Difference between revisions of "Holes/Session 1"
A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
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So there was this job posting looking for group(s) of specified folks to investigate the recent cataclysm that affected Sarathi. | |||
Group didn't know each other ahead of time. | |||
Going to Sarathi. From other worlds. | |||
Greibel was staying on Rhu's couch, tagged along for promise of payment (kind of broke) | |||
Radek was interested in the cataclysm itself. He would have signed up out of personal curiosity. And hey, funds are always nice too. | |||
Sarathi itself? | |||
It was one of the nicer worlds. Affluent. Cities floating on the ocean. Mostly an ocean planet, with one large landmass. They ignored it when they built the cities. | |||
Then suddenly it went dark, nobody heard from it. (a few days ago) Bit of a news story across the known 'verse, really. Looks normal from space. | |||
There have been some odd energy readings, but nobody's entirely sure what they are. | |||
There don't seem to be people, but that doesn't necessarily mean much - it's entirely possible that most everyone is still alive and just... inside. | |||
Particularly odd is there doesn't seem to be any animal life, either, but the plantlife is fine. | |||
So there was this job posting looking for group(s) of specified folks to investigate the recent cataclysm that affected | Communications stopped over the course of a few hours. That's the weird part. | ||
And hey, funds are always nice too. | |||
Particularly odd is there doesn't seem to be any animal life, either | |||
Normally when something like this happens it's all at once. | Normally when something like this happens it's all at once. | ||
Or it doesn't entirely stop. | Or it doesn't entirely stop. | ||
There have been some intermittent odd things that might have been transmissions. It's hard to tell. | |||
Governments didn't want to get involved because of politics - any specific one acting on its own could draw the wrath of the others, despite them all having an interest in it. | |||
So several of the worlds agreed to contract it out to this generally unaffiliated company, which is who hired you. | |||
Radek put together the actual group. Saw the required roles for the group, put out listings for each of those. That you guys actually got someone to fill all the specified roles made you look pretty good. | |||
It's an entire world, and lots of folks are interested for all sorts of reasons, but a few randoms already went missing as well when they tried to check it out. Which is part of why your team had to have the roles it did. The Company wanted to cover the bases. Sort of. | |||
The gods seem somewhat interested as well (Tanneas, Lissal, Ajirahd, Lokshmi, one other), but despite that they don't seem to want to touch it. Angsty priests and stuff. | |||
Which is why you have a priest guy now. | |||
Apheori (GM): I guess now you're in orbit or something. You guys are supposed to be checking in regularly once you land. | |||
Apheori (GM): | Three tasks: figure out what happened, keep in touch, and don't die. | ||
Gaurav: Hmm okay. Let's talk strategy: should we land in the most densely populated place we can find, or poke about a small village first? | Gaurav: Hmm okay. Let's talk strategy: should we land in the most densely populated place we can find, or poke about a small village first? | ||
In small transport ship. You'll be landing. You can fly over. You have maps. They just may not be usefully labelled. | |||
Electricity mostly seems to be off. Some things are still on, some lights around, some computers probably up, but they're isolated. | |||
You have maps. They just may not be usefully labelled. | |||
Some things are still on, some lights around, some computers probably up, but they're isolated. | |||
Gaurav: I suggest we fly lower over like an obscure village and have a closer look, keeping a sharp eye out for rockets, sperm whales or bowls of petunia. | Gaurav: I suggest we fly lower over like an obscure village and have a closer look, keeping a sharp eye out for rockets, sperm whales or bowls of petunia. | ||
Apheori (GM): When you get in, that's probably something you'll want to look into - the computers, getting local power on, etc. | Apheori (GM): When you get in, that's probably something you'll want to look into - the computers, getting local power on, etc. | ||
Line 199: | Line 73: | ||
Apheori (GM): I think you're mostly just telling it what to do. | Apheori (GM): I think you're mostly just telling it what to do. | ||
"Ship: Go over there!" | "Ship: Go over there!" | ||
Apheori (GM): It can shoot things, but mostly it's just fast. A transport thingy. | Apheori (GM): It can shoot things, but mostly it's just fast. A transport thingy. | ||
GREIBEL | |||
If you find the area of highest capable technology, you'll probably find the most likely devices or resources to inform you of what's going on. | |||
Gaurav: If we find the area of highest tech, we might also find rockets, is what I'm worried about. | Gaurav: If we find the area of highest tech, we might also find rockets, is what I'm worried about. | ||
Bear Soup Guy: Good point Guarav | Bear Soup Guy: Good point Guarav. As a pascifist hippie, I must express similar concern. | ||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Find a large city and look about for anything noticeable? Lights in the dark? Big holes? | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Big holes? | That is it precisely. | ||
(he pauses) | |||
I talk super sophisticated when I'm stoned. | |||
I talk super sophisticated when I'm stoned | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Suuure. | |||
That's when they did all their big thinking | |||
The Gravedigger | GREIBEL | ||
It comes from, like, the tribal people I used to live with and stuff. That's when they did all their big thinking. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Riiiiight. | |||
Greibel blows a smoke cloud defiantly in the Gravedigger's face. | |||
The Gravedigger breathes it in. His Constitution laughs at smoke. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
(smiling coyly at the Gravedigger) | |||
This will be interesting. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
(ignoring him) | |||
So. We all for checking out the dark side? | So. We all for checking out the dark side? | ||
GREIBEL | |||
Yes, the dark side is most likely where we'll find the most information. | |||
RADEK | |||
Whatever caused this planet to go silent has probably long since passed. Finer observations are required if we expect to learn anything useful. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
We in a rush, now? | |||
Think outside the box | RADEK | ||
Right on | Yes. | ||
Check what we can without dirtying our feet. | RHU | ||
We can't do the obvious things. Doing the obvious things is why everybody who's come here since it went dark is probably dead. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
My brother. Think outside the box. Right on. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
We should take it easy. Check what we can without dirtying our feet. | |||
We'll end up down there soon enough. Might as see what knowledge we can glean first. | We'll end up down there soon enough. Might as see what knowledge we can glean first. | ||
SHIP | |||
SHIP | |||
Your orders? | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
(really, really loudly) | |||
TO THE DARK SIIIIIIDE. | |||
Radek grumbles incoherently. | Radek grumbles incoherently. | ||
SHIP sighs happily and starts drifting toward the dark side of the planet. | |||
The SHIP sighs happily and starts drifting toward the dark side of the planet. Then it starts humming merrily. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Right on, ship sistah! That's my jam! | |||
That's my jam! | THE GRAVEDIGGER | ||
Sandwiches? | |||
Rhu wanders around the ship in search of a good cup of tea. | |||
SHIP makes some sandwiches | Rhu wanders around the ship in search of a good cup of tea. The SHIP makes some sandwiches and drops them on the Gravedigger's head. | ||
The Gravedigger reaches up and eats the sandwiches. | The Gravedigger reaches up and eats the sandwiches. | ||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
SHIP | You are a great ship, SHIP. | ||
SHIP | |||
I know! | |||
Nobody ever appreciates it, you know. All the hard work a ship puts in. | Nobody ever appreciates it, you know. All the hard work a ship puts in. | ||
GREIBEL | |||
I would love a cup of chamomile while you're over there, Rhu. | |||
Two teacups materialise out of a slot. | |||
SHIP | |||
Your tea is ready. | Your tea is ready. | ||
Rhu hands Greibel a cup. | |||
Rhu takes the tea and hands Greibel a cup. | |||
RHU | |||
Mm, delicious! The fishy aftertaste really gives it a nice kick. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Thank you SHIP and thank you Rhu. | |||
SHIP | |||
You're most welcome, polite meat creatures. | |||
They look like they might be urban areas | |||
RHU | |||
Are we nearly there yet? | |||
Greibel heads to the bathroom in the back of the ship. | |||
The ship helpfully puts up a screen to display a whole lot of black and some random twinkly things. They look like they might be urban areas, probably the floating cities of Arish and Meregan, as well as another that appears to be sitting in the middle of the ocean. | |||
SHIP | |||
There aren't any squirrels down there. | |||
The Gravedigger gasps. | The Gravedigger gasps. | ||
RHU | |||
Huh. That's unusual. I vote we go investigate the oceanic twinkly. | |||
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Greibel is at the sink and the ship keeps giving him toothpicks. | |||
Rhu realises the ship might be going insane. ''(rolled 20 insight)'' Something about how it wasn't doing anything like this until it got here. | |||
Rhu | |||
Shit. Guys. Guys. Guys. I think this ship might be going insane. | |||
Rhu | |||
SHIP | |||
Please go on. | |||
Greibel comes back from the bathroom wearing a funny toothpick hat. | |||
RADEK | |||
I'm holding the hippie responsible. | |||
Greibel looks surprised. | |||
RHU | |||
(suddenly realising how stupid what he said was) | |||
...insanely good at its job! Great job, SHIP! That tea was great! | |||
SHIP | |||
Would you like me to bring you down? | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
I don't know about the tea. But I liked the sandwiches. | |||
) | |||
Greibel | |||
Greibel | |||
SHIP | |||
But I liked the sandwiches. | |||
SHIP, do you have some kind of zoom camera thingy you can do to take a look at the light in the sea? | SHIP, do you have some kind of zoom camera thingy you can do to take a look at the light in the sea? | ||
SHIP | |||
SHIP | |||
I'm not a great swimmer. | Of course, dear. | ||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Without having to dive or anything? I'm not a great swimmer. | |||
One of the screens zooms in a bunch, showing a bunch of wreckage with a bunch of glowing blobs stuck to it. | |||
RADEK | |||
That's a downed ship. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Hmmmm. | |||
SHIP | SHIP | ||
I aspire to that. | |||
RADEK | |||
You shouldn't, SHIP. | |||
Rhu | He moves to take a closer look at the blobs, and adjusts a screen or something. ''(rolled 25 tech/arcana)'' | ||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
You want to sink? | |||
The ship doesn't answer, and drifts slowly toward Meregan. | |||
Rhu looks around to try to find any servicable panels or manuals in the cabin, and finds a manual of style. ''(rolled 12 perception (natural 1))'' | |||
He picks it up and then immediately puts it back upon realising what it is. | |||
RADEK | |||
And those lights are... organic power cells? I've never seen them do something like that before. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
That sounds sort of bad. | |||
SHIP | |||
It looks painful. | |||
Do you know what it's like to not feel pain? Makes you almost wish you could. | |||
( | |||
Greibel sympathizes with the ship in a synesthesia sorts of way. | |||
SHIP | |||
Thank you, dear. | |||
( | Rhu walks over to the bathroom and has a look at the escape pods. They look like escape pods. | ||
' | |||
SHIP | |||
Do you know what it's like to not feel pain? | |||
Makes you almost wish you could. | |||
Rhu walks over to the bathroom and has a look at the escape pods. | |||
Rhu is just relieved that they're still around. | Rhu is just relieved that they're still around. | ||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Can you zoom in on one of the urban light things, SHIP? | |||
SHIP | |||
Of course, dear. | |||
The ship suddenly displays a very bright light that fills the entire screen. | |||
Also, way trippy | |||
I should write a psychedelic jam about this | RHU | ||
Woah! | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Well that was helpful. Also, way trippy. I should write a psychedelic jam about this. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Maybe zoom out a little? | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Ship, put on the light shield thing. | |||
Now it shows a view of the city. It looks mostly intact, with a couple of lights in some windows. The ship's lights also illuminate some of the buildings, revealing a city that is mostly intact aside from a couple of missing/broken towers. They look to have been sliced off somehow. Very, very neatly. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
That looks promising. | |||
On-screen, the city is getting a lot bigger. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Um. SHIP. Could you stop moving, please? | |||
SHIP | |||
Of course, dear. | |||
The SHIP stops right next to the city. | |||
RHU | |||
I don't like landing on a city on water. What if we can't get off? | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Floating cities have been commonplace for hundreds of years. | |||
SHIP | |||
I miss squirrels. | |||
RHU | |||
(he sighs) | |||
I guess we should land, then. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Any reason why not? | |||
SHIP | |||
I can land you near a complete lack of squirrels. | |||
RHU | |||
(to the ship) | |||
Tell me more about squirrels? | |||
Floating cities have been commonplace for hundreds of years | GREIBEL | ||
Yes, I too would like to learn about these "squirrels". | |||
SHIP | |||
They're nice, you know. These squirrels. Fuzzy little things. Burrow into the skulls of humans and eat their brains. | |||
RHU | |||
(babbling) | |||
Because it's a city on water. I don't like cities on water. That's a terrible idea. But it seems to be our gate straight into... whatever is going on here. | |||
SHIP | |||
A Nadri invention, I believe. Do you know any Nadri? | |||
RADEK | |||
They ''would'' do something like that. | |||
SHIP | |||
These squirrels. | Rhu steps backwards until he can see the escape pods from where he's standing. Greibel suddenly runs past him and locks himself in the bathroom. Something about diarrhea. | ||
Fuzzy little things. | |||
Burrow into the skulls of humans and eat their brains. | SHIP sighs lengthily. Then there's a bit of a bump as the ship lands on one of the city's parking lots. | ||
SHIP | Rhu runs to the door and tries to open it, but it doesn't open. | ||
SHIP | |||
I am so depressed. | |||
Rhu steps backwards until he can see the escape pods from where he's standing. | |||
SHIP sighs lengthily. | THE GRAVEDIGGER | ||
Still the Squirrel thing? | |||
SHIP | |||
There never even were any squirrels. | |||
RHU | |||
Rhu | (staring at the door) | ||
I'm sorry to hear that, SHIP. | |||
(to others) | |||
Does anybody know how to undepress a ship? ...did anybody know ships could get depressed? Because I didn't. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
I don't know anything about ships. I spent the last century digging holes. | |||
RHU | |||
(still staring at the door) | |||
I was punching people. They were worth punching, but... I wish I'd stopped to learn more about ships. | |||
RADEK | |||
I'll check it for damage before we leave the surface. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Damage? | |||
SHIP | |||
You think I'm damaged. That there is something WRONG with me. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
(loudly) | |||
I NEVER SAID THAT. I LIKE YOUR SANDWICHES. | |||
SHIP | |||
(accusingly) | |||
He did. | |||
(much more pleasantly) | |||
SHIP | |||
... did anybody know ships could get depressed? Because I didn't. | |||
I spent the last century digging holes. | |||
SHIP | |||
That there is something WRONG with me. | |||
I LIKE YOUR SANDWICHES | |||
SHIP | |||
Thank you. | Thank you. | ||
SHIP | RADEK | ||
Yes, my dear, and you're confirming that suspicion rather handily. | |||
He's a grumpy old man. | The door suddenly slams open and Rhu is blown out of the SHIP. He does a bit of a roll when landing. ''(rolled 18 acrobatics)'' | ||
SHIP | |||
SHIP | |||
I think you should leave now. | |||
RADEK | |||
I intended to. | |||
The Gravedigger | THE GRAVEDIGGER | ||
Oh, don't mind him. He's a grumpy old man. | |||
(seeing Rhu is gone) | |||
Hey, SHIP! That wasn't very nice. | |||
Greibel is suddenly launched out of the bathroom. | |||
SHIP | |||
Take your diarrhetic friend and go. | |||
RADEK | |||
I'm the only person here who knows what he's talking about. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Only because we're not talking about holes. If we were talking about holes, ''I'd'' be the smart person here. | |||
Gravy shrugs, picks up Griebel, slings him over a shoulder like a sack of hippy potatoes, and carries him out. Radek follows as well. | |||
EXT. Sarathi parking lot - Night | |||
The Gravedigger, Greibel, and Radek find Rhu kissing the ground. | |||
They're in a parking lot, surrounded by various large buildings. There are some other ships and cars, a couple of which seem to be totalled. There's also a random motorboat. | |||
A nearby sign helpfully indicates that this is the East-South Lot, open 22 hours. None of the lights they saw earlier are visible from here. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Keep safe, SHIP! | |||
RHU | |||
(to Radek) | |||
Do you think the SHIP will be okay? | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
And don't let any strange men bury you! That would make me sad. If someone came and buried you. | |||
That would make me sad. | |||
Ganelon: Okay, so I just need to know something right now. | Ganelon: Okay, so I just need to know something right now. | ||
Are the designs of any race other than Nissai (his own) something Radek should have respect for? Or are they all crazy enough to make talking ships that can get offended? | |||
Or are they all crazy enough to make talking ships that can get offended? | |||
Apheori (GM): Oh, they all are; most just usually don't. | Apheori (GM): Oh, they all are; most just usually don't. | ||
RADEK | |||
(grumbling) | |||
I didn't learn to build machines so that I would later be forced to reason with them. | |||
RHU | |||
(looking at the sign) | |||
Any clue which two hours its closed for? | |||
RADEK | |||
If something is wrong with our ship - besides how it was made in the first place - I'm sure I can find out. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
What, you think something fiddled with it, Radek? | |||
RADEK | |||
I'm not making any guesses until I've had a look. Recent events suggest that a look is necessary, that's all. | |||
RHU | |||
Radek, can you make the report? I think you've got the tablet-computer thing. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
I'm gonna check out this motorboat. | Yeah. Do that thing. I'm gonna check out this motorboat. | ||
The Gravedigger makes "brrrrm brrrrm" noises | |||
The Gravedigger makes "brrrrm brrrrm" noises and heads over to the motorboat. | |||
RHU | |||
(hovering over Radek) | |||
Things to report: lights randomly spread over the planet. We have landed in Meregan after our ship started acting... unhappy. There are spaceships and airships abandoned here. We'll report back when we have more. | |||
Radek waves him away and calls in. A secretary answers and responds very cluelessly. | |||
Gravy's inspection reveals the boat to be a rather nice but broken motorboat. There's a large ragged hole in the bottom. Like someone punched an armoured fist through it. | |||
Rhu walks over to Gravy and admires the hole in his motorboat. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
This looks weird. Are the other ships broken too? | |||
Gravy goes to look at some of the other ships. They look fairly normal, but another one also has a large hole in it. | |||
Greibel slides off Gravy's shoulder, then staggers toward Rhu keeping his legs apart as much as possible. | |||
Rhu walks over to Gravy and admires the hole in his motorboat | |||
GREIBEL | |||
I don't hate you, Rhu. I just wish you would've warned me. | |||
Rhu looks confused. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Wait, it was Radek? | |||
Greibel winces and sort of waddles back over to Radek, and Rhu follows. | |||
Sorry, what? | RADEK | ||
(on the phone/earpeice) | |||
Yes, hello, this is the genius speaking. | |||
We still needed to get you set up in our computers, but it should all be in order now. | |||
SECRETARY (PHONE) | |||
Are you calling for one? Sorry, what? | |||
RADEK | |||
You hired me to investigate the cataclysm of Sarathi. This is a report. | |||
SECRETARY (PHONE) | |||
Oh, right, of course! We still needed to get you set up in our computers, but it should all be in order now. | |||
Is there anything else you need? | |||
The secretary gives some instructions on how to send the notes directly into the database. | |||
SECRETARY (PHONE) | |||
Just hit the button when you're done and it'll all update. | |||
RADEK | |||
Marvelous. We've already landed and I'll be taking readings before the day is finished, but first, our ship has been behaving strangely. | |||
SECRETARY (PHONE) | |||
(shocked) | |||
That's terrible! Include it in the report. Is there anything else you need? | |||
Radek pauses for a moment. | |||
RADEK | |||
Yes, I would like to register a complaint. | |||
SECRETARY (PHONE) | |||
Oh, yes? What kind of complaint? | |||
RADEK | |||
The rest of the crew that I've been saddled with are some of the most aggravating people I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
(loudly, from some distance away, examining a random ship) | |||
That's not very nice. | |||
SECRETARY (PHONE) | |||
I'm sorry, this doesn't fall under any of the designated categories for appropriate complaints. | |||
RADEK | |||
Well, it should! | |||
SECRETARY (PHONE) | |||
Is there anything else? | |||
RHU | |||
(to Radek) | |||
Can we file a complaint against the inadequate complaint categories? | |||
RADEK | |||
Yes. My legs are quite tired and your bloody ship has locked us out in a state of depression. No doubt I'll need to walk everywhere to get this job done, now. | |||
I expect no less than a significant increase in salary for this affront. | I expect no less than a significant increase in salary for this affront. | ||
You have a nice day, now. | SECRETARY (PHONE) | ||
I am terribly sorry about that. You have a nice day, now. | |||
The secretary hangs up on him. | |||
RADEK | |||
Hrmph. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Woah woah. This is so Lynchian. | |||
Rhu pretends to be investigating the ship but clearly has no idea what he's doing. | |||
RHU | |||
This looks like a normal ship to me. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Do you think SHIP is holding out on us? | |||
Rhu pretends to be investigating the ship but clearly has no idea what | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Don't be silly. It gave us sandwiches. Bad people don't give sandwiches. | |||
It gave us sandwiches. | |||
Bad people don't give sandwiches. | GREIBEL | ||
Oh, okay. I can never tell from the hallucinations. | |||
RHU | |||
Greibel, are you any good at technology? | |||
Greibel smiles helpfully. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
I'm a stoned druid, Rhu. | |||
I can log onto Facebook, but don't expect much more than that. | |||
RHU | |||
(to Radek) | |||
Maybe you should give the ship a once over? I wouldn't get on board, though, it's liable to take off at any moment. | |||
RADEK | |||
Yes, yes. Coming. | |||
Gravy checks the SHIP for holes. ''(rolled 9 perception (natural 1))'' The SHIP dumps some fluid on his head. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Hey! That's not nice at all! | |||
Radek chuckles to himself and also looks the ship over. He finds some scorch marks on the side. It looks like it may be the result of passing through a field of... bad stuff. Energy stuff. (rolled 27 technology) | |||
RADEK | |||
There's some kind of abnormal damage over here... | |||
Greibel looks on in bewilderment. | |||
THE GRAVEDIGGER | |||
Not a HOLE, is it? | |||
Radek examines the scorching more closely. (rolled 30 arcana (natural 20)) It looks like the sort of scouring that results from improper portal creation, like part of the hull went through a dimensional shift and burned slightly. | |||
Greibel sees a squirrel and slowly approaches it. ''(rolled 1 sanity)'' | |||
) | |||
RADEK | |||
This... could be serious. Internal damage, maybe. | |||
In the background Greibel does some communing with nature stuff and ends up placidly petting the squirrel. The squirrel nibbles and stuff, and rubs its head against Greibel's hand. | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Time and space are a cruel mistress, Rhu or Radek or whoever that was. | |||
Greibel exudes and aura of solemn knowingness. Then the squirrel runs off behind some skiffs. ''(rolled 6 sanity)'' | |||
GREIBEL | |||
Heh heh. Go along little buddy. | |||
SHIP dumps fluid on | |||
Radek chuckles to himself. | |||
Energy stuff. | |||
Greibel looks on in bewilderment | |||
30 | |||
Greibel | |||
Greibel | |||
Greibel solemn knowingness | |||
Go along little buddy | |||
Apheori (GM): Hmm... | Apheori (GM): Hmm... | ||
There might be some inside the rounded building. | There might be some inside the rounded building. |
Revision as of 01:35, 11 October 2014
So there was this job posting looking for group(s) of specified folks to investigate the recent cataclysm that affected Sarathi. Group didn't know each other ahead of time. Going to Sarathi. From other worlds. Greibel was staying on Rhu's couch, tagged along for promise of payment (kind of broke) Radek was interested in the cataclysm itself. He would have signed up out of personal curiosity. And hey, funds are always nice too. Sarathi itself? It was one of the nicer worlds. Affluent. Cities floating on the ocean. Mostly an ocean planet, with one large landmass. They ignored it when they built the cities. Then suddenly it went dark, nobody heard from it. (a few days ago) Bit of a news story across the known 'verse, really. Looks normal from space. There have been some odd energy readings, but nobody's entirely sure what they are. There don't seem to be people, but that doesn't necessarily mean much - it's entirely possible that most everyone is still alive and just... inside. Particularly odd is there doesn't seem to be any animal life, either, but the plantlife is fine. Communications stopped over the course of a few hours. That's the weird part. Normally when something like this happens it's all at once. Or it doesn't entirely stop. There have been some intermittent odd things that might have been transmissions. It's hard to tell. Governments didn't want to get involved because of politics - any specific one acting on its own could draw the wrath of the others, despite them all having an interest in it. So several of the worlds agreed to contract it out to this generally unaffiliated company, which is who hired you. Radek put together the actual group. Saw the required roles for the group, put out listings for each of those. That you guys actually got someone to fill all the specified roles made you look pretty good. It's an entire world, and lots of folks are interested for all sorts of reasons, but a few randoms already went missing as well when they tried to check it out. Which is part of why your team had to have the roles it did. The Company wanted to cover the bases. Sort of. The gods seem somewhat interested as well (Tanneas, Lissal, Ajirahd, Lokshmi, one other), but despite that they don't seem to want to touch it. Angsty priests and stuff. Which is why you have a priest guy now. Apheori (GM): I guess now you're in orbit or something. You guys are supposed to be checking in regularly once you land. Three tasks: figure out what happened, keep in touch, and don't die. Gaurav: Hmm okay. Let's talk strategy: should we land in the most densely populated place we can find, or poke about a small village first? In small transport ship. You'll be landing. You can fly over. You have maps. They just may not be usefully labelled. Electricity mostly seems to be off. Some things are still on, some lights around, some computers probably up, but they're isolated. Gaurav: I suggest we fly lower over like an obscure village and have a closer look, keeping a sharp eye out for rockets, sperm whales or bowls of petunia. Apheori (GM): When you get in, that's probably something you'll want to look into - the computers, getting local power on, etc. They don't really do obscure, just remote. Frezak (GM): Wait for night. Then fly around looking for light? Bear Soup Guy: Excellent idea Frezak Gaurav: YES! Apheori (GM): So what you call an 'obscure village' is probably really a resort or manor or something. Frezak (GM): I am super smart. Ganelon: Radek is just eager to land and do readings. Apheori (GM): So you want to fly around to the night side of the planet? Bear Soup Guy: Of course if we're flying in a space ship we don't even have to "wait" for night Apheori (GM): And the other guy wants to land... Bear Soup Guy: Just go to the side of the planet the star isn't shining on Apheori (GM): SMART PERSON! Gaurav: YES! Bear Soup Guy: Oh duhr, Apheori already said what I just said >_< Frezak (GM): TO THE DARKNESSSS Apheori (GM): Sorry. Ganelon: He's not concerned about the problems the planet is facing so much as what caused them. So don't mistake it for recklessness. It's actually apathy. Apheori (GM): Well, do something. It's your ship, at least for the time being. Bear Soup Guy: But we can find out what caused them by finding things still powered perhaps Maybe I should be in character Frezak (GM): So is one of use piloting it? And is the ship armed at all? Apheori (GM): I think you're mostly just telling it what to do. "Ship: Go over there!" Apheori (GM): It can shoot things, but mostly it's just fast. A transport thingy. GREIBEL If you find the area of highest capable technology, you'll probably find the most likely devices or resources to inform you of what's going on. Gaurav: If we find the area of highest tech, we might also find rockets, is what I'm worried about. Bear Soup Guy: Good point Guarav. As a pascifist hippie, I must express similar concern. THE GRAVEDIGGER Find a large city and look about for anything noticeable? Lights in the dark? Big holes? GREIBEL That is it precisely. (he pauses) I talk super sophisticated when I'm stoned. THE GRAVEDIGGER Suuure. GREIBEL It comes from, like, the tribal people I used to live with and stuff. That's when they did all their big thinking. THE GRAVEDIGGER Riiiiight. Greibel blows a smoke cloud defiantly in the Gravedigger's face. The Gravedigger breathes it in. His Constitution laughs at smoke. GREIBEL (smiling coyly at the Gravedigger) This will be interesting. THE GRAVEDIGGER (ignoring him) So. We all for checking out the dark side? GREIBEL Yes, the dark side is most likely where we'll find the most information. RADEK Whatever caused this planet to go silent has probably long since passed. Finer observations are required if we expect to learn anything useful. THE GRAVEDIGGER We in a rush, now? RADEK Yes. RHU We can't do the obvious things. Doing the obvious things is why everybody who's come here since it went dark is probably dead. GREIBEL My brother. Think outside the box. Right on. THE GRAVEDIGGER We should take it easy. Check what we can without dirtying our feet. We'll end up down there soon enough. Might as see what knowledge we can glean first. SHIP Your orders? THE GRAVEDIGGER (really, really loudly) TO THE DARK SIIIIIIDE. Radek grumbles incoherently. The SHIP sighs happily and starts drifting toward the dark side of the planet. Then it starts humming merrily. GREIBEL Right on, ship sistah! That's my jam! THE GRAVEDIGGER Sandwiches? Rhu wanders around the ship in search of a good cup of tea. The SHIP makes some sandwiches and drops them on the Gravedigger's head. The Gravedigger reaches up and eats the sandwiches. THE GRAVEDIGGER You are a great ship, SHIP. SHIP I know! Nobody ever appreciates it, you know. All the hard work a ship puts in. GREIBEL I would love a cup of chamomile while you're over there, Rhu. Two teacups materialise out of a slot. SHIP Your tea is ready. Rhu takes the tea and hands Greibel a cup. RHU Mm, delicious! The fishy aftertaste really gives it a nice kick. GREIBEL Thank you SHIP and thank you Rhu. SHIP You're most welcome, polite meat creatures. RHU Are we nearly there yet? Greibel heads to the bathroom in the back of the ship. The ship helpfully puts up a screen to display a whole lot of black and some random twinkly things. They look like they might be urban areas, probably the floating cities of Arish and Meregan, as well as another that appears to be sitting in the middle of the ocean. SHIP There aren't any squirrels down there. The Gravedigger gasps. RHU Huh. That's unusual. I vote we go investigate the oceanic twinkly. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Greibel is at the sink and the ship keeps giving him toothpicks. Rhu realises the ship might be going insane. ''(rolled 20 insight)'' Something about how it wasn't doing anything like this until it got here. Rhu Shit. Guys. Guys. Guys. I think this ship might be going insane. SHIP Please go on. Greibel comes back from the bathroom wearing a funny toothpick hat. RADEK I'm holding the hippie responsible. Greibel looks surprised. RHU (suddenly realising how stupid what he said was) ...insanely good at its job! Great job, SHIP! That tea was great! SHIP Would you like me to bring you down? THE GRAVEDIGGER I don't know about the tea. But I liked the sandwiches. SHIP, do you have some kind of zoom camera thingy you can do to take a look at the light in the sea? SHIP Of course, dear. THE GRAVEDIGGER Without having to dive or anything? I'm not a great swimmer. One of the screens zooms in a bunch, showing a bunch of wreckage with a bunch of glowing blobs stuck to it. RADEK That's a downed ship. THE GRAVEDIGGER Hmmmm. SHIP I aspire to that. RADEK You shouldn't, SHIP. He moves to take a closer look at the blobs, and adjusts a screen or something. ''(rolled 25 tech/arcana)'' THE GRAVEDIGGER You want to sink? The ship doesn't answer, and drifts slowly toward Meregan. Rhu looks around to try to find any servicable panels or manuals in the cabin, and finds a manual of style. ''(rolled 12 perception (natural 1))'' He picks it up and then immediately puts it back upon realising what it is. RADEK And those lights are... organic power cells? I've never seen them do something like that before. THE GRAVEDIGGER That sounds sort of bad. SHIP It looks painful. Do you know what it's like to not feel pain? Makes you almost wish you could. Greibel sympathizes with the ship in a synesthesia sorts of way. SHIP Thank you, dear. Rhu walks over to the bathroom and has a look at the escape pods. They look like escape pods. Rhu is just relieved that they're still around. THE GRAVEDIGGER Can you zoom in on one of the urban light things, SHIP? SHIP Of course, dear. The ship suddenly displays a very bright light that fills the entire screen. RHU Woah! GREIBEL Well that was helpful. Also, way trippy. I should write a psychedelic jam about this. THE GRAVEDIGGER Maybe zoom out a little? GREIBEL Ship, put on the light shield thing. Now it shows a view of the city. It looks mostly intact, with a couple of lights in some windows. The ship's lights also illuminate some of the buildings, revealing a city that is mostly intact aside from a couple of missing/broken towers. They look to have been sliced off somehow. Very, very neatly. THE GRAVEDIGGER That looks promising. On-screen, the city is getting a lot bigger. THE GRAVEDIGGER Um. SHIP. Could you stop moving, please? SHIP Of course, dear. The SHIP stops right next to the city. RHU I don't like landing on a city on water. What if we can't get off? GREIBEL Floating cities have been commonplace for hundreds of years. SHIP I miss squirrels. RHU (he sighs) I guess we should land, then. THE GRAVEDIGGER Any reason why not? SHIP I can land you near a complete lack of squirrels. RHU (to the ship) Tell me more about squirrels? GREIBEL Yes, I too would like to learn about these "squirrels". SHIP They're nice, you know. These squirrels. Fuzzy little things. Burrow into the skulls of humans and eat their brains. RHU (babbling) Because it's a city on water. I don't like cities on water. That's a terrible idea. But it seems to be our gate straight into... whatever is going on here. SHIP A Nadri invention, I believe. Do you know any Nadri? RADEK They ''would'' do something like that. Rhu steps backwards until he can see the escape pods from where he's standing. Greibel suddenly runs past him and locks himself in the bathroom. Something about diarrhea. SHIP sighs lengthily. Then there's a bit of a bump as the ship lands on one of the city's parking lots. Rhu runs to the door and tries to open it, but it doesn't open. SHIP I am so depressed. THE GRAVEDIGGER Still the Squirrel thing? SHIP There never even were any squirrels. RHU (staring at the door) I'm sorry to hear that, SHIP. (to others) Does anybody know how to undepress a ship? ...did anybody know ships could get depressed? Because I didn't. THE GRAVEDIGGER I don't know anything about ships. I spent the last century digging holes. RHU (still staring at the door) I was punching people. They were worth punching, but... I wish I'd stopped to learn more about ships. RADEK I'll check it for damage before we leave the surface. THE GRAVEDIGGER Damage? SHIP You think I'm damaged. That there is something WRONG with me. THE GRAVEDIGGER (loudly) I NEVER SAID THAT. I LIKE YOUR SANDWICHES. SHIP (accusingly) He did. (much more pleasantly) Thank you. RADEK Yes, my dear, and you're confirming that suspicion rather handily. The door suddenly slams open and Rhu is blown out of the SHIP. He does a bit of a roll when landing. ''(rolled 18 acrobatics)'' SHIP I think you should leave now. RADEK I intended to. THE GRAVEDIGGER Oh, don't mind him. He's a grumpy old man. (seeing Rhu is gone) Hey, SHIP! That wasn't very nice. Greibel is suddenly launched out of the bathroom. SHIP Take your diarrhetic friend and go. RADEK I'm the only person here who knows what he's talking about. THE GRAVEDIGGER Only because we're not talking about holes. If we were talking about holes, ''I'd'' be the smart person here. Gravy shrugs, picks up Griebel, slings him over a shoulder like a sack of hippy potatoes, and carries him out. Radek follows as well. EXT. Sarathi parking lot - Night The Gravedigger, Greibel, and Radek find Rhu kissing the ground. They're in a parking lot, surrounded by various large buildings. There are some other ships and cars, a couple of which seem to be totalled. There's also a random motorboat. A nearby sign helpfully indicates that this is the East-South Lot, open 22 hours. None of the lights they saw earlier are visible from here. THE GRAVEDIGGER Keep safe, SHIP! RHU (to Radek) Do you think the SHIP will be okay? THE GRAVEDIGGER And don't let any strange men bury you! That would make me sad. If someone came and buried you. Ganelon: Okay, so I just need to know something right now. Are the designs of any race other than Nissai (his own) something Radek should have respect for? Or are they all crazy enough to make talking ships that can get offended? Apheori (GM): Oh, they all are; most just usually don't. RADEK (grumbling) I didn't learn to build machines so that I would later be forced to reason with them. RHU (looking at the sign) Any clue which two hours its closed for? RADEK If something is wrong with our ship - besides how it was made in the first place - I'm sure I can find out. THE GRAVEDIGGER What, you think something fiddled with it, Radek? RADEK I'm not making any guesses until I've had a look. Recent events suggest that a look is necessary, that's all. RHU Radek, can you make the report? I think you've got the tablet-computer thing. THE GRAVEDIGGER Yeah. Do that thing. I'm gonna check out this motorboat. The Gravedigger makes "brrrrm brrrrm" noises and heads over to the motorboat. RHU (hovering over Radek) Things to report: lights randomly spread over the planet. We have landed in Meregan after our ship started acting... unhappy. There are spaceships and airships abandoned here. We'll report back when we have more. Radek waves him away and calls in. A secretary answers and responds very cluelessly. Gravy's inspection reveals the boat to be a rather nice but broken motorboat. There's a large ragged hole in the bottom. Like someone punched an armoured fist through it. Rhu walks over to Gravy and admires the hole in his motorboat. THE GRAVEDIGGER This looks weird. Are the other ships broken too? Gravy goes to look at some of the other ships. They look fairly normal, but another one also has a large hole in it. Greibel slides off Gravy's shoulder, then staggers toward Rhu keeping his legs apart as much as possible. GREIBEL I don't hate you, Rhu. I just wish you would've warned me. Rhu looks confused. GREIBEL Wait, it was Radek? Greibel winces and sort of waddles back over to Radek, and Rhu follows. RADEK (on the phone/earpeice) Yes, hello, this is the genius speaking. SECRETARY (PHONE) Are you calling for one? Sorry, what? RADEK You hired me to investigate the cataclysm of Sarathi. This is a report. SECRETARY (PHONE) Oh, right, of course! We still needed to get you set up in our computers, but it should all be in order now. The secretary gives some instructions on how to send the notes directly into the database. SECRETARY (PHONE) Just hit the button when you're done and it'll all update. RADEK Marvelous. We've already landed and I'll be taking readings before the day is finished, but first, our ship has been behaving strangely. SECRETARY (PHONE) (shocked) That's terrible! Include it in the report. Is there anything else you need? Radek pauses for a moment. RADEK Yes, I would like to register a complaint. SECRETARY (PHONE) Oh, yes? What kind of complaint? RADEK The rest of the crew that I've been saddled with are some of the most aggravating people I've ever had the misfortune of dealing with. THE GRAVEDIGGER (loudly, from some distance away, examining a random ship) That's not very nice. SECRETARY (PHONE) I'm sorry, this doesn't fall under any of the designated categories for appropriate complaints. RADEK Well, it should! SECRETARY (PHONE) Is there anything else? RHU (to Radek) Can we file a complaint against the inadequate complaint categories? RADEK Yes. My legs are quite tired and your bloody ship has locked us out in a state of depression. No doubt I'll need to walk everywhere to get this job done, now. I expect no less than a significant increase in salary for this affront. SECRETARY (PHONE) I am terribly sorry about that. You have a nice day, now. The secretary hangs up on him. RADEK Hrmph. GREIBEL Woah woah. This is so Lynchian. Rhu pretends to be investigating the ship but clearly has no idea what he's doing. RHU This looks like a normal ship to me. GREIBEL Do you think SHIP is holding out on us? THE GRAVEDIGGER Don't be silly. It gave us sandwiches. Bad people don't give sandwiches. GREIBEL Oh, okay. I can never tell from the hallucinations. RHU Greibel, are you any good at technology? Greibel smiles helpfully. GREIBEL I'm a stoned druid, Rhu. I can log onto Facebook, but don't expect much more than that. RHU (to Radek) Maybe you should give the ship a once over? I wouldn't get on board, though, it's liable to take off at any moment. RADEK Yes, yes. Coming. Gravy checks the SHIP for holes. ''(rolled 9 perception (natural 1))'' The SHIP dumps some fluid on his head. THE GRAVEDIGGER Hey! That's not nice at all! Radek chuckles to himself and also looks the ship over. He finds some scorch marks on the side. It looks like it may be the result of passing through a field of... bad stuff. Energy stuff. (rolled 27 technology) RADEK There's some kind of abnormal damage over here... Greibel looks on in bewilderment. THE GRAVEDIGGER Not a HOLE, is it? Radek examines the scorching more closely. (rolled 30 arcana (natural 20)) It looks like the sort of scouring that results from improper portal creation, like part of the hull went through a dimensional shift and burned slightly. Greibel sees a squirrel and slowly approaches it. ''(rolled 1 sanity)'' RADEK This... could be serious. Internal damage, maybe. In the background Greibel does some communing with nature stuff and ends up placidly petting the squirrel. The squirrel nibbles and stuff, and rubs its head against Greibel's hand. GREIBEL Time and space are a cruel mistress, Rhu or Radek or whoever that was. Greibel exudes and aura of solemn knowingness. Then the squirrel runs off behind some skiffs. ''(rolled 6 sanity)'' GREIBEL Heh heh. Go along little buddy. Apheori (GM): Hmm... There might be some inside the rounded building. The others look like office buildings and labs. Frezak (GM): I will go look at the rounded building. Radek: Did any of you notice us going through... portals? Frezak (GM): And see if I can glimpse the light as I do so. Apheori (GM): It looks like a big rounded building. The sun is coming up. Frezak (GM): damn. Greibel: Every moment of life seems like going through a portal to me Frezak (GM): DID I notice us going trhough a portal? Greibel: However if there are shops in those buildings, chances are they're abandoned and we can just take some much needed provsions Radek: That must be wonderful for you. Apheori (GM): Rhu noticed some strange static a couple of times on the way down. He can roll a die if he thinks it matters. Or not. Rhu: Insight? HIstory? Apheori (GM): Frezak: You noticed nothing. Frezak (GM): Hm. Apheori (GM): Rhu: Whichever. Either it's worth mentioning or you attribute it to being paranoid and not liking the ship. Rhu: rolling 1d20+4 insight check ( 18 ) +4 = 22 Apheori (GM): It's worth mentioning, then. OR so you THINK. Rhu: I ... thought there was some strange static a couple of times on the way down. It couldn't be that, though, could it? The problem started up in space, before we even came down to his infernal planet. Also: (to the rising sun) ugh. THE SUN BEAMS MERRILY. Apheori (GM): The building Rhu turns darkly so my back faces the sun, my nemesis, He That Wakes Things In The Morning. The Gravedigger: Hey, Sun. Apheori (GM): ´ d doors slide open as Frezak approaches. The Gravedigger: Awesome. Apheori (GM): Gravy: Roll a d20. The Gravedigger: DOORS WORK, GUYS Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20 ( 6 ) = 6 Radek: I'll have to take a closer look when we have more time. Apheori (GM): Okay. Frezak (GM): I'll head into the building, then. Greibel: Be careful though Gaurav: Btw I should warn you that it's 3:40am here so I'm absolutely definitely must leave soon. Please go on without me! Rhu can trail along behind you guys. Rhu: Wait! Don't split the party! Frezak (GM): SHHH. Greibel: Maybe the doors and other power-using utilities are only operating on residual backup power Frezak (GM): Bye, Rave. Apheori (GM): This might be a good place to break, anyhow. Greibel: We should make the most of every piower-using decisioon Frezak (GM): gaaah Radek: Unintentional transportations can't mean anything good. How bad, I'll find out later. Gaurav: Soon. I can do another 20 mins Apheori (GM): Okay. So y'all are going in? Gaurav: I'm hoping I'll stop then. But I might not. Bear Soup Guy: I can stay here for several hours if others can Frezak (GM): It's only 23 here. Rhu: I'll going in as long as everybody is going in. Otherwise I'm staying out here. Frezak (GM): Well, Gravy is going right in. Ganelon: I'll follow. Bear Soup Guy: Greibel is ready to go, although is pretty stoned and recovering from his bathroom incident Apheori (GM) AWAITS. THE BUILDING AWAITS. Apheori (GM): Dammit. Greibel, roll a d20 as you go in., Bear Soup Guy: Where am I going into? Apheori (GM): Everyone else: You enter the building and wind up in a lobby. It is pleasantly cooled, and smells like peppermint for some reason. There's nobody around. Everything is shiny. The building, probably. Frezak (GM): Desk. Desk? Lobby? Bear Soup Guy: oh okay d20 then rolling 1d20 ( 16 ) = 16 Rhu reaches out and touches a wall. "Shiny", he says. Apheori (GM): Greibel, on the other hand, sees corpses everywhere. Rhu: Man, I wonder how they kept this place so clean. Not a speck anywhere. The Gravedigger: It really is. Rhu: Are there any ways out of this room? Apheori (GM): Greibel sees Rhu walk through a corpse on the way to the wall. The Gravedigger: Maybe there's a little robot with a vaccum cleaner thing. Or a magic dust-killing spell! Greibel: WOOOOOOAH WHAT WHAT Apheori (GM): There are some stairs up, and some shops/service places off the the sides. Rhu: Gotta be robots. No other way. Greibel: Guys, we need to get out of here, right now Rhu reads the shop l-- Apheori (GM): The lobby also goes as a hall through the place to doors on the other side. Rhu: What? Why? The Gravedigger: What, not enough drugs? Greibel: Look at these people These were not natural deaths... The Gravedigger: I'll go check this shop. Maybe find a city map or something. Apheori (GM): Rhu: They have a chiropractor! Radek: What people? Rhu: rolling 1d20+11 perception check to see if I can see anything -- I'm not looking for corpses, just ... whatever has Greibel alarmed. ( 13 ) +11 = 24 Apheori (GM): Gravey walks into a bookeyshop. The Gravedigger cheerfully call "shut up, druggie" over his shoulder. Apheori (GM): Rhu: You smell something weird, like ozone, behind the peppermint. Frezak (GM): I'll look for mappy things. Or... newspapers. Or news thigns. Greibel: Gods dammit Gravedigger! Apheori (GM): Rhu: You also feel like you're missing something important. Greibel: You may not see the implements of my soul, but you can't tell me you don't see the agonized faces of these tortured corpses! The Gravedigger: Yes I can! Rhu carefully looks at all the shops, one by one. Greibel: Radek! You can see this! Can't you? Apheori (GM): The books are all collectors' editions of famous works. Greibel: You know the pain of perception! Frezak (GM): Bah. I'll try to find a shop that might have news things. Greibel shakes Radek by the shoulders Rhu: Guys. Something's not right. I can't put my finger on it. Ganelon: I suppose I'll have a look. Rhu: It's ... not the cleanliness. Ganelon: Perception? Rhu: What's that smell? Rhu walks up to the chiropractor and looks in the window Apheori (GM): Greibel: Roll a d20. Greibel: Rhu, that is the smell of DEATH Frezak (GM): Perception on smells rolling 1D20+8 ( 16 ) +8 = 24 Greibel: rolling 1d20 ( 10 ) = 10 Apheori (GM): Rhu: You too. Rhu laughs Rhu: I'm smelled death. That is _not_ death. I've* rolling d20 ( 2 ) = 2 Apheori (GM): Greibel: Some of the corpses fade out of sight. Greibel stands in awe Greibel tries to remember his teachings Apheori (GM): Frezak: It smells like bad magic. Like that time you tried to bury an illusion. Radek: Your breath is awful, but I wouldn't describe it as lethal. Get off of me. Greibel slowly calms Frezak (GM): Hey, guys! The Gravedigger: Guys! Guys guys guys! Apheori (GM): Rhu: The glass disappears and you fall through into the shop. Rhu: What's up, Gravy? The Gravedigger: This doesn't smell like peppermint. Rhu Man, this glass is so --- The Gravedigger: It smells like.... illuuuusion. Greibel: Everybody, I know I'm an outcast and a substance abuser but listen to me Rhu falls through glass The Gravedigger: I tried burying one once. It was hard. Radek perks up immediately. Rhu: Er Radek: Illusions?! Rhu: Glass doesn't just ... disappear, does it? The Gravedigger: I swear on my best shovel. Greibel: I may be hallucinating, but I saw many dead, lying here as though in repose The Gravedigger waves his best shovel. Greibel: These may be the illusions of a madman Rhu stands up and walks over to Gravy Greibel: I think they are impartions from a cosmic force beyond our own Something happened here Rhu: Something's wrong with the glass. It just ... vanished. Greibel: And we are tasked to find out what that was The Gravedigger: That sounds illlusory. Rhu taps on the glass at the bookstore Gravy is standing outside of. The Gravedigger: Radek! You can do magic, right? Do... something? Greibel: Well, gravedigger, you and I are wont to disagree but I believe that these corpses did not simply vanish Frezak (GM): I'm gonna just start poking random things with my shovel. Greibel: Someone used to live here Did you not notice the lack of skeletons? Bodies? Rotting flesh? Radek: Of course I can do magic. Apheori (GM): The Gravedigger pokes a bunch of things with his shovel. They seem like... things. Greibel: Is this place not immaculately clean for a highly populated area suddenly abandoned? Apheori (GM): Solid things. The Gravedigger: Maybe they were all buried, Greibel. BURIAL IS A THING THAT HAPPENS. Ganelon: I will do magic. Frezak (GM): DO MAGIC. Ganelon: With the intent to remove illusions. Alright? Rhu taps the glass outside the bookstore again. Greibel: Gravedigger I do not deny your skill at burial Apheori (GM): It's glass. Greibel: Which is why you must know that burial is a complicated process Apheori (GM): Gan: Do it. Greibel: To bury all those alive in this thriving metropolis would take weeks Ganelon: rolling 1d20+10 ( 17 ) +10 = 27 Greibel: Much longer than the time since the blackouts Frezak (GM): Maybe it was someone that was REALLY GOOD at burying. Rhu: Huh. Ganelon: I'm so terrified of the first time this is going to fair. Greibel: And it would leave a societal trace in these buildings not felt now Ganelon: Fail* Frezak (GM): That could do lots of people at once! Apheori (GM): Several dead bodies appear as if out of nowhere, though not nearly as many as Greibel saw before. The Gravedigger: Maybe it was someone that was REALLY GOOD at burying. That could do lots of people at once! Rhu: HOLY CRAP Greibel: There! Do you see them?! The Gravedigger: Huh. Radek: Bloody illusions. The Gravedigger: Dead people. IT'S SHOVEL TIME. Radek: Ask me sooner next time. Greibel: You called me a fool. I called me a....well a fool also, but still,. I knew what was going on Apheori (GM): A large fish also rolls down the stairs. The Gravedigger: hey! I just called you a druggie. Frezak (GM): How large? Apheori (GM): Almost gravedigger-sized. Rhu: Gah! Fish! Frezak (GM): WOW. THAT IS A BIG FISH. Apheori (GM): Yes. Frezak (GM): Anyone in danger of being crushed by the rolling fish? Rhu: Does the fish smell bad? Apheori (GM): It smells like a fish, but it's not rotting yet. It's still coming down the stairs and you all probably saw it. It's not going very quickly. Greibel: Gravedigger: I take no offense to your insinuation. It's true after all. However, AHHHHHH FISH Frezak (GM): RUUUN Ganelon: A living fish? The Gravedigger: FLEE THE FISH HAVE COME Apheori (GM): It's dead. Frezak (GM): I will evade the fish. Apheori (GM): It continues to roll slowly down the stairs. ...it stops at the base. Frezak (GM): I'll poke it. Bravely. Apheori (GM): With your shovel? Rhu: WAIT Frezak (GM): No, i'll use my spade for this. Apheori (GM): The spade pierces the fish's scales. Rhu: It might be pressurized. Like a sperm whale. Apheori (GM): It jiggles a bit. Frezak (GM): WOW. Apheori (GM): Like a fish. Frezak (GM): THAT IS A SOGGY FISH. The Gravedigger: This fish is lacking in structural integrity. Gaurav: haha The fish sits there. The Gravedigger leans near the fish head. The Gravedigger: HELLO? IS SOMEONE IN THERE? The fish does nothing. Frezak (GM): With my 18 Con lungs. The Gravedigger: I think it's empty, guys. Frezak (GM): Does the fishflesh look weird at all? The fish emits a loud belching noise and collapses slightly. The Gravedigger: It's farting, guys! Apheori (GM): It looks like fish. Fairly ordinary. Rhu: It's how they communicate. Apheori (GM): Greibel: Roll a d20. Frezak (GM): Do we know if this size is ordinary for this planet? Apheori (GM): Greibel or Radek may. Is there a random knowledge skill? Greibel: RIGHT! rolling 1d20 ( 15 ) = 15 Rhu: Nature? Streetwise (at a stretch)? Ganelon: You can't really be trained in random knowledge. Greibel: Yeah, it might be nature But more likely a more scientific deal Apheori (GM): Streetwise or nature. Add whatever's higher and roll. Ganelon: Nature for sure. Or Heal. Rhu: I have a decent nature for some reason. Hmm. Apheori (GM): Market values for fish is important. Greibel: Greibel is in tune with nature, and can probably relate to it on most planets, but he's still not very versed beyond his own planet and at first things might be weird to him on other worlds Ganelon: Heal because it involves medical knowledge. Rhu: rolling 1d20+6 nature check to examine the fish and recollect information on local fishes ( 4 ) +6 = 10 Apheori (GM): Whatever roll something. It looks like a fish and seems fairly normal as far as you can tell. Greibel: Well it's a big fish then Rhu walks over to the closest corpse and examines that instead. Apheori (GM): Greibel: Roll. Rhu: rolling 1d20+11 perception check to examine corpse ( 16 ) +11 = 27 Greibel: Where do me and, was it Rhu, me and Rhu or Radek or whoever I stayed with come froM? Apheori (GM): Somewhere else. >.> Greibel: I ROLLED BEFORE Rhu: You stayed iwth me, I think. Apheori (GM): That was something else! Greibel: Do I need a 20 again? Being high is hard work Apheori (GM): Yeah, and add a relevant skill. This is about the fish. Greibel: Okay I stayed wit Rhu Oh okay What about the fish? What's relevant? Nature? Frezak (GM): Why can't I roll Nature? Rhu: Do a nature check. You're a hippie, that should be your strong suit! Apheori (GM): Rhu: The corpse looks like it might have asphyxiated, but there's no indication how. Frezak (GM): BECAUSE IT IS A FISH. Greibel: Nature IS my strong suit But what am I rolling? D20 plus nature? Apheori (GM): Frezak: The dead elf corpse, not the fish. Rhu was looking at the other bodies. Greibel: Yeah. Rhu: This corpse looked like it asphyxiated. Maybe the fish fell on it ... before? Frezak (GM): Oh. Apheori (GM): Snrk. Radek: Does it smell like fish? Frezak (GM): I'm gonna go see if there are more fish at the top of the stairs? Apheori (GM): Rhu: IT doesn't smell like fish. Rhu smells the corpse he's next to. Frezak (GM): Maybe there is a fish hive. Rhu: ... if there's a Fish King here, I'm leaving. Apheori (GM): The gravedigger goes up the stairs. Gravedigger: Roll a d20. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20 ( 14 ) = 14 Apheori (GM): Okay. You come to the top of the stairs and find more shops and offices and things. There aren't any bodies or fish, but there are some potted plants. Frezak (GM): Wait. Was the fish... damp? Greibel: Sorry my roll thing Apheori (GM): Nope. Frezak (GM): A dry fish? Apheori (GM): Yup. Greibel: rolling 1d20 + 11 ( 7 ) +11 = 18 Apheori (GM): Greibel: Damn. Frezak (GM): Can I seek the smell of fish? To see how far it goes on this level? Apheori (GM): Sure. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+8 ( 19 ) +8 = 27 Greibel: Apparently the smell is pretty weak... Frezak (GM): NOSTRIL POWER. Apheori (GM): The fish moved through the air! The air has smell! Rhu: Everywhere probably smells like fish now. Apheori (GM): And the gravedigger follows the smell into a nearby shop. ...which is missing. Rhu: Gravy: don't go too far! Guys: we should go up after him. Apheori (GM): The floor inside just gives way to open air outside the building. The Gravedigger: GUYS. THE FISH SMELL COMES FROM A SHOP WITH A BIG HOLE. Apheori (GM): (The door is open.) Bear Soup Guy: Uh-oh... Rhu walks up the stairs after Gravy. Frezak (GM): I'll peek out and see if there are nay fish crawling up the wall. Bear Soup Guy: Domestic violence upstairs....maybe Apheori (GM): No fish appear to be crawling up the wall. Frezak (GM): Hmm. Ganelon: I've got no reason to stick around on the lower level. Bear Soup Guy: Hold on, I'm gonna call someone Ganelon: I'll head up. Frezak (GM): GHOSTBUSTERS Apheori (GM): Gan: Roll a d20. Ganelon: rolling 1d20 ( 13 ) = 13 Apheori (GM): You see some strange shimmering in the air as you go up the stairs, but it disappears when you pass. Frezak (GM): Maybe you should try to dissilude every new place. Ganelon: I suspect illusions, yeah. Apheori (GM) giggles. Frezak (GM): Can i try to smell more illusions? And would I have a bonus for knowing the smell i'm looking for? Apheori (GM): No bonus, but yes. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+8 ( 10 ) +8 = 18 My trusty nose. Always up for some nasality. Apheori (GM): You can't tell one way or another. Frezak (GM): Hmm. The Gravedigger: I can't smell any illllluuuusions over this fish smell. Sorry, guys. Ganelon: I see everything the same way he does, right? Same shop with a hole and all that? Apheori (GM): Yes. Rhu: We need to assume that everything is illusory here. Ganelon: I'll start by putting a foot down past where the floor would normally be. Rhu carefully edges along the wall. The Gravedigger: WAIT. Frezak (GM): I will poke the ground with my spade. Apheori (GM): Your foot stops where the floor would be. Frezak (GM): And push the skinny old man away. Rhu: ... huh Apheori (GM): The spade, however, goes through without resistence. Rhu: HUH Ganelon: More grumbling about illusions ensues. The Gravedigger: Waht. This is perplexing. Frezak (GM): I'll pull out an axe. Ganelon: Do you know what it means to "take 5" in D&D, Apheori? Apheori (GM): Nope! Frezak (GM): And drop it onto the space where the shovel went through. Bear Soup Guy: Sorry about that I had to call 911 about domestic violence Literally Frezak (GM): What. Ganelon: Spend 5 in-game minutes to do a skill check with a fixed roll of 10. Frezak (GM): I thought you were talking about fish. Apheori (GM): RAHB: Hopefully it wasn't the woman doing it. They'll arrest the man. Bear Soup Guy: And I'm also drunk Frezak (GM): WHOOOO Bear Soup Guy: No it's the man Apheori (GM): Good. Gaurav: RAHB: Ouch. Hope things turn out well. Bear Soup Guy: I've heard indications the man is a shithole but never anthing evident enough Apheori (GM): Okay, so the axe clatters and lands on nothing. Ganelon: Also, my bad, it's called taking 10. Apheori (GM): Ganelon: Hmm. Bear Soup Guy: I think they're lulled into enough of a sense of security now where they feel I won't repot anytthing Aaaaaaaaand my typijng is shot Ganelon: I can just *not* do it if you prefer. Gaurav: Ganelon: What's a "fixed roll of 10"? Apheori (GM): You can do it with some things. Not others. Ganelon: As in, rather than a 1d20, it's just 10. Bear Soup Guy: Right so they won't trace it to me and stuff so Ganelon: But it takes time to do. Bear Soup Guy: Back to playing I gues Apheori (GM): Gan: If you do it, Greibel has to roll a sanity check. Frezak (GM): I'll take my axe back. Greibel: Give me a reader's digest of what happened, I had an acid flachback Gaurav: BSG: take care, dude. Frezak (GM): And be perplexed. Ganelon: I'll pass for now. And just do the more immediate un-illusioning. Rhu: Greibel: Gravy followed the fish smell up to the second floor and into a storefront which, ah, doesn't exist. Frezak (GM): Flashcast that shit, dude. Bear Soup Guy: Nah I ain't leaving Ain't much I can do Ganelon: rolling 1d20+10 ( 11 ) +10 = 21 Apheori (GM): What was the last thing you saw? Bear Soup Guy: 911 was cool about it though. hell they're probably here now for all I know Rhu: Radek stepped into the non-existent storefront and his foot made contact with an invisible floor. Bear Soup Guy: Oh that's cool Rhu: We are now investigating the nature of this invisible floor. And rolling sanity checks. Which are a bad, bad sign. Apheori (GM): Radek casts the thingy and it seems to... not entirely work. Nothing really happens. On the other hand, he does notice that the shop is partially there. Sort of. Greibel: I mean, Oh that's far out Apheori (GM): If he looks at it right. Greibel: Shop Of Illusions! The Gravedigger rolls his shoulders. The Gravedigger: Okay, guys, stand back. Let's sort this thing out. Frezak (GM): okay, so. Rhu: Two options: we could hold one end of the rope and let someone else walk into this non-shop shop with the other end. Or two: Greibel turns himself into a spider and does the same thing, but with silk. Frezak (GM): My encounter power, 'roots of stone', creates a burst of rippling earth. Rhu: (there might be other options) Frezak (GM): I would like to use that power to shake up the shop floor. Rhu: oooh Frezak (GM): See if we can break the illusion Gravy-style. Ganelon: By breaking the floor? Rhu: Might it cause bits of the floor to break? If some break and some are invisible, things could get ... complicated. Ganelon: Yeah, I think Radek will stand back at this proposition. Frezak (GM): Just the edge, where it looks broken. Greibel: I will totally turn into a spiderr Rhu: Can Greibel turn himself into a hummingbird and go ... hover over things? WAIT Greibel: If that's what needs to happen because spiderrs seriously give me quite a rush Rhu: Can we ask SHIP to fly over and hover outside the building? And use its sensors to poke at the invisible shop? Frezak (GM): I think it's sulking. Radek: Now if only you could turn into a productive member of society. Ganelon: (My own opinion of Greibel is significantly higher) Apheori (GM): Hee. The Gravedigger: Seriously. I'm up for breaking this shit. Ganelon: I did sign on for playing the mean old guy, though. Frezak (GM): We're only one floor up. I can take that fall, no problem. Apheori (GM): There's a significantly longer drop. Frezak (GM): What? Apheori (GM): The lot, it turns out, was several floors up. Underneath the lack of shop there are some other towers and ocean. Frezak (GM): Ah. Anything we can tie me to? A nice pillar, for instance? Apheori (GM): A handrail on a wall nearby. Aren't any pillars. Rhu: o.0 Frezak (GM): Does it look like it would hold my weight? Apheori (GM): A couple of stakes in the ground. Rhu: I suggest we tie the lightest member of the party on to you. Apheori (GM): It could. Frezak (GM): How much of a could? Rhu: Anything on the ceiling? A ceiling fan hook? Ganelon: ...What good would that do? Frezak (GM): I am really heavy. Apheori (GM): There's also a bridge a few feet away above where the shop had been, if you can grapple it. Or maybe go to it the next floor up. Frezak (GM): Well, I have 50 feet of rope. Anyone with an adventurer kit has the same. And I HAVE a grappling hook. Rhu: We can also tie you with multiple ropes. But I still think we should get Greibel to do the flying-animal-or-insect thing. Frezak (GM): Sure, if he can. Rhu: it's safer, simpler, and -- given that BSG is drunk -- much more amusing. unless the entire room collapses or something Frezak (GM): If the DM says yes, sounds safer. Apheori (GM): Go for it. Frezak (GM): TURN INTO A PIGEON. A HUNTING PIGEON OF PREY. Gaurav: haahaha Bear Soup Guy: Okay sorry I did other thingd Should I turn into a flying animal? Frezak (GM): yeah,and poke around. Gaurav: What about dragonfly? Excellent hovering capability, dragonflies. Apheori (GM): Mass conversion. Remember mass conversion. Frezak (GM): A swarm of pigeons. Frezak (GM): A SWARM. OF PIGEONS. A ROYAL PIGEON SWARM. Frezak (GM): DO IT NOW. Rhu: That is the best idea anybody has ever had ever Frezak (GM): NOW. Rhu: I am in awe I need to sit down Rhu sits down against the wall opposite the "shopfront" Apheori (GM): Rhu: Roll a d20 Bear Soup Guy: I can't turn into swarms because I'm not trained in stuff Rhu: Crap rolling 1d20 ( 11 ) = 11 Bear Soup Guy: But I'll totally turn into a finch or somethintg Frezak (GM): Sure you can. Swarm druids are just better at it. Apheori (GM): Okay. Frezak (GM): IF YOU DO NOT TURN INTO A PIGEON SWARM I WILL FIND YOU AND MAKE YOU EAT YOUR LEGS. Gaurav: 0.0 Bear Soup Guy: oh okay So I can do swarm but I'm not great at it but that's mostly a combat thing Frezak (GM): yarr. Greibel turns into a swarm of pigeons Frezak (GM): WHOOOO Apheori (GM): Several of the pigeons immediately fly into the wall and fall on the ground, dazed. The Gravedigger: HOLY FUCK, GUYS. GREIBEL JUST GOT EATEN BY PIGEONS. Rhu rubs my eyes Rhu: err, his eyes Greibel: WHAT NO I AM PIGEONS Frezak (GM): That is the best line yet, BSG. Greibel: +D Ganelon: I have no comment other than this one, to tell you that I am amused. Bear Soup Guy: As am I I have to take a minute to order some e-liquid and the I am completely devoted to this Frezak (GM): Can we find tins of soup or paint or flour or some liquid or powder in any of the shops? Apheori (GM): So what'll you have this swarm of pigeons do? Dance? Gaurav: e-liquid? Apheori (GM): Frezak: Some of them might have some. Do you search? Frezak (GM): I will go look for such a thing. Apheori (GM): Okay. You find some. Frezak (GM): Awesome. Apheori (GM): Paint and floor cleaner. Roll a d20. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20 ( 9 ) = 9 Apheori (GM): Okay. You come back with paint and floor cleaner and notice nothing odd. Aside from the swarm of pigeons. Frezak (GM): Once the pigeons have cleared, I want to throw paint all over the inside of the mysterious shop. Apheori (GM): Since the pigeons are just swarming, perhaps you might as well do it now. >.< Frezak (GM): Sure. GO, PAINT. Apheori (GM): You dump paint on where the floor should be. Some of the paint hits the floor and spreads, showing where it is. Some of it goes right through it. Some of it hits, spreads, and then suddenly falls. The Gravedigger: oh. Crap. Apheori (GM): You also get some paint on a chair. Rhu: Why did it do that? And why does it work with paint, and not with spades? The Gravedigger: You mentioned portals, Radek? Apheori (GM): It's INVISIBLE. Rhu: ... oh crap The Gravedigger: I think this place is all phasing. It's.. going between places. Radek: I have to agree. The Gravedigger: Things are real and not real. Both. its... SCHRODINGER'S SHOP. Shit's fucked up. Radek slaps the Gravedigger across the back of the head. Frezak (GM): can you reach? My head? Apheori (GM): If he jumps, sure. Radek: That isn't how Shrodinger's experiment worked. Frezak (GM): Also you might as well punch a wall. The Gravedigger: Maybe you should tell the Company this. I have made a discovery. Tell them i'm super smart. Radek: Valman was the first one to perform in-depth studies into the nature of phasing and other dimensional instabilities. Hmph. The Gravedigger: I DISCOVERY ABOUT HERE. GO DO THE TALKING THING. Radek: Bah! Fine! Ganelon: These are just written reports, right? Frezak (GM): Else I will make a lung attack Vs Fort. Apheori (GM): Yeah, basically. Frezak (GM): hey, can we record a video? Apheori (GM): It's like this app where you fill in some fields and put notes. Frezak (GM): And have me dump the other stuff? Apheori (GM): You can record a video. Frezak (GM): And smile and wave? Apheori (GM): Sure. Frezak (GM): because I totally want to do that now. Rhu: :) Ganelon: Let's do that. Frezak (GM): I will. I'll be waving and grinning and pointing at myself and the floor. Gaurav: Remember when I said I should really go to bed? Because it was a quarter to 3? That was an hour and ten minutes ago. So once this video is recorded I am outta here. Frezak (GM): Oops >.> Gaurav: Feel free to keep going -- this stuff is awesome! I can read the transcript afterwards. No no I said it was a quarter to 4 and it is now a quarter to 5. I dub tomorrow Coffee Day. Ganelon: I wouldn't mind stopping afterwards. It's not exactly too late for me to stay up, but I you needn't miss out and I do have other things I could do. Bear Soup Guy: I came back and read the stuff but now I'm running back to the ship for the bathroom Gaurav: I'm also gone all the way 'til Dec 30, so if you're going to play before then, you'll have to do it without me anyway. I really don't mind! The transcripts are going to be awesome. Apheori (GM): One of you may want to mention how there are probably bathrooms here. Frezak (GM): No, not really. I'm busy doing science. Rhu: (mutters) Don't split the party ... (loudly, to Greibel) THERE MIGHT BE A LOO IN HERE SOMEWHERE Apheori (GM): The Gravedigger doing science. This is awesome. The Gravedigger: QUIET. I AM DOING SCIENCE. Rhu: Man, we could not have picked a better building for Gravy to ply his trade. IT'S ALL HOLES! The Gravedigger: is the thing recording yet? Rhu looks for the red light Radek: Go ahead. The Gravedigger waves at the camera thing. The Gravedigger then splashes the stuff over the floor. Rhu: So unless the secretary is yet another in a series of illusions, we've now achieved something nobody else has, which is that we landed and sent back a message without dying first. Frezak (GM): And waving and pointing excitedly. Apheori (GM): The floating paint, including the stuff on the floor, all falls through at once. Frezak (GM): Also smiling a lot. Radek: Hm.. The Gravedigger: THIS IS HOLE SCIENCE. Apheori (GM): On the chair, I mean. Radek: Quiet down, they can hear you just fine. Frezak (GM): I want to unwind some rope, tie an handaxe to it, and swing it around the room to see if it hooks around the chair. Rhu leans over to see if I can see wehre the paint has fallen to Apheori (GM): Most of it seems to have hit a roof below. The rest probably went in the ocean. Rhu: ... why would you build a roof before a room? Even an invisible room? Can we see the sky through the "top" of the room? Apheori (GM): IT'S A FUTURE CITY THING. Frezak (GM): FUTURE. Apheori (GM): FUTURE. Gaurav: haha. The stylish thing is to have a roof below a floor below a roof below a floor. Apheori (GM): Rob: Roll a d20. Gaurav: It's how you know you've arrived. Bear Soup Guy: THE ECIG GUYS CHARGE A LOT FOR SHIPPING AND THEN ALSO I READ STUFF Radek: We believe this space to be part of a dimensional instability of some sort. Bear Soup Guy: Oh me roll a d20 rolling 1d20 ( 15 ) = 15 Apheori (GM): Damn you. Radek: The floor seems to be changing states between tangible and intangible constantly. Gaurav: "It's a creepy floor", Rhu adds helpfully. The Gravedigger: It's here and not. THis is going to make moving around here very difficult. Because of holes. Greibel: We just have to perceive man Gaurav: This is going to be a minority opinion, but how do we know this isn't some kookie "illusion for the paying public" stunt this mall was doing? Maybe we should go back and focus on the dead guys? Greibel: It will be hard but valuable Apheori (GM): Gaurav: Your guy should mention that. Greibel: You have no idea how happy Gravy is. This is all he hoped and more. All he needs now is some to bury. Gaurav: oops, sorry Frezak (GM): OOPS SOORY. Bear Soup Guy: Guarav: The paying public generally doesn't want to be fooled though Frezak (GM): I stole Greibel >.> Radek: That will be in the report. Rhu: Wait a minute. how do we know this isn't some kookie "illusion for the paying public" stunt this mall was doing? Maybe we should go back and focus on the dead guys? Bear Soup Guy: This seems like more than just a gimmick The Gravedigger: Yes, dead guys! I'll dig a hole. Frezak (GM): Actually. I could tell how long they've been dead. Bear Soup Guy: OH NO I WAS STOLEN That was odd Apheori (GM): Excellent idea. Rhu: That's true, but ... maybe a crazy scientist did a thing. Maybe another Gravedigger was researching advanced digging, or something. We don't know that this weird room has anything to do with anything apart from the fish. Frezak (GM): I'll go down and fo that. Apheori (GM): Hmm, Greibel is still pigeons, isn't he? Frezak (GM): He is always pigeons. Rhu: Greibel: come perch on my finger. Frezak (GM): You'll need a big finger. Rhu: A Flock of Pigeons. Frezak (GM): To have a pigeon swarm perch on. Rhu: just the one to start with? or do they have to travel together? Greibel: I guess I'm still pigeons Frezak (GM): I'll go examine the dead guys for deadness. Greibel: I forgot I was pigeons but I was the whole time Apheori (GM): Pigeons: Roll a d20. Greibel: r/ 1d20 err rolling 1d20 ( 6 ) = 6 Apheori (GM): The dead guys appear to have been dead varying amounts of time - some only a few hours or days, others months, others dessicated entirely, probably preserved by the building's environmental control. Rhu: Damn Apheori (GM): They're mostly humans and elves, but some of them are also races you don't recognise, possibly subraces. The Gravedigger: These dead guys don't have consistent times of deadness. Bear Soup Guy: Does everybody see all of them now Apheori (GM): Greibel: You fly out the door into the shop that isn't there, bounce off the far wall, and then wonder where everyone went. Everyone sees about the same number now, though there are less than you saw initially. Greibel: Aaaaaah what Rhu: Dude, we can see your corpses now. Calm down. Apheori (GM): You failed a sanity check. AS A FLOCK OF PIGEONS. Greibel: Okay, I have experience with being alone and pensive Apheori (GM) points and laughs. Frezak (GM): THE SWARM IS MAAAAAD Greibel: Can I turn back to elf man? Frezak (GM): What kind of clothes are they wearing? Apheori (GM): You can. Greibel: Cause yeah The pigeons don't seem to be sane Lokshmi: Get back inside first. Greibel: Okay I'm me again and wandering Rhu: ... Lokshmi: You... idiot. Rhu: Did you just turn back into an elf before you left the dreaded room of emptiness? Frezak (GM): WHo's the god talking to? Greibel: I think I left and then turned to elf From shcok value shock* Lokshmi: No. You didn't. I had to pull you in. (Talking to Greibel.) Apheori (GM): And you realise there's a cat talking to you. Greibel: Whhaaaaaaaaaat Loksmit Apheori (GM): You probably don't recognise her. Rhu: So, the rest of us are downstairs and we can't see all this, right? Greibel: AAAAAAGH MY MIND Apheori (GM): Right. Rhu: Oh look a corpse (examines corpse) Ganelon: Yeah. Greibel: What do you need to impart to me locksmith? Frezak (GM): Did Radek send the report? Lokshmi: Locksmith? Apheori (GM): You sent it, yeah. Frezak (GM): Also, what are the dead guys wearing? What kind of clothes? Apheori (GM): Then wandered off. Rhu: We definitely recorded a report. Not sure if we sent it. Greibel: You say tomato, I say nebula Apheori (GM): Ordinary to unusual clothes. But there's a fair amount of variation on most worlds so it doesn't seem too odd. Frezak (GM): Right. Lokshmi narrows her eyes and watches Greibel suspiciously. Ganelon: I'll send the report after we have footage of the floor having stuff on it, then becoming intangible. Which I guess has happened. Presumably I'm just filling in the written part. Gaurav: Okay, 1hr 30 mins after my last I-gotta-go pronouncement means I absolutely definitely have to go. Apheori (GM): Right, then. Frezak (GM): IS THIS THE END? Gaurav: This has been waaaaaay more exciting and creepy than I thought it was going to be. Frezak (GM): Also, sorry for the late night, Rave >.> Gaurav: no no keep going! I'll read the transcripts once I get a stable internet connection on Dec 30. Ganelon: See you later! Apheori (GM): Okay. Gaurav: and I'll see you all after Frezak (GM): have funs! HAPPY HOLES, RAVE. Apheori (GM): He will be important at some point. I dunno if he's important yet. Gaurav: The late night was worth it ^_^ have fun everybody! Take care BSG re: upstairs and all that! I will have the best of holes Apheori (GM): Take care. Gaurav: my character sheet is at https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19429772/dnd-skype/Rhu.pdf my religion check is +7 my perception is +11 and everybody within 5 sq of me gets a perception of +1 that should be all you need to know byeeeeeee Frezak (GM): Oh, elfy bonuses! Nice! Apheori (GM): Can someone reformat that? Also: Do we want to keep going? Frezak (GM): I do. But I think Gan had things? Ganelon: Hm. Well, yes. Things that could be delayed. Frezak (GM): heh. By how much? Apheori (GM): Dammit, and I forgot what Lokshmi was actually going to say to the party. Bloody stoned Greibel and his causing her to show up too soon... Ganelon: I'm juggling a lot of conversations and other such things. Frezak (GM): Up to you, Gan. Ganelon: Then I'll have to politely request that we continue this another day. Apheori (GM): When shall it be? Frezak (GM): I'm busy 'till about the 27th. Ganelon: Well, the 25th is probably going to require me to go do family stuff. Apheori (GM): 27th works for me. Ganelon: Other than that, just not on Fridays ('cause that's when I work on details for my own D&D campaign) or Sundays (Frezak's campaign) are fine. Any time. 'Course, the 27th is a Friday. Well, I can play, just not late. Bear Soup Guy: Okay I came back Apheori (GM): Rob: 27th work for you? Ganelon: Like, really late. Two hours from now would be cutting things close. Three would be unacceptably late. Bear Soup Guy: Apheori: no unfortunatelu, well maybe I have to go to have christmas stuff with my dad and then stay at my sister's house and watch her dogs Very early 28th is good but only barely Apheori (GM): Can't you online with dogs? Frezak (GM): Might as well leave it for the 30th, then. Bear Soup Guy: We should all just reconvene after these bloody holidays Frezak (GM): When Rave is back. Apheori (GM): Aye, mayhap. >.< Bear Soup Guy: I CAN online with dogs Frezak (GM): Revolting. Bear Soup Guy: If we're doing about the time we are now On saturday Friday is no good at all Apheori (GM): Can everyone do saturday? Bear Soup Guy: Neither is....tomorrow or any other day until fridau Frezak (GM): I can any day from the 27th. Bear Soup Guy: I can do saturday yeah For a few hours but I can't promise past 12 PST Which would be 2 Colorado time Ganelon: I can. Apheori (GM): Well, that'll give us a few hours, at least, no? Bear Soup Guy: At least yeah More build to the story And then in January we can really plow into the action Ganelon: More opportunities to be grouchy. And a know-it-all. Frezak (GM): MORE HOLE SCIENCE Ganelon: If anyone ever calls Radek on that device, he's going to say "Genius here." Bear Soup Guy: HOLE SCIENCE Apheori (GM): Yes! Bear Soup Guy: I will talk to Radek a lot Ganelon: I'm quite satisfied with how this has gone so far Frezak (GM): Gravy will shout "I KNOW HOLE THINGS" And just blot out any of Radek's attempt to speak. Bear Soup Guy: Because he's most similar to my sensibilitieis Apheori (GM): Heh. Ganelon: I even got to complain to someone who didn't care and couldn't solve my problems like an authentic old person. Apheori (GM): Hee. Bear Soup Guy: I got to not pay attention a lot of times like an authentic hippie Ganelon: Something for everyone. Apheori (GM): I'd say this actually worked fairly well. Ganelon: Holes, receptionists, and tripping balls. Frezak (GM): It did, Names. Apheori (GM): Not that I'm sure what 'well' actually looks like... Frezak (GM): Wellll I could link you my campaign? >.> That's the only game example I have >.> Apheori (GM): I'm not sure I'd get around to reading it. Frezak (GM): FINE THEN BE THAT WAY Apheori (GM): SORRY. Ganelon: I consider Magellan to be the absolute paragon of campaign wellness. Frezak (GM): Ehhhh. Ganelon: Okay, Katie kind of slows things down a lot. Frezak (GM): JUST A BIT. Ganelon: But I love the talking and the combat and the characters and the setting. Just... everything. Frezak (GM): WHAT. YOU PREFER THAT OVER HARICOT? YOU BASTARD. Ganelon: And I hate Year's House but that's totally fine because it's the point. No, Haricot is great! Frezak (GM): AND SCISSORS. AND THE GHOSTS. AND THE DRUNK DUDE. I HATE YOU. Sort of. Ish. Frezak (GM): Well. Ganelon: I'm interested in seeing how combat plays out in this campaign, though. Apheori (GM): So am I. O_o Ganelon: I actually like the idea of Radek having a rifle much more than I originally thought. Frezak (GM): Well, we have a fairly balanced party. A bit low on damage, perhaps. Bear Soup Guy: I'm interested in the whole thing Ganelon: It was probably a result of me being able to visualize just how insanely long his "no penalty" range was. Bear Soup Guy: This is so much more than I expected already Frezak (GM): i'll be using an at-will to slow that should help things. Bear Soup Guy: This is my first real D&D experience and it has been fantabulous Apheori (GM): Mine too! Bear Soup Guy: +D err =D Frezak (GM): You might want the Monster Manuals, Names. For mosnters. Apheori (GM): Good point. Frezak (GM): You can always rename them. Ganelon: I can send her those. Frezak (GM): Excellent idea. Apheori (GM): We never even got to the chickens. Frezak (GM): Oh dear. Bear Soup Guy: Gan you are so cool Thanks for being so cool Apheori (GM): You guys are all cool. Frezak (GM): Ehhhhh I'm not. And, no offence. Gan is not someone I would label 'cool'. he knows to much D&D to be cool. We're cursed. Apheori (GM): Pfft. Frezak (GM): To not be cool. Tainted. CORRUPTED. But that's cool. Apheori (GM): You're like uncyclopedia admins: Cool and sexy even if everyone hates you. Ganelon: I appreciate the flattery. Frezak (GM): oh, I know I'm sexy and hated. Ganelon: But I am definitely not sexy. Apheori (GM): And cool. Frezak (GM): Ehhh. Bear Soup Guy: Coooooooooool Ganelon: I'm fine with being called cool. Bear Soup Guy: I'm so sexy and hated they gave me the other thing God my typing is shot Gan, you are cool You may be sexy in our wildest dreams Frezak (GM): ehhhh Bear Soup Guy: But at least in reality you are very much cool Frezak (GM): Gan. I will try my bestest to make my campaign better than Mr.K.'s. Ganelon: You're doing fine, Frezak. It may very well just be the character dynamic that you and I have going that makes me enjoy his more. Frezak (GM): ohhh. Ganelon: Because really, Freya is the greatest. Frezak (GM): Welll. Ganelon: No. She is the greatest. Frezak (GM): When you say 'greatest'. Apheori (GM): Guys, let's get the non-campaign stuff back in skype. Frezak (GM): Right. Ganelon: Yes, let's. Bear Soup Guy: I already love my character dynamic with everyone Apheori (GM): It's hard enough keepin track of backlog already. XD Bear Soup Guy: Gravedigger and I are going to get into some shit and that will effect our direction and that's fantastic As far as I'm concerned every party should have some polar opposite characters Apheori (GM) drags RAHB back to skype. Bear Soup Guy: Mine is so passive unless we're beijng attacked and GD is so aggressive Oh right, back to skype