Holes/Session 16/raw
A fragment of the Garden of Remembering
< Holes | Session 16
Apheori (GM): Does anyone remember the current situation? Bear Soup Guy: We're uh Frezak (GM): THe place started falling apart then stopped. We were looting. Ganelon: We read through some logs. The teleporter was broken. Apheori (GM): Right. You were in that presentation room, the walls were sometimes groaning... Gaurav: Yay groaning walls we haven't had that in a while Apheori (GM): Well, this is structural groaning, not possessed groaning. Gaurav: oh non-sarcastic "yay!" then Frezak (GM): We need to find out how Greibel got here. By... killing him and casting Speak With Dead, possibly. Apheori (GM): Greibel got in down the corridor that collapsed. Frezak (GM): UNless Ghost-Greibel is also stoned. Apheori (GM): Of course ghost-Greibel is also stoned. Frezak (GM): Well, bugger. Bear Soup Guy: Always stoned Frezak (GM): Wander around aimlessly... Bear Soup Guy: He's a floating pot-smoke apparition Frezak (GM): OR. I COULD DIG US OUT. Gaurav: Can you smoke ghost-Griebel? like, if you were to inhale him Apheori (GM): You could track your way out. Frezak (GM): Ghost Greibel inhales YOU. Track? Apheori (GM): Or you could get Radek to look for a map of the place. Folks used this place, went in and out. Track it! Frezak (GM): Ehhhh Ganelon: Have Greibel turn into a swarm of moles! Frezak (GM): There you go. Bear Soup Guy: :O Frezak (GM): Thanks, Brains. Do that. Gaurav: ++swarm of moles idea Apheori (GM): You could follow the tuna trails that criss-crossed the real trail you followed to find the crazies. Gaurav: why would the transporter stop working? we didn't fiddle with any electronics while we were here, right? Apheori (GM): Why, indeed... Gaurav: ... or the tune trail. that works too. Ganelon: It wasn't getting power. Well, that doesn't explain why it dumped silvery stuff on us. But now it's not getting power. Most likely suspect is, of course, the cave-in. Gaurav: oh right, that would explain it the tanks are also empty the presentation room has power Ganelon: Good point. Rhu: "speaking with the dead": well, that thing is from the City of the Dead ... *points at sphinx* Pretty easy to speak to the dead if you can teleport there. The sphinx licks itself emphatically. Radek: Useless if you can't find a specific soul, however. Apheori (GM): Greibel could turn into a swarm of slime and map the complex like a slime mold. Ganelon: I'll oblige you and go look for a map. But I would prefer if Greibel turned into a swarm of soft memory foam. Gaurav: Sorry if this was covered earlier: is the presentation room the only place you can get to through the north corridor, or are there other places to explore there? Apheori (GM): You check by the door and are disappointed to find that this building apparently does not follow normal codes and has no directions to emergency exits. There are other places. Gravy just tracked the two loon here. loons Ganelon: Oh, I would register SO MANY complaints if there were anyone to receive them. Gaurav: Ha! I hope we find a complaint register at some point. This place seems crazy enough that it might have one. Ganelon: "And then there was a cave-in, and when we tried to use the teleporter it just produced liquid non-existence, which didn't even stick to me!" Bear Soup Guy: "I'm VERY dis-satisfied!" Dave: (counting the seats in the room) Two... fourteen... twenty three... Ganelon: I'd probably slip in a few complaints about the party itself even though that is in no way this establishment's fault. Dave: Something's missing. Gaurav: Possibly silly question, but we've already echecked that our communication gear doesn't work down here, right? Radek: What? Rhu: (to Dave) What? rolling 1d20+12 perception check on the room to see if I can see what's caught Dave's attention ( 6 ) +12 = 18 Frezak (GM): BAH. Gravy will activate his Gravysenses. rolling 1D20+20 ( 3 ) +20 = 23 See? Even on a 3 i'm awesome. Now I need to sit down for 5 minutes >.> Rhu: Thank you. Ganelon: Keep showing off like that and I'll have to one-up you in a different campaign altogether. Dave: I don't know. Ganelon: By making Freya's L6 feat Skill Focus: Diplomacy. Apheori (GM): Frezak: It has something to do with the number of seats and the... door? Frezak (GM): Uh. I will relay that dubious information >.> Gaurav: How many seats are there? 23? Frezak (GM): Is there a missing seat spot? Gaurav: There were 18 beds in the quarters earlier, but we've definitely seen more than 18 skeletons, so there must be more living quarters around somewhere. Apheori (GM): 47 seats. Ganelon: I don't get why this is important, but... I suppose I'll check out the door. Gaurav: There were 47 gold pieces in the living quarters, although that couldn't posibly be relevent. Apheori (GM): The walls creak ominously as you do. Perception, please. Rhu: rolling 1d20+12 perception check ( 14 ) +12 = 26 Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+10 ( 7 ) +10 = 17 Ganelon: rolling 1d20+8 ( 17 ) +8 = 25 Apheori (GM): I meant Radek. Ganelon: I think it's 8, at least. I'll confirm in just a sec. Gaurav: all perception all the time Ganelon: Yep, 8. Apheori (GM): GAN: YOU NOTICE... ...that none of the rooms are labelled and in a place like this, they should be labelled. It's like someone stole all the signs. Frezak (GM): SCRUB SCRUB ALL THE WALLS Radek: Are you talking about a sign for the room, Dave? There should be one here. Dave: One? Or two? Ellemerr: I should be ready very soon. Am I present? Dave: On the door, and by the door. Apheori (GM): You are not, so show up when you feel like. Rhu: By the door? Apheori (GM): Elll: There is a sphinx draped over some seats licking itself, if that helps. Ellemerr: Perhaps. (From Ellemerr): If you've anything specific you want me to confuse those poor buggers about, as always, you've but to tell me. Apheori (GM): Dave walks over to the door and taps slightly to the right of the frame, 2/3 of the way up. Dave: Here. (To Ellemerr): Igot nothing. Frezak (GM): DETECT ILLLLUUUSION Ganelon: ...Sure, why not. Frezak (GM): I smack the tapped area. Ganelon: rolling 1d20+11 Arcana ( 13 ) +11 = 24 There any magic up there, boss? (To Ellemerr): I think some crazy person just stole all the signs. Rhu: We're inside the room. Why would there be a sign on the way out? Apheori (GM): Magic! Greibel: They want to make sure you enjoyed your stay. Apheori (GM): Something magical touched it. Frezak (GM): I PUNCH THE MAGIC Apheori (GM): The magic disperses. Ganelon: Way to go, you scared the magic away. Now we can't disenchant it for MORE DUST Gaurav: That magic has returned to the land of its forefathers. Frezak (GM): My shovel is magic? and brb Apheori (GM): Isn't it a +1 shovel? Frezak (GM): No. Apheori (GM): Oh. Greibel: +1 Shovel Of Burrying Frezak (GM): None of us have any magic stuff. Bear Soup Guy: err Ganelon: I have the ability to make one thing +1. Bear Soup Guy: OOC Ganelon: With my current resources. Apheori (GM): I thought it was almost all +1 since you're from future land. The porridge hops around the room merrily Apheori (GM): Or maybe that was just the cloth stuff. The sphinx gets up and stalks the porridge. Gaurav: My cloth armour is +1, but it's not magical. Just cloth. Was there anything hiding under the sphinx? Apheori (GM): Some cat hair. Amadi sits down in the seat vacated by the sphinx. Her hair is sticky with blood. Ganelon: Well, the lack of signs is mysterious but we're in danger of the place collapsing and I don't see how a label would help us much. Unless this room has a purpose we're unaware of. Rhu backs away from blood-stained Amadi Apheori (GM): Is Greibel smoking anything? Rhu: (to Dave) why do you think there ought to be a sign there? Is it something about the room? Or have you been here before? Ganelon: It's the morning. Of course he is. Bear Soup Guy: :D Ellemerr: Is not smoking an option for him? Ganelon: (I think he actually did mention something of the sort) Dave: Max occupancy 47 persons Bear Soup Guy: Yeah, he did wake up and smoke a lot of things when he say Dave and Amadi on the ceiling Dave: The space is there where it should be. Bear Soup Guy: saw* Gaurav: I imagine we'd stop him if he tried to smoke near something inflamable, but apart from that ... Apheori (GM): Is he still smoking? Okay. Bear Soup Guy: Yeah, he could be if that would be helpful =D Apheori (GM): Okay. Gravy: You think you hear a squawk from a room down the corridor. Bear Soup Guy: He's out of his element here and doesn't know what any of this science stuff does, so he's probably a bit bored and smoking quite a bit Apheori (GM): Maybe others do too. I dunno what your passive perceptions are. Bear Soup Guy: passive 20 Ganelon: 18 here. Pretty good. Gaurav: 22, but I think Rhu is still trying to work out the Mystery of the 47 Chairs, so he's distracted Ganelon: Passive perception is just 10+perception mod, after all. Apheori (GM): Greibel hears it too, and it sounds like a dying horse to him. Rhu hears it and doesn't really notice. Greibel perks up Ganelon: Everyone here has ridiculous senses. Apheori (GM): You're elves. Of course you do. Ganelon: You should see the other game, where the gnoll (they get a racial bonus and everything) is the highest at 5. Gaurav: I would have ridiculous senses, if Gravy didn't keep showing off. Bear Soup Guy: XD Apheori (GM): Wow. Ganelon: 5! He misses stuff all the time! Bear Soup Guy: Fits the scenario quite well though If our highest perception was 5 we'd still be walking around a parking lot looking at cars Frezak (GM): back Ganelon: He's a really shitty hunter. Nobody believes him though because he kept rolling over 15 the one time we had to track something. Apheori (GM): Or you'd be dead. Bear Soup Guy: Yes Apheori (GM): Frezak: You heard a squawk down the hall. Do stuff. Ellemerr: Hey, I believe you! You've convinced me that you're a really shitty liar, and I believe in luck. Bear Soup Guy: And I a horse Apheori (GM): Also Amadi is all bloody. Bear Soup Guy: NATURE BROTHERS ASSEMBLE Ellemerr: Eh, just her hair. Frezak (GM): What kind of squawk? Apheori (GM): How is your nature? Gaurav: A giant seabird has arrived. The giant fish are on their way. Apheori (GM): Roll nature. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+9 ( 16 ) +9 = 25 Ganelon: The pelicans have come! Frezak (GM): THE GULLS Gaurav: We must send BSG to negotiate on our behalf. And try to stop the sphinx from eating it. Apheori (GM): It sounds like an angry duck and then like a horse dying. Frezak (GM): OH, GODS, THE GULLS I realy that terrifying information to the party. *relay AND CHARGE INTO THE HALL Apheori (GM): And ignore the bloody Amadi? Greibel wonders what animal might be amicable to both a duck and a horse Frezak (GM): I'm not a healer. I dig graves, I don't keep people out of them. Apheori (GM): You don't need to be a healer to notice something is odd. Bear Soup Guy: Oh, is it Amadi's own blood? Amadi dangles her feet, smiling at the world at large. Apheori (GM): On the other hand, Amadi is always add. odd Gaurav: I was a healer until I killed someone. Now I'm a lapsed healer. Plus, it's Amadi. She'll pop into another world and then pop back, good as new. Frezak (GM): EVERYTHING IS ODD. Ganelon: ADD also works. Apheori (GM): Yes. Frezak (GM): So i charge into the halll. Gaurav: Frezak: don't jinx it. Things have been surprisingly unodd for a while now. Ganelon: I think I would prefer not to know why there's blood in her hair, myself. Frezak (GM): THis world has taught me that being sensible in it is pointless. Rhu goes out after Frezak, maul drawn. Dave frowns at Amadi and then follows Gravy. Ganelon: So I'll just follow these guys. Bear Soup Guy: Perhaps the blood is from whatever animal is squawking right now Apheori (GM): At a sedate walk, though. Frezak (GM): Was she birthed again? OUt of a duckmoose? Gaurav: She spent more than six minutes with the sphinx. That'll bloody anyone. Apheori (GM): Folks in the hall: You now hear a horrible horking noise from the room you just left. Frezak (GM): I don't want to know. She's just spitting up an Amadiball. Rhu pops his head back into the room in surprise Frezak (GM): From licking too many ears; Apheori (GM): Amadi, Greibel: The sphinx ran into the porridge. Frezak (GM): I warned you. Greibel: Oik! Ellemerr: Uh-oh Greibel goes over to try to separate them Rhu shakes his head and return to the corridor Apheori (GM): They're a bit tangled. Greibel: Roll to untangle. Amadi skips down to join with the seperating. Apheori (GM): Probably dexterity. Greibel: mmm Apheori (GM): With an assist from Amadi. Greibel: rolling 1d20+0 ( 2 ) +0 = 2 XD XD XD Ellemerr: rolling 1d20 ( 20 ) = 20 Ganelon: Amazing. Bear Soup Guy: Utterly amazing Gaurav: well that's a pair of rolls Frezak (GM): Gorram. Ellemerr: Even I can roll good once in a while, you know. Just... never in combat. Frezak (GM): So... With that crit.... Greibel got..4. Ellemerr: Yes, I'm spending all my good rolls here, Frezak. Deal with it. Frezak (GM): THANKS, AMADI WAY TO GO. THIS IS WHY THE STRANGER DIED. Apheori (GM): Amadi peels the porridge off the sphinx and it winds up on Greibel's head. The horrible noises cease. Amadi giggles. Ganelon: Just ask the Merr to Astral Seal something and you'll see how consistent she can be. For the worse. Apheori (GM): The sphinx runs out into the corridor as well. Greibel chuckles a bit as well Gaurav: darnit, should've locked it in here when we had the chance Ellemerr: I'd help, but I think I've sort of made it terrified of me, at least for a while. Frezak (GM): So..... I'm all alone? Gaurav: no, I'm still in the corridor Frezak (GM): But you stopped running, right? Gaurav: Yes. I'm right outside the door at the moment. Did you run ahead? Ganelon: I followed you without interruption. Frezak (GM): I never turned back. Ganelon: I don't want to be alone with all the crazy people. Frezak (GM): On the basis that Amadi can control spacetime. Greibel: (to Amadi) Well, not to point out the obvious but...how'd you get all bloodied up? Apheori (GM): Dave's still walking after Gravy and Radek. Frezak (GM): ANd there was a duck in danger. Ganelon: Or a dangerous duck. Gaurav: An angry duck. A dead horse. Ganelon: I think it might be that. Frezak (GM): Zombie duck? Amadi: How did I what? The porridge: Gloop Greibel: Mmm. Right. Rhu cautiously advances down the corridor in the direction that Gravy went Frezak (GM): No need to be cautious. Apheori (GM): The sphinx catches up with Gravy at some point. Amadi looks at Greibel as though he's a little bit mad. Frezak (GM): If there's something bad, it's gonna be busy with a faceful of Gravy Apheori (GM): Gravy: You come to a room. Frezak (GM): MY DREAD NEMESIS Apheori (GM): The noise came from here. It is all quiet now. The Gravedigger: HELLO? Ganelon: It's okay, I have a rifle. We can totally make this a duck hunt. Apheori (GM): Nothing. The Gravedigger: IS THERE A DUCK AND OR HORSE IN HERE? Apheori (GM): The sphinx runs in. Gaurav: But it's rabbit season. Frezak (GM): What IS in the room? Radek is a scienceman. Gaurav: Have I reached Frezak yet? How far ahead of us is he? Frezak (GM): He can make a duck into a rabbit. Apheori (GM): A desk, some chairs, a deformed skeleton... And, apparently, a giant duckmoose monster under the desk. It appears to be either dead or unconscious. Frezak (GM): DEFORMED? I check the duckmoose for vital signs. Apheori (GM): It has too many feet. You wind up with sphinx vital signs. Frezak (GM): I attempt to remove the sphinx. The sphinx stares at Gravy from on top of the duckmoose. Apheori (GM): You reach out to move the sphinx and it jumps off. Ganelon: Cats. Apheori (GM): Rhu, Radek: You come in as well. Rhu: ... yeah ... okay ... I don't know what I was expecting. But that's not far off. Frezak (GM): Is this apex of nature alive? Apheori (GM): Apparently not. Amadi shrugs and pets the porridge. The porridge rumbles. Amadi: What time is it? The Gravedigger: Can we leave yet? Greibel: Uhrm Gaurav: Time to get a new watch. Radek: Time to leave, yes. The Gravedigger: PLease. Dave: Okay. Rhu: We should get Griebel to check the creature out maybe. With the nature and whatnot. Bear Soup Guy: Should I and/or Amadi head to the room? We're still screwing around in the unimportant room Frezak (GM): I can totes nature it. rolling 1D20+9 ( 17 ) +9 = 26 Ganelon: Don't suppose there's a map in this room either? Frezak (GM): See? That's nature, right there. That moose? not natural. Rhu: So: head of a duck, body of a moose? That's large, scary and awkward, all at once. Apheori (GM): Nature determines that it's not natural. Amadi: Thanks, that's helpful. Hey, do you like my hair? I think I dyed it. Is it dyed? Do you have a mirror? Apheori (GM): Some sort of horrible disease happened to it. The Gravedigger: The duck-moose hybrid.... Is not natural. Greibel: Your hair is...very unique. It's nice. Amadi: Thanks! Greibel: I don't have a mirror but uh....I'm sure there's a reflective surface around here somewhere... Amadi: Right! The sign at the door. That's very clever of you. Radek: It might have been a test subject. Amadi goes to look at herself in the metallic sheen of the sign on the door. The Gravedigger: Maybe. I hope I don't turn into a duck. Greibel: The sign on...was that there before? Greibel walks over to read the sign Rhu: I hope you don't turn into a duck either. So: definitely dead? We should go back and try to find another way out of here? The Gravedigger: Yeah. Apheori (GM): Greibel: Roll sanity. Greibel: rolling 1d20 ( 8 ) = 8 Dave: Would you turn into a duck? Does that even happen? Radek: I wouldn't discount anything. Apheori (GM): Greibel: The sign looks like a map. But it shimmers too much to make out details. The Gravedigger: I dunno. But this moose got ducked. I don't want to be ducked. Amadi: Huh. I could've sworn I used green dye... The Gravedigger: Are you colourblind? My brother has that. Green bunnies. Bear Soup Guy: Can I take the map off the door? The Gravedigger: Not that HE ever saw a real bunny. Because you only find them in zoos back home. Apheori (GM): You try to take the map, but your fingers pass right through it. Greibel: Oh, bugger all Gaurav: The annual bunny migration was a terrible time back in Roseberry Greibel: (To Amadi) What does this say? (From Ellemerr): What do I tell him? The Gravedigger: If you'd shown him this thing, he wouldn't have known it wasn't a proper creature. Ganelon: We probably ought to be more concerned with the fact that this duckmoose was making noise seconds ago. (To Amadi): It's the evacuation routes. Make something up. Frezak (GM): I don't know what to be concerned about anymore. Ganelon: Let's just move on. Do your tracking thing and see if we can't find an exit. I mean, I liked my moles idea, but the druid's occupied. Frezak (GM): Tracking would tell me where feet went, but not which ones went to an exit. It's not magic. Gaurav: Dungeoneering check to see if, I dunno, the floor is sloping up or something? And we should go get Greibel back before we move on. Amadi looks away from her own reflection in the metal, then back at it. "Hm? Oh, it's rules for running. Or guides. Most rules are just guides anyway. Do you think most guides are rules? It's very accurate. That way is blocked as of quite recently." She taps a spot on the thingy. Gaurav: I'll go. Rhu heads back to the hologram room, looking for Greibel. Frezak (GM): Just pick a corridor and take the right-hand turn rule until we find an exit? Rhu: (to Gravy, as he walks away) I like this plan! Frezak (GM): I'd be a minotaur if I wasn't an elf! Off to the holoroom. Greibel: So where are we on this guide? Rhu pops my head into the holoroom Amadi points again. Ganelon: Sure thing. Rhu: (to Greibel) It was just a monster. We're going to try to use the right hand rule to get us out of here. Coming? Dave: How do you know it isn't a proper creature? Greibel: Hold on, we found a map, check it out The Gravedigger: Well there goes my plan. Apheori (GM): Rhu: You see no map. Frezak (GM): It's a stonermap. Gaurav: Do I even see the sign? Apheori (GM): Nope. Rhu: That's a blank bit of wall. Don't worry about maps; if there was one, Radek would have found it ages ago. Where we're going, we don't need maps! Bear Soup Guy: Nice! Greibel: Well, look. We can see it and nothing bad ever came of following a map that isn't there for everyone, right? Apheori (GM): Radek: You notice a mass of fluff nuzzling you. Radek: ...Wrong, but continue. Apheori (GM): It says, "Hungry." Ganelon: Is it the sphinx? Rhu: (to Dave) Because why would a moose need a duck's head? How could a duck possibly eat enough in a day to sustain a body like that? Why even go to all the trouble of getting an aerodynamic head like a duck's if you're going to stick it on a moose, which is the exact opposite of whatever an aerodynamic thing is? It doesn't make sense. The Gravedigger: Because the duckhead on it was from some kind of magic disease. Dave: Why not? What if the head and body belong to it? The Gravedigger: Its a moose with a duck's head. Not a duck-headed moose-like creature. But it doesn't. Ganelon: No really, what is this nuzzling fluff? Dave: The disease did it? The Gravedigger: It probably died from having the wrong kind of head. Yes. Apheori (GM): Yeah, sphinx, sorry. Ganelon: Alright, just making sure it's not something *new*. Frezak (GM): Get the party together! WE CAN SOLVE THIS Rhu: The disease might have done it. That's true. Frezak (GM): The getting out of here, specifically. Rhu: Huh, solve _this_. We still haven't solved the mystery of the 47 chairs. Frezak (GM): duckmooses can be solved later. Rhu: Getting out of here would be nice, though. I miss the sun. The Gravedigger: Let's go get RAdek and Co. and get out of here. Tis place is falling apart. Radek: Damnable creature! Do I look like an entertainer to you? The sphinx: Hungry. Rhu: Someone should probably tell the sphinx a story before it goes nuts again. Agreed. Let's go! The Gravedigger picks up Radek. The Gravedigger: ONWARDS Radek: I have no time to tell stories! Ganelon: I'm okay with this. Apheori (GM) picks up the sphinx. Dave picks up the sphinx. Apheori (GM): >.< Ganelon: Radek is probably less so, but still. Amadi: We're leaving? Follow the... huh. Does that look like a rabbit to you? Amadi points to something on the sign. Rhu: Does what look like a rabbit? ... the wall? Greibel: hmmmm Could be. How strange. Rhu: There is a bit of a stain over on that side that looks a bit like a cat Apheori (GM): The floating disk hits Greibel on the way out the door and stops. Amadi: Mmm, I don't think we should follow the sphinx... The Gravedigger: Right hand rule! Less talky, more walky rightwards! Come on, people! Out the deathtrap! Rhu follows Gravy Apheori (GM): You've left the mouseforged in the room. Just so you know. Rhu: D'oh. Greibel falls Frezak (GM): Gorram. Rhu mentions the mouseforged to Gravy -- he's not going back for it if Gravy doesn't want to. Frezak (GM): I'll go put Mousie on the disj. *disk Apheori (GM): Greibel is now sitting on the disk where the mouseforged was supposed to be. Frezak (GM): It's gone? Apheori (GM): It fell on some of the seats. Frezak (GM): Oh. Well, i'll put down Radek, Pick up Greibel, pud Griebel down, pick up Mousie and put Mousie on the disk. Whew. Greibel sits on the floor vacantly Gaurav: Put down Radek? Where is he? Apheori (GM): Does everyone leave? Now? Frezak (GM): I picked him up. Gaurav: Rhu sticks with Gravy. Frezak (GM): Thanks, Rhu. Ganelon: Well I'm not going back just to shout at the cat some more. So yeah, I'll just follow. Ellemerr: I'll sit with Greibel and sing komba-ya. Frezak (GM): On the floor? Once I put Mousie on the disk, I pick up Griebel and Amadi. And get moving. Greibel: oof Amadi: Wheeee~ Apheori (GM): Okay, you head out! Gaurav: YAY! Greibel: (to Amadi) So I guess we're not following the map Apheori (GM): Which way do you go? What do you do when Dave turns in a seemingly random direction? Frezak (GM): Personally? I'd ignore her. Ganelon: We have a plan. Gaurav: Wait, how many directions are there? I was imagining one corridor with the holoroom as a door on a side? Ganelon: For once I'd like to stick to it. Apheori (GM): I don't know. Rhu: We might want to follow Dave, though. She might know something about this place, from her time in the tank. Frezak (GM): She's also batshit. Amadi: She's full of holes! Maybe we'll fall down and find the white rabbit! Greibel: Rabbits are nice! Rhu makes as if to reply to Gravy, stops, thinks, then shrugs Rhu: Rabbits eat everything. They're pests. Greibel: But they're so cute and fuzzy! Frezak (GM): No, that was Frezak that said she was batshit. Gravy would never say that. Gaurav: Oh, right! Sorry. My bad. Apheori (GM): So if you all ignore it, Dave will turn around and follow everyone else. What's your plan, again? Frezak (GM): Keep turning right until we find an exit. Apheori (GM): o_O Frezak (GM): Classic dungeon rule. Gaurav: Or monsters. Apheori (GM): You wind up going in a circle. Frezak (GM): Then we go and do the same with the other wall. Apheori (GM): The other wall? Frezak (GM): Map. If we went in a circle, then we were following the inner square. So we find a corridor. And use the other wall as our direction wall. And do it again. Apheori (GM): You get hopelessly lost. Frezak (GM): WHAT HOW CAN WE GET LOST. I give up. Apheori (GM): It's laid out like a floor of an office building. Frezak (GM): Someone else do this. Apheori (GM): Going around the outsides, you find no exits. Aside from maybe something down rubble lane. Gaurav: So we spot nothing else in our lost wanderings? And now we can't find our way back to the lab room? Apheori (GM): Yup! Well, nothing useful. Because I can't think of anything. Lots of bodies. Wait, no, you do come across something. You're lost and you encounter a room with a... moose! ...jus kidding. Apheori (GM): Not a moose, but a spherical thing on a table with a bunch of tubes attached to it. Gaurav: "laid out like ... an office building" -- do you mean something like this: http://touristinmyownland.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/fort-canning-bunker.png Rhu: I think we should head back to the holoroom. Greibel: Not gonna say I told you so but....I told you so. Ganelon: I'll inspect this spherical thing. Amadi: Go back? What for? Ganelon: Sounds like magic to me. Amadi: Did someone forget their hairdye? Amadi has now a hair full of dried blood. It smells... not particularly nice. Ganelon: rolling 1d20+11 Arcana ( 6 ) +11 = 17 Apheori (GM): It's laid out like a floor in a tall building, I mean. Gan: It is magic! Apparently it's the shielding artifact. You think. You're not sure. Greibel: (To Amadi) Your hair is really quite lovely today. Bear Soup Guy: I'm imagining that Gravy still has each of us slung across his shoulders Rhu notices that Amadi's hair has been getting progressively bloodier Amadi: Aw, that's really sweet of you! I did it myself, you know. Dave: I think you should ask Amadi how to get out. She got in. I... think? Frezak (GM): under each arm. Like pigs. Dave winces for some reason. Bear Soup Guy: XD Amadi: I was inside. I'm outside now. Rhu: (to Amadi) Are you bleeding? Hey, Radek, I think she's bleeding. Apheori (GM): Just tell her there's a bath on the other side. Amadi: Am I bleeding? I don't think I'm bleeding. Frezak (GM): Do I smell blood? Ganelon: I'll groan and have a look. Apheori (GM): Yes. Ganelon: What'll that be, heal or perception? The Gravedigger: Yeah, that's blood. Apheori (GM): Heal, probably. (To Amadi): What actually did happen? >.> Frezak (GM): Can't you just syringe her? Ganelon: rolling 1d20+8 ( 15 ) +8 = 23 Gaurav: Gonna make some sandwiches, so if I'm slow to reply, you know why. Ganelon: Sure, but if it's not coming from a wound, what good would that do? (From Amadi): You're asking me? She dyed her hair! While in... the other place. Frezak (GM): MAGIC Apheori (GM): Well, you determine that it's not from a wound. That's what good it does.. Gaurav: "Radek begins examining Amadi's head for injury. Amadi's hair comes to life and kills him. The end." The Gravedigger: Eh, she's not complaining. Ganelon: I mean a healing thing. Apheori (GM): Heal is also to check, no? Ganelon: Yes I don't roll heal checks to use my infusions. Gaurav: Yeah, we agreed that Heal would be for anything medical. Ganelon: They just work. Apheori (GM): You check out her head. It's fine. Her hair just happens to be covered in blood for some reason. Like she tried washing it with blood. Radek: She's completely healthy. Er, physically healthy. And I'm not getting into the other sort. Now, stop asking. Ganelon: Shielding thing. How big is it? And how secure? Rhu: (to Amadi) Where'd all that blood come from? Or ... where IS it coming from? Frezak (GM): I CAN DESECURE IT Amadi: Dude, you're talking crazy. There's no blood. Apheori (GM): It's got wires and tubes all over it, and it's a bit smaller than a basketball. You can desecure it. Amadi: Oh my side, are you seeing things like those kids in horror-movies? Is it oozing out of the walls? Don't touch the mirrors! Dave walks over to a mirror and touches it. Ganelon: Do so. Apheori (GM): You desecure it? Rhu: It's not oozing, it's just ... appearing in your hair. It's a little weird. Radek: Detach this thing. We're taking it with us. Frezak (GM): Not until teh smart guy demands my might. I DETACH IT With my consistently epic Str >.> Ganelon: It is possible that we may all die, but I doubt that. Amadi: ... Yeah, you're crazy. Dave looks back at Amadi quizzically, and then notices how ridiculous she, Greibel, and Gravy look and bursts out laughing. Frezak (GM): I will carefully put down my charges. ANd prepare to desecure the thingy. Rhu mutters something under his breath and turns around to the mirrors. Greibel oinks at Gravy Rhu: rolling 1d20+12 perception check to examine the mirrors ( 20 ) +12 = 32 Apheori (GM): How do you want to do so? Frezak (GM): I have no idea. Bear Soup Guy: YOU ARE THE MIRROR Apheori (GM): Rhu: Normal mirrors over a sink and crap. Ganelon: Get the tubes off of it. Apheori (GM): There are some smudges on one. Rhu wipes at the smudges Frezak (GM): I slice the tubes with my razor-edged shovel. Ganelon: It would help to know how they're attached. Apheori (GM): They only sort of wipe away, and mostly just become smudgier. Gaurav: Like all smudges everywhere, then. Apheori (GM): The tubes deflate sadly. With a sad hiss. It's very sad. Frezak (GM): Have at thee, tubes! Gaurav: :( poor tubes Apheori (GM): It's still stuck in its stand. Whatdo you do? Frezak (GM): I HEAVE. Apheori (GM): ROLL SANITY Frezak (GM): 1 Apheori (GM): ...I mean strength. Frezak (GM): WHEW Gaurav: That was the sanity check Ganelon: "Nyeehhh" Frezak (GM): IM GLAD I DID NOT ROLL SANITY. Gaurav: Now roll the strength check Apheori (GM): Okay, if your strength does bad things... Frezak (GM): Whoa, no. that's not Str. Apheori (GM): You may have a problem. Gaurav: Don't break the mirror, it's bad luck! Apheori (GM): Roll strength. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+5 ( 20 ) +5 = 25 MY MIGHT UNLEASHED Gaurav: YES Apheori (GM): You heave the artifact out of its stand. Ganelon: BY THE POWER OF GRAVYSKULL Gaurav: Frezak's muscles unexpectedly bulge out of his shirt, tearing it to pieces. Bear Soup Guy: "and the bit of floor underneath it yanks out as well" Frezak (GM): I LIFT THE WORD Apheori (GM): It comes out neatly and you're left standing there holding a weird sshiny orb. Frezak (GM): SUCK ON THIS, ATLAS. Apheori (GM): And then everything goes funky. Frezak (GM): I PUT THE ORB BACK Ganelon: What!? No! Give it to me! Apheori (GM): Funky as in all sound is cut off, the air feels funny, and everything just looks a bit... strange. Frezak (GM): I GIVE THE ORB TO RADEK Rhu wipes at the smudges again Apheori (GM): You set the orb down and it almost rolls off the table and then give it to Radek. Everything goes back to normal. Radek: d20 Ganelon: rolling 1d20 ( 8 ) = 8 Hrm. Apheori (GM): Rhu: They are normal mirror smudges. Without cleaner you won't succeed. Radek: Arcana. Again. Ganelon: rolling 1d20+11 ( 20 ) +11 = 31 BOOYEAH Frezak (GM): Gan. Wait. Our pwoers are being bolstered by madness. We've become Alienists. Apheori (GM): It's shielding! You're shielded! You're invincible! YOU COULD TAKE ON THE WORLD! Frezak (GM): That sounds like standard Radek thoughts. Apheori (GM): XD Gaurav: What is Rhu hearing from over here? Are there whizzy magic noises, or is reality just twisting hither and thither? Ganelon: ALIENISTS YESSS Gaurav: Plus things being dropped and whatnot. Frezak (GM): FAR REALM, HERE I COME Apheori (GM): The only one seeing twisty reality was Gravy, and that stopped when he put it down. Radek cackles. Apheori (GM): You just heard a yanking. And now cackling. Radek: Yes! This is it! Frezak (GM): I'm glad Gravy has a ton of HP. Ganelon: Shielded physically, right? Apheori (GM): The ceiling makes a horrible groaning noise. Ganelon: Like, I have reason to believe that I could be attacked and not get harmed? Apheori (GM): Yes. Radek: Hit me with the shovel! Frezak (GM): SHOVEL STRIKE Apheori (GM): Oh gods. Frezak (GM): WEIGHT OF EARTH. Rhu turns away from the mirror and looks at Gravy and Radek quizzically Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+7 ( 3 ) +7 = 10 Vs AC. GORRAM/. Rhu: ... Gravy? What are you doing? Frezak (GM): that's a tickle. Dave: Science. Frezak (GM): The weight of earth is more like balsa. Ganelon: I'm not trying to dodge, but wow. Disappointing shovel strike, there. Apheori (GM): He missed. Radek: ... The Gravedigger: Sorry, got overexcited there. Radek: I said /hit/ me. The Gravedigger: Let me try again. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+7 ( 6 ) +7 = 13 JESUS. FUCK YOU, DICE. rolling 1D20+7 ( 19 ) +7 = 26 EVENTAULLY Ganelon: THERE WE GO Frezak (GM): He's just spinning like a top. Dave: Is this science? Apheori (GM): And Radek falls over. Rhu: Woah! Gravy! Apheori (GM): But he's basically unharmed. Radek: Hahahaha! The Gravedigger: AWESOME. Rhu: ... Radek: Yes! This is science! Rhu: I vote ... madness? Radek: Now let's get out of here before we all die. Amadi disappears. Ganelon: Not exactly what I meant, Amadi, but okay. Greibel looks around confused The Gravedigger: Cheater! The sphinx: Death. Good. Dave: Shush, sweetling. Ellemerr might come back eventually. But she needs to... something. Dave: This way! There are stairs. Dave points at a wall. Bear Soup Guy: Adios The Gravedigger: That's a wall. Greibel: Hmmmm I've seen this STAND BACK Greibel runs at the bit of wall Dave pointed at Dave: Well, that... what are you doing? Apheori (GM): Greibel: d20 Greibel: rolling 1d20 ( 2 ) = 2 Apheori (GM): Greibel runs through the wall. The Gravedigger: Not, let ME show you how to charge a wall! oh. Rhu: Wha .. ?! The Gravedigger: Yeah, that's pretty good. Dave: That was not what I meant, but okay. Rhu: ... yeah, okay. I guess we're all mad now. The Gravedigger: Oh, Dust. It's like that metal thing earlier. Only you crazy guys can go through it. Unless RAdek wants to chat it up. Radek glances at the ceiling. Dave: Are we? Radek: I wouldn't be opposed to the idea, under these circumstances. Dave walks over to the wall and pokes it. It seems solid. The Gravedigger pushes Radek towards the wall. The Gravedigger: Use mints! Bear Soup Guy: XD Radek: Bah. Fine! Frezak (GM): I'm a wingman! Radek: You there! Wall! Are you going to impede my progress as stubbornly as your cousin did? Apheori (GM): The wall says nothing. The Gravedigger: Now, use your secret weapon and blow it away! Rhu: HELLOOOO! GRIEBEL? Can you hear us? Bear Soup Guy: Can I hear him? Radek: Her silence did not avail her! Here I stand as proof that walls have not bested me before, and they will not best me now! Dave: I don't think walls are supposed to be intelligent. (To Greibel): Depends on what you do on the other side - do you keep walking after walking into the wall? Radek: Allow me to pass or I guarantee your thorough destruction! The Gravedigger: "supposed' is worth little, it seems. Dave: Or you could just use the... Ganelon: I'll try walking through it. Dave points toward the doorway in the other direction. Apheori (GM): Radek: d20 Greibel doesn't respond to Rhu's calls Ganelon: rolling 1d20 ( 5 ) = 5 Ooh, nice and low. Apheori (GM): You run into it. It is solid. Ganelon: Damn. The Gravedigger: Okay, I have an idea. You hold onto the orb. And I slam as you as hard as I can into the wall. Radek: That isn't likely to help /you/ pass through it. Rhu looks through the doorwya Dave pointed out The Gravedigger: It is if I break the wall. (To Greibel): You walk through several walls and find the stairs, I suppose. Radek shrugs. Radek: Very well. Dave tugs Rhu's sleeve and starts to lead him toward the doorway. Ganelon: This may actually have been the first time Radek showed enough concern to point out that something was likely to endanger one of you guys. Frezak (GM): I suppose I don't have proficiency in Improvised Weapon: Little old mad scientist? Rhu lets Dave lead him Apheori (GM): Nope. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+5 ( 12 ) +5 = 17 EAAAAGLE Apheori (GM): You smash the little old mad scientist into the wall and the orb lets out a glowing pulse. Gravy: For a moment, everything feels as mad as when you were holding it, then it's back to normal. Frezak (GM): Okay. I pick up radek. Hold him tight. Apheori (GM): Dave leads Rhu out in the hallway and then down a few more in the general direction she had been pointing. Frezak (GM): And just leap into the wall, Radek-first. Apheori (GM): d20s from both of you. Ganelon: And to think. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20 ( 1 ) = 1 Ganelon: We're supposed to be the sane people. Frezak (GM): WHOOOOO Ganelon: rolling 1d20 ( 1 ) = 1 YES YEEEESSSS Apheori (GM): XD Frezak (GM): GO TEAM Bear Soup Guy: XD Ganelon: Man, the odds of that! Frezak (GM): WE DESCEND INTO MADNESS Apheori (GM): You both disappear into the wall, descending into a dark, cold, porous madness. Frezak (GM): WHOOOOO Radek: It's astounding that the other still doubt us. Ganelon: others* Apheori (GM): Everything is dark. You feel little to nothing, and see even less. You can move, though, toward various... things. A sense of light, a sense of space, a sense of chese... And power, too. You feel it, in the distance below you... Frezak (GM): I'm still using Radek as a shield. TO POWER Powerrrrr Apheori (GM): Rhu: Dave leads you to a stairwell, and you find Greibel smoking by the entrance. Frezak (GM): Is he wearing a fedora and leaning against a lamp-post? Rhu: Hey! Greibel looks up Greibel: Oh hey man! I knew you guys would catch up! Apheori (GM): Gravy, Radek: You descent into the darkness, losing sense of direction, including where you were supposed to be going. But it doesn't matter. Here, there is only the power, the sense of future, of everything that could be and will come to pass. Rhu: Yeah! Radek and Gravy are trying to go through the wall. (looks at the wall beside Griebel) is this where you emerged? Ganelon: It certainly doesn't matter, yes. Dave: They're mad. You, you're stoned. There is a differnce. The Gravedigger: This is it. WHat I have been seeking. All this time! THE.... ONE TRUE SHOVEL Greibel: I walked through a bunch of walls, there wasn't much in between them so I just kept going until I got here Apheori (GM): Gravy, Radek: You're not even speaking with voices anymore. The words are simply forming and filling space that isn't there. Except it is. The further you go, the more aware you become of existence beyond what you've known, and also of each other - fragments of memories, of consciousness... And the power, it is everywhere now, but more ahead... What's your wills? Ganelon: My will is... The Gravedigger: The stories. All true... Ganelon: 15. Actually pretty okay. The Gravedigger: THEY SAID I WAS MAD Apheori (GM): What's Greibel's will? The Gravedigger: I'll SHOW THEM Frezak (GM): 13 will, here >.> Greibel: 17 Frezak (GM): GO DEFENDER CLASS. Apheori (GM): Okay, that explains a thing or two. Ganelon: Will comes from wisdom and charisma rather than intelligence. Radek only has a bit of wisdom and obviously he's an unlikable jerk. Apheori (GM): Radek: This isn't right. It feels wonderful, perfect, but it isn't right. He's smart enough and has enough willpower to figure that out. The Gravedigger: I WILL HAVE YOU AND SHOW THE WORLD I WILL DIG THE HOLE THAT BIRTHED DEATH ITSELF Radek: Hey. Gravy. This isn't a shovel. The Gravedigger: NO CORPSES WILL FILL IT I WILL- what? Radek: This isn't a shovel. The Gravedigger: Oh. Damn. Radek: Something wrong about it. The Gravedigger: Never mind, then. Radek: Nice speech, though. I didn't want to interrupt. The Gravedigger coughs sheepishly. The Gravedigger: So.. uh. We going back to the guys, then? Radek: I... suppose. The Gravedigger: Hey, can you drop the orb into this power stuff? I'm sure something cool will happen. Rhu: (to Greibel and Dave) Eh, I guess they're not coming through here. Maybe we should go back? Radek: What? No! Apheori (GM): You're IN the power stuff, though, including the orb. Radek: Also, it's... Not in my hands. Dave: Yeah, maybe. Gaurav: Are they still falling? Ganelon: Or, wait. Dave: How long does it take to bash in a wall? Ganelon: Sorry, I think I misunderstood. It's probably still in his hands. Greibel: I'm sure it's a quite involved process. Apheori (GM): I thought Radek was holding it, and Gravy holding Radek... Rhu: There must be a knack to getting through the wall. Getting high, probably. They'll figure out a way eventually. They are scientists! Ganelon: Yeah, that's right. Greibel takes another bong hit Rhu heads back to the wall where Greibel fell in Ganelon: I definitely misunderstood. Ignore that last bit. Apheori (GM): On the other hand neither of you arguably even have hands at the moment. And you couldn't separate or drop anything anyway. You're basically consciousnesses surrounded by warm glowing power. And it's getting stronger. Ganelon: Might that be a sign of danger? Apheori (GM): Probably. Radek: We should get out of here. The Gravedigger: All right. Dave: (to Greibel) Guard the way? Radek: I'm not really sure how to do that. Perhaps just wanting it will be enough. Apheori (GM): Roll wisdom to move. Ganelon: +5, I guess? Rhu: Guard what way? Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+2 ( 10 ) +2 = 12 Apheori (GM): You can combine your wisdoms. Frezak (GM): I'm a Warden. my stats suck. Greibel: Yes, which way? Ganelon: I mean, my wisdom defense is 15, but everyone starts at 10. Dave: Stand... I mean? Frezak (GM): Will or Wisdom? Dave: It's a figure of speech. Ganelon: Oh right. Sorry. Greibel salutes Ganelon: rolling 1d20+3 ( 4 ) +3 = 7 Bah. Greibel: Aye aye, cap'n Dave! Ganelon: Well my wisdom + 1/2 level is 3. Apheori (GM): Do you want to move away from the light into the cold, empty darkness? Frezak (GM): Yeah. There is no shovel. Ganelon: Yes. Frezak (GM): There is no reason to be here. Apheori (GM): You do. It's horrible. It's the worst thing you've ever done. Everything wonderful just sort of drains away leaving a horrible emptiness. And then you realise you have no idea where you're going. Frezak (GM): None of that sounds unusual. Gaurav: Man. This campaign is such an emotional rollercoaster sometimes. Ganelon: Seriously. Gaurav: Does Rhu remember the way back to where he left Radek and Gravy? Ganelon: I laughed. I cried. I went insane several times. Apheori (GM): Also Rhu goes back to the room and Dave follows him. But it's empty and the wall ain't even bashed. Frezak (GM): I just went mad and stayed there. Rhu: Huh. Rhu looks down the corridors to see where they went. Rhu: No sign of a struggle. Apheori (GM): Radek and Gravy: You keep going and then pop out into light and space and colour and collapse on the floor. Radek groans quietly. Apheori (GM): Dave is standing over you, but she takes a step back in surprise. Dave: Oh... what? (yelling back toward the door) RHU! Found them! The Gravedigger: Hey. Is it lunchtime? Rhu: Ah, you got through the wall after all, then? Dave: Do you have lunch? Floor, apparently. Rhu: Oh. Kay. The Gravedigger: THere wasn't a shovel. Rhu: *shrugs* It's lunchtime SOMEwhere. The Gravedigger helps Radek up. The Gravedigger: Sounds good to me. I tihnk I have some sandwiches somewhere.... The Gravedigger rummages in his bags. Rhu: Did you end up two corridors down like Greibel did? Radek mumbles to himself. The Gravedigger: We ended up here. Apheori (GM): The sphinx, now wrapped around Dave's shoulders, says, "Hungry." The Gravedigger: Pickle and cheese? WHo packed this? I never make pickle and cheese? Apheori (GM): It's staring at Gravy. The Gravedigger: Did someone take my ham and lettuce sandwiches? Wait, no, here they are. Radek: One part silver, three parts nitrogen... is it any wonder? They always ask when the answer's right in front of their noses... Rhu: (to Sphinx) Do you want more stories? The sphinx: (still staring at Gravy) Stories. The Gravedigger: I have sandwiches. So tough. Well, I might have some soup. Chicken and noodle. Radek: I'm... starting to hate walls. The Gravedigger: You want a sandwich? Radek: I want to be outside. The Gravedigger shrugs. The Gravedigger: All i got is sandwiches. Ganelon: Can't really fault him for that. Frezak (GM): Gravy will eat some sandwiches. Apheori (GM): The walls will make unhappy noises. The Gravedigger: Okay, ready. Where now? Ganelon: Back to the stairs, everyone? Rhu stays well away from the sphinx, but starts telling it a story about the battle in the mountains saved by a divine wind Rhu: Yes, please! Stairs to get out of here with. Apheori (GM): The sphinx devours the story but looks somewhat angry at parts. Y'all head back to the stairs, the. n And Greibel. Rhu nods at the sphinx, still keeping a distance. Apheori (GM): Any remarks, or do y'all head on up the stairs and out? Ganelon: Not from me, at least. Frezak (GM): I'm good. Gaurav: I'm still following Gravy wherever he goes. Frezak (GM): I AM A BEACON IN THIS DARK LAND And probably the most crazy of you people, you just don't know it. Gaurav: Literally so, if you still have torches on your horns. Frezak (GM): Oh, that too. Gaurav: Probably, which is why it's best to stay behind you. Frezak (GM): I can only charge forwards! Apheori (GM): Or sit backwards. You go up. And up. Aaaaand up. Gaurav: We still have the mouseforged, the porridge, and the sphinx, right? Apheori (GM): Dave winds up riding the diskfull of mouseforged. Yes. Anyone else care to try climbing on as well? Frezak (GM): Nah, I'm endurable. Gaurav: Rhu'll pass; it's tempting, but it looks plenty crowded as it is. Ganelon: Radek would, but the strength in his legs is not worth the risk of him falling down a flight of stairs due to disk overpopulation. Apheori (GM): Heh. Ganelon: Plus he's carrying an orb and doesn't feel like sharing. Even if that might protect him from falling down a flight of stairs. Frezak (GM): I can carry Radek. Apheori (GM): After an annoyingly long climb you come to a final door (there may have been a few on landings and crap on the way up), pass through, and wind up in a crypt. Frezak (GM): Hmmm. Rhu: This is pretty deep, wherever "this" is. The Gravedigger: Undead guys in here, Rhu? Gaurav: How do I test this? Will a Perception check do? Oh, Religion check! rolling 1d20+8 religion checks the HECK out of this crypt ( 4 ) +8 = 12 Frezak (GM): You want me to use Gravyvision? Apheori (GM): Apparently you came out through a secret door. Do you close it? Rhu: You sense nothing active. Gaurav: With a '12', that probably means there's an undead hiding behind the next crypt >.< Radek: I'll go first. Frezak (GM): Orcus is crouching behind a broom. The Gravedigger: Radek? Are you protected against magic? Gaurav: You fool! He IS the broom! Radek: Quite possibly. Frezak (GM): HAH Gaurav: Does the secret door look like it might be impossible for us to find if we close it? Like, is it REALLY/magically well hidden? Radek: The research notes regarding this artifact stated that it blocks energy. Apheori (GM): It's really well hidden, but since you know it's there it shouldn't be an issue. No magic seems to be involved. Rhu closes the secret door behind us Radek: Cold may be a concern. Rhu: So: crypt. It might be time for Gravyvision. The Gravedigger: rolling 1D20+20 ( 11 ) +20 = 31 Apheori (GM): It's fairly ordinary for a crypt - statues and sarcophagi and bones and crap. Gravyvision detects light in that direction. Frezak (GM): I GO TO THE LIGHT Unless you mean it's my light; Apheori (GM): And some shiny things amidst the bones. Other light. Ganelon: Shiny things sound important. Or valuable. Frezak (GM): Shiny things! I examinate. Ganelon: Or maybe we're all magpies. I wouldn't terribly mind that, either. Gaurav: plot twist: we were magpies all along. Apheori (GM): They seem to be coins put with the bones. Frezak (GM): http://oglaf.com/illusionist/ GRAB Shinies. Gaurav: Frezak: ha ha HA yay money! Frezak (GM): moneymoneymoney Gaurav: btw does the sphinx look anything like this: http://25.media.tumblr.com/121b86281db10bc66880e87180c140c2/tumblr_n3020vOjlJ1s83h8do2_1280.jpg Frezak (GM): I'm sure it does indeed look like a scared peasant. Gaurav: Scared?! Pretty sure that dude is just annoyed. "Not dragons AGAIN god fifth time this year" Ganelon: "Oh. My. GOD. Fucking dragons AGAIN." "I am so done with this." Gaurav: "I'm moving to Egypt you only get the occasional sphinx there at least they're cute" Frezak (GM): What, he's a teenage child? Apheori (GM): It looks like a fluffy cat with wings. A himalayan or something. So what do you do? Loot the crypt? Frezak (GM): Any reason why not, guys? Ganelon: Do you loot the dead? Gaurav: oof, fluffy Ganelon: Well, Radek is a godless sort. He's got no objections. Rhu: We might want to look around for anyone who might be offended and/or armed first, but then ... Frezak (GM): Waaaait. no. Gravy will have to put a stop to looting this place. I forgot what his name meant for a moment. I was blinded by gilt. Coins down, find a way out. Rhu: I'm fine with that. Gaurav: Just struck me that as a devout Hazz'ridanism, Rhu finds dead people creepy only when they don't stay in their crypts, and especially if they concern themselves with money or other baubles. so he eyes the coins but doesn't pick 'em up when Gravy expresses his opinion Frezak (GM): It's proffesionalism. However. I'm totes for killling living people and stealing their shit. Bear Soup Guy: Greibel is godless but doesn't much care about money either Ganelon: Well yeah, of course. Apheori (GM): And then burying them ? Gaurav: Plus, Rhu is really happy that we seem to finally be getting out of this underground complex of dead people. Ganelon: Weren't we all hired for that sort of ethical flexibility? Frezak (GM): Sure. I'll bury anyone. Apheori (GM): So moving on, y'all look for a way out, which is to say you follow Gravy toward the faint light he saw. Gaurav: Going to do a quick perception check around this crypt in case anyone missed anything rolling 1d20+12 ( 15 ) +12 = 27 Frezak (GM): good lord. Gaurav: *shrugs* Apheori (GM): It's not terribly interesting. Gaurav: Fair enough. Onwards! Ganelon: FREEDOM!? Apheori (GM): The light is a crack under a door. The door itself is locked. What do? Rhu: (whispers) ... should we knock? Ganelon: What kind of lock are we talking about here? Rhu: They might be a little creeped out that people want to _leave_ the crypt Ganelon: Because if it's a padlock on the other side, we're in trouble. Frezak (GM): I don't think knocking on the inside door of a locked crypt is smart. What's the door made of? Apheori (GM): Wood. Frezak (GM): Yeah, that. pfft. Ganelon: Ah, so smashing is an option. Frezak (GM): I want to listen to see if I can hear anything on the other side; rolling 1D20+20 ( 15 ) +20 = 35 Ganelon: But if the lock is pickable I might be able to do that. Dave: Would you knick if you were dead? Apheori (GM): knock Radek: You're a zombie and you're asking us? Apheori (GM): You hear voices, some conversation about smithing, and something about a brother. Dave: Am I? Oh. Cool! The Gravedigger: Guys on the other side. Rhu: (to Dave) Gives them a chance to figure out that something's going on. If we barge in, they'll assume we're hostile and attack before asking questions. I don't want to kill anyone I don't have to. The Gravedigger: Chances are that if we knock, they'll run on account of undead hordes. Rhu: Right. See? Even less fighting necessary. ... do we want to tell them about ... down there? It might make sense to keep that to ourselves for now. The Gravedigger: Yeah, no reason to tell them. If we have to say, we were Hole'd Rhu nods The Gravedigger: Can anyone imitate a ghost? Rhu: Let's go say hi. The Gravedigger: Or zombie or whatever? If we scare them off, I can just smash the door. Rhu: Imitate a ghost? We could set the porridge on them. Dave: I'm a zombie. Rhu: Sentient porridge is pretty creepy. The Gravedigger: Send it under the door? Can you make zombie noises, Davenotdave? Rhu: Isn't there a cantrip allowing wizards to throw their voices or something? Frezak (GM): Yeah, but none of us are wizards. Dave: Grooonk. Er. Frezak (GM): That sounds like a pig. Dave looks embarassed. The Gravedigger: No, try like... HUUUURRRNNGHHHHH NNNEEEUUUUAAAAAHHHH Dave: Hurrung? Ganelon: Radek's an artificer. Not quite the same thing. Dave: Noom. Dave waggles her fingers. Gaurav: Dave is the cutest. The Gravedigger: Well, someone do something. Greibel: You guys are all wrong A proper ghost noise is WOOGLY WOOGLY WOOGLY The Gravedigger: ... Sorry, Greibel. Dave: Wiggly woo! The Gravedigger: WOOGLY WOOGLY WOOGLY Radek: ...Greibel, just turn into a horde of spiders and chase them out, please. Greibel: Oh hey, there's an idea SPIDER ATTACK Gaurav: DAMN that's a good idea Ganelon: Thank you. Frezak (GM): Gorram. I was gonna cover myself in bone-dust and charge through. Bear Soup Guy: Okay, so Dave opens the door and peers behind it. Greibel turns into a horde of spiders and goes under the door Gaurav: Huh? Dave: Spiders! Spiders! Ganelon: I thought the door was locked. Gaurav: I thought it was locked? Dave runs after them. Frezak (GM): I tohught it was locked! Apheori (GM): It was. Apparently she unlocked it somehow. Ganelon: Daaaave! Gaurav: Huh. Sneaky. Frezak (GM): Goddamit. Rhu: Now what do we do with this horde of spiders? Gaurav: So how do the people one the other side respond to Dave+spiders? Apheori (GM): Well, the spiders are through the door. The Gravedigger: Greibel will put himself back together eventually. Apheori (GM): One of them shrieks and runs away. Another just sort of stares. A third facepalms. The Gravedigger: WOOGLY WOOGLY WOOGLY Apheori (GM): I guess the fourth also just stares. Bear Soup Guy: There's a LOT of spiders Apheori (GM): It's a temple, four people (well, three now since one ran away). Two of them appear to be priests of some sorts. Ganelon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYyO44U2BQ4 I imagine something close to this. Rhu: (looking at Mr. (Mrs?) Facepalm) Hey! Apheori (GM): The spiders are a huge mass of spiders. And Dave's just sort of running after them. Ganelon: Except if our druid was also an evil genie I think I'd have noticed by now. Gaurav: It would explain a lot. Rhu: Is this your crypt? The Gravedigger: You can have it back. Apheori (GM): The guy looks toward Rhu and Gravy and his mouth opens slowly and he just stares for a bit. Ganelon: It would. The Gravedigger waves. Apheori (GM): Then he gets ahold of himself and glares at them. Guy: Just what do you think you're doing? Frezak (GM): For reference, I always imagince Gravy has a big backpack with a selection of shovels sticking out. The Gravedigger: Walking our your crypt. Radek: Leaving, I would imagine. The Gravedigger: *walking out Egressing. Guy: You're graverobbers, are you? You expect us to just let you walk out? Dave: Spiders! The Gravedigger draw himself to full height. The Gravedigger stomps to be toe-to-toe with the man. Ganelon: Admittedly, you do kinda look like The Graverobber. The Gravedigger: HOW FUCKING DARE YOU Dave picks up a handful of spiders and waves them in the guy's face. Dave: Spiiiideers! The Gravedigger: I AM THE GRAVEDIGGER. I BURY PEOPLE. I DO NOT FUCKING TAKE SHIT OFF THE DEAD Apheori (GM): The guy falls over at the combined force of Gravy's voice and Daeś handful of Greibel. Dave's* Frezak (GM): "For a handfull of Greibel" Ganelon: "Shit! This gigantic horned elf is really scary, but there are also spiders being shoved in my face and I hate those too! This is the worst day ever!" Dave: Spiders! Spiders! Bear Soup Guy: XD Frezak (GM): Damn aracnophobes. Apheori (GM): At this, the other non-priest also leaves, since this is apparently just a bit too much for him. The other priest approaches and asks, "Okay, what were you doing in there?" Frezak (GM): "I signed up for shrine maidens!" "No-one told me about screaming horned giants" The Gravedigger: Oh, we stepped through a Hole. The Gravedigger continues to eye the first priest. Priest 1 tries to crawl away backwards and runs into the rest of Greibel. Priest 1 curls up into a ball and starts rocking. Greibel skitters all across his face and stuff Priest 2: A hole? Gaurav: These priests need names. Frezak (GM): The hippie druid has got my back! The Gravedigger: Hole. Capital H. Rhu walks over to the door to this room and glances out The Gravedigger: A spot in the air where you step through and end up somewhere else? Like a door without a frame. Magic stuff. Priest 2 looks the Gravedigger up and down. Priest 2: Not one you dug yourself, then. It came out in the crypt? Rhu: Like the big giant tree a day south of here. Holes in the universe. Like the anvils. The Gravedigger: Yep. Rhu: And we ended up in your crypt. Sorry about that. Nice crypt, though. Radek: Damned inconvenient things. Apheori (GM): Rhu: The door leads outside - looks like you're back in Coffle, it's late afternoon. Radek: And dangerous, too. Rhu: My Lord Hazz'ridan, God of Dead Ends, would approve. Hey guys? *grins* I think we're back in Coffle. Priest 1 continues to rock back and forth, whimpering. The Gravedigger: There's gold lying about in there. You should take better care of it. Ganelon: I'm so happy with how this spider thing turned out. Priest 2: Yes, this is Coffle. Hazz'ridan, you say? The Gravedigger: Oh, that's great, Rhu. Priest 2: So it's true, then. It's starting up again. Rhu: Yes, Hazz'ridan. *shows him the Hazz'ridan implement I wear on a string around my neck* ... what's starting up again? (to Gravy) What's great? The Gravedigger: (to Rhu) we don't have to walk across worlds to get to the Car. Priest 2: That is not a name of this world. Even in Arah it is barely known. Travellers, though, sometimes bring mention... Tell me, Wayfarer. Who reigns king of the sandcastle? Rhu: The Car! We can get out of here! Frezak (GM): What. Rhu: What is an Arah? Frezak (GM): GORRAMIT, RHU Priest 2: Arah is the City of Doors. It connects the planes, different worlds which exist in tandem. Now answer the question. Rhu: King of the sandcastle? Priest 2: Who reigns? Rhu: King of the sandcastle. o.0 0.o Frezak (GM): Greibel. Rhu: 0.0!!!!!! The Gravedigger: Greibel. Rhu: It is Ajirahd and Irundha of Akrikdirin Vak who reign king of the sandcastle. You must remember this! The Gravedigger: Lokshmi told you about a sandcastle. Rhu: Well, I had. The Gravedigger: Oh, you too? Dave: Akrikdirin Vak? The Gravedigger: Why does no-one tell ME about sandcastles! Dave: But this is Arling Tor. Wait, did you say Lokshmi? The... the... the... Dave gestures ineffectively, then shouts "SPIDERS!" Priest 2: You are a very long way from home indeed. Rhu: Lokshmi was the name of a cat who spoke to us back in the land of the giant fish. The sphinx: HUNGRY! Rhu: Yes, I suppose giant fish *would* make you hungry. The sphinx jumps onto Amadi's head and looms overhead. Frezak (GM): Amadi isn't here. Gaurav: Wait, Amadi's back? Ganelon: "Ajirahd and Irundha" Apheori (GM): Dave, sorry. Ganelon: That's what Lokshmi said to us. Rhu backs away from Dave and cat. Priest 2 backs away as well. Ganelon: So... good on ya for remembering that. Dave shakes the sphinx off and it lands in a heap on the floor. Rhu: So. Who are you guys? And what's starting again? The Gravedigger: Bad stuff. Rhu: Yes, but ... Sarathi-level bad stuff, or this-planet-level bad stuff? Will there be giant fish, is what I want to know. Priest 2: I am Doros, and that is Nereem (pointing to the spider-covered quivering ball). The Gravedigger: Hrmph. Doros: We are priests of Kyrule, and this is his temple. Rhu: Ah. Hazz'ridan the Ending asked me to beat him over the head at some point, but I think he was joking. Doros: Beat Kyrule over the head. Rhu: These are the words of Hazz'ridan the Wise, but if you know what to make of them, you're a wiser elf than me. Doros: Why am I not surprised? Apheori (GM): This guy isn't an elf. Gaurav: Oh? Human? Apheori (GM): Right. Folks on this world seem to be mostly human. Some elves. Gaurav: Was the guy in the hologram video also human, then ? Apheori (GM): He was an elf. I just decided. The sphinx walks over to the other priest and eats a spider. Frezak (GM): Didn't this town have an archive/library? The Gravedigger: BAD SPHINX. SPIT. NO EATING THE DRUID The sphinx grins at Gravy. Frezak (GM): I CHARGE THE SPHINX Rhu takes up a defensive position to Gravy's left Frezak (GM): Have to say. I love the Rhuvian support. Apheori (GM): Roll something. Frezak (GM): rolling 1D20+9+1 ( 1 ) +9+1 = 11 Cat.... AC? GORRAM Gaurav: Someone's got to watch the flank. oof Frezak (GM): I'm surprisingly bad at hitting things. Ganelon: I can't offer you a lot of support unless you want the sphinx legitimately dead. Apheori (GM): You wind up tripping over it instead of attacking it. Frezak (GM): GRAAAGH I HATE THIS GORRAM CAT Apheori (GM): The sphinx then trots over to Doros and stares up at him hungrily. He looks down at it somewhat worriedly. Frezak (GM): You know, Radek? I'm totes cool with taking you up on that offer. Ganelon: I'm mostly just worried about how powerful the sphinx really is. Frezak (GM): I DONT CARE. I HATE IT. The Gravedigger: Can you guys exorcise a cat? As in, banish the cat? Doros: I do not know. What are you doing in the word of the living, sphinx? Radek: Tormenting us. The sphinx: Hungry. Rhu: It's not really a cat, it's a sphinx from the City of the Dead. I call him Devourer when he behaves, which is rare. The Gravedigger: Holy water? Orbital cannon? Vorpal blade? Radek: If only. Dave: You mean when he behaves well. All behaviour is behaving. The Gravedigger: Neutron bomb? Dave: Is that... ...the sky? Dave walks over to a window and stares out. Radek: Actually I might be able to manage that last one. The Gravedigger: Radek. We have to go back. ANd get the One True Shovel. Radek: I'm telling you, that wasn't a shovel. Rhu: It is possible that I just mean behaving, as compared to chaotically -- sky? Radek: Now, if I could compress all that power into a shovel? Perhaps. But that would be beyond even my considerable talents. The Gravedigger: What do you need to do this? How can I help? Gaurav: But a man's reach should exceed his grasp / or what's a heaven for Well, elf. Doros: You should know that it is not possible to truly kill a sphinx. You may be able to send it back to the City of Death for a time, but if it is determined to follow you, it will come back. Greibel turns back to normal, sitting awkwardly on top of Nereem The Gravedigger: What if we just cut off it's legs? Put it in a hole? Nereem: Oh the humanity. The Gravedigger: Hey, you okay, Greibel? Nereem collapses under the now localised weight. Greibel: HONK! No wait, that's not right A-okay, Cap'n! Rhu: Ah. Well. That settles the killing-the-sphinx question, I guess. Doros: (to the sphinx) Stories, is it? The Gravedigger: How do we make it leave? Doros: How did you make it come? The sphinx: Stories. The Gravedigger: Because Rhu keeps feeding it, and it just keeps a pain. *keeps being a pain Rhu: I feed it because otherwise it goes crazy and attacks everybody. Speaking of which ... Ganelon: Are you about to go crazy and/or attack everybody? Frezak (GM): Who? Rhu tells the sphinx a long story about a particularly famous military campaign of years gone by Gaurav: no, just coming up with a story to tell :) Ganelon: Rhu. Rhu keeps his distance from the sphinx as he tells this story, though Doros: How did you summon the sphinx? Rhu: He followed me. I .. ended up at the city of the dead after falling through the Hole in the abandoned lot somewhere near all the temples. And when i came back, he showed up as well. And when he gets hangry somebody loses an arm. That's all I know. Doros: What did you offer it? Rhu thinks Rhu: Er Apheori (GM): Is greibel still sitting on the other priest? Because if so, Doros tells him to pliease get off. Rhu: I might have told him what we were up to, and then asked if he wanted to come with me and find out how that story ends? Greibel stands up and starts apologizing as though he just realized Radek slaps his forehead and groans. Ganelon: It ends with us being eaten by a sphinx! Doros: You may have a problem. Rhu: I meant in the City of the Dead! I didn't think he'd follow me through ... Arah, was it? ... all the way back here! Doros: Who would? Sphinxes don't leave. They just don't. But nor do people talk to them. Add one, and it seems you may get the oter. Rhu: ... you're saying we can *bore* it into leaving? Doros: It's possible. But given the nature of your quest, that by itself may be enough to keep its interest. Ganelon: "Everyone, quickly!" "Do nothing of interest!" Frezak (GM): HIDE IN A HOLE Rhu: You're right, Doros. We can't really help being interesting. Doros snorts. Doros then walks over to Nereem, picks him up and sets him on his feet, and sends him into the back to sort himself out. Rhu: Do you guys have any thoughts on what's causing all these holes? (that was to the priests) Doros: Which holes? Radek: The ones threatening to destroy this plane. Doros: It isn't just this plane. Radek: Indeed, though the one we're currently occupying still happens to be a more immediate concern. Rhu: Other planes are on their own at this pint. point* Doros: When one falls, it takes those closest with it. Rhu: So: that would be a no? Doros: Ask your lord, who so despises holes. Rhu: He doesn't know. We're trying to work it out with his help. Doros: Then ask her. Apheori (GM): He motions toward Dave, who is still staring at the clouds in awe. Rhu: Ask her what? Doros: What happened on Sarathi. Rhu: ... did we ever ask her that? I don't think we did. Apheori (GM): You realise that space has sort of changed. It is as though everything is thinner, darker - through it, you can see the canvas upon which the universe is painted. Time itself appears to have stopped, but you are still moving, still talking, within the bubble of the temple. Dave looks back as well, seeing the change, reminding you that it happened, though you're not sure when. Frezak (GM): I'm pretty sure this isn't normal. Ganelon: I don't go to church, so who knows? Doros: She played Sarathi De. Her Twins blocked the sister of hearts, a name you know well, Wayfarer. What happened in the heart of the storm? Frezak (GM): I'll... uh.... Clean my shovel >.> Dave: Twins? The sphinx growls lowly. Rhu: She? You mean Dave? And ... Sarathi De? Wha? Doros: It was a game she played growing up. Do you remember? Rhu: Huh. Dave: I don't remember anything. Radek: ...Who are you, really? Ganelon: That being to Doros. Frezak (GM): I AM YOUR FATHER The guy in the holograms was Future Radek Bear Soup Guy: I am the heavens, I am the water Doros: I speak for Kyrule. It is by his will that we may speak. Radek grumbles to himself. "...Gods." Doros: But despite his interest, he cannot be seen to act. Such are the laws of the world. Bear Soup Guy: Ich bin der Dreck unter deinen Walzen Dave: Foot fungus. Apheori (GM): Guys. do something. Frezak (GM): I have notihng to contribute. Rhu: I'm just confused. Apheori (GM): Blargh. Frezak (GM): Apparently Dave is a god; Radek: So she's supposed to remember something. It's clear that she doesn't. Gaurav: or played one as a kid. Radek: We're going to have to find Amadi again, aren't we? Doros: Perhaps she is the wrong fragment. Or perhaps she is exactly the right one for what you will need to do. Gaurav: to translate the madness? The Gravedigger: I fyou're just going to stand about and be cryptic, you might as well not say anything. I'm going to go look for a pub. Ganelon: More like to get a whole pile of new madness to sift through. The Gravedigger trudges out. Doros: Amadi won't translate. She should, but she won't. Her mind is too fragmented, too broken. It should never have awoken at all, and yet it's all you have. They are pieces, the two of them, of an old god who was bound and broken. There will be others. You may find them. Do not tell them what they are. Rhu: Broken, yes, that makes sense. Radek: I fix machines, not minds. Doros: They have the power to mend the universe. It is who they were. Who they will be. Rhu: Oh hello. Mending the universe. That sounds like what we need to do. So: we're collecting weirdos. We seem to be doing pretty well so far actually. Dave: It won't work. It can't work. It's gone. Rhu: What's gone? Dave: Why are you in a man? Doros: I am sorry, my beloved. I am so sorry. Frezak (GM): You dirty, dirty boy. Apheori (GM): Doros reaches out to touch her face, but then stops. And then everything goes back to normal and he seems to sag. Gaurav: ... Dave's got a boy-friend, Dave's got a boy-friend ... Rhu: Woah! What was that? Doros: I'm sorry. I need to rest. Rhu: Are you okay? Doros nods, and says, "Good luck, Wayfarers. May you find your home again. Excuse me." He heads toward one of the back rooms. Rhu: Huh. I wonder if he's one of the weirdos we need to collect Apheori (GM) stares after him forlornly. Dave stares after him forlornly. Apheori (GM): Whoops. Radek: We've already assembled an impressive menagerie of lunatics. Greibel absently tries to balance on one foot Apheori (GM): Hah. Quite. Radek: Now, come on. I have some blueprints to sell. Ganelon: (Very probably session ending words there) Gaurav: Just the two, no? Ganelon: Well yeah, just two. Frezak (GM): Didn't this town have a library or soemthing? Dave: (absently) She does remember. She just can't... reach it? Apheori (GM): Whatever are you planning on doing with the mouseforged? Ganelon: Good question. I did propose the idea of building it an actual mouse body. Frezak (GM): ... A warmouse body, right? Gaurav: YES Ganelon: Yeah, basically. Gaurav: Or we could find a normal mouse and kill it Frezak (GM): WARMOUSE Gaurav: and take its body Frezak (GM): WARMOUSE Ganelon: For now I'll just drag it around, though. It is walking, right? Apheori (GM): It's on a disk. Ganelon: Or at least amenable to suggestions of walking? Frezak (GM): I thought it was still disked. Ganelon: Right. But can I make it walk? Apheori (GM): It doesn't seem to be awake. Ganelon: Hm. That's abnormal. Gaurav: I don't remember a library in town earlier, but I don't mind looking for one now. Frezak (GM): MR MOUSIE Radekradekradek SAVE HIM Ganelon: But maybe it's just trying to sleep and doesn't realize that Warforged don't really... do that. Frezak (GM): There's a College. Ganelon: They do have some kinda weird power-saving mode but they stay alert, and... ah, whatever, this is a mouse soul in a golem body. Gaurav: oh, yes! a college! forgot about that. Ganelon: Hell if I know how it actually works anymore. Frezak (GM): And THEY might know about Warforged, too. Since it's a magical construct. Apheori (GM): You don't know if there is a library or not, but you expect there probably would be. It's decently large. Ask around. Frezak (GM): A guard told us about it. I sort of assumed that we learnt where it was by magic >.> Apheori (GM): The college probably has one of its own, but perhaps it's all there is. Gaurav: Ask one of the hundreds of thousands of town guards milling around. Apheori (GM): What Gaurav said. Frezak (GM): I reach out and acquire a guard. And ask him where the College is. Apheori (GM): He hits you with his weapon thingy. Frezak (GM): I can probably just step into the road, close my, eyes, and touch at least three guards. What? Apheori (GM): He didn't appreciate being acquired. Frezak (GM): I didn't pick him up! I acquired his attention! Apheori (GM): Reaching out? Frezak (GM): At worst, poked him! Apheori (GM): Sounds like a grab to me. And he smacked you as a reflex. Gaurav: Slip him some gold coins, boom, acquired Frezak (GM): I did not grab him! I poked him! Apheori (GM): Okay, fine. He tells you it's down there in some direction. Frezak (GM): Is he as vague as you? Apheori (GM): The directions are sound. Frezak (GM): Or is that just you? Right. Apheori (GM): That s me. Gaurav: We should take down the address to the temple of Kyrule in case we need to spend more time with Dave's boyfriend Ganelon: Probably her ex, really. Frezak (GM): TOT HE COLLEGE Apheori (GM): What about Rorik? Frezak (GM): Oh, right. Sure. Ganelon: They don't need to follow me. Frezak (GM): We might get some lewt We're not in any rush. Apheori (GM): Does Radek go there, then? Does anyone follow? Or do you want to call it a night now? Frezak (GM): I dunno. How are you guys for time? Gaurav: I'm okay with calling it or going on. Ganelon: Seems a nice place to stop Gaurav: I've been slow in resopnding because I'm on the phone with my sis, but that wil lend at some point. Ganelon: It's late-ish and people are going to start scrabbling for my attention. Frezak (GM): Scrabbling! Bear Soup Guy: Mid-afternoon here, I could conceivably keep up for a few hours, but yeah, people will eventually SCRABBLE for my attention as well Gaurav: nobody wants me! i am scrabble free. Frezak (GM): No-one gives a damn about my attention for... uh... Several days. Ganelon: They won't ask to play Scrabble with me, though I would accept if they did. Apheori (GM): So what are we doing? ARE WE CONTINUING AND CAN I TORMENT YOU? Frezak (GM): I have about an hour. I'd just like to see what we can get out of Rurik. Gaurav: Let's keep going? Apheori (GM): Okay. Frezak (GM): Before he is defeated by a snowdrift. Apheori (GM): Hazz will talk to Rhu on the way. Gaurav: yay! Apheori (GM): And I have to go to the bathroom, so I'll be right back. Frezak (GM): Loooo Apheori (GM): You may talk amongst yourselves as you walk to the weaponshop. Yes, loo. Rhu: ... is it just me or has it been a pretty weird day Frezak (GM): RHu has a +1 shirt? Anyone else have +1 gear? The Gravedigger: It's pretty much what I expected. THis must be what being Greibel is like. Greibel tried walking on his hands Greibel tries* Frezak (GM): Turn to monkeys. Rhu: It's not a +1 shirt, it's a cloth armour that gives me +1 to ... something defense or something Frezak (GM): Armour of Faith? You get extra AC for... not using armour. Gaurav: I think I get +1 from the Armour, and then I get some additional bonus from Armour of Faith sorry, I'm not really interested in my stats. If you're curious I could go check. Frezak (GM): I just want to know whether you magic shizzle :P Radek: Well, at least it felt productive. The Gravedigger: What are you going to do with your invinciorb? Gaurav: Armor of Faith gives me +3. It doesn't look like the cloth armour gives me anything by itself. No magic in sight. Radek: Study it, of course. Replicate it, if I can manage. The Gravedigger: If we get into a fight. You're in first. Radek: Though it didn't seem like the scientists who found the thing had any success with that. Gaurav: Rhu should get the inviciorb. He can miss all the attacks he likes if nobody can hurt him! Frezak (GM): I'm the one that keeps missing! (To Rhu): So Hazz tells you that this is new, Kyrule is not what he seems, and neither is Eapherod. This is all very interesting. (To Rhu): Basically it resembles Radek's mutterings in a way and you don't understand most of it. Ganelon: Everyone wants my awesome artifact! (From Gaurav): *nods and pretends to understand* Frezak (GM): Being invincible is nice. Rhu: Hazz'ridan seems confused by this Kyrule. So he says. In my head. As he sometimes does. (To Rhu): With things about the small girl and her cat and the game, and Rhi, and pieces of stars, and something about trees. (To Rhu): It actually seems rather optimistic, though. Somehow. The Gravedigger: Write down the good bits from the voices in your head. Rhu: He also says something about a small girl and her cat and the game, which sounds to me like it might be about Dave maybe. Something about star pieces. Something about trees -- maybe the guardian trees of the Hole near the village? I am a worshipper of Hazz'ridan. I write down ALL the bits. He seems .. happy. Optimistic. Things are looking up in Hazz'ristan. The Gravedigger: That sounds bad >.> Your god rarely heralds good things for us. What with his domain being... non-progression. Rhu: What about the time he saved us at the pool? He's mostly been good for us, I think. The Gravedigger: He did? Eh. Gaurav: But then, I suppose Rhu would. Rhu: He cured our madness before we all went into the pool after Azariphale. The Gravedigger: Right. I'lll.. uh.. think on that. The Gravedigger edges around Radek. The Gravedigger: Let's... uh... get some money? Radek: Yes, let's. Rhu: Where are we heading? Dave: To our respective dooms. The Gravedigger: The weaponmaker guy. Apheori (GM): You get to the shop. There's a really fat guy at the counter arguing with Rorik. Rhu: (to Dave) How do you know that priest? Do you remember? Frezak (GM): I'll just stand behind the fat guy and lean over him. Ganelon: Let me go look up what he offered us. Frezak (GM): And catch Rurik's attention. And then direct him to the scienceman. Dave: What? No. That wasn't the priest. Ganelon: 500 for the blueprints, he said. But that might have just been the explosives. Apheori (GM): The fat guy looks up slowly with a terrified piggy expression. Ganelon: Price of the explosives, rather. Frezak (GM): I'll ignore the fat guy. Ganelon: ...Yeah. These blueprints are getting us a crate of explosives that could put a hole in the planet, according to miss DM here. Apheori (GM): He wanted to straight trade blueprints for explosives. Ganelon: Well, when assembled. Radek: Good day, Rorik. Apheori (GM): Please don't blow up the planet. Ganelon: Don't worry, I still need the planet. I'll use these materials semi-responsibly, I promise. Frezak (GM): Well, some of it. Rorik: Ah, hello! Hello! You have what I need? I have what you need. Gaurav: No point wasting planet. Radek: Right here! Ganelon: I produce blueprints for a rifle and laser pistol, freshly scrawled! Possibly annotated! Apheori (GM): You make the trade - box of parts for a set of possibly annotated blueprints. Ganelon: There may be something about an undead chicken on one of them! Gaurav: Signed by the one and only Radek. Apheori (GM): The fat guy keeps insisting Rorik pay attention to him, but he just ignores him. XD Gaurav: Wasn't there something about chickens in our dream? Apheori (GM): Rorik looks them over and nods and lays them out on a workbench. He also asks that you please let him know what happens when you try blowing up the weirdness; he's very interested. Frezak (GM): I'm sure he'll find out! Apheori (GM): Very interested, but not really paying you any mind at all anymore. Radek: Gladly! Ganelon: That's okay, I've already started gibbering over this box of raw explosive power in my hands. Apheori (GM): Men of like minds, eh? Ganelon: And to think! I have an artifact that might just allow me to survive the blast now! Apheori (GM): Oh gods. Frezak (GM): Is there a way you can use the artifact to create an external bubble? TO contain an explosion? Ganelon: But if there's any limit to its shielding potential I probably don't want to test that. Frezak (GM): And NOT nuke everything else? Gaurav: How would we test such a bubble? Frezak (GM): By putting a bomb in it! Ganelon: (Honestly, Apheori, I just said that to scare you. I don't have plans to abuse this.) Apheori (GM): That sounds like it was exactly what the research the uunderground folks were doing on it was. The answer would be yes, but they didn't go into much detail about how . Ganelon: (I might make plans to abuse it, but I'm a pretty nice player.) Apheori (GM): Don't worry. Even if you do abuse it, this setting is abuse. Ganelon: It's fun! It's easy to see why you like it. Frezak (GM): I'm regretting picking a Warden. Gaurav: it's not like blowing up reality is going to affect reality all that much around these parts might be it stabler, even Frezak (GM): We could blow up the Realm of the Dead. ANd get rid of the cat Apheori (GM): I'd like to see that. It would not end well, but it might be amusing. Gaurav: I would not like to see that, unless I'm safely in another universe far, far away. Apheori (GM): Heh. You can leave the shop or you can watch Dave get into an argument with the fat guy. CHOOSE. Frezak (GM): Why is Dave talking to the fat guy? Ganelon: Tough call. Apheori (GM): He cornered her when Rorik quit paying any attention to him. Gaurav: Dyuknow what, sticking close to Gravy has been a good move all day today. Where he goes, I go. Does she still have Devourer with her? Frezak (GM): I'll just lean over the fat guy, pick up Dave, and walk off. Apheori (GM): He's telling here how important he is and what an affront all this is and how everyone will regret it and crap. She's tell him that the sphinx is really fluffy and cute and hungry and she wonders if maybe it would like to eat him. ...now read that with less typos. So then he's telling her that that's preposterous and how she wouldn't dare and how he's too important for this. Ganelon: Two new additions to my journal: Energy-Shielding Artifact Crate of Inert Explosives (Planetary Hole Sized) Apheori (GM): So then she's telling him that muffins are more important and there really isn't a whole lot that a sphinx wouldn't dare, and it really is quite hungry... Frezak (GM): Picking up Dave and walking out. Rhu: Dave! We should get a mov-- never mind. Apheori (GM): Good move. Frezak (GM): It's the move I tried earlier >.> Apheori (GM): Agh. Frezak (GM): To the College! Apheori (GM): This thing makes it entirely too easy to miss lines. Radek: Marvelous. I'm in quite a cheerful mood, for once. Frezak (GM): Except not, because I have to pootle off to bed. Rhu: So where are we heading now? Apheori (GM): Well, that works. Everyone's in one place and stuff. Frezak (GM): And Gravy hopes Radek won't tell the party about his little lapse. Ganelon: He's not likely to get drunk and leak secrets, so you're probably good. Frezak (GM): Brill. Apheori (GM): That was an awesome lapse. Frezak (GM): Well, at least /I/ got some serious character development! Bear Soup Guy: Shovel development Frezak (GM): Best kind. Bear Soup Guy: To Frezak's bed Apheori (GM): We're all piling in. Gaurav: Hope you don't mind. Bear Soup Guy: It'll be nice and warm Gaurav: As long as BSG doesn't turn into a swarm of spiders. Bear Soup Guy: No spiders but I can't promise there won't be stuffed animals Apheori (GM): You know, sooner or later you will get thrown out of something for general disruption. Despite how everyone has just put up with you so far... Ganelon: So I probably shouldn't push an agenda wherein we incite the guards, knock 'em out, and steal their magic stuff? Apheori (GM): Well, you could, but it may not end well. Gaurav: We should build an army and conquer the lands beyond the Holes raise* an army Ganelon: I'll think up some other "get a lot of magic dust" schemes that don't put us at risk of being swarmed by a mob of constables. Apheori (GM): Good plan. Bear Soup Guy: Of course swarms of constables are exciting too Ganelon gasps. Ganelon: That's it! Greibel turns into a swarm of constables so that people think the situation is being handled and they don't need to step in and help! Bear Soup Guy: XD Ganelon: You're a genius, BSG! And that magic bong is as good as ours! Bear Soup Guy: Quickly! To Bong Mountain! Magic!