Holes/Session 45
<screenplay> EXT. Cabin in the woods - morning
The party detours on the way back south to the crashed airship in order to investigate the mysterious cabin Greibel had discovered out in the woods.
It turns out to be a nice enough cabin, rustic but well-maintained, out in the middle of the woods with no apparent trails to or from, foothills towering up behind it. It has a small porch out front, with rabbits hanging from the rafters, a pair of shovels against the wall, and a rocking chair by the door. There's nobody visible, but someone clearly lives here.
The Gravedigger looks over the shovels. They look decent. Some clearly have very different purposes (snow, roots, ???) and are more or less beat up as a result. The snow shovel looks particularly (ab)used.
Rhu looks around for anything in front of the cabin - he finds that there seem to be signs of people using the door. Tracks and stuff. (rolled 16 perception)
Ganelon (Radek): Hmm. I think we need Gravy.
Frezak (Gravy): You always need Gravy. He's a rock in this ocean of chaos and uncertainty.
Apheori (GM): Which is why Amadi is sitting on him.
Rhu makes eye contact with Greibel, gestures towards the door, and nods confidently.
Greibel looks to the door wondering what's going on.
Greibel blinks at Rhu.
RHU (whispering to Greibel) It's the door. People use the door when they go in or out.
Greibel looks back at the door.
GREIBEL That's a... that's a very useful observation Rhu.
Greibel pats Rhu on the back and goes and tries the door. It's unlocked, so he opens it.
Gravy twiddles a horn and looks about properly. (rolled 35 perception) He gest the impression that only one person actually lives here, no sign of visitors, apparently some pets. Possibly ferrets.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Keep an eye out for ferrets, guys.
RADEK ...Wild ferrets?
THE GRAVEDIGGER Pets, I think. Wild ones have bigger feet.
As they discuss the ferrets, a woman comes around the corner of the cabin, having apparently been working around the back. She is old and wizened, and she smiles welcomingly.
GRENITY Welcome, welcome! What can old Grenity do for you?
From atop the Gravedigger, Amadi smiles welcomingly back.
THE GRAVEDIGGER HELLO. I'M THE GRAVEDIGGER. DO YOU HAVE FERRETS? THOSE ARE UNRELATED FACTS.
GRENITY Oh, I wouldn't say I have the buggers. More they have me.
DAWN Like cats. Cats have your dreams.
GREIBEL (To Rhu) Pssst! Hey. It's the house. People use it when they want to not be outside.
Greibel winks. Then, having exhausted his joke, he looks around and absentmindedly heads inside to the kitchen looking for tea.
Rhu glances after him, then stays outside by the door in order to keep an eye on the suspicious old lady.
Radek facepalms.
THE GRAVEDIGGER YOU WERE KIDNAPPED BY FERRETS?
The Gravedigger hefts his shovel and scrutinises the area.
GRENITY Not hardly. They just run over everything.
Grenity goes to look at what Greibel and Rhu were doing by the door, hands on her hips.
AMADI Why are you yelling? Is he yelling? Gravy, are you yelling?
THE GRAVEDIGGER Don't worry. I'm a professional. She's old. Old people don't hear well.
GRENITY (over her shoulder) I hear just fine, thank you.
THE GRAVEDIGGER ARE YOU SURE?
GRENITY Well, if you keep yelling, I may not be.
THE GRAVEDIGGER OKA- okay.
AMADI Well, it's nice to meet you.
Amadi nods several times to the old woman.
GRENITY And you, young lady!
AMADI ...I might have met you before. I don't remember. I'm old; it's allowed.
GRENITY (to Amadi) Old? Older than dirt? Old as Dream, perhaps?
Grenity switches to a completely different language which doesn't even seem to be a language at all, and then adds in a whisper:
GRENITY You don't look like dirt.
Grenity nods several times as well.
THE GRAVEDIGGER (whispering very loudly to Amadi) Sheeee's maaaagic.
AMADI (whispering back, perplexed) She?
The Gravedigger points theatrically at the old woman.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Heeeeeer.
Frezak (Gravy): Pretty sure Gravy doesn't know how to whisper.
RHU Some hearing loss can be very slight. You don't even know it's there unless you have sophiscated technology. Which we do.
GRENITY Well, come on in, let's get you some tea. It's obviously been a long journey, and you must be exhausted.
Grenity waves everyone inside and follows inside after Greibel.
RHU No tea for me, thanks.
He follows Grenity inside.
RADEK Hmph.
AMADI (whispering back to Gravy) Oh, HER. I thought you meant THEM.
Amadi points at the old woman.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Who them?
AMADI Them.
Amadi points at the old lady again.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Oh. Oh. OOOOOH. Riiiiight. Yes. I knew that. That she's a them. I totally knew that. Yes.
THE GRAVEDIGGER YES LET US GO INSIDE WITH THIS OLD WOMAN WHO IS NOT SEVERAL PEOPLE.
The Gravedigger winks theatrically at Amadi.
Radek grumbles.
RADEK Be quiet.
The Gravedigger heads inside with Amadi. Radek follows.
INT. Grenity's house - day
Inside is... house stuff. Furniture and lamps and all the usual trappings. A living room full of sofas - very, very comfy-looking ones, at that - gives way to to a small kitchen. A short wall divides the two rooms.
In the kitchen, Greibel is making tea. A huge pot of stew is boiling on the stove next to him, and the smell that drifts out is lovely, a savoury mix of herbs and vegetables.
The others all pile in as well, crowding around Greibel and the stove. They all only barely fit.
Greibel turns around to see everybody in the room and blinks.
The Gravedigger waves at Greibel from the other side of the tiny room.
Radek scowls at Greibel from right next to him.
GREIBEL This is cozy.
GRENITY You could do with soup, I expect. Bowls are in the cupboard, go ahead and grab some. Got plenty for everyone these days.
She attempts to bustle and fails miserably on account of a lack of space.
Amadi sits on Gravy to take up less space.
THE GRAVEDIGGER (opening the lid) Gosh, this is a lot of soup. Were you expecting us?
GRENITY To a point. Sometimes the trees give warning, and so few visitors come by these days.
THE GRAVEDIGGER You talk to trees? Hey, Greibel does that too! Man.
As soon as Greibel actually looks at the woman, he realises she is, in fact, ferrets. Six of them.
Greibel giggles at seemingly nothing.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Do you want some soup, Radek?
RADEK ...I don't eat.
THE GRAVEDIGGER You do! I saw you suck the juice out that deerthing. Back in soemthingplace.
The Gravedigger will wave a bowl in front of Amadi.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Soup?
Amadi takes some soup and digs in.
Greibel hovers around Grenity inspecting her hair curiously. It's very interesting, defying several very important laws of physics. It's a ctually a very good illusion, considering.
Greibel mumbles things excitedly.
GRENITY (to Greibel) It's old magic, very important out here. Got all sorts of herbs, too, if you need.
RADEK I'll thank you not to disgrace my methods by placing them in the same category as eating, Gravy.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Okay. Do you want some soup?
RADEK No.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Suuuure?
RADEK Completely.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Okay.
Greibel mouths "Fascinating".
THE GRAVEDIGGER Sorry about Radek, old lady, he's a grump.
GRENITY (to Greibel) Is that a yes?
GREIBEL ...Oh. Did you say... heeeeerrrbssss?
THE GRAVEDIGGER This is some lovely and filling soup.
GRENITY Herbs, yes.
GREIBEL Well... I would be very grateful if you would so choose to show me to these herbs.
Grenity shows Greibel her herbs. There are a lot of them. A lot. This takes awhile. Some are hallucinogens, some seasoning, some medicinal. One looks like a very powerful antipsychotic, which could have interesting effects if tried on, say, Amadi or Dawn...
Greibel looks in Rhu's direction and taps his nose reassuringly.
Amadi starts singing "Beautiful soup".
The Gravedigger and Rhu notice there don't seem to actually be any ferrets around. (both rolled 34 perception)
THE GRAVEDIGGER Amadi? Is she... them magic? Like a lot? Because there are no ferrets.
RADEK You're asking her?
AMADI (singing) Sooooooooooooouuuuup of the eeeeeeeeeeeevening~!
Radek checks Grenity for magic. (rolled 28 arcana) It appears she has some sort of illusion up, possibly to conceal just how old and decrepit she really is, but he can't tell for sure.
Rhu gets the distinct impression that the woman is indeed deceiving them. (rolled 28 insight (natural 20)) But she also seems as though she doesn't actually mean them any harm and is genuinely very happy to actually have visitors for a change.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Also she's old. Like... more old.
AMADI (singing) Buuuuuu-yessheis-uuuuuuuutifuuuuuul soooooouuuuup...
THE GRAVEDIGGER Psssssst. Raaaadek. Heeeeey. Pssssst.
RADEK What?
THE GRAVEDIGGER Can you turn off her illusion? Because you see, there are no ferrets. She might be a bunch of really old ferrets. A ferret legion.
GRENITY (turning on the Gravedigger) I am NOT ferrets.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Prove it! Where are the ferrets?
GRENITY You prove it! Prove you... aren't a squid!
AMADI I think you're really nice.
THE GRAVEDIGGER I have hands. Squids don't have hands. Or, you know, breathe air.
GRENITY They can if you magic them. (calming down a bit) The ferrets are outside, probably sleeping. I dunno, I only really see them for dinner, usually.
THE GRAVEDIGGER AHA. SO YOU ARE A MAGIC FERRET!
Radek clears his throat and tries to ignore the fact that there is in fact a cephalopod resting upon his head. Gibbering.
AMADI All of you. Very nice.
THE GRAVEDIGGER I see!
GRENITY ...no.
Radek attempts to dispell whatever illusion it is Grenity is using. (rolled 29 arcana) This has no effect beyond messing up her hair a bit and earning Radek an annoyed look.
Radek blinks in surprise.
Greibel blinks as well.
RHU I don't think she means us any harm, Gravy.
AMADI ...I want hot chocolate.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Do you have some hot chocolate for the magical midget, old lady that isn't ferrets?
GRENITY Oh, I wish I had chocolate. Haven't even seen a chunk since I left Ord.
THE GRAVEDIGGER Of course maybe she says hot chocolate and means obsidian bees.
AMADI ...I have some... not hot chocolate? Could you make it hot? Pleeeease?
Amadi digs out a very modern plate of chocolate. From her pocket. Not from her hair. Though she did consider it.
Grenity nods and takes the plate of chocolate, and gets out a pot and stuff and starts mixing and boiling it with milk and stuff.
Rhu plops down on one of the sofas. It's quite comfy.
RADEK Ord again... What is Ord?
GRENITY It's the... other. The mirror universe where they have shiny hats and buoys and chocolate and all things good and nice.
AMADI Oh... I think I have Ord in my pocket!
Amadi fishes out a shiny hat. It's small and full of christmas lights.
RHU Don't they have boys here, too?
Grenity gives Rhu a weird look.
GRENITY Nobody here knows it because they don't want to know it. They don't care for the opportunity they gave up, so they pretend this is the best they have. Except what they left was very much like Ord, back in the day. They've all just... forgot.
RADEK So why are you here?
GRENITY I was here before, and I will be here 'til the world falls.
GREIBEL (still looking through the herbs) Unlikely. Ferrets only have a lifespan of seven to ten years.
Rhu gives Greibel a weird look.
Grenity gives Amadi, Greibl, and the Gravedigger hot chocolate, keeping a mug for herself, and pushes her way back over to Greibel and the herbs.
AMADI Thank you! All of you, this is so nice!
Amadi drinks hot chocolate with much happiness. It's a bit thick and very dark, but good.
Rhu casts admiring glances at Grenity's nose when he thinks nobody's looking.
Grenity puts a little of the antipsychotic in her chocolate.
GRENITY (to Greibel) So what do you think? Have anything to trade?
Greibel shows Grenity the ring he took off of that skeleton in that tomb that one time when we found Mr. Mousey
Apheori (GM): Rhu: Nature.
Rhu:
rolling d20+10 nature check
(
19
)
+10
=
29
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Bear Soup Guy: Oh and it wasn't a tomb and it was actually when we found Dave too, now that I think about it
Grenity offers some of her best hallucinogens and an antipsychotic in exchange.
GREIBEL
Ahhhhh, yeeeesssss...
GREIBEL
Excellent. This will do nicely.
Greibel makes the trade.
Grenity takes the ring and nods at it admiringly.
GRENITY
So many stories. So much history, lost to the worlds.
RHU
(to Greibel) If you need more herbs, I'd be happy to trade her a partially digested light fixture.
GREIBEL
Yeah, and it's not even +1 or anything.
GREIBEL
Well, what are you waiting for?
Greibel gestures for Rhu to do that
Rhu offers Grenity a half digested light fixture.
RHU
I also have a bunch of mushrooms from that stoned, jailed philosopher back in Coffle, if any of you want a bit. That was powerful stuff.
Grenity looks it over, then looks quite surprised.
GRENITY
I... do not recognise this. Where did you get it?
RADEK
Are you referring to the technology?
GRENITY
The history. The stories. They're not...
Grenity stops and actually gives you all a proper look.
GRENITY
You're it. You're the answer.
Amadi hums a little more of the soup-song.
RHU
We found it in a pile of splatter in Sarathi.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
That sort of thing happens a lot.
Apheori (GM): She startles at the name as though she'd been struck.
Gaurav: You should get a proper lunch later.
Apheori (GM): Perception, everyone (and use your thingy, Gravy).
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20+10
(
16
)
+10
=
26
Greibel:
rolling 1d20+12
(
16
)
+12
=
28
Rhu:
rolling d20+15 perception
(
12
)
+15
=
27
Amadi:
rolling 1d20 + 7
(
14
)
+7
=
21
Ganelon: Hey, it's not 5!
DAWN
Ferrets.
The Gravedigger:
rolling 1D20+24
(
13
)
+24
=
37
Apheori (GM): So close.
(To Amadi): The ferrets almost just fell over.
(To Greibel): The ferrets almost just fell over.
Gaurav: Everybody gets a +1 from Rhu.
Apheori (GM): Gravy: She looked quite wobbly. As though about to fall apart.
AMADI
... Are you lot okay?
Amadi looks worryingly at Grenity.
GRENITY
I... yes.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
No-one poke the old lady.
GRENITY
I'm sorry, I'm old and some names... some names you just do not expect to hear again.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
She may explode.
GRENITY
I'm fine.
RADEK
So you recognize Sarathi.
GRENITY
It's... I... don't know.
Yes.
RADEK
Considering how it's likely nothing more than scattered fragments of reality by now...
Grenity looks genuinely confused.
RADEK
I demand an explanation.
GRENITY
It's not one. It's like...
A hole. When you take a stack of papers and punch a hole through all of them. Hundreds at once. Bits get torn of and scattered down the line, one way as the punch goes through, another back. Sometimes the hole isn't even a hole, just a rip, but it gets stuck to the others.
Grenity is visibly shaking now.
GRENITY
We almost tried it. Once.
And then... it was destroyed. So destroyed it didn't even have a name anymore, and we were destroyed with it, and now we're... we're...
GREIBEL
The Ferret Lady?
Greibel sips his tea non-chalantly
Grenity is too shaken up at this point to even respond.
Amadi narrows her eyes at Grenity.
AMADI
Did you... know me...? When I was someone else?
Gaurav: Look at all of us sitting around quietly learning things and having a polite conversation with a strange old lady. Does that mean it's time to ruin everything by invoking Hazz?
AMADI
...Did I ever know you?
GRENITY
(whispering)
You were always you. You still are.
RADEK
You don't need to explain, I've witnessed the phenomenon personally.
Amadi shakes her head violently.
GRENITY
You knew us all, dear dreamer. You were the one who saved us.
AMADI
NOT!
Not her!
Grenity calms, and smiles at Amadi.
GRENITY
You're you.
You and nobody else.
DAWN
All of us?
Amadi keeps shaking her head and hides a little behind Gravy (without climbing off him).
AMADI
Don't wanna.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I'd appreciate it if you'd stop upsetting my hat.
DAWN
It's all right. She means we're us. We're always ourselves no matter who we are.
I don't even know who I am.
Dawn laughs suddenly.
GREIBEL
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ARE YOU
AMADI
You're not Dave.
GREIBEL
WHO WHO
AMADI
I'm not Amadi.
GREIBEL
WHO WHO
DAWN
I'm not, no. And you're not. It's very interesting.
Gaurav: Greibel turns into an owl and starts hooting at everybody.
Bear Soup Guy: XD
GRENITY
But all of you are. You always were, waiting.
Apheori (GM): A swarm of owls.
On every surface.
Gaurav: I wonder how many distinct beings were in that conversation just now.
Apheori (GM): Approximately nine.
Wait, no, 11.
Gaurav: The answer is certainly not integral and might be imaginary.
+ the upcoming owl swarm
Apheori (GM): Actually I don't even know.
Ellemerr: *giggles*
Amadi giggles hysterically for a little bit and then starts brading Gravy's hair.
Apheori (GM): Rhu was on the sofas, right?
Gaurav: Still is! He's really comfy now.
Dawn guides Grenity over to the other sofa and lies her down.
Apheori (GM): Does Rhu still have his mask of furry truesight?
Gaurav: ...
Apheori (GM): ...nevermind.
Radek tries to remain composed. To find the eye in the storm of owls.
Apheori (GM): Wait, did Greibel actually go owls?
Bear Soup Guy: Nah
Ganelon: If he didn't... just ignore that.
Apheori (GM): Ah, foo.
Gaurav: Okay, I think I just lost track of the mask when Rhu regained his sight.
Is the mask really light? He might have just left it on.
Apheori (GM): It made everything look insanely hairy.
Gaurav: Oh. Then he'd've put it away with his things.
So it's in his backpack now.
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Gravy: You feel a bit tired, perhaps from the soup. It was very filling and relaxing.
Grenity is lying on the sofa with Dawn, who's stroking her... hair. They're talking in hushed voices.
(To Amadi): Actually she's stroking ferrets.
(To Greibel): Actually she's stroking ferrets.
The Gravedigger sits into the nearest sofa.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
WHAT A DAY, EH?
(From Bear Soup Guy): Of course!
Amadi falls off Gravy.
Frezak: Gravy assumes she will be unharmed.
Apheori (GM): Amadi lands on the sofa next to him, almost as though it were intentional, but only almost: she's upside down.
Gaurav gets up off the sofa and walks around the living room, looking at anything on the walls.
Gaurav: urk sorry that was IC
GRENITY
Getting too old for this.
DAWN
Oh, don't worry. It's only as old as the worlds.
Radek remains seated in the kitchen.
Apheori (GM): The walls have various paintings and drawing, including a whole lot of what look like they might be family.
They're all very old, and elves.
I guess Grenity is an elf too.
Though you wouldn't have noticed from looking at her.
Gaurav: That's unusual here, right? I think we've mostly seen humans so far.
Apheori (GM): Aye.
Mostly.
Ganelon: Ah, I know what Radek will do.
He'll mess with that contraption.
The one which uses rocks.
Gaurav: Is there a door from the living room to outside the house, say into the back yard?
Apheori (GM): The front door was probably by the living room, the back by the kitchen.
Gan: Describe what you do, what you want to try, or what you need to know.
Ganelon: I... hrm.
Rhu starts getting bored, and wanders outside through the front door to look around the house.
Rhu:
rolling d20+15 perception check on the house: how old is it, is it well-made, etc.
(
3
)
+15
=
18
Apheori (GM): Even if it's just poking it or sticking random things together or zapping it with small lightning bolts.
Does Rhu know anything about construction, especially oldfangled?
Gaurav: Nope!
But he's bored.
So he's just poking around.
The Gravedigger hums.
Apheori (GM): It doesn't look all that old, fairly well-made, and everything seems hand-made. Slightly uneven, but only very slightly. Every nail slightly different, that sort of thing.
Maaan, those cookies.
I could just take a nap.
Gan: You can also just give me random rolls and say he's literally just trying random things.
But it'll be easier for me if you actually specify what the random things are, or ask questions about specific whatevers. >.>
Frezak: Smear it with various kitchen products.
Ganelon: Sure.
We can start with magical scrutiny.
Apheori (GM): Arcana.
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20+16
(
13
)
+16
=
29
Gaurav: Is there any sort of basement in this house?
Apheori (GM): There are two levels to its magic. One is fairly normal, a bit like a trick lock, but it's too broken to see how it's actually supposed to go together. And under that, is another layer - a layer unlike any magic you've ever seen as magic, exactly, but in general it feels just like the holes.
The stones definitely tied to the lock level.
Gaurav: Not that you can tell.
Other rooms are just bedrooms and storage and a remarkably modern-looking bathroom that doesn't even look used.
Ganelon: Aah, so it is broken.
I recall that it's actually missing a piece. The uh... top?
Apheori (GM): Aye.
Ganelon: Alright.
Rhu walks around the house, looking out at the landscape around the house and vaguely looking for entrances and exits from the house.
Ganelon: I will attempt to jury-rig a functioning top out of... anything at all.
If Radek gets the notion that he can make one out of expertly carved potatoes, he goes for it.
Apheori (GM): d20.
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20
(
19
)
=
19
Apheori (GM): There's some foil on the counter, which makes the needed shape reasonably well.
Arcana?
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20+16
(
2
)
+16
=
18
Aaaaargh
Apheori (GM): He gets it on, and the magic takes it, but it's not going to stay on if he moves it or anything.
Even so, the device seems mostly fixed now, at least at the top level.
Fortunately Radek's arcana is high enough that the only way to outright fail is to roll a 1. >.>
...so far.
Gaurav: What's Greibel doing?
Ganelon: Haha!
I love my rampant overspecialization.
Bear Soup Guy: Greibel's sampling his newly acquired herbs, of course
Gaurav: Hee. Nice.
Amadi stands on her head for a bit.
RADEK
Aha!
Ganelon: Did we actually get the old lady's name?
Gaurav: I don't think so. Greibel referred to her as Ferret Lady earlier.
RADEK
Houseowner!
I require your attention for a moment.
Apheori (GM): Grenity.
She introduced herself at the start.
Ganelon: Oh.
Apheori (GM): The Gravedigger introduced himself.
Nobody else noticed.
Ganelon: Well whatever, Radek can just be rude.
GRENITY
(from the sofa) Hnnnnh?
Apheori (GM): Greibel: These are some really good hallucinogens and make Grenity almost not look like ferrets.
In fact everyone might be bees.
RADEK
I have a device. Perhaps you will recognize it.
Apheori (GM): Greibel: Also, you can see Midnight and it's watching you, but you doubt it can actually reach you from here.
The woman starts to get up, but then Dawn motions for her to stay put ("No, no, I got this") and comes over instead.
Radek frowns at Dawn.
RADEK
You've already seen this.
DAWN
You fixed it?
Frezak: Gravy will stand around and look helpful without doing anything.
RADEK
Temporarily.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hmmm.
Frezak: I WILL ROLL ARCANA
DAWN
Have you turned it on?
The Gravedigger:
rolling 1D20+4
(
6
)
+4
=
10
Apheori (GM): Wait, does dawn have arcana too?
Frezak: That looks like foil.
Everyone HAS arcana.
Apheori (GM): Gravy: It looks like foil.
And I mean as something she's trained in.
Oh gods she does.
Ganelon: She did make a floating disk.
Dawn gives the thing a look over.
DAWN
You need to put in a proper combination to turn it on, but then... I think the stones are just building blocks. Use them to represent the missing reality, and you can reshape...stuff?
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hmmm.
Ganelon: Hmmm is right.
Dawn:
rolling 1d20 + 10
(
2
)
+10
=
12
Hmm.
Ganelon: Another 2!
This thing defies scrutiny.
Apheori (GM): I like my physical dice better.
Ellemerr: Allow me to try.
rolling 1d20 + 10
(
13
)
+10
=
23
Apheori (GM): She got a 29 on her first roll with those.
Amadi looks at the thingy.
Apheori (GM): Much better. sort of.
AMADI
Do you actually go over to them, or do it across the room?
Amadi walks over on her hands. Then takes the thing from them and fiddles with it. Upside down.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hmmm.
RADEK
Don't move it-!
Apheori (GM): Amadi: You cause the foil to fall off, but see a way to fix the foil so it'll actually stay on and keep working in doing so.
Ganelon: NNOOOO MY PRIDE
Apheori (GM): XD
Greibel hasn't been paying proper attention to all the conversation and is laughing so hard at everyone right now
Amadi looks like a guilty child who did something she shouldn't and quickly fixes the thing and puts it back, looking anxiously at Radek.
Apheori (GM): Does Radek have the stones?
Amadi falls off her hands/head and ends up on her back.
AMADI
Ow.
Ganelon: Yeah, I think so.
We kept them all in the same box.
Apheori (GM): Excellent.
Ganelon: Or should have.
Dawn fiddles with the stones.
Dawn:
rolling 1d20 +10
(
17
)
+10
=
27
RADEK
(To Amadi, begrudgingly) ...Thank you.
Apheori (GM): How many slots did I say the thing had? Seven?
Ganelon: Seven, ye.
Yes*
Gaurav: "The box contains a circular contraption with spaces for seven stones, three more of the stones themselves, and a few chunks of something that looks like it shattered."
Apheori (GM): Yeah.
Dawn selects seven stones and pushes them across the counter to Radek.
DAWN
These.
Apheori (GM): If you use them or whatever, I don't care about actual order. Just roll or something. >.>
Radek raises an eyebrow at Dawn, but takes the stones and inserts them in an arbitrary order.
Ganelon: If it matters at all, let's say one he is personally biased towards.
rolling 1d20
(
7
)
=
7
And if simply putting them in does nothing, he turns it on.
Apheori (GM): Arcana?
Putting them in doesn't explicitly do anything, but...
Ganelon: Oh.
Apheori (GM): ARCANA.
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20+16 ARCANAAAAA
(
1
)
+16
=
17
NO
Apheori (GM): ...it seems to still be broken.
The Gravedigger:
rolling 1D20+4
(
16
)
+4
=
20
Frezak: Because Gravy sees that Radek is sad.
Apheori (GM): Gravy: It's not broken. You just need to get one of them entirely seated.
Jiggle it or something.
The Gravedigger jiggles the device.
Ganelon: Radek /is/ pretty sad right now.
Apheori (GM): The not seated one falls out.
Ganelon: He's getting upstaged in his own field.
By the /midgets/.
Apheori (GM): >.<
Frezak: I'll put the unseated stone in properly.
Apheori (GM): Well, to be fair, before they were split, they were an engineer.
Ganelon: I did not know that!
Apheori (GM): ...they were also a god of madness.
>.>
RADEK
Oh.
Radek mumbles absently as he replaces the unseated stone.
Apheori (GM): Frezak: When you do, it turns on, humming very faintly, and emitting light in a way that totally makes sense.
Well, whichever of you does it.
Ganelon: Sorry, I didn't see him actually mention operating it.
Frezak: Gravy will hand the device back to teh Radek.
And beam.
Apheori (GM): Heh.
Dawn:
rolling 1d20 + 10
(
4
)
+10
=
14
Apheori (GM): Amadi: You should roll too.
Amadi:
rolling 1d20 + 10
(
9
)
+10
=
19
RADEK
Well, that's... progress.
Apheori (GM): Amadi: It has something in it. A message.
DAWN
You should be able to turn it, now. Change the stones.
Whatever that means.
Radek squints at the thing with one eye.
Amadi leans towards the device and whispers,
AMADI
Tell me.
Apheori (GM): Amadi: d20
Amadi:
rolling 1d20
(
4
)
=
4
Ellemerr: Uh oh >.>
Apheori (GM): Do it again. >.>
Ellemerr:
rolling 1d20
(
4
)
=
4
:D
Apheori (GM): Well, huh.
Ganelon: Sometimes you just can't escape it, DM.
Apheori (GM): It doesn't tell you.
But something is watching.
Something huge and sizeless. Everywhere. Watching. Focussed.
Amadi sticks out her tongue at it, offended.
Apheori (GM): On you.
Ganelon: Also sometimes this happens:
http://imgur.com/flAgDgX
Apheori (GM): o.O
Ganelon: Actual character of mine, by the way.
Gaurav: Wow!
Frezak rolls eyes
Ganelon: Frezak hates her because she's a literal mouse.
And also a Pathfinder character.
Don't mind him.
Apheori (GM): >.<
Well, MY pathfinder character wears a badger on his head.
Ellemerr: Is it too late to make hot chocolate? Would you people be upset if I went and did that?
I wouldn't be -completely- gone, but I would be less present. >.>
Apheori (GM): First say if Amadi noticed the huge sizeless thing everywhere watching her.
Ganelon: Now I believe the purpose of this puzzle, as Dawn reminded us (but I kept notes, we already sorta knew this), is to reorder the stones placed in it already.
Apheori (GM): Scrutinising her.
Gaurav: I need to leave in the next half hour. Work work work.
Apheori (GM): Focussing on her, and her alone, from infinite angles.
Ganelon: So...
Ellemerr: She totally stuck out her tongue at it.
Offended.
Gaurav: But Rhu can stay outside the house as long as needed, and I can be back an hour after I leave if we're still going then.
Apheori (GM): Oh, I thought that was at the box.
Okay.
Ellemerr: It was both.
Apheori (GM): It doesn't do anything to that.
Rhu wasn't doing anything already, so...
What'll it be?
Can everyone do the same time next week?
Ganelon: Radek swaps the positions of the stones representing... let's say "fire" and "bird".
Totally.
Apheori (GM): Radek: Greibel looks like he's on fire.
Gaurav: Same time next week works for me!
Ganelon: ...Someone turn the stove on and see if doves come out.
Greibel waves casually at Radek
Greibel with one leg bent over the other
Bear Soup Guy: Same time next week is probably good for me
Radek strokes his beard and gives Greibel a good, fascinated staring.
RADEK
Do any of you see that?
Apheori (GM): To Amadi, Greibel usually looks like he's on fire.
But nobody else did.
AMADI
I see everything.
DAWN
Not you. You don't see you.
AMADI
I could if I wanted to!
DAWN
But you don't.
AMADI
Not even a bit.
Apheori (GM): Radek: Arcana.
Gravy: Perception.
Radek:
rolling 1d20+16
(
6
)
+16
=
22
Frezak:
rolling 1D20+14
(
17
)
+14
=
31
Ganelon: Geez, apparently I need to spend all this dust on getting some runic armor.
Get another +2 to Arcana.
Apheori (GM): Clearly.
Ganelon: After that I might legitimately have /run out/ of ways to make it higher.
Apheori (GM): Radek: Messing with the order can change what the object reveals. But changing the stones as well, using new ones, might even change reality.
Ellemerr: You need a double-roll.
Ganelon: I do.
Apheori (GM): Gravy: You notice that the woman on the sofa, who has now dozed off, is ferrets.
Six of them.
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I KNEW IT.
Greibel starts laughing uncontrollably again
GREIBEL
YOU know what's up man!
THE GRAVEDIGGER
I am upset that you'd lie about it! Its really rude!
Grenity snores in tandem.
RADEK
Fascinating.
Radek returns the stones to their original positions.
Ganelon: I'll experiment more with this next time, I suppose.
Apheori (GM): Greibel looks like bees, now.
Bear Soup Guy: BEES ON FIRE?!
Apheori (GM): ALWAYS.
Gaurav: o.0
Bear Soup Guy: OH GOD I AM TERRIFYING
Gaurav: Is the Greibel-fire giving off any smoke?
Apheori (GM): Nope.
It's like HOLY FIRE.
Except druggy.
Instead of holy.
You guys want to do anything else here, wake the woman/ferrets, steal some soup for the road, try reshaping all of reality in a go?
Or should we just have you move out so we can start the next with a new place?
Rhu returns to the rest of the party after his walk.
Frezak: If she's really asleep...
I want to write I AM FERRETS on her house.
Bear Soup Guy: XD
Ganelon: ...Separate a ferret from the rest.
Apheori (GM): Inside or outside?
Ganelon: There's your evil notion for the week.
Frezak: Outside.
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Does anyone separate a ferret?
Of those who see the ferrets.
Ellemerr: Not me. In fact, I will glare viciously at anyone attempting such a thing.
Ganelon: Radek won't.
He's got his restored puzzle (now with tinfoil)
Gaurav: Rhu sees nothing.
Frezak: Gravy is performing graffiti.
Actually.
I want to...
Dig the words into the ground.
And I want the ground to remember.
That this lady is ferrets.
Gaurav: Ha!
Frezak: And was untrue.
I want to bury this truth right beneath the sruface.
*surface.
Gaurav: If you do that, I'm going to ask that this be added to the map.
Frezak: I want it to be there, in every step taken.
Apheori (GM): Roll arcana.
Frezak:
rolling 1D20+4
(
9
)
+4
=
13
BLuh
Apheori (GM): Okay.
Just checking.
You still put the words down and they're there, dug into the ground.
Anyone flying overhead will surely see.
Ellemerr: I accidentally had some curry in my cocoa. It's fine, though. Could need some cream, but I'm out.
Apheori (GM): o.O
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Hrmph.
Frezak: How did you do that?
Ellemerr: I thought it was cinnamon.
Frezak: Right.
Apheori (GM): >.<
Ellemerr: I do that frequently. Never before with the cocoa, though.
Apheori (GM): Okay, Gravy does that, and you all leave sleeping ferrets lying and head out?
Ellemerr: I pat the ferrets and leave them some extra chocolate.
Gaurav: Are they just a pile of ferrets snuggling against each other in a vaguely human-shaped lump to anyone who can see?
Frezak: Gravy is grumpy.
Apheori (GM): You still see old lady.
Ganelon: He can grump next to Radek.
Frezak: Do they have a sort of stick framework to stand on?
Apheori (GM): It was apparently magic.
Ganelon: Radek won't support him but he won't push him away either.
Gaurav: Aw. Well. Rhu waves vaguely at her as we leave.
