Don has joined the game.

[Don] Aloha

[James] I am away from the keyboard.

[Sedlack] howdy, all

[James] I am back at the keyboard.

[Don] Hey, awesome map of saxlund, dude

[James] Yes, indeed. Very nice.

Brian has joined the game.

[James] SEBBY!

[Jeff] I think we should go visit the shire

[Master] Thanks!

[Brian] Maybe Gandalf will put on a fireworks show!

[James] Is north UP on the Saxlund map?

[Brian] Hey, I gotta go AFK for a few, but wanted to log on to see messages. I'll be back in 15 minutes or so.

[James] need to test something...

[James] Arkady: DEX check: (d20+3) [5+3] 8

[Master] kewl.

[Master] Yes.

[Master] James -- yes.

[James] Praxis: Wilderness Lore: (d20+1) [6+1] 7

[Master] So Czina is kind of on the border of the orcish lands.

[James] Huh. Sound isn't working.

[Master] Are you using the Master/Client or the Client Only version?

[James] master/client

[James] I find most of the sounds annoying, but I do want to be notified if someone sends me a private message.

[Jeff] Does anyone know if Hall will be starting for KC today?

[Sedlack] Not offhand

[Sedlack] It's too late for roster changes in my league anyway

[Jeff] Yahoo gives ten more min

[Master] Jeff -- no, but Oates is listed as "probable."

[Master] Jared sends his regrets.

[Jeff] cool, thanks

[Master] Once Angie shows, we can start -- Joe said he might be delayed.

[Wellington] Okay, time to get into character.

[Wellington] Joanne, we happy?

[Joanne] Oh, yeah. We're happy.

[Wellington] My name's Wellington, and there's no way you're talking your way out of this shit.

[Don] Can someone exec-summary the last session?

[Joanne] Did you see the size of the wand cannon that he fired at us?

[Master] Did anyone save the text of it? I find it to be pretty quick reading, all told.

[Don] well, yes, www.blahedo.org/serendair

[James] Yes, I've got a copy too.

[Don] I'm trying to read it now, I was just wondering if someone could summarise

[Sedlack] The crappy situation in Czina is in large part due to this Eflense guy

[Master] Once you edit out all the WOO WOO KOR and Aliens references, there are only 30-40 lines, tops.

[Sedlack] Eflense has dragon turtles and lizardmen, as well as humans

[James] And his stooge the Mayor runs Townsville, er, I mean Czina

[Sedlack] We want to kick the ass of a cast of thousands

[James] Actually, I'd rather we reduce the cast first, before the ass kicking. :-)

[Sedlack] Right. Well, that was the "executive summary"

[James] So the idea now is the basic Smash 'n Grab

[James] Angie's coming on-line in a minute.

[Don] right, got it, thanks.

[James] We were planning to jump a lizardman patrol, and find out what kind of hold he has on them.

Angie has joined the game.

[Angie] Greetings

[Sedlack] Hi, Angie!

[James] Gah, I set the CD-R burn for 2x instead of 8x...

[Don] doh

[James] And now it is stuck at 4% done... that's not a good sign.

[Master] Hee.

[Tamora] So much for that blank.

[James] So we don't have maps, but I think we're ready.

[James] Meanwhile, back at the inn....

[Master] Hee.

[Master] Okay, is Brian back?

[Master] Guess not.

[Master] You reconvene at the inn. Dralafi is characteristically silent.

Wellington waits

Joanne looks nervous and out of her depth, but very very excited.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] While [Master] bates

[James] So let's mount up, we're going to look for a lizardman patrol.

[Master] Breakin' down the fourth wall, baby.

[James] Same GMW arrow/bolt setup as before.

[Master] Okay, everyone figure out where you are on that sucker.

[Master] Does everyone have the layout of the center of Eflense's camp?

[James] yes.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Jawohl

[Roger (Jeff)] yes

Jeff has left the game.

[Defthon (Don)] glad you called attention to it. :)

[James] Ruh Roh!

[Lia (Angie)] Got it

Jeff has joined the game.

[Master] Eflense is camped about two thirds of the way through Galloway westward from Czina.

[Master] BTW, political note:

[James] ... you're a liberal democrat?

[Master] Eflense currently controls all of and the Pennines.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] All of what and the Pennines?

[Master] He controls areas to the sides of the rivers, 20-50 miles out as well.

[Master] Sorry, all of Mercia.

[Master] Eflense itself is a barony in northwest Mercia.

[Defthon (Don)] so he has a dumbbell-shaped gerrymandered district?

[Lia (Angie)] Warning, my hands are not working well today, so my typing could get interesting

[Master] He has Densburg, but none of the other major points on the map.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So the "Eflense" in red on the map is where the camp is, and not where the Barony is, right?

[Master] Angie -- sorry to hear that, and noted. If you'd like to set up a voice chat with me or James, that might be a good approach.

[Master] Other way around.

[Master] Sorry, said northwest, meant northeast.

[Defthon (Don)] no, the EFlense in red is the barony.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm on the phone with James

[Master] Bueno.

[Defthon (Don)] The camp is near the H of Heironeus, I think.

[Master] Feel free to voicechat me, then, for maximum effect. :)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Okay, the NW/NE mixup threw me

[Master] Closer to the i on Heironeous.

[Master] Yah, I figured that out right away when you asked. M'badd.

[Master] He controls nothing south of the rivers; that's still Horse Lord territory.

[Master] By the way, the rivers are imaginatively named "The Cumbria," "The Dens," and "West River."

[Master] WIth "West River" being the east-west one that intersects the north-south "Dens."

[Master] Yes, people live on the east part of the West river. I swear, this whole continent is on opium.

[Master] Did I miss anything?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] You're the DM, you'd know

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (that they're all on opium)

[Master] Hee.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Jeez, the radio is playing xmas songs. ACK.

[Master] Please do ask questions if anything is unclear.

[Defthon (Don)] If it's by the 'i', how is there a big river by the camp?

[Master] It's south of the i, on the Saxlund.

[Master] :)

[Master] I need a laser pointer or something. :)

[Defthon (Don)] On the West River, then?

[Defthon (Don)] Ya, really. Suggest it to the klooge guys.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The Saxlund is the river at the bottom

[Master] The West River is an east-west river going from the border of old Saxlund into the Dens.

[Master] The Dens runs north-south from the Blasted Lands into the Saxlund.

[Defthon (Don)] Oh aha. alles klar.

[Defthon (Don)] I was confused when you said just three river names.

[Master] Right.

James has left the game.

[Master] The Cumbria runs north-south into the Saxlund as well.

[Defthon (Don)] ruh roh!

[Master] Enh. He'll be back. :)

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, the Cumbria I got.

[Master] Okay, so when we left the intrepid group, you'd just flown out to an area near Eflense's camp and checked it out

[Master] Anyone have knowledge: nobility?

[Master] Or a really huge Sense Motive?

[Defthon (Don)] Are Wellington and Joanne with us?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Or bardic lore?

[Master] Yes.

[Master] Bardic Lore would have a gigantic penalty; this would be used to interpret the layout of the camp.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Knowledge (nobility & royalty): (d20+3) [13+3] 16

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oh, my badd. I misinterpreted the purpose

[Master] No worries.

[Lia (Angie)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [6+14] 20

[Master] Shottamip starts picking out heraldry in the various parts of the camp.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How fun.

[Lia (Angie)] James is working on his connection

[Master] Essentially, the center of the camp has Eflense, his personal guard,

[Master] (tell James to reboot, Angie -- I'm getting a lot of abortive connections from him.)

[Master] what appears to be some kind of Wizard's Corps, and a Temple of Hextor.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hextor?

[Lia (Angie)] It's not his station, his DSL line is down

[Master] Around them is an unheralded area which is obviously the Lizardmen.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] LE, god of tyranny

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let's avoid the Wizard/Cleric Corps, yes?

[Master] Including a beaching area for the Dragon Turtles. Wilderness Lore?

[Lia (Angie)] james is going to work on the DSL line and will call me back

[Master] (Bardic Knowledge ok for this one.)

[Master] Ok, roger that, Angie.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Wilderness Lore: (d20+6) [9+6] 15

[Master] Arkady: bardic knowledge: 21

[Lia (Angie)] He asks that I not get him killed

[Master] Hee.

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Wilderness lore: (d20+4+2) [16+4+2] 22

[Master] These are obviously not mature dragon turtles, as they grow to some 40 feet long.

[Master] These Dragon Turtles are the size of extremely large horses.

[Master] ...more like small elephants.

[Master] They're ridden by 3-4 Lizardmen.

[Defthon (Don)] Gaah.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Fastitocalettes.

[Defthon (Don)] ?

[Master] The Lizardmen are armed with short swords, wooden shields, and longspears. Simple but fairly effective. They wear Studded Leather armor.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 'fastitocalon' = 'dragon turtle'

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (at least in zAngband)

[Master] Around the camp, with roads radiating out so that the center folks can ride through them quickly, are the various vassals of Eflense.

[Brian] hey guys i'm back...finished catching up

[Master] Each vassal keeps more or less to his own area, and they all provide what can be generously described as "foot soldiers."

[Lia (Angie)] AKA thugs

[Master] Some extremely complicated calculus of loyalty to the Baron and size and quality of force supplied determine's each vassal's position in the camp.

[Master] Finally, there are at least two mercenary companies, which have their own colors.

[Master] One appears to be a siegeworks specialist.

James has joined the game.

[Master] The other . . . it's not so clear.

[James] Anyone save the transcript?

[Master] Don, could you . . . yah.

[Defthon (Don)] doing so right now

[James] THX.

[Master] What is clear is that it is the vassals who do the patrolling and basic security for the camp. They are obviously viewed as more expendible than the lizardmen.

[Lia (Angie)] So it could be hard to capture a lizard

[Defthon (Don)] www.blahedo.org/serendair/transcript-031116-1.html

[Master] There would be some effort involved, yes.

[Master] Perhaps even a modicum of cleverness.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC ya think?

[Master] Oh -- the larger vassals have various temples and shrines.

[Lia (Angie)] do we do clever?

[Defthon (Don)] *temples*?

[Master] Fahrlaghn is reasonably popular, as is Kord.

[Defthon (Don)] Not exactly the most mobile of camps, eh?

[Master] No, this sucker moves slow.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We have a wizard now, he ought to be able to do clever.

[Master] *laughs*

[Master] Overall, about 2000 individuals. 1000 Lizardfolk, 100 Eflense folk, 900 in vassals and mercenaries.

[Master] Plus or minus.

[Defthon (Don)] Those are great odds. Bring 'em on.

[Lia (Angie)] LOL

[Brian] maybe we can get the local paladins of heironus to rise up against them to help us

[Brian] is this a little easier to distinugish from angie?

[Brian] not really

[Defthon (Don)] Didn't you have white, Brian?

[Brian] what colors aren't being used?

[Master] Yah, Aric should be white. And proud.

[Brian] ok i can do that

[Brian] i used to be cyan

[Master] Confederate flags on the back of his pickup truck and all that.

[Brian] i figured klooge had lost my setting

[Brian] howard dean is the candidate for me! anyway back to the lizardmen

[Defthon (Don)] Wow, from subtle to unsubtle to 2x4 in just six lines

[Master] Who are more Kerry supporters, by and large. I think they like the hair.

[Defthon (Don)] Good work

[Defthon (Don)] Anyway.

[Master] Yah, the =jarf vibe is to beat a joke into the ground, then start digging so you can beat it more.

[Master] I've had to go to great efforts not to follow this pattern around Tamora, who gets a mite impatient.

[Defthon (Don)] So we're still going to try capturing lizardmen?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Perhaps one of us could disguise him/herself as a lizardman and sneak into the camp that way

[Master] But we digress.

[Defthon (Don)] As if.

[Roger (Jeff)] What's the Alchemy DC for tear gas?

[Master] What's tear gas?

[Defthon (Don)] I'm thinking the least protected lizardmen are the turtle riders

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What are you "as if"ing, Don

[Aedean (Sedlack)] ?

[Defthon (Don)] notwithstanding the dragon turtles themselves, of course.

[Defthon (Don)] I was as-if-ing the disguise idea.

[Defthon (Don)] You don't think they'd catch on?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Change Self, man.

[James] Huh, that's a good idea Don. We're likely to catch a DT rider patrol out alone somewhere.

[Defthon (Don)] Works better if you have some notion of their cultural stuff.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Granted

[Defthon (Don)] What do they speak, draconian? Shot can speak it, but what do any of us know about blending into lizardmen culture?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Any patroller is a good idea. Do the DTs patrol?

[James] I think the disguise would work better w/ more up-close exposure to lizardmen.

[Defthon (Don)] Even if the DTs don't patrol, they're right on a border to the camp.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] The language is called "draconic" btw

[Defthon (Don)] OOC er, right, knew that

[Lia (Angie)] I also speak draconic, but don't do subtle

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (Draconians, otoh, are those evil creatures made from good dragon eggs in Dragonlance.)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, we can always use Tongues to get around the "who speaks what language" problems

[James] yup.

[Lia (Angie)] Can Vel get closer to the lizarddmen?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do we really want to sneak in? It seems simpler to start with the "grab a few" idea.

[Defthon (Don)] They don't do patrols, though. The vassals do that.

[Master] Right. The Lizardmen are pretty tightly controlled by Eflense, it seems.

Joe has joined the game.

[Master] JOOOOOE

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Joe!

[Joe] Greetings all.

[James] Joe!

[Master] Don, could you catch JOe up with a transcript?

[Lia (Angie)] Iwas thinking sneak as prelude to grab

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Does the camp form a semicircle bounded by the river?

[Master] Essentially. It wiggles a little based on the terrain.

[Joe] OW

[Joe] MY ARMS

[Joe] YOU GUYS

[Master] Heh.

[Joe] SERIOUSLY

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So they're counting strongly on the river as a defense for the central area.

[Master] Tam -- yes.

Joanne watches this discussion avidly.

[James] So can we create a little disturbance, and draw off a DT patrol?

Wellington watches it with a little less importance attached to it.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hmmm...we might be able to catch them off-guard by coming at them from out of the river

[Master] You don't see any DT patrols.

[Defthon (Don)] That's what I've been thinking, yes.

[Lia (Angie)] How long can you hold your breath?

[Master] Or, rather, none that leave the camp. The DTs are used mainly for internal security.

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "Water Breathing"

[Shottamip (Tamora)] "Invisible and Flying"

[Defthon (Don)] Do we have a notion of how we'll subdue a lizardman, btw?

[Master] "Wet Plate Mail"

[Master] Why with a green lizardman gun!

[James] Whack the lizardman on the head until he stops moving?

[Roger (Jeff)] anvil

[Defthon (Don)] OOC is the gun green, or the lizardman?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Amusingly, I was specifically thinking "Subdue." Which is the name of one of my spells.

[Master] OOC: Yes!

[Defthon (Don)] Ah, convenient.

[James] The spell is fine too.

[Lia (Angie)] We do want the lizard to talk

Velkyna (Joe) snaps out of the daydreaming she's been in the last half hour.

[Defthon (Don)] Yes, and he can talk once we've got him away from the camp.

[Lia (Angie)] I'm just saying it is harder to get usefull info from dead

[Defthon (Don)] Hence, "subdue".

[Velkyna (Joe)] Info is also limited to a certain number of questions.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (from the dead)

[Lia (Angie)] So how close does Shot need to get for "subdue"?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, let's keep our captive

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (s) alive.

Master says, "Why not have Shottamip teleport somewhere, cast Subdue, grab the guy, and teleport back? Quick, easy, painless."

[Shottamip (Tamora)] 440 feet and line of sight

[Master] Oops, that was supposed to be Wellington.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Seems like a reasonable plan. As long as she's accurate.

[Wellington] Hell, have her fly over the outer camp, stay invisible, wait for a Lizardman to take a leak or something, and go wild.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "I can also, y'know, bonk someone on the head. All sneaky-like."

[Wellington] Even better, do it at night. Shot, how's your night vision?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't believe it would come along on the teleport. It must be willing.

[James] Does Shot feel OK with this plan? All the risk is on her.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I get a sneak attack for subdual damage with a club or sap)

[Wellington] I think "unconscious" counts as willing. I could be wrong.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Now, if I can get close enough to talk to one... a simple charm or something could fix the willingness.

[James] Yes, I believe Wellington is correct.

[Defthon (Don)] I was thinking more "subdue" then "invisible" and cart him off by hand, but I like Wellington's idea too.

[Defthon (Don)] But don't you have to be super-familiar with an area for TP to work?

Wellington shrugs

[Lia (Angie)] But does subdue mean unconscious?

[Velkyna (Joe)] _I'd_ make sure he was unconscious _and_ subdued.

[Wellington] Here's the problem, too. He's got to have some kind of magic wards wandering around.

[Wellington] What happens if Shot is detected and they drop an antimagic shield or something on the area?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, but this is a huge fucking army.

[Velkyna (Joe)] They can't be everywhere.

[Defthon (Don)] Yeah, I was just thinking about that.

Wellington glances at Shottamip

[Arkady (James)] Yes, they've got lots of wizards, and they're likely to have many preparations.

[Arkady (James)] I know I would.

[Defthon (Don)] But if we were planning to cart it off by hand, that's less of a worry, no?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Sense Motive: (d20+6) [6+6] 12

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [19+14] 33

[Velkyna (Joe)] BOOM

[Lia (Angie)] WOW

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm perfectly willing to take some risks for whatever we think is most likely to succeed.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

Wellington subsides

Arkady (James) smiles a little.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (sense motive: the last few months have made Shottamip feel pretty invincible :)

[Master] Oh, before I forget -- HBBD Chris!

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Thanks.

[Arkady (James)] So how many rings in the tree?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] 29?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 28.

[Brian] 28, right?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Happy Fucking Birthday!

[Velkyna (Joe)] So, we sneaking in magic or mundane?

[Lia (Angie)] Or both?

[Velkyna (Joe)] "Broke, blind, or bedlam?"

[Roger (Jeff)] Yes, might as well do both.

[Defthon (Don)] I think the sneaking should definitely be magic.

[Arkady (James)] Fly in low and slow, invisible, from the river.

[Lia (Angie)] Any idea if they have protections in that direction?

[Lia (Angie)] (We would)

[Aric (Brian)] This isn't my area. I just want us to do what's most likely to work, and try to avoid casualties. If we want to win over the Lizardmen, killing a bunch of them won't help.

[Arkady (James)] Very true.

Velkyna (Joe) nods.

[Arkady (James)] At the very least, we want them to leave, and not be so pissed off that they come after us.

[Lia (Angie)] How about Shot goes magic, with Vel as backup?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That does send the highest-powered team.

[Defthon (Don)] Seems reasonable.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (Go Sun card.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm okay with that.

[Arkady (James)] Fine w/ me.

[Roger (Jeff)] Me too

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Seems alright, as long as the rest of us are close and message'd up

[Lia (Angie)] So where should the rest of us wait?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] How wide is the river?

[Arkady (James)] On carpets, by or over the river.

[Arkady (James)] Keep in mind, Message only has about a 200' range.

[Defthon (Don)] Right, so how wide is the river?

[Defthon (Don)] And how much cover is there on the other side?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Once I start casting a spell, anything in a certain range is going to hear. That's a concern.

[Defthon (Don)] Ooh, good catch.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't know that we can sneak out after that.

[Defthon (Don)] Well, we'd want to have a single isolated LM to subdue anyway

[Velkyna (Joe)] ... or two.

[Defthon (Don)] Do LM wander off to take a leak?

[Lia (Angie)] So can Vel scout to find someone alone?

[Velkyna (Joe)] They have to go on patrols or something, maybe three or four at a pack.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What's the scale on that camp map?

[Master] Def -- yes, but not as far as one would like.

[Master] It's not entirely to scale.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We keep saying "they have to patrol," but I think the GM is telling us that they don't.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Hm.

[Master] You observed for only a few hours, but so far as you can tell, the Lizardmen do not leave the camp in anything

[Lia (Angie)] Any info on what size groups they do go out in, and when?

[Defthon (Don)] Right, we can't catch them on patrol, yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Do we want to try to nab a lizardman officer in a tent or something? Maybe the officers get some alone time.

[Master] other than squad level, riding the turtles, to scare the fuck out of the vassals and come back.

[Defthon (Don)] Which is why we need to sneak in to catch one

[Defthon (Don)] Good thought, Vel.

[Arkady (James)] For my edification, what's squad-level in actual numbers?

Velkyna (Joe) looks mildly shocked that someone acknowledged a suggestion of hers.

[Master] 8 or so.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "startled"

[Defthon (Don)] Hey, what's the radius on a silence spell?

[Master] With two squads making up a platoon of 16.

[Velkyna (Joe)] FIFTEN FOOT RADIUS

[Arkady (James)] Silence is 15'

[Velkyna (Joe)] It used to be in the name.

[Master] Actually, gimme another Bardic Knowledge/Wilderness Lore/ et cetera

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: bardic knowledge: (d20+12) [12+12] 24

[Master] Info on Lizardmen culture.

[Master] Oh!

[Master] There's a new SRD out at opensourcegaming.org

[Defthon (Don)] If Vel carried a silence spell to a lizardman officer, Shot could start her chanting (from just outside th radius) without the LM raising alarm.

[Master] We are NOT migrating to 3.5.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Woo.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Why would we? It's just a scam to get us to buy more books anyway.

[Master] But there are some rules clarifications regarding which Knowledge skills apply Synergy bonuses to which skills,

[Master] and there are a batch of new Feats, some of which do not suck.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] The problem there is that they'd still hear Shottamip

[Defthon (Don)] Yes, but how long does it take to chant the spell?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, others in the camp would hear. I don't mind if the target hears.

[Master] Finally, James and Brian should scan the new Bard/Monk classes over and ask if they want any changes made.

[Defthon (Don)] How loud is it?

[Velkyna (Joe)] She can mutter.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If we're sending Vel in, all quiet like, it would seem to make more sense to just have Vel subdue the Lizardman

[Arkady (James)] It doesn't have to be _that_ loude.

[Velkyna (Joe)] It doesn't have to be bellowed.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I think I have to use a normal speaking voice?

[Defthon (Don)] Can Vel do that?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I can bang 'em on the head, with a club.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] What can't Vel do?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (as she stated, she'd get sneak attack damage, as subdual damage)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Then how do we remove him without notice?

[Aric (Brian)] Mike, I'll look it over before the next gaming day.

[Defthon (Don)] Hrm....

[Velkyna (Joe)] (in other words, 1d6 + 6d6 of subdual on one pop.

[Defthon (Don)] That's convenient.

[Roger (Jeff)] Is it possible to do a subdual coup-de-grace?

[Master] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] It's not a coup.

[Defthon (Don)] We don't want to _kill_ it.

[Arkady (James)] Shot monitors Vel, when she sees the LM drop (perhaps using her familiar to communicate), she moves in and teleports all.

[Lia (Angie)] Could Vel move the LM to somewhere Shot can cast the teleport?

[Velkyna (Joe)] It's an attack against an awake target, just like any other sneak attack.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That has merit.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That would work reasonably well.

[Defthon (Don)] Does she have enough familiarity to TP back here?

[Roger (Jeff)] But lizardmen go to sleep, right?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] sure, anyplace we set down and I look around for a bit

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Presumably they sleep in shifts

[Shottamip (Tamora)] unless I have really bad luck.

[Arkady (James)] Well, where is our base camp? On the south side of the Saxlund river perhaps?

[Master] A little ways off, but sure.

[Master] The south side of the Saxlund is a steppe-y area, with little in the way of inhabitants.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] A few miles out seems wise, not to be noticed.

[Lia (Angie)] How does distance affect the teleport?

[Defthon (Don)] So, not much cover, then.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Doesn't. I could teleport home if Seren's Folly weren't in the way.

[Master] Not a ton, no.

[Arkady (James)] OK.

[Defthon (Don)] Summary so far:

[Defthon (Don)] They don't leave camp, so we sneak in to get one.

[Lia (Angie)] Also, if we are planning for the possibility of the LM returning we should be careful how much he sees

[Defthon (Don)] Vel and Shot will do the sneaking, somehow.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Somehow?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh. yeah, Shottamip.

[Defthon (Don)] Exact method of subudal undecided, but leaning towards Vel sneakattacking.

[Velkyna (Joe)] She'll have to figure something out.

Wellington cuts up a pear and offers a slice to Aedean

[Arkady (James)] Or just keep the LM blindfolded.

[Defthon (Don)] LM goes down and Shot TPs herself, Vel, and LM back to our base a few miles south.

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I don't think we should let the lizardman return until after we've done our thing

Wellington shrugs and offers it to Joanne.

[Defthon (Don)] Well, we can keep him tied up, yes.

Joanne accepts it nimbly and eats it quickly.

[Lia (Angie)] I mean if we end up "recruiting" him

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'll make him cooperative. No problem.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can get a few days off one spell.

Wellington offers a slice to Dralafi with a small smile.

Dralafi looks startled at the act and accepts.

Wellington munches.

[Defthon (Don)] Mode of sneaking: invisibility?

[Velkyna (Joe)] For me, yeah.

[Defthon (Don)] That's best for Shot at least.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Invisible and flying, I can be fairly quiet.

Praxis swoops in and steals a slice from Wellington's hand.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Plus I'm all sneaky like.

[Defthon (Don)] Right.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't have Vel's mad skillz.

[Defthon (Don)] So is there anything else to work out?

Wellington starts, then shrugs and cuts another one.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Who does?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Plus, Vel will be deliver a Silence spell.

[Arkady (James)] Praxis, mind your manners!

[Velkyna (Joe)] what silence u got?

Wellington smiles.

[Arkady (James)] I got the spell. Can cast it on an object.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, I don't see any use from a silence spell... did I miss something?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can't silence the whole camp, so people are bound to hear.

[Velkyna (Joe)] i say u got to silence me

[Roger (Jeff)] where to TP to is still undecided, right?

[Arkady (James)] So the LM doesn't make noise when he gets whacked on the head.

[Defthon (Don)] That was to prevent the LM raising alarm, but we've changed plans.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] So that suspicions aren't immediately raised if Vel doesn't knock him out on the first try

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, sure, Vel could be silenced.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, but anything inside the silence, like, say, me CLUBBING a baby seal, would be silenced.

[Master] Okay, Shot and Vel are flying in quietly, landing somewhere, bonking a Lizardman, and TP'ing back?

[Defthon (Don)] Good point, Aedean.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh, good idea. I was counting on Vel to take him out in one silent blow. :)

[Defthon (Don)] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] BONK BONK

[Master] Keep in mind that Shot cannot cast spells within a Silenced area.

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Master] ...or am I missing something?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, hit him, then throw the pebble or whatever away.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll drop the silence rock when it's time to TP.

[Defthon (Don)] Fortunately, she can stand just outside the 15' radius.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] She can't cast them if she's Silenced.

[Master] Right.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, I have to touch them to TP.

[Velkyna (Joe)] SILENCE ROCK

[Defthon (Don)] Oh, right, the pebble thing then.

[Arkady (James)] So Vel throws away the rock after the bonking.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shall we pick a temporary campsite now so I can get familiar with it?

[Lia (Angie)] Having silence occur could also be a distraction

[Defthon (Don)] Inventory: invis (on Vel and Shot); silence (pebble); TP (Vel, Shot, & LM)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Vel has the Ring

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Arkady (James)] But improved invis on Vel would be a good thing.

[Master] Before you die, Vel uses the Ring.

[Defthon (Don)] Also the flying in---Shot's got shoes; how does Vel fly?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Vel sneaks.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ImpInvis would be preferrable as there's an attack involved.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Vel's sneaking is superb.

[Roger (Jeff)] over water?

[Velkyna (Joe)] FLAWLESS SNEAKING

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: I'm wandering off for about 10 minutes to pick up carryout. Be back in a few.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] It wouldn't surprise me.

[Brian] I am away from the keyboard.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't think I can carry a full-size human. Maybe a gnome or halfling.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Can someone dump me on that side of the river via carpet?

[Arkady (James)] Perhaps someone should fly Vel in on a carpet.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Jinx!

[Arkady (James)] The pilot and carpet would be invis too.

[Velkyna (Joe)] You can even dump me a ways downriver.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll hoof it upriver.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Not if we dropped her off sufficiently far from the camp

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How do I avoid losing Vel?

[Defthon (Don)] The camp is huge, though---more than 2000 people.

[Defthon (Don)] Hold hands?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] um.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Right. We'll go together.

[Lia (Angie)] Message?

[Arkady (James)] Have your snake stay w/ Vel.

[Master] Does Roger know "Fly"?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] ooh.

[Roger (Jeff)] one sec

[Arkady (James)] You can check in on Vel via empathy.

[Defthon (Don)] This works better if the dropoff is near the beach.

[Master] Also, excellent idea.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Yeah, we use Message or the familiar and landmarks.

[Roger (Jeff)] yes

[Arkady (James)] empathy w/ familiar has 1mile range.

[Velkyna (Joe)] "I'm near that big ass tree."

[Master] Well, pipe up already!

[Master] :)

[Arkady (James)] OK, fly spell on Vel, improved invis on Shot and Vel. Silence on rock.

[Master] Good old rock.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Nothing beats rock.

[Arkady (James)] Except paper.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, I think our empathic link would keep things sufficiently clear.

[Roger (Jeff)] I didn't know fly wasn't target:personal

[Velkyna (Joe)] Poor predictable Bart.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Who has Fly?

[Defthon (Don)] Ok, we're set then?

[Master] Roger has Fly.

[Arkady (James)] Shot does the improved invis, Roger does the fly.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I

[Arkady (James)] Arkady does the silence.

[Velkyna (Joe)] FEEL SO ALIVE

[Velkyna (Joe)] FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME

[Velkyna (Joe)] AND I THINK I CAN FLY

[Master] (I can't deny Joe.)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (I think I can fly)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ironically, "Learning to Fly" is the song presently playing on RealPlayer.

[Master] Okay, to sum up:

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We have "Silent All These Years."

[Master] Vel and Shot fly over to the camp, being all stealthy-like.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Heh

[Defthon (Don)] OOC "Hotel California" here. Not a good omen.

[Master] They find an isolate sleeping lizardman and land near him.

[Arkady (James)] Well, they are silent and invis. That should be sneaky enough.

[Master] Then they pop him one, drop the Silence, and TP out of there.

[Arkady (James)] yes.

[Master] Did I miss anything?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sounds like an accurate summary

[Defthon (Don)] Nope. Finding a LM sleeping indoors would be ideal

[Master] Okay, gimme a Spot check from Vel and Shot.

[Master] The better the check, the more inclement the encounter.

[Defthon (Don)] as it'd be more likely to know stuff

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel pulls a smooth oaken club out of her haversack. She pats it against her off hand, a satisfied look on her face.

[Defthon (Don)] inclement?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] You mean "less inclement", right?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Spot: ** MODIFIED BY: SKILL (+1) ** (d20+12+1) [9+12+1] 22

[Master] Sorry, yes.

[Master] Beloved?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Spot: (d20+8) [20+8] 28

[Master] Ok, give me ten minutes.

[Lia (Angie)] COOL

[Velkyna (Joe)] BOOM

[Defthon (Don)] awesome, Shot

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Strictly speaking, if Vel is carrying my familiar, then that's less by 2.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC "Good Shot!"

[Defthon (Don)] ;)

[Velkyna (Joe)] Heh.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So, I hope you don't have a problem with snakes?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Whole lotta nothing going on in the IAA FFL.

[Roger (Jeff)] Dude, A.Thomas is outrushing M.Faulk

[Velkyna (Joe)] SNAKES?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Uh oih.

[Velkyna (Joe)] WHY'D IT HAVE TO BE SNAKES?

[Lia (Angie)] How are we keeping in touch with you?

[Arkady (James)] If you don't mind, I'd like to send Praxis along to keep in touch.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Nah, I'm just messing with ya.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] That sounds sensible.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll just be a menagerie here.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So, you get a small green snake wrapped twice around your forearm for the next few minutes.

[Lia (Angie)] Hopefully complete with a lizard man

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm guessing. You're bigger than I am. She goes 3 or 4 times around my arm.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel's fairly lithe and skinny.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Call it 2.75 times.

[Defthon (Don)] Or possibly 2.6667.

[Defthon (Don)] Approximately.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] More like 2.4862948

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'm still waiting from my .111111 copper piece from the bum rushing of the manor compound.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] She's smarter than, say, Defthon, so she won't bite you by accident or anything.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I WISH Defthon would bite me by accident or something.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ROWR

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah, it annoys me when Defthon accidentally bites us

[Roger (Jeff)] LOL

[Aedean (Sedlack)] i m 2 slo

[Brian] I am back at the keyboard.

[Defthon (Don)] Hmm.

[Master] Shottamip spots a lizardman napping between a campfire and the river. Sux to be introverted.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 3rd and 7...You must throw to the tight end

[Don] I am away from the keyboard.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Vel, your move...

[Master] The creature is about six and a half feet tall, and it sleeps in its armor. It has a musty smell, not unpleasant.

[Master] When the Silence radius passes over it, it shifts in its sleep.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll sneaky up to it, club at the ready.

[Master] Move Silently being totally irrelevant here.

[Master] Gimme an initiative roll.

[Master] Lizardman Soldier #1: Initiative: 3

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

[Master] He looks like the silence might wake him up soon.

[Master] Vel goes first.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'll quickly size him up and spank him around the neck/pressure points.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Velkyna: Attack 1: Base Attack [w] hits AC: ((d20+9)) [(16+9)] 25

[Master] That's a hit.

[Master] Roll subdual damage.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Base sneak attack damage of (6d6) [(3+3+3+5+5+1)] 20

[Velkyna (Joe)] Roll #1: (d3) [3] 3

[Velkyna (Joe)] So 23 total.

[Master] It doesn't work quite like it would on a human, but Vel gets the job done.

[Master] He's down.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] All right, throw the pebble off into the river a ways.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will stow her club, and try to heave the massive fucker over her shoulder.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Then toss the pebble and look for Shot.

[Master] He weighs about 260.

[Velkyna (Joe)] OOOOOOF

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I put a hand on Vel's arm.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Luckily, no one will hear the pebble splash

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Teleport: transports herself and up to (50*12) [50*12] 600 pounds of willing creatures to another location, teleport check (1d100) [43] 43

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No problem.

[Master] Shottamip leaves.

[Arkady (James)] Don't need to carry him, right?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Uh...

[Master] Suddenly, a batch of torches flare up, and an immensely loud alarm goes off.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel doesn't necessarily know that.

[Master] Yep.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No Vel?

[Master] Heh.

[Master] Everybody leaves.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] OOOkay.

[Master] Apologies.

[Master] Lemme map up a campsite right quick.

[Roger (Jeff)] !

[Velkyna (Joe)] You know, we maybe should've left conventionally if things we going smoothly.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Once we get back, I think we want to load up on the carepts and hightail it a ways.

[Aric (Brian)] IT'S A TRAP

[Shottamip (Tamora)] D'you know, that didn't occur to me.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I thought the campsite was already " a ways" away

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You should have brought it up a bit earlier. :)

[Lia (Angie)] It's probably justsome sort of ward

[Velkyna (Joe)] I didn't occur to me either.

[Velkyna (Joe)] We should get the hell out of here, posthaste.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I didn't think that you'd be able to carry the guy.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Not very well.

[Velkyna (Joe)] My weight factor at STR10 is 33 lbs, which means I think I can max carry 6-8x that.

[Velkyna (Joe)] At a very minimal movement rate, which would've been fine on a carpet.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh well.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Let's go have a chat somewhere, shall we?

[Velkyna (Joe)] ayup.

[Don] I am back at the keyboard.

[Master] Note: Not to scale and not comprehensive.

[Velkyna (Joe)] ... ?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How far away from the river and the camp are we?

[Master] The campsite. It's not to a good scale, and don't count the cots. :)

[Master] Couple miles.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] We're HUGE!

[Velkyna (Joe)] I'M A GIANT

[Master] Hee.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Maybe we should go further?

[Master] They didn't see/hear what you did as you blinked out.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] But they might decide to search the area... hm.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC Clearly, some of us are sharing cots. Question is: who?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I suppose we'd see them coming.

[Velkyna (Joe)] PICK ME PICK ME

[Master] Joanne gets cold at night.

[Master] Square/cube law and all that.

[Master] Plus, malnutrition.

[Arkady (James)] I'll ask Praxis to fly straight up, and have a look out.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel has a bedroll and a winter blanket and a wool cloak.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shall we try to gently wake our guest?

[Master] Lome Surinen does so, as well.

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think we can figure something out.

[Roger (Jeff)] I think we should tie him up first

[Dralafi] I don't have much to do here. I'll take a carpet up.

[Velkyna (Joe)] USE ROPE

[Shottamip (Tamora)] No, that would be unfriendly.

[Arkady (James)] We're not friends yet.

[Lia (Angie)] But we want to be

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel can be nearby for another clubbing if necessary.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I can convince him more easily if the environment doesn't seem, ya know, at war.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] If we disarm him, we should be fine

[Velkyna (Joe)] "In the event of mishap."

[Arkady (James)] OK

[Roger (Jeff)] ok

[Master] He is simply armed, with a short sword, a shield, a small knife, and a longspear which you left behind.

[Arkady (James)] But yeah, let's have Vel stay invisible.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel will go invisible via Ring and be nearby with the club.

[Master] No boots, just leather armor over a cloth jerkin.

[Arkady (James)] Dammitt! I always wanted a longspear!

[Master] Well, it'll cost ya . . . 2 gp.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sounds like a personal problem

[Velkyna (Joe)] Huh huh uh huh uh huh ... you said "jerkin"

[Lia (Angie)] Who's questioning?

[Master] Who speaks Draconic?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shot

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Me me me.

[Master] That's what Lizardmen speak.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Wake him up nicely for me and I'll take care of everything.

[Lia (Angie)] And me, but I think Shot is a better choice

[Arkady (James)] Works for me. Lia can be the bad cop.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You can translate for them, if you like.

[Master] That's a really good approach.

[Master] A simple CLW will wake our little buddy.

[Lia (Angie)] I think most of the rest of us should not be present

[Arkady (James)] Oh, good idea.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] CLW.

[Wellington] I'd like to be here.

[Wellington] I'll be quiet.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Stick around.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Ditch a Det. Evil for it.

[Roger (Jeff)] I will be in the tent and peek out of the flap

Joanne looks to Vel for direction.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If I'm going to tell him that we're all his friends, we may as well all be in sight.

[Defthon (Don)] But not necessarily right up close.

[Lia (Angie)] I'd rather wait toe reveal our numbers

[Arkady (James)] Well, we don't want to show our whole hand just yet.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If he has high magic resistance, then someone can knock him out again.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Before going invisible, Vel pats Joanne on the shoulder. "Stay by Aric," she says, assuringly.

[Defthon (Don)] In fact, it'd make sense to have most of us in a cluster listening to Lia translate.

Joanne nods

[Defthon (Don)] (Or Shot translate if Lia interrogates, of course.)

[Joanne] Eric's tied for "most imposing"; where do y'all want him?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Actually, I think I can try multiple times.

Aric (Brian) smiles at Joanne, indicating a spot partially obscured by his bulk.

[Lia (Angie)] I do think Shot should have some visible backup

[Master] Dangit, I thought I'd un-chatted her.

[Master] ok

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Well, Aedean'll be present, since he's chucking the CLW anyway

[Lia (Angie)] Shot should question

[Aedean (Sedlack)] And Lia's playing bad coop

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I have to at least be the one to start off the with spell.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] with the spell.

[Velkyna (Joe)] To reiterate, Vel is invisible with her club at the ready.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Are we ready?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] 3-on-1 is pretty good against an unarmed person

[Master] Weapons sheathed, I assume?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yeah

[Arkady (James)] yes, that's fine.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Except possibly Vel, yes.

[Lia (Angie)] Yes

[Velkyna (Joe)] Well, except for Vel (invisible)

[Master] Bueno, let's rock.

[Defthon (Don)] How are we getting translations?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lia

[Velkyna (Joe)] Arkady/Tongues?

[Defthon (Don)] Way over there? Or is she Messageing?

[Master] Arkady should use a Tongues and Message spell to do a nifty UN-style instant translation.

[Arkady (James)] I'll do it. We want Lia to be the silent imposing type.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok.

[Velkyna (Joe)] DON'T WAIT FOR THE TRANSLATION. ANSWER THE QUESTION.

[Arkady (James)] I conference in everyone.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC What is that from Joe?

[Master] ST VI

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Aedean?

[Master] Aedean leads, then Shottamip follows.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (ayup)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Yep. Let's do it

Lizardman Soldier awakens with a start, then reaches for his weapons automatically.

[Master] Shottamip?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Shottamip: Geas: compels the target creature to obey her command

[Master] Aedean, Arkady, Defthon -- Spellcraft checks.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] We are your friends and companions; you want to travel with us and answer our questions.

[Master] Dralafi: Spellcraft: 16

[Velkyna (Joe)] (is that the actual Geas spell, or a "Shottamip name" for something else?)

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Aedean: Spellcraft: (d20+1+5) [7+1+5] 13

[Arkady (James)] no spellcraft.

[Defthon (Don)] agh, don't have that---what's the check?

Dralafi snorts and shrugs

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Int

[Master] Skilled only.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Oop

[Master] Oh, Roger, too. Thanks!

Lizardman Soldier shakes his head, confused.

[Roger (Jeff)] Roger: Spellcraft: (d20+9) [14+9] 23

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What's your name?

Lizardman Soldier says something not incredibly pronouncable by humanoid tongues.

[Lizardman Soldier] "Sslet'm" in a human tongue.

[Lizardman Soldier] Where am I . . .?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm Lady Shottamip. We're camped here.

Lizardman Soldier looks relaxed but still way off-balanced.

[Lizardman Soldier] Oh. Okay.

[Lizardman Soldier] I must have lost my memory when I was hit on the head.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Okay guys, where do we want to start?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Not surprising; do you feel okay now?

[Lizardman Soldier] I am fit to serve, my Lady.

[Lizardman Soldier] (thinks for a moment; his head cocks like that of a bird.)

[Lizardman Soldier] Is a Lady like . . . a shaman? Human titles are hard to remember?

[Defthon (Don)] Ask him what his rank is.

[Arkady (James)] Ask him who is his commander, from there, work into where he's from.

[Lia (Angie)] Why does he wofk for Elfense?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] This last part is key

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Hmm. Probably a lot like a shaman, yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (tell him you're a commander type for the humans)

[Lizardman Soldier] Thank you, my lady.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm a commander among the humanoids.

Lizardman Soldier sits up straighter.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What is your rank or status among your people?

[Sslet'm] I am a warrior.

[Sslet'm] In the New Ways, I am called a Private.

[Defthon (Don)] Damn.

[Lia (Angie)] New Ways?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Why have your people come to this land, and agreed to take orders from Eflense?

[Velkyna (Joe)] New World Order

[Defthon (Don)] Since being recruited to the army of Eflense.

[Master] Does Lia say that out loud?

[Velkyna (Joe)] NO

[Lia (Angie)] No

[Defthon (Don)] Lia, you should keep quiet...

[Sslet'm] Er.

Sslet'm looks like that was a lot of questions at once.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] *sigh*

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How did your army come to be in this land?

[Sslet'm] My . . . army? I am sorry, milady (he looks distressed, which is almost comical on his reptilian face), but I do not understand you?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Huh.

[Sslet'm] Oh!

[Sslet'm] You mean the warband!

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, thank you.

[Sslet'm] Yes, we are bound by oath to the human Eflense.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Suxxor)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Why did you choose to swear this oath?

[Sslet'm] Or, rather, I am bound by oath to my clan, and our chiefs say that such an oath exists.

Sslet'm is pleased by this precision

[Defthon (Don)] (so are we)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Do you know why your chiefs have done this?

[Sslet'm] I am sorry, my Lady, but it is not my place to question these things.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Oh well.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Anyone?

[Sslet'm] Eflense gave us the New Ways, and they have made us strong.

[Sslet'm] He gave us the New Lands, and our women are fertile and have many children.

[Defthon (Don)] Who is his commander, and what is the chain of command?

[Defthon (Don)] Describe the New Ways.

[Defthon (Don)] Where are the "Old" Lands?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Please tell me more about the New Ways.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Eflense is smart. He will make us go.)

[Sslet'm] The New Ways are the ways of war which he has taught us.

[Defthon (Don)] In 200 words or less, compare and contrast life before Eflense to current life with the New Ways.

[Sslet'm] The drills and the human weapons, which we have learned to maintain.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How long ago did your people move to the New Lands?

[Sslet'm] He taught us of ranks and formations.

Sslet'm looks very proud of his success in this

[Defthon (Don)] Does Eflense give commands directly to the lizardmen, or does Sslet'm hear only from his warband leaders?

[Sslet'm] Not long . . .

[Master] jas

[Shottamip (Tamora)] A few moons?

[Roger (Jeff)] WEE JAS

[Angie] I am away from the keyboard.

[Sslet'm] More . . . three full years, I think.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Where did you live before that?

[Sslet'm] I do not remember it well, as I was a . . . child? Yes, that is your term.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (their life cycle is pretty short)

[Sslet'm] We wandered very much, and my . . . parents? told me that we were once in a very different place.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] You know that the New Lands are better, and your people are happier there.

[Sslet'm] But Semuanya found us at last, and now we are prosperous.

[Angie] I am back at the keyboard.

[Sslet'm] Yes, that is so.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Please, who or what is Semuanya?

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Lizard man god = Semuanya)

[Master] (Shottamip would have known that. S'cool.)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Okay. Nifty.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So their lives are better now and they feel that they're back in touch with their god.

[Aric (Brian)] Message: It will not be easy to wrest Elfense's control.

Sslet'm glances away from Shottamip and spots Lia. He gasps.

[Velkyna (Joe)] THE DRAGON ARMOR

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Is something wrong?

[Velkyna (Joe)] USE THE DRAGON ARMOR

Sslet'm 's eyes are the size of saucers

[Defthon (Don)] oops.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Holy shit, we should fake Lia/Defthon with the dragon armor as Semuanya returned.

[Defthon (Don)] (I'd be wearing dragon armour too)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Semuanya is male)

[Sslet'm] E . . . ah . . .

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I hope that dragonscale armor isn't a killing offense, or this may be hard to explain.

[Aric (Brian)] (But he's a god right? They can change that.)

[Sslet'm] Ss . . . t'k

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "I am wearing your cousin"

Lia (Angie) steps forward slightly

Sslet'm 's eyes widen yet more.

[Lia (Angie)] Why are you afraid?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Lia's armor is what again? From some sacrified good dragon?

Sslet'm breathes a sigh of relief.

[Sslet'm] You are . . . wearing armor.

[Velkyna (Joe)] (Lia's is the gold dragon IIRC; Defthon is red dragon)

[Lia (Angie)] Yes, what did you think?

[Defthon (Don)] I'm red, yes.

[Master] Emerald dragon, actually.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, we have no full dragons among us at this time.

Sslet'm shakes his head.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Oh, rigjht.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC NICE CAVEAT

[Sslet'm] That I was dead.

Sslet'm perks up

[Sslet'm] We are told that the Orcs are lead by a half-dragon, yes? He is evil incarnate.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes, that is right.

[Sslet'm] This is part of the New Ways, that we should know about these things.

[Sslet'm] I was distracted by the armor, and did not see the human face atop it.

[Lia (Angie)] I am only descended from dragons.

[Defthon (Don)] Interesting. Wait, what alignment are the lizardmen?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Did we expect them to be anti-orc? Are all humans anti-orc around here, including Eflense?

[Velkyna (Joe)] I thought lizardmen were neutral.

[Wellington] About a decade ago, the Horse Lords were our border against hte orcs.

[Wellington] ...from what I've gathered.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Thanks.

[Wellington] Then a big-ass army came up and fucked 'em.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] "or so I've heard"

[Wellington] Killed most of 'em, then just . . . left.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] How kind.

[Lia (Angie)] The armor is both gift and the result of my own oaths

Joanne has the look of someone whose world just made a tiny bit more sense.

[Sslet'm] Yes, yes! We have our oaths which bind us and make us strong. It is the same everywhere.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Sslet'm, how do you receive instructions for your warband? Do you get orders from your warband leaders?

[Arkady (James)] You know, it is starting to occur to me that maybe, just maybe, we could just talk to Eflense about all this.

[Sslet'm] In the new ways, we have Sergeants and Lieutenants. They pass on orders from our chiefs.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Defthon, what else did you want to know about that stuff?

[Sslet'm] They call our chiefs generals, but they are chiefs as well. The old ways and the New Ways find ways to be next to one another.

[Sslet'm] In this way, we are strong in both ways, as is a house built of wood and of stone.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I like this guy.

[Master] (it is obvious that he memorized this line, but he feels it when he says it.)

[Arkady (James)] Ask about the clans' relations to the humans in the warband.

[Master] The Lizardmen are Neutral, very much so, but Neutral creatures fear the kind of evil which the Triumvirate represents.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] By the way, he's going to be happy to stay with us for nearly two weeks now.

[Aric (Brian)] Mess: Def may have a point. Rather than defeating this army, getting them to ally (and maybe ask that they lay off Czina) against the orcs may be more helpful.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What is the relationship between your people and the humans with whom you travel?

[Aric (Brian)] (whoops, arkady, not def. sorry)

[Velkyna (Joe)] I think we have to get them to back off Czina somehow. That may not be possible, since empires like the warm-water seaports. (Joe speaking, not Vel btw)

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Remind me, why is Eflense bad? He's pillaging Czina for its wealth?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Shot: yes

[Velkyna (Joe)] He's basically raping the city of all its worth.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Is he otherwise evil? Burning down villages and raping the populace, stuff like that?

[Arkady (James)] Maybe he's not as aware of local conditions as he should be.

[Wellington] Yes.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Yes to which?

[Arkady (James)] It could be the Mayor behind most of the actual abuse.

[Wellington] He has done these things, as well, to places which have defied him.

[Lia (Angie)] He destroyed some of the protections in Czina

[Shottamip (Tamora)] So he really wants to be a king and is willing to do evil things to get it.

[Lia (Angie)] And threatened more

[Sslet'm] I do not know, Lady Shottamip. I am sorry, but such matters are for the chiefs.

[Defthon (Don)] But is not himself evil, perhaps? Just neutral?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I don't really want to offer him a throne for some cooperation, necessarily.

[Arkady (James)] At first cut, he doesn't seem as eeeeevil as the Triumverate though.

[Lia (Angie)] His actions do not speak well

[Velkyna (Joe)] Kind of a neutral, leaning towards evil.

[Arkady (James)] Yes, there is substantial room for improvement.

[Arkady (James)] Substantial. :-)

[Lia (Angie)] I am concerned that he is using these people for his own ends

[Lia (Angie)] and I do not think this will end well for them

[Aedean (Sedlack)] That does tend to be what armies are all about.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm having really mixed feelings about this whole thing.

[Lia (Angie)] He has set them up

[Defthon (Don)] On the one hand, Eflense's really not a good guy

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I'm not.

[Aric (Brian)] Mess: Ask him if he has been involved in attacking those who oppose Eflense, and what he feels about that.

[Defthon (Don)] but he could be really useful against the triumvirate for now.

[Defthon (Don)] Good question Aric.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Have you participated in attacks with your warband?

[Sslet'm] Yes.

Sslet'm looks happy to have a simple question with a simple answer.

[Lia (Angie)] Unless he is working for the Triumvirate

[Shottamip (Tamora)] Tell me about them - what people did you fight? Where?

Sslet'm shifts

[Sslet'm] The ways of the humans are not the ways of our folk.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If we could redirect Eflense against orcs, to be emperor of the former orc lands, I could live with that. But I dunno how

[Shottamip (Tamora)] feasible that is.

[Sslet'm] Even when all are fed and there is stock for the winter, still they struggle amonst themselves.

[Sslet'm] And so our oaths bind us to fight for Eflense.

[Sslet'm] He has . . . other humans who fight for him. Some will keep their oaths, and others need to be reminded.

[Defthon (Don)] So the LM are enforcers. Interesting

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I think that we have a simple, honorable warrior who does what his leaders tell them and doesn't know a ton about why.

[Sslet'm] Mainly, I have helped to remind those humans who would have broken their words.

[Defthon (Don)] Sounds like Eflense is bringing a lot of order into the lives of the LM....

[Lia (Angie)] For the moment

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I am stepping off, feel free to ask questions in my voice

[Lia (Angie)] Sslet'm, how do you chose your oaths?

Sslet'm sizes Lia up.

[Sslet'm] Some oaths you choose. Others choose you, yes?

[Defthon (Don)] To Sslet'm via Shot: How long have you been camped at this location?

[Sslet'm] I am young, and I am not wise. I choose the oaths which my chiefs advise me to choose.

[Sslet'm] A few days. We stop and start.

[Defthon (Don)] Were you readying to move anytime soon?

[Lia (Angie)] There is always a choice, or it is not an oath.

Sslet'm bares his teeth in a reptilian smile.

[Sslet'm] The choice is in whether or not to keep the oath. The oath itself . . .

Sslet'm looks sad for a moment, then banishes the ideas from his mind.

[Defthon (Don)] (What a fascinating philosophy.)

[Joe] I am away from the keyboard.

[Lia (Angie)] What? Please tell me

Sslet'm looks deliberately blank.

[Lia (Angie)] Oaths are very important to understand

[Lia (Angie)] I want to understand yours

[Joe] I am back at the keyboard.

[Sslet'm] Human paths are not the same as those of my people. You will understand through our actions.

[Arkady (James)] Can I tell if there's some other compulstion going on w/ this guy?

[Master] Try a detect magic?

[Arkady (James)] OK, detec magic

[Aedean (Sedlack)] (Sense Motive can also do this)

[Master] The Geas burns brightly; it's a powerful spell. But it is the only one which affects him.

[Arkady (James)] How about both?

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: sense motive: (d20+14) [15+14] 29

[Master] (Do a Sense Motive too, if you'd like -- -4 Circumstance penalty for nonhumanoid)

[Master] Sslet'm is not brilliant, but he sits and thinks things through. He keeps a lot to himself.

[Master] He does, however, share the standard Lizardman devotion to survival at all costs.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Sslet'm leads a partially examined life

[Master] lol

[Lia (Angie)] The actions of your people concern me

[Lia (Angie)] because they are being used to influence humans

Sslet'm cockes his head and examines Lia more closely.

[Sslet'm] I do not understand humans and their ways.

[Sslet'm] Every time I believe I have found some invariant, some explanation, I am confounded again.

[Lia (Angie)] But you take actions against some humans

[Defthon (Don)] With the exception of letting Czina run down, what is it that we have against Eflense again?

[Defthon (Don)] (via Message, of course)

[Lia (Angie)] He brought in the Mayor

Sslet'm nods.

[Defthon (Don)] That counts as part of "letting Czina run down".

[Arkady (James)] Lia, tell him about Czina. He's a down-to-earth kind of guy.

[Sslet'm] This is your responsibility? You are to care not about your tribe but all . . . humans?

[Sslet'm] A chief among chiefs?

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Lia (Angie)] I have chosen oaths wihich bind me to more

[Sslet'm] They must be onerous.

[Shottamip (James)] We do not rule all humans, nor do we wish to.

[Lia (Angie)] sometimes, but that is my choice

Sslet'm stands and stretches (if you let him).

[Lia (Angie)] Sure

[Sslet'm] He's huge -- 6'6" or so, and he stands with an easy discipline.

[Lia (Angie)] This is why I want to understand the oaths of you and your people

[Sslet'm] There are two ways to understand an oath.

[Sslet'm] The first is to speak of it. The second is to see it done.

Defthon (Don) quietly brings his hand a little closer to the hilt of Tsohanoai

[Sslet'm] I have done the first, and there is only the second remaining, yes?

[Velkyna (Joe)] When he stands, Vel makes sure she's in a position to club him if he tries something.

[Lia (Angie)] Cool it guys, I'm willing to risk this

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (I'm back)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (She's not paying much attention to the conversation, she's focused on her task)

[Master] It is obvious by now that Sslet'm was playing dumb at first and is unwittingly revealing his capacity during this conversation with Lia.

Defthon (Don) doesn't draw his sword, but is ready to.

Sslet'm notices Defthon's armor.

[Arkady (James)] (to group) just how smart are LM normally?

[Sslet'm] (mutters) Semuanya preserve me; I am the servant of demigods.

[Lia (Angie)] We have many oaths made among us

[Master] Bardic or Wilderness

[Arkady (James)] Arkady: bardic knowledge: (d20+12) [20+12] 32

[Defthon (Don)] Defthon: Wilderness lore: (d20+4+2) [11+4+2] 17

[Master] A smidge below humans, on average.

[Defthon (Don)] oh sorry

[Shottamip (Tamora)] (And Aric isn't even glowing yet.)

[Defthon (Don)] heh

[Defthon (Don)] What is Sslet'm doing now?

[Sslet'm] If one throws a pebble into a pond, one sees a ripple, yes?

[Lia (Angie)] usually

[Sslet'm] And if one throws a few pebbles in, you see different ripples, but you could, perhaps, if you knew the pond well enough, predict them.

[Sslet'm] This is my people and their oaths.

[Sslet'm] But humans . . . I sit by the river and hold a stick so that the water flows around it.

[Defthon (Don)] FASCINATING

[Sslet'm] And I cannot tell where the wake will end or how it will shift.

[Defthon (Don)] Did our lizardman just introduce chaos theory into the discussion? I think he did.

[Arkady (James)] (to group) a lizardman philosopher, who'd have thunk it?

[Sslet'm] And if I hold five sticks, then only someone who had swum the river their whole life could know how the wakes would combine.

[Roger (Jeff)] Zzzzz

[Sslet'm] This is humans and their oaths.

[Lia (Angie)] Indeed, many humans use oaths without respecting their importance

Sslet'm looks frustrated.

[Sslet'm] But our people's oaths are pebbles.

[Sslet'm] Human oaths are sticks, stones, flotsam and jetsam.

Sslet'm shakes his head.

[Arkady (James)] I guess he's saying, that LM make oaths, and stick to them. And that's that.

[Sslet'm] I do not have the words, and there is more to be gained from watching.

[Lia (Angie)] What should I watch?

Sslet'm grins

[Sslet'm] Everything. Always.

[Aric (Brian)] OOC: when we caught him alone, with mike's introvert comment, i was expecting bad goth lizardman poetry

Defthon (Don) scans the horizon

[Arkady (James)] I asked Praxis to provide top cover, has he seen anything?

[Lia (Angie)] I am concerned that Eflense is using your peoples oaths

Sslet'm shrugs

[Lia (Angie)] Without respect for teh cost to your people

[Sslet'm] This is a discussion for our chiefs, if anyone.

[Defthon (Don)] You know, I really wonder.

[Defthon (Don)] Just how bad *is* what Eflense is doing?

[Defthon (Don)] He's bringing a whole region under common rule

[Master] Do you say this out loud?

[Defthon (Don)] and we have little evidence that he's really abusing it

[Lia (Angie)] He is draining these lands

[Defthon (Don)] (via Message)

[Velkyna (Joe)] (yeah, except he's bringing chaos to other areas ... LAWFUL GOOD BOY)

[Defthon (Don)] What areas is he bringing chaos to?

Joanne gives Def a furious look.

[Defthon (Don)] If as Wellington suspects, he's planning to move into Czina,

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Personally, I'm upset he's imposing so much order on the lives of the Lizardmen

[Velkyna (Joe)] Um, Czina?

Wellington shrugs.

[Arkady (James)] Well, Eflense, through the Mayor, is definitely sucking dry Czina.

[Defthon (Don)] then that's just a temporary thing; and that might be the Mayor's doing anyway.

[Lia (Angie)] His actions leave these areas vulnerable

[Roger (Jeff)] If Eflense is willing to trade with the elves, good, if not, kill him

[Defthon (Don)] To...?

[Lia (Angie)] Elfense brought in the Mayor

[Praxis] I've got something coming in from the north. It's invisible.

[Arkady (James)] Incoming! Battle Stations!

[Lia (Angie)] And he is USING these people

[Defthon (Don)] Who, the lizardmen? They're a warband. They'd be fighting anyway.

[Master] Everyone, please clean up your temporary mods.

[Defthon (Don)] They're fighting better now and they seem happy with the situation.

[Lia (Angie)] Until the other shoe falls

[Arkady (James)] temp mods clear! Check!

[Dralafi] Can we have this conversation later?

[Defthon (Don)] It appears we're going to have to.

Dralafi touches down.

[Arkady (James)] Dral was flying?

[Wellington] Do we hide, ambush, or flee?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Do we know what is coming in yet?

[Arkady (James)] Praxis?

[Defthon (Don)] Does Praxis have a lock on how big or how many?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Dral was on the carpet.

[Praxis] Looks like a carpet.

[Lia (Angie)] Temp mods good

[Praxis] Some humanoids on it.

[Defthon (Don)] How many?

[Velkyna (Joe)] We should either go, or ambush for more questioning.

[Praxis] It's a long way off.

[Defthon (Don)] How far is it?

[Praxis] More than one, less than ten.

[Arkady (James)] Hmph, prolly 4 to 8 people then. Likely to be some mages.

[Defthon (Don)] Ok...

[Defthon (Don)] What time of day is it?

[Praxis] They're just past the river on their way here.

[Master] Late night.

[Defthon (Don)] Stamp out the fire?

[Master] I figured you hadn't really had one; it was just for decoration.

[Arkady (James)] BTW, Arkady has Detect Scrying running 24x7 normally. Unless he had to use his 4th level spell the previous day.

[Defthon (Don)] Uh, ok.

[Master] Or, more to the point, that you had some way of avoiding the smoke trail. :)

[Master] Arkady -- noted. Gimme a sec.

[Defthon (Don)] Smoke? I'm more worried about light.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] Hmm. I wonder what these folks' intentions are

[Lia (Angie)] Are they coming from the camp

Arkady (James) turns to address Sslet'm.

[Arkady (James)] Would someone be looking for you already?

[Shottamip (Tamora)] If they're coming from the other side of the river, I think they're coming from the camp.

[Defthon (Don)] How much moonlight is there?

[Arkady (James)] OOC: Remember, we don't know we alerted them to the snatch.

[Master] ok

[Master] Not a ton.

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I'm pretty sure they know something happened.

[Master] of moonlight.

[Defthon (Don)] But some? We need to extinguish all the lights here.

[Master] Yes.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Um, there was an alarm and shit.

[Defthon (Don)] And spread out a bit.

[Defthon (Don)] OOC but we didn't hear it, Joe.

[Wellington] Decide.

[Wellington] Hide, ambush, or flee.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Who heard it then?

[Velkyna (Joe)] Didn't Vel and Shot hear it?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I hardly think those are ouyr only three options

[Defthon (Don)] No, it happened after you left.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Why would Kimmitt have mentioned it if someone didn't hear it?

[Master] Vel and Shot passed on the info, don't worry.

[Master] It happened instantaneously with the casting of the telport. You got a quarter-second taste.

[Arkady (James)] I say, let them find Sslet'm, and see how many there are.

[Defthon (Don)] I'm inclined to stick around and see what they do, but if someone disagrees I'm open.

[Wellington] What, are we going to parley with Eflense after stealing his dearest secrets?

[Defthon (Don)] I *don't* think we should let them get Sslet'm, though.

[Shottamip (Tamora)] What secrets?

[Aric (Brian)] But if Sslet'm is now on "our side", isn't he at risk if they catch him having befriended us?

[Aedean (Sedlack)] I think we should stick around and be ready for trouble, but that's not quite the same as an ambush

[Shottamip (Tamora)] I agree with Aric.

[Wellington] You know more about the Lizardmen than the rest of Saxlund combined.

[Defthon (Don)] Lights are out. We're scattering a bit. How much cover, Mike?

[Defthon (Don)] Boulders, bushes? Or are there trees?

[Master] Not a lot.

[Velkyna (Joe)] Vel stows her club and draws her crossbow.

[Master] A few.

[Sslet'm] What is happening?

[Velkyna (Joe)] She makes sure she's close to Joanne and that Joanne knows it.

[Lia (Angie)] Shot?

[Defthon (Don)] Tell him someone's coming, and we're preparing *in case* they attack.

[Praxis] They seem