Don has joined the game.

[Don] Heyyyy

[James] Howdy

[Jeff] Hey

[Don] Were we starting now?

[Don] I thought we were starting an hour from now

[Don] Conveniently, it doesn't matter for me. ;)

[James] We're still missing a couple..., but we were supposed to start at 12 noon CST

[Sedlack] We are starting nowish. Noon (Central) is what Mike said

[Master] soon

Tamora has joined the game.

[Don] Oh.

[Don] Well, like I said, no problem

Client has joined the game.

[Sedlack] Aedean: Will: (d20+10+6) [5+10+6] 21

[Brian] good morning/afternoon

[Sedlack] SEBBY!

[James] SEBBY!

[Brian] SEDLACK! GRAVES!

[Brian] hey james, you going to LISA? looks like i'm not.

[Master] Jared sends his regrets.

[Master] Okay, this week sucked, so I'm gonna be doing a bit of map-making, et cetera mid-session, especially while y'all chat about what to do next.

[James] No, I didn't have time to help Albert this year, though I'd have liked to go.

[James] Way, way, way too much work.

[Sedlack] 'Kay.

[Brian] We're in the middle of a huge budget crisis, so the training money has basically disappeared.

[Master] Everbody receiving the map of Czina? Any questions . . . ?

[James] Cool

[Angie] got it

[Brian] i see Czina. don't see any PCs

Joe has joined the game.

[James] I meant cool map, not 'cool' about the other things...

[Master] That's on purpose.

[Sedlack] Joe!

[Don] Ok

[Joe] sorry about that. errands ran a little long.

[Sedlack] We're just getting started

[Brian] jared can't make it today?

[Master] Yep -- Zach and Matt Hayward are in town.

[Brian] ah

[Brian] hey, it's the Tanners...wonder if Uncle Joey is home.

[Joe] I think he's just avoiding me. As I will crush him this week in fantasy football.

[Master] ...and take his Miller Lite.

[Joe] Indeed.

[Sedlack] I doubt "seadock" is a word. If it were, I bet some spellchecker would have suggested it as the correct spelling of "Sedlack"

[Master] Heh. That's the formal name.

[Master] Folks call them the seadocks.

[Joe] Dadocks

[Master] Bodocks

[Sedlack] Ack!

[Joe] BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODOCKS

[Brian] Goondocks

[Master] Oops!

[Master] I just noticed that I labelled the common room as level 2 and level 2 as the Common room.

[Master] Don, my ping time to you can be measured in days.

[James] Can you just put temporary labels on?

[Master] how's that for a quick fix?

[Sedlack] Fine

[James] peachy

[Brian] i'm not getting horrible times to don

[Roger (Jeff)] The furniture here is all so big. I need to buy a wand of reduce size

[Master] hehe.

[Brian] hey it's darth sidious. i mean wellington

[Master] Or have Shottamip grow you up a bit.

[Roger (Jeff)] Hey, I'm normal size. All y'all are freaks

[Aric (Brian)] Mordenkaiden's Magical High-chair

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I could enlarge you if you'd like. Just to check it out.

[Angie] Why is Eric still heavily wounded?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Beats me. I would think he should be all healed up

[Angie] Aric, sorry

[Brian] Aric's hit points adjusted by 36 to 70.

[Velkyna (Joe)] i don't think he's been healed since the combat.

[Aric (Brian)] unless you don't want me doing that. i was thinking i was all healed after last time

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Right, but if we were stopping for the night, he would have been. Aedean had a ton of spells left

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ditto Shottamip

[James] As did Arkady, and he could have healed himself or Defthon could have done it.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (in that she should be healed up)

[Master] You stopped for the night in the Landhurst Inn. No problem.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I don't think she got hit. That might be left over from her gaining a level.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ah.

[Joe] Shottamip's hit points adjusted by 8 to 80.

Tamora has left the game.

[Velkyna (Joe)] SORRY

[Velkyna (Joe)] Goons? I've always wanted to be a goon.

[Don] Hare today, goon tomorrow.

[James] Alright, you win Don.

[Angie] So who's little bunny foo foo?

[Don] ;)

[Master] heh.

[Master] Okay, you get to the inn and start arranging yourselves.

[Aric (Brian)] anyway, shall we get moving? shorter game time today

[Wellington] I don't really sleep much . . . I'll stay in the common room for a while, I think.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel is definitely keep a (surrupticious) eye on Welly.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] [Wellington] I don't drink....wine.

[Wellington] hehe.

[Master] You're basically okay with this?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What do you mean by "this"?

[Master] Wellington being two floors away. YOu're a suspicious lot.

[Arkady (James)] Shottamip, could you set up an alarm spell or two?

[Master] :)

[Master] (This is not a hint. When you receive hints from me, they will be packaged as such. Usually after a WIS check.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel and a few others could "play some cards" down in the common room to keep an eye on him.

[Master] You are all at least a little bushed.

[Arkady (James)] We'll keep watches going while most of us sleep, just like when we're camping out.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Playing cards is where Vel is a viking!

[Lia (Angie)] And those watches should include keeping an eye on Wellington

[Master] okay, gimme watches.

[Arkady (James)] Arkady and Praxis first, I suppose.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (4 watches, 2 people a piece?)

[Don] I'll take the last watch

[Master] Good think y'all are healthy, with all these 6 hour interrupted-sleep nights.

[Lia (Angie)] I'll take one of the middle watches

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean can do last watch, as well

[Roger (Jeff)] I'll go second

Tamora has joined the game.

[Master] I'm gonna go make tost.

[Aric (Brian)] i can go whenever. but as monk sleep is partly meditative, having the time uninterrupted would probably be best

[Master] toast.

[Lia (Angie)] OOC food is good

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will take a watch with Lia.

[Aric (Brian)] I SAY YOU GOTS TO TOAST ME

[Aedean (Sedlack)] what food u got?

[Lia (Angie)] Why don't Vel and I go third then?

[Velkyna (Joe)] S'fine

[Tamora] Sorry bout that. Where do I fit in?

[Tamora] Second watch?

[Arkady (James)] That's fine.

[Lia (Angie)] So I'm going to get out of this armor and get some sleep

[Tamora] (You have probably all noticed by now that I only sleep a couple hours a night anyway.)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So we've got: Arkady/Praxis, Shot/Rog, Vel/Lia, Def/Aedean

[Shottamip (Tamora)] test

[Master] ...and how does that work w/r/t Wellington?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Put Dral in with Shot and Roger so they've got some beefcake.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I will be up for watches 2-4.

[Master] k

[Arkady (James)] Tammy, that color is hard for me to read.

[Master] (Tami)

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think we'll leave Wellington to his own devices, I guess. We should probably stick together.

[Arkady (James)] If you want, you can have this lighter purple, and I'll pick something else.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, if you're asking what story we're selling to Wellington, then it'll be "We're on guard in case more Formians show up"

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Amusing as I haven't changed it since last month. I did just notice that it's less readable on our main computer than this laptop.

[Master] More what Joe was saying. Wellington is not the sort to question paranoia.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Dusting off my screen helped...

[Lia (Angie)] I do not want to leave Wellington unsupervised

[Arkady (James)] Actually, I was slouching too, at a better angle it's not so bad...

[Shottamip (Tamora)] test

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How's the bluish purple?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The other purple was better

[Shottamip (Tamora)] fdang

[Master] (eats toast)

[James] I agree

[Master] I'm glad you like toast.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] This one?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, what do we do if Wellington decides he's going to wander off into the night?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let him?

[Velkyna (Joe)] If Vel had her way, they'd keep an eye on Wellington.

[Master] hehe

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That blue is better than the other blue

[Velkyna (Joe)] She could tail him invisibly.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] He showed us a nice hotel, that's nice; but not a reason to, y'know, lock him up.

[Velkyna (Joe)] But again, I don't know if we want to split up.

[Aric (Brian)] have we paid him yet? if not, and he wants to wander off, well, it's not like it would be that hard for baddies to find us

[Defthon (Don)] Actually, that looks pretty close to my blue

[James] Praxis could go with Vel, so they can report back to the rest of us.

[Defthon (Don)] In fact, it's identical

[Shottamip (Tamora)] oops

[James] Praxis can to short-range telepathic to Vel, and up to 1 mile empathic w/ Arkady

[James] He's his own walkie-talkie.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Well, I agree that it's a pleasant shade of blue.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Cool!

[James] Arkady will just cast regular invis on Praxis

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Every couple hours?

[James] What, inivs? Lasts 12 hours

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 10 min/level

[James] whoops, playing by old rules...

[Velkyna (Joe)] OMG THEY PIMPD INVISO

[Master] ?

[James] Well, Praxis is pretty good at hiding, he can just do that instead.

[Master] Yes. Yes, he is.

[James] Still slap an invis on him to start though.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay. What if Vel's asleep?

[James] Whoever's on watch will just have to wake her up.

[Velkyna (Joe)] She hasn't been sleeping much lately, anyway.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Gotcha.

[Master] hehe

[Velkyna (Joe)] She may already be up.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Fair enough. Sounds like we have a plan.

[Master] Okay, summarize for me:

[Master] Watch 1?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Ark/Praxis

[Master] Watch 2?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shot, Roger, Dral

[Master] Watch 3?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Lia Vel

[Master] Watch 4?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Def Aedean

[Master] Wellington?

[Master] (Beef!)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (and me)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Aric can go with Arkady, I suppose.

[Master] right.

[James] Roger should just stay asleep, he needs his rest.

[Roger (Jeff)] Fine by me

[James] Until he gets his own ring of sustanance.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Then put Dral with Arkady and Aric with Shottamip.

[James] fine.

[Master] ok.

[Master] Wellington...?

[James] What about him?

[Master] Okey-dokey.

[Defthon (Don)] We're ignoring him, I think.

[Master] You go to sleep.

[Master] THose of you who do.

[Master] I need Listen checks from Shot, Lia, and Aric.

[Master] (Oh, and where are you putting the Alarm spells?)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Listen: (d20+6) [14+6] 20

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Listen: (d20+9) [9+9] 18

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Listen: (d20+11) [3+11] 14

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I would get the door out... are there windows?

[Master] I think Aric should have white text. :)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Heh

[Aric (Brian)] Ok

[Master] Yes, there are four windows.

[Aric (Brian)] it was a little close to angie's anyway

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Where?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Are they shuterrable?

[Master] Yes.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lock 'em by default.

[Master] They're along the lounge area there; the bedrooms have no windows, probably because the view sucks in that direction.

[Master] ok.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Another one around the window area, then, if there's a corresponding circle that doesn't intersect the walkway.

[Master] Vel, gimme a Search check; you're probably feeling paranoid.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No use in setting it off as we change watches.

[Master] ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Search (traps, secret doors, etc.): ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+22+1) [7+22+1] 30

[James] Well, we'd all know the password, right?

[Master] There's a trap door under a carpet in the common room.

[Velkyna (Joe)] !!!

[James] As a group, we'd probably just pick a word we'd ust all the time for alarm spells.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Or would that lead to a root cellar?

[Master] IT leads directly down into the hallway below and has not been used for a dog's own age.

[Master] Crap.

[Master] In the lounge area, not the common room.

[Master] Sorry. :)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Is that how that works? I haven't used the spell since we moved to Klooege, and that's been a while.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Ah!

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will point out this trap door, odd though it is.

[James] As long as you say the password, the spell won't go off.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm confused.

[Master] Yeah, this is a pretty coherent group; you've got a shibboleth at this point, with occasional sly references to it.

[Master] I'm sorry.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Isn't the lounge area az section of the common room?

[Master] There is a trap door in the lounge area on the 3rd floor.

[Master] It goes down to the hallway on the 2nd floor.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ah.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh, I thought you meant the part of the common room with tables.

[Master] You can use the Alarm spell to catch it if you're careful.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I couldn't even see the tables under all fo us.

[Master] hehe

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Do we know if the rooms on the 2nd floor are occupied?

[Master] They happen to be unoccupied. Czina is experiencing . . . economic difficulties.

[James] ... just what we're here to fix. Sorta.

[Master] Really, Keeper Landhurst was fawning over you; apparently you're feeding his kids for the next few weeks.

[Velkyna (Joe)] So we hav ethe whole place to ourselves?

[Master] There were some barflies in the common area, but they'll go home shortly after dark.

[Master] Wellington is nursing an odd local beer.

[Defthon (Don)] He'll fawn less when the transdimensional portal opens and our epic battle destroys his inn...

[Master] ...or he was, when you went up.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ok, then. THe trap door is something we should be aware of, and possibly alarm, but poses no obvious threat

[Lia (Angie)] ooc what watch are we on?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I will set one big alarm spell around the room, then, I guess. Spherical.

[Master] None yet, I'm still doing setup.

[Velkyna (Joe)] As far as we can tell.

[Lia (Angie)] So how are we keeping an eye on Wellington?

[Master] mental or audible?

[Master] (for the Alarm)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I assume that the watchkeepers will be down on the first floor

[Defthon (Don)] Oh?

[Defthon (Don)] I assumed we'd be up here.

[Master] That hadn't occurred to me . . .

[Velkyna (Joe)] What if someone busts in the 3rd floor?

[James] Maybe one down and one up?

[Defthon (Don)] Since we have two per watch, could we split them?

[Defthon (Don)] Right

[Velkyna (Joe)] That could work.

[Master] first watch:

[Master] down?

[Master] Up?

[James] Arkady will be down, Praxis up.

[Master] second watch:

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So no one should be coming up from the first floor but us?

[Master] You've instructed Landhurst to this effect.

[Lia (Angie)] I don't like leaving anyone alone with Wellington

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Then I can alarm the second and third floors, separately, audible.

[Master] ok

[Shottamip (Tamora)] He really doesn't seem that dangerous.

[Lia (Angie)] Do we know if/where Wellington plans to sleep?

[Velkyna (Joe)] That's what he'd like you to think.

[Master] No.

[Master] You do not know that information.

[Aric (Brian)] We could ask him.

[James] Arkady will ask him.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Exactly.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] He implied that he would be staying up, I thought.

[Wellington] Hm?

[Arkady (James)] Don't you need to get some rest?

[Wellington] (smiles tiredly) I don't sleep well, really.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Wait, is he up here now?

[Wellington] I'll catch a few hours in a chair down here.

[Arkady (James)] If you like, we could do something for that.

[Wellington] No, that's okay, thanks.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Arkadty went down for first watch)

[Defthon (Don)] Aha.

[Defthon (Don)] Btw, fyi, Wellington's not _evil_.

[Arkady (James)] So what's you first name?

[Velkyna (Joe)] But is he eeeeeeeeeeeeevil?

[Wellington] (thinks on how to respond)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (His last name is Yueh)

[Wellington] I don't have a family name, really.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC (yeah, I was gonna say)

[Arkady (James)] My family is far, far away.

[Wellington] This is my name. Perhaps someday it will be some child's last name.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC or first name

Wellington shrugs

[Arkady (James)] So where will you go after this?

Wellington 's face is faintly visible in the dark, but is still essentially cloaked.

Wellington smiles.

[Wellington] Honestly, if I knew that, I wouldn't be showing paranoid strangers around a half-destroyed port town.

[Arkady (James)] OOC: LOL

[Master] (feel free to break out the Sense Motive at any point. :))

[Arkady (James)] Well, just becuase you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you...

Wellington shrugs

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [18+14] 32

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Woo!

[Lia (Angie)] wow

Wellington has been extremely honest, including his vague longing for a family.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC awww....

[Master] (I'll give you more subtext for the remainder of the conversation.)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Maybe he can impregnate an elf)

[Arkady (James)] So what's the plan for tomorrow?

[Wellington] Show you to the mayor's; let you conduct your business. (gather information on the mayor in the process)

[Master] (parentheses are subtexts)

[Arkady (James)] OOC: what are the elves offering to trady, anyway?

[Master] The elves are looking for well-crafted mundane weapons, et cetera.

[Master] Arrows, swords, that sort of thing.

[Master] They're willing to trade magical items and their leftover high-end luxury goods.

[Arkady (James)] OOC: Gotcha.

[Master] Also, they wouldn't mind contracting a few mercenary companies or adventuring bands to do some raiding.

[Lia (Angie)] ooc Orc to kill'

[Arkady (James)] So, have any other strange groups passed through recently.

[Arkady (James)] ?

Wellington smiles

[Wellington] Besides yourselves?

[Arkady (James)] yeah.

[Wellington] Because you kind of set the bar.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "other"

[Defthon (Don)] OOC hence "other"

[Wellington] (I am strange, but not as strange as you)

[Wellington] Yes.

[Arkady (James)] Heh.

[Wellington] I wanted to wait for the Mayor to explain it himself, but I suppose there's no harm in hearing my third-hand account.

[Wellington] This city pays tribute to a local lord.

[Arkady (James)] Hmph, that's interesting.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC for a second i misread that as nerd

[Wellington] I do not know much about him, but the mayor's men function as . . . tax collectors, if you will.

[Wellington] And so Czina falls to pieces for lack of care.

Wellington shrugs

[Arkady (James)] And in return for this tribute, they don't seem to get much protection from invaders.

[Wellington] It is the way of things. Either Czina will re-arise, or a new city will use its walls a hundred years from now.

Wellington shrugs

[Wellington] It is not a matter of fee for service.

[Wellington] Or, rather, the service is provided by the local lord.

[Arkady (James)] Well, even if you're trying to squeeze the city for every last copper...

[Wellington] The service is simple -- the local lord will not release his inhuman mercenaries to rape and murder the remainder of the population.

Wellington shrugs

[Wellington] I do not pretend to understand the motivation of this man.

[Arkady (James)] ... it doesn't do to have others taking advanage of your own "crop".

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (I see Czina as a mere province of my great empire. If you pay us tribute, I will refrain from crushing oyu"

[Wellington] I think, however, that those ant-men were simply a result of the wyld storms, nothing more.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC WYLD STALLYNS!!

[Velkyna (Joe)] !!!

[Wellington] No more easily anticipated than an earthquake or tornado.

[Arkady (James)] I take it, that's been happening more often lately?

[Wellington] Define lately.

[Wellington] (yes.)

[Arkady (James)] Sounds like some mage in on the rampage.

Wellington shrugs

[Wellington] (I want to use you to gain more information on all of this.)

Wellington sips his beer

[Arkady (James)] OOC: I take it the Elves just wanted trade. They didn't seem to me to want to solve all the world's problems.

[Master] The elves sent you to get trade opening for the purpose of getting relief from the orcs.

[Master] How you do it is up to y'all. They trust you to be intelligent.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Czina can't trade if all their shit goes to this local lord.

[Master] They also know you're good people, so you're not likely to just pass up horrors and whatnot.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Indeed

Arkady (James) sipps his beer thoughtfully.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC something tells me there's going to be one less local lord once we finish here :)

[Roger (Jeff)] We could make a pitch to the local lord

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Arkady (James)] OOC: I doubt they'd be able to trade weapons anyway.

[Master] The beer is unimaginably shitty.

[Arkady (James)] If they had weapons, they'd use them to fight.

[Arkady (James)] At any rate, the local lord wouldn't want the locals to have weapons anyway.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Most likely, yes. But they may have all been confiscated by the lord.

Wellington notices the look an Arkady's face.

[Wellington] You ordered the small beer, didn't you?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Sounds like it's time to redistribute some wealth.

Wellington slides his tankard across

Arkady (James) nods.

Arkady (James) gives it a try.

[Wellington] This is the local brew; it's heavy and odd, but it doesn't taste like you're licking a donkey's balls.

[Lia (Angie)] LOL

Arkady (James) snorts.

[Master] The beer isn't to your taste, but you can tell that one might get used to it with some effort.

[Arkady (James)] Hmph, not what I'd prefer, but it's not bad either.

[Wellington] They've got some kind of bizarre orcish hops they use for this one.

[Wellington] They mix it in with their barley and get this . . . thing. It is growing on me, I must admit.

Wellington sips

[Arkady (James)] Huh. Well, I haven't seen everything yet, but I guess I'm getting there.

Wellington smiles.

[Arkady (James)] Thing?

[Arkady (James)] Do I want to know?

[Master] (wellington was referring to the beer, is all.)

[Wellington] I had not yet seen everything.

[Arkady (James)] Do I want to know what the barley has been mixed with?

[Wellington] Then I saw a party of nine elves, half-elves, humans, halflings, half-orcs, and gnomes destroy a contingent of ant-men who had just slaughtered a half-dozen strong docksmen.

[Wellington] /me

Wellington shrugs

[Wellington] Now I have.

[Lia (Angie)] LOL

[Defthon (Don)] OOC THATS RIGHT

[Arkady (James)] Heh, we're just missing a dwarf.

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Wellington] Mm.

[Aric (Brian)] YOU HAVE MY AXE

[Velkyna (Joe)] BRING YOU PUSSY FACE TO MY ASS

[Defthon (James)] ... and my bow.

Wellington sips his beer.

[Lia (Angie)] OOC I wonder what he'd say about the Nightflyer fight?

[Dralafi] My bow. His flaming sword thingy.

[Aric (Brian)] are any of us down there?

[Velkyna (Joe)] No, we're all sleeping.

[Master] The rest of Arkady's watch passes without incident.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Except Praxis and Dral.

[Aric (Brian)] love to have someone say "oh, they weren't that bad, compared to the nightflyer and nightcrawler"

[Master] (unless you have another question you're burning to ask.)

[Aric (Brian)] "...and the bodaks"

[Arkady (James)] No, it's all becoming clearer...

[Master] kewl.

[Master] 2nd watch:

[Arkady (James)] ... not necessarily better, but clearer.

[Master] up? down?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Should be Shot and Aric

[Aric (Brian)] i can go down

[Aric (Brian)] so shot has the help of the beef up there if need be

[Aric (Brian)] (not that she can't defend herself i'm sure)

[Master] ...?

[Aric (Brian)] just saying that i think she'd be more than capable of defending herself if something did come in

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shot's up, Aric's down.

[Master] ok.

[Master] Listen check for Shottamip.

Wellington nods

[Aric (Brian)] is wellington still awake?

[Wellington] Yep.

Aric (Brian) nods to Wellington.

[Wellington] Aric, right?

[Aric (Brian)] I'm surprised you're still awake. You should get some rest.

[Aric (Brian)] That's correct.

[Master] Gimme a Sense Motive.

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Sense Motive: (d20+1) [9+1] 10

[Aric (Brian)] durr...what a nice guy!

[Master] (no subtext for you, but you won't be totally bamboozled easily.)

Wellington slides a beer across to you.

[Wellington] It's the local stuff.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (BEER ME)

[Aric (Brian)] No thank you, I try to avoid drinking. Is there tea perhaps?

Wellington looks surprised.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Everyone who drank the beer, make a Fortitude save)

[Wellington] I don't know; let's see if we can rustle you up something in the kitchen.

[Wellington] Keeper Landhurst gave me the run of the place if I promised not to unlock the front door.

[Aric (Brian)] Just one of the sacrifices one must make to be a monk.

Wellington smiles quietly.

[Wellington] Ah, is that what you are?

[Roger (Jeff)] rustle up some grub

[Aric (Brian)] Indeed.

[Wellington] I'd wondered about your relatively . . . unarmored appearance.

Wellington fiddles around in the kitchen.

[Aric (Brian)] I find armor...unneccessary.

[Wellington] hm.

[Wellington] I've heard.

[Arkady (James)] (and his bulgie muscles)

[Wellington] Encumbering, for how you move, I imagine.

Wellington finds a pot and sets it to boiling.

[Aric (Brian)] That's mostly it. We are trained to avoid being hit in the first place. Wearing armor would make that more difficult.

[Wellington] mm.

[Wellington] Where did you train, then? I know of no . . . is monastery the right word . . . no areas around here.

[Master] the pot boils, and Wellington adds tea.

[Aric (Brian)] We're not from around here. I trained ... very far away.

Master smiles

Wellington smiles

[Wellington] Like me, then.

[Aric (Brian)] How did you come to this place?

Wellington pours the tea

[Aric (Brian)] Thank you.

[Wellington] happenstance

[Aric (Brian)] OOC Welcome to VAGUE CONVERSATIONS 101

[Master] The tea is decent -- it's mediocre tea, but Wellington did a good job of timing the process.

[Lia (Angie)] LOL

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (RealPlayer sez: "We're just two lost souls swimmin' in a fishbowl")

Wellington sips his beer.

[Master] ANything else you'd like to discuss?

[Aric (Brian)] Are you from this area originally?

[Wellington] What do you mean by "this area"?

[Aric (Brian)] (i'm gonna try to weasel out of him whether he was brought by the storms, but will probably fail)

Wellington fails the Turing Test.

[Aric (Brian)] Czina, the Alemanic States, the Estin duchy perhaps?

[Aric (Brian)] You don't seem to have enough scars to have come from the Orcish wastelands.

[Wellington] I came here from one of the intermediate areas which is neither Alemannic nor Estin.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC he said Alemanic States last time.

[Wellington] I say Alemannic because it was near there, but that's not quite exact.

[Velkyna (Joe)] D00D ITS THE DANE

[Wellington] You know how it is -- if you come from a village near a big city, you say, "I'm from Dessit!"

[Wellington] Not, "I'm from Podunklund, five miles from the walls."

[Aric (Brian)] I see. And apparently we're being visited by goons #1 and #2, Joanne, and the mayor

[Aric (Brian)] (that last part OOC)

[Aric (Brian)] Right. You've been to Dessit?

[Defthon (Don)] OOC I have a friend from the Jersey suburbs who claims he's from NY and gets really defensive if you call him on it

[Aric (Brian)] (the right was agreeing with him, btw, not sarcastic)

[Wellington] Once, a long time ago.

[Aric (Brian)] I would be cautious approaching there right now. There was recently some chaos, but order is being restored.

Wellington is obviously letting Aric drive the conversation . . .

Wellington laughs out loud.

[Wellington] Sounds like a vast improvement over Czina. I shall book passage immediately.

[Aric (Brian)] Well, by chaos, I mean plague.

[Wellington] Is it over, then?

[Aric (Brian)] But the cure has been given to the people.

Wellington nods.

[Wellington] You sound like you had something to do with that.

[Aric (Brian)] A little. *smiles*

Wellington smiles quietly and sits back in his chair.

Wellington looks lost in thought.

[Aric (Brian)] (as a note, sorry if vel's about to beat me if she heard, aric's a little more naive and willing to talk)

[Wellington] I, ah . . . I heard Shottamip casting some spells earlier.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON HIM)

[Aric (Brian)] Just a precaution.

[Wellington] Anything I should be aware of? I'd prefer not to stumble into a delayed fireball or something.

[Aric (Brian)] We just don't want anyone trying to sneak up on us.

[Master] (Diplomacy check for Aric)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Delayed _blast_ fireball.

[Aric (Brian)] Aric: Diplomacy: (d20+1) [7+1] 8

Master nods

Wellington nods

[Wellington] Er, if I were to run up the stairs, I wouldn't get eaten by a Fire Elemental or anything, would I?

[Aric (Brian)] We've had sleep interrupted by kobolds and any number of other unpleasant company.

Wellington lahs

[Shottamip (Tamora)] um...

[Aric (Brian)] Well, it wouldn't be a fire elemental.

Aric (Brian) grins.

[Wellington] That's reassuring.

[Wellington] I think.

[Aric (Brian)] We've contracted our elemental needs with the plane of water.

[Wellington] Oh, they do contracts?

[Wellington] I wonder if they need agents?

[Master] Aric takes a moment, then realizes Wellington is putting him on.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC ah, low charisma

[Master] Nah, Wellington is just a master of the droll statement.

[Master] Anything else you need?

[Aric (Brian)] But no. Just protecting against uninvited guests.

[Aric (Brian)] (he's heard, i'm sure he's guessed it's an alarm spell)

[Aric (Brian)] No, the tea was fine. Thank you, it was well made.

[Wellington] Why thank you.

Wellington sits back and dozes

[Master] Third watch.

[Defthon (Don)] Terrible show.

[Lia (Angie)] Vel, do you want to take down?

[Velkyna (Joe)] That's fine.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] [Velkyna] Let me at 'im!

[Master] Does Lia bother to change into Full Plate, or is she just in the Chain Shirt (for sake of non-noisiness).

[Wellington] Hunh.

[Wellington] Lost my bet.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Am I right in assuming that Landhurst is not around? (If Welly mad ethe tea?)

[Lia (Angie)] just the chain

[Master] Yep; Landhurst is in a nearby cottage.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel's going to ignore Wellington at first, rummaging around for some food.

Wellington relaxes back into a light doze.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] brb

[Sedlack] I am away from the keyboard.

[Master] The second floor alarm goes off.

Wellington sputters

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel books ass to the second floor.

[Wellington] What? What the?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Do I see anything?

[Wellington] Spot check

[Master] hehe

[Master] Spot check

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Spot: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+12+1) [17+12+1] 30

[Velkyna (Joe)] BOOM

[Master] There's a fucking cat in the hallway.

[Master] Mangy little thing.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What about those of us awake and waiting on the third floor?

[Aric (Brian)] Crap! We've got furries!

[Master] Everybody wakes up from the alarm.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I use the password to turn it off and scoop up the cat.

[Master] Lia and Shottamip, you get first action for obvious reasons.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I would want to reset it, I suppose.

[Master] Spot check for Vel

[Lia (Angie)] Maybe a different password?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm going to look around a bit

[Master] Search, then.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Spot: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+12+1) [13+12+1] 26

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Search (basic): ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+17+1) [4+17+1] 22

[Defthon (Don)] Do we know that it's the second floor one?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I do.

[Master] Not really, but Shottamip does.

[Master] And the sound emanates from the area, so you can figure it out quickly.

[Sedlack] I am back at the keyboard.

[Wellington] (from down the stairs) Um?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel's poking around. She's pretty sure this is not an accident.

[Wellington] ok.

[Wellington] ER.

[Wellington] Should I be fleeing?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Is there a window I can throw the cat out of?

[Master] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I do so. Gently.

[Aric (Brian)] wait, do i see the cat?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If you have allergies, maybe.

[Aric (Brian)] from the second floor window you're throwing?

[Wellington] Right, then. I'll just stay down here.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They land on their feet.

[Master] There are gutters.

[Master] et cetera.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Exactly.

[Master] Vel's careful like that.

[Aric (Brian)] aric would want to give the poor thing some milk or something if it looked malnourished

[Roger (Jeff)] It's a monk cat

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Gently"

[Master] Aric didn't get a chance to get a close look.

[Aric (Brian)] yeah, cause someone's THROWING IT OUT THE WINDOW :P

[Defthon (Don)] More of a "drop" than a "throw", really.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Does Vel see anything on the third floor?

[Master] Vel finds nothing out of place on either floor.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Sorry, second floor?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Okay.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel knows the spell resets, right?

[Velkyna (Joe)] So she doesn't have to get Shot to recast?

[Defthon (Don)] I assume I'm up and about now---I head down to the second floor

[Master] Yep.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Sorry. That was a fucking cat."

[Defthon (Don)] Ah.

[Defthon (Don)] That's all?

[Velkyna (Joe)] As far as I can tell. I looked around.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Nothing seems up.

[Defthon (Don)] If we know that the rooms are all empty, I'm checking 'em.

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, you already did that then?

[Master] Ok. Search checks.

[Master] Yes, she did.

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Search: (d20+1+0+1) [14+1+0+1] 16

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Search (traps, secret doors, etc.): ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+22+1) [6+22+1] 29

[Master] Yeah, there's nothing wrong here. The rooms look like what they are.

[Defthon (Don)] Better safe than sorry, though.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will return to her post on the first floor.

[Defthon (Don)] How'd the cat get in?

[Master] Not immediately obvious.

Velkyna (Joe) shrugs. "I don't know"

[Master] But hey -- cats.

[Defthon (Don)] Hm.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think that might have been a test.

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, I suppose. But I'd think either our 1st floor or our 3rd floor watchmen would've seen it.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Someone sent it in to see what's going on here.

[Defthon (Don)] Quite possibly.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think someone's messing with us.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, I'm catching another hour before my watch.

[Master] ok.

[Arkady (James)] OOC: BTW detect scrying is running.

Wellington is sipping a beer quietly.

[Arkady (James)] On Arkady, at any rate.

[Master] Noted.

Velkyna (Joe) sits down at the table she was at and goes back to munching on some bread she found.

Master shrugs

Wellington shrugs

[Wellington] S'cuse.

Wellington gets up and heads toward the door.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Door outside?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I thought that was locked?

[Master] It is.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Where are you going?"

[Wellington] Too much beer.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (is he going out the front door, or to a privy?)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (inside)

[Arkady (James)] OOC: What, no flush toilets?

[Wellington] (out the front door.)

Wellington steps outside

[Velkyna (Joe)] ... which is locked?

[Master] He's unlocking it?

[Velkyna (Joe)] He has the key?

[Master] From the inside, one needs a key?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] unbars, or whatever.

[Master] I'm not trying to be punky, I'm just confused a little.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Old doors, yeah.

[Master] Oh . . .

[Velkyna (Joe)] There's one lock, nto a latch or anything.

Wellington grabs the key from where it is hanging near the bar

[Velkyna (Joe)] That's why old keyholes go all the way through.

[Defthon (Don)] All true about old locks and such, but I promise that the inn would leave guests some way to get to the privy.

[Wellington] Landhurst left this behind.

Velkyna (Joe) nods, munching slowly on a bread end.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (More likely, Landhurst has two keys, and has the other one with him)

Wellington returns in a minute or so

[Velkyna (Joe)] (right)

[Wellington] We have an audience.

Velkyna (Joe) looks up. What do you mean?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Wellington got pee-shy)

[Wellington] Couple of toughs are watching us from across the way.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Toughs, or goons?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (JOKE)

Velkyna (Joe) ponders this.

[Velkyna (Joe)] How many?

[Wellington] I spotted a couple, then gave up looking so they wouldn't see me looking.

[Wellington] Cloak's good for that.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Are they spread out, or just hanging out there?

[Velkyna (Joe)] In other words, casual or obvious?

[Wellington] Spread out; it's too late night to stake out in plain sight.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Hm.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Stay right here.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will run up to the third floor to confer with Lia.

Velkyna (Joe) whispers: "Lia."

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Still up, also.

[Velkyna (Joe)] There's a couple of goons outside checking us out.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC BOWM CHICKA BOWM BOWM

[Lia (Angie)] OOC,are Shot,Aric and Praxis still up?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Am I included, or do I need to do a listen check?

[Wellington] Just Shot.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (shot is)

[Master] Only Shot is up.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shot is included, forgot you were up too.

[Master] Aric and Praxis are getting their beauty sleep.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Anyway, you want me to go out and scope them out?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Goons? If they're not undead I'm not too concerned.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Sure, have a look.

[James] On the one hand, having a powerful party of adventurers blow into town would cause anyone concen.

[Lia (Angie)] Yes, Shot, do you want to stay up here or go downstairs?

[Master] Shh, James, you're asleep. :)

Dralafi wakes up.

[James] That's why I wasn't speaking as Arkady. :-)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Go down, I think.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, someone should stay downstairs. I'll be squeezing out a window or something.

[Dralafi] Is something going on?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel brings him up to speed.

[Lia (Angie)] Anyway we can keep in touch with you?

[Dralafi] I'll go downstairs, then.

[Lia (Angie)] (to Vel)

[Dralafi] If you need me, shout or something. I'll hear.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Praxis is asleep. Hm.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We'll shout if things go bad?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, I'll scream.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They're not too far.

Dralafi strings his bow and heads downstairs.

[Lia (Angie)] I'd rather not draw anymore attention then we have to

Shottamip (Tamora) packs up her cobbling and joins Dral.

[Wellington] Something up?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel's going to slip out an alley-facing window.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hey.

Dralafi ignores him.

[Velkyna (Joe)] After activating her ring.

[Master] ok

[Aric (Brian)] her precious

[Lia (Angie)] Lia gets her armor and puts it on

[Velkyna (Joe)] MY PRECIOUS

[Master] Ok.

[Master] Lia, Listen check.

[Master] Vel, Spot check.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Listen: (d20+11) [16+11] 27

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Spot: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+12+1) [13+12+1] 26

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Those are nice.

[Master] Okay, Vel heads outside and scouts around a bit. She can't tell precisely, but she's pretty sure there are at least two different factions of watchers.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Who watches the watchmen?)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (makes sense... Lord's dudes, mayor's dudes)

[Master] Lia, the door to the second floor creaks almost inaudibly.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Door from 3 to 2, or door from 1 to 2?

[Master] From 3 to 2.

[Velkyna (Joe)] !!!

[Lia (Angie)] OOC I assume Aric is not where he looks to be?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Are the watchers still just watching? Or are they more on edge/guard?

[Master] Watching.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Are they mostly human, or what?

[Master] They do not appear to have noticed one another, amusingly.

[Velkyna (Joe)] FOCUS

[Master] All human, from what you can tell in this light. Conceivably half-elf or half-orc . . . you know.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Right.

[Aric (Brian)] have the rest of us been woken up?

[Lia (Angie)] Lia moves to position between the creaking door and the sleeping rooms

[Master] No..

[Master] Heh. Move silently check.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Feeling precocious, Vel's going to grab a rock, move herself near Group A Watchers, and chuck the rock at Group B Watchers.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm not trying to move silently, just casually

[Velkyna (Joe)] And then, y'know, step back.

[Master] Group B watcher notices group A watcher and fades out.

[Master] Okay.

[Master] You stand ready to fight if necessary. You haven't woken anyone up yet, but you will if you move around any more.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Fades out, as in vanishes, or as in steps back into shadows?

[Master] shadows. Uses tradecraft to bail.

[Lia (Angie)] (I assume I finished donning the armor?

[Velkyna (Joe)] gotcha.

[Master] Yep.

[Master] Listen check.

[Lia (Angie)] for who?

[Master] Lia.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Listen: (d20+11) [2+11] 13

[Master] ok

[Velkyna (Joe)] Do the watchers have any identifyable marks? As in, badges or sashes or anything?

[Master] Vel, what're you doing now?

[Master] Nah.

[Master] Certainly not in starlight.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Figured.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll sneak back to the second floor window.

[Master] Roll 1d4

[Velkyna (Joe)] Figuring they're just puds keeping a watch on the new stragers.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Me??

[Master] yep

[Velkyna (Joe)] Roll #1: (d4) [2] 2

[Master] There's a girl slowly opening the window and getting ready to climb out.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Young girl?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Age?

[Master] Spot.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Spot: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+12+1) [2+12+1] 15

[Master] Teenage, human, looks like.

[Master] Vel-sized.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Since I'm probably using slippers, I'll be standing/crouching on the sill.

[Defthon (Don)] and named "Joanne". Good spot, Vel!

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll turn visible suddenly.

[Master] She freezes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Help you with something?"

[Velkyna (Joe)] (not threatening, but not friendly)

[Master] Spot.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Spot: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+12+1) [14+12+1] 27

[Joanne] Joanne just totally pissed herself.

Joanne stares at you, terrified.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Joanne speaks about herself in the third person)

[Velkyna (Joe)] "_CAT_ got your tongue?"

[Defthon (Don)] hee

[Joanne] Little noises that might be words escape.

[Master] Initiative.

[James] Arkady: Initiative: (d20+3) [18+3] 21

[Master] Just Vel.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Initiative: (d20+7) [3+7] 10

[James] Praxis: Initiative: (d20+0) [15+0] 15

[Velkyna (Joe)] Suxx.

[Aric (Brian)] you know, if she actually said "Little noises that might be words escape.", sounds like the first line of a poem

[Velkyna (Joe)] Since I got surprise, shouldn't I be able to act first?

[Master] Joanne suddenly drops from the 2nd-story window.

[Master] You did. You spoke to her.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Ah.

[Lia (Angie)] DO I hear that?

[Master] Listen check for Lia.

[Lia (Angie)] Lia: Listen: (d20+11) [10+11] 21

[Velkyna (Joe)] What was Joanne's init?

[Master] Vel is saying something to Joanne.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I take it she beat me?

[Master] Yeah, she's got a decent dex, and you had a crappy roll.

[Master] But she's only en route to the ground right now.

[Defthon (Don)] I wonder what her tumble is...

[Velkyna (Joe)] When I get to go, I'm going to jump down on her and/or try to intersect my jump with hers.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Even Aedean gets a higher initiative than Vel, every once in a while...)

[Master] Not good enough; she's totally thrown.

[Master] She lands badly and ends up prone. Vel, you can land on her if you'd like.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll land near enough to her not to land ON her, but to land close enough to grab her.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Hot Rogue-on-Rogue axxxion)

[Velkyna (Joe)] AW YEAH

Joanne coughs

[Joanne] oh fuck oh fuck oh shit oh no

Joanne tries to get up and spots Vel.

[Joanne] Fuck, please don't kill me.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Calm down" Vel says.

Joanne coughs, obviously winded from the bad landing.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will have grabbed her, but not like a sleeper hold or anything.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I.e. enough to keep her in one place.

[Joanne] Grapple check.

[Master] sorry

[Velkyna (Joe)] But not like I'm about to kick her ass or anything.

[Master] Grapple check.

[Velkyna (Joe)] What is that?

[Lia (Angie)] If I hear anyof this , I'm waking up the others. Quietly, starting with Praxis

[Master] Base att + str

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Attack 1: Base Attack [w] hits AC: ((d20+9)) [(14+9)] 23

[Master] Okay.

[Master] Praxis is up.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Velkyn neck pinch)

Joanne is too scared to struggle

[Praxis (James)] "Huh, what? Where was that rabbit?"

[Joanne] I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry

[Lia (Angie)] then Arkady and Aedean

[Velkyna (Joe)] Look, I'm not going to hurt you.

Joanne coughs again

[Velkyna (Joe)] What are you doing here?

[Joanne] Please I'm . . . *coughs*

Joanne looks terrified

[Velkyna (Joe)] I can wait. You knocked the wind out of yourself. I've done that before.

Joanne coughs

[Velkyna (Joe)] Breathe deep and slow.

Joanne follows Vel's instructions

[Velkyna (Joe)] Deep.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Now blow it out.

Joanne is silent

[Velkyna (Joe)] What's your name?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] They're right outside the first floor now? Are we seeing them? Are there windows down here?

[Joanne] Jo . . . Joanne.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Joanne. I'm Vel. Now, what are you doing here?

Praxis (James) flies out to see what's going on.

[Master] Folks are pretty much awake and crowding to the windows. Vel is grappling and interrogating what looks to be a young human woman.

Joanne looks ashamed

[Joanne] I, uh . . .

Joanne can't bring herself to say it

[Velkyna (Joe)] (having a thought) Are you one of the Landhursts?

Praxis (James) lands near Vel.

[Joanne] The who?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Never mind.

[Lia (Angie)] I wa actually planning to just send Praxis out and have everyone else stay quiet

Joanne has a leftover cough

[Velkyna (Joe)] Are you with the goofs outside the inn? Checking us out?

[Defthon (Don)] Lia, who is that with Vel?

[Defthon (Don)] What happened?

[Master] Yeah, but moving around in plate mail around edgy people leads to wakefulness. :)

[Joanne] (quietly) yeah.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Who are they?

[Joanne] My brothers.

[Lia (Angie)] Quiet, I don't know but I think Vel is handling it

[Velkyna (Joe)] Do you guys work for someone?

[Joanne] Please don't hurt them, they're just stupid, this was a stupid idea.

[Joanne] We used to, but he's dead now, and everything's gone to shit . . .

Defthon (Don) nods and goes back to watching out the window

[Joanne] (starts sobbing quietly)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shhh shh.

[Joanne] Oh . . .

[Joanne] Fuck I'm sorry

[Lia (Angie)] (Well I meant to wake everyone up, just quietly)

[Velkyna (Joe)] So tell me a story here. That usually calms me down.

[Joanne] My brother saw what you did on the docks.

[Velkyna (Joe)] /nods

[Joanne] He figured if we were clever, we could sneak in and maybe take something little you wouldn't miss.

[Joanne] Magic dagger or something.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, that was pretty stupid.

Joanne looks offended for a bare instant.

[Joanne] We got pretty close, I think.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Do you guys live in Czina (changing the subject)

[Joanne] Yeah.

[Velkyna (Joe)] So, you know what's going on around here, right?

[Joanne] Yeah.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Are your brothers expecting you back soon?

[Joanne] They probably ran as soon as I got caught.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Well,that's nice of them.

Joanne shrugs

[Praxis (James)] Nice brothers.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Have you eaten recently?

[Joanne] ...

[Joanne] Yeah, I guess.

[Master] (not well, and not for a little while.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'd like to talk to you a little. We need to know things and I'm sure you can help. And I'll get you some food.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Sound good?

[Joanne] We?

[Velkyna (Joe)] We.

[Velkyna (Joe)] You know, my friends.

[Joanne] All of . . . Oh god, that orc guy's gonna fucking eat me.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They've very nice.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Aric is especially nice.

Joanne looks dubious

[Velkyna (Joe)] Trust me.

[Velkyna (Joe)] You shouldn't judge people until you know them.

[Praxis (James)] OOC: Isn't Aric like a vegetarian anyway?

[Joanne] ok

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will introduce Joanne.

[Wellington] Haven't I seen you before?

[Velkyna (Joe)] She just wants something to eat. And I'd like to talk to her.

[Joanne] My brothers, they work on the docks.

Wellington looks dark.

[Wellington] Workers or workers?

[Praxis (James)] ?

[Joanne] Just . . . workers. You know.

[Wellington] Okay.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Make yourself useful, Wellington. Get her some food.

Wellington glances at Velkyna, then shrugs

[Wellington] If I'm useful, I'm getting paid, then?

[Aric (Brian)] OOC probably not a vegetarian...would probabaly take an asian view of meat though, that being not to eat too much, and try to eat lighter fare like fish and chicken

Defthon (Don) raises eyebrows.

Wellington busies himself

[Praxis (James)] Yeah, but we'll have to talk about your rate.

[Praxis (James)] (that was to Wellington)

[Wellington] Heh.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Joanne here was just about to tell us all about Czina. Joanne, we're visiting and we need to know all about Czina.

[Joanne] Um, ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] If you can help us, we'll, y'know, overlook certain things.

Velkyna (Joe) winks.

[Joanne] Well, it's fucked.

[Joanne] That's kind of it.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Specifics.

Joanne looks baffled.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I mean, fucked how?

Joanne obviously doesn't think in those terms

[Joanne] First were the fucking wererats.

[Joanne] Then there was this insane gang war between two of the nobles.

[Velkyna (Joe)] To the others, Vel seems oddly protective of Joanne. Almost big-sisterly.

[Praxis (James)] Ewwh.

[Joanne] Then Baron Eflense came down with his fucking lizardmen army and fucked us again.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Ah. Understandable.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Is he the guy charging tribute of Czinans?

[Joanne] I mean, what the fuck do you do against an army of walking fucking lizards riding dragon fucking turtles?

[Joanne] Tribute?

[Joanne] Yeah, I guess so.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Money.

[Joanne] Protection money, more like.

[Roger (Jeff)] GAMERA

[Arkady (James)] To Wellington: It seemed you were going somewhere about her brothers...

[Joanne] Fucking huge racket.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Tribute is diplomat speak.

[Wellington] Later.

[Defthon (Don)] ...for protection money.

[Defthon (Don)] So, yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (shoot phone ringing and Erica's napping)

[Joe] I am away from the keyboard.

[Master] okey-dokey

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Does Joanne appear to be injured from her fall?

[Master] not permanently.

[Joe] I am back at the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, Aedean will tend to whatever injuries she seems to have (presumably, they're minor)

Joanne starts

[Joanne] Wha . . . who?

Velkyna (Joe) pats her shoulder. he's a nice guy.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Like I said, we're all nice guys here.

[Joanne] um . . . ok . . .

Joanne has eyes the size of dinner plates

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm Aedean. I just want to take a look at your injuries.

[Velkyna (Joe)] So your brothers. You all work on the docks?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (trying to distract her from Aedean)

[Joanne] Uh.

[Joanne] They do.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Heal: (d20+6+5) [14+6+5] 25

[Velkyna (Joe)] What do you do, mostly?

[Joanne] I used to . . . well, I used to steal shit.

[Velkyna (Joe)] And now ...?

[Praxis (James)] Huh, last time I checked, "shit" wasn't very valuable?

[Joanne] Now I get fucking caught fucking stealing shit.

[Joanne] It's my new fucking line of work.

[Joanne] The hours suck, and the pay sucks, but I love the people I fucking meet.

[Praxis (James)] Looks like I've been leaving behind a fortune at every rest stop.

Defthon (Don) smirks.

Velkyna (Joe) nods. I know the feeling.

Joanne goes blank

[Velkyna (Joe)] Do you, y'know, work for anyone?

[Joanne] Used to.

[Joanne] Dead now.

[Velkyna (Joe)] And who was this?

[Joanne] Fucking turned into a fucking wererat.

[Joanne] Camden.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Adn who was he?

[Joanne] Pelor, if I'd said that name six months ago, it woulda been my fucking life.

[Joanne] Just some guy.

Velkyna (Joe) nods. I understand.

[Praxis (James)] OOC: My home town is Camden, IN.

[Master] JAMES IS THE MOLE

[Velkyna (Joe)] Your brothers ... are they your brothers or "brothers" (she puts in the little quotey marks)

Joanne looks confused

[Joanne] My mother's sons.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

Velkyna (Joe) looks at the group. Do we need anything else from her?

[Roger (Jeff)] Who was the other group?

[James] I am away from the keyboard.

[Defthon (Don)] A promise not to bother us again?

[Velkyna (Joe)] To Def: I think that can be arranged.

[Roger (Jeff)] Wait, Roger doesn't know about the two group thing

[Lia (Angie)] Will she be OK if we let her go?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I don't think they knew about the two group thing either)

[Velkyna (Joe)] To Lia: I'm on that.

[Lia (Angie)] Allright

[Velkyna (Joe)] Joanne, if we were to go out the front door and, I dunno, someone were to see us together. Would that be a problem?

Joanne looks terrified

[Velkyna (Joe)] Or would slipping out the back be preferrable.

[Joanne] I can't come back with nothing.

[Joanne] oh fuck fuck fuck

[Velkyna (Joe)] Don't worry about that.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Would slipping out the back be prefferable?

Joanne starts crying silently

[Joanne] Please fucking tell me you're going to take me with you.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Okay guys (to the group), party's over.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Everyone, give me a couple minutes.

[Joanne] Please, I've been dreaming for years, get me out of this fucking town.

[Roger (Jeff)] Oops

Velkyna (Joe) makes "round 'em up" motions.

[Joanne] (have to go, got a huge phone call)

[Master] I am away from the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] Would youlike to stay down here or go upstairs?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Did Wellington come up with some food for the kid yet?

[Aric (Brian)] Joanne's got a cell phone!

[Lia (Angie)] (that was to Vel)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Ah). We can chat on the second floor. No one's using it.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] D00d, Michael's talking to Congressman Abercrombie.

Velkyna (Joe) motions to Joanne. Come on.

[Aric (Brian)] dude. what about Fitch?

[Lia (Angie)] Cool

[Velkyna (Joe)] May as well get a pop.

[Joe] I am away from the keyboard.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We're on first name basis with a US Rep and his wife, I'm still overwhelmed.

[Defthon (Don)] NICE.

[Aric (Brian)] via Dean stuff?

[Joe] I am back at the keyboard.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] One of Hawaii's 2 reps has endorsed Dean and has been working with us for a few months.

[Lia (Angie)] I think you are gonna get used to it, considering Micheal's career plans

[Velkyna (Joe)] SWEET

[Defthon (Don)] I should know this, but which rep?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii Dem

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, no kidding; if Mike doesn't end up in Congress one of these days, he'll at least be high up on someone's staff there.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That's one of the plans.

[Velkyna (Joe)] SAM SEABORN

[Shottamip (Tamora)] This is a good start.

[James] I am back at the keyboard.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hey, while we're waiting...Don, what's the URL for last session's log?

[Defthon (Don)] www.blahedo.org/serendair/transcript-030824.html

[Defthon (Don)] I think

[Defthon (Don)] It's in that dir, though.

[Aric (Brian)] so tami, are you and mike hosting or attending a house party on monday?

[Angie] I am away from the keyboard.

[Roger (Jeff)] memoing spells

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Michael is attending one at Abercrombie's, and I might be able to pop out of work for a couple hours but I'm not sure.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] It's midafternoon for us.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Doo de doo.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shit, I *did* level up last session and I missed it.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Hee.

[Velkyna (Joe)] See, I don't miss things like that.

[Praxis (James)] So who's played angband?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lots of angband.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I have.

[Velkyna (Joe)] A ton.

[Velkyna (Joe)] It's been about a year, though.

[Roger (Jeff)] Hey, is Monday Night Football tape delayed in Hawai'i or is it on during the day?

[Roger (Jeff)] I have a little

[Praxis (James)] It's like a character-based Diablo

[Velkyna (Joe)] Tape delay, last I checked.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Tape delayed, I believe.

[Praxis (James)] ... as in ASCII characters...

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Never made it to the bottom, though.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I was in Hawaii many years ago and the Steelers played the Browns on MNF.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I knew the score before the game started.

[Defthon (Don)] ...and addictive as all hell.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Since the Steelers won, I insisted on watching it.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Only to dungeon level 70-something (out of 100).

[Angie] I am back at the keyboard.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I remember getting quested from something rude and then quitting.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Possibly the Unicorn of order.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Like I said, it's been a while.

[Praxis (James)] Still on the 2nd character I created, a half-troll warrior.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I haven't played Angband in a couple months.

[Praxis (James)] He's easy to play, lots of STR and CON.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (admittedly, I was a save/restart weenie)

[Velkyna (Joe)] But we've been through that, James. You like the Hardcore Diablo and I don't. :)

[Roger (Jeff)] HARDCORE ASSASSIN ACTION

[Praxis (James)] Well, I don't remember if I ever finished it in HC mode...

[Velkyna (Joe)] Heh.

[Praxis (James)] Actually, I'm pretty sure I haven't.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Then again, you loved the druids and necros and I can't stand them.

[Praxis (James)] I think I was going to do a Sorc or Necro for tjat.

[Praxis (James)] I just like having my own army.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Indeed. And I need to destroy everything on the screen as fast as possible.

[Velkyna (Joe)] STRAFE

[Praxis (James)] Yeah, I didn

[Aedean (Sedlack)] jhjhjh

[Praxis (James)] ... didn't finish with the bowazon in AR either.

[Praxis (James)] It wouldn't have been too hard though.

[Praxis (James)] Had lots of charms. Pleny of all types of damage.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah. Love me some AR.

[Praxis (James)] (That's Ancestral Recall, a mod for Diablo II, BTW)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Farmed the ... Glacial Cavern? For enough Elixir to make Zods and get me the +2 charms.

[Velkyna (Joe)] that was so broken.

[Praxis (James)] Heh, never bother do to that.

[Praxis (James)] But the Ancients were interesting.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Hell diff drops enough Elixir, it's not so bad.

[Joanne] wheeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Aric (Brian)] clever way of avoiding spam filters... Subject: R‘: G‘t yoŸr RX šrders H‘re

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Really "Ancestral Recall"? I could have sworn it was different than the Magic"AR".

[Defthon (Don)] How was the call?

[Roger (Jeff)] Arrrrrrrrrrr

[Velkyna (Joe)] It's indeed Ancestral Recall.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ARRRRRRRRRR

[Master] ok where were we?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Anyway, Mike. Once Joanne starts panicking, Vel shuffles her off to the second floor, giving everyone else a "don't worry I've got it under control" look.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Joanne was pleading for us to take her with.

[Master] ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We'll go into a room for some privacy.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Bel was looking for some privacy

[Master] ok

[Velkyna (Joe)] Jinx!

[Praxis (James)] That's actually kind of scary.

[Master] Joanne slips and murmurs the alarm-disabling word when you get onto the 2nd floor.

Velkyna (Joe) smiles.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Nice.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Heh

[Lia (Angie)] OOC I knew we should have changed it after the cat

Joanne looks embarrassed

Velkyna (Joe) sits Joanne down on a bed in one of the empty rooms.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Okay, we should talk.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Honestly.

[Joanne] um, ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] What's your situation?

[Joanne] (bitterly) I'm fucked.

[Velkyna (Joe)] No. no, you're not.

[Joanne] This whole fucking town is on . . . opium or something.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (!!!!!!)

Velkyna (Joe) smirks.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Read: "on crack"

[Joanne] There have to be better places than this.

[Velkyna (Joe)] No, I mean. Were you with a guild? Before. With Camden?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Or just a gang?

Joanne sniffs

[Joanne] Kinda.

[Joanne] It wasn't real big, but Camden knew his shit.

[Velkyna (Joe)] How many of you?

[Joanne] Dunno. Lots of bullyboys, a few cat kds.

[Joanne] (kids)

[Velkyna (Joe)] So, what? 20?

[Joanne] Yeah, that sounds about right.

[Velkyna (Joe)] What happened when Camden died?

[Master] I am back at the keyboard.

[Joanne] Wasn't just him.

[Roger (Jeff)] ooc: cat kids?

[Joanne] Was most everybody I knew.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Wererats took the whole gang?

[Joanne] Either got turned and got kilt or got kilt outright.

Joanne shrugs

[Velkyna (Joe)] How'd you and your brothers survive?

[Joanne] Most of them.

[Joanne] Honestly?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yes.

[Joanne] I had the fucking flue.

[Joanne] (flu)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Luck comes strangely.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] \me sits down and aimlessly shuffles a deck of cards, lost in thought

[Praxis (James)] Roger: Cat burglers

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Damn, wrong slash)

[Velkyna (Joe)] So, you were a cat I take it?

[Joanne] Yeah, my best luck comes when I cough up a lung.

[Joanne] Yeah.

Joanne sniffs

Velkyna (Joe) nods. Me too.

Joanne smiles a little.

[Joanne] I kind of figured, way you nailed me.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Needless to say, I empathize with your situation.

[Velkyna (Joe)] It mirrors my own.

[Joanne] but.

[Velkyna (Joe)] So I'm willing to consider your request.

[Velkyna (Joe)] BUT

[Velkyna (Joe)] Tell me something.

Joanne looks bewildered and concerned

[Velkyna (Joe)] What about your brothers?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Or other family?

Joanne thinks

[Joanne] I . . . I don't know.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (did Wellington ever get around to getting her some food?)

[Joanne] There's no other family.

[Master] (yes.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (okay)

[Wellington] (to Arkady) So, you wanted to talk rates?

[Velkyna (Joe)] If you come with me, I'm asking you, what about your brothers?

[Joanne] Fuck, I don't know.

[Arkady (James)] Yeah.

[Velkyna (Joe)] You think they'll be able to take care of themselves?

[Joanne] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Would you miss them?

[Joanne] Better'n me, I think.

[Joanne] Yeah.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

[Joanne] If I leave, that don't mean I can't ever come back. It just means I left.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Right.

[Wellington] ...and?

[Velkyna (Joe)] But let's put it this way. My friends and I. We're from out of town. And we're going to be in town for a while.

[Joanne] Here?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yes.

[Joanne] Oh.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We've got business here.

[Joanne] Here?

[Arkady (James)] You'll be well paid while where here. But we're not giving you a percentage on the contracts. However...

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yes.

[Joanne] Oh.

[Velkyna (Joe)] So we'll be walking around, talking to people, generally out and about in public.

[Wellington] Yes?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Not exactly cat work, to be sure.

[Joanne] Yeah.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We're also involved in some ... ahem. Dangerous shit.

[Joanne] I'll earn my keep.

[Arkady (James)] We're not going to be the trade reps forever. I can put in a good word for you with Laucian...

[Wellington] Laucian?

Velkyna (Joe) nods. I'm sure you will.

[Arkady (James)] Maybe you can take over after things have settled down.

[Master] Sense motive for Vel.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I just want to make sure you're up for that.

[Arkady (James)] He's who we're representing.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Sense Motive: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+0+1) [13+0+1] 14

Wellington sighs

[Wellington] I'll take a per diem, and we can go from there.

[Joanne] Yeah.

[Arkady (James)] (I don't remeber how much he wanted.)