Session 103.5

Ghostwish has connected.

Dr. Hatari has connected.

Ghostwish:I chortle to myself when I notice you still haven't gotten rid of this bit of trolling from nearly a year ago. XP

Dr. Hatari:You mean in Anise's token notes?

Ghostwish:Oh heck no. WAY older than that.

Ghostwish:In fact looks like you all found all the token notes. :P

* Ghostwish points at the campaign macros. :P

* Dr. Hatari sees nothing.

Liatai:Ghost you know I don't macro. =3=

Dr. Hatari:She does work.

Ghostwish:You logged in as player didn't you. XP

* Dr. Hatari is bricked.

Ghostwish:HERESY

Ghostwish:*hugs the DM token!*

Ghostwish:*hugs the DM token!*

Ghostwish:*hugs the DM token!*

Ghostwish:*hugs the DM token!*

Ghostwish:*hugs the DM token!*

Ghostwish:*hugs the DM token!*

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">*hugs the DM token!*

GM:<font color="#000000">*hugs back!*

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">XD!

* Liatai does the usual pre-mini-session shuffle.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">So surely you've spotted them. XP

Liatai:<font color="#000000">....

Liatai:<font color="#000000">What did you do this time =w=;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">You had to have moused right over them!! Come on! XD

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Good lords and ladies you were within FOUR squares of them!! *checks Liatai's glasses* Dragonsight. There's the problem.

* Ghostwish is brick'd.

* Liatai double-takes O_o

Liatai:<font color="#000000">.... good gracious. How did I miss those? XD

Clint:<font color="#9933FF">Really, I had a bit of fun imagining this group as an adventuring party.

Tasher:<font color="#9933FF">HEAVY people power with both Tasher and Clint there.

Zanfib Black:<font color="#9933FF">And heck, if they somehow fail, Zanfib just mind-controls and provides the blasty blasty.

Mialla:<font color="#9933FF">Poor Mialla gets saddled with the tank role though. ARMORED BREASTS GO.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Cue Jaw's theme...

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Damnit Scotty! I didn't say beam them up yet!

Liatai:<font color="#000000">x3

Liatai:<font color="#000000">If you want to knock out some Sheythsanthi roleplay and/or have time to do so once the Ed and Ael mini is done, we can do that, too. :3

* Ghostwish has 2 hours. Let's find out. &gt;:3

* Ghostwish double-taked at fastidious fighter. For a split second, he thought it said 'fashionable fella' and was expecting ohgodwhat token art.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">Well, directly after the mini-session with Tom, Ed drifted into the courtyard and started to play the lute for a while to sort his thoughts -- up to you whether you want Aelian to approach him, or wait for about ten minutes or twenty or so in-game and let Ed approach first.

Lyle Petersen:<font color="#000000">Hm? ... Who are you? If you're going to interrogate or lecture me, too, could you make it quick? I seem to have a full schedule of lectures today. *brick'd!*

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">WHERE IS THE MONEY. &gt;:|

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Ah, Ed! There you are. Been looking for you.&quot; Aelian says, waving.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">He walks over, and sits down next to the bard. &quot;Hrm. I was going to ask something, but you seem to have a lot on your mind. What's up?&quot;

* Edaric pauses. &quot;-- Ael! Hey, how're you doing?&quot; :3

* Edaric hesitates. (... Come on, Ed, say it, you promised...) &quot;Welllll.... actually... I was about to come looking for you, too. Had a question for you.&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;What is it?&quot;

Dr. Hatari:<font color="#FF0000">Ignore the Lazaruses, as I'll be afk and in bed shortly. But a first-hand log will be nice. :3

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Aside from 'how are you,' that one's a given, let's get that one out of the way first. How're you holding up with all this? How's Tathi?&quot;

* Edaric totally isn't stalling. *brick'd!!*

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Quick, do everything in token art so he can't review it! :P

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Do I need to start rolling sense motive on you, mister? &gt;:P

Edaric:<font color="#000000">It's an honest question! He's just working up to the real one. Honest. =3=

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Well, I'm alive, you've alive, so I suppose I can say we're good so far. Tathi's anxious. Kor had almost had a brush with death back there, now she's talking about getting him a miniature cloak of resistence. I could swear the rodent was making demi-god poses to practive for his 'cape'.&quot;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">wow typo city. *practice

* Edaric laughs. &quot;You know, I wonder. There was a sorcerer at the White Rose once that kept his owl in his pocket, said he'd made an extradimensional space for it with a spell or something. Do you think Tathi would know how to do that? ... Come to think of it, would Kor put up with it?&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Referring to the spell Familiar Pocket, by the way. SC. *brick'd*

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Frankly, I half-wonder if I should be careful about which magic I bring up to Tathi. She's liable to try anything afterall. That, however, sounds like the smartest idea to me. I'll run it by her, and pray we're not all toads by morning.&quot; He says with a smirk.

* Edaric chuckles. &quot;.... So hey. Speaking of you and Tathi.&quot; He turns to Aelian. &quot;... Are you two married?&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Aelian shakes his head. &quot;Not yet. As much as Tathi bristles at law and regulations, she is a stickler for tradition. There's a procedure to be followed in wood elven marriage.&quot; He says, and then glances over. &quot;Why do you ask?&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Ahh, um, well. You know.&quot; Ed clears his throat. &quot;It's just, you never answered me in the livery when I asked after Sszeyl said it, and I thought, hell, I don't know a thing about elven marriage or romance or... anything, Aelian knows elves much better than I do. What if it's normal for elves just to get quietly married and not tell anybody?&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;... You wouldn't get married and not tell me, right?&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Some do. But not old-fashioned wood elves, of course. Others go through the full ritual. Which only takes, oh, thirty years or so.&quot; He says, and then smirks, and starts a mock-appraisal of Edaric as he rubs his chin. &quot;I don't know. Would that get you back for all the pranks you've played on me over the years?&quot; Good lord he can't bluff to save his hair.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Hey. You've been paying those back in increments lately. No need to overpay by that much, or I'll just have to give it back to you in change.&quot; A smirk, that falters. &quot;... I just worry sometimes, you know?&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">He smirks. &quot;I half wonder if I should ask what you worry about, or if I should ask what you do not worry about.&quot;

* Edaric snorts. &quot;Touche. So what were you going to ask?&quot; Ed no you didn't address everything. (I'll get back to it later! D| )

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Well.. allright, I'll come straight out. I wanted to ask if you would consider living with us. In Eytherinu. I have floated it past Tathi a few times now, but sometimes it seems she's got too many spells in her head to pay full attention, and she finally talked about it a bit. I think we can cover you for a decent house. That is, if you do not mind living in a tree. And, well, if you are okay with the idea??&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">.... well, Ghost, you succeeded. I think you broke the bard. o.o;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">I have only just begun.

* Edaric eventually manages to say something. &quot;... really?&quot;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Oops, there goes the player's memory again. They're both from Redtree, yes? XP

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;But I thought -- isn't Eytherinu your whole 'for elves, by elves' thing?&quot; They're both from Oakridge. The party found them as victims of Jonah Restren in Redtree, though, after they'd been adventuring for a few levels.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">THAT'S why I keep getting redtree in there.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Crap!! See, I knew you would not want to. I mean, heck, that means up and leaving Oakridge and she's betting me you'll move in with Thomas and- oh. That? Well, how many elven cities do you think are made up of nothing but elves?&quot; He says with a nervous smirk.

* Edaric erks. =3=; ... ''where did I put that mug. Aw crap, Tom has the wine bottle.'' He nervously laughs. &quot;Well I just -- hell, we left Oakridge years ago, really, remember?&quot; ^^; &quot;When we decided to become adventurers?&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;-- What's this about a bet?&quot; Play it off, act natural dammit! =3=;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Oh I know that, but this is more, well, leaving home. Even I had a bit of hesitation when I considered starting the new sanctuary. It helped ease it a lot when I realized how much I love the life style of an elf though. There's nothing quite like waking up to leaves rustling. But I'm rambling. And the bet.. well..&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">He purses his lips for a moment, seemingly thinking hard.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Okay, the direct tactic has worked so far. Let's see if luck holds.&quot; He says finally, and turns to face Edaric.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Which team are you batting for, Ed?&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Torpedoes away, sir!

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">.. I didn't just make the Liatai spit tea everywhere, did I??

Edaric:<font color="#000000">... bard break number two. XD

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;-- Seriously? &quot; =3=;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Did Tiana put you up to this too?&quot; =3=;;; *brick'd*

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Well, Kor will pardon me, but, rats. Maybe I should have tried an evasionary tactic instead. But, yes, seriously. Tathi's less than jokingly said that you should find another half-elf boyfriend.&quot; He says. Dead serious.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;And, well. Thomas... uh, I shouldn't say anymore.&quot; He says, waving his hand.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;What? Come on.&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">Do I need to roll Diplomacy, you know I have a higher modifier than you do. *BRICK'D*

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">SENSE MOTIVE. *BRICK'D*

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;No no no, it's.. really not my place to say anything. I think I've said too much as is.&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Sorry, it's a bad topic for me to be trespassing on, I shouldn't have even brought it up. So.. no way to convince you to move, I am guessing?&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;.... I think I need to ask Anise if she has any more wine... &quot; ^^;; Ed nervously strums a bit.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Well -- wait, no, I mean -- oh hell, Ael. It's been a day.&quot; =3=;;;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Yeah. Can you ke

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Ack.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">I was going to ask. How far off is that year long break?

* Edaric rubs his forehead. &quot;I need -- I need to think about it. I mean, it's an honor, and it'd be great to see you guys more often -- and to have an actual, you know, home... but at the same time, it's kind of far away from things, and... well...&quot; Ed chuckles. &quot;I'm just thinking about what would happen to the Guardians if I went and left Tom and Gamal alone trying to hold together the whole thing, with Gnogglebolt, and Shankfang, and Miron, and Tathi too...&quot;

* Edaric slumps a little. &quot; I wish we could all just stop fighting each other, Ael... &quot; =3=;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Hard to say. It's at the end of the Vargie plot, for certain.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Darn. :3

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">looks like Edaric might survive with some of his sanity left over then. :P

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Keep a secret? Tathi's pregnant.&quot; *head'splode*

Liatai:<font color="#000000">XD

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Well, the Vargie plot will likely be done within the next... five months of in-game time. Maybe.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Oh heck, I am definitely not asking you to leave that pot to boil over. I mean, did you see the crossfire between Thomas and the celestial? That.. started to get rather intense.&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Five months being the Kellon 24-day months, of course.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Yeah. Tom's had a... lot on his mind to keep track of lately, but at least the celestial's only here for a little while. He's not behind me, is he? &quot; Ed looks over his shoulder.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Just one of the archons.&quot;

* Ball of Light 4 drifts along, then start when it realizes it's being looked at. &quot; -- Oh! I'm sorry. Pardon me, just passing through. &quot;

Ball of Light 4:<font color="#000000">Flit flit!

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot; He sneaked up on me this morning when I was doing my warm-ups -- how can something ten feet tall be that stealthy sometimes, and then what happened this morning...? &quot; =3=; &quot;But yeah... at least that's temporary.&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;So, okay! You're not outright throwing it out. Tathi wins one bet. I should stop gambling immediately. I'm rambling again. So, yes, think it over, please.&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Yeah, I will.&quot; Ed nods, looking back to his lute and strumming a few chords idly. &quot;... so. With Tom, huh. ... ... Was I really the only one who didn't see it? &quot; He seems to be talking more to himself than anything.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Aelian blinks. &quot;Wait. You know now?&quot; He asks hesitantly.

* Edaric blinks, and looks to Aelian. &quot;Now? How long have you --&quot;

Aelian: <font color="#9933ff">(( sorry,w as starting water for ramen. :3 ))

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Aelian purses his lips a little. &quot;Well.. Tathi's been on to it longer.. buuuut.. When he started making eyes at Flint.&quot; He says quickly and quietly.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">A solid hit, sir!

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">There shall be table flipings when Hatari reads this backlog. |D

* Edaric stares for a moment... but then leans back against the bench, chuckling. &quot;... Oh, hell... Some bard I am, eh, Ael? I'm supposed to be good at this stuff... but I end up sticking my foot in my mouth half the time and needing to be told what everyone else can see.&quot; {:3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;If it's any consolation? You're better than most of this party. And definitely Tathi. She steps on people more often than she looks at them, the long-eared git. &quot;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">brb, puttin' the ramen in!

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">back. :3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;So! Well, I think that was everything I had to ask. That honestly went a lot easier than expected. Was there something else you wanted to ask?&quot;

* Edaric shakes his head with a smile. &quot;Nah. You already answered any other questions I had to ask. -- Oh, hey, I should let you know.&quot; He rummages in his pack, and draws out a jar of hot chocolate mix. &quot;Remember Lethiriss gave us this, back before this whole mess started?&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">His eyebrows climb. &quot;Wow, honestly, I had forgotten about it. What of it?&quot;

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;There's just enough left for two cups. I thought about giving it to Sszeyl and Swallowtail, but Sszeyl gets kind of weird about chocolate if I remember right. Think you and Tathi can make use of it?&quot; :3

* Edaric offers the jar.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Aelian looks down at the jar, surprised, but then smirks. &quot;Chocolate is a powerful aphrodesiac(sp?), you know.&quot; He says, and then shakes his head. &quot;She's rubbing off on me way too much, isn't she?&quot;

* Edaric laughs! &quot;Well hey, I didn't say how to make use of it, that's best left to your elven imaginations,&quot; he teases with a wink. XP

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Same old Ed..&quot; He says, chuckling as he takes the jar. &quot;Thank you.&quot; He says.

Aelian: <font color="#9933ff">(( got like.. 7 minutes here. Continue this afterward? ))

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I was thinking of wrapping up this scene, and then picking up with Sheythtalk this afternoon. :3

Aelian: <font color="#9933ff">(( sounds good to me! ))

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">And now for trolling.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;No problem. See you later?&quot; :3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;So, Tathi's totally not against a threesome..&quot; *BRICK'D*

* Edaric scoops up some snow from the ground and very deliberately, obviously makes a snowball. &gt;:3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Yes! Think about Eytherinu, allright? Just think. You'd be the first non-elf there. We could make you a statue or something.&quot;

* Edaric laughs. &quot;All right. I'll think about it.&quot; x3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Good, let me know!&quot; He says, and gets up to go. &quot;Oh!&quot; He says, and puts his hand on Edaric's shoulder. &quot;You're going to be the best man at the wedding.&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Critical hit!

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Looking forward to it. Just don't hold it when I'm too old and grey to keep up, all right? Thirty-year wedding procedure and all.&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;The ceremony is at the start, you racial insensitive!&quot; He jokes.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Well how the hell was I supposed to know that? Elven elitist!&quot; Right back atcha. XP

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Short ears!&quot; He says, laughing.

Edaric:<font color="#000000">&quot;Tree-hugger.&quot; XP

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Urbanite.&quot; XD

* Edaric laughs. &quot;Ahh. Some things never change.&quot; |D

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;And I hope they never do.&quot; He says, smiling.

* Edaric nods, smiling. &quot;Now go forth and use that chocolate responsibly. I don't want to hear about any sweets-fuelled explosions in the Pelorite basement, you hear?&quot; XP

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">The half-elf grins. &quot;Define explosion.&quot; Oh that innuendo was -horrible-.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Okay, shall we fade out on that laugh-track moment? x3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Yup! :3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">We'll title this &quot;Racial Slurs and Chocolate&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">XD

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Allright, gotta get ready to go. Fun times, will see you this afternoon!!

Teeny Rin:<font color="#FF0000">Aelian: Aelian purses his lips a little. &quot;Well.. Tathi's been on to it longer.. buuuut.. When he started making eyes at Flint.&quot; He says quickly and quietly

Teeny Rin:<font color="#FF0000">*TABLE-FLIPS* &gt;:OOOO

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">CALLED IT.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">X3

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Seeya, seeya. :3

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Hatari, I double-dog dare you.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">To have Thomas ask Tathi how she knew.

Thomas Lazarus:<font color="#FF0000">Oh I so never did make eyes at Flint I am not even gay. =w=;;;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Hi Flint!@

Thomas Lazarus:<font color="#FF0000">That's enough meta out of you. XP

Liatai:<font color="#000000">X3

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">XP

Thomas Lazarus:<font color="#FF0000">I am willing to put up with the explanation that she saw the various extremely subtle but escalating hints since Osyluth grudgingly but this is such an ass-pull. &gt;:P

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Triple dog dare you.

Thomas Lazarus:<font color="#FF0000">GOING TO BED

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">YOU CAN RUN.

<font color="#0000ff">Dr. Hatari is disconnected.

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">No THERE is a log to save. XP

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Objective complete! Hatari trolled.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">You are a terrible troll. XP

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Thank you. *Bows*

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">And away I go. XP

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Mmkay. Leaving the server up while you go, or shutting it down?

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">I could leave it up, if ya want?

* Liatai shrugs. &quot;Doesn't matter to me.&quot;

Aelian:<font color="#9933FF">Down it goes!

<font color="#0000ff">Ghostwish is disconnected.

You have disconnected.

<font color="#0000ff">Meany has connected.

<font color="#0000ff">Ghostwish has connected.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Hello hello!

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Hewwo!

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Now, I might be in and out once the sun goes down. :3

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">But the sun is down for Lia.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">:V

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Everyone is down for Lia, silly.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">So spectral one. When would Sheythsanthi start to seek out Altonor to talk? ASAP, or just whenever he spotted him?

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Pop

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Hi. |3

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I take that as an ASAP. XP

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">A little.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Gotta find some Altonor music... Does Sheyth want any RP facetime with his fellow Macers, or would you rather do that in the actual session?

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Actual session would be fine. :3

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Give Sherlo- I mean, Sheythsanthi more face time. XD

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">:p

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">So, for the sake of argument, shall we say this takes place after the Serrierr mini?

Liatai:<font color="#000000">What, you're trying to hold both conversations at once? ^^;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">That wouldn't be likely to happen, unfortunately. I was thinking Sheyth first, then Serrierr, then Sszeyl.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Alrighty.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">HALP. HALP. IM BEING KIDNAPPED.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Right, so, who's starting? &gt;:3

GM:<font color="#000000">So, let's kick this off. We'll assume this is after Sheythsanthi reported in. Free to move around the basement at will, Sheyth. Your mini-session target is currently engaged in conversation with a hooded, shorter female drow with a mangled nose.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">The old man is currently hunched over, leaning against the wall.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">A faint stream of red light going from heavily squinted eyes to project on the floor.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">He approaches, but stops short, waiting for them to finish the topic first.. He does, however, glance over at Sszeyl for a moment, narrowing his eyes.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Adventurers. Huff. *brick'd*

Sszeyl whispers: A coordinated effort with the Sszeyl and First spirits to orbit Vargie fast enough to form a 'protective shell' of sorts.

Sszeyl whispers: Protective from the Hallow, anyway. :p

Masabel:<font color="#000000">It seems to be taking a while, and unless Sheyth speaks Celestial, it's gibberish. The female drow notices Sheyth first. &quot;(You know, it's rude to stare,)&quot; she says in Elven.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">:08 lag- oh what the hell I wasn't getting a report of you typing.

Sszeyl: <font color="#cc0066">(( :p ))

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;(Those with an unsteady gaze are not to be trusted.)&quot; He replies curtly, and turns his gaze back to the two. &quot;(Are you done conversing with your pupil or daughter? I could never discern the exact relation. I have been meaning to speak to you for some time now.)&quot; He says, pointedly to Altonor.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Sszeyl sighs, giving off a whisp of blood red mist before speaking. (&quot;My my, Altonor has a fan.&quot;)

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Question, how the heck would Sheyth know that? ^^;

Sszeyl: <font color="#cc0066">(( Body language. ))

Sheythsanthi: <font color="#9933ff">(( know what, exactly? ))

Sszeyl: <font color="#cc0066">(( How are they behaving toward each other. ))

Sszeyl: <font color="#cc0066">(( Also. ))

Sszeyl: <font color="#cc0066">(( You can tell relationship in people with sufficient knowledge of skull structure. ^^; ))

Sszeyl: <font color="#cc0066">(( So does Shey have that knowledge? ))

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Altonor himself didn't even know Masabel was in town until &quot;last night&quot; in game. 'Could never' implies that Sheyth knew about the two of them for a while.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Not that that would help, Masabel and Altonor aren't related. ^^;

Sheythsanthi: <font color="#9933ff">(( Oh, crap, disregard then. XP ))

Sheythsanthi: <font color="#9933ff">(( I thought she'd been around for a bit, my mistake. ))

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Rrrrrrewind! :B

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Done talking with her shall make a nice replacement.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">DAMNIT TECH- I mean

Altonor:<font color="#000000">Question, does Sheythsanthi wear his badge openly?

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">He used to! In previous encounters, if Altonor spotted him, he might have noted it. However, as Sheysanthis considers the Mace to have fallen, he is no longer wearing it.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Aha. I'd wondered, since the renegades are wearing their badges openly. ... and since Altonor's Spot modifier is only +4...

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">HAY UR UN ALF.

Sheythsanthi: <font color="#9933ff">(( *brick'd* ))

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(And who might you be?)&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Should check on the fire... but warm snuggledog... ^^;

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;(Sheythsanthi Norrearnith Simtherzairvin. Master Inquisitive.)&quot; He says. &quot;(And I believe you to be Altonor, yes?)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Sszeyl's little eye projections sweep in the general direction of the conversationers, before returning to normal.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Hello? :v

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Hi.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">:24 Lia?

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">She's probably checking on the fire. I hope.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Quite.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Yep, checking the fire. ^^;

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">S'alright.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Sheythsanthi... aha, so you're that Mace detective the Guardians set out to rescue. Good to see you're safe. This situation needs all the helping hands it can get.)&quot;

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;(Quite, and thank you. How strange it is to be fighting alongside a group of this build, however. You, for example. A drow paladin. Could you perhaps explain to me how this particular even came to be?)&quot;

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">When a Drow and a Good alignment love each other very much....

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">*all of the knives*

Liatai:<font color="#000000">XD Gah, sorry, sacred canine duty.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(It's a long story.)&quot;

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Doo doo dee loo.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;(I have long ears.)&quot; See this is why that kind of coverup never works on elves...

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Of course it can.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">If people just be direct and say something to the effect of &quot;I'm not going to tell you.&quot;

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">But nooo.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Have to be eloquent.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">*brick*

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Hello? :v

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Yes.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Rather not bring up painful memories with a stranger I'm supposed to be fighting alongside right off the bat. The last time I did that it ended with me getting ambushed in the middle of the night by a Cuthbertine gnome.)&quot; =w=;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;You have only yourself to blame for that. He was obviously unstable.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Aren't we all on some level?)&quot;

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;(Becomming a paladin is a painful memory? I have to say that this seems to only entice my curiousity even further. And.. that wasn't Inquisitor Steelsprocket, was it?&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Be that as it may, you do not get to be surprised when someone who spends fifteen minutes trying to kill you with his eyes tries to kill you later in the day.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Martin is so fashionable.

* Altonor frowns. &quot;(He wasn't trying to kill me. He said so himself. Things got out of hand.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Miron has been lying to himself for quite a while.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;He may have started out trying to take you alive, but if he could have gotten away with it, he would have killed you.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(He was trying to get scrying ties. That night's incident was my fault, and I'll set it right somehow. But are you going to actually join this conversation or keep supplying comments from the peanut gallery?)&quot; &gt;:\

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;I have spent time working and living with him. He kills Drow to honor the people the Drow killed in Kemmer. Ultimately, he will never stop trying to kill Drow until he realizes there is a problem with killing them. So far, that has yet to happen. And I will join the conversation when invited. I apologize for intruding, but I needed a distraction from trying to help out an ungrateful dragon.&quot;)

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Shey's eyes narrow a little. (&quot;Dragon?&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Perhaps once you are done getting answers from Altonor. Though I'm amazed he didn't just vanish while I distracted you, if he truly doesn't wish to answer.&quot;)

* Altonor huffs. &quot;(Do I look like Rhylinar?)&quot; =w=

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">(&quot;He is wearing full plate. I could track him over hard rock.)&quot; The elf says with a smirk.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Actually, yes.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;You both have a similar face to me.&quot;)

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">He looks back to Altonor. (&quot;So, nothing then? My curiousity is to continue its quest?&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">To Sszeyl, with an arched eyebrow: &quot;(... what, did he get mauled by a lion and gain twenty pounds in the last year?)&quot; To Sheythsanthi; &quot;(Well first, you might want to explain this 'some time' you were talking about. You're an elf. That could mean anything from a few weeks to a few decades.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&#171; &#160;1d20+10+mod = 12 + 10 + 0 = 22&#160; <font color="#CC0066">&#187; Craft (painting) check!

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">(&quot;Ah. So I wasn't spotted afterall? I am too paranoid for my own good, it seems. I have been trailing you, Altonor, following you whenever I could. Being of the Vale, I make it a habit to know of all drow activity in my area. You, however, I find particularly interesting. A paladin, from a race I would never expect capable of such a thing.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Sszeyl, without even truly looking, takes out a brush and some canvas, drawing an outline of an elvish face, highlighting features with gray. One face has scars in red, but also a thicker neck. Black lines line up the matching facial features. Though they look -similar- they're not exactly alike. Just similar.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">That's just the art style. *brick'd!*

Masabel:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Might want to get used to the idea. There are at least two.)&quot;

* Altonor, however, just smirks. &quot;(Let's say, you can thank a few of Pelor's hooded lanterns during the war for planting the seed.)&quot;

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Pelor's Hooded Lanterns? Dare I guess that to be a Shining One's Secret Service? Hells say that 10 times fast...

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Knowledge (local) or (religion) check.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">&#171; &#160;1d20+15 = 17 + 15 = 32&#160; <font color="#9933FF">&#187; Knowledge Local!

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">TRICK OR TREATERS

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">OH GOD

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">MEANY MAN THE HARPOONS

* Meany opens fire.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">The Hooded Lanterns of Pelor are a secret society of sorts -- heck, Sheythsanthi might know about them, since the so-called &quot;black-cloaks&quot; are often members. They're a more chaotic branch of Pelor's church, part crusader, part humanitarian, and part evangelical, usually doing anonymous good deeds and heading out into the darkest, most troubled areas to bring Pelor's light to them. Many members consider it a virtue, and a goal, to bring Pelor's light to those said to be impossible to reach.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">It's largely a Veld organization, but has existed there for well over two hundred years.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">The Cuthbertines think they're insane.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Yes. :B

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Instantly, everyone likes them. *brick'd*

Liatai:<font color="#000000">But there you'd find gray guards, paladins of freedom, more chaotic sun priests, sometimes even reformed criminals who were touched by Pelor's light in a time of need.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">PELOR OF THE BURNING HATE.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">*solarbeam'd*

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">He chuckles. &quot;(Bringing his light to the most impossible of places indeed. I think that could be enough to slate my curiousity. For now. Maybe.&quot;) He says, smirking.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Expect him to channel Renia.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">And start going through people's stuff.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Oh nonsense. I do nothing of the sort. I replace all of their belongings with clever look alikes, and then go through their stuff.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Are you seriously trying to out paranoia a Drow.

* Altonor smirks back. &quot;(Tell you what, Sheythsanthi Simtherzairvin. If we both survive this little fiendish invasion, maybe I'll tell you the full story someday, when we're no longer strangers. Deal?)&quot;

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Did you learn nothing from the Dragon?

Liatai:<font color="#000000">x3

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;(Careful. I'll hold you that promise.)&quot; He says with a smirk.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Hmph. Detectives.)&quot; =3=

Sszeyl whispers: No results from the effort? Drats.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Well I think that's that for this scene? What's next? SO MANY TRICK OR TREATERS.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Well, unless Sheyth in particular wanted to RP with someone, we can move into Sszeyl's part.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Gonna save the greater majority of that for ingame. :3

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Mmkay. :3

Liatai:<font color="#000000">... so get outta here wood elf =3= *boot!* *brick'd*

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">He's wood?

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Duh.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Somehow I expected him to be Wild. Just so Ghost could make the game more cosmopolitan.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">:p

Liatai:<font color="#000000">:B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Ack, dog, why are you whining.

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">THE TRICK OR TREATERS HAVE COME FOR YOU LIATAI.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Pfft what trick or treaters. =3=

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I live in the woods. =3=

Liatai:<font color="#000000">That's a raccoon. =3= *brick'd*

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">The fey trick or treaters.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">=3=

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">So.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Shall we proceed?

Sheythsanthi:<font color="#9933FF">Raccoon? Wow. Nice costume!

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Any characters I need to warm up? :3

Altonor:<font color="#000000">Fast forward! Assume the talk with Serrierr has since happened, and a significantly more energized-looking drow in a black hooded cloak is seeking Sszeyl out. ... given that his expression looks something like &gt;:3 if Sszeyl sees him first, should he be worried?

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Not as far as I know, unless you want some Tathi or Aelian or Dorf RPs.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Sszeyl is painting at this time, meeting that look with a half-lidded eye flat stare.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&#171; &#160;1d20+10+mod = 8 + 10 + 0 = 18&#160; <font color="#CC0066">&#187; Craft (painting) check!

Dorf Aias:<font color="#9933FF">Drinking contest you say- *brick'd*

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Sszeyl!&quot; Clank clank clank. Pause. &quot;... what, is this a bad time?&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;I am just displeased with how this painting turned out.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Nothing more.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">On the painting is...what looks like a rough person-shape. Heavily blurred, the only thing that can be identified about the person is dark tan where what looks like the skin is, and black 'hair' on the head region.

* Altonor peers curiously. &quot;Who were you painting?&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;I suppose you would define this as a self portrait.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;This was what I was hoping to be a painting of my First, before the Lolth incident. But that was so long ago...all I can recall are blured colors.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;What disturbs me is that even First cannot truly recall what the world looked like back then.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;First?&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;I forget that you Raiders are not in a position to readily share information with each other...&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;It deals with our cycle of reincarnation.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;A First is the original. The first person in the chain, the source. Our 'actual' selves.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;To whom we return upon death.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Hm.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;I don't suppose you have the fifteen or so minutes it would take to acurately describe the particulars.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;But then you came up here looking like you'd won a contest.&quot;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Pop quiz! The bones and muscles that hold the membranes of a bat's wings. What are they called, specifically?

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">=3=;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">No idea. I do know they're analogous to the bones of the hand in a human, so I suppose the wing &quot;finger&quot; bones themselves would be alar phalanges.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Nahhh, I've got time. Still a few hours before the operation's set to begin. Been meaning to talk with you, anyway. You first?&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Very well.&quot;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">:. http://www.brown.edu/Departments/EEB/EML/images/wing.jpg

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Cool. I'm guessing patagium means membrane. :.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;In the old days, after Orgolloyss and his disciples saw what society Lolth had created, and sought to destroy it; they realized that they would be bound to her afterlife upon death. This was unacceptable, so they used the old magic to unshackle themselves.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;They bypassed the afterlife entirely. No afterlife, just new life. They would be born again into a new body on the death of the ol one. This new incarnation would function as an independent person for a few years, awaken their connection to the previous, and cease to exist on death.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;The original incarnation would gain all of their memories and skills, then be born again.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Some incarnations grew so independently powerful that they broke the rules.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;They existed in the incarnation chain of their original, but had the strength to be counted as original themselves.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Thus the organization grew. Zilvudar is the only living Orgoll to have achieved this.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;This has been going on for millions of years, and so even the Firsts are unable to remember everything in perfect clarity.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Mine is frankly insane from the overload.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;It has decided it cannot handle another incarnation. So when I die, I will cease to exist. And go to where First is meant to go.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;Well, that hardly seems fair. And so Zilvudar's stuck all the other disciples of Orgolloyss into an environment that stifles individuality and freedom of choice, blocking anyone else from following. The bastard.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Before I do, I'd like to leave some physical mark that we existed. hence the painting.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;There is a ritual.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;It isn't often done, but it gives a person a singular moment of clarity.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Enough to become an extremely weak First.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;And that is where we agree...&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Zilvudar has defied Orgolloyss. Broken the charter.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;He will likely be destroyed once the Nothing returns.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;How the hell does anyone expect to be secure enough in themselves as themselves and explore who they really are if they're forced to be the same as everyone esle...?&quot; Altonor scowls. Uh-oh, Sszeyl, you have awakened the crusader.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;We had to become like that. We had to have that strength of One Voice to survive Lolth.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;And as I said, I agree with you.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Ezzebek no longer bends knee to Her. The Rule of Fear has fufilled it's function.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;But still they persist in it's use.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;The Nothing will not be pleased.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;... Who's this Nothing, anyway?&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;The Nothing is the office Orgolloyss holds in our organization upon manifesting in a new incarnation.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Just as Yazagh is a Monster. As Zilvudar is Monstrosity.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;The only thing worse than a monster is nothing. The void.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;He is Nothing. And No Thing is eternal.&quot;

* Altonor huffs. &quot;Really trying to present themselves as true terrors, huh.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;We needed to be the boogeyman. Lolth and her kind were used to being feared.&quot;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">&quot;Actually, no, a Terror is a much lower rank.&quot; *brick'd*

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Being afraid was foreign to them.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;And you have the order reversed.&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;... hrm. You haven't spent any time in a Lolthian society.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Initiates are Horrors. Students are Terrors. Apprentices are Nightmares. Adepts are Boogeys, and Masters are Monsters.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;And since Rhylinar has not shared it with you yet, I will do so now.&quot;

* Altonor looks oddly at Sszeyl, then chuckles. &quot;Hah, I have. Nice joke.&quot; |3

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Listen well, for this is a way to escape or gain an edge against a Monster, if ever you fight one.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Their minds are very linear. So much so that a logical paradox will lock them up for a few seconds.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;This statement is false. Does a set of all sets contain itself.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;That sort of thing.&quot;

* Altonor laughs!

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;I'll need to tell Vi, he loves those things. What does he call 'em... koans?&quot; |3 &quot;I can see it now...&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Do not expect it to work on Zilvudar.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;It will slow him down. Nothing more.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;And Yazagh...&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Yazagh is a pitiful monster.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;He should never have been given the rank.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;Now, I have finished.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">&quot;You had something to say?&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;In a way.&quot; It's kind of odd to see (and hear) DSL being used with gauntleted hands. Clink clink clink. &quot;(I wanted to ask if you still wanted to talk about the incident with the szarkai.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;As I recall, you wanted to talk about that initially. But if you have the time, very well.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Arivan gave me a basic idea, but let's hear your side from you. Why the punch?)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;You gave information that the gnome did not possess to him. He, who has recenrly proven what had been suspected back then. That a major shift in his wolrd view would cause inital disarray, leading to an even more powerful response. His hatred, and position could then be manipulated by the various anti-drow groups that have been shadowing our movements since my victory over the Burning Mountain. They may be spies, they may be murderers. It would have led to a crusade, checking every elfkin on the continent with the Mace leading the way. Or any number of possible horrible things. Miron is a major fixture in the Mace, he has been with it for over a century, he has friends in every branch. And he hates our species. The szarkai may be murderers and spies, but they do not deserve mob justice. No one does.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;You are lucky that his tome of magical beasts did not list them, or the beginning of such a crusade could have already come to pass.&quot;)

* Altonor watches closely, absorbing the explanation. &quot;(... I see. So more a matter of Steelsprocket than of Orgolloyss.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Orgolloyss is a part of me. He wants what is best for the Drow, and he doesn't even know what that is. A slow death at the hands of a two-faced witch is not it. And angry mobs hunting for the one sect of Drow kind who could lead a normal life is not it either.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;But yes. It is mostly about Steelsprocket.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(... Fair enough. I'll explain how I saw it at the time.)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Rilynasek is known for sending would-be surface spies on a mission to retrieve some object of power from the surface world. The more powerful and well-guarded the object, the greater prestige they get when they go back, and the more prominent missions they get sent on in the future. Let me clear up one thing about Lolthians. They'd never admit it themselves, because fear is a weakness, but living under Lolth is constantly living in fear. Becoming the biggest monster, with the most dangerous reputation, is the best way you can shield yourself when you're living it. Make others fear you, so that they never see your fear.)&quot; He frowns. &quot;(A lot more like Orgolloyss than you might realize.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Perhaps.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Szarkai are so rare, they're put under tremendous pressure from the beginning to be perfect monsters. We've never been able to convert one. Even by age three, they're so thoroughly indocrinated into the service of their house and Lolth that the conditioning's nearly impossible to shake. Still, we'd be turning our backs on our mission if we didn't try. So when we got wind of Vicigloth moving on Thalinde, Arivan and Rhy suggested an experiment. If anyone could reform a szarkai, it would be the Aureate Palm. If it was impossible, they would have no trouble executing her. If it wasn't, then we could stand a chance of doing the same. So, we started setting up a trap. What we didn't expect was you and your group moving through the area, and Vicigloth's route changing to pick up a different part of the staff first. The letter you sent along had that intel, among other things.)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(As far as Steelsprocket goes... That's more personal. Look here.)&quot; Altonor reaches into his pack, and very gingerly extracts a very old-looking book. &quot;(Careful with it,)&quot; he cautions in Elven, &quot;(it's seen better days.)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">... the title's written in Celestial, but it looks like a prayerbook, and Garl Glittergold's symbol is on the spine.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Still here? ^^;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Nope.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Yes.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">:B

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Was feeling sick, had to go get something to settle my stomach.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Ack. Sorry to hear it.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;I didn't expect you to be a trickster, Altonor.&quot;)

* Altonor smirks. &quot;(Clearly we don't know each other very well, then.)&quot; Back into the pack it goes, wrapped carefully in a waterproof cloth. Back to DSL; &quot;(When the war ended, a lot of former soldiers discarded their spoils along the march. Books from the libraries of Kemmer, elven artifacts, trinkets... all dead weight, and reminders of everything that had gone wrong. We salvaged what we could. The books, in particular. They deserved more respect than to be used as kindling, or left to be destroyed by the elements. After things settled down, we started giving them back. Anonymous donations to libraries and museums, that sort of thing. That book's the last one left to return to non-drow hands.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;If you tell me it belongs to Miron, I will tell you he won't accept it.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(I've been carrying it this past century, reading it, learning from it, and I promised myself that this one, this last one, wouldn't be an anonymous gift. This one, I was going to hand back to a Kemmer survivor with my own hands. Impossible, maybe. But what's impossible but a lazy way of saying 'we haven't tried hard enough to overcome this yet?')&quot; He smirks. &quot;(... well. I know that now, unfortunately.)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(But back then? I was thrilled. A Kemmer survivor, and a librarian no less? It seemed perfect. So I hoped to build up something vaguely resembling rapport, just enough so that he wouldn't be openly hostile, then give him the book. ... And then, I was an idiot and went too far in the heat of the moment.)&quot; He frowns, looking away.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Hmm. The more I hear this, the more I suspect this actually belongs to a gnome in Castleton who has an earth elemental familiar.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(That hint about the szarkai was meant as a peace offering, in addition to giving the one person who would know what a szarkai was a heads-up. I wanted to make amends. Still do. At the time, I thought, as a librarian, he'd accept a gift of information.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Ah.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(The existence of the szarkai is a well-kept secret, but not a completely-kept one. There are elven veterans who could tell you about them.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;The Librarian died with Kemmer. He has rebuilt himself into a soldier. Giving this back would do nothing more than a relic of a bygone era.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Yes, I've learned that nothing is a secret anymore.&quot;)

Tathi:<font color="#9933FF">Suddenly. &quot;So how old are you, Swallowtail? Really.&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Hence why I've answered your questions&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Not to mention, I have the distinct feeling he'd burn it just because it touched drowish hands.)&quot; That frown deepens. &quot;(The book deserves more respect than that.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Welcome to the world of zealotry.&quot;)

* Altonor huffs. &quot;(Welcome?)&quot; =3= &quot;(Now what's this about a gnome in Castleton?)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;A librarian gnome. May or may not be a Kemmer survivor, I never asked.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Riddle me this.&quot;)

Tathi: <font color="#9933ff">(( afk ))

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Why is my information about Orgolloyss so surprising? Even the peasants of Ezzebek are taught these things, and the borders are often passed, or by Rhylinar's example, bypassed.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;We don't have the manpower to be sending deathsquads after every trader who happens to know common knowledge.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Hrm. Either you're withholding information about this librarian because you don't know, or trying to set up an information exchange. Sign straight. Which is it?)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;I have given all the knowledge about that librarian that I possess. That Miron was a librarian before Kemmer was news to me.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;He has asked that I not mention the word.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Before? I'm talking about now. Or has the position of Mace archivist changed that drastically?)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;He's an archivist?&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;He has always introduced himself as inquisitor.&quot;)

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(The prayerbook and robes speak differently than the badge.)&quot;

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Well, let me clarify then.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Miron is a soldier. He has marched with dwarves, apparently, and archives mostly for how to kill things, if that is his calling.&quot;_

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">)*

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(... that... explains a lot.)&quot; &gt;:.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Purrcat.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">:p

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Mom called.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Baby sister back from trick and treating.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Vomitting, needed help with the gate.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">While I'm at great grandma's.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">My step-dad is worthless at information passing. ^^;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(... hah. Since apparently that letter didn't work, and he's had dwarven influences, think I stand a better chance of being forgiven if I deliver an apology with ale this time?)&quot; A wry smirk.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(The book may not be going to him anymore, but so help me, I'm going to make amends for that night one way or another.)&quot; &gt;:3

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Make it strong stufff. Something that can potentially induce hallucinations.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;There is an elvish brewer just over there who makes such an alcohol.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Le point at Rae..

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Eyllisaearsithek? Know about it.)&quot;

Raerarael Eyllisaearsithek:<font color="#9933FF">''That's my brother in law, just fyi. ^^''

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">You all look the same.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">:D

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">Anyway, sickness not passing at all.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">.. stick to landscapes, kid. You won't get far in portraiture if you give everybody the same face. =3= *BRICK'D*

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">I'm going to go hang out in the bathroom for a bit. ^^;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Eww... have fun?

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Mmkay. ^^; I'll start wrapping this up.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Well, you've been forthright and upcoming with information, and patient with hearing me out. Thanks.)&quot; He straightens, switching to Elven. &quot;(So I'll answer your question.)&quot; He grins. &quot;(Your information, surprising? It's not.)&quot;

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(Here's a tip. Ask questions you think you know the answer to sometimes to different people. The variety of responses you get can be illuminating, and tell you a lot about the person you're asking, and about yourself upon reflection. Good way to get information, too. Nobody ever has the whole story.)&quot; |3

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Haven't puked yet.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Feel close, though.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">Drank some water. Felt like it helped.

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">(&quot;Thank you for your candor.&quot;)

Sszeyl:<font color="#CC0066">I got nothin'.

Altonor:<font color="#000000">&quot;(If I don't see you before you head off this evening, good luck.)&quot; And drow depart.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">And scene? =3=;

Liatai:<font color="#000000">And scene. Go rest up, feel better. &gt;: Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">LIANURSE DEMANDS IT.

Meany:<font color="#CC0066">thanks.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">YOU SHALL APPEASE THE CLINIC GOD.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">XP

<font color="#0000ff">Meany is disconnected.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Shall I poof the server, oh wrathful one?

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Well, okay. That was pretty fun, despite the sick. Sorry Altonor wasn't forthcoming with Sheyth. ^^;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Nah. It'll just be an excuse to probe him more later. :3

<font color="#0000ff">Glitch has connected.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">But as soon as the conversation started, he immediately went &quot;dude, you've been watching from the shadows for goodness knows how long and never said anything? And now you're expecting me to tell you my life story and possibly trigger you, since you look old enough to have been in the war? Creeper. No way. Maybe later. =w=# &quot;

Glitch:<font color="#000000">crap, gonna be stuck loading for a LONG time....

* Liatai is brick'd.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">meany's not even here? :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Just left. He wasn't feeling well.

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">.. but Sheyth's answer would be so... racist. XP

Liatai:<font color="#000000">It's drow and elves, that's to be expected. :B

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Let's hear it, c'mon. =3= *poke poke*

Liatai:<font color="#000000">... jeez, the cat's really torn up my legs with her pounce attacks. ^^;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">lololololoollol

Glitch:<font color="#000000">lines loaded

Glitch:<font color="#000000">so, just randomchat here, now?

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">&quot;Never said anything? Sir, look at your hand? See that black skin? Checkmate.&quot;

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/002/135/sw50sw8sw578.gif

Glitch:<font color="#000000">more specifically, okay to split attention? :B cuz Imma start infodumping in irc, I've got about 20 minutes before I gotta run

Liatai:<font color="#000000">... Altonor would actually laugh that off. ^^; The muse is stuck between &quot;Fair enough. You're still a creepy voyeur, pale-skin. We'll talk when we're beyond racial slurs.&quot; and being snarky... &quot;*looks at hand* What? No, sorry, I only see a paladin's gauntlet. =3= &quot;

* Liatai is brick'd.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Yes, Glitch, go on.

Liatai:<font color="#000000">I do read backlogs, you know.

Glitch:<font color="#000000">(yes, but feedback while I'm -present- is most desireable. &gt;.&gt; Eh. :B )

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Welp, shutting down the server. :3

Liatai:<font color="#000000">Mmkay. :3

Ghostwish:<font color="#9933FF">Bai bai!

<font color="#0000ff">Ghostwish is disconnected.

You have disconnected.