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Apheori (GM): Is this everyone? Shall we go?
Ganelon: You've got me.
Frezak (GM): Sure.
Gaurav: Let's go!
Apheori (GM): Everyone is magically fine and you go to the cabin in the woods.
...after the Gravedigger buries the dragon, of course.
Overall you're headed for the crashed airship, but this is on the way (mostly), so yeah.
Is Amadi still awake?
Does she still disappear when she isn't?
Or did we break her core functionality?
Apheori (GM): ...which was admittedly pretty arbitrary to begin with.
Rhu somewhat reluctantly invokes Hazz's blessings upon the dragon's soul as Gravy lowers it into the grave.
Ellemerr: I think she's awake.
I remember no reason for her not to be.
And she was glitching. I don't know how often she disappears anymore.
Gaurav: Amadi was asleep but still with us in Arah.
http://wiki.zaori.org/wiki/Holes/Session_21
Apheori (GM): That must have been when you broke her.
YOU BROKE HER.
Ellemerr: They did.
Apheori (GM): SHE WAS RUNNING SO WELL AND YOU BROKE HER. INTRODUCED ERRONEOUS VARIABLES.
Gaurav: Also, just 'cos I wanted to see where we were going: http://wiki.zaori.org/w/images/4/44/Holes_dorgin_area_map.jpg
Man, having all the session logs in one place is amazing.
Ganelon: Makes me wish every campaign I was in had these.
Frezak (GM): Shhhh.
Apheori (GM): I wish I had maps too.
Okay, so y'all get to the cabin (it takes a few hours, I suppose).
(To Greibel): FERRETS
Ellemerr: Mag could do with a log-cleaning.
Apheori (GM): It's 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.
(To Greibel): Spoiler: It's ferrets.
Frezak (GM): Are they good shovels?
Gaurav: We're still level 6, right?
Apheori (GM): Decent. Some clearly have very different purposes (snow, roots, ???) and are more or less beat up as a result.
The snow one looks particularly (ab)used.
For now.
YOU'LL LEVEL SOON.
Like as soon as you rest.
If you remember.
Apheori (GM): Because I won't.
Rhu:
rolling d20+15 Perception check to look for clues in front of the cabin: footprints, some sign of which direction people head towards, dropped stuff.
(
1
)
+15
=
16
Gaurav: Hmm.
Ganelon: Hmm.
I think we need Gravy.
Apheori (GM): People probably went in the door. Or out.
Frezak (GM): You always need Gravy.
Apheori (GM): What's Gravy's max perception?
Frezak (GM): He's a rock in this ocean of chaos and uncertainty.
With or without the gravyvision power?
Apheori (GM): Which is why Amadi is sitting on him.
With.
Frezak (GM): Lots.
Apheori (GM): Exactly?
Rhu makes eye contact with Greibel, gestures towards the door, and nods confidently.
Apheori (GM): As much as I don't want this to be a DC of 40, if he can potentially handle a DC of 40... >.>
Greibel looks to the door wondering what's going on
Frezak (GM): Max modifier is 24. SO a crit would hit 44.
Apheori (GM): Oh bugger.
Frezak (GM): Gravy twiddles a horn.
Apheori (GM): FINE.
Greibel blinks at Rhu
Frezak (GM):
rolling 1D20+14+10
(
11
)
+14+10
=
35
And whatever I get for Rhu being a very elfy elf.
Apheori (GM): So you get the impression that only one person actually lives here, no sign of visitors, apparently some pets. Possibly ferrets.
Rhu: (whispers to Greibel) It's the door. People use the door when they go in or out.
The Gravedigger: Keep an eye out for ferrets, guys.
Greibel looks back at the door
Greibel: That's a...that's a very useful observation Rhu.
Greibel pats Rhu on the back and walks in the door
Apheori (GM): Ahahahah.
Oh, man, there is a question later that Rhu will just need to ask.
I mean...
Gaurav: There is?
Apheori (GM): Are you guys just loitering, or do you approach?
Gaurav: I think Greibel has advanced to breaking and entering.
Apheori (GM): Mill around the porch? Knock? Sit in the rocking chair?
Radek: ...Wild ferrets?
Bear Soup Guy: For some reason I thought we'd already opened the door, but Greibel will totally just barge in if it's unlocked
Apheori (GM): You're outside still.
The Gravedigger: Pets, I think.
WIld ones have bigger feet.
Apheori (GM): Oh, whatever. As you 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.
Amadi smiles welcomingly back.
Grenity: Welcome, welcome! What can old Grenity do for you?
The Gravedigger: HELLO
I'M THE GRAVEDIGGER
DO YOU HAVE FERRETS?
Apheori (GM): Perception from all of you.
The Gravedigger:
rolling 1D20+14
(
9
)
+14
=
23
Gaurav:
rolling d20+15 perception
(
4
)
+15
=
19
Grenity looks a bit surprised at the question, then laughs.
The Gravedigger: 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.
Gaurav: Can Greibel already be inside the house at this point? Or did he not have time before this obviously evil witch showed up?
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20+10 Perception
(
5
)
+10
=
15
Bear Soup Guy:
rolling 1d20+12
(
6
)
+12
=
18
Apheori (GM): Would Greibel have any reason to have actively barged in at this point?
Ganelon: Sorry, I had to explain to someone that base 10 is the one he's spent his entire life learning.
Apheori (GM): Snrk.
Gaurav: Hee.
Amadi:
rolling 1d20 + 7
(
7
)
+7
=
14
Apheori (GM): I believe I first covered bases in... 5th grade?
Bear Soup Guy: Greibel tried using the door so that Rhu would think he was giving him really good advice
Apheori (GM): Everyone but the Gravedigger and Greibel: She looks pretty normal.
Ganelon: This is programming stuff he's doing.
Apheori (GM): Gravy: She seems to be a bit older than she looks. For reasons.
Aye.
Greibel: You open the door. It's unlocked.
Inside is... house stuff. Furniture and lamps and all the usual trappings.
Ellemerr: Heh. "Pretty normal" for Amadi...
(To Amadi): Actually she's ferrets, but I assume for you that IS pretty normal. >.>
Greibel: (To Rhu) Pssst! Hey.
It's the house. People use it when they want to not be outside.
Greibel winks
Apheori (GM): ...sometimes I underestimate how weird this party can be.
Radek facepalms.
Gaurav: Hee.
Apheori (GM): ...I prepared NOTHING for this particular situation.
Which is unfortunate because this is the stuff that usually trips me up in general.
The Gravedigger: YOU WERE KIDNAPPED BY FERRETS?
The Gravedigger hefts his shovel and scrutinises the area.
Grenity goes to look at what Greibel and Rhu are doing.
Rhu will stay outside the house to keep an eye on this suspicious old lady, unless Greibel waves me in or something.
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: (to Gravy) Not hardly. They just run over everything.
And 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.
Apheori (GM): What, exactly, is Greibel doing at this point?
Amadi: Well, it's nice to meet you.
Amadi nods several times to the old woman.
Grenity: And you, young lady!
The Gravedigger whispers to Amadi.
The Gravedigger: Sheeee's maaaagic.
Grenity nods several times as well.
Bear Soup Guy: Having exhausted his joke, he looks around and absentmindedly heads to the kitchen looking for tea
Rhu: Some hearing loss can be very slight. You don't even know it's there unless you have sophiscated technology. Which we do.
Amadi: ... I might have met you before. I don't remember. I'm old; it's allowed.
Grenity: 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 Greibel.
Frezak (GM): No you're not! You're not old!
Amadi whispers back at Gravy, perplexed. "She?"
Radek: Hmph.
The Gravedigger points theatrically at the old woman.
The Gravedigger: Heeeeeer
Frezak (GM): Pretty sure Gravy doesn't know how to whisper.
Grenity: (to Amadi) Old? Older than dirt? Old as Dream, perhaps?
Frezak (GM): Are you still talking from your perch, incidentally?
Grenity switches to a completely different language which doesn't even seem to be a language at all, and then adds in a whisper, "You don't look like dirt."
Amadi whispers back,
Amadi: 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.
Apheori (GM): Do you all follow her inside?
The Gravedigger: Oh.
Oh.
OOOOOH.
Riiiiight.
Yes.
I knew that.
The Gravedigger: That she's a them.
I totally knew that.
Yes.
Rhu: No tea for me, thanks.
The Gravedigger: YES LET US GO INSIDE WITH THIS OLD WOMAN WHO IS NOT SEVERAL PEOPLE
The Gravedigger winks theatrically at Amadi.
Rhu follows Grenity inside.
Frezak (GM): And heads inside.
Radek grumbles.
Radek: Be quiet.
Rhu: (to Gravy) Several people?
The Gravedigger: SHHHHHHH
Ganelon: He'll also head inside.
Amadi blinks again, looking even more confused.
Amadi: People=
?*
Apheori (GM): Aiight, y'all wind up in the kitchen around now, and only barely fit.
Greibel is making tea.
Frezak (GM): That's fast.
Apheori (GM): There's a huge pot of stew on the stove, and the smell that drifts out is lovely, a savoury mix of herbs and vegetables. You didn't even realise how hungry you were.
Greibel turns around to see everybody in the room
Apheori (GM): Well, I figure in practice you were following and walking.
Greibel blinks
Frezak (GM): Gravy waves at Greibel.
Radek scowls at Greibel.
Frezak (GM): From the other side of the tiny room.
Greibel: This is cozy.
Ganelon: No, you didn't do anything wrong, don't worry.
He's just in a scowling mood.
Apheori (GM): There's also a bit of a living room a bit off the to the side, which only a low wall between it and the kitchen. If you'd like to spread out.
It has sofas.
Very, very comfy-looking sofas.
Frezak (GM): Gravy is cool with standing.
He has experience.
Ganelon: You cannot tempt me with this house!
Frezak (GM): At standing.
Grenity: You could do with soup, I expect.
Bowls are in the cupboard, go ahead and grab some. Got plenty for everyone these days.
Bear Soup Guy: inb4 they're the sofa version of the Wizard Of Oz poppies
Amadi sits on Gravy to take up less space.
The Gravedigger: Gosh, this is a lot of soup.
Were you expecting us?
(To Greibel): As soon as you actually look at her, you realise the old woman is, in fact, ferrets.
(To Greibel): Six of them.
The Gravedigger: Do you want some soup, Radek?
Greibel giggles at seemingly nothing
Radek: ...I don't eat.
The Gravedigger: You do!
Grenity: To a point. Sometimes the trees give warning, and so few visitors come by these days.
The Gravedigger: I saw you suck the juice out that deerthing.
Back in soemthingplace.
you talk to trees?
Hey, Greibel does that too!
Man.
The Gravedigger will wave a bowl in front of Amadi.
The Gravedigger: Soup?
Greibel hovers around Grenity inspecting her hair curiously
Amadi eats soup.
Grenity: It's old magic, very important out here. Got all sorts of herbs, too, if you need.
Frezak (GM): For some reason I always see Radek as being really short.
Greibel mumbles things excitedly
Frezak (GM): Crushed by time.
Grenity: (this is mostly directed at Greibel.)
Radek: I'll thank you not to disgrace my methods by placing them in the same category as eating, Gravy.
Frezak (GM): And grumpiness.
The Gravedigger: Okay.
Do you want some soup?
Radek: No.
(To Greibel): Her hair is very interesting, defying several very important laws of physics. It's a ctually a very good illusion, considering.
Ganelon: I was tempted to add "thank you".
The Gravedigger: Suuuure?
Ganelon: But then realized, that would be polite.
Radek: Completely.
The Gravedigger: Okay.
Greibel mouths "Fascinating"
The Gravedigger: Sorry about Radek, old lady, he's a grump.
Frezak (GM): HOW IS THE SOUP?
Grenity: Is that a yes?
(still to Greibel)
Ellemerr: hOW IS THE SOUP?
Apheori (GM): The soup is lovely and filling.
Greibel: ...Oh. Did you say....heeeeerrrbssss?
Apheori (GM): Perception, everyone.
The Gravedigger: This is some lovely and filling soup.
Amadi:
rolling 1d20 + 7
(
13
)
+7
=
20
Apheori (GM): And tell me if you ate soup.
The Gravedigger:
rolling 1D20+14
(
20
)
+14
=
34
Greibel:
rolling 1d20+12
(
10
)
+12
=
22
Frezak (GM): I did.
Ellemerr: did
Rhu:
rolling d20+15 perception check no soup
(
19
)
+15
=
34
Bear Soup Guy: Greibel was too busy to eat
Radek:
rolling 1d20+10 Perception
(
5
)
+10
=
15
Ganelon: Another 5.
Gaurav: Although I guess just the smell made Rhu's senses keener or something.
Grenity: Herbs, yes.
Ganelon: How consistent. And unfortunate.
Frezak (GM): If only I'd crit earlier.
Apheori (GM): Alas.
It's every five minutes you can use that?
Frezak (GM): yeah.
I think I get a +1 from Rhu, if that helps.
Apheori (GM): Gravy and Rhu: You realise there don't seem to actually be any ferrets here.
Gravy: Also, there's something vaguely magical about the woman. You see a bit of a shimmer on her. Perhaps an illution?
Amadi starts singing "Beautiful soup"
The Gravedigger: Amadi?
(To Greibel): All the ferrets are still her.
The Gravedigger: Is she/them magic?
Like a lot?
Because /there are no ferrets/
Radek: You're asking /her/?
Amadi: Sooooooooooooouuuuup of the eeeeeeeeeeeevening~!
(To Amadi): She's using magic to look like not ferrets.
Ganelon: Can, uh...
Can I check?
Apheori (GM): Since he actually mentioned, certainly.
Ganelon:
rolling 1d20+16 Arcana
(
9
)
+16
=
25
The Gravedigger: Also she's old.
Apheori (GM): Meanwhile Grenity shows Greibel her herbs.
The Gravedigger: Like... more old.
Apheori (GM): There are a lot of them.
Like a LOT.
Gaurav: What does an insight check actually do?
Apheori (GM): Sense motive.
Greibel: Well... I would be very grateful if you would so choose to show me to these herbs
Amadi: Buuuuuu-yessheis-uuuuuuuutifuuuuuul soooooouuuuup...
Greibel looks in Rhu's direction and taps his nose reassuringly
Apheori (GM): Greibel: Some of the herbs 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...
The Gravedigger: Psssssst
Raaaadek
Heeeeey
Apheori (GM): Some you have no idea what they are.
The Gravedigger: Pssssst
Apheori (GM): One looks like a magical cure-all for common ailments.
Radek: What?
Rhu:
rolling d20+8 insight against the old woman
(
20
)
+8
=
28
The Gravedigger: Can you turn off her illusion?
Apheori (GM): Radek: She's got some sort of illusion up, possibly to conceal just how old and decrepit she really is, but you can't tell for sure.
Frezak (GM): Jeebus, man.
Gaurav: Oo.
The Gravedigger: Because you see, there are no ferrets.
Apheori (GM): Rhu: She is deceiving you about something, but you get the impression she doesn't actually mean you any harm and is genuinely very happy to actually have visitors for a change.
The Gravedigger: She might be a bunch of really old ferrets.
A ferret legion.
Gaurav: Huh.
Grenity: I am NOT ferrets.
The Gravedigger: Prove it!
Where are the ferrets?
Grenity: You prove it! Prove you... aren't a squid.
Ganelon: I suppose I shall attempt it.
Amadi: I think you're really nice.
The Gravedigger: I have hands.
Grenity: They're outside, probably sleeping.
The Gravedigger: Squids don't have hands.
Or, you know, breathe air.
Grenity: I dunno, I only really see them for dinner, usually.
They can if you magic them.
The Gravedigger: AHA
Radek clears his throat and tries to ignore the fact that there is in fact a cephalopod resting upon his head.
The Gravedigger: SO YOU ARE A MAGIC FERRET!
Amadi: All of you. Very nice.
The Gravedigger: I see!
Grenity: ...no.
Radek:
rolling 1d20+16 Arcana (dispelling)
(
13
)
+16
=
29
Rhu: I don't think she means us any harm, Gravy.
Frezak (GM): I forgot you had one.
Why do you have one?
On your head, even?
Ganelon: Because it gibbers.
Greibel blinks
Frezak (GM): Riiiight
That.
Apheori (GM): Radek: Nothing really happens. The woman's hair gets a bit messed up.
Amadi: ... I want hot chocolate.
Ellemerr: And so do I.
Radek blinks in surprise.
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.
Frezak (GM): Do we know what Ord is?
I think someone mentioned it last time.
Amadi: ... I have some... not hot chocolate? Could you make it hot? Pleeeease?
Amadi digs out a very modern plate of chocolate.
Apheori (GM): Greibel: Do you trade for herbs, or do anything to indicate an interest?
Amadi - from her pocket. Not from her hair. Though she did consider it.
Apheori (GM): Also, I'll be right back.
Ellemerr: I might have to make hot chocolate. Maybe. We'll see.
Frezak (GM): 'have to' ?
Now that you have invoked the thought, the urge follows?
Ellemerr: Yes. >.>
Bear Soup Guy: I had a phone call
Gaurav: From last week's log: "Apheori (GM): OH. RADEK. I completely forgot to mention this at the time, partly because I didn't know it myself, but there's another planet folks been mentioning called Ord. Or something. At least you think it might be a planet. Nobody would give you a straight answer."
Ellemerr: Also: "Ellemerr (GM): Why do I always want hot chocolate when we play? >.>" From the BL log I'm working on.
Bear Soup Guy: Greibel is interested in the herbs but he's holding his tongue because the ferret lady is being bombarded with lots of questions right now
Ganelon: Right. It was a planet?
Gaurav: George is apparently also from Ord.
Radek: Ord again...
What is Ord?
Ganelon: Might as well get a new maybe-oblique answer about this.
Rhu will try one of those comfy sofas.
Grenity: It's the... other. The mirror universe where they have shiny hats and buoys and chocolate and all things good and nice.
Grenity nods and takes the plate of chocolate.
Grenity gets out a pot and stuff and starts mixing and boiling it with milk and stuff.
Amadi: Oh... I think I have Ord in my pocket!
Amadi fishes out a shiny hat. It's small and full of christmas lights.
Grenity: Nobody here knows it because they don't want to know it.
Rhu: Don't they have boys here, too?
Grenity: 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.
Grenity gives Rhu a weird look.
Ganelon: I'm surprised he doesn't get those more often, really.
Greibel: Unlikely
Gaurav: Weird how?
Greibel: Ferrets only have a lifespan of seven to ten years
Gaurav: Gan: yes.
Greibel looks through the herbs
Apheori (GM): Weird like she thinks you're a complete weirdo and/or idiot.
Gaurav: Oh psh.
Frezak (GM): That's mundane.
Gaurav: That's just how everybody looks at Rhu. He does not notice.
Rhu gives Greibel a weird look.
Apheori (GM): Hers stands out more because of her nose.
Grenity offers to trade and asks Greibel if he has anything for that.
Rhu:
rolling d20+15 perception check Grenity's nose
(
16
)
+15
=
31
Gaurav: I don't suppose a nose can have motive, right?
Grenity gives Amadi, Greibl, and the Gravedigger hot chocolate, keeping a mug for herself.
Apheori (GM): >.>
Amadi: Thank you! All of you, this is so nice!
Apheori (GM): Perception: It is a very large nose, and it wiggles sometimes.
Amadi drinks hot chocolate with much happiness.
Apheori (GM): Amadi The hot chocolate is a bit thick and very dark, but good.
Rhu casts admiring glances at Grenity's nose when he thinks nobody's looking.
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...
Grenity puts a little of the antipsychotic in her chocolate.
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.
Gaurav: (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.
Gaurav: Sorry, that was IC.
Greibel: Well, what are you waiting for?
Greibel gestures for Rhu to do that
Rhu offers Grenity a half digested light fixture.
Grenity looks it over, then looks quite surprised.
Grenity: I... do not recognise this. Where did you get it?
Apheori (GM): Entirely out of character, I think I just realised who Grenity is and I really hope I'm wrong.
Radek: Are you referring to the technology?
Ganelon: Doubtful, but it's worth asking.
Grenity: The history. The stories. They're not...
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 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.
Apheori (GM): I had cookies for lunch.
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 (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM): Gravy will stand around and look helpful without doing anything.
Radek: Temporarily.
The Gravedigger: Hmmm.
Frezak (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM) 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 (GM):
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 (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM): 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 (GM): I want it to be there, in every step taken.
Apheori (GM): Roll arcana.
Frezak (GM):
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 (GM): How did you do that?
Ellemerr: I thought it was cinnamon.
Frezak (GM): 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 (GM): Gravy is grumpy.
Apheori (GM): You still see old lady.
Ganelon: He can grump next to Radek.
Frezak (GM): 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.
Frezak (GM): Floating ferrets?
Apheori (GM): In a dress.
Frezak (GM): Sure.
Apheori (GM): Magic.
Part of the magic was apparently just that nobody in their right mind would even WANT to see it.
Gaurav: A somebody-else's-ferret field?
Frezak (GM): I don't know of anybody that would fit that description.
Ellemerr: I don't think anyone in the party is in their right mind.
Frezak (GM): Or we are.
Apheori (GM): Well, there is that.
But anyhoo.
More will happen later.
NEXT WEEEEEEEEK.
Apheori (GM) runs away.
Bear Soup Guy: BYE
Gaurav: Bye everybody!
Ellemerr: Sweet nightmares. And hot chocolate.
Apheori (GM): Dream well.