Session 29

Server started.

Meany has connected.

Meany::DMeany:Yo!

Liatai:Yo!

Sicol has connected.

TMG has connected.

Dr. Hatari has connected.

Liatai:Got a feeeeew more last-minute things to do, and then I'm good to go. :D

Meany:Cool. :D


 * Dr. Hatari pre-loads~

VAE has connected.

Meany:Forest A, Forest B, Forest C, Forest Q.

Meany:Not sure why I said that. >:o

Meany:YoVAE.

Faerie has connected.

Liatai:Faerie! :D


 * VAE mrows!

Liatai:Your serval is ready! :D

Liatai:I didn't name him yet -- I leave that up to you. :3

Meany:Animal companions donn't have the same hp thing as Familiars?

Meany::oFaerie:Erm...do I have ownership of the Serval token? ^^;

Liatai:There's one other thing you need to do, aside from give him a name; and that's pick out seven tricks for him to know. :3

Liatai:Now you do! :D

Liatai:Tricks can be found on PHB pages 74-75.

Dr. Hatari:I highly recommend 'track loot logistics' as a trick.

Dr. Hatari:He may just skyrocket to party MVP.


 * Liatai snerks.

Venezuela:A challenger has appeared?

VAE:MVP?

Liatai:Most Valuable Person/Player.


 * Faerie looks through PHB

Faerie:...I see no 'Track Loot Logistics' :B

Dr. Hatari:>:Faerie:Unless it's hiding somewhere.

Faerie:>.>

VAE:bwahahaha

TMG:He'

VAE:i just got it

TMG:He's messing with you, alex. x3

VAE:i misread it as Track Route Logistics

Faerie:Oh.

VAE:*facepaws*

Meany:Liatai, do you remember Venezuela's tricks beyond Attack?

Faerie:>.>

Meany:I have lost my notecard. D:Dr. Hatari:Sorry x3

Liatai:Nope. But she'd need Work to do any cart-pulling, and Come.

TMG:store tricks in the token notes :O


 * Faerie hmms

Faerie:Attack, come, defend

VAE:and for Work, she needs Force and Distance


 * Liatai snerks at VAE. x3

VAE:well, Displacement, really

Faerie:Umm...fetch, seek...

Ghostwish has connected.

Ghostwish:Boo. :.

Ghostwish:*:>

VAE:Mrow!

Meany:Attack, Work, Come, Defend, Guard, Heel. I think that was it.

Dr. Hatari:Should I ever make a character with animal companion, it shall definitely be named Carl Sagan.

Meany:Someone commented on Venezuela not being able to stop attacking. :B

Faerie:down and defend

Faerie:Liatai: Seven, right?


 * VAE imagines the mule outfitted with the above buttons

Liatai:Yep, you've got one more to give Ezer. :3 I'd suggest Heel, but that's just me.

VAE:Sturdy build, leather finish, basic functionality included!

VAE:Mule 5000!

Liatai:What about Honduras?

VAE:that sounds like a movie title

Meany:Replace guard with Down.

TMG:righto, you filling in the mule token notes? :o

Meany:Yep.

Liatai:-- My tea! D:Liatai:I forgot my tea! D:Ghostwish:Noooo! Get ze tea!

TMG:NUUUUUUUU!

Faerie:Liatai: No, that is 7. Attack, come, defend, fetch, seek, down, defend.

Faerie:...

Faerie:Oh, derp

Faerie:I said defend twice.

VAE:because it's important

Dr. Hatari:"Ezer! Double-defend!"

Faerie:Okay, replace one of those with heel, and call it a day.

VAE:The mule wins, because she defends twice!

Dr. Hatari:*Gasping face montage!*

Liatai:Tea rescued! :D And Ezer's tricks have been noted.

TMG:....the serval's HP seems...very low o.o

Liatai:You're right. Let me fix that.

Liatai:There we go! :D

TMG:does it have no con bonus? what's its HD and how many?

GM:Roooooooll caaaaall! :D

Liatai:1d8.

TMG:Present!

Dr. Hatari:Kor enters orange alert.

Liatai:1d8+1.


 * VAE isn't a roll

Rolls:You called?

Meany:Yo.


 * GM pounces rolls! >:D


 * GM omnomnoms.

TMG:wait a sec...

TMG:we're all level 4, right? Elros, particularly?

Liatai:Yep.

TMG:the animal companion should have -3- HD

Dr. Hatari:I think it gets half druid companion progression.

Liatai:His animal compaion is treated as if it belongs to a druid of one-half the ranger's ranger level.

Dr. Hatari:Rangers get kind of hosed on animals, as I understand it.

TMG:not quite, there's a table--oh. Ranger. x_x

TMG:Oops.

GM:Faerie, you around?

Faerie:Mmm?

GM:Game's starting. :3

Faerie:Oh, roll call.

Faerie:Man, I'm really full of derp tonight. :B

Thomas Lazarus:"I think we're going in circles. Those trees; it's uncanny!"

Barbarus:"You're free to try driving the battlemules if you feel you can manage. :3"

Elros:"I believe they call it a rotating set. Commonly used in animation."


 * Thomas Lazarus volunteers no further information. |3

TMG:rereading end of last session log...

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 1 + 4 = 5 » Spot on that Half-elf.

Barbarus:Derp. :B


 * Elros is invisible!

TMG:getting into character,,,

GM:We rejoin our party of intrepid adventurers on the way to the village of Redtree, where they are going in pursuit of a rogue druid... and maybe some other things. Elros had seperated from the group before arrival, saying he would meet them on the way... What has he been up to?

GM:Take it away whenever you're ready, gentlemen! ^^

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 13 + 3 = 16 » Handle Animal to keep them working. >:o

Tathi:Tathi is just idly scribbling away in her spellbook.

Gnogglebolt:Just after the carriage starts moving again after everyone packed up, Gnogglebolt sighs.

Barbarus:Mules are still running at top speed?


 * Thomas Lazarus sits alongside Barbarus atop the driver's bench. He's contentedly watching the countryside pass by.

Gnogglebolt:"Well, I think it's safe to say our cover is blown entirely. The witch will likely be long gone by the time we get there."

Liatai:They're still pulling the cart, yes. :3

Gnogglebolt:"Fortunately, this trip may yet not be a total loss."

Elros:Elros was apparently up to finding himself an animal companion. A serval, in particular. He waves as he sees the cart approaching.

Tathi:"Or she'll be waiting to face us, all spelled up and thinking we'll be an easy defeat."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt pulls out Granch's ledger and idly leafs through it. (FINALLY. )

Thomas Lazarus:"..Well, then we'll just have to track her again. Maybe we'll find our elf druid friend?"

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 13 + 3 = 16 » Handle Animal, all stop!

Liatai:The mules pull to a stop.

Gnogglebolt:Noooooooooo! Interruption! CURSE YOU ELROS!

Tathi:Tathi looks up as the cart stops. "More crows?"

Liatai:XDGnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt and Four now HAVE THE SAME PLOT DENIAL CURSE

Barbarus:"Half-elf of the starboard bow!"

Barbarus:off*


 * Liatai snerks. x3

Thomas Lazarus:Tom waves to Elros with a smile.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt lurches as the carraige suddenly stops. "What the--what's going on?" Gnogglebolt asks through the roof to the drivers.

Liatai:Faerie, Ezer is under your control. :3

Barbarus:"It's Elros, linking up with us again."

Barbarus:"Gasp!"

Gnogglebolt:"Half-elf...is it Kethanis, or Elros?"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah!"

Barbarus:"And he has a friend!"

mace2:The commander's mace. Copy it and shrink it, Lia

Gnogglebolt:"A friend? Gnogglebolt hops out to greet Elros.

Elros:"The latter. And indeed. I'd like you all to meet Ezer"

Venezuela:The mule turns to sniff at the little cat.

Gnogglebolt:"Ah! Elros! Welcome back!"

Tathi:Tathi stays in the wagon, and goes back to her spellbooking.

Ezer:Ezer...meows? What sound does a serval make?

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt goes to shake Elro's hand in a welcoming return-greeting.

Meany:Servals roar like the T-Rex.

Meany:It's where the sound effect came from.

Gnogglebolt:"And...ah, and animal?" Gnogglebolt seems -slightly- deflated, but he keeps up a smile

Liatai:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMXV9KW81Jo

Ghostwish:jurassic park?

Ghostwish:No, that was a cross between a bear, a lion, and something else.

Miron:The second gnome is in a rather sombre mood for all of the morning. At least half of their mission was sabotaged, and they are likely in mortal danger no worse than that from the blackskulls

Barbarus:"Elros, lovely to see you and your new friend, but hop on into the carriage, so we can talk and move at the same time? :3"

Miron:With friends like some of these, who needs enemies

Dr. Hatari:Sounds a lot nicer than the one I found http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHJUAlFQ-ec&feature=fvst :B

Ezer:Ezer hops up onto the cart, and looks around at the people curiously. He looks fairly intelligent, for a cat.

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway, come in, come in friend. We are trying to get to Redtree as soon as possible."

Miron:The fact that a large, carnivorous feline is now riding with them doesn't help.

Liatai:It's about the same size as Miron, or smaller. :B

Miron:*to Elros* Is.. Is he trained well?

VAE:yes

Elros:Elros hops up into the cart. "Ah, good I found you when I did then. It would be a shame if you passed by."

Gnogglebolt:After the carraige starts moving again (with Gnogglebolt grousing as he did yesterday about the bumpy, 'slow' pace)

Tathi:Tathi perks up when she sees the serval. "What a darling animal! I didn't know they were in these parts!"

Gnogglebolt:"I should fill you in on what's happened, Elros."

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 20 + 3 = 23 » Handle animal to get them moving again!

Barbarus::DElros:"Yes, you needen't worry, he's trained."

Barbarus:They're hitting top speed again!

Tathi:"I wouldn't care. I tended a few wild ones.. back in the forest."

Miron:*Still eyes the serval from time to time*

Gnogglebolt:"Long story short, we've....well, we've completely blown our cover in the hunt for this witch."

Liatai:What's Kor's reaction to the big cat? x3

Elros:"Well, that doesn't sound terribly good."

Gnogglebolt:"Do you remember the demonic ravens we encountered at the goblin hideout?"

Kor:Not. Moving. An. Inch.

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 9 + 4 = 13 » Spot check on road hazzards!

Miron:And, what's about as bad, she has a reasonable gauge of how we fight, too. And extensive time to prepare or flee.

Thomas Lazarus:Tom simply sighs. "Such poor spirits, today."

Ezer:Ezer eyes the mouse. Are you dinner? :D

Tathi:Tathi just giggles, reaching up and petting the motion-less lump of black fur. "Of course, Kor here is terrified of him."

Barbarus:Barbarus' wagon smells of deliciously fresh meat, peeps with sensetive noses.

VAE:sensitive

TMG:(did you catch Gnogglebolt's question, alex?)

Tathi:She glances at Elros. "He knows better to than to eat someone else's pet, right?" She asks.

Ezer:*Ooh, meat. Good thing I just ate.*

Kor:O.O You cannot possibly be serious, woman!

Miron:Eating pets isn't the only thing i'd be worried about, looking at the size.

Elros:Yes, he should. I'll make sure he doesn't eat Kor."

Ezer:*Aww, killjoy. :P*

Miron:Why can't folks keep reasonable-sized pets, like Talib

Tathi:Tathi promptly picks up Kor, cupping him in her hands, and holding him out for the new pet to sniff. "Best they get to know each other then."

Meany:Going to be doing some light chores. ;o

Kor:WHAT THE SWEET FLIPPITY GEEBUS HAS POSSESSED YOU WOMAN!?

Meany:Ping me when you need another check.

Meany:Also, Kor.

Meany:Great Honking Weregeese is a much better explitive.

Tathi:"Oh quit fretting Kor. I'll have a new cat-fur cloak if he tries anything."

Ezer:Ezer sniffs at Kor. And licks him, mischevious little cat that he is.

Dr. Hatari::dVAE:bwahaahha

Kor:X_@ I am so eating your spellbook for this.

Tathi:Tathi just smirks, putting Kor back up on her shoulder. He promptly vanishes into her cloak.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt watches this animal goings-on with a raised eyebrow, but can't help but chuckle a little at how the mouse is squirming.

Thomas Lazarus:Tom glances over his shoulder, speaking towards the carriage in general. "Elros, did you have any trouble out here?"

Ezer:Ezer gives a bit of a yawn, and curls up. Wake him when we get there, would you?

Thomas Lazarus:"We've run across infernal animals. Foul-looking crows and wolves and such. Their whole eyes were just vicious red masses."

VAE:not mouse, tech. Rat.

Ghostwish:Eh, not much of a different. He's just larger, but doesn't net a bigger D&D size catergory. :P

Gnogglebolt:"Yes. As I was saying, do you remember those demonic ravens we saw back at the goblin hideout, Elros?"

Faerie:(...seeing as we didn't actually RP this, would Elros have run into trouble?)

Ghostwish:brb!

Liatai:Roll a Spot check, Elros.

Faerie:One sec.

Dr. Hatari:Venezuela spotted!

VAE:someone doesn't know rats

VAE:Rats are quite a lot bigger

Elros:spot « 1d20+10 = 1 + 10 = 11 »

Liatai:He saw several demonic-looking ravens in the trees. Up to you whether he tried to engage them or not.

Ghostwish:back!

TMG:Oh, -great- x_x

TMG:there goes Elros as being our ONE asset the witch doesn't know abou

TMG:*about

VAE:does it matter?

VAE:given our numbers, it's inconsequential

Ghostwish:Not as far as I can tell. :>

TMG:Ya just -haaaad- to ask if he saw anything, didn'tcha Alex? >.>

Dr. Hatari:You guys are really agonizing over that too much. Let's move on with out lives shall we. :P

Elros:"Hmm...now that you mention it, there were some rather demonic looking ravens. Ezer took a few swipes at them. Looking for food, probably."

VAE:though,... that makes me surprised why the wolves didn't attack *him*

TMG:Yes, let us continue on. Is elros going to answer Gnogglebolt'

TMG:s question?

TMG:He asked twice, now >.>

TMG:...nevermind

Miron:Oh well, nothing lost and nothing gained with that. Though, makes me surprised no wolves attacked you on your way.

Gnogglebolt:"Wait, they already saw you too?" Gnogglebolt smacks his forehead. "Great."

Thomas Lazarus:"Yeah.. there are probably a bunch more."

Elros:There were a number of them in the trees. Regrettable, it would be difficult for them not to have."

Miron:And? It isn't like Elros is some great secret asset we have against her. At best, it seems the ravens thought he was an unrelated traveller

Gnogglebolt:"Right...well, there were a few watching us, too."

Miron:Besides, it's no wonder a cat hunts birds.

Gnogglebolt:"I should have kept my head down, I was the only one they saw before. But we tried to eliminated them. We took down two, but a third escaped."

Miron:Whereas your and Tathi's attack on the birds was rather more telling i am sad to say.


 * Thomas Lazarus closes his eyes and sighs once more, bearing a weary smile.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances to Miron. "Actually, Elros is the other one here besides me who's seen them, and they us."

Thomas Lazarus:"So what is your feline friend's name?"

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway."

Miron:*sighs*

Gnogglebolt:"During our camp for the night, we were then accosted by a pack of demonic wolves. Once again, one escaped."

Elros:To Tom "Ezer. An old name that I happened to like the sound of."

Gnogglebolt:"So yes, Elros...that's how our cover is blown. The witch is likely gone by now, or ready for us. I'm not sure which is worse."

Gnogglebolt:"Still, all may not be lost."

Miron:Half-baked plans .... this is why the sting against the necromancers failed too...

Thomas Lazarus:"Ezer.. hmmmm. That reminds me of something, but I can't think of what."

Elros:"Mmm, I see."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt holds up Granch's ledger.


 * Thomas Lazarus knits his brow. Now it's going to bug me all day darn it what was that thing >:d

Gnogglebolt:The last two days in Castleton, I got all the symbols in this book identified."

Tathi:Tathi sighs, looking over the top of her book. "Gnogglebolt, if stealth was an imperitive, why take this loud, clunky wagon?"

Miron:I will tell you what is worse. She has noticed wolves aren't gonna do it.. so if she stays ,she'll have something far worse ready.

TMG:out of character

TMG:ghost, no one said anything about stealth

Miron:Tathi, stealth doesn't always mean silence.

Ghostwish:out of character

Ghostwish:stop answering ic quetions ooc

TMG:Miron was right, they could have mistaken us for travelers

Ghostwish:^_^

TMG:Gnogglebolt is the ONLY one that the ravens had seen before.

GM:Hear hear. Please keep the debate in-character, guys.

Miron:As Flint has said a few days ago, one hides a book in a library.

Dr. Hatari:The relentless brooding and moaning will be addressed at length in IRC, certainly. ;3

TMG:Well, it feels like an out-of-character misunderstanding, and I don't want to waste IC time clearing it up >_-

TMG:TRYING to advance plot, here

TMG:So I don't want these interruptions

GM:So stop stalling, Tech, and advance the plot. :P

Ghostwish:By slowing it down??? -.-

Miron:Wagons travel these roads day by day, anyways. If she fled from everyone of them, we wouldn't have work to do now.

VAE:Tech

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway! As I was trying to say."

VAE:THis game isn't one of those that advance terribly fast anyways

Gnogglebolt:"I got all the symbols in Granch's book identified."

VAE:you were here from the beginning, when we spent 12 or soessions at level 1

Gnogglebolt:"One of them belongs to a man who supposedly lives in Redtree."

Gnogglebolt:"If these disparate groups do not communicate with each other, -he- at least will not know we are coming."

Miron:*sighs with relief* So our time isn't totally wasted.

Miron:Who is the man?

Gnogglebolt:"We can hope, yes. The man's name is Johan Restren. His symbol is this..." Gnogglebolt points out the swirl and squiggle in the ledger.

Miron:What does he need corpses for?

Gnogglebolt:"Apparently, he is a known sculptor. Obviously, if he was purchasing bodies and people from Granch Redmaw, something more sinister is going on."


 * Thomas Lazarus blinks a few times.

Liatai:Be back in two shakes, carry on. :3

Thomas Lazarus:"I'm.. afraid you lost me."

Miron:Hmm, he might be a front-end for someone.

Thomas Lazarus:"Who's all this then?"

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm? Oh! I'm sorry, Thomas."

Miron:Definitely not a Blackskull, since they didn't bother with such sort of cover....

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt holds up the ledger again. "When I and my original associates stormed the goblin hideout, we found they had been supplying corpses and kidnapped people to various necromancers, under orders of Granch Redmaw."

Gnogglebolt:"Redmaw kept this ledger of who he did business with. There are no names, just crests."

Gnogglebolt:"As I said, I now have all the crests identified."

Thomas Lazarus:"Ohhh."

Meany:Nine-tenths of dishes done.

VAE:Oh, and Lia, edited Miron's total gold to be 300 less - the 20 % that goes to the Mace from his earnings.

Thomas Lazarus:"Not just an innocuous medical student, I take it?"

Gnogglebolt:"And so, one of these crests is paired with a man who lives in Redtree. So, if our hunt for the witch is a bust, we can go after him."

Tathi:"And thus why we are hunting them." Tathi says.

Gnogglebolt:"Assuming, as I said, they don't communicate with each other."

Gnogglebolt:"If they do, then this is all for naught, but we don't really have many other options."

Thomas Lazarus:"Well. A possible plan C, as it were, could be re-establishing contact with that.. Kethis(?) fellow."

Miron:They shouldn't ... otherwise she wouldn't buy the bodies herself, but use him as a frontend

Thomas Lazarus:"I imagine he has been busy while we were raiding the Nerullians."

Gnogglebolt:"Actually, finding Kethanis is our first priority."

Miron:Which i believe he might be anyways... just i have no idea for whom.

Gnogglebolt:"He may know if the witch has left or is still in the area."

Miron:Actually, dealing with this Restren seems like the top priority to me.

Gnogglebolt:"And he can help us. Finding him is the first thing on our to-do- list once we arrive in Redtree..."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt calls up through the canopy to the drivers/navigators.

Miron:No matter what Kethanis will tell us, the witch has the upper hand.

Gnogglebolt:"Hey up there, do you two know how far we are from Redtree at our current pace?"

Miron:Unless she's as thick as Baum Spindlethorn.


 * Thomas Lazarus simply looks perturbed now.

Barbarus:« 1d20+2 = 16 + 2 = 18 » Wis check.

Gnogglebolt:"Er, I mean, how long until we arrive?"

Thomas Lazarus:"No matter what? Are they not both druids?"

Miron:The Restren fellow on the other hand, he will have no idea.

Gnogglebolt:"Miron, Kethanis can help us no matter which one we go after."

Barbarus:Wis check was for judging the distance at present velocity.

Miron:Perhaps. But the moment of surprise isn't to be underestimated either. If we give him enough time to destroy evidence of him buying corpses.... we will take him, and promptly release him again on lack of evidence.

TMG:time, actually. Gnogglebolt corrected himself ^^;

Barbarus:"Let's put it to a vote."

Miron:Afrer all, what the goblins wrote in their ledger as their symbol for the buyer isn't a proof.

Gnogglebolt:"Miron, whatever are you talking about? He'll still be surprised if we cllect Kethanis first. In fact, I would be surprised if Kethanis isn't already waiting for us."

Barbarus:"All in favor of finding the friendly druid first, say aye."

Miron:We haven't his signature or anything.

Miron:If he is waiting for us, well enough. If he isn't...

VAE:(the last meant Kethanis)

VAE:"he" can be sadly ambiguous

Gnogglebolt:"In fact, if we get Kethanis first and go after the witch, Restren should still be unawares, so long as these groups don't communicate with each other."


 * Thomas Lazarus has a glazed look, at this point.

Gnogglebolt:"He won't know who we are, we won't be announcing ourselves, if the witch doesn't tell him anything, he's not even aware anyone compromised the goblin hideout."

Miron:Well enough... i was more pointing at dealing with the witch now, which is *his* priority

Barbarus:"So, we're ignoring the democratic process now?"

Thomas Lazarus:"I'm not really much for this kind of extensive over-analysis and theory-crafting. How about we get to the end of the road and look around?"

TMG:-_- Now this is getting tedious.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks up. "Good idea, thomas. There's nothing we can actually do now. Let us all just ready ourselves and we'll figure out what we'll do when we get there, once we know more about what we're up against."

Miron:Well enough. We decide when we find out whether he's waiting for us or not.

Liatai:Back, reading up. :3

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway, Barbarus! Do you know how long until we get there? An estimate?"

Liatai:Ten minutes. :3

Barbarus:"Ten minutes."

Tathi:Tathi snaps her book closed, and puts it back in her bag.

Barbarus:"And when we're done, I would like a clearer understanding of this group."

Barbarus:"If the democratic process isn't used, I'd like to know what process of decision making we -do- use."

Gnogglebolt:"Ten minutes? wait..."

Miron:Show me a place where the democratic process is used to great success.

Gnogglebolt:"We camped THAT CLOSE to redtree?!"

Barbarus:"No."

Elros:"Generally logic, or whoever actually has an opinion."

Liatai:No, you've been on the road for an hour or two.

TMG:Okay, now I've lost the timeline--ah.

VAE:still a fail

Barbarus:"My mules running as fast as they possibly can, for several hours, and the day before got us this close."

Barbarus:"And they'll need another long rest after this, too."

Gnogglebolt:"Right, of course..." Gnogglebolt checks over his equipment, adjusts his leather armor, and sits back in silence until they arrive.

VAE:heh.. love Barb talking about democratic process in the middle ages :P

Meany:Greeks. =3=

Meany:Map is loading slowly. :P

GM:After another ten minutes of travel, the group arrives in the village of Redtree... but, where is everyone? The streets, such as they are, look deserted.

Ghostwish:be mindful of the fact this isn't the middle ages.. it's D&D. :P

Dr. Hatari:Amen.

Meany:And now it's completely stalled. =3=

Faerie:What is this "Democratic process" of which you speak?

Thomas Lazarus:Tom thunks to the ground and seems glad to be able to stretch.

Tathi:Tathi peers out from the wagon. "Oh, this is not good."

TMG:...uh..

Tathi:She climbs out the back, still peering at the town.

TMG:this is a forest?

Meany:People call for a vote, they vote, the majority vote is the action they go with.

TMG:where's the town? o.O

Dr. Hatari:There are buildings.

Dr. Hatari:Look carefully at the shadow perimeters.

VAE:not so much what is it, but why should we do it that way

TMG:I don't see any o.o

Faerie:They're all vision-blocked. :B

Dr. Hatari:You can see the walls and doors a bit.

Ghostwish:I see the buildings too.

VAE:If anything, Miron's views would be more in line of Plato :3

TMG:OhTMG:Those big black squares

TMG:Got it. :B

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 3 + 4 = 7 » Spot check on that raptor.

Barbarus:Derp. :B

GM:Spot and Listen checks, all.

Barbarus:« 1d20+5 = 12 + 5 = 17 » Listen check.

Thomas Lazarus:« 1d20+2 = 11 + 2 = 13 » « 1d20+2 = 10 + 2 = 12 »

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt disembarks with the others. He too sees that the town seems deserted."

Elros:spot « 1d20+10 = 12 + 10 = 22 » and listen « 1d20+8 = 7 + 8 = 15 »

Thomas Lazarus:"Not very big, is it?"

Gnogglebolt:"Oh...no..." He starts muttering in a combination of harsh tongues under his breath.

Miron:« 1d20+5 = 4 + 5 = 9 » Listen « 1d20+3 = 4 + 3 = 7 » Spot

Gnogglebolt:Spot: « 1d20 = 17 » Listen: « 1d20+2 = 7 + 2 = 9 »

Ghostwish:« 1d20+1+2 = 17 + 1 + 2 = 20 » listen and « 1d20+1+2 = 11 + 1 + 2 = 14 » for Tathi!


 * Thomas Lazarus looks over his shoulder in bewilderment. "..."

Kor:« 1d20+3 = 6 + 3 = 9 » listen and « 1d20+3 = 16 + 3 = 19 » spot for Kor!

Miron:*looks around*

Miron:It seems we might be too late for *anything*

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt has his crossbow drawn and loaded

Thomas Lazarus:"...Well! I don't intend to let this talk start festering again." Tom walks over to the nearest door and knocks a few times.

Miron:*follows him*

Elros:"It would appear that we're being watched."

Miron:Careful, Tom!

Horse:You hear horses snorting within this building at your knock.

Thomas Lazarus:"Mmmhmm." He doesn't sound at all concerned.

Miron:hmm.. if they left the horses here...


 * Thomas Lazarus glances up at the sign.

Miron:fleeing people don't do that sort of thing.

Thomas Lazarus:"Anyone about? Travelers, here. Just getting the lay of the land."

Gnogglebolt:Can gnogglebolt see the bird in the center of town? And any results from his spot check?

Meany:Has the GM given results?

TMG:not for me...

Liatai:Results have been given, yes. And those of you who rolled 10 or higher on Spot can see the bird. :3

Tathi:"Wait!" Tathi hisses.

Miron:Let's check somewhere else, Tom

Dr. Hatari:Oop. =3=

Meany:Durn. :B

Ghostwish:geez people,w ait for the DM to announce that results are out. XD

Elros:"That bird...where have I seen i before...?"

Liatai:« 1d20+8 = 13 + 8 = 21 »

Gnogglebolt:"Thomas, get back here, you're too far from the rest of us....wait. Is that...is that Koehel?"

Tathi:"Something's moving about in the town. Near the tree, and to the buildings our left and right."

Dr. Hatari:I was honestly just way too concerned with dispelling the paranoia and pessimism and second-guessing as quickly as possible. :P

Barbarus:"One moment, I'll try getting these two unhitched."

Gnogglebolt:"Come on, everyone." Gnogglebotl starts walking towards Koehel. He nods to Tathi, acknowledging her statement."

Elros:Elros suggests that we don't do anything sudden though, lest we anger the tree-archers.

Miron:*still somewhat tense, but less so*

Koehel:The bird lifts its head and makes a cry of acknowledgement. Its feathers look somewhat ragged.

TMG:wait, Elros said that aloud?

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 7 + 3 = 10 » Handle Animal check to get them moving again.

Liatai:Success!

Koehel:It ruffles its wings, then flaps down to the base of the tree, looking up at the group.

Meany:Grandma Broom's General Store? :B

Faerie:Elros...tried to say it quietly? :B

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt takes a few more steps towards the bird. "Koehel? Koehel, come?" he holds out a hand, though his crossbow is still in his other hand and Gnogglebolt keeps twisting his head around, looking every which way.

Koehel:The bird hops over. The harness on its back does not contain any letters.

Thomas Lazarus:"Oh, hey, it's Koehel." :3

Liatai:Listen checks, all!

Thomas Lazarus:« 1d20+2 = 2 + 2 = 4 »

Barbarus:« 1d20+5 = 1 + 5 = 6 » Listen.

Gnogglebolt:"Good, Koehel..." Gnogglebolt toalks to no one in particular. "We need to know what happened here...um..." He looks back at the bird. "Ah...Koehel? Er..take us to Kethanis? Kethanis, master, home?" (handle animal check?)

Tathi:« 1d20+1+2 = 19 + 1 + 2 = 22 » listen for the elf lady, and « 1d20+3 = 19 + 3 = 22 » listen for Kor!

Gnogglebolt:Listen: « 1d20+2 = 19 + 2 = 21 »

Liatai:Wow. XD Good going, Tathi! And Gnogglebolt!

TMG:wow, three 19s in a row o.O

Elros:listen « 1d20+8 = 2 + 8 = 10 »

Faerie:Wow, I am fail today. :B

Dr. Hatari:More like nineteam. Eh? Ehh? :B

Dr. Hatari:Okay sorry.

Liatai:Is that everyone? :3

Liatai:Miron?

Gnogglebolt:"And...wait. Elros? Did you say something about tree-archers--" Gnogglebolt's ears suddenly perk up and he whips around, leveling his crossbow at something.


 * Thomas Lazarus glances to Gnogglebolt and the others. He still doesn't seem to understand why they're so provoked.

Gnogglebolt:"I heard something."

Miron:« 1d20+5 = 13 + 5 = 18 » Listen

Tathi:"Something's begind the tree!" Tathi whispers.

Tathi:« 1d20+2 = 3 + 2 = 5 » bluff check.

Miron:Someone went down it... or they have really big acorns *snerk*

Elros:"Easy Gnogglebolt, they aren't aiming for us. But they are observing."

Gnogglebolt:"Wait...you're saying we're being watched by people of this town?" Gnogglebolt lowers his crossbow at whatever it was he was aiming at.

Miron:I wonder what did we just walk into.

Gnogglebolt:Er, lowers -slightly-

Barbarus:Barbie has made no movements other than keeping his war mules in check.

Brenner Fox:Or are they? A human man steps out from behind the tree, longbow drawn and pointed directly at Gnogglebolt. "Speak. Who are you? We have you surrounded, so don't think of running."

Elros:"I would assume the people of this town, yes. They seem to be people, at the very least."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt doesn't lower his crossbow yet, but keeps an eye on the man who just revealed himself. "Ah, we are travelers, passing through this town."

Gnogglebolt:"Are you an inhabitant of this town?"

Sicol is disconnected.

Gnogglebolt:"If so, why such a reception?"


 * Thomas Lazarus waves cautiously, making sure to display his rosaries. ^^;

Brenner Fox:The man lowers the longbow slightly. "Travelers? How did you evade the fiendwolves in the forest?"

Bearded Scout:Spot « 1d20+3 = 17 + 3 = 20 »

Barbarus:"War mules."

Thomas Lazarus:"Oh boy.." He takes on a flat look, expecting a lecture.

Gnogglebolt:"How did we...Oh. Oh dear."

Gnogglebolt:"Erm...we didn't."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt lowers his crossbow.

Bearded Scout:"Brenner," a voice speaks up from beside the stables, and another human with a longbow steps out. "It's okay, they have a cleric of Pelor with them, look."

Venezuela:EYE OF SAURON. « 1d20-2 = 9 - 2 = 7 » Intimidate.

Miron:pffft

Honduras:« 1d20-2 = 12 - 2 = 10 » Intimidate.

VAE:err

Tathi:"We did not. We slayed all but one, which fled."

VAE:prfft

Dr. Hatari:Venezuala ends up looking like you might expect an intimidating mule to look.

VAE:eye of glum, maybe

Miron:Indeed, our friend here is a templar of Pelor.

Brenner Fox:The man also lowers his longbow, and makes a signal toward the tree behind the group. "You slew them? But you don't look like you have a scratch on you -- have you come to help us?"

Thomas Lazarus:"It's true. We had actually heard that there were troubles out this way, and had been traveling here to help."

Gnogglebolt:"I was wondering what the deal was with those strange wolves. Don't know where they came from. Perhaps you can fill us in?" Gnoggebolt says. And he hopes beyond hope his allies are smart enough to at least not question--

Gnogglebolt:Crap

Gnogglebolt:erm...who said their line first? Gnogglebolt, or Thomas? ^^;

Dr. Hatari::BMiron:*sighs*

Ghostwish:Thomas, obviously.

Brenner Fox:The man's demeanor quickly lightens. "And you seem acquainted with Koehel... Are you friends of that half-elven shaman who came here about a week ago?"

TMG:I'm asking if there's going to be a roll or anything. Remember this with you and liz in my game, ghost?

TMG:And, nevermind.

Gnogglebolt:"Kethanis Whitebranch? Ah...we've heard of him, yes."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances behind him, and gives a quick, -pointed- look to Thomas.

Dr. Hatari:Well, we should probably reserve diplomacy and things for actual negotiating. We're kind of just handing out basic facts about ourselves.

VAE:yes, but announcing with full mouth why we are here is a bad idea

Thomas Lazarus:Predictably, Thomas doesn't seem to pick up on any underlying significance.

VAE:especially since we have to deal with Restren

VAE:but fine... for thomas it's sort of in character

Dr. Hatari:Alright, now you're starting to infect them.

Dr. Hatari:It is not. That. Bad.

TMG:So it doesn't cross Thomas' mind that if an ally is deliberately witholding information, that the ally might have a -reason- for it?

VAE:Of course i am. Always watchful!

TMG:Does Thomas have no trust>

Dr. Hatari:He, and I, have no idea what the problem is. Carry on.

VAE:thomas is a cleric of pelor

TMG:Okay, So thomas doesn't know what trhe problem is

VAE:did you ever see the sun being subtle?

Brenner Fox:"Well, this is a fortuitous circumstance. I only wish you had arrived two days ago, before... well." The man slides the arrow he had nocked back into its quiver.

TMG:but is he at leat smart enough to know that there IS one, and play along?

Barbarus:No reactions to Barbie's...bizzare appearance?

TMG:and does he trust his companion enough that they might have a very good reason?

Dr. Hatari:He would decide in real-time whether he was or not. This morning, he isn't. He thinks there has been too much conspiracy talk.

VAE:he doesn't even know them that well

TMG:...Right. Okay then.

VAE:he literally joined them a week ago

Thomas Lazarus:"What's wrong, exactly?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt holsters his crossbow. "Well, as for no scratches, a few potions go a long way for that." Gnogglebolt says.

Thomas Lazarus:"Besides the rather self-evident evil animal issue on the roads."

Tathi:"I take it you've been attacked before then?" Tathi speaks up.

Gnogglebolt:"But, we're just stopping for a few days before continuing our journey."

Gnogglebolt:"Perhaps we can mvoe inside, to a more private place?"

Brenner Fox:"Brenner Fox, member of the Redtree militia and owner of the White Fox Inn." The man salutes. "Sorry for the cold reception, but the elf is correct. We've been under siege by those druids for far too long."

Miron:Under siege?

Barbarus:Druids. Plural. Joy.

Tathi:"Druids?" Tathi asks. "Lovely. Seems we have a cabal to deal with."

Gnogglebolt:"Jalron Spidlehill." Gnogglebolt says. "And that is most unfortunate."

Gnogglebolt:"So, shall we move inside?"


 * Thomas Lazarus flinches.

Brenner Fox:Uh-oh. Sense Motive - « 1d20+7 = 14 + 7 = 21 »

Brenner Fox:You might want to roll that Bluff check, Gnogglebolt, if you're going to try to decieve this guy.

Gnogglebolt:Bluff: « 1d20+3 = 1 + 3 = 4 ». However, the bluff is not actually for the benefit of the man in front of his. Gnogglebolt, out of sight of anyone -else-, winks at the man.

Gnogglebolt:SSHHHHH

Faerie:Fail!


 * Thomas Lazarus rests his hands on his hips and gives the gnome a harsh look.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt does move inside, though he seems to be getting -slightly- agitated.

Gnogglebolt:"So, inside? Shall we?"

Miron:*rolls his eyes*

Brenner Fox:"You can speak freely, 'Jalron.' We do a good job of keeping this part of the town free of those ravens." He looks somewhat offended.

Miron:After we come back, i'll get Robin to give htis bunch a crash course in operating undercover

Thomas Lazarus:"Finally, a reasonable voice."

Gnogglebolt:"...Erm.. even sitll, I'd like to be by a warm fire. Can we please move inside?"

Barbarus:"You do what you want. These two need a stable. :|"

Miron:*steps forwards*

Gnogglebolt:"The travel was been weary, you see."

Gnogglebolt:"I would very much like to rest."

Miron:We do have our reasons to keep our names from you, but our intentions are clean. We wish you no harm.

Brenner Fox:"Hrrm. Most of the town is in the town hall discussing the matter of the disappearances and fiendwolves. I would offer my inn, but it's currently occupied. To the stables."

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 9 + 3 = 12 » Handle Animal.

Thomas Lazarus:"Thank you very much."

Miron:*nods* Thank you.

Gnogglebolt:"very well." Gnogglebolt starts walking for the stablews, and on the way, surrpetitiously bumps Miron.

Brenner Fox:"Forgive me if I am somewhat doubtful of your intentions, gnomes." The man gives both gnomes a hard look.


 * Thomas Lazarus mutters harshly at them, "Geeze, you two."

TMG:can't get in

Miron:*in Gnomish to gnogglebolt*

Brenner Fox:"Inside."

Miron says in Gnome: If you want to pretend to be someone else, learn to do it convincingly. This way all you have done is make him suspicious

Barbarus:The Catfolk is busy unhitching Venezuela.


 * Thomas Lazarus looks to one of the horses idly. A regular horse, of course?

Barbarus:"Stand clear, war mule on the move.

Barbarus:"Brenner Fox:He'll just wait for you to be finished, catfolk.

Miron:*clears the way - he has seen those hooves in action*

Barbarus:And the same for you, Honduras.

Liatai:Yep, regular horses.

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 14 + 3 = 17 » Handle Animal to get them inside.

Barbarus:"Please, for the betterment of everyone involved. Stay out of the wagon. :3"

Barbarus:"How you two doing? Enjoying the accomodations? :3"

Gnogglebolt:When Brenner finally enters and the door closes, Gnogglebolt finally truly relacxes and moves up to him.

Venezuela:Hee.

Honduras:Haw.

Gnogglebolt:"Apologies for the deception. My name is really Gnogglebolt Sparkgear."

Gnogglebolt:"Yes, we are here about the rogue witches."

VAE:wait, he should roll sense motive too about this one

Gnogglebolt:"But there's something else."

Gnogglebolt:"There'

Miron:*in Gnomish again*

Brenner Fox:"The disappearances, I assume."

Gnogglebolt:"We know there is another man in this town who, if not in league with the witches, is at least practicing similar things."


 * Thomas Lazarus folds his arms into his robe sleeves and simply observes the discussion, for now.

Gnogglebolt:"I did not know if this man was part of the people watching us, so I didn't want to take any chances.

Miron says in Gnome: Might not be the best idea to speak... oh well

Gnogglebolt:"He is Johan Rescan, the supposed sculptor. Is he here?"

VAE:Rescan?

TMG:ERP

TMG:Restren

Brenner Fox:"Jonah Restren?" The man's eyebrows raise.

Miron:Yes.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods. "Indeed. Do you know him?"

Miron:If it helps your confidence in us, look at this *shows his Leaden Mace badge*

Brenner Fox:"Most of the town does." The man scowls. "He's constantly after my sisters and every woman under the age of fifty in Redtree."

Tathi:Tathi wrinkles her nose in disgust.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt groans.

Miron:*smirks*

Gnogglebolt:"Unfortunately, I must inform you his motitives are likely even worse than lecherousness."

Thomas Lazarus:"..." He simply frowns.

Miron:Indeed. We have reasons to suspect he was buying corpses from a particular source.

Gnogglebolt:"You see, he has purches corpses and kidnapped individuals from a certain bugbear. A bugbear who was also supplying known necromancers."

Gnogglebolt:*purchased

Gnogglebolt:"Including the witches who assault you now."

Brenner Fox:"That sounds rather dark, even for Restren." The man frowns.

Gnogglebolt:"Fortunately, I'm starting to think it's unlikely they are in league with each other."

Tathi:"My guess is that it is all just business to them."

Miron:It might sound so... but then, many murderers and necromancers live under the facade of law-abiding citizens.

Barbarus:Barbie really looks like he could care less.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt pulls out the ledger. He shows Brenner the entries where there are five diagonal slashes, which are the druids who are attacking the town, and the arcan swirl/squiggle, which Gnogglebolt says he was told was the crest of Restren."

Miron:We have reasons to suspect he is at the very least, acting as a middleman in such an operation.


 * Brenner Fox looks down at the wildcat near his feet before he was shown the ledger... Handle Animal « 1d20+7 = 13 + 7 = 20 »

Ezer:Hmm yes? Do you need something? :3


 * Brenner Fox kneels down to the gnome's level to get a look at the ledger, but in the meantime, holds out a hand for Ezer to sniff/examine.

Ezer:Ezer sniffs Brenner. You don't smell like fox. But you do smell like other animals. :o

Brenner Fox:"... That's Restren's signature, all right..."


 * Thomas Lazarus leans over the gnomes slightly to get a look, himself.

Kor:Evil, evil cat, I say!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt sighs. "Dire indeed. I am sorry to bring you this news."

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 9 + 4 = 13 » Search.

Gnogglebolt:"As said, we came here primarily for the witch, with Restren as a secondary target."

Barbarus:For any eavesdroppers.

Ezer:What was that? Do I hear a little mouse snack?

Liatai:That horse looks mighty suspicious! >:O

Liatai:... Nah, just kidding, no eavesdroppers. XP

Thomas Lazarus:"..So you understand our presence, we hope. If you could, tell us about this siege on your people. We weren't even aware you were in direct danger when we departed."

Brenner Fox:"How much did Whitebranch manage to tell you?"

Miron:Indeed... even though these wolves have crept up to our city as well

Gnogglebolt:"I don't know how you do things here, but I don't think we should alert Restren that he is compromised just yet."

Barbarus:"He's a sculptor?"

Miron:The best thing would be to lure him out, and promptly arrest him.

Barbarus:"Does he have any commissions right now?"

Gnogglebolt:"Not much."

Barbarus:"And how much does he charge?"

Gnogglebolt:"the last letter we got was over three days ago."

Miron:This would allow us to search through his workplace, and ask him questions.

Gnogglebolt:"He said to go to the White Fox Inn and ask for him there."

Miron:I have saved my Elixir of Truth i bought for just this purpose.

Gnogglebolt:"Kethanis didn't say anything about a siege in his last letter to us."


 * Thomas Lazarus rubs his brow. "Well, I believe unless there has been an elaborate sort of ruse set up using his identity, that he'll no longer be doing comissions."

Brenner Fox:"He advertises them, but I never see them... hrrm." The man's expression darkens.

Miron:Could you get him out to speak on some pretense? Like matters of town defense.

TMG:brb

Brenner Fox:"He didn't talk about the disappearances, then. There's been a spate of people vanishing from the town as of late, not just victims of animal attacks -- though those have been occuring with alarmingly increasing frequency, as well."

Ezer:It wasn't me, I swear!

Miron:If our suspicions will be dispelled, not much will happen. If not, it's still the best way as practicioners of unholy arts are a danger beyond the comprehension of most.

Ezer:>.>

Tathi:Tathi shakes her head sadly. "Druids gone bad. This is never a good occurance."

Miron:*Anyone* going bad isn't a good occurence.

Brenner Fox:"Whitebranch believed the disappearances were connected to the druids attacking the town, and left two days ago to question people on the outskirts of the village, leaving Koehel to wait for him." He frowns. "... No one's seen him since."

Barbarus:>:O

Barbarus:The catfolk bristles!

Gnogglebolt:"Oh dear." Gnogglebolt frowns.

Brenner Fox:"From what you tell me, now, I wonder if Restren is involved."

Miron:That is why we should arrest him first.

Barbarus:"Arrest? Oh no."

Miron:He seems to be a covert enemy, and such are more dangerous than overt ones.

Tathi:"Oh I dunno, Miron. Evil wizards do leave ever so interesting spellbooks for me to study after I've killed them." Tathi says with a smirk.

Barbarus:"I'm going to give him to Venezuela to play with. :["


 * Thomas Lazarus looks exasperated.

Thomas Lazarus:"..If I may?"

Gnogglebolt:"But what are your thoughts on the matter, Mister Fox?"

Elros:I believe our intent is to avoid killing him, if at all possible.

Miron:No... he might have valuable information for us. Besides, we have little idea *what* he is doing.

Brenner Fox:"By all means, Pelorite, speak."

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm?" Gnogglebolt looks back to Thomas.

Miron:Speak, Thomas

Thomas Lazarus:"Let's go visit his shop and make sure he's responsible for all the evil we're accusing him of, and not give him the initiative in hiding it."

Miron:Wise words.

Tathi:"Hear hear."

Miron:But it is best that someone else speaks to him first. He might be suspecting of strangers.


 * Thomas Lazarus releases a breath. "Thank you."


 * Brenner Fox slowly reaches out to scritch Ezer behind the ears.

Miron:As i have said.. .Brenner here might lure him out to talk on pretense of speaking of town militia and defense.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances at Thomas.

Gnogglebolt:"Well, of course."

Miron:That should give us an opportunity to look through his "atelier"

Meany:Ping me when this little debate is over with. :P

Brenner Fox:"Restren wouldn't be very inclined to speak to me, I'm afraid." The man smiles wryly. 'Not after what I told him I'd do if I caught him making passes at my sisters again."

Miron:Anyone in town he might speak to?


 * Thomas Lazarus slowly pans to Tathi. :>

Gnogglebolt:"...Hmm..."

Tathi:Tathi blinks, catching Thomas' gaze.. She looks clueless for a moment.. and then her eyes widen, and look very cross. "Ohhhh no. No way! I've been hit on enough to last your entire lifespan!"

Gnogglebolt:"He has a vice..."

Brenner Fox:"Women or elf-kin, though the only elf-kin in the central area of town I know of is ten years old."

Tathi:Tathi facepalms. "You have got to be kidding me."

Brenner Fox:"Most of the others have been victims of either animal attacks or whoever is pulling these disappearing acts."

Miron:Look, Tathi. Short of dressing Barbarus up as Barbara, you are the only one of us who has a chance.

Kor:Bwahahaha! Sweet, karmic vengence! Squeak!


 * Thomas Lazarus doesn't say a word. 0:3

Miron:Also, Brenner.

Dr. Hatari:Hahahaha, oh man

Elros:"Unfortunately, you may be the only one who can speak to him. If anything happens though, you should have a way to signal the rest of us, if it would make you feel better.

Elros:"Gnogglebolt:"Yes, perhaps we can use this to our advantage. If Restren comes out of his domicile on his usual hunt, that will give us time to check his house. As for who is going to do that, well..." Gnogglebolt takes note of Tathi. "Maybe we can wait for him to just come out on his own."

Miron:Does Restren ever leave his atelier?

Brenner Fox:"His what?"

Tathi:Tathi looks down, raising an eyebrow at Miron.. then she smirks over at Barbarus. "You know, that might actually be fun."

VAE:DMFA reference of course

VAE:Dan dressed up as female, remember/

VAE:?Tathi:But then she sighs, and shakes her head. "Fine, come up with a list of questions for me to ask, and I'll be bait."

Miron:The place where he works.

Faerie:I was just thinking that. x3

Faerie:Unless you think Elros is bish enough to pull it off. :P

Miron:If Tathi strikes a conversation with him while he's outside... it will keep him out long enough.

Miron:At least so i hope.

Gnogglebolt:"Actually, you might not even need to approach him, Miss Tathi."

Brenner Fox:"Ah, his studio. He does, but much more rarely as of late."

Miron:And it is far more believable than she just "accidentally" coming around to his house.

Brenner Fox:"Though if he's involved in some wrongdoing, that doesn't surprise me."

Gnogglebolt:"If his chasing is as rampant as miter Fox here says, then perhaps him just hearing that there is a new elf female in town may have him emerge on his own."

Tathi:"That settles it then." She says, sighing again. "I cannot believe I am agreeing to do this. Where is this studio of his?"


 * Thomas Lazarus tries hard to suppress his amusement.

Miron:No need to know that just yet.

Gnogglebolt:"So you don't need to approach him just yet. Let's give it some time as we rest and recuperate ourselves."

Thomas Lazarus:"Don't worry, Tathi. We won't let him get away with actually pulling anything. We'll be around."

Miron:All in all, it might be best to spread out news we are a band of hunters looking to clear out the wolves for their pelts.

Thomas Lazarus:"... Not that we're his biggest concern if he were to try."

Tathi:"Like I'd need your help?" Tathi says smugly, letting a little bit of lightning dance around her hands.

Tathi:"And why are we resting? Did we not just sleep the night before?"

Gnogglebolt:"Let him come out and come to you. If we are to believe Mister Fox, then he wouldn't let an opportunity pass by."

Miron:It is close enough to truth to allow us safe movement, but innocuous enough that he'll not suspect anything.

Brenner Fox:"North of town, on the edge of the forest --" The man jumps a little at the sight of the magic crackling.

Gnogglebolt:"Resting, preparing for how we're going to assault the witch, and so forth.

Tathi:She shrugs. "Fine. Might as well make myself noticable. Where's the local social highlight of this little town?"

Elros:"It is important to sleep often, to maintain health."

Miron:Just let the people in the inn know what i have said, Brenner.

Brenner Fox:"Unfortunately, that would be my inn," he says with a frown. "Which I doubt he plans on frequenting any time soon."

Miron:We are but a group of hunters, looking to kill the wolves for their pelts. After all, Barbarus here knows how to skin a beast.

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway, what does this Mister Restren look like? How will we know him when we see him?"

Miron:Your inn perhaps - but consider this.

Tathi:Tathi groans. "Great, sounds like I get to play close to the skum's den then."

Gnogglebolt:"And...hmm. What is the second-best place for Tathi to settle down?"

Gnogglebolt:"I mean, by your own description, surely Restran must come out -sometime- every now and again.

Miron:I have read in a wizard's book that everyone in the country, you can reach through a chain of no more than five-ten people.

Gnogglebolt:"Which means that he then must -go- somewhere."

Miron:If someone who knows someone who knows Restren hears of it, it's as good as him hearing it himself.

Brenner Fox:"I'm not certain when he will come out again, that's what I'm saying. He's been sticking to his studio like glue for the past two weeks."

Thomas Lazarus:"As amusing as the ploy sounded, perhaps we should, indeed, just go."

Tathi:Tathi sighs, shifting her weight to one foot as she puts a hand on her hip. "So, who's got a good saleswoman pitch?" She asks sarcastically.

Gnogglebolt:"Well, he's a sculptor. You could just say you want one."

Gnogglebolt:"If you're going to approach him first."

Gnogglebolt:"...Although."

Gnogglebolt:"I must say I am actually -against- actually approaching him."

Tathi:Tathi tilts her head a little, pondering. "Hrm. Not a bad idea. We'll go with that." She says, and looks to Brenner Fox. "Where is this studio of his?"

Miron:I agree with Gnogglebolt.


 * Thomas Lazarus seems phased. "W-why?"

Gnogglebolt:"Even if he lets you in under that guise, we wouldn't keep things in sight where a customer could see them."

Gnogglebolt:*He wouldn't

Miron:Let the prey reach the trap, not the opposite.


 * Thomas Lazarus seems terribly confused again.

Brenner Fox:"As I said, north of town, on the edge of the forest."

Tathi:"So what other options are there, Gnogglebolt? Wait for him to come out, which he will not?"

Gnogglebolt:"This is why he needs to be drawn out, so that others of us can actually enter his building and perform a thorough search."

Miron:Hmm, makes me wonder.

Thomas Lazarus:"What's wrong with just.. ah, just going inside and looking? ^^;"

Miron:Are you *sure * he hasn't left the town for weeks?

Tathi:"He will not be drawn out. We've been over this." Tathi says, heading outside, as if the matter were settled.

Miron:If it is so, he actually might be dead at the moment.

TMG:wwait wait wait

TMG:Okay, Now I'm getting confused.

Miron:It might well be he has outlived his usefulness

Tathi:Tathi starts heading north, looking for this studio.

TMG:HEY

Miron:Wait, Tathi!


 * Thomas Lazarus just blinks at the gnomes in wonder a few times and walks outside as well.

Miron:*curses profoundly in Gnomish*

TMG:....guys? Hello?

Thomas Lazarus:"Someone should watch her, of course."

Tathi:She doesn't wait.

Miron:*sighs*

TMG:....Forget it. I'm getting a sandwich.

Ghostwish:XPDr. Hatari:Seriously, this over-analysis is getting epidemic.

Dr. Hatari:That's all.

TMG:canntot believe this...

Miron:Saint Cuthbert says obstinacy brings lumps to the heads of the unfaithful.

Ghostwish:Extremely. I'm forcing the plot to move forward.

Miron:I hope Tathi won't find this out on her own skull.

VAE:It's not overanalysis

VAE:it's proper planning.


 * Brenner Fox moves out of the way to allow people out of the stables, waiting for everyone to leave.

Ghostwish:planning on something you don't know half the details about and cannot find them out is called stupid. Moving on!

VAE:ALL the more reason to tread carefully

TMG:back, now.

Dr. Hatari:It is kind of baseless theorycrafting in lieu of just grabbing the item out of the box.

TMG:Hatari

Dr. Hatari:I'm with Ghost.

VAE:you can prepare a mode of action that is least likely to eff up.

TMG:how do you propose to search the building while Restran is inside it?

Dr. Hatari:By grabbing him, and searching.

VAE:"clever"

Dr. Hatari:Thomas isn't that concerned with due process.

VAE:a) look at the eff up if we are wrong


 * Brenner Fox is still waiting for people to leave. >.>

TMG:so Thomas is already going back on his own thoughs of making sure he's not innocent first?

Tathi:Tathi pauses, glancing at this apparently north-most building. Any clues that it might be a sculpture's residence?

VAE:b) he might out up a fight even if he's innocent, as anyone would.

Liatai:Actually, that's a general store. The sculptor's studio is on the outskirts of town, a new map... which if people finish debating, I will move you to.

TMG:I mean,if Thomas is worried about making sure he's our actual target first, it should also follow being against acually grabbing the man. It's just an inconsistency, so tell me, is that actually what's going on? Is Thomas acting inconsistent? If yes, then okay.

Dr. Hatari:You can't trust us to handle it at the time of arrival in a non-ridiculous manner?

Tathi:Tathi sure isn't debating. She doesn't know it, but she's an adventurer at heart. :>

Ghostwish:I see it! Movin' token. :>

GM:"It is said that no plan ever survives contact with the enemy." So get to scoutin'!

GM:Shoo shoo! Get out of the stables! >:O

VAE:That's what one calls a shitty plan.


 * Elros is shooed by divine forces! o.o;

Dr. Hatari:You can leave Tom to me. I'm not worried about betraying my character. :3

GM:This is true. Tech, this is your second warning about telling other people how to play their characters.

VAE:when did he get first one?

TMG:what? o.O I didn't tell hatari how to play thomas

TMG:I was just trying to confirm if there really was an incnsistency

Tathi:Tathi glances back at Gnogglebolt. "Good to see you finally pulled your head away from your battleplans to actually take action." She says, and then points at the corner of the house. "Now head around there and check for windows, good spots for you and the others to watch from.

TMG:which there is, so, okay. Fine.

Liatai:Wait, where's Tathi?

Ghostwish:About 10 feet from the door of the sculptor's place. :>

Dr. Hatari:It doesn't have to play out as run in, grab, throw down. I might have been embellishing out of character. Or I might not have. We can handle chewing the gum as we walk in.

Dr. Hatari:We've just been doing too much agonizing lately. I would like us to hop along!

Miron:Ones without a plan help the enemy by their actions.

Dr. Hatari:Lia: near the Koehel tree

Miron:This man probably isn't an idiot..besides we need to confirm what we suspect

Dr. Hatari:Oh wait =3=


 * Thomas Lazarus sighs haggardly.

Meany:waaaaaaaaaaaot

Meany:wait too

Thomas Lazarus:"It'll be fine."

Meany:Where's venezula? :o

Liatai:In the stables.

Ghostwish:obviously didn't come. :P

VAE:hmm, does Miron have Hold Person prepared?

Ghostwish:er, you would know that, not the DM, VAE.

Dr. Hatari:That's.. your call. :P

TMG:why are you asking someone else, danman? o.O

VAE:well, the thing is, since the last preparation , we have slept and reset stuff once again.

VAE:am asking the DM sortta.

TMG:Okay then. Either re-use the list, or make a new one.

TMG:Hop to, man. Probably should have done this already. Ghost is always on top of that.

GM:At the moment, the DM is too occupied with trying to type up intro text. Choose yer own dang spell list. :B

VAE::PTathi:Tathi sighs, looking towards Thomas. "Allright, since the gnome seems to be comatose by us actually moving at a normal pace, can you search around the sides and find a good place to watch from?"

VAE:oh well, i'll use the last list, so he doesn't.. otherwise it's too metagamey :B


 * Thomas Lazarus glances away with a wince. "They're just ... really, really cautious. You get used to it. Sort of."


 * Thomas Lazarus casts a Protection from Evil spell on Tathi.

Tathi:Tathi just snorts, and mutters something in elvish. « 1d20+2 = 3 + 2 = 5 » bluff check.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt moves around to the other side.

Tathi:"And be quiet about it!" She hisses.

Miron:*Miron is mumbling a prayer to Saint Cuthbert for the success of this operation*

GM:After a little searching, you arrive at a small, rather tumble-down sort of cabin on the edge of the woods. The sign reading "Restren Studios" is barely even legible -- when's the last time it was painted?

Elros:"You would think, for an artist, he could keep his sign painted."

Tathi:"Some sculpturer." Tathi mutters. "Don't most sculptures make their own signs?"

Miron:*quietly*Everyone move somewhere out of obvious sight!

Ghostwish:ULTIMATE CRITICISM ATTACK

Barbarus:Barbie, limited without Venezuela acting as a pack mule, is only carrying his longbow, and armor weapons as weapons.

Dr. Hatari:+2 to AC/saves against evil, of course. 4 minutes.

Miron:If we want to use her as bait, we shouldn't just stand there like idiots

Elros:Elros hides in a bush. Hide « 1d20+5 = 14 + 5 = 19 »

Barbarus:« 1d20+1 = 12 + 1 = 13 » Hide.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglbolt uses his small size to keep low and move around the house, using the bushes as cover. He also notices the statue. Anything interesting about it, upon an inspection?

Thomas Lazarus:Tom plays it safe, and simply keeps his profile flat against a corner of the house away from windows.

Miron:Miron hides behind the corner. Hide « 1d20+4 = 5 + 4 = 9 » (Dexterity, right? )

Dr. Hatari:Yup

VAE:ack

VAE:low roll again

Liatai:Roll a Search check if you're investigating the statue. :3

Barbarus:Darn you, armor penalty. >:o

Tathi:Tathi kneels down, setting Kor on the groujnd. "Scamper. Stay close to Thomas." She says simply, and the little rat heads off to the side.


 * Thomas Lazarus glances to Kor, and kneels with an open palm.

Liatai:... though the notion of people hiding in bushes reminds me of this. XD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zekiZYSVdeQ

Tathi:Tathi sighs loudly, walking up to the door, and knocking on it.

Ezer:Ezer puts his paws over his face. Can't see me~

Gnogglebolt:Search: « 1d20+4 = 1 + 4 = 5 »

TMG:X_X

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 17 + 4 = 21 » Search?

Barbarus::DLiatai:It looks very well-made, Gnogglebolt.

TMG:well, fortunately, retries are allowed on search. xD

TMG:tell me when I can retry again

Miron:« 1d20+7 = 2 + 7 = 9 » Search

VAE:BLARGH

Dr. Hatari:Instance #384,283 of non-stealth party attempting what they're worst at. Aaand, action!


 * VAE hisses

VAE:gnomes are stealthy

VAE:it's just my usual fail rolls

Barbarus:"..."

Barbarus:"Psst. Gnogglebolt."

Barbarus:"Miron too, if you can."

Jonah Restren:The door cracks open. "Hello? -- Ah! Hello! Who might you be? I'm certain I would remember such a striking elven face around this little town..."

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 16 + 3 = 19 » Bluff.

VAE:ahahha

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances at barbarus quizzically.

VAE:Barbarus with a striking elven face

Barbarus:"This statue....it's extremely well done. Eyelashes, hair strands, bite marks on it's finger."

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 17 + 3 = 20 » Bluff.

Dr. Hatari:x3 @ the clip

Gnogglebolt:"...Hmm. Apparently he is very good?"

Barbarus:"It's...a bit beyond human skill."

Tathi:Tathi, doing her best not to retch, puts on the best smile she can muster. "Hello! I understand you are a sculpture?" She says in the best sunshine voice she can muster.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt shrugs.


 * Thomas Lazarus keeps an ear pivoted towards Tathi and the suspected predator. Kor can probably plainly see his Momma Bear expression. >:o

VAE:can i check it with spellcraft in the meantime?

Kor:Kor, on the other hand, is enjoying this immensely. Someone invests heavily in karma..

Dr. Hatari:This entire strategy is amazing. x3

Jonah Restren:"That I am! One of the best in central Akellon, though of course, I don't mean to brag. Surely a lady as beautiful as you, arriving at my doorstep.... You must want to see your face immortalized in stone!"

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 6 + 4 = 10 » Knowledge Nature on the type of rock? Whether it's hard or soft, relatively? Or would that be Knowledge Arc.&Eng?

Liatai:It's stone. :B Pretty generic stone, too.

Miron:« 1d20+9 = 15 + 9 = 24 » Spellcraft, and « 1d20+5 = 8 + 5 = 13 » knowledge Arc+Eng

Ezer:Did someone just say 'eat me, I'm tasty'? 0:3

Tathi:Ew! Save against ego-barf! Save against ego-barf!!! But, she keeps her composure, and nods. "Why yes! That's just what I was looking for! A full-body sculpture!"

Miron:Miron feels something weird: Knowledge Arcana « 1d20+10 = 14 + 10 = 24 »

TMG:I can see what Barbarus and Miron are getting at (I think), but unfortunately, Gnogglebolt isn't the type to come to a magical conclusion ^^;

TMG:er, a conclusion that involves magic

Jonah Restren:"By all means, then, come inside, fair lady!" But he does take a look around... « 1d20+5 = 14 + 5 = 19 » Spot.

Jonah Restren:"... Is that your cat?"

Barbarus:Having a Druid for a bro has its perks.

Thomas Lazarus:Thomas D:'s

Tathi:"What?" Tathi says, glancing to the right. "Oh, silly thing followed me. Shoo!" She says, beckoning it away.

VAE:Tathi is doing well so far ^^


 * Ghostwish totally never played a bard. Ever. And his name wasn't Clint either.

Miron:The gnome goes pale, with sweat on his forehead and an angry expression.

Ghostwish:... ALEX. WAKE UP. :P


 * Barbarus gets his signal whistle in his mouth. :O

Jonah Restren:"A shame I'm much better with people than animals... it would be such a lovely sculpture, you with the cat on your lap..."

Miron:*quietly* This is no moon.. i mean statue... this is a petrified halfling.

Ghostwish:*shakes miranda out of a tree*

Barbarus:« 1d20+2 = 11 + 2 = 13 » Wis check.


 * Dr. Hatari bites lip.

Barbarus:To not immediately blow whistle.

Ghostwish:yeeeaaaah, you smelling it to, Hatari? :P


 * Barbarus, whistleblower.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt raises an eyebrow at Mrion, looks at the statue again, and an expression of horror dawns upon him.

Ghostwish:*too

Miron:*mumbles* By Cuthbert's cudgel...

Faerie:Huh what?

TMG:eh, alex is probably afk. Pretend the serval moved away--oh

VAE:Miron: *quietly* This is no moon.. i mean statue... this is a petrified halfling.

VAE:i couldn't avoid the pun

Ghostwish:the force is strong in that gnome. :P

VAE:on Star Wars

Jonah Restren:"But enough of that, won't you come inside? It's dangerous to stay outside for long around here, after all. You've heard the stories of the hell-hounds?"

Ezer:I'm just a wild cat. Don't mind me, nothing suspicious going on here.

Tathi:"Oh yes, that'd be lovely, and yes, I've heard such awful tales."

Barbarus: (( >> ))

Barbarus: (( Should I blow whistle? ))

VAE:noThomas Lazarus:Tom glances uneasily towards the window-frame at his right. But he doesn't dare put his covert skills to the test. He stays well away from it.

VAE:they are waiting for a reason.

Dr. Hatari:Why would you?

Jonah Restren:The man closes the door behind him, then opens the door on the inside. "Now, you were looking for a full-body sculpture? Here, come through here and I can start sketching."

Barbarus: (( Petrification. :o ))

VAE:Miron has told them alreadt.

TMG:why does barb want to blow the whistle?


 * Thomas Lazarus grabs Kor and holds him up to the window's base. Look inside, look inside. Don't protest squeak. >:o

Kor:I should so bite the cheese out of you...

Barbarus: (( To warn Tathi to get out? Petrification is a very nasty business. >> ))

Jonah Restren:"Some examples of my work. Elves have such a pleasing form to work with... so much more delicate than humans, yet with an inner strength to them."

Tathi (whispered):Tathi glances at the statues within. "My, these are quite lifelike, aren't they?" And now what kind of check do I need to OHSHITMEDUSA? :P

VAE:Idiots, we all are

GM (whispered):

XD Knowledge (arcana), though I'll also suggest Listen and Spot.

VAE:Have we agreed on a *signal* for Tathi?

Tathi:« 1d20+1+2 = 10 + 1 + 2 = 13 » listen and « 1d20+1+2 = 4 + 1 + 2 = 7 » spot for Tathi!

VAE:*headdesks hard*

Dr. Hatari:It's Tathi, Mr. Pot.

Dr. Hatari:Guess.

TMG:This is what happens when plans are not made.

Tathi:« 1d20+14 = 3 + 14 = 17 » Knowledge, Arcane!

VAE:exactly

Faerie:"Attack, damn you!"

Faerie:That would work.

Faerie:>.>


 * Dr. Hatari shakes head.

VAE:*double facepaw lynx*

GM (whispered):

The knowledge check reveals nothing, but you hear a little sort of scrabbling sound from the crate to your left, which is covered by a blanket.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks at Barbarus, and holds up one hand and keeps it held up as he continues to listen to the conversation through the window.

Miron:*whispered to Gnogglebolt* All OK?

Jonah Restren:"Hehe... yes, well, I don't like to brag, but -- the crate?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt mouths soundlessly *So far*

Tathi:(Sorry, this was whispered) She glances to the right, quirking an eyebrow. "What have you got in the crate there?" She asks.

Miron:*sneaks closer to the door*

Jonah Restren:"Oh, that's just my pet bird. She has such trouble sleeping when there isn't a blanket over her cage."

Thomas Lazarus:Tom looks the rat. Any news? >:o

Kor:*shakeshakesqueak*

Tathi:Tathi glances at the statues again. Life like statues? Bird? « 1d20+14 = 13 + 14 = 27 » Knowledge, Arcane!


 * Thomas Lazarus frowns, and thinks back to a certain something in Castleton.

Jonah Restren:"So, what do you say? Still interested in a statue?"

Kor:Oh thomas?

Kor:The little rat?

Kor:He's a black poofball with his tail straight out. Also, he's squeaking as loudly as his little lungs will let him.

Barbarus:« 1d20+5 = 6 + 5 = 11 » Listen!

Jonah Restren:"-- What was that?! Don't tell me the animals are back!"


 * Thomas Lazarus steps over and unbraids the old sword & board.

Tathi:"Er, actually, I just remembered a very important date." She says.. but as soon as he leaves the room, she inches over to the cage, very careful not to make eyecontact with anything, and very carefully peers in.. she's looking for familiar markings.

Thomas Lazarus:You better believe I've been watching too much Let's Play: RE4, because that window?


 * Jonah Restren looks around... and sees the very intimidating templar with the shield and sword drawn through the window. And the puff-ball rat. O.O"

Thomas Lazarus:CRASH!

Dr. Hatari:Imagine the pose and everything~

Barbarus:FWEEEEET!

Jonah Restren:"Elf-maid! RUN!!"

Barbarus:FWEEEET!

Kor:SQUEEEEEAK! Oh gods what a racket.

Ghostwish:MUST BE ADVENTURERS, BY GOLLY.

Jonah Restren:Shall we get initiative rolling?

Miron:Miron opens the door and enters

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt pulls out his morningstar and springs into action

Thomas Lazarus:Tom raises to his full height and uncovers his visage with shield. He gives Jonah a very condemning glare. Init! « 1d20 = 19 »

Miron:« 1d20 = 7 » Initiative

Ghostwish:Oh we shall. I don't suppose Tathi could take a surprise round to blast said bird? :>

Barbarus:« 1d20+2 = 5 + 2 = 7 » Dex check!

Elros:Elros pulls out his two swords, and motions for Ezer to follow.

Tathi:« 1d20+3 = 7 + 3 = 10 » init!

Jonah Restren:The man quickly grabs a shortsword off the wall and gets ready to defend himself -- initiative « 1d20+3 = 4 + 3 = 7 »

Gnogglebolt:Starting by trying to smash the windown in with his morningstar.

Elros:Initiative « 1d20+3 = 2 + 3 = 5 »

Gnogglebolt:damage; « 1d6-1 = 2 - 1 = 1 »

Liatai:Wait, damage?

Ezer:Do I get initiative? :o

Gnogglebolt:And initiative; « 1d20+1 = 3 + 1 = 4 »

Ghostwish:Ezer's initiative will be the same as Elros.

Liatai:Yeah, no surprise round for Tathi.

Ghostwish:Doh.

Gnogglebolt has received initiative.

Liatai:Aack, wait.

Liatai:Working on setting initiative. XD

Dr. Hatari:I suppose, in fairness, I should not execute all of the Resident Evil 4 trope and take absolutely no damage from leaping through panes of glass.


 * Dr. Hatari gives Tom a point of slashing damage. :B

TMG:yeah, I was about to say. No way everyone got lower init from me xD

VAE:Miron has 7 too

Ghostwish:*snrk* Oh I dunno. You are in heavy armor, yes?

Liatai:« 1d20+3 = 4 + 3 = 7 »

Ghostwish:I've actually warn tutonic heavy plate before. I could've gone through a brickwall with little problem. XP

Meany:DAMN YOU, SEVEN.

Dr. Hatari:Hmmm~ okay. :D

Liatai:Man, there are four sevens on the initiative counter. XD

Gnogglebolt has received initiative.

Thomas Lazarus has received initiative.

Ghostwish:XD! Allright, start stating your dex scores, people. :P

Liatai:Go templar go! :D

VAE:miron has dex mod of 0, he goes last of them

Meany:+2VAE:a dex score of 11 though

TMG:dex mod of +1

Faerie:dex mod +3

Liatai:Initiative has been sorted. :D Go Thomas go!

Ghostwish:There ya go.

Ghostwish:Wait, does anyone have - oh nevermind,t hat was a houserule. XD

VAE:sick looking reptillian chicken *shudders*

Ghostwish:(improved initiative always won. :P)

VAE:well, done,liatai, well done

Meany:*shifty eyes*

Liatai:... pfft. Free Bird just popped up on my music player. XD

Meany:Is Thomas the silver ranger from his amor?

Meany:Or the golden ranger from Pelor?

Meany:armor*

Thomas Lazarus:Thomas isn't one to wait nor cower when a comrade is in danger. He lunges his gauntlet out for Jonah's collar. "Lay down your weapon; we've got some questions to ask you. This doesn't have to come to blood." He does not sound very friendly, however. (Blowing domain power; touch attack! « 1d20+9 = 10 + 9 = 19 »)

Dr. Hatari:That provokes, as usual.

Jonah Restren:« 1d20+5 = 5 + 5 = 10 » AoO with that shortsword!

TMG:Clang. :U

Thomas Lazarus:Clank! Jonah feels the brunt of Tom's nigh-superhuman strength. (Or will he?) « 1d20+9 = 5 + 9 = 14 »

Dr. Hatari:Grapple chex

Jonah Restren:« 1d20+3 = 17 + 3 = 20 » grapple check!

Dr. Hatari:Nope. x3

Meany:Wiry little fiend. >:U

Jonah Restren:Slippery bugger!

Ghostwish:And here is yet another reason I am opposed to vehemently complex and overt plan making in D&D.

Miron:There are no questions to be asked, Tom. I have seen all i needed.

Ghostwish:THE D20 IS GOD.

Tathi has received initiative.


 * Thomas Lazarus glances to Miron quickly and back.

Tathi:"Cockterices!! He's been petrifying elves!" Tathi yells, taking a five foot step, and then introducing the wicked bird to the Tathi Beam! « 1d20+4 = 16 + 4 = 20 » ranged touch attack for « 4d6 = 13 » fire damage!

Meany:Tathi is our Red Ranger. :D

Kor:Kor sits on the windowsill, making like a strange vermin cheerleader. If the DM permits, pom-poms will appear in his paws.

VAE:heh

Ghostwish:end turn!

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:SQUAAAWK! The smell of singed feathers fills the air as the bird is hit -- though the Tathi Beam has a secondary effect, probably not one she intended.

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:It destroyed the beast's wooden cage.

VAE:aw fucj

Thomas Lazarus:Cocktertric.. ... Tom is too busy to decode the innuendo; this pervert must be stopped! =3=

Tathi:Her eyes widen. "Oh son of a-"

Miron:Thomas, the man is guilty of multiple murders. He has somehow turned the people into stone you see.

Barbarus:"Great honking weregeese! What are they doing in there?!"

Miron:Either through foul magic or some beast in his possession.

Jonah Restren:Said pervert makes a sudden movement -- Thomas, roll Sense Motive versus « 1d20+8 = 20 + 8 = 28 », and add your base attack bonus to it.

Dr. Hatari:« 1d20+2+3 = 18 + 2 + 3 = 23 »

Meany:Against a nat twenty?

Dr. Hatari:Valiant effort, but never had a chance.

Ghostwish:miron isn't far away enough to not have heard Tathi VAE. :P

VAE:He is explaining it to him

VAE:the Cockertri... thing

Ghostwish:another weird houserule. You could 'duel' nat 20s. Each player would keep rolling until someone didn't roll a 20.

VAE:he noticed the templar didn't quite get it

Ghostwish:Want to know the real hoot of it all?

Dr. Hatari:When I say something without quotes, it's just narration or thoughts.

Dr. Hatari:Sorry. :P

Ghostwish:This went on for 5 rolls once. :P

VAE:ohVAE:I thought he said it out aloud

VAE:*facepaws*

Jonah Restren:What -- you were sure he was striking for your face! But the shortsword swings in low -- « 1d20+5 = 4 + 5 = 9 » against Thomas' flat-footed AC.

Dr. Hatari:Sorry, nope. He's less of a fool during the call of duty.

Jonah Restren:Clang. :B

Ghostwish:OOOOOOOOOOOOO. Someone's using my rogue tricks!!! >:O

VAE:looking at all the facepaws, i must have a furless patch on my forehead :3


 * Thomas Lazarus seems a bit shocked by the turn-around.

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:The bird scrabbles free of the wreckage, then with a drawn-out, ill-sounding series of clucks, flaps over to Tathi and tries to bite! « 1d20+9 = 17 + 9 = 26 » for « 1d4-2 = 2 - 2 = 0 » damage... and if it hits, roll Fort, and hope you roll high.

Dr. Hatari:D:Tathi:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF- « 1d20+3 = 16 + 3 = 19 » fort!

Dr. Hatari:Don't forget your +2 to saves.

VAE:uff

Tathi:oh geez, I did. 21 then!


 * Dr. Hatari pats.

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:You're safe! If nipped by something that looks like the spawn of an unholy lizard and a plucked chicken. :B

Barbarus has received initiative.

Ghostwish:minimum 1 of damage, yes?

Liatai:Yep.

Liatai:Go Barbie go! :D

Tathi:Tathi yelps as the thing pecks at her. Yet she doesn't seem concerned by the damage at all, no, there's something else bothering her.

VAE:Hmm, Liatai, what happens to an area spell if i cast it on the door itself?

Liatai:Huh?

VAE:i mean, in the opening

VAE:a spell with 10ft radius

VAE:if i cast it there, will it hit both "sides?

Liatai:That's a good question. Which spell are you thinking?

Dr. Hatari:I think, strictly officially speaking, you must select corners of squares for AoE spells.

VAE:Sound Burst

Dr. Hatari:In which case, 1/4th of the effect would have total cover.

VAE:and bloody barbarus just got in

Liatai:Oop,can't end on Tathi's square -- and you provoked an AoO.

VAE:and next to fucking cockatrice too

VAE:Meany, Barb isn't suicidal

VAE:don't make him so

Meany:VAE, hush.

Miron:Stay back, Barbarus!

Liatai:If it's a sound burst, yes, it will hit on both sides of the door.

VAE:Look, i'll delay it to after Tathi.... if you get in the radius or not, your problem :3

VAE:but that's on my turn

Dr. Hatari::|Barbarus:« 1d20+4+mod = Invalid expression: 1d20+4+mod. » Fwip! Longbow arrow coming at you for « 1d8 = 6 » damage!

VAE:the spell both damages and stuns, if it works well - that's what's needed to the cockatrice

Barbarus:>:O

Barbarus:Any mods I should be aware of?

Liatai:Nope.

Barbarus:« 1d20+4+mod = 12 + 4 + 0 = 16 » Fwip! Longbow arrow coming at you for « 1d8 = 2 » damage!

VAE:you should use the old damage roll, too :3

Liatai:Oh, wait, there is. I forgot firing into melee. ^^;;

Jonah Restren:The arrow lodges in the wall right over the 'sculptor's' shoulder. "-- Hey! I just got that wall fixed!"

Miron has received initiative.

Miron:Jonah Restren, lay down your arms and subject to arrest, or we shall deal with you using mortal force.

Miron:TATHI ! RUN BACK!

Miron:I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING TO IT

Miron:I delay throwing in the spell after Tathi's turn

Barbarus has received initiative.

Elros has received initiative.

Liatai:Elros and Ezer, your moves! :D

Faerie:Workig on it

Liatai:... though you might not want to stand on the gnome. :B

Faerie:Needed to make sure distance first.

VAE:also, being smart and not getting too near to either

Faerie:Erm...so is the door blocked? :B

VAE:I'm gonna have to place it at the door opening

Liatai:Oh, derrr. I forgot to open the door. :B

VAE:Miron opened them, supposedly

Faerie:Also, can I get past people in the opening?

Liatai:Yes, you can. :D

Faerie:>.>

VAE:i think so ^^'

VAE:Alex.. mind going to this swuare?

Faerie:Okay, fairly sure that's legitimate.

VAE:I thnk it's less chance my spell will hit you

VAE:if Tathi moves back i can position it well enough i think.

Jonah Restren:"Fine thing! You break into MY studio, wreck MY windows, lodge an arrow in MY wall, and you say I'M in the wrong?!"

Elros:Elros moves inside, but steps aside so as to not get in the way of spells being cast.

Barbarus:"Welcome to the legal system!"

Ezer:Ezer moves into the room as well. Oh boy, something exciting is going on! :D

Miron:You have placed the bodies of several citizens under a petrifying curse.

Gnogglebolt has received initiative.

Miron:Some of them, while they were alive no doubt.

Liatai:Gnogglebolt can get through the window, you know. >.>

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt rushes in to back up the others hmm >.>

Dr. Hatari:x3Gnogglebolt:well, did his action of already smashing the window in stand?

Liatai:It would cost 10 feet of movement instead of 5, but he could do it and land on the couch. x3 Yes, it did.

TMG:ah, alrighty. Any damage or rolls to avoid it?

Miron:All under the guise of being a sculptor. People of better moral qualities are hanged all over Akellon.

Liatai:Reflex save.

Liatai:Or Escape Artist, if it's better.

Gnogglebolt:Reflex! « 1d20+6 = 14 + 6 = 20 »

Liatai:No damage! :D

Gnogglebolt:end turn

Thomas Lazarus has received initiative.

Liatai:Tommy time! :O

Barbarus:"...Well, technically, the definition of a sculptor is one who makes artistic statues. >>"

Barbarus:"He hasn't been lying about -that.-"

Miron:*Miron instead concentrates on the spell he is going to cast*

Thomas Lazarus:Tom doesn't seem intent on listening. "You're not getting out of this with protests - you made your choice to keep arms!" (« 1d20+9 = 17 + 9 = 26 » « 1d10+6 = 8 + 6 = 14 » - Sword swing!)


 * Thomas Lazarus discards his shield with a flick of his arm and sends his blade hurling towards the offending sculptor!

Liatai:« 1d10 = 3 »

Jonah Restren:The sword carves a very deep gash in the sculptor's right arm -- unfortunately, he's left-handed.

TMG:...discards his shield? o.O

Faerie:But throwing things always works!

Dr. Hatari:You can unequip shields with a move action, or as a free action as a part of a move. Tom makes generous use of alternating styles between sword & board and 2-handed swinging.


 * Jonah Restren grunts in pain.

Tathi has received initiative.

TMG:Ah.

Tathi:First, Tathi makes a concentration check to make sure she doesn't get smacked while casting. « 1d20+6 = 17 + 6 = 23 » concentration! If that succeeds, the cluck'o'doom best watch out, because Tathi is one dangerous femme fatale! She suddenly lunges to backhand the little beast, with bonuses! « 1d20+2 = 19 + 2 = 21 » melee touch attack for « 4d6 = 18 » shocking damage! Now, does that kill it?

Dr. Hatari:Wow!

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:Unfortunately, no, though the air is starting to smell like roast chicken.

Dr. Hatari:Almost maximum everything.

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:*brrraaaaaaawk*

Tathi:"Damnit! Need some help back here!" Tathi says, edging away from it carefully.

Kor:Cha-Cha-Cha!

Miron has received initiative.

Miron:Miron begins praying: "Saint Cuthbert, you who hear all wrongdoings, grant me the voice of Cudgel that Never Forgets." He raises his right hand and the area around the door is filled with a cacophony of accusing voices

Miron:« 1d8 = 4 » damage to both and roll a Fort save against DC 15

Jonah Restren:Fort - « 1d20+3 = 5 + 3 = 8 »

VAE:Congratulations, you are stunned

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:Fort - « 1d20+4 = 9 + 4 = 13 »

VAE:for one round, but it's enough

Dr. Hatari:How ... fortuitous. *shades*

VAE:wow.. it seems Miron had a moment of win

Ghostwish:YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAHHHH

Ghostwish:*hits Hatari with a truck*

Sick-Looking Reptilian Chicken:Who's up for roasted chicken, with St. Cuthbert's secret spice blend of justice?

Miron:Now, get the man ,and kill the beast while it acts!


 * Thomas Lazarus flinches back from the sudden scream of the spell, but manages to keep his guard up.

Tathi:Tathi breaths a sigh of relief as it goes down.

Barbarus:Catboy flicks his ears backward.

Barbarus:"Ow."

Miron:Actually, just get the man!


 * Jonah Restren covers his ears and winces. "-- Aagh!"

Barbarus has received initiative.

Barbarus:Is that area of voices continuous?

VAE:it's as shown

Dr. Hatari:Since he's stunned, Barby could technically apply his sneak attack dice to either of the offenders, right now.

VAE:one is dead

Dr. Hatari:Oh, didn't notice. :B

Dr. Hatari:Tom-vision~

VAE:Miron: Now, get the man ,and kill the beast while it acts!

VAE:Miron: Actually, just get the man!

Miron:*mutters thanks to his patron deity*

Miron:end turn

Liatai:Go Barbie go! :D

VAE:a long time ago actually

Barbarus: (( But, does is the voices still actively shouting? >:o ))

VAE:i forgot i still ahd a move action, but no use for that

VAE:noBarbarus:are*

Barbarus: (( Good, means I can run up and ker-knife. :3 ))

Dr. Hatari:It's just a burst-type effect, like a fireball. Er vaguely.

VAE:they just went on for a few seconds ,then stopped i'd say

Dr. Hatari:Kerknife at your leisure good chap.

Miron:Restrain him... he'll be hanged no doubt anyways, but we need to question him.

Miron:The beast of his... i haven't seen it in my life, though Tathi seems to recognise it.

Barbarus:« 1d20+2 = 17 + 2 = 19 » Bowblade stab, you! For « 1d4+2d6 = 2 + 5 = 7 » damage! Sneak attack~

Miron:We need to know where he got such a foul thing.

Ghostwish:As much as I love exposition, I think Miron is chatting a biiiiit too much in the heat of battle. Remember, a round is roughly 6 seconds. ;)

Faerie:But isn't talking a free action? He could make a speech in that time. xP

Ghostwish:It is! ... on your turn. ;)

TMG:alex; we try to avoid that xP

VAE:he is now kinda standing in the back

VAE:technically he had a move action left

VAE:treat it as him using it for the chats

Ghostwish:I even remember some rule saying you can only say 6 words? But that is overly anal. I prefer players just talking (and making skill checks and the like, which are ALSO free-actions) on their turn. ^^

Dr. Hatari:We have reached an unofficial compromise between the shut up and anime talk camps; chat freely, but try to restrict it to 6 seconds a turn. :B

Dr. Hatari:Seems fair to me.

Jonah Restren:"-- hkk --" Whatever the human was saying is very quickly impeded by the knife in his gut. He collapses to the floor, bleeding heavily.

VAE:perhaps.. i could have said it on my turn... i thought this way the battle will go faster

Barbarus:"There."

Barbarus:"Interrogate him as you wish."

Barbarus:"Or not...Dang."

Ghostwish:Oh that's easy VAE. Type it up in a notepad, then paste it during your turn.

Barbarus:"Hit an artery! D:"

Miron:*deathglare at the cat*

Ghostwish:See how quickly Tathi's turn went? That's how.

Thomas Lazarus:"Do not worry. He was in no danger of dying."

Thomas Lazarus:"I've been refining my skills."

Elros:I don't think there's terribly much left to interrogate.

Miron:Quick, someone tie him and Thomas, try to keep him from keeling over!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt steps forward, a wince on his face...though he sees more 'statues' in the back room, and his face contorts into something viscious.

Jonah Restren:Actually, yes, he is in danger of dying, since Thomas didn't strike him non-lethally.

Miron:It is.. where he got the beast of his.

Dr. Hatari:Or ... is Thomas tricky as a Fox? http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/1856/closewounds.jpg

Gnogglebolt:"We should at least keep him alive long enough for the villagers to decide what to do with him." Gnogglebolt says grimly.

Tathi:Tathi looks over the statues for a moment, her expression unreadable..


 * Barbarus shakes the blood off his hand.

Gnogglebolt:"Just bandage his wounds."

TMG:and, ah, liatai

Miron:Indeed... he deserves a public trial.. .and a public hanging anyways.

TMG:I think the confusion is you're using the "dead" overlay

Kor:Kor climbs down from the windowsill, weeding between people's feet, but stops at the door way. He lets out an ominious squeak, and doesn't approach his master.

TMG:or...wait

Ghostwish:VAE! Delete your spell blasts. :P

TMG:oh, both of them are only dying, not dead

Thomas Lazarus:Tom looks about. "Tathi! Are you alright?"

TMG:....

Liatai:Thomas, do you do anything to the "sculptor," or no?

TMG:use a square to get rid of it, danman -_-

Barbarus:WHAP

VAE:i just got rid of it, what do you want more ? :P

Barbarus:Barbie smack's Thomas' shoulder armor with his bow.

Barbarus:"Dying people need attention, Sir Knight!"

Jonah Restren:« 1d100 = 77 »

Tathi:"I'm fine." She says flatly, but then turns a very dangerous looking glare around at the party. "But interrogate him quickly. He may not be alive for much longer."

Thomas Lazarus:Seeing, atleast, that Tathi isn't being killed by whatever horrible thing caused her to ask for help moment ago, Thomas does turn and lay a finger on Jonah. One point of healing.

Miron:Barbarus.. i wouldn't call *this* a person. But yes.

Miron:A monster in human hide, more like.

Jonah Restren:Well, that stopped the worst of the bleeding, at least.

Barbarus:"Person, noun, a singular unit of a populace."

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 1 + 4 = 5 » Search check on this room.

Miron:Now, someone go and get the innkeeper.

Thomas Lazarus:Tom nods at the elf before casting a glance to the statues. "..."

Barbarus:Durrrrrrr~

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 3 + 4 = 7 » Search check on this room.

Barbarus:Hurrrrrrr!

Tathi:"Wake him up." Tathi says flatly.

Dr. Hatari:You can take 10's if you want, I think. x3

Ghostwish:20s, if you want. :P

Meany:DC 14 doesn't exist, I thought.

Miron:*grabs the collar of the "artiste" and shakes him*

Thomas Lazarus:Tom looks to Tathi hesitantly.

Barbarus:Taking twenty, search!

Barbarus:This room.


 * Jonah Restren flops around like a rag doll. Quite unconscious.


 * Thomas Lazarus relieves the man of his shortsword and tosses it away.

Thomas Lazarus:"Alright."

Barbarus:Barbie snatches it!

Miron:Tie him up someone!

Gnogglebolt:"keep the corpse of the cockatrice in one piece at least. I'll go get the inkeeper."

Gnogglebolt:"That devil-bird is the evidence."

Miron:Thank you, gnogglebolt!

Thomas Lazarus:"Go ahead. I think we've got this under control."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt rushes outside. He doesn't retch on the way.

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 14 + 4 = 18 » Appraise!

Liatai:The shortsword is the only loot in this area... although you do see a trap door in the corner.

Miron:Thomas.. .can you create water at will?

Thomas Lazarus:"..I haven't anything to bind him with."


 * Thomas Lazarus nods.

Miron:Some of that might wake him up

Miron:We don't need him strong, just strong enough to answer, anyways.

Barbarus:"Miss Tathi."

Miron:For an false sculptor, the man was strong like a bull anyways.

Barbarus:"Do you have that...spell which lets you sense magic in the area?"

Thomas Lazarus:"He has a concussion. Positive energy will work. He wouldn't have anything intelligable to say if we someone woke him like this."

Tathi:"Be careful. There are other crates in this room. Could be more of those birds." She says, in that same, flat, dangerous tone. She also produces some rope. "Tie him up. And tell me when he is awake." Anyone with a high enough sense motive can sense a volcano, ready to erupt.

Thomas Lazarus:"Elros, do you perhaps have anything?"

Gnogglebolt:Let me know when Gnogglebolt arrives in town again. He is running.

Dr. Hatari:*if we somehow

Miron:I have a rope! It's in the carriage... be back!

Thomas Lazarus:"No need.." Tom takes Tathi's rope.

Brenner Fox:It doesn't take long to find both Mr. Fox and the town constable.

Gnogglebolt:(I'll take that as he's there.) Once in twn, Gnogglebolt sees the inkeeper and rushes up to them.

Miron:*is routed from the door*

Gnogglebolt:"News. Mostly bad."

Thomas Lazarus:"Help me, please. I'm bad at knots." « 1d20 = 2 » Use Rope

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks shaken.

VAE:moment, folks

Ghostwish:bad indeed. XD

Dr. Hatari:Kay

VAE:nature calls, and this is a bit talky

VAE:mind waiting a minute?

Liatai:Quite bad at knots indeed. XD

Barbarus:Poke.

Liatai:Sure, we'll wait.

Barbarus:Barbie pokes Tathi with his bow.

Dr. Hatari:Perhaps someone's assist check should just reassert itself as the main check. :B

Barbarus:And also pokes the GM with Appraise results.

Elros:Here, let me try my hand at knot-tying.

Liatai:It's a shortsword; not too special, but a decent weapon for self-defense.

TMG:everyone can take ten :B

Elros:use rope « 1d20+7 = 8 + 7 = 15 »

Barbarus:Thankee. :D

TMG:one person with the highest bonus as the main, everyone else Aids

Thomas Lazarus:"Please." Tom also sounds serious and dry. Albeit in an urgent, disciplined kind of way. He's not sure what Tathi'll do.

Barbarus:Pokepokepokepoke.

VAE:back

VAE:thanks folks

Elros:Elros gets a +7 bonus to use rope. Anyone else?

Barbarus:"Tathi. You alive?"

VAE:no, she looks dead

Brenner Fox:"What happened, gnome?"

TMG:hmm, I think the GM may be handling too much at once at the moment ^^; perhaps slowing down?

Calvin Hart:"This one of those travellers you told me about?"

TMG:ah...

Tathi:Tathi turns and glares at Barbarus. "Is he awake yet?" She demands.

Brenner Fox:"Yes."

Barbarus:"I'm not in charge of that. Right now, I'm asking if you sense any magic from yonder trap door?"

Gnogglebolt:"Well, it came to blows sooner than expected, and Restran is already down. I don't expect he'll still be alive by the time we get there, but....well."

Dr. Hatari:Elros is definitely the best knot tyer. :3 Any assist from Miron?

Gnogglebolt:"He's nto a necromancer."

Gnogglebolt:"He's doing something else, just as sick."

Dr. Hatari:Or tier?

Dr. Hatari:Hmm..

Gnogglebolt:"He's kept some devil-birds--cockatrices-- in cages. He's turning people to statues."

Tathi:"I do. Later. Him. Awake. NOW."

Gnogglebolt:"You better come, quickly."

Miron:Tie him up, someone

Calvin Hart:"What?! Brenner, you run ahead, you're quicker. I'll talk to the gnome on the way there."

Kor:Kor skitters away.

Elros:Elros just did tie him up. :B


 * Brenner Fox nods curtly and runs off toward the studio!

Dr. Hatari:Elros made a roll. Just waiting expectantly to see if Miron rolls to assist.

Barbarus:>>Miron:« 1d20 = 12 » untrained Assist roll (dex, rigth?)

Dr. Hatari:Yep.

Ezer:Ezer jumps up onto the bed, and looks down at Kor. hello thar. :D

Ezer:*Y hello that

Ezer:**thar

Miron:Now, Thomas.. fix him up a bit!


 * Ezer is a serval. Not known for their spelling ability.


 * Calvin Hart follows. Clank clank clank. He's as fast -- or as slow -- as the gnome. "Now what's this about devil-birds and Restren?"

Kor:Squeak? He looks up. O_O! SQUEAK! And promptly scrambles under the... recliner?? that the cat is on.

Thomas Lazarus:"Alright. That looks pretty good." Tom draws a silver wand, and taps it to Jonah's chest. « 1d8+1 = 8 + 1 = 9 »

Miron:The piece of refuse needs to be able to talk.

Miron:*grabs him by the collar again and shakes*

Thomas Lazarus:He also stays right by the man, and stays ready to restrain him again. >:|

Ezer:Ezer jumps down, and reaches a paw under the recliner. Oh, how he does enjoy teasing the poor rat.

Barbarus:The catfolk makes plans to plot a prank on Miss Tree Up Colon, and goes to inspect the door himself.

Jonah Restren:The knife-wound in the man's stomach knits closed, and his eyes open.

Barbarus:« 1d20+5 = 10 + 5 = 15 » Appraise!

Jonah Restren:"m'awake, what..."

Miron:Jonah Restren. Do you hear me?

Gnogglebolt:"As I said. Restran was apparently keeping cockatrices in his house. I've heard of them before in Mazio, their attacks are never pretty. We developed nullgaze visors to combat them and other similar beasts, but those are expensive and only used by elite hunter units--I'm sorry, I'm rambling about my home. There are statues of people in Restran's house, but the workmanship is too perfect. He must have been using the cockatrices to petrify people."

Tathi:Tathi's head cocks as she hears the man wake up.

Miron:Where did you get the devil bird?

Liatai:The trap door is a decently-made trap door made of oak wood. And it is also unlocked. :B


 * Thomas Lazarus looks to the doorway.

Tathi:Tathi walks over, turning to the man with a glare the likes of which would melt most men. And yet that seems to be exactly her intent. As she grits her teeth, her hand starts to become wreathed in fire. She's casting burning hands in a very creative way, you see.. But I don't think the man will appreciate it.. not as Tathi suddenly grabs a hold of his shirt, right over his chest, lighting it on fire and scorching him quite badly. "YOU WORTHLESS DOG!" She bellows, pressing her flaming hand hard into his chest.

Tathi:"My people are all but dead and you go about petrifying them!? You will answer. every. single. ONE of my companion's questions, or you shall be dealing with ME in ways that shall haunt your descendent's nightmares!"

Gnogglebolt:"I would guess that several of your 'missing people' are some of the statues."

Tathi:After the tirade, she finally lets go of him, speaking calmly, "Heal him again, and leave him for the justice system." She says. leaving him smoking and burning. She storms into the room in the back with the subtlety of a thunder cloud.

Miron:*looks at tathi, and then nods approvingly*

Ghostwish:that's his reaction? XD She kinda just cooked his sternum, ya know? XD

Barbarus:"Had a good explosion?"

Miron:That young elf, she has potential. She's scarier than Anise


 * Thomas Lazarus simply braces himself during the outburst and keeps a hold of the man's bindings. o.o

Tathi:"Delightful." She says coldly, passing without looking at the statues, and then heading for the door. "Curious. Are you trained as a rogue?"

VAE:Heh.. Miron has seen dozens of acts like these, and done some himself :P

Elros:Elros thinks to himself "Well, that's -one- way of going about it."

Barbarus:"Yep."


 * Jonah Restren yells and tries to scrabble away from the spellcaster as he is burned rather terribly... and is left basically a smoldering heap. Roll damage, Tathi? I want to know if you ended up scaring him into unconsciousness. XD

Barbarus:"Was supposed to be a Huntsmaster."

Barbarus:"But could you help me move this guy?"

Tathi:"You should be able to at least tell if there's a trap, even if its magical. Do so, and if you find one, I will sniff it out."

Barbarus:"He's dangerously close to the door."

Liatai:Tathi? Roll damage? :B

Tathi:She sighs, looking to the statue. "Gladly.. but be VERY careful.. he is going to be a part of my new project."

Tathi:« 1d4 = 4 » burning!

Barbarus:« 1d20 = 7 » Strength check!

Tathi:Oh ouch. She really scorched him.

Jonah Restren:She was so effective at scaring and scorching him he blacked out again.

Dr. Hatari:Another interrogation without Otto. X_x

Ghostwish:XPMiron:Ah, crap.

Ghostwish:what, otto would have maximised his testicles or something. :P

Miron:Thomas.. get him up again, please.


 * Thomas Lazarus mutters emotionlessly, "It's alright."

Tathi:« 1d20 = 1 » strength check!

Tathi:....

Tathi:She's apparently still fuming.

Barbarus:"You're leaving scorch marks on him!"

Dr. Hatari:Otto would have made a mess, and it would have been effective without spells. I'm pretty confident. :B

Barbarus:>:O

Tathi:"Oh shuddup and help me slide him!!"

Barbarus:« 1d20 = 2 » Strength check!


 * Thomas Lazarus taps the wand once more. « 1d8+1 = 1 + 1 = 2 »

Tathi:« 1d20 = 8 » strength check!


 * Calvin Hart nods and listens, clanking alongside the gnome.

Jonah Restren:"-- Guh!" The man gasps as he returns to consciousness.

Barbarus:« 1d20 = 1 » Strength check!

Miron:Now, fun ends here.

Ghostwish:XD!!!

Liatai:Reflex saves, both of you.

Barbarus:« 1d20+5 = 13 + 5 = 18 » Reflex save!

Miron:You will tell me where you got that bird, or i will call her again.

Dr. Hatari:lulz

Liatai:Tathi and Barbarus.

Tathi:"Oh, look who's talking, just smashed his own toes!"

Tathi:« 1d20+4 = 17 + 4 = 21 » reflex!

Liatai:You managed to keep the statue from falling over and pinning either of you!

Miron:And it *won't* be a nice thing to look at.

Barbarus:"He's too danged heavy! Dx"

Tathi:"Right, try again.."

Jonah Restren:"Allrightallrightallright! Sasha was a gift! A gift!"

Gnogglebolt:"That's...that's about all I know. If my companions haven't killed him by the time we get back, you can take him in and deal with him as you will. You'll also probably want to move the statues. I...I'm not sure if the effect can be reversed."

Barbarus:« 1d20 = 10 » Strength check!

Tathi:« 1d20 = 8 » strength check!

Miron:Who from>

Miron:?Ghostwish:W.T.F. XD

Tathi:"Would you quit goofing around!?"

Tathi:« 1d20 = 7 » strength check!

Dr. Hatari:x3Barbarus:"I'm lifting more than you!"

Jonah Restren:"Ranger friend from the western jungles!"

Barbarus:« 1d20 = 15 » Strength check!

Gnogglebolt:"I've heard that some magics can reverse the petrification effect, but I haven't seen any of it in action personally."

Faerie:o/` Anything you can do I can do better~ o/`

Faerie:>.>

Tathi:"Ugh, FINALLY. Now check for traps, kitten."

Barbarus:"There! x-x"

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 20 + 4 = 24 » Search!

Ghostwish:you found the DM's carkeys!

Liatai:No traps detected!

Barbarus:"It's clean."

TMG:brb, washing machine's flipping out

Tathi:"Allright, give it a tug. Be careful though. I'm suspectin either more birds or more statues."

TMG:nnnnevermind, it stopped

VAE:aw FUCK

Barbarus:Unlocked? Then it's open.

Calvin Hart:"There must be some way. Some of the people who disappeared were found later as corpses in the woods -- flesh and bone."

VAE:sense motive is wisdom based

VAE:All the time yesterday i thought it was Cha based

Gnogglebolt:"Hrm. Well, we'll see...."

VAE:i used 3 points less

TMG:xPMiron:« 1d20+5 = 13 + 5 = 18 » Sense motive on what the man says

Jonah Restren:"Got eaten by a shambling mound a few years ago -- oh gods don't kill me, don't call her back in here --"

Miron:A ranger friend? what was his name?


 * Thomas Lazarus knits his brow. Dead, huh? « 1d20+2 = 15 + 2 = 17 »

Miron:And his hair colour?

Miron:Quick!

Dr. Hatari:Oh no.

Ghostwish:I'd say he's too terrified to bluff. :P

VAE:actually, not really

Dr. Hatari:Thanks. :P

VAE:that;s where he might start making shit up.

Jonah Restren:"Bristol Hawbranch -- black hair, but -- "

Ghostwish:and get chest burnt again? I think not. :P

Thomas Lazarus:"New question."

VAE:he has no way of checking

VAE:but the above sounds like an authentic response.. or a well rehearsed one

Thomas Lazarus:"What do you know about the druid coven?"

Barbarus:Ker door is open, any lighting down there?

Jonah Restren:"Which druid coven?"

Miron:And where did you get all the bodies?

Ghostwish:slow down a bit folks. I know what it's like to be a DM going in three different directions. :>

Thomas Lazarus:Intimidate attempt? « 1d20-1 = 17 - 1 = 16 »

Jonah Restren:"Freida's?"

Miron:Yes.

Miron:Tell me all you know about her.

Thomas Lazarus:Tom grabs the man's hair and leans close. A blade ratchets out of his right gauntlet's wrist. He just keeps his face an inch from Jonah's.

Thomas Lazarus:"..."

Liatai:There's some lighting down there. Not much, but some.

Dr. Hatari:That was an unexpectedly good attempt from Thomas.

Barbarus:"Okay, I can see a bit with the minimal light."

Miron:Quick! or should i call in the elven lady again?

Barbarus:"Want to get one of the meat shields in here?"

Jonah Restren:"... eeeeep all right all right I'll tell you I'll tell you!"

Miron:What do you know of Freida's coven.

Tathi:Tathi quirks a brow at the catfolk. "Meat shield? Really?" She says, smirking.

Barbarus:"Call a spade a spade. 0:3"

Tathi:"Right, and a scout a scout. Now get down there." She says with a devilish smirk.

Jonah Restren:"Freida Briarclaw! She's an old friend of mine -- used to bring me subjects for Sasha to work on!"

Barbarus:"Harsh, dude. :U"


 * Barbarus hops down!

Dr. Hatari:x3 !

Miron:Subjects? Where else did you get them?

Barbarus:FWEEEEEEEEEEET

Barbarus:FWEEEEEEEEEEET

Barbarus:FWEEEEEEEEEEET

Thomas Lazarus:"'Wanna know everything about her."


 * Thomas Lazarus looks towards the room. "..."

Jonah Restren:"She introduced me to this goblin tribe that dealt in elves -- AUGH WHAT WAS THAT O.O WAS THAT THE ELF"

Tathi:"Damnit all!" Tathi heads down the ladder.


 * Thomas Lazarus shoves Jonah against the wall and stands.

Thomas Lazarus:"Elros, keep an eye on him."

Miron:Yes. It WAS her. And i can call her.


 * Jonah Restren scrabbled a little before he got slammed against the wall.

Thomas Lazarus:"What?" He whispers?

Elros:Aye! I'll keep him here.

Miron:What was the name of the goblin chief? And why did she bring you elves?

Tathi:"Something down stairs." Tathi says. "I sent barbarus in, and he's having a hissy cat fit."

Elros:Elros keeps his eyes on Jonah. DOn't you think of trying to go anywhere now.

Jonah Restren:"Elves make good statues that sell for good money! And it was Granch -- Granch Redclaw or something! Redmaw!"

Miron:*nods*

TMG:has benner arrived on-scene yet?


 * Barbarus points at the middle statue!

Thomas Lazarus:Tom nods once and goes down the trap-door, post-haste!

Tathi:"That's... the druid." She says, jaw agape.

Thomas Lazarus:!Miron:So, did you split profits with Freida? And who did you sell statues to ?

Miron:QUICK?

VAE:err

Jonah Restren:"Whoever would pay for them!"

Miron:Who was your last customer?

Tathi:Tathi growls, looking like she's about to head back up the ladder.. when her eye lingers over the desk a moment. "Wait a minute."

Miron:And who was the statue in the center of the back room meant for?

Jonah Restren:"And no, Freida's not much for money -- she just picked up the dead bodies and the soon-to-be-dead ones to feed her pets!"


 * Thomas Lazarus frowns. His tough demeanor from earlier has faded. He now seems simply crestfallen.

Barbarus:Taking twenty on search!

Tathi:She peers at the vials.

Miron:Speak!

Jonah Restren:"One question at a time! @.@"

Tathi:"Could these?" She says, and thinks. Knowledge check applicable to the potion's purpose?

Miron:Who was your last customer, and who was the statue of the maid meant for ?

Miron:And you don't get to dictate conditions here!

Jonah Restren:"She was for me, not for anyone in particular!"

Miron:Which statue was meant for someone?


 * Brenner Fox approaches, but doesn't enter yet, listening.

Miron:And who was your last buyer?

Jonah Restren:"Technically, none of them -- I'd just sell them to whoever wanted them! And my last customer -- shit, it was before Freida started letting her wolves run wild --"

Thomas Lazarus:He sighs while looking at the statues, Kethanis in particular. "There's.. just no way I can help this. A legendary curse like this. I don't even know if Father Trebedis could."

Miron:*feigns a bored expression* Screw this.. Tathi! He's of poor memory!

Liatai:Spellcraft, Tathi.

Jonah Restren:"AACK!"

Tathi:"Here, Brother Lazarus, these vials. I think.." She says, still concentrating.

Miron:Now, speak. Who was your last customer/

Tathi:« 1d20+10 = 7 + 10 = 17 » for spellcraft!

Miron:Or i'll shout again, louder.

Miron:And the next time... she'll hear me... and come.

Tathi:« 1d20+1+2 = 7 + 1 + 2 = 10 » listen for the elf lady

Jonah Restren:"No no no, I'll tell you, don't call her up here!" he whimpers. "Mark Tanger -- he bought the gnome with the spellbook!"

Dr. Hatari::}Tathi:Oh she heard it. Give the DM a second to hand out the results of my other checks. :>

Miron:Where does Mark Tanger live?

Liatai:Pose-fixer... paralysis cure... Could it be...? Can these ointments reverse petrification?

Miron:Didn't you hear? Where does he live, and which hand did the gnome have a spellbook in. QUICK!

Jonah Restren:"I don't know -- I mean it, I really don't know! He was going to take the statue and put it in some new project on the coast! Andandand, right hand, it was tucked under his arm!"

Miron:*nods* Was he an architect? And did he have a beard?

Miron:Where did you meet him?

Calvin Hart:By now, even the slow constable and the tinker have arrived.

Barbarus: (( Well, I guess a dice roll is needed. :> ))

Gnogglebolt:"Garl's Gold. He must still be alive." Gnogglebolt says, when he hears the shouting.

Jonah Restren:"He came here to buy -- I don't know where he learned my name or what I do -- and no, he had a mustache. Looked fake."

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 12 + 4 = 16 » Search!

Tathi:"Hrm.. an experiment is in order. Thomas.. try applying one of these salves to our druid friend." She says, and then heads upstairs.. UH OH.

Elros:"Yes, see here, he's alive end even talking."

Thomas Lazarus:"Yes."

Liatai:Give me some time on that search check, Barbarus.

Barbarus: (( Take your time. :3 ))

Thomas Lazarus:Tom glances back to Barby and raises his brows. "Here goes."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt walks in, seeing Miron vigorously interrogating the man with rapid-fire questions.

Miron:Do you know where Freida lives? How did you meet her?


 * Thomas Lazarus uncorks the supposed panacea and applies it to Kethanis' head carefully.

Miron:And how much did Mark pay you?


 * Barbarus nods, and continues.

Dr. Hatari:Afk a minute~

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt walks up, and mutters to Miron in Gnome.

Miron:*listens to the gnome, but looks at the man*

Gnogglebolt says in Gnome: "Make sure to ask him if the petrification can be reversed."

Miron:Quick! or i'll call her!

Statue of... Kethanis Whitebranch?:The ointment is warm to the touch... and where it touches the statue, it seems to soften the stone, color spreading slowly over the statue like you'd just poured a vial of life-like paints on his head.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt, looking down at the man with a digusted expression, edges as far away as he can from the man into the other room, to look forlornly at the other statues.

Barbarus::D!!

Gnogglebolt:"...Wait. Where's Barbarus and Thomas?"

Jonah Restren:"I met her at --" He looks over at the constable and innkeeper and visibly pales.

Miron:Speak!

Miron:Where did you meet Freida?

Miron:And how much did Mark pay you?

Thomas Lazarus:"Ah! It's working!" Tom follows-up and uses the whole of the vial to dab revivin' stuff over Kethanis' limbs.

Tathi:Tathi decides a slightly.. dramatic entrance is in order this time.. She pulls out her dagger.. and right as she crosses the threshold of the doorway she promptly slams her dagger into the wall. Quiiiiite close to his head. "Is it to my understanding that we are having problems answering questions in here? Maybe I wasn't clear enough the first time!?"

Ghostwish:sorry for lagged response, got called away

Kethanis Whitebranch:In a short amount of time, all that remains stone are the tips of the druid's boots, which quickly return to their normal color as the druid collapses. Shakily, he pushes his hair out of his face and looks around. "-- I know you." o.o

Miron:Tathi, this man needs a memory refresher i suspect.


 * Dr. Hatari went to pre-heat the oven. |3

Jonah Restren:"AAGH! I want to help, blame the DM!"

Miron:He doesn't remember where did he meet Freida!

GM:HEY, don't drag me into this!

Thomas Lazarus:"Easy, easy."

Gnogglebolt:"Hey! Where did Barbar and Thomas--" Gnogglebolt then notces the trapdoor with light below.

VAE:oh, this does have an IC explanation .. they are going a bit too quick :P

Barbarus:"Everything in working order?"


 * Thomas Lazarus gives him a hand.

Gnogglebolt:He goes and pokes his head down the trapdoor.


 * Kethanis Whitebranch accepts the hand. "What -- what happened? Where is Koehel?"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, Barbarus and Thomas, there you two a--KETHANIS?!?"

Barbarus:"Thomas, perhaps you should try to unstone the spellcasters.

Barbarus:"Thomas Lazarus:"Long story; safe, though."

Barbarus:"They might have a spell that can do this themselves."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt hops down the trapdoor, motuh agape.

Jonah Restren:"At HIS tavern! The White Fox Inn!"

Gnogglebolt:"Kethanis! What are you doing here?"

Thomas Lazarus:"Oh.. maybe--" He looks over his shoulder to Gnogglebolt.

Jonah Restren:"Two-hundred gold for the statue!"

Gnogglebolt:"When did you get here--wait..."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks with horror to the others.

Miron:Nods... Lastly Jonah.

Gnogglebolt:"Was....was he....?"

Barbarus:"He was one of the statues."

Thomas Lazarus:He nods.

Thomas Lazarus:Tom displays a now-empty vial.

Miron:Can you reverse the petrification on the statues?

Gnogglebolt:"Wha--how did you bring him back?!"

Barbarus:"Your bird is fine."

Miron:Choose your answer wisely.

Kethanis Whitebranch:"I -- I don't know. It gets fuzzy after..." The druid runs a hand through his hair.

Barbarus:"The villagers have been giving him meat."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks at the empty vial.

Thomas Lazarus:"There are more, but ..." He knits his brow and seems pretty distressed.

Thomas Lazarus:"Just three."

Miron:If you can't it makes you a murderer and you'll be hanged within three days.

Gnogglebolt:"How many more--only three?"

Tathi:"Not lastly." Tathi says, bending over so that she's eyelevel with the poor fellow. I bet those lovely blue eyes have never looked so terrifying. "Who is Morian and where do buy his potions from?"

Jonah Restren:"I... I can't. Not without my pose-fixer."

Gnogglebolt:"Give one to me, now."

Miron:Pose-fixer?

Gnogglebolt:"Not going to use it."

Miron:Where can we find it? And can you prepare some?

Tathi:She holds up a hand for silence from miron for a moment.

Thomas Lazarus:Tom hesitantly relinquishes one.

Gnogglebolt:"Just need one."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt rushes back upstairs.

Barbarus:"Two spellcasters."

Barbarus:"Two vials."

Jonah Restren:"Morian's Stiffness Panacea. I -- I bought it from a travelling salesman a few months ago -- doesn't do anything for arthritis, but it helps with petrification."

Thomas Lazarus:"Jeeze.." He sighs and looks to Barbarus. "You might be right. But if not.. we're gonna have to decide something pretty horrible."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt barrels into the room, bumping the legs of everyone taller than him.

Miron:*nods*

Barbarus:"Gnoggle is smart."

Miron:That is all.

Barbarus:"And he has a lab."

Miron:*turns around*

Gnogglebolt:He hols up the vial. "THIS! Where do you get these?!"

Barbarus:"He'll make more. :3"

Jonah Restren:"I just told you!" o.o

Thomas Lazarus:"Can he?" He brightens a bit.

Jonah Restren:"Dave Morian, he's a travelling salesman!"

Barbarus:"Let's hope. Kethanis, can -you- unstone people?"

Gnogglebolt:"A...traveling..." Gnogglebolt slams a wall with his fist.

Miron:*nods* Your life depends on this Restren. Where can the salesman be found?

Miron:Do you have a contact?

Faerie:Well, since I'm not doing anything (as usual >.>) I think I'm gonna grab some dinner.

Dr. Hatari:Coffee, cold shower, full meal, long night's sleep. Works like a charm!

Tathi:Tathi almost snarls as she straightens up. "Gnogglebolt, with me for a moment.." She says as she heads into the next room.

Miron:What is his usual track?

Miron:What city does he live in?

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt complies, and follows Tathi.

Faerie:So...I'll leave this running to log, and be back in a little while.

Tathi:Her facade drops almost immediately, and she looks almost pleading. "Those potions. Can you make them? I am no alchemist."

Dr. Hatari:Alright, have fun. :3

Jonah Restren:"He last came here three months ago -- I think he's -- I think he's either Rescan or Moscran."

Meany:Seeya!

Miron:*nods*

VAE:See ya, Alex

Liatai:See ya!

Miron:Lastly, do you have a list of customers and statues you have made?

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt suddenly gets a look of horror. "Wha..." He looks down at the vial in his hands. "If there is magic in this vial, there's nothing I can do. I can only make nonmagical compounds. And if this is a potion, that is right out."

Jonah Restren:"In the desk downstairs -- take anything you find there, just please don't kill me -- don't bring that elf back in here --"

Dr. Hatari:"I mean, I can turn him into gold, but--!"

Gnogglebolt:"And...well...I suppose it's distantly possible I could try and invent a device, but I wouldn't know where to start. Such a thing is -far- beyond my abilities."

Miron:That is all.

Tathi:She sighs heavily.. "Then this.. this is bad. We have four vials, three now, I suspect, and five statues remaining."

Thomas Lazarus:Tom sticks the other two vials in his belt for now and rubs his forehead.

Miron:*Turns back and to Brenner*

Kethanis Whitebranch:The druid looks around the room... and looks crestfallen. "... No, I can't."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt rubs his forehead. "And who knows how many other statues he sold."

Thomas Lazarus:He looks to Kethanis. "Well... are you injured? Do you perhaps recognize these two people?"

Tathi:She cups her face in her hands. "I don't want to think about it."

Gnogglebolt:"Do...do you know anyone who might be able to brew potions with the countereffect?"

Miron:This man, Jonah Rescan, has used a devil bird to turn citizens to stone and sell them as statues, all for the sake of quick financial gain.

Meany:Coughcough.

Meany:The Enchanter half-drow.

Meany:Coughcough.

TMG:yes, but has Gnogglebolt heard anything from him? :B

Gnogglebolt:"Maybe...maybe the Torises can help."

Miron:He claims he effect is reversible with the use of a certain potion he has in his basement, and which he has bought from a salesman from Resca.

Meany:Tathi should have. :B

Gnogglebolt:"Or Fredrick Henderson."

Tathi:She wrings her hands.. Back at the acadamy, yes.. but out here? DM?

Miron:Deal with him as you see fit.

Gnogglebolt:"But on that note..."

Dr. Hatari:I hate to say it, but I doubt any NPC the party has come across could make such a thing, save disguised dragons.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt tromps back into the room.

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Injured? I don't --" The druid winces, looking down at his hand. "-- Oh." He says a few words in Druidic, and the cut on his hand closes.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt stares at the man long and hard, before glancing back to Brenner and Calvin.

Thomas Lazarus:Tom blinks, then remembers himself with a light chuckle. "Oh.. right. Druid. I'm used to.. yeah."

Gnogglebolt:"I would like to suggest the punishment for this man."

Kethanis Whitebranch:"... Their faces are unfamiliar."

Miron:*the small gnome has an expression of disgust ,and awaits their answer eagerly*


 * Thomas Lazarus draws a breath. "Well. You are in the basement of a man named Jonah. There are more statues above us. And a dead cocka--ah--something."

Jonah Restren:*Please don't say death by elf, please don't say death by elf... o.o*

Thomas Lazarus:"We just arrived. We were trying to find you, when this lead cropped up."

VAE:If it is what i think it is... gnogglebolt is brilliant

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 10 + 4 = 14 » Knowledge Local!

Thomas Lazarus:"--Oh! Koehel is alright."

Gnogglebolt:*Gnogglebolt waits for Brenner and Calvin to acknowledge or refuse*

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Cockatrice," the druid says with a sigh. "I know."


 * Thomas Lazarus nods.


 * Brenner Fox looks to the gnome.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks back to the man.

Gnogglebolt:"You are sick.. A sorry sack of scum." Gnogglebolt mutters some words in a gutteral language. "Fortunately for you, you are not the sickest thing I have seen in the last week."

Gnogglebolt:"At the very least, what you have done is reversible." Gnogglebolt's harsh gaze has not let up any, though.

Kethanis Whitebranch:"At first, I'd heard the creature squawking and thought it was an imprisoned animal... or an ally of the Fallen. I went to..." The druid pauses, trying to remember. "I confronted the owner about it... and I don't remember anything more up until just now."


 * Thomas Lazarus has distracted himself by staring at the other elven statues. "..."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt holds up the vial. "I may know some people who can produce identical compounds to this."

Thomas Lazarus:"They're asking him questions upstairs."

Statue of a Fighting Man:Well, this statue doesn't look elven. How unusual. It's a human.

Gnogglebolt:"If the others agree, you are going to spend the rest of your days working to pay for these compounds to free everyone you have done this to. And you will track down everyone you have ever sold to and collect those people as well."

Gnogglebolt:"By the other'

Barbarus: (( GM? Knowledge Local was for powerful spellcasters. ))

Calvin Hart:"I wouldn't trust this scum to pay that kind of penance unsupervised," the constable growls.

Gnogglebolt:"By the other's leave, we will take you to Castleton where I will put you into the custody of people who can make this happen." Gnogglebolt is still staring at the man with a very harsh gaze.


 * Thomas Lazarus invokes a minor orison and relieves himself of a gash. He hadn't even noticed until now.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances to Brenner and Calvin to see if they approve so far.

Liatai:There are many powerful spellcasters in Castleton and the surrounding areas. Specify?

Calvin Hart:Calvin does not approve.

Barbarus: (( Ones who specialize in the making of potions. ))

TMG:Aureate Palm, actually. I'm thinking they might have someone...

Kor:Kor finally manages to scamper away from the cat, and heads back to his master, squeaking fretfully.

Liatai:There's the Palm, there are churches, there are various wizards, there are potion-makers, there's the Society of Saltmarsh, maybe even the Leaden Mace Society...

Dr. Hatari:Strictly mechanically and OOCly speaking, they would need to be CL 11+. Extraordinarily powerful.

VAE:Hmm

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt sees Calvin's expression. "Ah. You do not like this plan. Well, perhaps details can be sorted out. But even so, I think this man needs to reverse everything he's done somehow. Do you agree?"

Barbarus: (( Durnit. ))

VAE:can i use knowledge local to check whether there is someone like that in the mace?

Barbarus: (( And my search check? :o ))

VAE:i mean, other branches, in other cities

Dr. Hatari:Unless there is some obscure specialized spell besides Stone to Flesh that also works.

TMG:and I didn't say we'd take him to a spellcaster

Calvin Hart:"Hrrm. I would rather trust someone who's already proven they won't try anything underhanded than Restren to undo this."

VAE:or at least get an untrained check with a +2 modifier given i'm am member?

Liatai:Yep, you can.

TMG:I was thinking more someone would be attached to him to follow him as he tracks down everyone he ever sold to.

Tathi:"If he fails to do so.." Tathi says as she walks through the doorway again and glares down at him. "He is to be brought to me."


 * Jonah Restren quails.

TMG:And also while Restran performs labor to pay for the cost of the reversing potions

Miron:« 1d20+6 = 18 + 6 = 24 » Knowledge(local) for Leaden Mace Archivists and Analysts.

Miron:who might make this happen

Tathi:"Gnogglebolt, do you have the rest of those potions?"

Gnogglebolt:"I have one. Thomas has the other two."

Tathi:"If I may?" She says, holding out her hand for the potion.

Liatai:There are a few, up north. Not many. But some.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt hands it over.

Tathi:She heads downstairs.

Miron:'Gnogglebolt... does this wretch have any skills besides what his "Sasha" has granted him that can make money?"

Tathi:"Thomas, you have the other potions?"

Gnogglebolt:"I'm sure I don't know. But that would be why he will be working for a very long time, I think."

Thomas Lazarus:"Yes." He tears himself away from the statue and offers a somber now.

Dr. Hatari:*nod


 * Thomas Lazarus gestures to Kethanis.

Gnogglebolt:"If we can find identical potions in Castleton, we may be able to buy the potions initially. He will live with the debt."

Thomas Lazarus:"They work quite well."

VAE:liatai, was the up north the answer to my check?


 * Kethanis Whitebranch is stretching out -- being turned to stone is murder on the joints, who knew?

Liatai:Yep.

Tathi:"Allright. Let's free the ones with the shortest lifespans first. That would be this human here. Then, the half-elf upstairs. And then.." She says, sighing heavily.. "Let's free the elven maid upstairs. Seems like she was caught in this as an innocent bystander."

Meany:*poke*

Ghostwish:gotota grab supper, brb

Miron:As for your question Gnogglebolt... some of my brothers, in the northern regions where the Mace was founded, are powerful enough to cure hellish curses of this sort.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt then remembers something.

Gnogglebolt:He pokes his head down the trapdoor. "By the way. There's six staues remaining, not five."

Gnogglebolt:"There's a halfing outside."

Thomas Lazarus:Tom is still for a moment. He then nods.

Gnogglebolt:"We should start getting them out of here, then we can....figure out what to do next."

Thomas Lazarus:"Let's just be done with it quickly, before they come up with some kind of.. biography or lotto or.. I.. you know."

Miron:Beware though! Some of these might be made from the dead.

Miron:It is best to check his documents first.

Miron:Or, ask the scum himself, perhaps.

Jonah Restren:"The dead don't make interesting statues... they have to be alive to be turned to stone."

Miron:*nods*

Thomas Lazarus:"Give him some space. He could be angry." Tom uncorks the second vial, and applies salve to the human fighter.

Miron:*Turns back to gnogglebolt*

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway, after we're done cleaning up the witch problem here, we need to head back to Castleton to see if we can find any more producers of these potions."

Human Man:Make a Reflex save, Thomas, since once the curative effect takes hold, that dagger is continuing its swing.

Gnogglebolt:"In the meantime...I suppose Restran will just have to sit in your cell until we return."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt says to Calvin

Thomas Lazarus:« 1d20+1 = 9 + 1 = 10 »


 * Calvin Hart nods. "We'll keep a close eye on him."

Human Man:« 1d20+5 = 1 + 5 = 6 »


 * Faerie returns

Miron:*shrugs somewhat - he isn't entirely comfortable with someone like this being left to live*

Ghostwish:back!

Faerie:Have to get caught up on the log though. I have it, just need to read.

Human Man:Fortunately, the swing is thrown off by the shock of being turned from stone back to flesh, and goes very wide. "--What -- where --"

Gnogglebolt:"Well, Miron, as long as the effect is reversible, he can live while working to reverse it."

Thomas Lazarus:"--Calm down." He holds up empty hands.

Gnogglebolt:"he is still scum for this, but much more useful alive."

Miron:Perhaps... but who knows how many of them are?

Thomas Lazarus:"You were trapped in a spell; you're free now. It's safe."

Human Man:"-- Where's that chicken?"

Miron:What if some of the statues went lost.. or broke?

Gnogglebolt:"In that case, -then- he will have to pay the price."

Human Man:"Who are you? Where am I? What's -- Where's --"


 * Thomas Lazarus lowers his hands and juts a thumb at the roof. "Dead, I suspect."

Gnogglebolt:"But not yet. Let him pay the debt he has incurred."

Gnogglebolt:"The dead don't pay well."

Meany:GM? :o

Miron:Besides.. who knows how long he has been doing this? Think of the years of life he has robbed those people of.

Miron:All for the sake of gold.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt rubs his forehead.

Human Man:"-- AELIAN! Where's Aelian?!"

Gnogglebolt:"Miron, what do you propose otherwise?"

Liatai:Huh? What do you need, Barbarus?

Gnogglebolt:"Do you have any other suggestions?"


 * Thomas Lazarus seems at a loss. "I'm sorry friend; I don't know. You've probably been here for quite a few days. Please holster your weapons for now."

Meany:Search results? Should I keep doing things while you type it up?

Thomas Lazarus:"There are.. other petrified persons above us."

Thomas Lazarus:"Please follow me."

Miron:I ... I don't know... The beast is dead... i suppose turning *him* to stone would have been the most fitting punishment.

Human Man:"He was probably -- whoo." The man starts to take a step forward and stumbles.

Barbarus:« 1d20+5 = 4 + 5 = 9 » Reflex save!

Dr. Hatari:Ah, I was too hasty. x3

Barbarus:To catch!

Gnogglebolt:"I was thinking of that myself, but it's a little impractical at the moment."

Gnogglebolt:"Even so. Having him clean up the mess he has made is the most fitting."


 * Human Man falls down to one knee. "... well, gravity still works..."

Miron:Perhaps you are right.. hanging him *might* be too much... but either of the alternatives seems.. bad.

Gnogglebolt:"So let us take him into Redtree right now and have him sit in a cell until we can find a reliable source of these potions."

Miron:Saint Cuthbert teaches us to uphold justice, and punish the vile... but doesn't tell how.... *shrugs again*

Gnogglebolt:"Then we can figure out what to do."

Miron:*nods*

Miron:That would be best. If anything, he'll be able to do no more harm.

Liatai:Search results - 2,000 GP, a set of fox-fur bracers inlaid with platinum swirls, and a glazed ceramic ring.

Dr. Hatari:Neat. :o

Gnogglebolt:"First, however...we may need a few extra hands to get the remaining petrified people taken into town."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances at Brenner and Calvin.

Barbarus:"Miss Tathi, you want anything from this loot?"

Faerie:And, caught up on the log!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt [pokes his head down the trapdoor again.

Tathi:Tathi glances over. "Looks quite fancy, and well made. Might be magical. I'll check later."

Gnogglebolt:"Ho, down there."


 * Thomas Lazarus looks to Gnogglebolt.

Barbarus:"We have one more alive!"

Gnogglebolt:"Start moving any remaining petrified people up here, and gather anything useful."


 * Human Man shakily stands and follows the former templar up the ladder slowly.

Barbarus:"Shall we get the missus upstairs?"

Tathi:"We are. Send down some strong arms to help with the statues."

Gnogglebolt:"We're moving out soon. We need to take all the petrifieds with us."

Thomas Lazarus:"Friend. For now, we're going to use what salve we've got on the youngest."

Thomas Lazarus:"--But we're not gonna leave them. No matter what."

Human Man:"-- Aelian!"

Human Man:"Damn, the bird got him, too..."

Barbarus:« 1d20 = 3 » Strength check!

Barbarus:"Ohno-"

Tathi:"Here." Tathi says, handing him the vial. "Heal him."


 * Kethanis Whitebranch moves over to help stabilize the statue!

Kethanis Whitebranch:« 1d20+1 = 5 + 1 = 6 » Strength check.

Barbarus:"Rope! Get some rope down here!"

Barbarus:« 1d20 = 18 » Strength check!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt speaks to evweryone. "Anyone with a stong arm may want to help the others below."

Gnogglebolt:"There's one more petrified down there."

Human Man:"This is --" The human looks at Tathi with a moment of disbelief, before nodding gratefully. "Thank you."

Liatai:Reflex save, Gnogglebolt!

Thomas Lazarus:"I'll take care of it." He offers the last vial to Gnogglebolt, and points to the elven woman.

Miron:*Paces around*

Thomas Lazarus:"The sorceress and cleric, I can move."

Gnogglebolt:Reflex--what? o.o « 1d20+6 = 11 + 6 = 17 »

Calvin Hart:"Right. We'll take Restren to the prison, then be back with more help."

Barbarus:I rolled an 18, how far do I move her?

Aelian:TWANG!

Ghostwish:oh bugger. XD

Gnogglebolt:"HOY!" Gnogglebolt jumps in surprise.

Aelian:The arrow the archer had held taut during his entire time as a statue goes flying and lodges in the wall right over Gnogglebolt's head.

Aelian:"What -- you're not the sculptor." o.o

Miron:*nods* May the Cudgel clear your path!


 * Thomas Lazarus releases a held breath.

Thomas Lazarus:"Nevermind, for now."

Barbarus:Ahem?

Aelian:"-- Edric? What happened?"

Barbarus: (( GM, I'm sorry for the rushing. :[ ))

Barbarus: (( Just got back from running across the house. ))

Ghostwish:TERRIBLE WRATH UPON YOU :P

Liatai:WHAT.

Liatai:I'M TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING DONE HERE. :P

Thomas Lazarus:"Be careful with that or you'll throw out your backs."

VAE:ahaha. poor Liatai

Barbarus:« 1d20+2 = 4 + 2 = 6 » Con check!

VAE:the DnDMFA game was a lot like that

Barbarus:"-AUGH"

Ghostwish:AUGH MY BACK XD

Barbarus:"MY BACK! DX"


 * Thomas Lazarus closes his eyes and mutters a soft prayer. Bull's strength!


 * Thomas Lazarus sighs and pats Barbarus. "See? Take it easy. |3"

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Careful!" Fret fret Heal check! « 1d20+7 = 19 + 7 = 26 »

Barbarus:"Thanks. o-e"

Barbarus:"Ow."

Dr. Hatari:Since Thomas' heavy load became 520lbs and lift-over-head load just became 1040lbs, can he carry the statue?

Edric:"Aelian! It's all right, they killed the chicken, there's a priest of Pelor and gnomes and -- we're free!"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt moves back to the trapdoor, and feeds one end of a silk rope down. Calling into the other room; "Hey everyone bigger than me except for whoever's watching Restran, can you come and help?"

Liatai:Yep, he can. x3

Thomas Lazarus:Tom soundly 'hups' the statue off the ground and carefully carries it over to the ladder. He looks up at it uncertainly.

Thomas Lazarus:"Mind goind before me and making sure this doesn't break under my feet?"

Miron:Restran has been taken to jail... sadly, i can't do much lifting these.

Barbarus:afk

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Of course -- be careful."

Aelian:"... You're not kidding? No more goblins? No more chi -- it was a cockatrice, not a chicken, Edric..."

Thomas Lazarus:Tom shoves the elven spellcaster statue up through the threshold as far as he can reach - which is reasonably far. He doesn't quite want to chance the ladder. "Pull her on up and set her down!"

Edric:"It looked like a plucked chicken. :/"

Tathi:Tathi just points over at the down stone-clucker nearby.

Tathi:*downed


 * Thomas Lazarus hauls himself up and dusts his hands.

Thomas Lazarus:"Thank you, friend."

Aelian:"... Who are all of you? Are we still in Redtree?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt moves over to the depetrified man. "You are still in Johan Restran's house, yes."

Gnogglebolt:"We have already apprehended him, and as you've heard, killed the devil-bird."

Ghostwish:[arty name was vigilant guardians, right?

Gnogglebolt:Yup

Tathi:"Yes, you are. And we are the Vigilant Guardians, or so the monikor goes."

Gnogglebolt:"Right now, we are just going to get the rest of the petrified people out of here."

Aelian:"That was his name?" The half-elf scowls, fingering the fletching of a few arrows briefly before hearing that the man was apprehended.

Tathi:"Oh yes." Tathi says darkly. "I dealt with him quite nicely. He seemed to like targeting elves."

Edric:"Vigilant Guardians, huh? Adventuring group?"

Gnogglebolt:"Indeed."

Tathi:"Quite."

Edric:"One of these days, we should come up with a name, too."

Aelian:"As long as it doesn't have anything to do with damned chickens or stone," the half-elf grumbles.

Tathi:"Well, you can't be 'those guys' forever."

Dr. Hatari:YOU'RE CORRUPTING THEM.

Ghostwish:AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME. BWAHAHAHAHA

Thomas Lazarus:"Gnogglebolt; the last vial."

Gnogglebolt:"Didn't Tathi get it from you?"

Calvin Hart:After a short while, the constable returns with two other men -- lumberjacks, by the look of it.

Dr. Hatari:He meant the one Gnogglebolt had.

Dr. Hatari:But maybe I lost track.

Gnogglebolt:"Oh, I gave that one to Tathi."

Ghostwish:Thomas has the last one. :P

Dr. Hatari:In any case, *somebody* can restore one more of these.

Dr. Hatari:Okay. :P

VAE:btw, after what Tathi has pulled on Restren, Miron is gonna regret he didn't take her along to the interrogation back in Castleton.

Tathi:Tathi points to the elven woman. "Her. The priest will understand me, I know."


 * Thomas Lazarus pats himself down--"Oh, oh, wait."

Thomas Lazarus:"I have it."

Thomas Lazarus::BTathi:Hey, you just gotta put the elf in the right attitude. :>

Thomas Lazarus:"I hope you will forgive me for making you wait, brother." He nods to the petrified elves, and applies the last salve to the civilian-looking elf.

Elven Woman:"-- Ow!"

Elven Woman:"What bit me?" o.o


 * Thomas Lazarus pulls back at the 'ow'. "!"

Edric:"Chicken."

Gnogglebolt:"Ah....you may want to sit down, first."

Aelian:"Cockatrice."

Elros:A -thing-. That turned you to stone.


 * Thomas Lazarus offers a corroborative nod.

Elven Woman:"That's a... good idea..." The woman looks down at the pitcher in her hand, mystified, then steps back to lean against the wall.

Thomas Lazarus:"Alright. I'm moving this one back to the town for safe-keeping."

Barbarus:Back.

Edric:"It looks like a chicken, I'm calling it a chicken."

Gnogglebolt:"Don't forget the one outside."

Gnogglebolt:"There's these two and then that one."

Aelian:"Chickens don't turn people to stone, Edric."

Tathi:Tathi steps over. "Are you allright? You've just been turned back from being stone. The man responsible has been quite well dealt with."


 * Thomas Lazarus draws a breath and 'hup' hauls the spellcaster statue over his shoulder, and marches back off to redtree. He nods to the other civilians in passing.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt moves into the main room and nods to the big men. "There's one more inside, and a halfling outside."

Dr. Hatari:Mm~ pizza rolls~

Miron:*walks into the back room*

Gnogglebolt:"Alright, everyone...let us return to Redtree."

Eric Gilliam:It takes a short amount of time for the other humans to hoist off the other statues.

Miron:And now, Gnogglebolt, we should have a look at the man's books

TMG:oh, yes

Edric:"It's an evil chicken!"

TMG:is everything important being collected by everyone else?

Miron:He told me there is a list of his customers and how much he got paid for his foul work.

Aelian:"It's a cockatrice!"

Barbarus:Barbie's totting the loot.

TMG:to be looked over when we get into Redtree? ( to simplify, so we don't do it right this moment)

Thomas Lazarus:Tom makes sure to get this business taken care of in the 4 minutes of blessed strength that he has left - otherwise he may join Barbarus in the worker's comp club. :B

Barbarus:Shortsword, two thousand gold coins, oxhide bracers inlaid with platinum spirals, and a glazed ceramic ring.

VAE:that's not quite the definition of imprtant they had in mind

Barbarus::BTMG:I mean -everything- x3

Miron:Miron takes 20 for a total of 27 to find the man's documents.

TMG:except the furniture

Elven Woman:"I'm... all right. I was here to get a sculpture made... and then... what happened? Stone?"

TMG:clean house

Dr. Hatari:Oh well, we have the capacity for it I guess."

TMG:actually

Miron:On Search, of course.

TMG:even the furniture. Sell it to pay off Restran's debt.

Liatai:You do find the man's ledger! It's actually quite sparse.

Faerie:TMG: Oh, ebcause with this party, we could be bringing furniture. :P

TMG:The entire lot is probably going to be sold

Miron:I got it, gnogglebolt!

Tathi:Tathi nods a little. "He had his nasty little pet bite you. It's called a cockterice. It turned you into stone."

Miron:*reads the ledger*

Liatai:Only two statues are listed as being sold.

Faerie:Works too. Unless you want to sell the house furnished.

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm? Ah! Let me see!"

Miron:*hands it over*

Miron:And he has sold just two of them so far!

Barbarus:« 1d20+2 = 8 + 2 = 10 » Wis check.

Gnogglebolt:"hm....only two? That's it?"

Barbarus:To determine time of day.

Miron:It seems that crime doesn't pay *snorts*

Gnogglebolt:"That...actually isn't as bad as I thought."

Barbarus:"Considering the coinage he had in his stores, he must charge a pretty penny.

Barbarus:"Gnogglebolt:"Are we sure this is it? Let us check over the house one more time."

VAE:OKGnogglebolt:"Let us be sure we have everything."

VAE:I take 20, you take 20 on assist

Liatai:A statue of a gnome, and a statue of a human woman.

Ghostwish:uh oh. :>

Ghostwish:Now the gnomes are gonna want to go Tathi on the poor sap. :P

Miron:Miron takes another 20 on search, for 29 with assist from gnogglebolt to make sure nothing escaped their sights.

Gnogglebolt:taking 20 myself 20+4= 24 for the whole house. (and assisit won't help much here)

Liatai:The gnome was sold for quite the pretty penny indeed, 2,000 GP. The human was sold for 200 GP.

Dr. Hatari:WAT >:O

Ghostwish:XDVAE:we are expensive.

VAE:concentrated, see?

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt also does notice...the gnome in the ledger. He grips the ledger tightly, takes a deep breath, and continues searching.

Dr. Hatari:THAT ONLY USES LIKE HALF AS MUCH STONE OMG >:O

Gnogglebolt:oh, and okay, aiding Miron on it to boost his result

Gnogglebolt:with the combined result, anything else even remotely interesting found in the house?

Elven Woman:"But he seemed so nice..."

Elven Woman:"Why would he turn people to stone?"

Liatai:Nope.

Miron:Miron has heard about the gnome while interrogating the man. He feels disgusted, but not much more than when he identified the goblin.

Miron:**halfling

Tathi:Tathi sighs a little. "Yes, he had a deceptive air around him. He was selling all of you as statues. Expensive, well made statues."

Miron:For money.

Miron:Perhaps the lowest motive of them all.

Miron:*sighs*

Gnogglebolt:With nothing else interesting found... "Alright. Let us return to Redtree with the others."

Miron:Let's go!

Elven Woman:"All right..."

Barbarus:Barbie is on the move!

Miron:But.. what with the corpse?

Kethanis Whitebranch:"This is quite the procession."

Gnogglebolt:"Coming Tathi? And Miss?"

Miron:We should burn it... it's poison might be dangerous after its death, too.

Dr. Hatari:Naturally the witcher wants the cockatrice corpse. :B

Dr. Hatari:All yours!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt puts on one of his thick work-gloves and drags the cockatrice outside

Tathi:"Yes, yes, come along dearie. I can look over our newfound goods tonight. And hopefully -not- get wasted."

Elven Woman:"Kawyn. My name is Kawyn."

Barbarus:"Pretty name."

Ghostwish:ALLRIGHT, MARCHING ORDER PEOPLE. >:O

Dr. Hatari:Oh no.

Gnogglebolt:Witrh the cockatrice corpse outside

Miron:Tathi... any fire spells left?

Dr. Hatari:Raid form up! GET IN LINE OR DKP MINUS.

Liatai:XD XD

Gnogglebolt:"Tathi? I believe you like fire. Might you lend some?" Gnogglebolt gestures to the corpse.

Miron:Actually... i have my flint with me.

Gnogglebolt:oh, flint, nevermind xD

Miron:Let me get a few of his chairs.

TMG:flint and steel. That works.

Flint Carthan:"What?"

Miron:Or, some other wood.. and a bit of paper or so.

Ghostwish:XPGhostwish:He'll be a Clint yet.

Miron:Miron takes a wooden chair of the man. Nice, dry wood, makes for a starter.

Liatai:Clint-In-Training. XD

VAE:hmm, how to grab it.

TMG:Hmm, if only we had Max (or was it Brian?) who had the pyrotechincs perform skill xD

Liatai:It was Max. XD

VAE:... where is miron?

Dr. Hatari:Death-metal roadie skills? >:o

Miron:Thomas... care to break it up?

Miron:And gnogglebolt.. do you have some bit of spare paper?

Dr. Hatari:Thomas is long gone, by mechanical necessity of spell.

Miron:Perhaps a few empty pages from the man's ledger.

Dr. Hatari:Although, he could have returned by now, I guess.

Edric:"What are we going to do now?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt does indeed rip a few blank pages out of the ledger.

Gnogglebolt:And the cockatrice corpse is burrrrrrned. :>

Aelian:"I don't know... maybe we can start hunting those fiendish creatures in the woods... Have you heard the stories about Redtree?"

Dr. Hatari:Yeah, good enough. :>

Barbarus:We back at Redtree?

Gnogglebolt:-now- we go back to redtree :>

Edric:"Of course! I am a bard, after all!"

Miron:*Miron settles the broken up chair under and around, and sets fire to the corpse*

Gnogglebolt:Oh, and of course, Gnogglebolt makes sure the fire doesn't spread. If it matters.

Miron:Um... someone should stay and watch the fire

Tathi:"You? A bard?"

Miron:Anyone volunteers?

Gnogglebolt:Once it's died down and only ash is left, Gnogglebolt leaves with the others

Barbarus:Barbie is already off toward Redtree.

Dr. Hatari:Akellon; 40% demographic possibility of being a bard. Period.

Barbarus:He left...like maybe two minutes ago?

Barbarus:In-game?

VAE:more like half an hour

VAE:given they were burning the cockatrice

Dr. Hatari:Burning aside, *hops back to Redtree*

Barbarus:OIMeany:Cannae see!

Miron:After the fire has died down, the two gnomes walk towards Redtree.

Dr. Hatari:We're likely being reshuffled. :3

Liatai:Now can you see? :3

Meany:Yes.

Meany:Thankee. :3

Barbarus:"So much livlier than when we got here-my wagon!"

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 10 + 4 = 14 » Search check to find signs of tampering, or visitation since he left. >:o


 * Thomas Lazarus sighs and streeetches his back.

Liatai:No signs of tampering. :3

TMG:did Miron ask for Restran's ledger back?

Barbarus:That you leave out the second bit worries me.

Brenner Fox:"There you are. The statues are in the town hall's back room."

VAE:I think he glanced on it and handed it to Gnogglebolt

Thomas Lazarus:"I'm glad they're in better spirits." A smile creeps upon his face.

VAE:He's one of those in the party he actually trusts really well.

TMG:yeah, so unless Miron asked for it back, Gnogglebolt still has it.

TMG:Ah, alright.

VAE:The other being Thomas

TMG:adding to inventory, then

VAE:and gnogglebolt is a bit less airheaded at times :P


 * Brenner Fox smirks at Thomas' statement. "Well, that's what happens when you arrive in the middle of town during a town hall meeting."

Thomas Lazarus:"Thanks for your help. The extra man-power was certainly a relief for my poor back."

VAE:so, who's in Redtree ATM?


 * Thomas Lazarus looks back to Gnogglebolt briefly, then back to Brenner. "I'm certain we'll find a way to help them."

TMG:ecveryone

VAE:*nods*

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway...let us gather, Vigilant Guardians." Gnogglebolt says to everyone. "The sooner we plan our assault to drive back the witch, the better."


 * Kethanis Whitebranch had made a beeline for Koehel and immediately started to stroke the bird's feathers, speaking soft, soothing words to the hawk.

Aelian:"I bet you think that bird's a chicken, too."

Gnogglebolt:"Kethanis? Join us when you can!" Gnogglebolt calls over.

Edric:"No, that's a hawk. That was a chicken from the Nine Hells."


 * Thomas Lazarus nods.

Miron:Indeed... though... I guess the way we dealt with Restren showed some of you the power of surprise.


 * Kethanis Whitebranch nods absently, attention still on the bird.

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway, Mister Fox, you and the constable do seem to be the figures of authortiy in this town. Come plan with us, we can use any information you have."

Miron:Although... if we get everyone able of fighting together...i guess we will be able to do something.


 * Thomas Lazarus wanders past the children and stoops a bit to Koehel. He offers a bit of dried trail-ration jerky again. :3

Brenner Fox:"I wouldn't say that. We're just the heads of the town militia. The mayor is John Holland; he's the real power figure in a political sense."

Tathi:"About that loot..?" Tathi asks.

Barbarus:Barbie checks the inside of his wagon. Shifty eyed. Don't trust these non-tribe one bit. >:[

Brenner Fox:"... well, and there's Broom Hilda."

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 12 + 4 = 16 » Search! Just to make sure!

VAE:bwhahahaha

Dr. Hatari:Haha, nice.

VAE:Broom Hilda of Meany did make it through!


 * Koehel accepts the jerky! :O Om nom nom.

Miron:Broom Hilda?

Miron:*curious gnome is curious*

Brenner Fox:"Owner of the general store."

Gnogglebolt:"Right then, invite the mayor as well."

Gnogglebolt:"Oh yes, and Tathi."

Brenner Fox:"... Trust me, you don't want to cross her. Half the town is terrified of her." ^^;

Meany:Watch Broom Hilda's token image.

Meany:Be Von Pinn.

Miron:*smirks* is she so good at manning the broom?

Gnogglebolt:"We can leave Restran's weath for the moment, but so far, I'm thinking it should go towards paying for potions to cure the people he petrified. But, we can go over that later, it isn't urgent. Now, we must plan for the witch."

Brenner Fox:"Quite so, as many local troublemakers quickly find out."

Meany:GM? No change since last search check?

Liatai:No change. Except maybe...

Liatai:One...

Liatai:Small...

Dr. Hatari:What do you want, Clue footprints? :B

Liatai:Teeny..

Liatai:Kid-sized...

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt goes back over to Brenner. "Well, if you think this woman would be valuable for our planning, then by all means, invite her, too."

Liatai:Handprint.

Liatai:On the wagon wheel.

Gnogglebolt:"Which building should we go to?"

Miron:*smiles again* Better they find out early by broom than late with gallows.

Barbarus:*EYE OF SAURON*

Brenner Fox:"Town hall or the inn would be the best choices."

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. I believe you said earlier your inn was occupied, so town hall?"

Barbarus:"Could you -please- keep the children away from the cart?"

TMG:awww, what happened to Barbarus liking the kiddies? x3

Barbarus:"It has some dangerous cargo."

Brenner Fox:"It was occupied..." He smiles and waves a hand at the three kids. "... by them."

TMG:oh, that. Right. o.o

Barbarus::BMeany:Okay.

Aelian:"Pardon me... but did you say something about a witch?"

Gnogglebolt:"Oh, I see." Gnogglebolt chuckles at Brenner. "Still, town hall seems a symbolically good place to plan as any, and it certainly makes no actual difference. So, let us go! To town hall, Vigilants!"

Thomas Lazarus:Tom seems pleased as punch to have one of the crisis at an end - or atleast, close enough to a resolution that immediate tension is unnecessary. He raises up and leaves Kethanis to his friend.

Meany:For a moment, I though Aelian had pigtails.

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm? Oh, yes, a witch. A nrcomantic druid who has been assaulting this town the last few days."

Edric:"Well, he is elven. Pretty girly."

Barbarus:Brenner? Catfolk is talking to you.

Gnogglebolt:*necromantic

Aelian:"AM NOT! >:O"

Gnogglebolt:"She has quite a fondness of summoning demonig beasts."

VAE:hahah

Aelian:Anyway, back on the proper side of the fourth wall... x3 "Would you like a hand in dealing with her?"

VAE:necromantic, or narcomaniac, gnogglebolt?

Edric:"Make that two!"

Aelian:"Technically, four."

Thomas Lazarus:"Sure thing, that would........... !"

Edric:"Semantics."


 * Thomas Lazarus pats himself down urgently!


 * Thomas Lazarus flinches. *Facepalm* "..I forgot my shield at the cabin."


 * Thomas Lazarus goes trudging off north.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt grins. "More combat assets is always a good thing..." But then Gnogglebolt's face gets serious.

Gnogglebolt:"Though I will warn you, she already knows we, specifically, are coming for her. She'll be ready."

Gnogglebolt:"Survival isn't guaranteed for any of us."

Gnogglebolt:"Not to belittle you, just explicitly making sure you know the risks."

Miron:And that is why our only chance, asides from a pullback, is to attack with overwhelming force.

Barbarus:"Oi!"


 * Barbarus pokes the Brenner. >:o

Edric:"We've survived two near-death experiences in the past two weeks. What's one more?"

Gnogglebolt:"However, the others also have to have a say in it."

Brenner Fox:"-- Erk!"

Gnogglebolt:"I'm favorable, but wait until we're all in town hall."

Brenner Fox:"Of course."

Gnogglebolt:"Ask again then."


 * Aelian nods.

Miron:Let's not waste time, then.

Liatai:Shall we cover the meeting at the town hall next session, then? :3

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt goes over to stand by the town hall door and waits for the others.

Miron:The other gnome stands near, also waiting eagerly.

TMG:Hmm...

Dr. Hatari:I've got an hour and a half of free time left.

TMG:I like the momentum we have :o

TMG:brb, though. One minute.

Thomas Lazarus:*huff puff* o.o;;

Liatai:Okay, but I'll need to stand up and stretch. ^^;

VAE:Linear, or angular, tech?

Faerie:Well, we seem to be moving forwards for once, rather than in circles.

Dr. Hatari:Weird!

TMG:back

TMG:danman and alex; snrk. xD

TMG:and that's exactly why :D

TMG:Progress!

TMG:Let us keep it up! :D

Meany:For once.

Meany::BDr. Hatari:Doop! Gotta take an important call. Continue without me for a few, I'll catch up quick. :o

Liatai:NPCs moved into place. :D

Liatai:And dinner acquired. :D

Liatai:Let's roll!

Tathi:Tathi stretches and yawns. "Well, that was a bit of fun."

TMG:wait, where did the NPCs go? o.o

TMG:ohhh


 * Koehel is sitting contentedly on Kethanis' head. :3

TMG:(and did Brenner invite 'Broom Hilda'? >.> )

Liatai:Nope, she's still at her shop.

TMG:Huh, Gnogglebolt said Brenner could bring her :B

TMG:Ah well.


 * Brenner Fox had too many close encounters with that broom in his teenage years. o.o;;

Gnogglebolt:With seemingly everyone in the hall, Gnogglebolt stands up (by necessity on the pew, due to his short stature.)

Gnogglebolt:"Right. The business with Johan Restren was sudden, and not yet fully concluded, but it is at least stable for the moment and can wait. For now, we have a much more urgent matter to attend to."

VAE:Jonah!

VAE:pfft... even i keep effing his name up.


 * John Holland jumps. o.O He hadn't realized anyone was there!

TMG:nope..it's johan. That's what I've got in the page.

Liatai:Jonah. :B

VAE:but the NPC said Jonah

Liatai:He's not Johan Cross. :B

TMG:it did? o.o dang, wikipage is wrong then.

TMG:I need to fix that.

TMG:Anyway/

VAE:well, Johan Cross was a nice guy, so of course he isn't

VAE:Restren was scum.

VAE:well, technically, he still *is*

VAE:http://www.shapeways.com/model/126266/thorn_dice_set_with_decader.html?gid=mg Evil looking dice.

Meany:Less chatter.

Gnogglebolt:"I am Gnogglebolt Sparkgear, and these are the other members of the Vigilant Guardians, Tathi Eyllisaearsithek, Miron Steels[procket, Thomas Lazarus, and Elros Saelian." Gnogglebolt says, for the benefit of the mayor.

Meany:More clatter.

VAE:err.

VAE:there ain't gonna be no clatter in the town hall, i hope

Barbarus:Oh, so that's how it is.

Barbarus:>:[

TMG:BARBARUS

TMG:"And Barbarus of the CLouds." Knew I was forgetting something.

VAE:(say it in gnoglebolt's voice :P0

Brenner Fox:And for the benefit of the other non-party-members, too, since not even Kethanis knew anyone in the party's name except Gnogglebolt's. :B

Gnogglebolt:"We are here because we are pursuing a witch, a rogue druid who has done some terrible things as of late. It seems her current scheme is the seige of this town."

Gnogglebolt:"Unfortunately, our approach was not, ah...covert. We revealed ourselves to her scouts and forces twice on our way here. She is ready for us. Nevertheless, she is still hear, and we still have a job to do."

John Holland:"We'll gladly tell you what we know of the situation."

Gnogglebolt:"So, if anyone can retell exactly how these attacks started and as much details of each one would be good."

John Holland:"Ah... although it's probably not, ah, as much as you know."

Gnogglebolt:"Any information on the capabilities of the forces she can raise will be helpful."


 * Brenner Fox nods and reports. "The trouble with the druids started three months ago, with scattered attacks on farms on the town borders. It coincided with a drought that had struck the area, so it was a major blow to farmers. However, the attacks quickly became... stranger. They started with demonic crows, but now, even domestic animals have taken to attacking their owners, or running in fear into the woods, never to return. Hellhounds prowl the borders at night and make it difficult to get messages in or out. The only way we've managed is the way your shaman friend has -- with birds. Even that isn't foolproof, though."

Brenner Fox:"We've been finding half-eaten corpses left to rot on forest paths, and entire farms devastated. The drought hasn't helped matters, either."

Thomas Lazarus:*huff puff* "..Sorry!" Tom staggers in, triumphantly equipped with shield. ^^;;;

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm..." Gnogglebolt pulls out a book and checks something breifly.

Gnogglebolt:He seems to find what he was looking for, nods, closes the book, and puts it away.

Gnogglebolt:(three months ago--coincides with first purchase from Granch.)

Miron:Does anyone have any idea about their goals?

Brenner Fox:"All we've been able to do is shoot down any demonic beasts we see, and pray that our own animals don't become tainted." He pauses, then gives a mirthless chuckle. "That seemed easier when we still had our priest with us."

Brenner Fox:"Not a one. They seem to be in it solely to destroy Redtree and all within it."

Miron:Your priest? What happened to him?

Gnogglebolt:"So, there haven;t been any demands? Have the druids responsible ever shown themselves?"

John Holland:"Ah, priestess, technically... she was, ah... she tried to find the source of the demonic taint."

Miron:*Whispers to Gnogglebolt in Gnomish*


 * Thomas Lazarus frowns. "When was that, exactly?"

John Holland:"We found her bloodied armor and holy symbol hanging from a tree near a slaughtered farm the next day... ah, two weeks ago."


 * Thomas Lazarus adds in a softer tone, "We've already lost brothers and sisters to their ilk."


 * Thomas Lazarus sighs. "..I see."

Miron says in Gnome: I... the scumbag might have been lying... but he said he met the chief of their cabai in the White Fox inn before they started using Granch's services

Barbarus:"..."

Barbarus:"Was she alone?"

John Holland:"... and to make matters worse, it only seems to have become worse in recent days, leading to the, ah, Festival of Restoration..."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances at Miron, nods curtly, but continues to listen. He winces at the story of what happened to the priest."

Miron:Who was she a priestess of?

Brenner Fox:"No," the innkeeper says quietly, hand curling into a fist. "Some of our men went with her. They never returned."


 * Thomas Lazarus looks aside. "Kethanis, did you manage to find any more details out about the rogue one while we were occupied in Castleton?"

John Holland:"She was, ah..." The man fidgets and looks back at Thomas.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt rubs his chin. The holiday of Ehlonna? That was still practiced in Mazio outside of the major cities. He wonders if there's a link, but it's no good speculating at this point."

TMG:ack, take that quotes off the end

Barbarus:"They're strong enough to take out a local Great Name."

Barbarus:"We might be in over our heads."

Miron:A priestess of ah? *smiles* I do not know of such religion.


 * Thomas Lazarus seems to interrupt himself and stands. He stares at John intently.

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Some, though the details are strange and confusing. She has no companion creature, shows no compunction toward killing animals... and I had heard from the good mayor that she has no sense of sisterhood with the rest of us." The druid frowns deeply.

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway, does anyone have a map? And yes, Kethanis, you were tracking her for us when she left Castleton. DId you manage to find any clues as to what area she might be in?"

Kethanis Whitebranch:"The attacks seem to stem from an area near the creek to the northeast, in the forest."

Miron:*serious again* Please do answer... it might bear some relation to the whole issue.

Miron:Who was she a priestess of?

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. Let us see if we can narrow that down. Mister mayor? Surely you keep a map of the local area in this building?"

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Speaking with local animals revealed a similar story. They speak of a fog that descends over their minds around that river... a cloud of either great warmth or great terror."

John Holland:"... ah..." The man swallows. "... Pelor."

Miron:*nods*


 * Thomas Lazarus simmers, but tries not to show it.

Thomas Lazarus:"What did you.. do with her things?"


 * Brenner Fox stands and unfurls a map, laying it on the bench he was sitting on.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt moves over to Brenner. "Right, now, can you plot the location of every attack that has happened outside of this immediate town, including the farms? Perhaps there is a distribution, a patter."

John Holland:"We buried... ah... what was left in the armor... and cleaned her holy symbol. It rests on her grave."

Tathi:Tathi bows her head, shaking it sadly. "Too many good souls lost."


 * Thomas Lazarus nods. "If it's not too much trouble, could you have someone show me to that grave, soon? I've something I'd like to see done with her symbol - if you don't mind."

Brenner Fox:A pattern does emerge, and it matches what your druid friend has told you; they seem to stem from the area near the small creek to the northeast.

John Holland:"Certainly. You are, ah, probably more versed in the proper rites than we are..." ^^;;

Gnogglebolt:"Right, all the datat agrees...everything points to the creek being her base."

Gnogglebolt:*data

Tathi:"Looks like we have a target to attack now."

Thomas Lazarus:He bows and takes his seat again. For now.

Gnogglebolt:"Now, Kethanis, I presume you know the lay of that land, a least somewhat?"


 * Koehel flaps over and peers at Ezer. Hello.

Gnogglebolt:"Now we need to figure out the best angle to approach from. Maybe we can mitigate our already-blown cover..."

Barbarus:"...Going to have to go in without Honduras or Venezuela backing us up. :|"

Gnogglebolt:"Although. If we are scouted on the way anyway, we might just have to plow right in."

Miron:Let's put it this way.

Barbarus:« 1d20+2 = 14 + 2 = 16 » Wis check.

Miron:How many of the town can go with us?

Miron:She expects an attack, but only of five or so.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt frowns deeply.

Gnogglebolt:"Miron."

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Of course. There are patches of dense forest along the entire creek; if needed, we may also choose to use the animals favorable to us to spread false information to her demonic birds."

Miron:*looks towards the other gnome*

Gnogglebolt:"You can NOT seriously be considering putting the untrained innocents in any more danger than they already are."

Miron:Some of them are trained, and it is precisely for that reason.

Gnogglebolt:"Well, a few, yes. In fact, these two here whom we depetrified have offered to accompany us."

Thomas Lazarus:"I understand your sentiments, brother Miron, but consider that they're already under siege. They're in danger, too. And they have children playing in their yards." He frowns sadly.

Brenner Fox:"Much as I hate to say it, Mr. Sparkgear's right. The few trained men and women we have, we can't afford to spare. Someone needs to defend the home front."

Gnogglebolt:"And I did already inform them of the situation."

Miron:If nothing is done, or if we are overwhelmed and killed, sooner or later the village will be overrun.

Thomas Lazarus:"Perhaps we should take only what we need."

Gnogglebolt:'So, if you are okay with them accompanying us, so be it."

Gnogglebolt:"But do not ask anyone to come with us."

Barbarus:Wis check was for forming a plan of attack. :D

Miron:In a battle against an prepared enemy, every arrow to our side that she doesn't count with can be a turning point.

Barbarus:Given the information on the map.

Aelian:"Technically, we're not untrained innocents or even locals..."

TMG:hookay, out of character for just a sec--and no, I'm -not- telling danman how to play his character, I'm just trying to figure something out


 * Thomas Lazarus simply shakes his head and gives up.

TMG:Miron is Neutral, but does he have any kind of moral considerations at all?

Edric:"You helped us out, it's only fair we return the favor."

VAE:he had

VAE:*has

VAE:He said it above

Dr. Hatari:He's apparently a completely uncompromising zealot.

TMG:^ that

Dr. Hatari:Which makes sense. =3=

VAE:If the people are gonna wait there, and we fail due to not having enough folks

VAE:they are as good as dead

TMG:Miron is not acting very upright at the moment. If you say that is your alignment, fine.

Dr. Hatari:Miron will see the bad side of whatever we're doing, so don't worry. :P

Miron:I obviously cannot force anyone to go. But, consider what i have said.

TMG:Just know that what Miron is asking, while not strictly Evil, is definitely nowhere Good.

VAE:he never was good.

VAE:Though, he does do what he considers the best thing overall

Barbarus:GM? :o

Liatai:What?

Barbarus:Results of wis check?

VAE:and not strictly.. it cannot be considered evil by any metric.

Gnogglebolt:"Then, like I said. If anyone volunteers to join us, like these two have, then I would say they can. but..." Gnogglebolt looks at Thomas. 'What do you mean, 'take what we need'?"

Liatai:What Wis check?

Dr. Hatari:Give her context clues, man. :p


 * Barbarus points up.

Meany:Just before this fiasco started.

Brenner Fox:"If it's supplies you need, ask Broom Hilda."

Meany:Around when Miron first asked his how many can go question.

Dr. Hatari:Wait *scrolls up*

Dr. Hatari:You can't do that xP

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Venezuela and Honduras?"

Meany:Wisdom is the Tactician. :B

Barbarus:"My war mules."

Dr. Hatari:She's kind of already playing like 5 PCs. Make your own plan, lazy. :P

Barbarus:"They'd be driven to attack -us-."

TMG:...um... Int would be tactical planning. o.O

Kethanis Whitebranch:"They should be able to accompany us. The forests are dense, but mules are sure-footed."

TMG:and that's Gnogglebolt's forte

Meany:Not according to the PHB.

Meany::BTMG:anyway

TMG:(what do you mean, meany)

TMG:hatari, answer from Thomas?


 * Koehel flutters... and perches on Ezer's head.

Meany:The PHB description of Wisdom. :o

Dr. Hatari:Whoops.

Aelian:"-- There. That thicket to the south of the creek. How dense is it?"

Thomas Lazarus:Tom looks over. "I meant, we should do this with only the strike force we need to get it done, and let the natives defend their homes and families. There's no way I'm going to ask the militia here to halve itself and leave those children to the wolves."

Brenner Fox:"Dense enough. It's rough travel, but hunters use the game paths there when they can."

Barbarus:"...And what happened to that testimony?"

Thomas Lazarus:"..Frankly I think only we outsiders should go at all."

Barbarus:"Of animals turning to attack their owners?"

Miron:Thomas.. you, or better, none of us have an idea what force is needed to get this done.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods to Thomas. "I'm inclinded to agree. However, do you think these two fellows we have depetrified can still accompany us? The offered to, and they're not from around here."

Thomas Lazarus:"Yes - but I'm also not morbidly assured of our failure, brother."

Miron:I aren't either... but if we fail, the town will sooner or later fall.

Elros:"Neither are we from around here. But that doesn't seem to be stopping us."

Tathi:"So long as they know the risks

Thomas Lazarus:"Then we'll have to pull through. Killing the witch isn't worth letting a single one of those creatures through to flank."

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Huntsman, I cannot tell you what to do, and I have no desire to change your mind if you feel it will work in favor or the animals' safety." The druid bows his head.


 * Koehel flutters his wings. I has a serval perch! :D

Barbarus:"We'll take -one."

Barbarus:"Honduras, the new one."

Miron:As i have said, we can't force anyone. But this isn't a position to turn down any volunteer either.

Barbarus:"He needs the front line experience."

Aelian:"That southern thicket will be a boon to us. If we were to approach along here..." The half-elf draws an arrow and uses it to trace a line from the farms to the creek. "They would see us beyond a doubt."

Aelian:"But we seem to have experienced woodsfolk here."


 * Thomas Lazarus sighs, and leaves it at that. He shrugs slightly at Gnogglebolt. "That is entirely their decision. They're not personally invested in our war."

Gnogglebolt:"So..." Gnogglebolt looks back to the map. "Using the thickets to mask our approach. I like this idea..."

Miron:*remains silent at that*

Gnogglebolt:"Ah...experienced woodsfolk...hmm..." Gnogglebolt goes silent, the gears in his head turning.

Gnogglebolt:He looks at the farms path Aelian traced.

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Excuse me -- I should ensure that Koehel isn't bothering your companion overmuch." ^^;

Gnogglebolt:"I have an idea."

Koehel:*Aw, but I was havin' fun. :/*

Dr. Hatari::OThomas Lazarus:"Alright. So, then, we have a point of approach?" He looks to Elros.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks up to make sure everyone's paying attention. "Tell me what you folks think of this. My plan is this; we split up into two task forces. Everyone accustomed to the wilderness is in one task force, and takes the thicket path. That would be Elros, Kethanis, Barbarus, and I think you Aelian. And maybe you too, Edaric? Your companion seems nature-adjusted, not sure about you. But anyway. The rest of us; myself, Thomas, Tathi, and Miron, take the straight path." Gnogglebolt points to the farmer path. "Where we will be seen."

Gnogglebolt:"Those of us taking the main path will draw the witche's attention and her forces, while the woods taskforce gets behind her for a pincer maneuver."

Liatai:I like Edaric better than Edric. Name change away! XD

Miron:It seems reasonable.

Dr. Hatari::BTMG:ooops xD

Gnogglebolt:"Any objectsion? Improvements? Approvals?"

Tathi:"I can agree to that."

Kethanis Whitebranch:"I'm not so certain..."

Thomas Lazarus:"That... that seems like a good plan. I think we can actually pull that off." He nods, seemingly pleased.

Thomas Lazarus:"What's wrong?"

Miron:Me and Tathi can strike and stun several of them at a time. It's best we draw the fire.

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm?" Gnogglebolt looks at Kethanis.

Elros:"That sounds reasonable to me. I do not know this area well, but I know woods."

Miron:While the woodsmen will sneak in and strike at the core.

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Splitting the pack is best done when you are close to your prey. As far as we know, she could be quite deep in the forest, simply using the creek as a path to the village."

Gnogglebolt:"You know this area and the witch better than us. What are you thinking?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks down at the map again and frowns.

Thomas Lazarus:"Hmm.. I suppose that's true. It's still a large area."

Gnogglebolt:"...That is a possible problem. Hmm."

Liatai:And the DM doesn't want to have to deal with two parties at once. :B

TMG:aww xD

Dr. Hatari:I was also considering that. :B

Liatai:Think of the poor DM, man! XD

VAE:Liatai... perhaps a large map where both can be at the same time?

Aelian:"Only three of you are unaccustomed to travel in the wilderness?"

VAE:like a battlefield?

VAE:perhaps hand-drawn

Barbarus:"They're city folk."

Gnogglebolt:"Well then, if we stay together, then we would have to stay together, and our two options are to take the main path, which is open and he possibly have an advantage, though all of our enemy will be brought to bear on us."

Tathi:"Well, maybe he's right. Maybe we should just stick together?"

Edaric:"Three people are easy enough to cover tracks for!"

Miron:Not sure... but he probably knows it more than we do.

Gnogglebolt:"But if we take the thicket path, those of us unaccustomed may blow our cover, and then we'll be trapped in unfavorable terrain."

Barbarus:"Agreed."

Barbarus:"Especially if we get them some camoflague."

Barbarus:"Simple answer to that."

Thomas Lazarus:"... Heh?" Tom blinks.

Barbarus:"Ride Honduras."

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Do you still happen to have the potions I sent your group?"

Barbarus:"Gnoggle does."

Thomas Lazarus:"Oh yeah!"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah! The potions! Yes, they are in barbarus' carraige."

Gnogglebolt:"..Hmm. Would those work on the demonic beasts, though?"

Gnogglebolt:"They seem to be the witche's favored minion."

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Should we need it, I can also cast the spell that the potions contain... Ah. I meant the ones for covering one's trail."

Gnogglebolt:"Those pumpkin-things notwithstanding..."

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Pass Without Trace."

Thomas Lazarus:>:O

Thomas Lazarus:"I had forgotten about those. That could make our approach stealthy, indeed. Far more than we could ever be by ourselves."

TMG:...*checks logs* did we get Pass without Trace potions? o.o

Aelian:"I can cast it, as well... but only once, and probably not to as great of an effect as the shaman."

Liatai:Yep. :3 Eight Pass Without Trace, and eight Hide From Animals.

TMG:ohh, yes

TMG:got it.

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, those potions. Yes, those are in the carraige as wel."

Barbarus:"Let's hope the children have not grown bold enough to look -into- the carriage."

Brenner Fox:"I doubt it. Daisy is Calvin's girl. She's been raised better."

Gnogglebolt:"Oh, yes. I hope the children are staying out--I have a few, ah, volitile things in there."


 * Thomas Lazarus nods to himself.

Thomas Lazarus:"It sounds like a solid search-party forming."

Thomas Lazarus:"The next question, then, is simply when to set out?"

Gnogglebolt:"Right then, these....pass without trace potions will hide our progress in the underbrush?"

Brenner Fox:"It's just Volenen I'd worry about..." the man muses.

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Yes. Though the effect will last longer if I cast the spell... I can ward three people for up to three hours."

Miron:Pity you haven't kept the device, gnogglebolt. Might have been of some use here...

Barbarus:"Volnen?"

Barbarus:volenen*


 * Thomas Lazarus huffs with amusement and gives Gnogglebolt a look.

John Holland:"If I may, ah, make a suggestion... If you could, ah, possibly rout her by the time of the festival?"

Gnogglebolt:"That thing was going to detonate in my breeches at any time. I wasn't going to keep it there any longer than I had to."

Gnogglebolt:"And as for time to departure..."

Gnogglebolt:"I was actually thinking today, if possible. Why delay?"

Brenner Fox:"Volenen. Little orphaned boy with a penchant for the arcane."

Miron:Indeed.

Miron:Every minute gives her more time to prepare, while our forces are fixed.

Thomas Lazarus:"Hmm. Someone looks after him, I hope?"

Gnogglebolt:"Er....actually. Tathi, how depleted are your spells?"

Gnogglebolt:"I know at least magic-users cannot cast all day."

Meany:Liatai, is that the name I suggested?

Meany:If so, you should be aware, it's technically a Drow name. :B

Tathi:"I have three offensive spells remaining. Enough for another sortee, I think."

Meany:Means Ice Bringer.

Gnogglebolt:"...Hmm."

Gnogglebolt:"Three actually is not a lot..."

Brenner Fox:"Of course. This is a small town. Everyone looks after each other. Though to answer your question in the way you intended it, he's under Broom Hilda's care."

Thomas Lazarus:"If we do wait... then we should absolutely expect an attack." He sounds serious.

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 20 + 4 = 24 » Knowledge Local on Broom Hilda.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods to Thomas. "Oh, indeed."

Liatai:You are terrified by this woman's reputation, Barbarus. o.o

Barbarus:"That woman is here?! D:"

Liatai:Tough-as-nails old woman who runs the general store.

Liatai:Fear the broom. FEAR IT. >:O

VAE:hmm, doesn't knowledge(local) tie to things local to the person who uses the check?

Barbarus:"Dear ancestors dead and gone- this wtich must be suicidal."

Liatai:Well, she's been mentioned several times already. ;3 I'm letting it slide.

Gnogglebolt:"Well, Miss Tathi, all I can say is that if we depart right now, you should be discretionary about the application of your remaining offence. Only use it on targets of opportunity, not the wolves or birds. Preferably, the witch herself."

Thomas Lazarus:He nods at Brenner. "Yes, of course.. I had only wondered.. what with your priestess passed on."

Barbarus: (( Barbie's been all over the continent. ))

Barbarus: (( Caravans, and all. ;3 ))


 * Brenner Fox nods solemnly.

Barbarus:"There is -no possible- alternative.

Barbarus:"Dr. Hatari:I kind of want to meet her now. :B

Gnogglebolt:"Though, does anyone think we have anything significant to gain, and most importantly, little to loose by departing tomorrow?"

Tathi:"As I intended to do."

Liatai:Didn't Thomas need a crossbow~?

Dr. Hatari:Sort of, but it's not like he would be a good shot with 11 dex.

Dr. Hatari:And cleric BAB.

Miron:That might be to our advantage perhaps... Saint Cuthbert gives me the power to withhold sound from an area of my choosing....If it comes hand to hand with spellcasting druids ,this might be to our favour.

Barbarus:"None of you people know who Broom Hilda is, do you. ._."

Barbarus:To his compartiots.

Barbarus:compatriots*

Dr. Hatari:Also, I ran out of carry capacity again from carrying all these dead pelorite rosaries. :B

Kethanis Whitebranch:"Hilda Strapp? She was always kind to me..."

VAE:bwahah

VAE:actually, am gonna suggest you for reward for that

Barbarus:"If the stories are true-she rode with Wemmics."

VAE:Rosary Mule

Barbarus:"And never lost a fight."

Tathi:Tathi quirks a brow at Barbarus.

TMG:Ahahaha. "Old Woman Death"? xD

Thomas Lazarus:"With.. pardon?"

Barbarus:"Think a Centaur."

Liatai:How much do holy symbols even weigh, anyway? XD

Barbarus:"Now turn it into a lion."

Barbarus:"That's a Wemmic."

Dr. Hatari:1lb. But Tom was already up to 96. I took initiative and added 2 more, one from the last guy I forgot, and one from the next so I don't forget.

VAE:that's a lot like pancake ferret

Dr. Hatari:98lbs is still a light load for him. But just barely.

Brenner Fox:"... doesn't surprise me in the slightest..."


 * Thomas Lazarus scratches his head. =3=

Gnogglebolt:"actually... Miss Tathi. -If- we were to wait to depart tomorrow, what's the highest number of offensive spells you could have? More specifically, how many more than three?"

Brenner Fox:"If you do decide to strike out tomorrow, the White Fox Inn has beds."

Barbarus:"Wait."

Barbarus:"If Broom Hilda is here, and the issue is still persisting.."

Barbarus:"Oh dear."


 * Thomas Lazarus looks to the elf. "It's up to you. I still have the majority of my magic left to support us all."

Tathi:"Well, if you must know, I typically have about six spells prepared. I could prepare a lot more, if need be, but I leave space for some utility magic as well."

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm."


 * Thomas Lazarus notices a peck!! >:o


 * Thomas Lazarus casts a cure minor wounds spell on Tathi. "You should have said something."

Tathi:She shrugs. "I say we do it. If I run out of spells, I am an elf." She says, tapping her shortbow.

Tathi:She jumps a little at the healing. "Oh? Sorry, I was just glad I didn't get turned to stone."

Gnogglebolt:"So, you could get potentially more than double what you have now...but, indeed."

Gnogglebolt:"If we are all still near our top combat capability, then I see no sense in delaying."

Thomas Lazarus:"Ah, that's understandable."

Barbarus:"...If Broom Hilda can't even handle this witch..."

Barbarus:"We are so very dead. ._."

Gnogglebolt:"The witch knows we're here now, so the less time she's kept waiting for us, the better."

Miron:I have used a potent spell on the two... but Saint Cuthbert gives me the power to imbue my strike with deadly magic as long as i have *any* spells left.

Gnogglebolt:"So, who agrees with departing immediately?"

Miron:I too suggest we strike now.

Barbarus:"Why not? We're doomed anyway."

Thomas Lazarus:"Let us go, and do our best with what we've got. It seems no one wants to wait."

Miron:*looks with approval at the catkin*

Edaric:"Don't be so down. This Broom Hilda is only one person, after all. We have... one two three four..."

Barbarus:">>"

Miron:It might well be so. But Saint Cuthbert smiles when people take up arms against evil... and very well, this is the best chance we'll get.

Barbarus:"He's never fought a Wemmic, has he."

Edaric:"... nine people, a bird, a cat, and a Honduras, whatever that is."

Elros:"No time like the present, as they say."


 * Thomas Lazarus looks to Brenner. "If you could show me to that grave, before we go..?"

Gnogglebolt:"Right then, let us gather our important gear and head out."

Elros:"I believe Honduras is a country in a far-off land. For us, i's a mule."

Brenner Fox:"Of course."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks to Thomas and Miron.

Thomas Lazarus:"I want to have your Lady's symbol with me when we do this."

Thomas Lazarus:"I've got to carry the torch, sorta-speak."

Barbarus:"I'm going to go get Honduras. And pray Broom Hilda doesn't smell my fear. ._."

Miron:*Follows Gnogglebolt out to prepare*

Gnogglebolt:"Anyone who does not have both an emergency melee and ranged option should acquire one now. Doesn't matter if it can't be used well, having it and not needing it is better than needing it and not having it."

Tathi:"Let's do this already, I'm itching to waste anyone related to that sculpter."

Thomas Lazarus:He looks very grateful.

Meany:End session? :3

Miron:I.. have no training with a ranged arm *somewhat ashamed*

Liatai:End session. :D

VAE:end session.

Dr. Hatari:I gotta jet in 20 minutes anyway. |3

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt goes over to Barbarus's carraige, and removes every nonessential item from his pack

GM:Let's hear those nominations! :D

Dr. Hatari:Good game~

VAE:And with a tongue in cheek, i nominate Thomas for Rosary Mule!

Gnogglebolt:Moving inventory from carried to transport

Meany:TATHI

VAE:Gotta gather'em all!

Meany:For Productive Rage. :3

Faerie:Tathi for the Jack Bauer interrogation award.

Meany:TOMMY

Liatai:Tathi... Trial By Fire? :B

Dr. Hatari:The fallen shall be avenged! Fallen, but not forgotten! >:O

Meany:For sprinting to and from maps.

VAE:Also, i nominate Tathi for the Lothar Technique!

Meany:GNOGGLE

VAE:http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2007-02-02/comic/black-and-white/the-soundproofing-also-makes-it-a-good-recording-studio/


 * Faerie snerks

Meany:For sprinting to and from maps.

VAE:the above comic

Meany:MIRON

Ghostwish:Miron - rapid fire questionaire. :>

Meany:For productive apathy.

Meany:ELROS

Meany:For new kitty.

VAE:Thirdly, i nominate Gnogglebolt for Zhukov award.

Ghostwish:Thomas - So terrible sorry about your window, but now I must kill you.

Dr. Hatari:wut

VAE:He's the only one with some strategy in him.


 * Liatai snerks. XD

Ghostwish:Elros - EVIL, EVIL, cat. :P

TMG:"Zhukov"? o.O

VAE:Marshal Zhukov?

Faerie:Soviet from WWII

VAE:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhukov

TMG:sorry, the only russians famous in america are Stalin ^^;

VAE:he even *looks* like gnogglebolt

VAE:see the medals on his chest? Every single one was deserved.

TMG:and lenin and marx, I guess

VAE:Marx was german!

Faerie:Hey now, I've heard of Zhukov before.

TMG:oh, sorry :x


 * VAE facepaws

Dr. Hatari:As long as we are prudent and reasonable with it, I am not averse to strategies and caution. But no more of this carefully engineering plots and ploys to take our encounters obviously half our CL from now on, PLEASE. :P

Faerie:...though I do watch a lot of history TV. >.>

GM:For everyone! 100 XP - Roleplaying. 400 XP - Sculptor Scheme Stopped! 100 XP - A Difficult Choice.

Meany:No Barbie nominations? >:o

TMG:hatari; ...eh?

Dr. Hatari:*CR

Meany:« 6700+600 = 6700 + 600 = 7300 »

Faerie:Barbie for...pulling things?

TMG:rephrease?

VAE:Thomas pulled bether

VAE:*better

TMG:I get the gist of what you're saying, but I don't understand

Faerie:« 6200+600 = 6200 + 600 = 6800 »

GM:TATHI! 100 XP - Trial By Fire.

Meany:?VAE:Hatari, the reason why we succeeded was the careful plot.

GM:Elros - 100 XP - New Furry Friend! 100 XP - Animal Antics.

VAE:and once again, these things be better solved IC

Dr. Hatari:Several times in the session, and even in Coldwar, we spent a lot of time carefully plotting and planning and then arguing.

Meany:No nominations for Barbie's doing things? :O I ought to fling hamsters at y'all.

GM:Thomas - 100 XP - CRASH! That was quite the dramatic entrance!

Dr. Hatari:It was never necessary. That guy was a pushover, VAE. Be serious, please.

VAE:he wasn't

TMG:eh-heh. ^^;

VAE:he was a pushover because we could get the cockatrice out of the way quick

VAE:that's the problem with success - it looks easy once you succeed

Ghostwish:« 6650+100+400+100+100 = 6650 + 100 + 400 + 100 + 100 = 7350 »

Dr. Hatari:Riiight

VAE:Imagine if he has stoned Tathi... or something like that.

GM:Barbarus - 100 XP - Vigilant Guardian. Keeping your eye out and searching everything there is to be searched!

Dr. Hatari:It was a little bird with a save or die dependant upon AC and a 3HD rogue.

Ghostwish:VAE, I stand by one simple truth.

GM:Miron - 100 XP - QUICK! What color is the sky?! >:O

VAE:pfft

Ghostwish:Planning in D&D beyond the basics is completely useless.

Ghostwish:Because the roll of the D20 determines EVERYTHING.

GM:Did I get everyone? :3

Ghostwish:Your greatest of plans goes to hell with a single natural 1.

Dr. Hatari:Again, I don't wanna argue or agonize details. That is, in fact, the opposite of the whole brinding it up. x3

GM:-- Oh!

VAE:untrue.. it's the same in reality.

GM:Duh!

Dr. Hatari:Let's just try to sail smoothly.

VAE:Thomas!

GM:I forgot Thomas!

VAE:The Rosary Mule!

VAE:Gotta gather'em all!

TMG:no, you got Thomas... "Dynamic Entry"

GM:The dramatic entrance, I got -- 100 XP for Carrying the Torch!

TMG:Ah, that. x3

GM:Now, can I ask people to do me a favor? Can people give me their XP totals?

Dr. Hatari::3Dr. Hatari:7800

Ghostwish:7350

TMG:7550

Meany:7400

GM:What, seriously?! >:O Tathi gets anothrt 50 for Animal Antics.

VAE:7400

Faerie:7000

Faerie:Since I missed last session.

Ghostwish:*snrk* Okay!

Liatai:Oh, right... Elros missed last session.

Meany:And also.

Liatai:Bug me for a mini-session sometime if you want, Fae. :3

Faerie:Elros was put on a bus...literally.

Dr. Hatari:Alright, gotta jump out.

Meany:Broom Hilda's other title is now officially.

Dr. Hatari:Later

Meany:Old Woman Death.

Meany:Seeya!

Liatai:See ya, Hatari! :D

Dr. Hatari is disconnected.

TMG:Righto!

Faerie:Yeah, we still have that sewer-exploring mini-session to do, yeah?

Ghostwish:Bye all!! Fun game!!

VAE:see ya!

TMG:And saving campaign file and log?

Ghostwish is disconnected.

TMG:And back to irc?

Meany is disconnected.

Liatai:Yep!

You have disconnected.