "what about guards inside?" <Erias> "I guess if they find the bodies, that certainly tells us something..." <Foster> "I agree." <Erias> "I guess we should enter. If we find guards, then..." * Erias frowns. <Apol> "I can go up first if you want." <Erias> "It's not their fault if they're just trying to serve. But we can't let them stop us." * Fordran nods. <Fordran> "Disable them if we must." <Foster> "Agreed." <Erias> "I think that violence is acceptable if we can't reason with them, but we should do our best not to kill them." * Erias nods. <Fordran> (irc.bushong.net->irc.ocf.berkeley.edu restored) <Erias> "Apol, want to take a quick look?" <Apol> "Ok." * Apol flies close to the ceiling, up the tunnel and through the door. * Erias moves to the side of the doorway and listens. <DM-R> |roll d20+4 <tafal> 23 | [d20=19] [+4=4] <Erias> (...uhoh.) <DM-R> "Aerik, get that thing!" <DM-R> "What thing?" <DM-R> "Something just darted in near the ceiling!" <Fordran> "Great." * Fordran motions at the doorway. * Erias comes around the corner at high speed. <Erias> ...drawing his mace. * Apol flies up and finds a place to hide. * Fordran follows Erias, readying his buckler. <Apol> |roll d20+18 <tafal> 33 | [d20=15] [+18=18] <DM-R> The one who saw Apol goes chasing after Apol up the stairs <Erias> Argh. <DM-R> The one called Aerik is still staring after them, confused. <DM-R> Erias and Fordran enter the basement, behind Aerik. <Erias> (argh! I'm a paladin! I can't bluff. But it would be so easy!) <DM-R> Aerik turns back around, and stares at you two for awhile, blinking. (He's seated at a table, with an open book.) * Erias pauses and tries to assess the situation. <DM-R> "Maaaay I help you, gentlemen?" <Erias> (I'm guessing we can't catch the other guard easily without alerting the entire church.) <DM-R> There's some cursing from upstairs. * Fordran was totally not expecting that sort of greeting. <Foster> (I believe we have the wrong place. We were looking for the *other* evil hideout) <Erias> "Apol, come back." <Fordran> "I, er..." <Erias> ("See... we're on a mission from god.") <DM-R> "Er." * Erias takes a step toward the table, lowering his mace. <DM-R> "My name is Aerik, and I'm right here." <DM-R> (Heee) <Erias> "I'm sorry, I'm referring to our... uh, pet. She gets a bit flighty sometimes." <Erias> (don't bluff don't bluff don't bluff don't bluff) <DM-R> "Oh, was that what Brahgi was chasing after?" <Erias> (argh) <Fordran> "Er... yes." <Erias> "I suppose so. Look. I'm a knight of Pelor, and I'm in a tricky situation here." <Erias> (Colin is up too late) <DM-R> "Oh yes? I heard there were a couple knights of Pelor here." * Foster steps around the corner. <Erias> "Indeed. The truth is, we've discovered why bodies are being dumped in your sewers." <DM-R> "Indeed!" <DM-R> "Well, out with it, man!" <Erias> "It is no coincidence. It is an evil plot, and we do not yet know all the details." <Erias> "But -- and I hate to say this -- I am certain that some members of your church are in on it." <DM-R> "This is very troubling!" to the stairwell, "Brahgi! Fetch Subdeacon Mozwell! This is important!" * Fordran looks at Erias uncomfortably. <DM-R> "I'm sorry, what was that last bit? I didn't quite hear you." <Erias> "I suppose I'd better wait until the Subdeacon arrives." * Fordran 's look of discomfort does not really lighten. <Erias> "How long have you been finding these bodies thrown in the sewer?" <DM-R> "Hm. Only the past three or four days." * Foster leans against the doorframe, looking towards the stairwell. <Erias> (sorry, guys. trying to play a paladin in a really messy situation while very tired.) <Foster> |roll d20+15 <tafal> 30 | [d20=15] [+15=15] <DM-R> A harried looking soldier comes down the stairwell. <Erias> (the lawful <-> honesty link is tricky) <DM-R> "I told him to come, did you find the thing?" <Erias> "It's alright, she's harmless." <Erias> "Well, she's potentially harmful, but so is everyone." * Sam stands somewhere near other people and tries not to stink too much. <Erias> "She's with us, is what I mean." * Erias looks at the others and shrugs. <Erias> "Ah. That must be him." <DM-R> Subdeacon Mozwell swishes angrily down the steps into the room, another armored knight in tow. <DM-R> Mozwell: "Well? What is it?" <Erias> "Hello, sir." <DM-R> He looks at you for a bit. <DM-R> sec <DM-R> "Yees. Erias, was it? What is so urgent?" * Erias has a look of sudden, painful realization. <Erias> "We have discovered the source of the bodies being dumped in your sewer." <Erias> "And it is a deeply evil thing." <Erias> "It is a plot to dispose of the corpses of kidnapped people after they are no longer useful." <Erias> (oh, this is sucking. yes it is.) * Fordran looks at Erias nervously. <DM-R> sec <DM-R> "That's a very troubling claim." He steps behind the new armored knight, who takes up position behind him, incidentally cutting off access to Mozwell and the stairs. <DM-R> "I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of this." <Erias> I would like to overrun. <DM-R> He begins ascending. <DM-R> Okay. <Erias> ...I think that probably triggers combat. <DM-R> Yeah. <DM-R> So we'll stop here. <Foster> Heh. <DM-R> (Colin is keyboardfacing) <Erias> Okay. Sorry to drag you all into this, guys. Wasn't sure where to go with it. * Foster has your back. :p <Erias> Woo! * Fordran has Pelor's back. <DM-R> But... <DM-R> Don't you mean... <Erias> Well, basically I'm going to insist that we investigate their entire church and bring them to justice <Erias> but that's not going to be taken well <Erias> Alright, sleepward <DM-R> Okay <Fordran> nite <Erias> Thanks for gaming, guys.