<DM> roll call * Erias looks around. <Fordran> Reactor: online. <Vita> Arrows: online <Foster> Combat banter: online. <Devo> Melon-wine hangover: online. <DM> Heh. <DM> Grith: 674 lbs. of armor, attitude, and melon-wine hangover. <Erias> Have we rested since we were on the island? <Foster> presumably, since the boat trip is several days. <Erias> Okay. <Apol> Acidic indigestion: online. <DM> I'll give tony another 5 mins <DM> <DM> A city guard jogs up and sketches a salute, panting. <DM> <DM> "Thank, uh, Pelor, you're back." <DM> <Erias> "What's the matter?" <DM> <DM> "We, uh, had some incidents near your house." <Fordran> ("You're missing the Farmer's Fair!") <DM> <DM> "We've had the area quarantined since." <DM> <Erias> "Uh... uhoh." <DM> This week on... SURVIVOR'ED! <Foster> "We'd best go there, then." * Erias nods. <Fordran> "What sort of incidents?" <Apol> "Is all my stuff ok?" <Fordran> ("Antiabortion protestors. We don't know why they picked your house...") <Vita> "Yes, tell us more about these... incidents..." * Vita frowns <DM> <Guardsman> "The night you left, some of the residents in the area complained about a ruckus. When we went to investigate, there were signs of an assault, but no witnesses or suspects." <Vita> "Assault... on... the... house?" <Fordran> (i'm assuming we're walking and talking.) <Erias> (Yes, I hope so) <Foster> (A good assumption, that) <DM> <Guardsman> "The nex-- an assault on a person or persons -- The next morning, some good citizens came to inform us that the house had been broken into." <Fordran> "Oh, no." <DM> <Guardsman> "Some of your, er, admirers had barricaded the premises until we arrived, to er, 'fight off looters and jackals.'" <Erias> "...admirers." * Fordran looks around. "We have admirers?" <Foster> "I knew we didn't have the time to properly secure the place. Something that we'll have to rectify now that we're back." * Vita looks very confused by the talk of admirers <DM> <Guardsman> "We searched the premises, hope you don't mind - but we didn't find anybody there. It's been kept off-limits since." * Devo is now known as Grith <Erias> "Well, let's see how bad it is..." <Fordran> "Yeah." <DM> You round the corner of your block <DM> There are a few sawhorses set up with some rope strung between it, and a preening young constable glaring suspiciously at a lamppost. <DM> He doesn't seem to notice your approach. <Fordran> "Ah, good. Protection." <DM> The door is entirely off the hinges. * Vita frowns <DM> Aside from that, no sign of forced entry. <DM> Spot checks <Foster> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 27 | [d20=16] [+11=11] (Foster) <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 19 | [d20=16] [+3=3] (Fordran) * Erias waves at the constable. "Hello, there!" <Erias> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 23 | [d20=16] [+7=7] (Erias) <Grith> (I cast flamestrike on the lamppost) <DM> He snaps to ramrod attention, complete with salute. <Vita> |roll d20+14 <tafal> 15 | [d20=1] [+14=14] (Vita) <DM> (waiting on spot checks) <Vita> (glad I got that out of the way) <Apol> |roll d20+11\ <tafal> incorrect usage: dice <string> (where <string> is something like: d6 or 2d6 or 2d6+4 or 2d6+1d20 or 2d6+1d5+4d7-3d4-6) => Rolls that set of virtual dice <Apol> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 30 | [d20=19] [+11=11] (Apol) <Grith> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 14 | [d20=11] [+3=3] (Grith) <DM> You all see a brownish-red stain, about 8" in diameter, on the cobblestones halfway between your house and the next. <Fordran> "...What's that..." <DM> It looks like someone put some effort scrubbing it off. * Fordran wanders over to look. <DM> <Guardsman> "The, er, signs of an altercation." <Grith> "Whattermacation?" * Fordran examines the stain. <DM> <Guardsman> "Was a bit of blood. We tried to clean it up a bit so that the neighbors wouldn't worry. Nice part of town, and all." <Erias> "He means someone got killed, or near enough, Grith." * Grith grunts, nods. <Foster> "I suppose we should go see what the damage is." <Erias> "Alright. Let's head in." * Foster walks towards the entrance of the house. * Fordran looks around for a bit, then follows the group into the house. <Erias> (We head in.) * Apol sniffs at the stain. <Fordran> (reflex saves.) * Apol follows the rest inside. * Vita follows, thinking out loud "I wonder if there are any tracks leading from here.... <DM> <Guardsman> "At, er, your ease, Clive." * eggplant is now known as Sam <DM> Clive goes back to squinting at the assassins lurking behind the sawhorses. <Sam> (profuse apologies) <DM> (np) <Sam> (scrolling back) <DM> The large oaken door has been ripped entirely from the hinges. The top iron hinges are bent at a distressing angle, the bottom hinges still have bits of the wood. * Fordran follows Clive's line of vision. * Fordran looks back at Clive, shrugs. <DM> You enter, and look around. <DM> Nothing terribly out of place. <DM> The door to the basement is ajar * Apol pulls out the monocle and looks around. <Erias> "Hmm. I get the feeling someone knew where to go." * Apol moves towards the basement * Erias follows. <Foster> "I have some suspicions, yes." * Apol enters the basement and looks around if anything is out of place. * Erias follows and does the same. * Foster follows, expecting an inevitable dearth of Things That Should Be There. <DM> The Giant Pile of Loot has been disturbed, but you can't tell that anything's missing. * Fordran looks around to see if anyone is waiting for us. <DM> Not on immediate inspection, anyway. * Sam appears in the basement due to a continuity gaffe. <Erias> "Looks pretty much okay." * Erias begins poking around. <Foster> "I suppose we should take inventory after we do important things. Like obtaining a new door. * Apol starts to recite the list of items in the room from memory. <Foster> "Preferably made of less malleable substances than wood." * Vita looks around for tracks and such <DM> Vita: Survival roll * Vita puts on the search-y goggles <Apol> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 22 | [d20=19] [+3=3] (Apol) <Vita> |roll d20+13 <tafal> 24 | [d20=11] [+13=13] (Vita) <Erias> "It certainly seems like we should spend some time securing the area." <Fordran> "A good idea." * Vita looks around, mutters "They have to have left some sort of trace" * Vita grumpfs <Foster> "It should be relatively easy to arrange a variety of wards for the area, if somewhat costly. Our payment from the island expedition should cover at least some of that." <Vita> "I'd do better outside" * Vita looks around, frowns, goes back outside <Erias> "Ah, right. I have the payment, when we'd like to divide it." <Foster> "If we discover what's missing, we may have a clue as to who our culprit was." <Foster> "Casual looters would not have simply rifled our treasure pile for specific items." * Vita nods at the constable and searches around outside, especially near the bloodstain <Foster> "I'm going to check the rest of the house for missing items." <Fordran> "I'll check the other rooms, too." * Foster proceeds to do so, focusing on common areas and his own random accoutrements. <DM> <Guardsman> "So, er, can I go?" <Apol> ".. suit of leather armor, suit of leather armor, gray shield..." <Erias> "...where's Dianarra's sword?" <Foster> "Ah, yes. My apologies, feel free to return to your duties." * Sam feels somewhat helpless. <Vita> |roll d20+13 <tafal> 29 | [d20=16] [+13=13] (Vita) * Fordran stops on the stairs. <Foster> "That was my thought, as well, Erias." <Fordran> "What was that?" <DM> He salutes, and leaves. <Erias> (IIRC, Grith has Dianarra's sword, but Erias probably doesn't remember that) <DM> (Grith does not.) <Erias> (...oh.) <DM> (Grith had it, before the church run) * Erias looks around for that sword. <Fordran> "Do you think she..." <Foster> (The sword's location was Fuzzy, so I guess its waveform collapsed into the treasure pile.) <Grith> (What'd Grith do with it?) * Apol finds a few new things not in the mental list. <DM> (Probably threw it in the pile of Weapons That Aren't Big Enough And Aren't Shara?) * Grith goes to "his" room to look around. <Erias> (It was on my list destined for Grith in the loot split suggestions. I don't know how closely those were followed.) <Grith> (Yeah.) <DM> (I'm saying it went to Grith, but you guys didn't bring everything you owned when you left the house. It's why you bought the house.) <Erias> (Ahhh right.) <Grith> (Grith didn't bring it, no.) * Foster continues his inspection until otherwise disturbed. <Grith> (Is Dianarra's the psychic mindcrusher one?) <Foster> (abberation bane) <Erias> (+1 Merciful Crystal Greatsword of Aberration Bane) <Grith> (nog) <Grith> (Yeah, I marked that as at Foster's house.) * Vita continues to be outside the house wandering around and looking at the ground * Fordran is also doing a cursory inspection of other rooms. <Fordran> (call it taking 10 on search checks) <Foster> "Whoever perpetrated this crime has a lot to answer for." * Sam fails to make a big fuss about missing items. (asceticism 4tw?) <Foster> "My favorite mug has been purloined." * Erias goes to check his room. <Fordran> "...Your mug? Was there something magical about it?" <Foster> "Though it's possible that that was the work of a souvenier-seeking admirer, and not the thief." <Erias> (* Erias gets stabbed in the back with a Merciful Greatsword.) <Foster> "No. It was simply capacious and comfortable to wield." <Sam> ([Mug O' Hurt]) <Fordran> "Maybe the thief also needed something to drink out of." <Foster> "A good mug is a valuable part of one's relaxation routine." <Erias> "So... wait, what happened to these 'admirers' exactly? And who got altercated outside?" <Foster> "A good question." <Fordran> "I think Vita went outside to look at it some more." * Foster sits down to think. * Apol gets distracted with playing with magical maces that like to punch through things. <Grith> (Mug of Caffeination?) <Erias> (What time is it?) <Grith> (It's Miller time!) * Erias returns from his room. <Erias> "My room was searched, but I don't think anything's gone." * Vita comes back in * Foster looks up. <Foster> "Any thoughts, Vita?" * Grith returns from his room. <Vita> "Well, I found a puddle of blood and a stray cat in the alley over there, but it doesn't do much good." * Grith has changed into fresh clothes. * Sam goes to inspect some other room. * Sam probably doesn't find much. * Vita waves in a general direction of the nearest alley * Vita sighs and climbs up into a nearby chair <Grith> "Too bad we can't talk to the cat. Maybe it saw something." <Erias> "Any tracks? Was the cat dead?" * Vita looks at Grith <Foster> "I have two thoughts on my mind as to who did this." * Vita smacks herself on the forehead * Vita leaves * Fordran looks at Vita oddly as she leaves. * Grith watches Vita go, eyebrows knitted. <Erias> "That's one more than me, so... what?" * Foster raises an eyebrow as Vita leaves. <DM> (Awesome) * Fordran shakes his head, looks at Foster. "Anyway. Your thoughts?" <Grith> (I'm cracking up over here.) <Grith> "So nothing's been taken?" * Vita pops her head back in "I'm going to be busy for about half an (hour) <Vita> "maybe a little less" <Vita> "I'll be back" <Foster> "The first, and most likely one, is that Dianarra broke in, outfitted herself from our stores, and some curious souvenier-hunting admirer stole my mug. However, killing someone outside doesn't fit her typical mode of operation, so that may or may not have been related to the robbery." <Grith> "Need help?" <Grith> (to Vita) * Vita mutters "No thanks <Vita> " * Vita is rapidly out the door * Grith shrugs, looking bored. Draws Shara and begins inspecting her. Not that she's ever needed sharpening. <Fordran> "And the second thought?" * Apol bounds back and leaps onto Grith. <Foster> "The second, slightly more improbable possibility, is that Bloodnose and his crew of ne'er-do-wells got wind of our departure and made a return to Threecrown in order to pilfer our riches. The fact that our substantial pile of treasure remains intact is pretty much evidence against that option." <Grith> (his shoulder or head?) <Erias> "I keep forgetting about Bloodnose. But yeah, seems like he'd take more." <Fordran> "Right. So just the sword's missing?" <Apol> "Maybe someone use the blood for magic. It wasn't glowy, but Bob used to use blood for stuff." <Sam> "Bloodnose and crew may be dimmer than we thought." <Fordran> "...And... your mug." * Sam looks around carefully. <Grith> "Wait, which sword is missing?" * Foster looks to Apol, who conducted the inventory. <Apol> "Everything I remember is in there." <Foster> "Hm. So, this includes Dianarra's weaponry and sundry effects?" <Erias> "I guess someone could have jumped her on the way out. She'd certainly hurt someone if she had to." <Apol> "Oh. Hmm. I didn't that. I guess I didn't remember that one." <Apol> (didn't see that) <Apol> (22 wasn't good enough to remember everything.) <Erias> "Dianarra's sword, Grith, unless it was in your room." <Grith> "No, it wasn't..." <Foster> "I believe that I have a plan for our actions at this point." * Grith scowls slightly. <Grith> "Find the thief and beat a confession outta 'em? <Grith> " <Fordran> "Buy a new door?" <Sam> "All of the above, and more?" <Apol> "Maybe they have mugs at the Farmer's fair." <Foster> "While we wait for Vita to return from whatever she's up to, Apol and I will conduct a full inventory of our remaining items, based on the list I created while identifying them. Meanwhile, some of you can go secure a new door. A stopgap one will do, we can arrange more effective theft deterrents later on." <Fordran> "I can go find us a new door." * Fordran gets up. "Anyone else need anything while I'm out?" <Foster> "Once we've firmly established what's missing, and once we have whatever information Vita obtains, we can make more educated guesses about our thief, their goals, and what's to be done about them. <Erias> "I'm happy to accompany you -- might be best to stick together while we're still unsure of what's going on." * Fordran nods. <Sam> "Shall I get the door or guard the (lack of) door?" * Fordran pokes his head outside to see if Clive is still keeping an eye on the sawhorses. * Erias shrugs. * Erias follows Fordran. * Apol leaps off of Grith, floats to the floor and follows Foster. <Foster> "You should probably go with Fordran and Erias. If Dianarra is our robber, Erias should probably be more careful than usual - she seems to bear him a rather large grudge." <Erias> "Good point." [[ * Vita casts speak with plants ]] <Vita> Fordran sees Vita in communion with the front shrubbery [[ "HmmmMMMMMmMMmm" ]] [[ "breathbreathmmmmmm" ]] * Erias eyes her. <Grith> "I'll make sure no one stole any of the food..." <Erias> "...Is that even legal?" [[ <Vita> I'll ask it about how much rumbly (demonstrate) it felt 4 light cycles ago ]] * Vita stomps on the ground a few times [[ "coldrestearthtwitchearthBIGTWITCHSTRESSrest... earthtwitchTWITCHTWITCHtwitchtwitch... resssst..." ]] [[ * Vita makes a mental note to water the plant if there's ever a drought ]] [[ * Vita tries to thank the plant despite the lack of thank in the language ]] [[ <Vita> muchwatersungrowthhope ]] [[ "watersun!" ]] [[ <Vita> waterwant? ]] [[ "water" ]] * Fordran shrugs. "To the tradesman's district, I guess." * Erias heads that direction with Fordran and Sam. [ party split ] * Foster whips out his notebook and gets to sorting. * Vita goes inside, grabs a glass of water, goes outside, waters the shrubbery by the door [[ "mMmmMMmmmm" ]] * Grith is going to get two big napkins full of food and then go out with that. <Vita> (lightly, not too much) * Apol helps Foster by moving items from one side of the room to the other. <Grith> Grith doesn't really have a destination in mind, he's going out to just "look around" for Dianarra. Or anything unusual. He's taking Shara and his armor, of course. * Vita goes back inside. "Foster, need any help?" <Foster> "Hm. I think Apol and I are managing fine, but have you turned up anything useful outside?" <Vita> "Well, it seems that the cat in the alley saw some people... well some things bigger than me... go into the alley and up that night." <Vita> "And the plant by the front door felt, um.." * Vita pauses, forhead wrinkling <Vita> "Uh... cold...maybe one or two people... then a huge thing that could have been a bunch of people or maybe magic or something? ... and then a bunch of people again" * Apol makes piles of daggers, swords, and maces (oh my!) <Vita> "Cold might just be night." <Vita> "Plants don't really make a lot of sense. I had not tried that before." * Vita sits and watches Foster and Apol, rubbing her forehead <Foster> "Interesting." * Foster ponders this information. <Apol> "So you talk to plants, Vita? What do carrots say when we eat them?" <Vita> "We might want to see what's around the alley at some point. I'm not much of a climber." * Vita looks at Apol <Foster> (OW. Dr. Pepper in nose not pleasant!) <Foster> (Bad Apol!) <Vita> "I.. can't do it very often. And I don't know if I want to know." <Grith> (Ha ha ha.) <Vita> "Wait, Apol, you eat carrots? I thought you ate nasty things..." <Apol> "Oh, no, I eat anything. Or at least I'll try anything once." *toothy grin* <Sam> (cindy thinks carrots say "AAAAAAAGGHHGhhlgllkkk") <Foster> "I suppose we should finish this inventory before we go making guesses as to what happened here." <DM> (considering we flay them alive first, it might be merciful by then) <Vita> (audrey thinks of the tiny toons with the hamburger factory and the screaming carrots at the end) <Vita> "Sounds like a plan. What is missing?" * Foster finishes listing things off from his book, snaps it shut again. <Foster> "Looks like the only thing we have missing is Dianarra's sword. And my mug, but that's primarily inconsequential." <Vita> "That's... not much" <Foster> "It also happens to narrow down our suspect list rather substantially." * Vita looks confused <Vita> "Where is Dianarra? Now? I forget..." <Foster> "She was last seen imprisoned in the Gray facility." <Vita> "Can we check if she's still there?" <Foster> "Presuming that she made it out of the collapse, I suspect that her priorities would include regaining her armament and seeking revenge, either on Erias in specific or on us as a group." <Vita> "I never did understand that Erias thing." <Vita> "I mean, did he really...?" <Foster> "I'm really not sure. I've not spoken with him about his past - he's rather reticent on the matter." * Vita shrugs <Apol> "I wonder how we would find Gray now. They all have gone on their own way." <Vita> "Well, either way she has a bone to pick with us, now." <Vita> "I wonder if either of you might see something in the alley that I did not." <Apol> "Sure, let's go outside." * Apol follows Vita. <Foster> "Gray has likely gone into hiding, and though the destruction of their nexus device was a setback to their plan to obtain divinity or something close to it, they're likely to attempt to rebuild elsewhere." <Apol> "Well, I think Gray will find us again when we are strong enough." * Vita shows Foster and Apol the alley with the other blood stain * Foster follows them outside as he jabbers. * Apol looks at the blood stain. * Vita warns them not to startle the kitty <Erias> (I think I'm wearing mine right now, right?) <DM> (Hell if I know.) <Vita> "So yeah, I think they went up the side of the wall if kitty here is right." <Foster> "Hm. Interesting." <Vita> "Can you see if there is anything up there, Apol?" <DM> (Ok.) * Foster inspects the area meticulously. * Apol flies upward and looks around. <Apol> "Oh, there is more blood up here. Oh, and there on the roof." * Apol clambers on the roof. * Foster levitates onto the roof. * Vita appears to have a sudden though <Foster> (Just let me change my shoes!) * Vita grabs her Sandals out of the HH <Vita> (exactly!) * Vita spider-walks up the side of the alley <Vita> "I really need to get a better memory for things I can do." <Vita> "Wonder if it is the lack of schooling." <DM> As you climb the wall, you see more streaks of drying blood on the wall, and some droplets on the roof. <DM> No more blood anywhere else. * Vita changes out of the sandals and looks around the roof for any signs of blood trails, footprints, etfc * Apol follows the trail of droplets and looks at the direction they go. <Vita> "Foster, don't walk around too... Apol..." * Vita looks down <Vita> "Ok, so I'll try not to disturb anything" * Foster rises a foot off the ground. * Vita looks for tracks, again <Foster> "No disturbing things. Check." <Apol> "Ok." *stays hovering in air* <Vita> |roll d20+13 <tafal> 21 | [d20=8] [+13=13] (Vita) <Apol> "I wonder if the person was hurt when they came to the door. Or did they get hurt at the door and then went this way after?" <Vita> "Well, people were definitely on this roof, hmmm" <Vita> "But I can't really tell if they came from anywhere" <Vita> "It almost looks like they tried to hide them, which seems silly given the blood" <Vita> "I can't tell direction." <Foster> "Stranger and stranger." <Vita> "It's almost like they went away after going up to this roof" <Vita> "I suppose a spell could do that." <Vita> "Right?" <Foster> "Easily." <Vita> "I'm guessing the blood goes with these footsteps, that they were hurt while they were up here." <Foster> "Gray had several members capable of teleportation before the collapse. It's possible that at least some of them survived. <Foster> "Alternately, Dianarra has new allies." <Vita> "Since the cat didn't say anything about people going down, my guess is they were hurt, then climbed up, then... did something I don't know." <Vita> "I don't really like most of these possibilities" <Foster> "Nor do I." * Apol pulls out the monocle and looks around for anything. <Foster> (Lit up like a christmas tree!) <Vita> "The blood is smudged with the footprints and they both end, must be magic..." * Vita looks unhappy * Apol puts away the monocle, "Nothing I can see." <Foster> "If this happened shortly after our departure, it's not particularly surprising." <Vita> "So you can't tell if magic was used here?" <Foster> "Assuming that magic works much as my powers do, lingering auras don't tend to linger long." <Apol> "Nothing glowy. There may have been, but like Foster said, if this happened a week ago, then the glowy is gone." <Grith> (Where are Apol, Vita, and Foster?) <Foster> (on our roof) <Apol> "I wonder how they or she knew this house was the right house." <Grith> (Then they can probably see Grith walking up the street towards the house.) <Foster> "We are not exactly low-profile here." <Apol> "Do you think we have been watched all this time?" <Vita> (are we on our roof, or on a roof near our building?) <DM> (Roof near your house) <Vita> "I don't think it would be hard to find us" <DM> Hey look, it's Grith, coming down the street. <Vita> "We're unusual." <Foster> "Even if we haven't been specifically surveilled, it would be the work of a moment to ask after us. We're somewhat famous, if you'll recall.' <Apol> "Hi Grith!" <Vita> "Wow, for once I'm taller than Grith!" <Apol> "But doesn't everyone in town know each other?" <Vita> "This looking down on people thing is nice..." <Foster> "We should return to the ground, I suppose. I doubt there's much else to accomplish up here." * Grith stops and squints up at the roof. * Vita sigh <Grith> "Hi. Uh, how'd you get up there?" <Vita> "I suppose." * Foster floats down. * Vita puts the sandals back on and spider-walks down * Apol looks around the rooftops one last time before heading down. <Vita> "I am keeping this haversack with me no matter what, this is the most useful thing *ever!*" * Vita stows the sandals <Grith> "Oh." * Vita grins at Grith <Foster> "They are rather handy objects, aren't they?" * Grith grins back. <Grith> "Guess I don't have to carry you any more, eh?" [ Meanwhile... in another part of town ] <DM> (Where are you guys headed?) <Fordran> (someplace that makes doors) <Erias> (Market area? I don't know the town layout well. But there was a trade fair somewhere at some point.) <Erias> (If we're not sure, I'll find the nearest guard / citizen and ask.) * Sam tries to drum up all he knows about door construction...for farm houses. <Fordran> ("There are many guards in the castle.") <Erias> (If we're vaguely sure, we'll find someone in the market area and ask.) <DM> Ok. You find a carpenter shop in the trade district (good enough?) <Fordran> (sure) <Erias> (Works for me.) <Erias> "Excuse me, sir." <Erias> "or possiblty Ma'am." <DM> "Yes'r, how can I help you fine, well-armed gents?" <Erias> "Hello. We need a new front door." <Sam> (haggle haggle, this big, iron-reinforced, blah blah, no namby-pamby shit 'cos i used to maintain doors for a living, yadda yadda...) <DM> "..." <DM> "How-- No. Did you have anything in mind?" *faltering smile* <Erias> "Something on the sturdy side would be nice. Uh... do you actually sell doors?" <DM> "If it's made of wood, we can make it." <Foster> (Of course he does. You're heavily armed and rich.) <DM> "Oak, then? Or perhaps Mahogany?" <Fordran> "Which one's stronger?" * Erias describes the door, etc, goes and gets measurements if necessary, and so forth. <Sam> (do my ranks in profession: subsistence farmer help?) <Erias> "Can you make anything reinforced? Maybe some metal bands around it?" <DM> (Oh, well, then you want a mahogany-oak alloy, folded 500 times...) <Fordran> (ooh, and skulls. we want skulls.) <Grith> ("because we live with this overzealous half-giant, see...") <Erias> (can we get it lowered? and some decals would be cool.) <Foster> (needs a bigger spoiler) <DM> "Iron? Steel?" <Foster> (Do you have any adamantium~) <DM> (BYOA, imo~) <Fordran> "Yes, those sound good." <Erias> "Look, let's speed this up. Think of the strongest door you can make. And then make it." <DM> *rubs his forehead nervously* "Um. Okay. Can you come back tomorrow? I'll have an estimate." <Sam> "And if you know a good locksmith, please let us know." <Erias> "Sure." <Sam> "Not that we shouldn't provide our own barricades now and then. Can't be too sure." <DM> (to Sam, absentmindedly) "Caribiner, two stalls down." * Erias heads out, pending the other two following. * Sam follows. <Fordran> "Thank you. Pelor bless you this day." * Fordran bows and follows the others out. <Erias> "Good idea, Sam. Let's stop by the locksmith." <DM> (absentmindedly) "You as well..." <Erias> (We engage in similar discussion with the locksmith.) <Fordran> "Wasn't the door ripped off its hinges? We need stronger... hinges." <DM> <Caribiner> "Mornin' fellas. Interested in some armor? Armor repair perhaps?" *conspiratorial wink* * Erias blinks. <Erias> "Uh... you do armor?" * Sam looks at his clothes, looks oddly back at Caribiner. <Erias> "We're here for a lock, actually, but I might want to talk to you about armor later." <DM> <Caribiner> "Armor, weapons, tools... I'm a blacksmith, y'see." *he points at the anvil* <Sam> (10g57s32c, and that's without dying!) <Erias> "Well, we need a good lock for our front door. We've had some security issues." <DM> "Ahhhh. Lock, eh? *taps the side of his nose*" <DM> "Complicated? Fiendishly complicated?" <Erias> "That would be lovely, yes." <Fordran> "Technical terms, eh?" <DM> <Caribiner> *gesturing luridly* "... with... SPIKEY bits?" * Sam mumbles, "Maybe we should just stick with the castle barricade..." <Apol> (I should film how Randolph just described the lock in person... hee) <Erias> "Spikey bits if you like..." <DM> <Caribiner> "Now, do you want it built into the door, or as a padlock?" <Erias> "You see, we'd like this secure, but to be honest the rest of the house isn't really well secured." <Apol> (Think fanatical blacksmith fondling a lock..) <Sam> "...mumble mumble really big log mumble mumble cheaper and more effective mumble..." <Fordran> "Which is harder to pick?" <Erias> "Built into the door would be great, if you can work with the fellow a couple doors down... he's going to put one together for us." <Erias> "Uh, unless a padlock would be more secure." <Erias> (Guys, if we ever move to a new city or something... we're bringing this door.) <DM> <Caribiner> (frowning) "Well, y'see - *lowers voice* padlock ain't all that secure after a certain point, but a locked door is only as secure as the door... or the doorframe... or yer house, y'know?" <Grith> (Oh, sure. And make Grith carry it, I bet.) * Sam smirks. <Erias> "Yeah, I was thinking about that... that's why we're getting a new door. And we should really see someone about the rest of the house." <Fordran> "I think Foster was going to deal with the rest of the house." <Sam> (do they make an extra-dimensional carrying device big enough, or is it just ox-drawn cart at that point?) <DM> <Caribiner> "Awright, I'll work with Toomey on yer little home improvement project." <Erias> "Thank you, sir. He asked us to come back tomorrow for an estimate." <Fordran> "Many thanks. Pelor watch over you and bless your work." <DM> <Caribiner> "Say... I wouldn't ask, 'cept you fellas seem to be the... adventuring sort." <Fordran> "Hmm?" * Erias pauses. "Yes?" * Sam raises an eyebrow. <DM> <Caribiner> "Got any adamantine? I've been dyin' to try making something outta that." <Vita> (do I smell... sidequest??!) <Vita> (starmetal anyone?) <Grith> (No, but I have this rat tail I've been saving for no reason...) <Foster> (pink tail, prz) * Fordran shakes his head. "What's it look like?" * Erias tries not to whimper. <Foster> (Isn't Erias's armor adamantine?) <Erias> "We should talk." <Sam> (it's just fookin' cider! why all the fookin' dragonslayin' on three continents?!) <Erias> "Truth is, I've been meaning to find someone to make me some new armor." <DM> <Carabiner> *scratching bald spot* "Well, it's like a dull gray, like sooty iron, but with consistent finish. Hard as anything. Harder, if the rumors are true." <Erias> (We got straight off the boat... I'm probably fully dressed, and that includes armor, a la paladin habits.) <DM> <Carbiner> "... like... that..." * Erias walks over to the man, and raps on his ...arm armor. <DM> *trails off, looking at your armor* <Erias> (damn you, vocabulary!) <Erias> "It's very good protection. But the weight and bulk has been getting to me." <Fordran> "Oh, is that what it's called?" <Erias> (We have... um... a lot more of it.) <Erias> (Anyone remember where our list of things we sold went?) <DM> <Caribiner> "..." *gape* <Foster> (I have it somewhere, give me a moment) <Erias> (checked my logs, + goblinjesus) <DM> (Gmail, iirc) <Erias> oh okay <Foster> (we sold the adamantine stuff, it looks like) <Erias> (we sold most of our adamantine) <Erias> (everything that wasn't claimed, looks like) <Erias> (okay, sorry for the delay) <Apol> (go back to vendor and buy back for sell price?) <Erias> "Tell you what. You seem like you're probably pretty good at metalwork. Let's get this lock done first, so I'll have a sense of your work. And then if you're interested, maybe you can rework my armor." <DM> <Caribiner> "Happy to!" <Erias> (We head back, unless someone else does something.) <Fordran> (i cast flamestrike) <Grith> (What are you, Aldamar?) <Fordran> (FLAMESTRIKE!) [ Erias, Fordran, and Sam return ] <DM> Erias, Fordran, and Sam come walking back. <Vita> "They aren't going to get me across any pits!" <Fordran> "...and they were both inverted." <Vita> "It takes too long..." <Vita> "Your way is faster." * Grith chuckles. <DM> (You need to take Throw Ally) <Grith> "Glad to be of service..." <DM> (Races of Stone, feat section) <Grith> (aka-Cannonball Special?) <DM> (yep) <Vita> "Well, I guess it is time to figure out what to do." <Fordran> "Hey, everyone. What's going on out here?" <Grith> ( <Grith> (Do I qualify?) <DM> (I think so) <Foster> "Well, we've discovered some things." <Apol> "We were looking at blood." <Fordran> "In the alley?" * Vita relates the cat and plant anecdotes <Foster> "First, our only missing item is Dianarra's sword." <Grith> "Ya found yer mug?") <Fordran> "Found your mug?" <Foster> "Second, it's possible that multiple creatures were involved in the robbery, and rather obvious that they were injured in the process of departing." <Grith> -) <Foster> "...and my mug." <Fordran> "Oh." <Foster> "Forget the mug, it's irrelevant." <Grith> "Y'sure?" <Foster> "If my favored drinking vessel becomes vital to catching the perpetrator, I'll be sure to let you know." * Grith nods. <Grith> "So what do we do now?" <Vita> "It's probably multiple creatures, the cat said 'Many big ones'." <Erias> "Did you find out which way they went?" <Foster> "Lastly, I'd surmise that the culprit or culprits made their escape by climbing to the roof of a nearby building and teleporting away." <Erias> "The cat..." * Erias blinks, nods. * Vita looks at Erias "And the bush twitched quite a bit that night." <Erias> "Teleporting. So there's no way to know -- uh, right? Which way they went?" * Vita tries to look deadly serious * Erias gives Vita an odd look. <Erias> "Sorry, I'm not really caught up on the new slang. But I'm happy for you." <Foster> "Thusly, I would say that our first course of action will be to complete repairs and fortifications of the house, so that we aren't ambushed in the night." * Vita gives Erias an odd look * Vita points at the shrubbery "That bush. It told me." <DM> (AHAHAHA) * Erias nods slowly and edges away. <Sam> "All right, I've heard stranger." <Foster> "Next, we should find a seer, arcanist, or other person capable of using scrying magics, and have them attempt to locate Dianarra's sword. And possibly my mug." * Vita turns around and some high pitched, muffed giggles are heard <Foster> "After that, our course of action will probably be more clear." <Vita> (muffled) <Vita> (um... yeah...) <Fordran> (what time of day is it?) * Foster somehow manages to keep a straight face despite this interaction. <Erias> (Let's say 1 pm.) <Erias> (Er, I mean...) <Fordran> (six months pass.) <Erias> (* looks at DM) <DM> Let's say 1 pm. *glare* <DM> Well, 2 pm now. <Sam> (no, bitch.) <Erias> (I only did that because I asked him in /msg recently :P) <Fordran> "Well... we should hopefully have a door tomorrow or so." <Erias> "I could use a night to... get used to things again, really." * Vita turns around a little calmer and says "I don't know how much help I will be, but I'll try and help fortify things" <Apol> "I can, um, guard the basement." <Vita> "I can set up an alarm for tonight" <Erias> "Let's work on what fortification we can, tonight and tomorrow, and seek out a magician of some kind tomorrow to help us track Dianarra." <Foster> "Very well. I'll research more permanent measures, in the meantime." <Apol> "Dianarra and her friends." <Apol> "Or just her friends. Or just people who like her stuff." <Sam> "Whoever they are, I'm not sure I want to meet them." * Erias works with the others on basic fortification, etc for a while. <Vita> "Foster, do you think we should set up an alarm everyone can hear, or a sneaky one that only I hear?" <Foster> "Audible should be fine." <Apol> (obnoxious loud one, everyone loves those! *glares at her pager*) <Vita> "Ok. I'll do it once everyone but me has gone to bed" <Fordran> (beep beep beep. beep beep beep. beep BEEP BEEP.) * Vita helps out with the basic fortification in the meanwhile, carrying small, light things * Fordran helps fortify by moving sawhorses around meaningfully. <DM> Anyone have any Craft skills? <Fordran> (wtb [Codex: Prayer of Fortitude]) * Grith offers his brawn for general use. <Erias> (None.) <Fordran> (I have Heal, does that count) <Erias> (I have K:Religion...) <Vita> (nope!) <DM> Assuming that's a general no, you tilt the door back onto doorway, occluding the opening (mostly). <Sam> (i have....um, darn, can't reuse subsistence farming joke) <DM> As a side benefit, it'll probably go *crash* if anyone tries to enter. <Erias> Yay! <DM> You get a couch in the way too. <Vita> Of course, at least for tonight it will also go ringy <Fordran> (i have this image of everyone tilting it just so, and then wondering how to get inside the house.) <Vita> yay ringy! <DM> (hee) <Foster> (I have no craft skill, but they're usable untrained, and I have Ridiculous Int) <Grith> "Should we pull shifts tonight?" <Vita> "Do we need to, with the alarm?" <Vita> "Although I can only really get the front part of the house..." * Grith shrugs uncertainly. <Foster> "We'd best have people awake and ready to act in case of an emergency." <Sam> "I'd rather err on the side of caution." <Vita> "I'd really like a good night's rest, the ship was not so... restful" * Vita sighs <Foster> "I have much work to do, in any case, so I'll take first watch." <Vita> "I suppose you are right." <Grith> "I can take a shift. I don't mind." <Fordran> "I'll take the last shift." <Vita> (shit, did I bring Pup in before we closed the door???!) <Vita> (heh) <Apol> "I can take a shift, too." <Grith> "I'll take the second to last shift." <DM> (*pitiful scratching at door*) <Foster> "I think I can also try to do something about the door." * Foster goes over and carefully opens it, attempting to not crush Pup in the process. <Vita> (Actually I was kidding, I'm pretty sure Pup was in...) * Vita welcomes Pup back in, if he was out <Sam> (is pup house-trained~) <Vita> (of course!) <DM> (He only marks enemies~) * Apol prepares to sleep or take a shift or both through out the night. * Erias is happy to take a shift as well. * Vita waits until everyone is settled in and sets an alarm that is centered just inside the house from the door and tells the shift-ing person where the spell stops <DM> Waiting on pm * Vita then sleeps * Sam takes some shift or other. <DM> pm = private message <Grith> (Who's PM?) <DM> (Proudmoore. It's down again.) <DM> (Er, oops, I meant..) * Grith spends his shift walking the halls without his noisy armor, Shara cradled over his shoulder, trying to be alert yet quiet. * Sam meditates, or something like that. <DM> (sorry, behind scenes stuff) <Fordran> (flamestrike) <Apol> (Eats butter crisp biscuits.) <Grith> (Flamestrike? At what? The darkness?) <Grith> (Oooh, those butter crisps are fantastic.) <Apol> (Glad you liked them :)) <Grith> (Thanks for that first box. You crack pusher, you.) <Apol> (Only the best crack for you guys heheheheh) <Grith> (Awww, my friends really care about me. *sniffle*) <Erias> |roll d20+8 <tafal> 16 | [d20=8] [+8=8] (Erias) <Erias> |roll 1d6 <tafal> 1 | [1d6=1] (Erias) <DM> The first shift passes uneventfully. <Fordran> (O RLY) <DM> Well, all three, really. <DM> Four? <Sam> (YA RLY) * Fordran ends his watch greeting the rising sun. * Foster meditates peacefully in his room. * Grith ends Fordran's watch snoring in his too-small bed, feet thrusting out over the edge a ways. * Vita ends Fordan's watch sleeping in her too-big bed that's just right since Pup is busily weighing down the foot of it * Erias joins Fordran if he is up, and sleeps if he is not. <Foster> |roll d20+19 <tafal> 39 | [d20=20] [+19=19] (Foster) * Fordran and Erias will do the morning prayer thing, unless something catastrophic happens. * Vita will do the morning "Think about trees" thing, once she's awake * Erias sits and watches the sun come up. <Vita> (alarm goes away 8 hours after I started it, hopefully Erias and Fordran think of this when they leave the house) <Erias> When he's done: "I'm sorry, Fordran." <Fordran> "Sorry for what?" <Erias> "That I'm changing. It's been happening for a long time. I intend no disrespect to Pelor or to your calling." * Fordran looks at Erias with a confused expression. <Fordran> "What do you mean?" <Fordran> ("aren't you happy with your Class Features?") <Erias> "I can no longer serve Pelor the way you do. I needed that, very badly, for a long time. As... some sort of recompense or redemption." <Erias> "But what I am and what I have been trying to hold to... they've been diverging for some time." <Fordran> "Was... was it because of what happened to Yawin?" <Erias> "What happened to Yawin sort of woke me up. Made me start thinking about things, about faith." <Erias> "He served Pelor's ideals until the end, from what I could see." <Erias> "Well... maybe not the undead bit, exactly." <Erias> "I was following Pelor for the wrong reason. It wasn't a true desire to help others. I don't know if I could call it true faith." * Fordran bows his head. <Fordran> "I'm really very sorry to hear this, Erias." <Fordran> "What will you fight for, then?" <Fordran> (loot. chicks. black armor.) <DM> (With spiked codpieces) <Erias> "I respect you and your path, and I hope that you can accept mine... somehow." <Erias> "For the time being... I fight for us. You, me, the rest of the group we've pulled together." <Erias> "I want to find Dianarra and somehow make things right." <Erias> "I know that's unrealistic." <Fordran> "As long as you do what your heart tells you is right, Erias." <Erias> "I'm trying. That's the best I can say, right now." <Fordran> "And know that Pelor's light will always shine upon you. Don't turn completely away from it, Erias. You can find strength in it. I know I have." <Erias> "Your faith will always be a source of strength for me, Fordran." <Erias> (sorry for long taking-over-of-channel.) <Erias> (and emo-ness.) <Sam> (spay your emo catgirl) <Fordran> (deciding not to add: "And if you turn evil, we'll hunt you down like a dog and execute you") <Foster> (But playing for team evil is so much more fun!) <DM> A peasant with shifty eyes begins walking towards you two. <Erias> (Time for me to go find an amulet of undetectable alignment.) <Erias> (Smite peasant!) <Fordran> "Pelor be with you this morning!" <DM> (You and what smite?) * Erias stands up. <Erias> (Yeah, yeah. :P) <Sam> (zomg assassin) <DM> <Peasant> "Uh, yeah, right." <DM> <Peasant> *sketches a bow* "May I speak to the big guy?" <Grith> (You're such an emo-kid, Erias.) <Erias> "Me?" <Erias> "We've got a bigger guy at home, if you like." <DM> <Peasant> "The big *gestures above his head* guy." <Erias> "Ah." <Grith> A loud thud and crash can be heard from "Grith's" room. Then some Grith-like growling and swearing. A few minutes later, he comes stumbling out in his smallclothes. His remarkably few scars are much more visible this way. <Erias> (Are we back in the house at this point?) <Sam> "He's on his way." <DM> (Just outside) * Grith walks into the entry hall on his way to the kitchen, rubbing a meaty hand across his eyes and mumbling incoherently. <DM> <Peasant> "Oi! Giant, sir!" <Erias> "Grith, -- yeah." * Grith stops his mumblings, which seemed to mostly be about damned dirty Duegar, and turns, "Eh? Whassa? Oh! It's you!" <DM> <Peasant> *sketching another bow* "Yeah, so I talked to some boys who were here that night." * Grith nods, "Any luck? <Grith> " * Fordran looks back and forth between the two. <DM> <Peasant> "Yeah, they were a-smoolin' ever since they saw your guild set out." * Grith mouths "guild", then just nods again, looking expectant. <DM> <Peasant> "So they were around, hidin', when a beggar comes by, pokin' around." <DM> He looks around conspiratorially. <DM> <Peasant> "Only this beggar's really not a beggar, see." * Grith nods, not having to fake interest at this point. <Grith> "Go on..." <DM> <Peasant> "She turned into this hoooorrible monster -- well, so's they say -- an tried to kill 'em all, but they fought her off with their bare hands, only 6 of 'em." * Grith grunts, nods, "What'd she look like? What'd the monster look like?" <DM> <Peasant> "... only... I dunno how that made the door come off the hinges. The story got a little confused about that bit." <DM> <Peasant> "Morry sez she blew the door up, an' that's when they stopped her, but Dole said they was watchin' the house afore she came..." <DM> <Peasant> "Anyway, yah." * Grith looks thoughtful. Which means he's grimacing slightly. <Fordran> "Ah... Grith? Care to introduce your friend?" <DM> <Peasant> "Can I, uh, see your sword? Dole says it's 20 feet tall." <Grith> "She look like the girl I described to ya?" * Foster comes downstairs. * Vita also comes downstairs, has some breakfast * Grith blinks at the Peasant, then nods uncertainly. Then looks at Fordran, "Ah, er... this is, um... sorry, I don't think I caught your name." <DM> <Peasant> "Oh, yah, Morry says she was pretty as a princess." <DM> <Peasant> "Uh, before she turned into a monster, I mean." <DM> <Peasant> "Clynwych." <Sam> (gesundheit) <Erias> (you suck.) <Grith> "This is Clynwych. Clynwych, this is Fordran. And Erias." <DM> <Peasant> "Eh, evryun' calls me Clogs." <Erias> (actually, as long as we don't have to say it out loud...) <Erias> (yay!) <Grith> He turns to fetch his sword, brings it out in its sheath to show the peasant a few moments later. <DM> <Clogs> "OooooOooh." * Vita pops her head outside to see what the ruckus is <Sam> (cue professional hand model) <Grith> "See? Not quite twenty feet..." Grith chuckles, a touch nervously. <DM> <Clogs> "Can I... Can I touch it?" <Grith> "I, uh... I call her Shara..." <DM> He reaches out, reverently... * Erias tenses. * Grith blinks, then shrugs, "I, uh... s'pose..." He unsheaths it and presents it sideways to the present, holding it with both hands. <Sam> (*FZNRT*) <Grith> (Grith is now a pile of dust.) * Vita watches from the doorway * Foster leans against the staircase, vaguely amused. <DM> He haltingly touches it, then looks in awe at his hand. <Sam> (by the power of numbskull!) <DM> <Clogs> (running off) "ThankyouthankyouthankyouI'llneverwashthishandagai..." <Grith> "See, it's just, uh... oh... 'kay..." <Sam> (uuugh, fanboi) <Erias> "...admirers. Right." * Sam just sort of stares and blinks. <Foster> "So, what did our friend here have to report?" * Fordran watches Crjlwldlwlck jog away. * Grith sheathes Shara, then reaches up to scratch his head, looking utterly poleaxed. * Vita comes up to the group once Clogs goes away <Grith> "I, uh... I hope none of his boys were hurt..." <Vita> "yes, what did your fan want?" <Grith> "...too seriously." <Grith> "My, uh... he, well... uh." * Grith looks around quickly, then shrugs, "He offered to look into Dianarra for me." <Grith> "Er... his friend did? I'm not great with faces." <Foster> "This is progress. What did he have to say about her?" <Grith> "No, I'm pretty sure it was him." <Sam> "This is progress?" * Sam looks doubtful. <Grith> "Dunno if he was talking about Diannarra. Doesn't really sound like her." * Grith looks at Erias and Fordran helplessly. <Fordran> (was dianarra a hottie?) <DM> (Yeah.) <Foster> (it's hard to tell, she was always snarling in rage when we saw her~) <DM> (She's pretty when she's angry~) <DM> (So, like, always.) <Fordran> "He did say something about being pretty as a princess." <Grith> "I mean... Dianarra doesn't turn into monsters, does she?" <Foster> "If your tastes run to dangerous psychopaths, perhaps." * Fordran shrugs. * Foster thinks for a moment. <Erias> "Dianarra was certainly attractive. And if she were fighting all-out... she might look a bit of a monster, to townspeople." <Foster> |roll d20+19 <tafal> 27 | [d20=8] [+19=19] (Foster) <Fordran> "Does she have any magical powers?" <Grith> "It sounded like she actually turned -into- a monster. But, I guess the heat of battle can distort things sometimes..." * Apol flies out to see what's going on, munching on a pear. <Apol> "Monsters? Where?" * Fordran fetches an orange. * Sam wouldn't know attractive. * Grith glances up at Apol, waves to her with a sheepish grin, then glances down at himself. "I, uh... I should get dressed." <Erias> "She's still certainly our best suspect." <Fordran> "So... what now? We check on our door... and see if we can find Dianarra?" * Grith walks stiffly back to his room, returning in a minute in his breeches and a shirt. <Foster> "Assuming that Gray's training was in line with my own powers, I'd have to say that while the beggars may have been exaggerating for their own benefit, it's certainly possible that she could have altered her appearance or form." <Vita> "That's very uncomforting." <Foster> "As is the prospect of her once again being armed with that sword." <Foster> "I should have destroyed it while I had the chance." <Fordran> "What's so special about that sword again?" * Grith returns, buttoning his shirt. <Foster> "It's specifically designed to injure people like Erias and myself." <Grith> s/buttoning/lacing <Fordran> "...Ah." <Fordran> "It's a wonder that you didn't destroy it outright, then." <Foster> "It just sort of slipped my mind, what with everything else." * Grith studies Erias from across the room. * Erias shrugs uncomfortably. * Sam looks between Foster and Erias. * Sam looks like his brain hurts. <Foster> (not my fault~) <Foster> "I would say that our goals here are clear.' <Vita> "how are we going to find her?" <Vita> "oh, right scry-y person." <Foster> "First, we secure the premises against intrusion as best we can. Our resources are rather substantial, let's make use of them." <Foster> "Second, we locate Dianarra and establish her goals. If she seeks to exact vengeance upon us, we either make peace with her or defeat her." <Sam> "I find it difficult to oppose the concept of defending oneself against a determined foe." <Fordran> "She didn't seem like a very peaceable person to me." <Apol> "Hey, can we have swords come out from the ceilings? Bob has some of those. They're neat." <Grith> "She responded well enough to Shara last time..." <Sam> "Would that other decisions I have made were so clear..." <Foster> "Nor to me. In this case, I defer to Erias's wishes on the matter, as they appear to have history." <Erias> "I would like to do exactly that: make peace with her or defeat her. The former is unlikely, I realize, but it is my preference." <Erias> "But I would like to find her, and it seems the safest thing to do right now in any case. Find her before she finds us. Or me." <Grith> "Your face seems to make her difficult to reason with..." <Apol> "Yeah, she was very efficient when she fought Erias." <Fordran> "So... she's like you two?" <Foster> "I doubt it." * Fordran looks a little relieved. <Foster> "She seems to hate us for our differences." <Foster> "It would be a great irony if she were to seek a state of, as she called it, monstrosity, in order to defeat us." <Foster> "I would suggest that from this point forward, none of us travel alone." <Fordran> "Good idea." <Vita> "I have no problem with that." <Foster> "Her preferred tactic in the past has been to pick people off one by one, and allowing her to do so again would be the height of foolishness." <Erias> (I need to crash soon) <Grith> "So we travel in groups." <Erias> "That sounds like a good idea, yeah." <Foster> "Discerning the resources availible to her, her allies (if any), and the extent of her powers will also be important." <Foster> "I'd rather not fight her unprepared again, if at all possible." <Apol> (omgz single pull, feign death, she's obviously a hunter.) <Erias> (she hasn't even bothered to use her pet yet... she's way higher level than us.) <Foster> "Lastly, finding a way to prevent her from escaping, should she attempt it, would be ideal. She's slipped away from us too many times. I'd rather not have her haunting us any longer than is preventable." <Fordran> "And that depends on knowing her abilities." <Sam> "Please tell me that there is an easier way to research her abilities than experimentation." * Sam coughs. <Foster> "With any luck, we should be able to do unto her as Gray did to us in the past." <Fordran> "That sounds promising." <DM> (Get killed, smugly?) <Foster> "And with that in mind, Erias and I have some errands to run." <Foster> (Snerk.) <Apol> "Want me to go with you?" <Vita> "Should others of us come?" <DM> Who's heading off to Toomey & Caribiner? * Erias looks at Foster. <Fordran> "I'll go." * Sam volunteers for Door Duty Part II. <Foster> "In this case, I think bringing the rest of you would be inadvisable. Our people are not... particularly keen on others knowing of our existence." <Vita> "I guess I'll watch the house <Vita> "I can see if Pup can learn to be a guard dog!" <Apol> "Ok. Just make sure Dianarra doesn't follow you to the rest of your people." * Erias nods. <Foster> "I've already warded myself against scrying for the day. Hopefully, I'll be able to notice any pursuers." <Erias> "We'll be as careful as we can. Aside from occasional trips like this, we should try to stay in larger groups." <Fordran> "Ah. Well, all right. Be careful out there." * Apol nods seriously. <Grith> "I should probably be with Erias, in case Dianarra comes after him." * Apol lightens up and says to Foster and Erias, "Oh, and tell your people I say 'Hi!'" <Foster> "Our excursion shouldn't take very long. I think it will be fine. You're a bit... conspicuous, Grith." <Erias> "In general, I agree, but it sounds like Foster and I should make this trip alone. We'll be back as soon as we can." * Grith scowls slightly at the two of them, then shrugs. <Grith> "It's your skin." <Foster> (if I say "Trust me", will you hold it against me~) * Vita settles into a living room chair and sets Pup to guard the doorway <DM> (Erias and Foster take off?) <Erias> (okay, really have to go sleep, but it sounds like this is an ending point) <Foster> (Indeed) <Erias> (yep) <Vita> (sure) <Foster> (Yeah, have been trying to work towards a decent stopping point) <DM> (Okay, who's headed to craftsmen?) <DM> (lemme just finish that up) <Foster> (at least for the two of us) <DM> Is anyone going back? <DM> Sam? Fordran? * Apol will stay with Vita to guard the house. <Fordran> "Well, Sam, let's go see about that door then." <Erias> (I need to sleep, I know it's not that late for you guys -- I'll read logs of non-Erias stuff later.) <DM> (night) <Erias> (night) <Sam> "Aye." <DM> You return once again to Toomey & Son's. <DM> Carabiner is in a heated exchange with one of the apprentices in the back. <DM> Toomey, Sr. gives you a pained smile. <Fordran> "Pelor shine upon us all this day!" * Fordran greets everyone warmly as he and Sam enter. <DM> <Toomey> "I pray so." <DM> <Toomey> "Carabiner wants 150g for his lock. I think it's robbery, but he's adamant - aha - on the point." <Fordran> "What would you say is a fair price?" <DM> <Toomey> "For any other blacksmith, I would tell you no. But honestly, Carabiner may be chasing tuna in the shallows, but I don't know anyone who knows locks and steel as well as he does. If he says it's fair, I'd trust him. I'd never buy a lock for that much, but I own nothing to lock up worth that much." <DM> <Toomey> "For my part, my sons and I will craft your door for 50 gold. We can have it done in two day's time, if it pleases you." * Fordran looks at Sam. <Fordran> "Sounds good to me, what do you think?" <Fordran> "That's 200 gold, all told?" <Sam> "I was about to ask you the same." <Sam> "I guess we agree." <Apol> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 5 | [d20=2] [+3=3] (Apol) <DM> Toomey nods. * Grith stays with Vita and Apol guarding the house. Spends some time devising weights to work out with. Does pushups at some point with Vita, pup, -and- Apol on his back, for the extra weight. <Fordran> "I think we have a deal, good sirs." * Apol is busy with a secret project. <Sam> "It sounds like a ridiculous sum, but if it saves us more than that in the long run..." <Foster> (Ridiculous sum? 200g is pocket change.) <DM> <Toomey> "Very good, I'll let Caribiner know, and begin immediately." * Grith doesn't use Apol, then. But in the early after noon, Grith does go down to the basement to investigate some strange noises... <Sam> (<-- country bumpkin + monk, very warped concept of money) <Fordran> (<-- has no concept of monetary value) <Sam> (<-- plus low charisma and no business sense) <Vita> As Grith goes down to the basement, Vita says "tell me what she's doing down there" <Vita> I mean "it" * Grith nods with a conspiratorial wink to Vita, then walks into the basement, looks around for a second. There's a soft *whap* as his palm meets his face. <Sam> (and so payment and delivery are arranged, blah blah, we'll send our thugs after you if you stiff us on this deal. oh wait, not mafiosi, never mind.) <Apol> (Feel free to assign a pronoun. We'll just see which is right when the time comes. I think I'll roll a die at that point.) <Sam> (which gender is #5?) <Apol> (Female*) <Apol> (Seriously.) <DM> ("Estrogen? What is Estrogen? Can you eat it?") <Apol> (Male, Female, Other, Male*, Female*) <Sam> (i think i'll stop asking now) <Foster> (6 is roll twice, discarding other results of 6~) <DM> Unless Grith responds, we'll wrap here... <Grith> (ook) <Sam> (i think a good stiff drink might prevent head-explody) <Grith> (Wait, respond to what?) <Vita> (Tell me what Apol is doing) * Grith looks up at the ceiling, then at Apol, "Uh... is that safe?" <Apol> "Mostly." <Apol> "Well, no. But that's the point, right?" <DM> Fordran and Sam return to the house, tilting the door carefully aside, and back. <DM> You notice Vita perched on the couch, looking down the stairwell to the basement. <Grith> "I mean... safe for -us-?" <Vita> They also see Pup outside looking around a little confused <Vita> He barks when they approach <Apol> "hmmm. I don't know. Want to walk this way and find out? That would be a good test." * Vita yells out "No Pup, not when people you know come to the door" <Fordran> "What's so interesting about the basement?" <Vita> "Apol is doing something down there that Grith isn't sure is safe. I'm curious but trying to keep up my door guard" <Grith> "Er, no. But it does need to be safe for us. We might have to get equipment out of here, remember?" <Fordran> "Oh. Well, we'll have a new door in a couple days." <Apol> "Ok. Let's see. If I move that table and the rope then it only flip the candle if you move that rock." * Grith looks pained, "Huh?" <Apol> "I guess I should make sure no rats get to the cheese..." <Sam> ("Say, that Osh Lowedepot guy was awful nice to sell us those bargain tools...") * Grith facepalms again and turns to head up the stairs, calling over his shoulder, "Just be careful!" * Vita calls down "rats?! cheese?" <Fordran> "We have cheese?" <Fordran> "...Wait. We have rats?" <Grith> "Don't ask. And, uh... be careful if you go down there. She's boobytrapping the whole thing. I think the cheese is her bait." <Foster> (Truly, this cheese is a powerful thing) <Grith> (Mmmm, cheese.) * Fordran shakes his head and sits down on a couch. <Fordran> "So no word from Erias or Foster yet?" <DM> (they just left, like an hour ago) <DM> But, fade to credits... <Fordran> (i don't know how long their errands are)