Holes/Session 32
A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
Apheori (GM): Okay, so the situation now is that you're all outside the guardhouse, apparently headed to the inn to talk to George, the guard who might have had an idea about the zombies. Gravy is apparently carrying Rhu. Greibel is petting the porridge. Dave and Amadi are elsewhere. DO YOU DO ANYHING OUTSIDE? Frezak (GM): Presumably we walk to the inn. Apheori (GM): Okay. Rhu tries desperately to avoid squealing "wheee!" and to focus on all the reasons for him to be sad. Apheori (GM): Inn is standard fantasy inn with a really bad bard. Folks throw things at the bard occasionally. There's an innkeeper, also glaring at the bard. George is in the corner wearing a pair of industrial earmuffs. Frezak (GM): Industrial? Apheori (GM): The sort folks use when jackhammering a sidewalk. Gaurav: Someone is presumably making a killing selling those in this town. But why not just get rid of the bard instead? Maybe he's extremely powerful and we should hire him. Frezak (GM): Anyone have Telepathy? Gaurav: Frezak: How is Gravy carrying Rhu? Has he put me down yet? Apheori (GM): Rhu might have telepathy. Roll sanity to find out! Gaurav: ?!?! Rhu: rolling d20 ( 12 ) = 12 Apheori (GM): Nope, he's just blind. Gaurav: Yay! Maybe a very high insight counts as telepathy? Mine's 7. But it might be easier to just tower over George and see where that gets us. Apheori (GM): Aye, talking to people is probably a good place to start. Frezak (GM): What did we even want? Gaurav: Have we figured out where we are yet? I think it was mostly that he had an alternate theory about why the Holes were around, and he talked sense about the local government, so we think he might have noticed something that we haven't. Ludicrous as that sounds. Oh. Apheori (GM): George had mentioned something about the source of the zombies. Gaurav: We could also stop the bard, which might get him to take the ear protectors off. Maybe Greibel could turn into a hundred million birds and sign at him. sing* Frezak (GM): I think he did mention a nearby town that was familiar in name. Apheori (GM): What was the name? Also some of you might be hungry by now. Frezak (GM): I don't remember. Else I'd have said something more precise. Apheori (GM): Oh. Okay. So everyone just stands around awkwardly? Frezak (GM): Is the bard bad enough to reasonably justify the use of earmuffs? Apheori (GM): Potentially. Rhu remains awkwardly in Gravy's arms. Apheori (GM): It may also have something to do with what he's singing about. Because now he starts singing about you guys. It's kind of insulting. And screechy. And a bit waily. Bear Soup Guy: Is it RACIST awww Apheori (GM): Some of it. The racism is mitigated by his having no idea what race most of you are. So it's more along the lines of log-man hoisted by a dog-man, big big big dog-man, all about are soggy men, loiging in a bog-man... Then it dissolves into a largely unintelligible mess. Bear Soup Guy: Randy Newman, ladies and gentlemen! Rhu: (under his breath) ... what is going on? Frezak (GM): I'll head up to the bar and ask the Barman if the bard is like the son of some lord or if there's any reason I can't just toss him out. Apheori (GM): Was he the one in that apocalypse family guy episode? Bear Soup Guy: He was Apheori (GM): Heeeeee, yes . That guy. Bear Soup Guy: Sweet :D Apheori (GM): Singing about what he sees. Frezak: Barman says no, they're not even sue where the guy came from, just that he keeps coming back and the bouncer gave up on removing him. Barman also asks you why you're carrying that stick of an elf and if you intend to use Rhu's boniness as a weapon. Barman also also mentions that they have a size limit on allowed weapons, so the answer to that needs to be no. Rhu: (under his breath) What bony elf? The Gravedigger: Nah, he's a passenger. Frezak (GM): I'll put the Avenger on a chair and go pick up teh bard. Apheori (GM): Bard runs away when you come near him, and also starts singing faster and louder. Other folks in the inn are starting to watch with interest. Roll to grab the bard anyway or something. Frezak (GM): Tell my Shovel to bonk him on teh head. Chainreach SHovel Daily pwoer. Rhu realises that he's at a table, leans onto it, and says to anybody else at the table: "Excuse me, have you seen a bony elf around here somewhere? I think that terrible singer is looking for one." Apheori (GM): Is that an attack? Frezak (GM): yup Apheori (GM): Roll to attack. Greibel walks over to Rhu confused as to why he's talking to a table with nobody sitting at it Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+9 ( 17 ) +9 = 26 VS AC On a hit he's knocked down. Apheori (GM): Yup, that totally hits him, knocks him down, and causes him to start shrieking unintelligibly. It's really high-pitched and rather uncomfortable. Gaurav: Does that attack come with any sound effects? Frezak (GM): I'll go drag him outside and throw him into a hole. Yes. Apheori (GM): The other folks in the inn look decidedly pained and one guy passes out. Frezak (GM): SPOIIIIING Apheori (GM): You throw him in the hole and he still shrieks. The rest of you: everyone in the inn seems much happier. Passed out guy starts snoring. George doesn't seem to have noticed any of this past his earmuffs. Frezak (GM): I'll head back to the Inn. Grumps here? Apheori (GM): Grumps? Bear Soup Guy: Two guesses who Grumps is :P Apheori (GM): Must be Greibel. Gravy: The barman pours you a drink. Bear Soup Guy: I AM TIRED OF ALL OF THESE DRUGS. DON'T TOUCH ME. Apheori (GM): BSG: Tried medicating Rhu? Bear Soup Guy: That was supposed to have (Greibel) at the front but apparently it thought my triable brackets were HTML code Triable Triangle Apheori (GM): < Bear Soup Guy: I think I tried healing Rhu before, right? Apheori (GM): Healing, yes. Not drugging. Bear Soup Guy: I found out that he's linked to Hazz in a non-biological way Ahhhhh Gaurav: Did you try curing the blindness? I thought you only tried curing the eels. But I might be wrong. "non-biological way" oooo Apheori (GM): There's nothing he could do with standard healing. Bear Soup Guy: "Sounds kinky." Gaurav: Only way it could be with Hazz. All those tentacles. Apheori (GM): Greibel: Some things are glowing, apparently from one of the drugs you took. If you were radek you might experiment on Rhu to see if drug effects bypass blindness, but you're probably not drugged enough. Or something. Bear Soup Guy: I might have something for him... Rhu continues conversing to the empty table. Bear Soup Guy: Would it be terribly counter-productive if I re-enacted that scene from Cheech And Chong's Up In Smoke where Chong accidentally gives Cheech acid? Apheori (GM): Maybe, but it'd be hilarious. Gaurav: Criminey. Can you at least roll to pick the right potion? Bear Soup Guy: Right! Gaurav: If potion is the word I'm looking for. Bear Soup Guy: Okay, good point I'll roll a....something, to rummage through my pack looking for white pills that look a lot like other white pills Gaurav: Hee Apheori (GM): Roll perception. Bear Soup Guy: rolling 1d20+11 Greibel remarks "Hold on Rhu, I've got something that'll mellow your mind, man." before rummaging through his pack. ( 3 ) +11 = 14 Apheori (GM): Greibel: You find some white pills. Greibel: Here ya go, man. Take these. Rhu: Eh? What? Huh? Rhu takes the pills, sniffs suspiciously at them, then shrugs and swallows. Gaurav: Welp, it was nice knowing you guys. Bear Soup Guy: :D Apheori (GM): Rhu: You notice no effect at all. Rhu: That was nice, Greibel, thanks. Vitamins? Greibel: Yeah, Vitamin Q (OOC: We're in the FUTURE, there is totally a Vitamin Q) and some supplements. It might enhance your other senses a bit. Ganelon: Okay, I think I might be caught up? Why are we in a bar? Rhu: Oh, NICE. I could really use that! Rhu grins and nods in entirely the wrong direction. Frezak (GM): Because that's where the helpful guard went Apheori (GM): Followed George. The min-Radek. mini* Rhu starts ballancing a small black stone on his head. Ganelon: I suppose that means that Radek is grumping around with George. Gaurav: Does Rhu know that he's doing that, or is he just absent-mindedly balancing this stone? Apheori (GM): Nope. Just absent-mindedly. Gaurav: Ha, nice. Apheori (GM): Radek: George is wearing earmuffs and doesn't notice you immediately. Frezak (GM): I could fix that! Apheori (GM): Frezak: How deep was the hole you dumped the bard in? Frezak (GM): Eh, I made spare anti-zombie graves. So deeper than usual. say about eight feet. Ostensibly something you can't crawl out of. Radek slides up next to George. He'd fashion a substitute for earmuffs himself, but he's already an old man and probably doesn't need the help. Ganelon: Does he have a sci-fi hearing aid? Probably, because I've never made a point of him screeching "WHAT!?" at people talking to him. Though in retrospect that seems like a good way to get them to stop talking to him. Apheori (GM): Sure, why not. Ganelon: I will remember it for later. Gaurav: We might still be wearing in-ear headphones from the original survey of Sarathi. Or maybe I'm misremembering that we had those? Frezak (GM): I do believe we all communication units. Gaurav: Not Rhu. He bashed his against a rock in Arah. Frezak (GM): Sensible. George doesn't seem to notice Radek. He's just staring at his drink. Rhu: (in the direction that Greibel had been speaking from earlier) Where are Dave and Amadi? Are they still with us? Amadi appears. Bear Soup Guy: Where did the- Oh Amadi: No. No, we're not. Ganelon: Alwaaaayssssss~ Greibel: Definitive answer from the source Rhu: (looks towards Greibel, then towards Amadi, then back towards Greibel) One of you is wrong. Amadi: I'm never wrong. Rhu: Okay then. Is Dave still around? George suddenly notices Radek, almost jumps out of his chair, and pulls off an earmuff. George: How long have you been there? Ellemerr: Is Dave still around? Apheori (GM): Dave is not here. Radek: ...A few minutes. Don't worry, I appreciate the silence. Amadi: Depends. Around what? Radek: Any minute now I'm expecting one of the deadbeats to come pestering me about some new problem. Ellemerr: Where did I leave Squirrel? Did I leave Squirrel? Is she with Dave? I don't remember anything. Rhu: Around ... here? I dunno. Bear Soup Guy: Yeah, squirrel is still with Dave Ellemerr: Except that I had revenge on a guy who totally deserved it for some reason. George looks back, assumes Radek means his companions, and shrugs. George: They seem occupied. Radek: Yes, that is how the problems get started. Rhu: I don't think Hazz' seriously expects me to able to protect you two without ... you know (gestures at his face). But I hope she's okay with that crazy guard. Radek: Sometimes they're not responsible. I still have to fix it all, though. George: Is that how you wound up here? Amadi: Oh, she's fiiine, they're both fiiiine. Radek: I think I would go insane trying to understand how I wound up here. Rhu looks at Amadi suspiciously but doesn't say anything. Rhu: Are we in a pub? Do they have sandwiches? Amadi: Are we in a pub? Why are we in a pub? I have sandwiches. Rhu: Radek and Gravy said something about some guy they liked the look off. Something about the Holes? ... I'm sure they can make me one here. If I just knew who to ask. Amadi: Oh, yeah. You should probably fix the Holes. George: Rhu: You suddenly realise you can see Amadi. Er, ooc. Rhu: That's *their* job (pointing towards the restrooms). I'm just supposed to keep an eye on Dave and you. And that skull that has someone's soul in it, I guess. Gaurav: No, I like the idea of George shouting at us from across the room :-P Amadi: Yeah, and Squirrel. ... I left her with Dave. They're fiiiine. Apheori (GM): George and Radek are talking in a corner. Gaurav: Is she surrounded by darkness? Like, can I see nothing else, or is there ... tentacles? Apheori (GM): Gravy and Greibel can probably hear them, but I dunno about Rhu. Rhu: Just Amadi. Some glowiness. A weight on your head. Bear Soup Guy: Rhu ostensibly should have better hearing than all of us now because KIND OF SCIENCE Rhu stares at Amadi for a second. Rhu: Hi? Apheori (GM): Radek: George asks you what all you're trying to solve. Rhu waves at Amadi Amadi turns to the nearest pub-working-person-thing and asks sweetly, "Can we have a sandwich? I already have one but my friend doesn't and I'd like to compare; I got this bit of wiggly thing in mine and I'm just not sure they're supposed to be like that?" Amadi waves at Rhu. Radek: Oh, the whole universe is coming apart at the seams. Gaurav: "bit of wiggly thing", hee Radek: Holes connecting planes of existence that should never interact with each other opening up everywhere. Rhu stares at Amadi some more, then turns around to see if he can see anything else. Rhu absentmindedly reaches up to take the stone off his head and puts it on the table. Amadi reaches out to pick up the stone. Apheori (GM): The barman asks Gravy if Amadi is with them. Radek: I've closed /one/. I'm trying to improve the method. Apheori (GM): George stares at Radek and then says, "Oh fuck." And then he downs his drink. Frezak (GM): Gravy shrugs. The Gravedigger: Could be one or t'other. Rhu: Greibel? Are you still here? Greibel: Here as I'll ever be Apheori (GM): The barman hands Amadi a rather tired-looking sandwich. Radek: Well, don't worry too much. This place seems fine, other than the zombies. Apheori (GM): Rhu: You can see a sort of glow that might be an outline of Greibel. IT might not be. Radek: If a hole opens up I'm sure we'll head on over to try and fix it. No guarantees something idiotic won't happen and stick us between the fabric of reality, though... Radek sighs. Radek: Again. Rhu: Are you ... there? (points at the Greibel-outlining glow) Amadi: Hmm... Well, there's no sort of wriggle bit, but... I'm still not too sure about this. Here. Ganelon: By something idiotic, he means that he generally expects it to be someone's fault. Amadi hands the sandwich to Rhu. Gaurav: Can I see the sandwich? Greibel puts his hand on Rhu's shoulder George: The zombies may be coming out of a... hole. Greibel goes "BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH" and then starts laughing Radek: Oh? George: Where reality just gets weird around it. And the closer you get, the more likely... Well, they sent in a unit. They came out zombie. Radek: Yes, yes, that sounds like one. Maybe I can fix both of your problems at once, then, George. George: You have some way to make people less stupid? If that were so, you'd look happier. Radek looks at George for a moment, and laughs. He laughs for a long time. George: Which problems did you mean, then? Ellemerr: Happy Radek. A stange, half-nice half-supercreepy sight. Ganelon: It is a /hollow/ laugh, Merr. Gaurav: _half_ supercreepy? Ellemerr: He seems happier than usual, anyway. Radek: Just the ones threatening your life, I'm afraid. Gaurav: we have to bring George with us. The Misanthropic Duo. George: Oh. George sighs. Ellemerr: "Hooray, someone finally understands me! This is the happiest day since I got covered in liquid metal-stuff!" Radek: I'll remember to find you if I ever find a cure for stupidity. You do the same, alright? George: Oh, I've found A cure. Just not a good one. And generally I wind up arresting those who administer it. Gaurav: DM: Amadi handed Rhu a sandwich. Could I see the sandwich, or just her empty hand? And did I see the Greibel-shaped outline put his hand on my shoulder and then shout in my ear? Apheori (GM): Just to be clear, the outline did say blaaaaargh. Gaurav: HUH. Apheori (GM): You just see a darker smudge where the sandwich it. is Rhu pokes at the darker smudge Rhu: Is this a ... sandwich? Amadi: Oh, for the sake of ice-cream! Amadi digs in frustration through her pockets and hands Rhu a mask. Gaurav: Ellemerr: did you perception that rock I took off my head? It might be another one of those rocks-with-shapes-on-'em things we've been correcting! Apheori (GM): Now I want ice cream. What did you do with the rock? (From Amadi): I have no idea what the mask does. In my head it might make him see things like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKpYXkcVJGs Rhu pokes at the gap between her fingers/the mask, depending on whether I can see it or not. Rhu: What is this? Ellemerr: Oh, I picked it up. Then I got distracted by sandwiches. I can look at it now while he's distracted by my mask. Amadi: It might help. Gaurav: The Distraction Duo. Rhu feels it/looks at it, realises that it's a mask, and tries putting it on the wrong way around. Gaurav: If the mask doesn't magically twist itself around to conform to my face, I'll try it the other way around. Apheori (GM): It doesn't do anything weird. Yet. Radek pats George on the back. Softly - he couldn't make much of an impact even if he tried. Radek: Well, I'd be lying if I said /I/ never tried to build a doomsday device. It's hard to be grateful about the end of all things when it's actually happening, though. Apheori (GM): Amadi: The rock had the symbol for contagion on it. Ellemerr: Delightful! Who had the other rocks? Apheori (GM): Rhu: You put the mask on properly, and now you can sort of see. Now everything looks like muppets. And there's mould or something everywhere. Everything is kind of fuzzy/hairy, at any rate. Rhu: HUH. Bear Soup Guy: XD Rhu takes the mask off, checks to see that he's still blind, then puts the mask back on. Amadi: So can you eat now? Rhu: Greibel, you have GOT to try this sometime. Rhu puts on and takes off the mask a couple of times, then leaves it on. Rhu: Thanks, Mrs. Teatime! I like what you've done with your hair. I can see! I CAN SEE! And also eat, I think. Amadi: No problem. ... This rock is camouflaged as toxic waste. Or something. I think. Or maybe it's the other way around. Do you want it? George: Yeah, no kidding. Nevermind all the idiots that live here, I have to live here too. Rhu: I'm always happy to hold onto stones! I've got two already, I think. Are you going to eat that furry-looking sandwich? I'm famished. Amadi: I got it for you! I already have one. Apheori (GM): Entirely unrelatedly, blackberry syrup apparently curdles baileys. Rhu: Oh, thanks a million! That's very nice of you. Rhu guzzles down the sandwich. Rhu: Hang on, I need to try something. Rhu tries to walk to the bar by using the mask. Gaurav: Is that an easy enough thing to do or should I roll something? Apheori (GM): d20 Gaurav: Also: huh. Is the blackberry syrup still pretty fresh? Rhu: rolling d20 ( 11 ) = 11 Radek: Can't help you with that, I'm afraid. I'd offer to take you with me, but... you would regret it. Apheori (GM): Rhu: You walk into the bar and bounce off. Your depth perception is really... weird. And bouncy. Radek: I /can/ fix the hole, though, if you'll point me over that way. Apheori (GM): The syrup is very fresh. Gaurav: Do I bounce gently or rapidly? Apheori (GM): It feels like... both? George: Hah! Well, sure. I'll take you there tomorrow, how's that sound? File the paperwork, send out all the requisitions... Rhu: rolling d20+10 acrobatics check to catch myself and try to approach the bar again ( 13 ) +10 = 23 George mumbles incoherently. Apheori (GM): Rhu: You approach the bar again. d20, please. Gaurav: BSG: do you still have the other stones we found? You might want to take Amadi's stone from her, in case she vanishes. Rhu: rolling d20 ( 7 ) = 7 Bear Soup Guy: Did I have the stones? Gaurav: I have two. I thought you had the other ... one? Two? Bear Soup Guy: I might have Oy, my memory is as bad as Greibel's If I had it though then I still have it in my pack Gaurav: I have rock-with-bird and rock-with-tree. Apheori (GM): Do you keep an inventory in your journal? Gaurav: Your inventory says "Two shiny stones" Bear Soup Guy: Oh, so it does So I guess I do have two, then What was your original question? XD Apheori (GM): Rhu: This time you go to the counter and it seems like you walk through it partway. Rhu: Um. Apheori (GM): You can keep walking or stop and/or backup. BSG: He wants you to take the stone away from Amadi and add it to your pile. Radek: That would be great. I could use the time to work on this formula, anyways. Rhu stops, then quickly walks backward, a little embarrassed to be messing with the laws of physics. He checks to see if Radek is pissed off with him for doing this, but he seems to be pretty involved with his conversation. Greibel: (To Amadi) Mind if I pocket that away with the others? Ganelon: "Hey, Rhu! Stop violating natural laws!" Rhu: For future reference (i.e. put this in your inventory!), Greibel's two stones have a stylised mask and a dragon on them respectively. Gaurav: "Sorry Radek! Walking around in a mask while blind is hard!" Amadi shrugs and takes out her sandwich, eyeing the wiggly bit suspiciously. Gaurav: err that last was ooc Bear Soup Guy: Got it Bear Soup Guy takes the stone, examines it a bit, then stuffs it in the pack with the others Bear Soup Guy: err IC Ganelon: Did I have a stone? I don't think so, but if I'm supposed to, it's not written down. Apheori (GM): They probably have all of them, then. Ganelon: Alright then. George: Great. I'll be here. Gaurav: Yeah, I think it was just Greibel and me collecting stones like it ain't even a thing. Heh. "I'll be here" is such an RPG I'm-out-of-things-to-say line. I assume every time we try to talk to George he'll say something like "Come back tomorrow so I can take you to the Hole nearby." Rhu tries to catch the barkeep's attention, and tries to buy a beer with the coins we found in the lab. Bear Soup Guy: Gaur: XD Radek stands up and glances about the room, surprised to see it still in relatively undamaged condition. Ganelon: What's Gravy doing? Frezak (GM): DUnno, I'm just about to leave. Won't be back 'till an hour or so. Apheori (GM): The barkeep accepts them, seems surprised, mentions something about Auberdeen, and gives Rhu a beer. Ellemerr: I sort of have an appointment I should be leaving for, too. But how long are we intending to go on anyway? Gaurav: I can play for exactly two more hours, and then I gotta go listen to a man about a genome. Ellemerr: Exactly two hours? So at... ten to half whatever-it-would-be-over there... Gaurav: Yup! Class starts at half-past. I am consistently late to this class, but since I bothered to get up in time to get to school in time for D&D, I can actually be there five minutes *before* it starts instead of ten minutes after. Ellemerr: Right. xD Well... Amadi is likely to disappear at some point. But since this is nothing new... Apheori (GM): Indeed. Would Gravy go to bed or something? Alternately... I dunno. You guys sort out how you're handinling this. Ellemerr: He could go on being completely silent. Doing the thinking thing. Gan has a picture. Ganelon: Oh yes. Apheori (GM): He's a good thinker. Ganelon: http://www.artofmtg.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Pensive-Minotaur-Art.jpg But in this continuity he's not a minotaur, sadly. Gaurav: I'm going to be completely missing next week, so we should probably just power on through people's missing times. Otherwise we're going to have to stop a lot. Oh, and you can keep going after two hours. Rhu can be wandering around behind you all with his new favourite mask. Apheori (GM): Well, Radek found you all something to do. Ganelon: Indeed, though we've got a day before we can do it. Or at least the remainder of one. Radek himself is probably just going to work on the "fix holes without giving myself a nightmarish migraine" problem until then. Gaurav: We should sleep at some point. Especially Gravy, if he really did use a Daily just then with the bard. Ganelon: Daily item power. It's not nearly as big of a deal. Gaurav: We could camp outdoors. Gives us a chance for random encounters and suchlike. Ganelon: In fact, Radek's an artificer so he can recharge those for people. Apheori (GM): You hear a bit of a screeching from outside. Gaurav: Oh, okay! Apheori (GM): In relation to the bard. Gaurav: Do we have anything else we need to do in this town? We could just walk around and see if something comes up. Bear Soup Guy: I'm sure there's something we need information about Ganelon: The bard! Wait, is this just his usual screeching or is he a zombie now? I mean, we should probably shut him up regardless, but it's important to know. Apheori (GM): Probably the usual. Gaurav: BSG: I'd still like to know where we are. Actually, I'd still like a beer, so ... Rhu approaches the bar again Rhu: rolling d20 ( 2 ) = 2 Apheori (GM): Rhu: You have a beer. You just need to successfully pick it up. Also you walk through the bar. The barkeep backs away. Rhu apologizes profusely to the barkeep, and accidentally ends up on the wrong side of the bar. Rhu: Er, I'll just ... Bear Soup Guy: "I think you've had enough" Radek: Rhu, what... Gaurav: BSG: XD Rhu is looking very embarrassed now. Radek: No, never mind. You can actually cause less damage this way. Carry on. Ganelon: I have a strong suspicion that he'll prove Radek wrong. Rhu tries to poke at the bar with one finger, then turns to grin sheepishly at the barkeep before trying to walk out through the bar again. Apheori (GM): Quite likely. Rhu: rolling d20 ( 1 ) = 1 Gaurav: oh YEAH Apheori (GM): Rhu: This time you fall through the floor. Bear Soup Guy: XD Gaurav: May I wave my arms frantically as I disappear through the floor? Apheori (GM): Yes. Rhu: He-- Rhu vanishes through the floor, arms flailing wildly. Ellemerr: Spilling beer everywhere? Apheori (GM): Rhu: You're in some sort of basement. It's kind of nightmarish. There are weird vials and tanks and stuff. Grotesque things poke out of walls. He spills beer everywhere. Rhu: No wait rolling d20+10 acrobatics check to catch all the beer in my glass as I fall ( 15 ) +10 = 25 Apheori (GM): Meanwhile the barkeep says, "Um..." Rhu: rolling d20+10 acrobatics check to land on my feet ( 11 ) +10 = 21 Apheori (GM): Rhu: You catch some of the beer, except then you realise you're no longer holding the glass. So it's all in your hand. You land on your feet. They're very hairy. Hairy muppet feet. Rhu: Um. Um. Okay. Rhu ignores the feet for now, and stares about the basement he's in. Rhu: rolling d20+14 perception check ( 17 ) +14 = 31 Apheori (GM): The rest of you: The barkeep asks y'all if Rhu is perhaps a bit... touched? Gaurav: When you say it's all in my hand ... Apheori (GM): I mean you're holding a glass of beer except there's no glass. Bear Soup Guy: He's got the whoooooooole beer, in his hands Gaurav: BSG: HA! Greibel: (to Barkeep) Touched...By An Angel? Apheori (GM): The basement is really hairy. And weird. And full of strange experiments. It's like a neightmare. Amadi: (to barkeep) Yeah. Tentacles. Hazz - I mean, [says this world's name for him]. Apheori (GM): The barkeep asks where angels usually touch people. (Vitoi) Radek: In the brain, clearly. Gaurav: He pulls out a doll from behind the counter. Ellemerr: I totally knew that. *shifty eyes* Apheori (GM): The barkeep looks concerned and asks if he needs to expect any more of this. Radek: ...For as long as we're here, yes. Gaurav: That ingrate. We cleared his bar of bards, didn't we? What's a little walking-through-walls between friends? Radek: Well, I say "we". Apheori (GM): He says, "Oh dear." Rhu quietly looks around for staircases or any means of possibly getting back upstairs from this basement. Apheori (GM): Rhu: You see a strange kind of chute you might be able to climb up. Gaurav: Any doors? Ganelon: Beware the chute. Apheori (GM): None recognisable as doors. Ganelon: It may be waste disposal. Apheori (GM): Some... strange membranes. Gaurav: "chute" is a really rude word in Hindi ooo, membranes Apheori (GM): A sort of mesh screen looking out on utter lackness. blackness* A bowl of noodles sitting in the middle of the floor. Rhu takes his mask on and off to see if that helps him see things better/brighter/less. Apheori (GM): You notice something snake out of the floor and grab a noodle. Rhu: Well fuck. (under his breath) Apheori (GM): With the mask off, everything is just a horrible white. Gaurav: White?! Apheori (GM): White. Gaurav: That might actually be preferable, given things snaking through the floor and all. rolling d20+9 nature check to see if I can identify the snakelike thing ( 16 ) +9 = 25 rolling d20+5 stealth on over to the chute ( 13 ) +5 = 18 Apheori (GM): It appears to have been a piece of floor. MAsk on or off? Gaurav: Mask on. Apheori (GM): The floor seems to move away as you walk (as a texture, it stays level), and you get to the chute. It's like ripples in a hairy carpet. Snakey ripples. Hairy snakey ripples. Gaurav: I take it Baileys and blueberry syrup is really something, huh? Bear Soup Guy: XD Apheori (GM): Doesn't go very well together. Baileys is better with baileys, frankly. Gaurav: Creamy, beige. What's not to like? Rhu: rolling d20+10 acrobatics to climb up the chute ( 9 ) +10 = 19 Apheori (GM): The syrup is better with mountain dew. Rhu: rolling d20+5 stealth to do it stealthily ( 18 ) +5 = 23 Apheori (GM): Rhu gets partway up, falls partway down, and makes a muffled clatter. Rhu sits quietly until he's sure there's no response to the clatter, then tries again. Rhu: rolling d20+10 acrobatics up ( 4 ) +10 = 14 Gaurav: oh ffs Apheori (GM): You don't get very far. Rhu looks up to see if there's any light at the top of the chute. "Hello?", he whispers, "Is someone up there?" Apheori (GM): Do the rest of you want to do anything? Ganelon: Er... Apheori (GM): Rhu: Silence. Then, in a long low whisper, "Rhuuuu..." Bear Soup Guy: Do we hear him calling? Apheori (GM): Nope. Bear Soup Guy: I assume we're all just thinking "Oh, Rhu's in trouble again. He'll show up in a couple hours." Apheori (GM): XD Gaurav rolls eyes Gaurav: This is what comes from accepting masks from godlings. Let that be a lesson to you, kids. Rhu will NOT respond to the voice, but will try to determine which direction it's coming from. Ganelon: Radek will stay in the tavern so long as it's a relatively orderly place to sit down and think about complex theorems. Rhu: rolling d20+14 perception check on the voice ( 20 ) +14 = 34 Gaurav: yay! Ganelon: It's as good a place as any, especially if he's waiting on Rhu to come back. Ellemerr: ... You sure that's a good thing to roll high on? :P Apheori (GM): The voice is being projected from above the shoot, but it's not actually coming from there. You don't know where it's coming from. You feel a strong urge to remove the mask. Gaurav: I'm kinda hoping that Rhu can go all "hmm, that slightly thick edge to an otherwise normal Thoraci accent tells me that you are male, elf, 23-25 years old, with brown hair and carrying two weapons, injured in the knee in Afghanistan ..." RESIST URGE Apheori (GM): Gan: The tavern is orderly and fairly quiet. it's like folks are just basking in the quiet. Bear Soup Guy: XD Gaurav: Gravy is wandering around taking people's measurements "just in case". Apheori (GM): Oh, details about the voice itself, eh? It's low and sweet, like a fungus that eats flies. That's what it reminds you of. Except these flies are horrible and huge, and the fungus is actually something else entirely. I like that. Since Frezak had to go, let's say Gravy really is doing that. Gaurav: Like treacle. Apheori (GM): Folks in tavern: Sometimes you hear an odd screetch from the bard outside. Amadi: It sounds oddly familiar. Ellemerr: What, the bard? Ganelon: This tavern is just waiting to explode into conflict. Apheori (GM): Yeah. Ellemerr: Okay, I can check on the bard. Ganelon: But I will savor the momentary peace and sit down to think. Fist-on-chin hardcore PONDERING. Apheori (GM): Amadi: You need to take Greibel with you. Ganelon: Well, more like fist-inside-beard. Apheori (GM): PONDERING. Do you ponder anything in particular today? Gaurav: Some day we will know the quiet peace of a pipe and a pleasant conversation in a sun-lit bar by a mountain, but today is not that day. Apheori (GM): Rhu: What do you do? Gaurav: Are you pondering what I'm pondering? Amadi takes Greibel's hand and attempts to walk him outside without giving any explenation for her actions. Gaurav: omigosh there is a list: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pinky_and_the_Brain#Are_You_Pondering_What_I.27m_Pondering.3F Greibel tags along exasperatedly Apheori (GM): Amadi and Greibel: You go to the bard. He's standing in a deep grave screetching like a harpy. There's supposed to be a tune there. Rhu sits quietly in the chute, his eyes flicking first upwards and then quickly around the room, waiting to see what happens next. Apheori (GM): Amadi: Do you sing the song the tune would go to? Greibel: Do you recognise it too? Greibel, Amadi: Either of you, feel free to make up what it is. Gaurav: This is what comes of racist music making, racist music man. brb Apheori (GM): Rhu: Nothing happens. Ellemerr juggles bananas. Apheori (GM): A wall oozes a bit. Ellemerr: Sorry. *shifty eyes* Apheori (GM): BANANAS. You know what you get when you juggle bananas? Ellemerr: I do. Amadi juggles bananas. Ellemerr: I mean... "No, what do you get when you juggle bananas?" Greibel sings: "My name is Lon Chaney / I was in some movies / You probably remember me for my hideous face..." Apheori (GM): Greibel suddenly turns into a gorilla. Greibel: RAAAAAAAAR Ganelon: "Do you ponder anything in particular today?" Sorry, missed this. Apheori (GM): This messes up the singing slightly. Ganelon: Yes, Radek ponders what he's been pondering for the last few days. How to close a hole. Apheori (GM): Roll arcana. Ganelon: Something about three pieces and a lock, as I recall. rolling 1d20+12 ( 6 ) +12 = 18 Amadi also sings the whole circus music bit that's supposed to go with this. Amadi: (It includes a lot of trumpets and stuff.) Greibel twirls hula hoops as a gorilla while singing Apheori (GM): The shrieking bard shrinks into the hole and becoms horribly silent. Ellemerr: Your wearing a pink tutu, too. I mean, the gorilla is. Apheori (GM): Gan: Aiight, thanks. Bear Soup Guy: Of course Ganelon: Sorry, I have like three people talking to me on Skype while this is going on. Apheori (GM): Ach. >.< Ellemerr: And I need to brb. Apheori (GM): Greibel: d20, please. Bear Soup Guy: Sorry, I had to go clean up cat puke as well rolling 1d20 ( 7 ) = 7 Apheori (GM): Eww. Okay. Apheori (GM) curls up in bed with a bottle of baileys. Ellemerr: Right. I'm back. Probably. Sort of. Gaurav: Me too! Except more so. Apheori (GM): Would you like to do anything else with the bard? Ellemerr: I have no idea. Sorry. Gaurav quietly, stealthily, Rhu tries to climb up the chute again. Apheori (GM): Amadi: Eat his brain, give him a sense of music, ignore him, take his story, have him dance with the gorrilla? Gaurav: Give him a sense of music++ Apheori (GM): Rhu: acrobatics Rhu: rolling d20+10 acrobatics check to climb the chute ( 6 ) +10 = 16 Apheori (GM): Rhu: It's getting cloooser. Rhu: rolling d20+5 stealth to do it quietly ( 4 ) +5 = 9 Gaurav: Ooo. Apheori (GM): Your climbingattempts fail, and whatever it is hears you. You feel it. Rhu freezes. Apheori (GM): In your KIDNEYS. Rhu pauses mid-freeze, looking confused. Apheori (GM): Yes, alien elves have kidneys. Gaurav: Then why haven't we had to go to the toilet for the last three weeks? Apheori (GM): Because you have good kidneys. Ellemerr: Snrk. Gaurav: Oh. Apheori (GM): Also because it's just gotten left out of the story when you did usually. Amadi throws the bananas at the bard. Apheori (GM): Greibel: You finish the song and can stop being a gorilla if you want. Up to you. Gaurav: We went in to cover our feet from time to time. Apheori (GM): The bard is hit by bananas and flinches away horribly. Greibel goes back to normal, accompanied by a popping sound Ganelon: Bananas! Hsssss~! Gaurav: Did Rhu's last climbing attempt help him make any progress, or is he still at the bottom of the chute? Apheori (GM): He's partway up. Gaurav: And the voice appears to be coming DOWN the chute towards me? Apheori (GM): Yup. Gaurav: Can I see any sort of opening yet? Apheori (GM): Nope. Gaurav: Okay. Then Rhu climbs back down and steps quietly out of the chute. rolling d20+10 acrobatics ( 13 ) +10 = 23 rolling d20+5 stealth ( 14 ) +5 = 19 I gotta leave in about an hour btw. Apheori (GM): Rhu finally manages to climb up the chute. Gaurav: Er. Apheori (GM): And comes out in another room shaped like the tavern, but which is definitely not the tavern he left. Gaurav: He was trying to climb down that last time. But I guess he might have changed his mind? Apheori (GM): Oh, you idn't need to roll for that. Sorry, you're back in the basement. Everythng is hairy. Gaurav: "Everythng is hairy." should be the official motto of this game. And it looks like Frezak is back? Is there anything in the basement I can hide behind if a sinister being comes down the chute after me? Apheori (GM): Frezak is hairy. Some desks, a strange... thing... Frezak (GM): Not really, I shaved. Gaurav: describe thing Apheori (GM): Shaved EVERYTHING? Gaurav: Or just the yak? Frezak (GM): As far as you know. Apheori (GM): Thing is vaguely cylindrical with some angles and a prism shape at the top. There are some glowing bits. IT looks a bit organic. Gaurav: Hmm. I'm going to go hide behind the desk and see what happens. Apheori (GM): And it's hairy. Rhu hides behind the hairy desk. The hairy desk blinks at Rhu and looks vaguely surprised. Rhu: (to the desk) Shh. (puts one finger to his lips) Gaurav: How does a desk blink? Apheori (GM): The desk opens a few more eyes and those blink at his finger as well. Frezak (GM): A GORILLA? Ellemerr: Yeah. Sue me. Ganelon: This whole situation has turned quite hairy. Apheori (GM): >.< Ganelon: We're going to need a rugged hero to pull through on this one. Gaurav crouches behind the desk on the side away from the chute and waits, listening intently. Rhu: rolling d20+14 perception ( 9 ) +14 = 23 Apheori (GM): d20 Gaurav: That's all Rhu is going to do for the next 10-15m, so if you guys want to go do something else ... Rhu: rolling d20 ( 7 ) = 7 Gaurav: Um. Apheori (GM): Okay. Rhu hears whispers. Some are saying his name. Others... other things. It sounds like they've found something. Lost other things. Having lunch. Very sinister. Left-handed. Frezak (GM): WHere's Gravy? Ganelon gasps in horror. Apheori (GM): Gravy is in the tavern with Radek. Ganelon: You and I are still- yeah. Radek is doing some fist-to-chin hardcore pondering about holes. We did witness Rhu start passing through solid objects, and then the floor. This might have been Amadi's fault, but then, that isn't saying a lot. Apheori (GM): She did give him a mask. Gaurav: Are the voices coming from the chute as well? Apheori (GM): It's messing with his depth-perception. In perhaps a few too many dimensions. The voices are mostly coming from the black beyond the mesh latice, and from behind some walls/membranes. Rhu: (whispers, to the desk) Do you hear that too? Bear Soup Guy: XD I love this game Apheori (GM): The desk rumbles and opens a few more eyes. It's somewhat covered in eyes now. Gaurav: A small drawer slides open, revealing pencils, erasers, two paper clips, three eyes and a pair of lips. Apheori (GM): Rhu's still hiding? Rhu gives the desk a knowing glance in whichever eye is closest to him and does the "shh" hand gesture again. He goes back to listening quietly. Apheori (GM): The eyes all follow the movement of the gesture intently. Gaurav: When you say "hairy" ... Apheori (GM): Everything is covered in hair. Including the eyes. Gaurav: Do you mean furry, short human hair, or long(er) human hair? Gaurav screams Apheori (GM): It's like fur, but all at exact right angles to the surface, unless it collides with other bits. Gaurav: Or like bacterial cilia? Heh cool Is it coloured? Apheori (GM): It's the same colour as whatever it's coming off. Gaurav: Is it undulating? Is there a wind? Apheori (GM): It normally stays still. Sometimes bits pass through the floor, and it all moves like wind is pushing it... Sometimes those bits eat noodles out of the bowl. Gaurav: Ooo, nice. Yeah, Rhu goes back to listening and waiting. Apheori (GM): Gravy: Do you care that everyone besides Radek is missing? You know Greibel and Amadi just went outside. Ganelon: "Roll Charisma to care. +2 alignment bonus." Gaurav: What time of day is it, btw? Apheori (GM): I guess evening. Gaurav: I'm imagining afternoon, but I might be wrong. Ah thanks. Apheori (GM): Early evening, then. Gaurav: Somebody do something, or Rhu is going to get back to hogging all the attention. go* Frezak (GM): Not really. Gravy has come to terms that all kinds of shit happens regardless of his desires or actions. Might as well have a shirt that says 'Fukkit" Ganelon: I don't mind Rhu hogging the attention, especially since I'm quite busy elsewhere. And it does make sense that Radek is trying to puzzle out holes. He just promised to fix one tomorrow. Apheori (GM): Radek: Gimme another arcana. Amadi, Greibel: Now what? Ganelon: rolling 1d20+12 ( 19 ) +12 = 31 Haha! Ellemerr: Dancing? Ganelon: Or perhaps I should say "Eureka!" Bear Soup Guy: Dancing! Ellemerr: Dancing, then. Apheori (GM): Radek: So the question, perhaps, is pieces of what? What does it take to close a hole, really? And for that matter, what does it take to open one? The question to one should be the answer to the other... Of course, if you could just make a lack of hole, something with no hole at all, well, wouldn't that be great? Or something. Ganelon: I'm not about to discount the possibility. Gaurav: Can we learn anything from Gravy's monster that fought with the thing that came from the Hole? Ganelon: "Behold! I have created... stuff!" Apheori (GM): Point is, it's progress! Stuff! Ganelon: "It is the opposite of a hole in every conceivable way!" Apheori (GM): "It looks like... normal stuff." Amadi, Greibel: The porridge dances with you. Gaurav: Is it just me, or have the Holes always appeared near trees? Ganelon: *Scoffs* "This 'normal stuff' is exactly what we need to eliminate the holes on a conceptual level." "They will cease to be holes. They will cease to be anything, unless I apply an excess of stuff." Apheori (GM): "And then they'll be stuff!" "Right?" Gravy: Can they learn anything from you... you mean the codrichun thing, right, Gaurav? Ganelon: "No, don't be ridiculous. Then we'll end up with a gravitational singularity that will atomize this entire planet." Apheori (GM): "I want it by tuesday." Gaurav: I do! The Codrichun thing. Apheori (GM): Rhu: As you sit there listening, another desk and a chair also open several eyes and watch you. Gaurav: A planet is a small price to pay for stability. Apheori (GM): Hairy eyes. Frezak (GM): I don't understand what I'm being asked. Gaurav: Is the chair comfortable? I mean, does it look comfortable. Apheori (GM): It's a hairy chair full of eyeballs. Frezak: I think they want to know if it discovered anything, or can tell you. Frezak (GM): Gods no. Gaurav: Okay, I'm going to say 15 minutes have elapsed since I hit behind the desk. I guess there haven't been any left-handed voices from the chute? Apheori (GM): That voice hasn't come back, no. Gaurav: Maybe the monster was some kind of super zombie? Frezak (GM): I can't talk to Codrichun, and all it does is just endlessly try to crawl out the Abyss. It doesn't go around doing things. Ganelon: Codrichun, I think, isn't related to the holes beyond a shared appetite for... everything. Frezak (GM): Or conversing or communicating to anything. Rhu gets out from behind the desk and walks around the room, looking closely for doors or any other way out of here. Frezak (GM): EH, he doesn't have appetite. Apheori (GM): Aiight. Rhu: rolling d20+14 perception ( 8 ) +14 = 22 Ganelon: But you're summoning his hunger! Apheori (GM): Rhu notices nothing new, but the membranes might be openable... or cutable. Gaurav: Does this mean that the monster was definitely "something", and not, say, the Hole manifesting itself in some way. Unless the Hole is also "something". Frezak (GM): No, not hunger. I'm summoning an aspect of something that wants destruction. Apheori (GM): Which monster? I thought we were talking about codrichun. Gaurav: The thing Codrichun fought with. Apheori (GM): That was... something else. Ganelon: We were in the realm of the gods. Could have been a lot of things Rhu tries to separate the membranes with my fingers to see if it responds to touch, and to see what's underneath them. Gaurav: How much light is there in this basement with the mask on? Apheori (GM): There's light everywhere, but it's not a whole lot. On the other hand, everything kind oflooks the same with the mask on. In terms of lighting. Rhu: The membrane peels away under your nails or something and you poke a finger through. Gaurav: Ooo. What's under the membrane? Ganelon: Typically? Bad stuff. Frezak (GM): "realm" suggests organisation. Apheori (GM): You don't feel anything under it, just empty space. Do you make the hole bigger and look through? Gaurav: Yes! Apheori (GM): YOU MAKE A HOLE AND LOOK INTO... Another room very much like the one you're in. A wall eyes you. Gaurav: As long as Rhu doesn't eye me. I stick two fingers into the hole and try to make it bigger. Ganelon: Oh, oh, there's a scene for this. Even if these are probably awful fleshy membranes rather than what I'm thinking. Gaurav: http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20040920,00.html is what I'm thinking of. But with fingers. Ganelon: I suppose you haven't likely watched Titan A.E., have you? Apheori (GM): Roll strength to rip huge hole. Gaurav: I might have? I'm not sure. eeks Rhu: rolling d20+2 strength ( 13 ) +2 = 15 Gaurav: I'm going to be gentle though. I don't want to hurt the membranes. Especially if I'm *inside* whoever these membranes belong to. Apheori (GM): You ripe a medium-sized hole which you might be able to fit through if you tried. More eyes in the wall watch you curiously. Something licks your food. foot* Gaurav: rolling d20+10 acrobatics to squeeze through the hole ( 17 ) +10 = 27 I ignore the footlicking. Apheori (GM): You squeeze through the hole. The room grins at you with teeth. Grins opening up in rows of teeth spiraling up into the ceiling. Rhu: Um. Apheori (GM): Rhu: D20 Rhu tries to squeeze back through the hole into the room I came from. Rhu: rolling d20 ( 5 ) = 5 Apheori (GM): Acrobatics to squeeze. Rhu: rolling d20+10 acrobatics to squeeze ( 17 ) +10 = 27 +1 terror Apheori (GM): Everything feels kind of weird and you wind up going too far and trip over a desk. The floor licks you. Gaurav: Was .. was the room I just entered hairy as well? Hairy teeth? Apheori (GM): EVERYTHING is hairy. Teeth. Gaurav: Okay phew. Apheori (GM): Eyeballs. Your own feet. Gaurav: My hands? Apheori (GM): Yes. Gaurav: Okay. Also phew. Fine. So. Teeth in the next room. Okay. I'll try the stretching-the-membranes thing on another wall. rolling d20+2 strength attack ( 1 ) +2 = 3 Apheori (GM): The one seems to have something behind it. You can't get through. Whispers ask for lettuce. Rhu: (to the nearest eye) What's behind here? I'll try to get through again if I may. Apheori (GM): The eye blinks at you. Gaurav: rolling d20+2 strength check ( 18 ) +2 = 20 "The eye winks leeringly" I've gotta go in about 10 mins but this has been AWESOME Apheori (GM): You clear away the membrane and are faced with an enormous eye. Gaurav: How enormous? Rhu waves at the eye Apheori (GM): Kind of enormous . The eye stares at you. Gaurav: A little uncertainly Rhu: Hi. Were you the one asking me for lettuce just now? Apheori (GM): The eye continues to stare at you. Rhu checks for eyelids Gaurav: What colour is the iris? Does it look like an elf or human or animal eye? Ganelon: I'm going to take two guesses. 1. Cat 2. Goat Apheori (GM): It's red, but like a toad. And hairy. Ganelon: That's a good kind of eye too. Very groovy. Gaurav: The definitive guide to animal eye shapes: http://www.koryoswrites.com/nonfiction/the-functions-of-different-pupil-shapes/ If I step away from the membranes, will they close? Can I shove the chair in between to keep them open? Apheori (GM): You ripped holes in them. They sort of dangle sadly. Gaurav: Okay. Um. Are you guys going to keep on playing? If so, Rhu could go to sleep or keep futilely getting out of this membrane basement room place thing. Ganelon: Good question. Ellemerr: I'm, er, dancing. Gaurav: I gotta run, so I'll let you all decide. If Rhu falls asleep, he'll sit beside the hole, wait for the sinister voice to reappear, but fall asleep in the waiting. If he keeps trying things ... then yeah, he does that, and Apheori and I can work them out before next time. I'm out of town from Sunday through Friday next week, so I can join in on Saturday or not at all. Thanks for a REALLY FUN game today everybody, and see you all in a couple of weeks! Bear Soup Guy: Bye Gaur! Apheori (GM): Aiight, I'ma go stare off into space. Unless someone particularly wants me to do something else. Bear Soup Guy: I'm okay with ending, it's been a good session Ganelon: Yeah. I got a nice chat in with George and that's all I was really expecting. It was nice to set up a future goal too. Bear Soup Guy: Should we try to do a session sometime while Gaur is away or try Saturday? Apheori (GM): Can everyone do saturday? Ganelon: Same start time? As long as it isn't a particularly drawn out session, yeah. Not because I have plans in the evening but because I'll be getting really tired. Bear Soup Guy: Yeah I'll likely be able to do a morning session Gaurav: Is that this Saturday or next Saturday? I'd rather not this Saturday, but if everybody else wants to ... I can definitely do next Saturday. Bear Soup Guy: Next Saturday then? Or just next Sunday I guess Gaurav: oh right. that's fine too. Apheori (GM): SATURDAY OR SUNDAY? Gaurav: Sunday Sunday Sunday! This is September 21, right? Bear Soup Guy: Yep! Gaurav: Yay! I will see you all then. Bear Soup Guy: Right, bye all!
