Igfig: LAST TIME ON EBERRON Igfig: Frosty did a whole bunch of stuff on the fortress Chydris! Igfig: And then may have died Igfig: LAST TIME, BEFORE THAT TIME Igfig: You enacted a plan to get up close to Jaela Daran, Keeper of the Silver Flame, and inform her that the Lord of Blades was marching on Thrane Igfig: and managed to escape with only minor snags Varus: we slept in a damp smelly house in the suburbs Igfig: is that where you were planning to rendezvous afterwards? Igfig: Not at the ship? Varus: no Varus: but after the ship didnt come we slept in a damp smelly hosue in the suburbs Igfig: what house is this? Varus: just one of many abandoned ones that homeless people have taken up residence in Blaze: I don't think there'd be many abandoned houses in the major religious center city, but maybe there would be. Igfig: I wouldn't think so either Varus: im imagining it to be almost like a damascus situation Blaze: Either there would be shelter homes built for them, or they would be sent to another place, yar. Varus: where its so gigantic that you have all manner of classes of people Igfig: you could probably find one if you spent a long time looking or walking Igfig: http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ejISbjrUUm4/S_66TMQaphI/AAAAAAAAIjw/6Uym4qF5aZ8/Flamekeep.jpg Igfig: There's a map of Flamekeep Varus: ooh its an island Varus: then maybe insteaddddd Varus: we slept in a damp smelly farm house sort of thing around the edges of the city Varus: where theres the scattered dots which i assume are those things Igfig: I'm going to have you all standing at the airship docks right now, just while you're deciding Igfig: just to set the scene Varus: im gunna be honest i just wanted the mental image of the party in a damp smelly alcove Blaze: We have potential camp things, got bed rolls and stuff. We could just head out of the city and pitch a tent. Igfig: heheh Orrin: Orrin yawns and stretches, Igfig: yes I figured something like that Varus: so if we're at the docks its either some time before grumbling like our mom forgot to pick us up from soccer practice Varus: or after Varus: like our mom got murdered and we're still at soccer practice the next morning Igfig: "Why are we hiding, exactly?" says Arryn Varus: i was not aware we were hiding Blaze: I forget how long does it take to prepare spells? I should double check quick. Varus: an hour ish i think Igfig: "It sounded like you wanted to hide, because otherwise we could just get rooms at an inn." Blaze: Mine says I do it at the end of a long rest, yar. Varus: "aah yes tht well you see things didnt go as planned" Blaze: Oh wait no, that is an automatic one. Varus: "and most if not the entire city saw that dude's face falling from the balcony" Blaze: I can prepare a new list of spells, it takes 1 minute per spell level for each spell on my list. Varus: *points at blaze* Orrin: "I guess this is what we get for staying behind." Igfig: "Yes, I was there." Varus: "yeah so like duh of course we'd wanna hide out" Varus: "DUH arryn cmon" Igfig: *"Yes, I know, I was there." Orrin: I guess that's a valid question. Did you guys actually do anything they'd be hunting us for? Igfig: (missed a clause in that last bit) Varus: varus calls out grammar mistakes like he is callig out uno Varus: so that was a close one Varus: therd have been a fight Blaze: So yar, it would take about 26 minutes for me to re-prepare my spells to the new set from what I'd been at before. Varus: yheah i think theyd be hunting us Varus: that guy who shot the spell at blaze sure wanted him Varus: and his face was revealed Blaze: He seemed pretty upset about the whole I talked to the Keeper. Igfig: "The Dark Lanterns do have at least one safehouse in the city that we could use... but I don't want to take you there, because they'll be searching for you magically, and if they find you we'd lose that safe house." Igfig: "The guy who shot the spell at Blaze was High Cardinal Krozen." Orrin: "Oh, that dick." Varus: "YEAH SO THE POINT IS THATS WHY WE SLEPT IN A WET ALLEY ARRYN" Blaze: "I'm the only one they saw, sides seeing me with you guys when we talked to your contact, and he might not know about that." Varus: "Get your head in the game son" Varus: "what are we gunna do now" Varus: "Cause frosty doesnt have his head in the game" Varus: "Like he doesnt have the boat" Igfig: are about to sleep Orrin: Just be a bird or something until we're ready to go. Varus: "in this port" Igfig: "Well, you can sleep in a wet alley. They don't know I was involved, so I'm sleeping in an inn." Blaze: Actually I think that would work? I know locate creature spells don't work if something is not in its normal form. Orrin: well there you go. Orrin: Blaze is an owl and we're all just sleeping in an inn. Blaze: I don't know if that requires polymorph spells or if the wildshape would count for it. Igfig: that is correct Varus: hey lets all sleep in an inn except blaze Varus: blaze can sleep outside Varus: fuck you blaze Varus: mangy mutt Blaze: But but, have we rested? Varus: this is the same day as the thing i imagine Varus: i think* Blaze: If we have done at least a short rest then I can shift again, if not I need to rest yet. Varus: so no Igfig: If that's what you want to do, we can do that and skip to the next day Varus: you still got operation spells up Varus: yeah lets just skip Varus: blaze sleeps outside like a dog Blaze: I can shift after a short rest, yar, don't need a long rest to shift again. Igfig: well, I'll just tell you that it took Frosty I think half a day to travel to where Chydris was? And the airship is a lot faster than the fortress Blaze: During that short rest I could re-prepare my spell list too so I can try to cast Locate Creature to see if we can find Frosty. Varus: so we noticed he was missing Varus: i think we could make some kind of guess honeslty Blaze: Yar, but I don't think we know where he went? We just know he isn't here. Varus: that he went to the fortress Blaze: Probably would have to roll to figure that out somehow. Blaze: Like an insight check or an investigation check. Varus: well honestly its a case of where else would he go Blaze: Also a good point. Varus: its not a stretch even if we are thinking he is actually betraying us Varus: instead of his suicide plot Varus: either or it all goes to the fortress Igfig: No, I know you don't know Varus: why tho Blaze: He didn't tell us, all we know is he isn't here where we expected him to be. Igfig: you saw how fast the fortress was moving when you used the Orb of Location to find where Thakashtai was Varus: yeah so honestly where would we think he would go Igfig: you could do the math and find out just how long it would take, based on that Varus: this isnt even a direction distance math problem this is literally just "ben isnt here where is he" Varus: 2 options: grumbling in the hills for some reason Varus: or at the fortress Igfig: no, I mean to find out how long you have before the fortress arrives Blaze: Or kidnapped by more shadow demons. Igfig: and it would just be an Int check IC Varus: ah ok Varus: well sure i can do that then Varus: 1d20+3 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+3: [11] = 14 Varus: err i forget i have prof in int but thats just for saves not checks right Igfig: correct Varus: 14 then Igfig: yeah okay, the fortress's top speed is 4 mph, that's a fifth of the speed of the airship, so it'll be two or three days Varus: thats like running speed Varus: you could do a light jog beside this thing Igfig: it's not that fast Igfig: the important part is that it's big and it moves Igfig: also, hovers Varus: in the morning the lord of blades takes a job around the fortress and then climbs back in as its moving Varus: gotta keep in shape Igfig: oh, a jog Varus: oh Igfig: I thought "taking a job" was a weird bit of slang Varus: yeah a job Varus: JOG Varus: god damn Blaze: So yar, we know when the fortress should arrive, and we ourselves are grounded , and we don't know where Frosty and the ship is but chances are if they went anywhere, it went to the fortress, for some reason. Varus: was frosty ever "i hate fleshies" to our face Varus: if so we could think hes betraying us and be like "maaaaaan" Igfig: I don't think he ever really hid it, like you know he has good reason to distrust humanoids Varus: then mayybeeee Varus: lets sayyyyyy Igfig: he was mostly ok with you guys Varus: if frosty possibly betrayed us and we know the fortress is coming Igfig: and he was showing some sympathy with the LoB back when you spoke with him, I think? Varus: we can take that 3 days to maybe bolster the city's defenses Blaze: He complained about us, yar, so the he might have betrayed us is on the table, he may have been kidnapped or something is on the table, or we do know his girlfriend was kidnapped so other stuff. Varus: help out where we can Varus: if we can get them to trust us Orrin: That seems as good a plan as any. Blaze: So like, turn myself in? Igfig: So this is still the same evening, right? Varus: like Varus: redcliffe in dragon age origins Orrin: Did the Divine believe you? Varus: yeah Varus: i think shes taking action Orrin: Quick sidebar, Waffle are you playing Inquisition? Orrin: Well, then we should be all good legally. Varus: maybe scout a little to see if things are being prepared for the lord of blade's arrival Varus: and if so we can reveal ourselves like HAHA IT WAS US ALL ALNG AND WE ARE READY TO HELP FURTHER Igfig: all right, is that what you want to do then? Varus: i figure thats the best course of action Varus: unless the lord decides to slam his ship into the walls Varus: or more like Varus: kind of Varus: press against it Orrin: It seems just as productive as hiding in the forest for 3 days. Varus: 4mph Orrin: Awful lotta mass behind it, though. Varus: yeah thats why the walls would fall over Varus: so less prepare them for siege Varus: and more prepare them for an army of war forged marching through the streets Igfig: Okay, are we scouting first or turning ourselves in first Orrin: It seems like it would be more productive to come up with a way to disable the fortress. Orrin: A small, elite team. Orrin: Sneaking in and disabling it from the inside before it penetrates the walls. Varus: while thats true itd still mean letting the ship get here Orrin: Go Team Avatar. Varus: and that means warforged swarming the city Varus: it has those bridges Varus: so we could blow them up Orrin: I was more thinking find the means by which it hovers and disable them. Orrin: Then at least LoB would have to settle for a conventional siege. Varus: letspush it into the water Varus: let a kraken sort it out Igfig: dunno how many of those live in the inland lakes Blaze: Eh I'm just going to go ahead and turn myself in then, we couldn't go on the ship, not sure what our plan was after getting to the ship anyways? Leaving? Varus: pshaw Varus: plenty Blaze: so if I turn myself in then the rest of us don't have to worry about being caught with me, yar. Varus: so we're just gunna turn our selve sin Varus: again Varus: no itd be best for us to all do it together Orrin: Well, only Blaze has to do that. Varus: so we arent seperated Orrin: If nothing else, you and I can bust him out later. Varus: what will me and orrin be doing while we wait for blaze to be interrogated Blaze: Maybe maybe not? Admittedly we have some good history with turning ourselves in so far. Varus: yeah thats what im going with Varus: join us orrin Varus: together we can rule this galaxy like father and son Blaze: I'm for either option really. Orrin: Or we could have Arryn use her spy skills to find out whether or not they took us seriously. Orrin: And make our decision then. Varus: arryn can break us out Orrin: It's not like we're in any immediate danger either way. Varus: iif things go wrong Varus: african american lanterns have the skills to get us out Blaze: Yar, yar, we may be complicating things though. Orrin: I'm pretty confused about what advantage anyone going to jail brings us. Varus: well thats more in a "if things happen to go wrong" Blaze: We don't necessarily go to jail. Varus: which i doubt Orrin: Right, but we could probably find out whether the city believed us or not without even risking going to jail, seeing as only one of us is wanted. Blaze: If I do go alone, then you guys don't have to worry about getting caught with me, and then... I don't know where that is going either. Orrin: Orrin, Arryn and Varus can just go find out. Orrin: And Blaze can be a bird. Blaze: Yar. Varus: how would we do that Varus: look at troop movements or something? Igfig: okay, so you're up by the docks discussing this still, right Orrin: You do some magic shit, she can do some spy shit, and I'll just go ask. Varus: SURE Orrin: That's what CHA is for. Varus: like what magic shit Blaze: Since we haven't acted then I suppose we are. Orrin: I dunno, you're the wizard. Varus: send my elementals sprawling over the city?? Blaze: Worked pretty well before. Orrin: I was thinking more like... divination. Igfig: you can hear criers going about ringing bells and yelling things, although you can't hear too clearly from this distance Orrin: Orrin goes to listen. Varus: divination is a ridiculous magic that has no place in modern sciences Igfig: perception check Orrin: 1d20 Fortuna: Orrin, 1d20: [3] = 3 Blaze: I shall also listen, yar. Orrin: Ouch. Igfig: nah, you're pretty high up above the streets here Varus: 1d20+5 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+5: [13] = 18 Blaze: 1d20+6 Fortuna: Blaze, 1d20+6: [20] = 26 Varus: yo fuck you blaze Blaze: Yay I crit. Orrin: That's more like it. Igfig: but not too high for ol' "Eagle Ears" Malone over here Blaze: Words are well carried on the wind. Igfig: they're asking that anybody with information about the identity of the shapeshifter who interrupted the Keeper's address please come to the Grand Cathedral of the Flame Igfig: a reward is offered Orrin: Sounds like it's time for a practiced liar. Varus: that sounds Varus: suspicious Varus: maybe throw some insight into there Varus: to see if by reward they mean 200 YEARS DUNGEN Blaze: I don't think suspicious is quite the word, that sounds like the normal proceeding for someone doing something so high profile, yar. Varus: to give them a reward? Blaze: To give the person giving information on them a reward. Orrin: I wasn't even there, I'd be real surprised if they throw me in a dungeon just for showing up. Varus: "haha hey man nice bank robbery why dont you come down to the police station and we can high five over it" Orrin: Oh yeah, Waffle the reward is for turning him in. Varus: oh Orrin: Not for Blaze. Varus: ok Orrin: Hahahaha. Varus: thats more appropriate Varus: im gunna go give the information Varus: VARUS SCOOTS OFF Varus: like imagine a dastardly scooter Orrin: It seems more like a job for the con man and the spy. Varus: thats what varus does Orrin: Than the socially awkward wizard who was part of the alleged crime. Blaze trips Varus. Varus: :( Varus: fiiiiiine Varus: varus falls flat on his face like some kind of CHUMP Varus: go get 'em orrin + arryn Blaze: "Are you alright?" Igfig: "You should probably do this, I would prefer that the Thrannish leadership not know my face." Varus: *supressing tears* yeah. fine. sure. perfectly ok. Blaze: "I wasn't expecting you to land so chumpily." Orrin: Looks like it's all up to me now. Orrin: So do I want to actually give them information, or lie and see if they believed us? Igfig: "I'll be outside providing moral support." Varus: whatll i do Orrin: "What would we do without you?" Orrin: I mean we've had good luck with the Master and Slave Show in the past. Orrin: If we wanted to go that way again. Varus: that is true Igfig: "Don't worry, I'll be ready to crash through a window if it looks like they're going to arrest you." Varus: but in that case id have to go in there and speak frantic elven again Orrin: You know something but don't speak enough damn Common to make yourself understood. Varus: ill go in with orrin then Orrin: And I'm just doing my civic duty and HOLY SHIT WARFORGED ARE YOU GUYS GONNA DO ANYTHING? Orrin: I'll get us some appropriate costumes. Varus: excellent Varus: smudge y face with dirt Varus: so i look properly lower class elven Orrin: Should I make a deception check Ig? Or save that for when we're actually talking to them? Igfig: save that I think Orrin: Okie doke. Orrin: We head to the Cathedral. Orrin: Me in my noble clothes, Varus in some dirty rags. Igfig: all right Varus: i politely fold my robe and hand it to blaze Varus: for some reason i thought "i hand it to fortuna" Igfig: you can see that there are posters posted here and there making the same request Varus: but fortuna doesnt want my robes Orrin: I grab one. Orrin: And carry it in my pocket. Varus: can i sort of Varus: practice my story now for a bonus on the deception rolls later Igfig: sure, okay Varus: cool Igfig: yeah, Orrin can brief you on this Varus: so a deception roll now? Igfig: well, once you start talking to them Orrin: So we're travelers who were passing through, and we saw a man fitting this description running out of the city as we arrived. Varus: well i mean now for the act of practicing my story Orrin: He looked haggard, he couldn't have gotten too far. Varus: then later when im rolling i get an advantage on one roll cause i practiced here Varus: if i succeed on the deception roll now Igfig: okay, so you're approaching the cathedral Varus: theyll want more info Varus: and we saw him hiding out in a HOUSE on the OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY Igfig: it's not too hard to see where you're supposed to go, there are some people lined up Varus: woe is I Orrin: We're still in the city. Orrin: So we do not want them to look in the city. Orrin: We want them to go on a wild goose chase into the forest. Varus: we saw him in a HOUSE on the OUTSKIRTS i say Varus: which is Varus: of course Varus: in the forests Orrin: That's... that's still way closer than Orrin: "not in the city at all." Varus: what if they just like" Varus: "wait here while we confirm it" Varus: maybe we should actually have blaze somewher Igfig: someone comes out, the person at the front of the line goes in Orrin: Confirm that a guy might have run "that way?" Varus: do they tag out Orrin: I like our chances on that one. Varus: like a high five Varus: "noice one bro ur turn" Orrin: We want him to NOT get caught. Orrin: And we want to give a vague story so I can get them talking. Varus: fine Igfig: no, there's an acolyte by the door showing people in and out Varus: so like Varus: lets hope they dont speak elven Varus: people of the silver flame are too lame to high five tag out Orrin: I know you really want a house on the outskirts to be involved, we'll figure out a way to work it in later. Orrin: MAybe we can fill one with bombs. Varus: ok Varus: thats fine then Orrin: And the fortress will run over it. Varus: that sounds lovely Varus: igfig this whole time we've been doing the whole fortress coming to smash the city ive been thinking of valkyria chronicles Orrin: Mines actually might not be a bad idea even if that doesn't work. Igfig: hah, that's a decent comparison Varus: IT DIDNT WORK IN THE THING I JUST MENTIONED Varus: it made things worse Varus: well not worse Varus: but it didnt help Igfig: are you waiting in line or what Varus: well yeah Orrin: I suppose so. Igfig: ok Varus: we arent gunna cut in line that would be rude Varus: a social faux pas even Igfig: while you're waiting... Blaze, where are you at? Orrin: I act all frustrated. Blaze: Hmm... well I probably rest for a while down at the docs to get a short rest in. Igfig: okay Igfig: make a will save Varus: huh Varus: do you mean wisdom? Blaze: 1d20+7 Fortuna: Blaze, 1d20+7: [14] = 21 Igfig: ...yes Igfig: aright Blaze: Oh. Blaze: So a 19 instead of a 21. Varus: 1d20+5 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+5: [17] = 22 Blaze: Or wait. Varus: youre gettting your editions mixed up Varus: YEAH Varus: FUCKIN EAT THAT BLAZE Igfig: what Varus: SUCK ON THAT SHIT Igfig: varus what are you doing Blaze: My total is an 18. Varus: you said Varus: wis save Igfig: that was just for Blaze Orrin: For Blaze. Varus: :( Orrin: They're tracking him magically. Varus: ok so maybe varus is intercepting it magically Blaze: that was just for me, also it wasn't actually a save so it was an 18 instead of a 21, or if it is a save then the 21. Varus: like he knows thats happenin so hes sending out tendrils of blaze thought to distract them Igfig: it's a save, Blaze Igfig: you got a 21 Blaze: Yar, so the 21 it is, yup. Blaze: Varrus confused me. Varus: its all very high level scientifical jargon it confuses lots of people who arent educated on it dont worry Igfig: aright Igfig: anyway, the other two eventually reach the front of the line Varus: wait orrin Varus: are we merchants or like what Varus: or just pilgrims Varus: or travellers or somethign Orrin: I'm a merchant, you're just the guy what carries my shit. Varus: are you my weirdo uncle Varus: sure Orrin: I'll be Lee. There's a million Lees. Varus: so like sandle from dragon age Varus: perfect Varus: ill be sandle Varus: you have to call me "my boy" Igfig: the acolyte waves you in Orrin: Orrin passes huffily. Igfig: you're shown to a... I'm not sure the name of the room Orrin: Antechamber? Varus: reception Blaze: Referendum? Blaze: Solar? Orrin: Alon? Orrin: Salon* Orrin: Arboretum? Varus: butt? Igfig: well, it's a smallish room with some comfortable chairs Blaze: I don't think it will be an arboretum. Varus: the butt room Varus: an integral room in every castle Orrin: Works for me. Varus: like a study? Igfig: in one of them is a cleric in full robes, with a bit of a tired look on her face Igfig: around the other is inscribed a largish circle on the floor, lightly glowing Varus: do i know what it is? Orrin: "Ma'am, I can see that you're enjoying this about as much as I am. So I'm sorry to do this to you, but my elf here swears we saw the fella mentioned on this poster heading out of town as we arrived." Igfig: she motions for you to sit down Igfig: Arcana check Varus: 1d20+6 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+6: [3] = 9 Varus: fuck Varus: get recked turned to got rekked Igfig: "Please, step into the circle before you speak." Orrin: "Unfortunately, he's about as good at talking as he is at keeping my inventory organized." Varus: i dont like this Orrin: Well that throws a wrench in our plans. Time for some language gaaames. Igfig: "Just a necessary precaution." Varus: i motion at the circle and yell "THIS MYSTERIOUS CIRCLE MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE AND NERVOUS" in elven Orrin: I can either pit my considerable ability to lie against a truth spell, or again: just speak vaguely. Orrin: I have seen him. Varus: well Orrin: Yes in the last 24 hours. Varus: we arent lyign Igfig: hmm, gonna roll a flat chance roll one sec Igfig: 1d20 Fortuna: Igfig, 1d20: [3] = 3 Orrin: No I don't know where he is right now. Varus: and on the outskirts of town Orrin: Turnt up. Igfig: "", she says in Elven. Varus: FUCK Igfig: "" Igfig: and then she repeats that in Common Orrin: "If you don't mind, ma'am, I'll speak for him. He gets a little flustered under pressure. If my answers are unsatisfactory, I'll allow you to question him." Orrin: Orrin steps into the circle with a smile. Varus: "The magics of the humans have subjugated our people for far too long i'd be much more comfortable telling my story in safety" Igfig: "Of course. Please, have a seat." Igfig: Okay, so stepping into the circle reveals to you Varus: arryn Varus: the cleric is arryn Varus: the whole time Igfig: that any time you want to tell a lie, you have to make a Cha save or be unable to do so Varus: orrin senses that Varus: he senses the mechanics of the game Igfig: anybody in the circle does Igfig: or if you prefer Varus: could i try to like Varus: subtly disable the circle Varus: without her noticing Orrin: My CHA save is a +7, I'm not too worried about it. Igfig: you realize that it is very difficult to tell a lie while in the circle without a great act of will Orrin: I'm only gonna lie about a couple things here, anyway. Varus: sure Igfig: "Thank you. Now, as you were saying?" Orrin: "The elf here saw a man who matches the description on your posters. If you don't mind my asking, what did he do?" Igfig: make a Cha save Orrin: That's not a lie. Blaze: But that is the truth? Varus: yeah like Varus: i definitely did see blaze Igfig: sure, but there's no description on the posters Orrin: Oh you said it had the same message as the criers. Varus: what do the posters say Varus: yar you did say that Igfig: yeah, and the criers said "the shapeshifter who interrupted the Keeper's address" Varus: oh Varus: lets rephrase that then Varus: well Varus: actually thats also not a lie Varus: the "description" is "shapeshifter who interrupted hte keeper's address" Orrin: Oh for some reason I thought you said they were talking about him. Orrin: Didn't realize that was all they said. Orrin: I can still just vaguespeak it. Igfig: okay, you can say that, but you do sense that you're skirting close to the boundary of "deliberate untruth" Orrin: "My elf says he saw a shapeshifter on the outskirts of the city not long after the Keeper's address. If you don't mind my asking, what did he do?" Varus: well we know what he did Orrin: I'm trying to get her talking. Varus: ORRIN CMON UP YOUR GAME Orrin: We're not here for the reward man, I need her to tell me if they believed us. Varus: ok ok i mean like yea i feel you Varus: but Varus: what if Varus: reward Orrin: Oh we're still gonna get it if we can. Varus: good Orrin: But we need to do more than just answer questions here. Igfig: "He spoke to the Keeper, and made some unusual claims. She wants to ask him some questions about them." Orrin: Oh I like this. Varus: GET 'EM Igfig: "Now, Mr... I'm afraid I didn't get your name?" Varus: GET 'EM Varus: sweatsnervusly Varus: whose she asking Orrin: Everybody cool with me turning in Blaze? Varus: surely orrin has a thousand fake names Blaze: I'm cool with it. Varus: give it a lil Varus: lets learn a lil more Orrin: Can I make the save to try to lie? Varus: like "what kind of questions, we all heard the young lady replying to him, that cant be hard to test" Orrin: Or do I have to make it after to see if it worked? Igfig: make the save first Orrin: 1d20+7 Fortuna: Orrin, 1d20+7: [18] = 25 Igfig: you'e fine Orrin: Weee, Varus: ayyyyyy ma Igfig: oh Igfig: uh, before you do though Igfig: I just noticed a little clause in the spell Igfig: "You know whether each creature succeeds or fails on its saving throw" Igfig: so if you lie, she'll still know it was a lie Varus: that kind of Varus: ruins the point of it Orrin: Then what the hell is the point of the save? Orrin: I'm just gonna tell the truth then. Blaze: You could avoid saying the truth, they know it isn't the truth, but you didn't say it, yar. Varus: no wait like Varus: whats the actual point Orrin: Getting in front of the Divine is what we've been trying to do for weeks anyway. Orrin: But yeah I do want to know that. Igfig: well, they won't know what part was the lie, I guess Igfig: but yeah, that's a little weird Varus: that is dumb Varus: can we ignore that clause Orrin: Then they'll just like... ask you again. Until they know you failed the save. Igfig: ohhhhh wait I see Igfig: I got it slightly wrong Igfig: You make the save at the beginning of your turn Igfig: and it covers whatever you say during that turn Orrin: But she'll still know I was lying? Igfig: so they'll only know you might have lied that turn, but not whether you actually did or what about Orrin: Ohhh gotcha. Blaze: Yar. Orrin: So it's like... you make it when you enter the circle, regardless of your intent. Igfig: it's still kinda suspicious to not intentionally fail your save though Igfig: and then each turn thereafter Orrin: Well, technically isn't it just testing if I'm CAPABLE of lying? There's not really much I can do about that. Blaze: Plus some people might try to resist it on principle. Orrin: Either way, I think getting in front of the Divine is our best course, so I'll tell as much of the truth as I can. Orrin: But I am really curious about who wrote this spell. Igfig: yeah, it's not 100% suspicious, just slightly suspicious Orrin: And why they did such a bad job. Orrin: Anyway. Orrin: "Torrin, ma'am, of the merchant house Torrin. And you are?" Blaze: Yar that one seems to need some errata work. Igfig: if you were testifying in court, they would insist that you intentionally fail your saves Orrin: That seems kinda metagamey. Igfig: in this case, it's possible that you're just nervous Orrin: Like... you're not making a roll right there on the stand. Blaze: Well, in game that would be asking you to not try to resist the spell, that way of saying it sounds less metagamey. Orrin: Anyway, I answered. Igfig: well, intentionally failing your save would be, like, making a philosophical decision to only tell the truth Igfig: it's like a chain holding you Orrin: Fair enough. Igfig: you can struggle, but if you do it'll make a noise Igfig: "You may call me Desekane" Orrin: "Pleasure, I'm sure." Igfig: (what would be the title for a priest in this situation? Mother? Orrin: That sounds right. Igfig: Desekane is her surname Orrin: Although it's kind of menial work, might be more of a Sister thing. Varus: yes Varus: mother Blaze: Depends on the religion, yar, since this one is based on Catholicism then yar probably. Varus: sister would be the ones outside herding the crowds Igfig: she's a full priest, not a mink Igfig: er, monk Igfig: slash nun Blaze: that sounds like weird religious fanfiction. Blaze: monk/nun. Igfig: "Mr. Torrin. Your servant says he saw a shapeshifter on the outskirts? How did he know it was a shapeshifter?" Igfig: She's taking notes on a pad of paper Varus: hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Varus: i saw them shape shifting i suppose Varus: and i DID see blaze shape shifting Orrin: You saw a bird land, and a man walk away. Varus: so its not a lie either Varus: hohoohho Orrin: Exactly. Blaze: Yar, you can say that truthfully as well cause you totally have. Orrin: "He says he saw him take the form of a bird. Or rather, saw a bird that became a man." Igfig: wait a second, outskirts? Did you actually go to the outskirts? Orrin: We were there at one point or another, right? Orrin: If only when we got here. Igfig: I don't think so Varus: we never actually said outskirts Orrin: I did. Igfig: although your wording was very sneaky Varus: i just kept insisting on it Varus: oh Varus: we could mean any outskirts Varus: outskirts of the interior Igfig: you said "my elf says he saw a shapeshifter on the outskirts" Orrin: But I mean... even if we just flew over them, as long as Varus saw Blaze at the time it's not a lie. Varus: outskirts of the abr we went to with blaze Varus: outskirts of the country Orrin: I never said that's where he saw the bird thing. Orrin: I just let her assume that. Igfig: so as long as varus said that earlier, even if it wasn't true, that's still not a lie Igfig: ok, that is also fair Varus: yessssssssssssss Varus: we rock at this Varus: keep 'em coming we are on fire Orrin: I love this character. Igfig: "I see. And where on the outskirts was this?" Varus: BUTTS Varus: where was the meeting place Varus: saying around Varus: arond that part Igfig: the funny thing is that I'm not even trying to trip you up Varus: where the meeting place was Varus: it feels like ace attorney Blaze: Yar, we are plenty good at tripping ourselves up. Orrin: How long does my lie save I already made last? We might as well use it. Igfig: these are just perfectly reasonable questions for her to ask Varus: cross examination Varus: find the contradiction Igfig: each line is a new save Varus: say around that meeting place we had Varus: which was like Varus: "we were at the corner of blank and blank road Igfig: you can only say about one line of text in a turn Orrin: Yeah I don't actually know where we were, but I can say he saw Blaze there. Varus: we never really said the name of the meeting place Varus: our meeting place was "far away from the square" Igfig: oh, I thought you came here straight from the docks where you met? Orrin: Oh I got a better idea even. Igfig: or did you meet up somewhere else first Varus: we would have met up somwhere first Varus: to reconvene Varus: then move to the docks Igfig: okay Orrin: "He says he saw him from the docks, but he appeared to be heading out of the city to the West." Igfig: probably not on the outskirts though Varus: itd be weird if a group of strangers just went right to the docks after the fiasco Orrin: Now as long as Peter took a step to the West, he could easily have "appeared" to be heading out of the city that way. Orrin: Eh, eh? Varus: thats Varus: a bit of a stretch Igfig: okay, question: did Varus actually say that Igfig: at any point Orrin: YOU'RE A BIT OF A STRETCH. Igfig: while setting up your story Varus: say what Orrin: I suppose he didn't. Varus: which way is the docks Varus: from the palace Igfig: that he saw him from the docks Varus: is it Varus: by any chance Varus: west Igfig: because that'd be a lie, even if it's not really meant that way Igfig: let me see where the docks are Orrin: I guess I can just go with "We were on the docks, but he appeared to be heading out of the city to the West." Or yeah, whichever way is most convenient geographically. Orrin: Which I assume Orrin would know. Varus: lets see where the docks are Igfig: that map is kinda small Igfig: but the docks are on the west side, yes Orrin: I was thinking the direction can just be a variable, assuming that everyone in the room knows what it looks like geographically. Varus: yeah thats true Igfig: there is no bridge or anything on the west side though Varus: OOH YEAHHH Varus: lets say we saw him on the docks to the wet Varus: west Orrin: I mean the guy can turn into a bird. Varus: ez Igfig: http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ejISbjrUUm4/S_66TMQaphI/AAAAAAAAIjw/6Uym4qF5aZ8/Flamekeep.jpg Igfig: you guys are really taking advantage of player telepathy here Orrin: I assume any kind of geographical barrier wouldn't stop a determined shapeshifter for long. Varus: he animorphed into a fish Orrin: I didn't ask Waffle any questions, I asked you about the variable direction. Igfig: I just mean in general Orrin: Waffle just talked a lot at the same time as I was asking! Orrin: I mean I can just make the lie save if you prefer. Igfig: that is the map. Decide where you wanted to say he was going Orrin: I actually even have a plan to cover succeeding on one. Varus: it was def west Varus: cause thats where the docks are Varus: and also where we actually were Igfig: okay Orrin: Yeah I'll stick with the docks. Orrin: And West. Igfig: "So at the docks you saw a bird turn into a man, and then head west over the water?" Varus: ill cover this one orrin Varus: because this did happen if you recall igfig Varus: "we saw him turn into a man from a bird, as if taking a break, before turning back into a bird and flying off" Varus: very specific phrasing there you see Varus: also that was in elven Igfig: heh, that is true Orrin: Unfortunately, since I don't speak Elven you may have just sunk us. Varus: oops Igfig: you might want to use triangle brackets for speaking in other languages Orrin: Because there's no way I would know what you said and she will almost certainly ask me to confirm it. Igfig: I think that's the convention Varus: > Igfig: "" Varus: Varus: that was in draconic Igfig: In draconic you have to surround your speech with little dragon emojis Igfig: in ignan you have to set your computer on fire Igfig: Indeed, she does ask you to confirm that Blaze: Aw man. Orrin: Does she actually say what he said? Igfig: "Did you see this as well, Mr. Torrin?" Orrin: "I don't speak Elvish, ma'am, you'll have to fill me in." Varus: YOU FOOL Orrin: I'm just gonna say "no," it's really not a big deal. Orrin: You're the one we're claiming saw it. Igfig: hmm, I'm going to see how clever she's going to try to be Igfig: 1d20+1 Fortuna: Igfig, 1d20+1: [12] = 13 Igfig: nah she's going to be straightforward about it Igfig: "Could you repeat that again, in Common?" Varus: to me? Igfig: (to Varus) Varus: ok im gunna have to sort of Varus: pretend i dont speak it too well Igfig: she asks this in Common Varus: "saw man from bird..... *does a sleep motion*..... back bird *flaps arms* away" Igfig: all right Igfig: now is the sufficiently dramatic time for your deception check, Varus Varus: with advantage from practicing? Igfig: yeah Varus: 2#1d20+5 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+5: [15] = 20; 1d20+5: [4] = 9 Varus: ayy nice Igfig: well well Igfig: 1d20+3 Fortuna: Igfig, 1d20+3: [12] = 15 Blaze: I swear I get deja vu every time we do something like this. Igfig: looks like your practice paid off! Varus: orrin and varus are thumbs upping each other behind their bakcs Igfig: "...He said that he saw a bird become a man, rest for a moment, and then become a bird again and fly away." Igfig: "Is that also what you saw?" Orrin: "That's what he says he saw, I'm afraid I can't say I saw it." Orrin: Because I wasn't there, see. Igfig: "I see." Igfig: you were away that week Varus: thats a bit meta Orrin: I mean I thought we covered that Orrin didn't actually go that session, though. Igfig: I think you were down in the crowd somewhere, actually Varus: no we uhh Varus: i thihnk we had him thrown into a random group of paladins under cover Igfig: he was not somewhere he could affect things, is the important part Orrin: Oh. So did I see that? Varus: i think he would have Orrin: Because that's probably easier anyway. Igfig: okay, up to you Varus: ill say Varus: he did Varus: since we wouldnt want him not being able to see whats going on Varus: since he has no magic Igfig: then you can't say you can't say you didn't see it, because you can because you did Varus: i actually just realized orrin is the only non magical one in this party Orrin: I have magic. Igfig: orrin has divine magic Varus: oh right Varus: hurrah Igfig: arryn has no magic Igfig: she's half in the party Orrin: "Not as clearly as he says he did, but yes. I saw a bird, and then a man, and then the man was gone and the bird was back." Varus: she has the magic weapon Varus: so that makes up that half Varus: FULL MAGIC PARTY IG Igfig: Frosty doesn't have magic so much as is magic, but ok Igfig: good for ye Varus: yeah Igfig: "And he left the city to the west. Very good. Did you see what kind of bird he was?" Orrin: "I'm not sure I know enough about birds to say." Igfig: "" Varus: errr Varus: he went eagle right Orrin: "Tend to concern myself with stuff that comes from underground, if you take my meaning." Varus: he means butts Igfig: "Of course." Orrin: Butts come from underground? Varus: pants being the ground in this metaphor Varus: blaze help me out here Varus: was it a an eagle Orrin: Oh I wasn't making a metaphor, I was talking about gold. Igfig: orrin tends to concern himself with relieving attractive people of their pants Orrin: That, too. Varus: BLAZE PLEASE Varus: im gunna go for it Varus: go hard or #go home Igfig: make an Int check Varus Igfig: for memory Varus: Varus: GOD Orrin: Can we just assume Varus knows the type of bird? Varus: 1d20+3 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+3: [12] = 15 Varus: ITS AN EAGLE THING Igfig: yes we can Blaze: Teehee. Igfig: falcon first, then an eagle Varus: yeah Blaze: A giant eagle more specifically. Varus: Varus: *slurping noises* Varus: *licking lips* Igfig: oh Igfig: giant eagles are really big Igfig: that actually changes a lot Blaze: Yeah, I went with giant eagle at the time to avoid getting knocked out of flight again. Igfig: people would have seen where a giant eagle went Orrin: Our information is suddenly way, way less valuable. I bet pretty much errbody saw you. Varus: god dammit blaze Igfig: unless you changed into something else really quickly Orrin: I guess that's why there were so many in line. Varus: he turned into a turtle dove during flight Blaze: That would have been my second transformation of the day, I'd only be able to revert to normal after that, unless I have anything that gives me more transformations, let me check. Igfig: maybe we should just say it was a regular eagle, to avoid retcomplications Varus: sure Igfig: okay Blaze: Alright. Blaze: Also yar, two per rest is and shall remain my max. Igfig: "And, just for my own interest... how do the two of you manage to communicate if his Common is so bad?" Orrin: "Mostly shouting, ma'am." Varus: Varus: Igfig: I guess that's somewhat accurate Igfig: I was hoping for something more ironic, but that'll do Varus: everyone makes threatening gestures at varus Igfig: "All right. Thank you for your time, Mr. Torrin." Igfig: "The acolyte will have your reward." Varus: yesssss Orrin: "If I may, Mother, just a tip. If you want to bring this fella in, you might be better off telling him he's not in trouble." Varus: fuckin reward Orrin: Gettin' that scrilla. Igfig: "Thank you, I will keep that in mind." Varus: we waltz out Orrin: Orrin bows and takes his leave. Igfig: an acolyte comes in, bows his head, and shows you out Varus: ohhh man Igfig: gives you, hmm... 20 sp? Varus: varus is so pumped for this reward Varus: PFT Varus: POOP Varus: IS WHAT THAT IS Igfig: A lot for a common laborer, not much for an adventurerer Orrin: Orrin raises an eyebrow at the acolyte. Varus: right Varus: that is true Orrin: "Must not want him too bad, then." Orrin: For a merchant, though. Varus: yeah Igfig: "Thank you for your help." Varus: "guess we wont reveal the SUPER VALUABLE INFO WE HAVE" Orrin: "Best of luck." Varus: NOW we waltz out Igfig: well, there's a reason they don't give you the reward until after you've told your story Varus: glad she didnt realize i was shouting in common perfectly fine Varus: we sort of fast walk away Blaze: Dun dun duns. Igfig: well no, you weren't given the reward until you had left the room Igfig: Mother Desekane didn't want to end up haggling Varus: yeah but i shouted that so shed have heard Igfig: 1d20+3 Fortuna: Igfig, 1d20+3: [10] = 13 Varus: it just adds to the fun of the story she will tell later Igfig: (perception) Igfig: yeah, I guess she did hear Varus: we fast walked away Varus: 2 quik Igfig: all right Igfig: and you're out. Varus: lets head back to our PRE ARRANGED MEETING PLACE Varus: whats blaze been doing this whole time Blaze: Resting up. Blaze: Oh right, I did a short rest so I can spend some hit dice. Varus: has he been a bird Igfig: Arryn rejoins you as well Varus: remember when we had a player for her Varus: :( Igfig: those were good times Varus: oh well Varus: we relay the info to blaze Varus: lets send ol blaze in there Blaze: 3d8 Fortuna: Blaze, 3d8: [5, 5, 5] = 15 Varus: or should we take an extended rest Varus: wow Blaze: I regain 15 hit points, fun. Varus: that was a really satisfying roll Blaze: So now I'm only missing 1 hit point. Igfig: I noticed something interesting: when you take an extended rest, you only recover half your max hit dice Varus: huh Varus: well ok then Orrin: "So, Blaze. According to Mother Desekane, the Divine would like to ask you about your 'outlandish claims.'" Igfig: so it takes two days to get back up to full-full Igfig: not that it's mattered much Varus: i guess thats more realistic than severed foot A OK Igfig: also, why do you keep calling her the Divine? Varus: so should we actually take an extended rest Blaze: Yar, I learned about that watching a video yesterday. Orrin: Isn't that what she's called? Varus: because i called her the divine Blaze: Also because Dragon Age. Igfig: is that the equivalent from some other game Varus: cause i couldnt remember her name Varus: and ive been playing dragon age Igfig: she is the Keeper Orrin: There we go. Orrin: The Keeper, then. Igfig: Jaela Daran, Keeper of the Flame Varus: the divine is the keeper of andrastean Blaze: Yar. Orrin: Yes I know. Igfig: well that just makes this all easier then doesn't it Orrin: I asked you if you were playing Inquisition and you totally ignored me. Varus: oh Varus: i didnt see that Blaze: "That doesn't sound bad to me." Varus: im 90 hours in so Varus: thats a yes Orrin: Damn son. I'm sitting on about 30 so far. Orrin: Been stupid busy. Varus: me too im just procraastinating Varus: ok so we have options Igfig: okay, while you all decide what you want to do next Orrin: I miss school. Igfig: I'm going to go have a pee and a snack Varus: do we extended rest so we are at full health Varus: but we will have less time to prepare Varus: or Varus: do we just go Varus: right now Varus: kinda worn out Orrin: Anyway, "If you're okay with it, I think our best bet is for you to go and talk to her." Varus: blaze with no transformations Varus: im still down on spells Varus: and hope we arent actualy int rouble Blaze: I have transformations again now. Blaze: My short rest restored that. Orrin: I think we probably oughta get in front of her as quickly as possible. Varus: they restored all of them? Varus: shit boy lets go then Orrin: We can rest once we figure out if they're gonna do anything about it. Blaze: Yar, and there is plenty of time in the day so yar. Blaze: So would me getting in line for giving information be a suitably entertaining enough way to show up? Orrin: Walk into Desekane's office in the form of a cat or something. Blaze: Yar, or keep going with the bird motif. Varus: i like the bird idea Varus: thatd be funny though Varus: just sorta be in line Varus: walk in like Varus: hi i have info on the shape shifter Varus: transform into a bird and start flying around and squaking Blaze: Yar, I think I'd rather come in as an animal and unshift then to come in as normal and shift. Blaze: If any wildshape is involved. Blaze: Also I will brb quick. Varus: idk if the clerics would let a bird in to give information on the shape shifter Orrin: You could probably just fly in rq though. Varus: maybe if youre a baby Varus: like orrin Igfig: okay, so what is the plan you are doing Blaze: I don't think baby birds fly all that well. Igfig: oh, blaze is adk Igfig: oh he is not Blaze: I just got back. Igfig: ah Varus: blaze is getting into line to giveinfo on the shape shifter right now Varus: and then transforming intoa bird in the office Varus: also we're getting in line with him Blaze: Nah I'm thinking it'd be more entertaining to fly in through the door and unshift. Varus: what about us Varus: am i teleporting in dramatically Varus: and then orrin runs in through the door panting Blaze: You can still get in line if you want. Varus: like "guys slow down" Igfig: blae do your thing Blaze: I dunno if you guys want to clump yourselves up with me quite yet though. Varus: nah we're goin for it Varus: or varus is Varus: whether orrin agrees or not Varus: bringing arryn with us too Blaze_Falcon: So yar, I fly off to the chapel then and look for the information line. Varus: varus chases after Varus: but varus isnt good at running Varus: so he gets on orrins back and recieves a piggy back ride Orrin: No. Orrin: Orrin shakes Varus off and runs ahead, cackling madly. Igfig: arryn doesn't super want to join you for this, but she'll come if you insist Varus: i should have made a spider man character instead Orrin: Let her stay hidden. Varus: varus hails a taxi Orrin: We may need her on the outside. Varus: and flips orrin off as the taxi goes past him Blaze_Falcon: So am I waiting till you guys get to the front of the line again or nah? Igfig: The lineup is still easy to find, Blaze Varus: wait for us Igfig: it's markedly shorter now Varus: so we can barge in Varus: and make a team pose Varus: like power ranger Varus: s Igfig: like problem sleuths Blaze_Falcon: Cause shit just got real. Varus: exactly Igfig: okay, so the others get there too Blaze_Falcon: Alright, so I wait for them to get to the front of the line, and I'll fly in through the door when the person who went in ahead of them leaves, yar. Igfig: and you're back in line Varus: hopefullythe clerics dont recognize us Igfig: 1d20 Wis Fortuna: Igfig, Wis: [12] = 12 Igfig: looks at you oddly for a moment... is Varus still dressed like a servant? Varus: no Varus: im back in my normal clothes Varus: varus cant be expected to dress so messy twice in oen day Igfig: he guesses there are plenty of elves and dwarves who hang out together, it's not that unusual to see another pair Varus: not according to lord of the rings Varus: but fuck stereotypes Varus: bffs Igfig: (elves and dwarves don't have a problem with each other in this setting at all) Igfig: (they have no history of conflict at all I think) Varus: so anyways Varus: do we get in Varus: and blaze just hitches a ride and fllies in and spreads feathers everywhere its a fuckin mess and so rude Igfig: (well I mean Valenar elves will fight anybody, but not dwarves in particular) Igfig: yeah, sure Igfig: the door opens Igfig: the previous person comes out Blaze_Falcon: Hey, my feathers are properly preened. Blaze_Falcon dive. Varus: me and orrin sprint in after him Varus: he flies through the door unmorphing as he does Varus: me and orrin dive in afterwards Varus: and Varus: 1d20 to STRIKE AN AWESOME POSE Fortuna: Varus, to STRIKE AN AWESOME POSE: [4] = 4 Varus: AW FUCK Igfig: you burst into the antechamber before the interview room Blaze_Falcon: Varus poses like Pickle Inspector. Igfig: the acolyte is all "hey what are you doing" Orrin: 1d20+7 pose Fortuna: Orrin, pose: [1] = 8 Blaze_Falcon: 1d20 Fortuna: Blaze_Falcon, 1d20: [8] = 8 Orrin: Ouch. Varus: HAH Varus: no i mean we burst into the interview room Varus: orrin flops on the ground like a fish Igfig: YASS Igfig: you all burst into the interview room Igfig: orrin trips Igfig: the rest of you kind of stumble over him Igfig: I mean, it's probably a Cha check, not a flat d20 roll Orrin: "We found the bird." Igfig: but I don't think that helps much Blaze_Falcon: And I spit out a feather or something. Blaze_Falcon: Oh, I get a 10 total then. Varus: we all land in a pile on top of each other Varus: i get a 6 Varus: doesnt matter tho Blaze_Falcon: I succeed on an easy roll at least. Varus: striking a cool pose is not easy Orrin: Takes years of practice. Igfig: Mother Desekane looks up at you all Igfig: startles for a moment seeing Blaze shift, and then her eyes narrow as she recognizes the other two Varus: "hey" Igfig: But she quickly regains composure Varus: we are still in a pile Igfig: "You must be the shapechanger in question, then?" she says, standing up Blaze_Falcon: "Yes I am." Igfig: "And these two are... chasing you?" Varus: sure yeah definitely Varus: " " Orrin: "After a fashion." Igfig: "The Keeper is eager to speak with you. You should come with me." Igfig: "Thank you for your help, Mr. Torrin." Varus: "do we get another reward for bringing him in" Blaze: "Alright then." Blaze: (You didn't speak in elven) Orrin: We uh... probably ought to go with him. Igfig: she sighs Blaze: (I suppose we are dropping all pretenses though, yar. Orrin: "She'll probably want to talk to us, as well." Igfig: "Is that so? I notice your servant has made great strides in his language studies." Orrin: "Quick learners, elves." Blaze: Varus: "Orrin is a great teacher" Igfig: "All right. All of you, come with me then. Kaith, this is the one we're looking for; you can turn the others away." Igfig: (that last at the acolyte) Blaze: "As you wish." Igfig: she leads you out of the room, into hallways, down collonades, through high naves Orrin: Orrin dusts himself off impressively. Orrin: 1d20 dust Fortuna: Orrin, dust: [1] = 1 Orrin: God damn. Varus: god DAMN orrin Igfig: the dust is glued on Varus: you're fuckin filthy Igfig: permanently Igfig: bards will sing in years gone by the tales of Orrin the Dusty Orrin: I've been called worse Blaze: Turns out it isn't dust, it is a dust elemental fused with your physical form. Igfig: no you're fine they keep it pretty clean in here Igfig: Eventually you reach a smallish gate flanked by two paladins Igfig: "You'll have to leave your weapons with them before meeting with the Keeper. Wands too, as well as any foreign holy symbols." Varus: >:O!! Varus: wow fuck that smiley Orrin: So uh... am I meeting her naked? Varus: i guess i cant cast invisiblity on my wands suddenly huh Varus: orrin IS wearing his armor Blaze: I hand over my staff. Orrin: "I guess I'd have some dirty clothes on underneath. Varus: i forlornly hand over my gun wands Orrin: "Don't suppose I have time to change." Varus: really nervously since those could revolutionize war and cause thousands of death Varus: how about Varus: i unplug the wands Igfig: uh you are expected to wear your clothes, if you don't have anything decent under your armour I guess you can wear that Igfig: you cannot cast invisibility on your wands, no Igfig: only on people, pretty sure Varus: stuff the holsters into my pockets Varus: and hand over the wands Orrin: I mean I suppose I have my noble clothes in my bag, if they'll let me change before we go in. Igfig: "There is time to change, if you have clothing." Orrin: Orrin does so. Igfig: aright Igfig: you do so, and they let you in Varus: that takes 3 minutes to take off i think? Igfig: something like that Orrin: Orrin wears magical breakaway armor. Orrin: Like the stripper version of plate mail. Igfig: man, I was expecting you all to get here a lot faster Varus: we do roundabout ways Blaze: We are good at slowing things down. Igfig: yep Varus: and being terrible Varus: just in general Igfig: my RP will be less up to snuff here Varus: this may actually be a good time to end Varus: its still early Igfig: well, I'd want to maybe let you have your talk with Jaela today, so we can get to more action stuff next time Varus: ok then Varus: lets do eit Orrin: I'm cool either way. Blaze: Yarp yar. Igfig: wanted to do everything that happens before Chydris arrives today, or during the coming week Orrin: I've had significantly more fun with the non-combat aspects of this campaign to this point, excepting the rad train fight. Varus: ok Varus: ok Igfig: so that when Ben's back we can all be here at the same time Orrin: This character is super fun. Varus: i agree with orrin Varus: we have a party relaly good at avoiding fights Varus: and we've made use of it Orrin: Although escaping the nightclub was pretty fun, as well. Orrin: When I made that guy poop in his pants. Varus: then when we DO get into a fight its after already having pushed stuff in our favour Blaze: Yar. Igfig: partly that's because my battles haven't been great this campaign Varus: like dumping some guys off a boat Orrin: There was the whole "dogs individually statted to kill the whole party" fiasco. Igfig: it's a bit harder to set up a complicated setpiece than in 4e, and yeah I've been learning about the correct balance as I go Varus: or maybe we just rock so much you are taken by surprise when we need to fight Orrin: Other than the near-murder, I'd say it's gone swimmingly. I like that 5e is much better equipped to let us do the kind of things we're doing. Igfig: the plan had been to stat the dogs so that you fight the two of them at once without other enemies around Orrin: You could never have gone three sessions without drawing a weapon and still have fun in 4e. Igfig: I screwed up the numbers big Blaze: Well, you might have been able to, but yar. Orrin: Even that worked out in our favor once we just threw everybody out the window. That was a pretty great escape. Igfig: aye Igfig: I don't think you've had and won a fair fight since the train though Orrin: We had the shadow demons. Orrin: Although I did just incinerate them. Varus: yeah we beat them Igfig: oh, right Varus: and that involved me launching boxes at them Igfig: Frosty did beat that juggernaut last time, too Blaze: Yarp. Igfig: Annnyway Igfig: Passing through the gate, you find yourself in a very different section of the Great Cathedral Varus: is it gay Varus: is it the gay part of the cathedral Orrin: Nothing but cages and leather. Orrin: House music is playing in the background. Igfig: instead of grand gothic arches and everything, it's quiet and contemplative, all single-story buildings connected by hallways amongst serene gardens Igfig: very quiet. Nobody about. Varus: a man with a ballgag comes up and motions us to follow him Orrin: Hello, I am looking for the magic. Igfig: you're going to meet an eleven year old girl, do you really want to be taking the jokes in this direction Orrin: Gotta get it out of our systems before we see her. Varus: its an important moment Igfig: aright Igfig: I'm trying to decide if it would be too much to have you be offered slippers instead of shoes Igfig: yeah, probably Orrin: Too late, I want the slippers. Varus: im putting that last bit onto dnd ooc Varus: yup Varus: shouldnta offered it to us Blaze: Slippers are awesome. Igfig: I don't know why I want to point this out, but I have this very strong image of all the floors being big slabs of slate Orrin: I like it. The kind of casual excess characteristic of Catholicism. Blaze: It gives firm grounding and weight to the place that the quiet and contemplative arches and gardens don't? Igfig: mayhap Varus: and submitted Varus: ok so we put on the slippers Varus: and are lead through sourrieneinrnrnene however that word is spelt land Varus: i was trying to make a pun on marine but then discovered i could not spell serine??? surrinee????EE?E?E??who cares Blaze: Serene I think. Varus: yes that is it Varus: igfig Igfig: Jaela walks them barefoot, and though she moves quietly and with a sense of purpose, there's a certain lightness to her step. You sense that, if it weren't for the constant solemnity of her role and duties, she might want to be skipping instead. Varus: lets see if we can convince her to skip everywhere instead Varus: 1d20+5 persuade why not skip, that's way funner than just walking along barefoot Fortuna: Varus, persuade why not skip, that's way funner than just walking along barefoot: [8] = 13 Varus: aw Igfig: behind her comes the great horned six-legged beast Varus: THAT THING Igfig: and some distance behind that, High Cardinal Krozen. Blaze gives a polite wave. Igfig: should I post the pictures again for reference? Varus: yes Varus: how anime should she be Blaze: Did you have a picture for Krozen? Varus: very important Igfig: there is one, yes, which I will find Igfig: http://1d4chan.org/images/c/c6/Jaela_screencap.jpg Blaze: 403 forbidden. Varus: thats the one that doesnt work for me Igfig: oh, must not allow hotlinking Igfig: http://gyazo.com/6ecd889bec0be0739baacf56d04e210e Varus: igfig this cant be right Igfig: or http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131025155157/eberron/images/c/cf/Jaela.jpg Varus: she is BLACK Varus: everyone knows that black people cannot have a position of power Igfig: that last one is weird though Varus: thats crazy talk Varus: in this fictional world Igfig: https://z4.enha.kr/http://pds20.egloos.com/pds/201010/17/19/c0035619_4cba0e0e7bbae.jpg Varus: of magic and gods and demons Varus: a black person cannot be in a position of power Varus: thats just unrealistic Varus: GOD THAT THING Varus: i want to find out what that monster is Igfig: high fantasy! Blaze: Is terrifying, yar. Varus: varus is more interested in the monster Varus: he wants to study it Blaze: Well maybe you already know something about it. Igfig: and this appears to be the only picture of Krozen Igfig: http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080122182349/eberron/images/5/52/High_Cardinal_Krozen_image.jpg Varus: maybe i recognize something aobut it? Varus: ok Varus: so that guy looks like mad eye moody Blaze: Wow that guy is ridiculously evil/shady looking. Varus: yeah Igfig: yeah, I wanted something a bit less shady Varus: can i roll an int for the monster recogniztion Igfig: I'm sure I saw a less shady picture somewhere Blaze: I can understand why you'd want a different picture. Igfig: go for it Varus: 1d20+3 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+3: [11] = 14 Igfig: And you can try Nature or Arcana on top of that too Igfig: so it's a 17 Varus: alright ill go witha rcana Varus: since im proficient in that Igfig: yeah Igfig: and... you don't know what it is Varus: tha Varus: t Igfig: it's not a natural monster Varus: unnerves varus Igfig: probably something magebred? Varus: he isnt used to knowing absolutely nothing about something Igfig: Anyway Igfig: Jaela gives you all a small smile—everything she does is small, it seems. Igfig: "Hi there... Are you the falcon that talked to me earlier?" Igfig: (@varus) Igfig: er Igfig: not varus Igfig: Blaze Igfig: that was my brainfart, not Jaela's Blaze: "Yes, my name is Blaze. It's a lot easier to talk without a beak." Varus: YEAH IM TOTALLY A BIRD Varus: varus chirps at blaze Blaze: Sheesh, do you kiss your mother with that mouth? Such profanity, in front of a keeper no less. Blaze: Or, The Keeper. Igfig: She nods once, seriously. "Okay. We need to talk more about what you told me. Come to the drawing room. Over here." Orrin: I hope it's a room full of her adorable drawings. Varus: yeah Varus: like lots of crayons Varus: and finger painting Blaze: "May my companions come with? They are as informed on this as I am." Igfig: "Yes." She nods again very deliberately. "Yes they can come." Blaze: And so we go then. Varus: woopy Igfig: Cardinal Krozen doesn't say anything yet, but he's giving you the stink eye Blaze repeats his polite wave from earlier. Varus: thats the only eye he has Igfig: or maybe not the stink eye so much as he's looking you all over extremely carefully Varus: hohohoho Varus: 1d2 fortuna no going afk during SUCH AN IMPORTANT MOMENT Fortuna: Varus, fortuna no going afk during SUCH AN IMPORTANT MOMENT: [1] = 1 Varus: oh no fortuna died Igfig: suspicious of your every move and intention Igfig: he's basically making perception and insight checks every round Varus: hardcore Orrin: Prick. Varus: especialy cause you can only do one skill check a round Igfig: he's alternating Igfig: Mother Desekane bows and takes her leave Orrin: We could just let them do the truth circle thing again. Blaze: I don't think Blaze would enjoy that. Orrin: Any one of us can stand in it. Orrin: We're trying to help here. Blaze: Yar I know, but untamed, unbound. Orrin: I'll stand in it, then. Igfig: Jaela leads you to a room that is unfortunately not filled with adorable drawings, but rather very old, expensive, and ornate (also, not very comfortable) furniture Blaze: That's if they do it, yar. Orrin: It seems way easier than dealing with this douche every round. Orrin: Orrin sits on the ground. Varus: aw Igfig: this is probably the friendliest room she has available Varus: varus frowns Varus: and sits on orrins lap Igfig: she goes and sits in a big armchair, and oh geez her feet actually don't quite reach the ground Orrin: Orrin abruptly stands up, sending Varus tumbling to the ground, and laughs. Varus: youre like half my size Igfig: please stop me if I'm being too precious Blaze: There is no such thing. Varus: you standing up would just kind of nudge me up Orrin: Does she dangle them in a way that is just too cute? Igfig: she does indeed Orrin: Awwww. Orrin: "Tell you what, Cardinal. If it makes it easier for you, get another one of those truth circles going. we're here to help, you don't have to look at us like that." Igfig: but the thing to remember, the thing I'm trying to communicate with all this, is that while she is an adorable little kid, she also has hella weight to carry Blaze: Yar, hence the uncomfortable chairs. Igfig: and you are never not aware that this girl is this country's head of state, the head of its church, and probably the single most revered person in all of Khorvaire Igfig: aye Igfig: the beast puts its head in her lap, she pets it once, and then it lifts its head and stands beside and a little behind her chair with an impassive menace Igfig: Krozen stays standing Blaze: I suppose I sit on the floor too since Orrin and Varus did. Igfig: very nice. Symbolic or some such. Varus: she is looking down at us Varus: give sher a sense of power Varus: or of us mocking her Orrin: I just thought the couch looked shitty. Blaze: Probably not the latter. Igfig: "So." Jaela says. "The Lord of Blades." Varus: also the couch is gross Varus: "Yup" Orrin: I guess Krozen didn't like my truth circle idea. Varus: "that evil warforged that wants to kill all the fleshies" Orrin: "He is not a very nice guy." Varus: "he's really not" Varus: "can you believe this guy stabbed me" Varus: "unbelievable Orrin: "He stabbed me. Several times. It was tremendously rude." Igfig: maybe Krozen has something else going on? He's a fairly high-level clric Varus: "i mean yeah he stabbed you but you have armor he stabbed ME and it wasn't fun" Igfig: or maybe Jaela is high enough level that she doesn't need a zone of truth to know if you're lying Blaze: "His not hounds were unpleasant as well." Orrin: "Anyway, he has a giant floating fortress and an army of warforged who want to butcher everyone and turn their souls into some kind of warforged God." Orrin: I mean that's fine, he just didn't even snort at me dismissively. Orrin: "It doesn't move too fast, but it's going to be here in a few days, at most." Igfig: "That's terrible." Igfig: "How do you know this?" Igfig: hmm, that line doesn't read like something she'd say Varus: "well like we said we got stabbed by him so like I guess we just saw it with our own eyes?" Orrin: "We saw it for ourselves. We were contacted by a warforged named Chain, part of this cult that wants to build their God. He told us about the plan, and when we investigated for ourselves we barely escaped with our lives." Igfig: She watches you for a moment, then nods. "Okay." Igfig: "And they killed Kaius too?" Blaze: "Chain is not in on the kill all the humanoids thing though." Varus: "not personally but yes he arranged the assassination" Orrin: "He didn't do it personally, but he was at the very least involved. And he is working with someone called Gorgan. Someone we think might have the upper hand in their relationship and be working behind the scenes." Varus: i cant believe you remembered that name Varus: that was like 2 months ago Orrin: That's how I do. Blaze: Gorgan was the giant warforged titan I thought? Varus: gorgan was the name he muttered or something Orrin: Ohhh yeah. We never did find out who the third party was. Varus: what we suspect is a demon lord Varus: because of how we identified the demons that attacekd us Igfig: "Right. Was there anything about..." She looks to Krozen, who shakes his head slowly, but she goes on anyway. "...rakshasas?" Varus: wait Varus: is taht what its actually called Varus: cause i actually know who that is Blaze: I know what those are but I don't think Blaze would have any idea what a rakshasa is. Varus: yeah Varus: well Orrin: Not that I know about, but I missed a couple sessions so that'd be a question for you two. Igfig: Can make a History or Arcana check to know more about rakshasas Varus: nah varus wouldnt Varus: hes a tech magic dude Varus: im gunna pee super quick Blaze: "I... I've never heard of a rakshasa before." Orrin: 1d20 Fortuna: Orrin, 1d20: [11] = 11 Igfig: apparently Orrin hasn't either. Igfig: oh, actually you could use Religion too Orrin: Sadly, still a +0 Varus: may as well throw that history check as well Varus: 1d20+3 Fortuna: Varus, 1d20+3: [15] = 18 Igfig: oh Varus: oh actually im proficient in history Varus: so +6 Varus: WHENEVER FORTUNA GETS AROUDN TO IT Varus: 21 Igfig: okay yeah, you know a bit about rakshasas Igfig: just a bit Orrin: "Not that I can remember, but he did let slip that there's another party involved; one that he claimed to control. Personally, it didn't seem like he was in control to me." Varus: what specifically do i know Varus: besides that that persona CARRIED ME through the midgame in persona 3 Igfig: before the current age, before the age of monsters, before the age of giants, was the age of demons Igfig: you know what, let me jsut paste directly from the book Igfig: actually this might not be appropriate for history Igfig: umm Blaze: Crib notes? Igfig: screw it, I'm just going to have Jaela tell you the stuff that's in the book Igfig: DC 15: In ancient times, mighty fiends ruled the land. These were the children of the dark dragon Khyber. The universe could not stand to see such evil roaming free, and the Silver Flame took form to bind this terrible darkness in the depths of the world. Igfig: While the greatest fiends were trapped by the Silver Flame, their weaker servants were able to slip through the bonds, like small fish slipping through nets made to catch krakens. These treacherous fiends remain in the world, and the templars of the Silver Flame must be ever vigilant to prevent these demons from freeing their bound masters. Some of the fiends Igfig: have joined together in an alliance called the Lords of Dust, a name that refers to the ancient powers they have lost. Igfig: The most common order of fiend among these Lords of Dust is the rakshasa. A rakshasa is a clever shapeshifting demon that can assume any humanoid form and possesses considerable magic powers of its own. Igfig: Rakshasas are resistant to most magic, and neither sword nor mace can harm them—only a spear or arrow blessed by the forces of good can penetrate such a demon's hide. Igfig: I would have liked to be able to go through all of that IC, but we don't have time for a long infodump Varus: so rakshasas arent even the biggest bad Varus: but if theya re presumably the evil behidn the lord of blades Varus: that aint even jack shit Varus: this is like the lowest hierarchy and its causen a whole mess of trouble Igfig: "I don't even know if they're behind this. All I know is, I've been casting divinations all day since you spoke to me on the balcony," Igfig: "and the responses aren't making any sense." Igfig: "Which means whatever's happening right now might be really important in the Draconic Prophecy." Orrin: She's not the first person to say that to us, right? Igfig: "And that's what rakshasas do. They twist the Prophecy to their own ends." Varus: "Okay but how about instead of relying on fate to sort things out, we do shi-- stuff and prevent the destruction of the fleshies" Igfig: Well Blaze: "The Lord of Blades did mention that the very knowledge would break the wyrm asunder..." Blaze: "When we tried to get him to talk." Varus: im like Varus: 90% sure that was the_ghost_of_frosty joined #pwot_dnd. Varus: a potion maker reference Varus: btu if it was the reference AND something important Igfig: "That's... a bad sign." the_ghost_of_frosty: whatup nerdbutts Varus: im going to have to beat up igfig for being a nerd Orrin: Well, I guess Frosty did die. Igfig: hi frosty Igfig: "Do you know what the Prophecy even is, though?" Blaze: He also also said and we would be as dust right afterwards, but I don't know if Blaze would recall that phrase. Blaze: I went back to the logs to double check that bit. Varus: "I care not about any prophecy, I'll do what I do and if things happen I'll adjust to them" Orrin: "No more than the next man. Never seemed all that important for a guy like me. Never imagined I'd be sitting here talking to the Keeper of the Silver Flame about the end of the world, either." Varus: varus actually doesnt believe in the prophecy at all Igfig: "The Draconic Prophecy isn't like any other prophecy. Partly because it's written on the stones and the skies, on the flesh of the dragonmarked the_ghost_of_frosty quit. Igfig: but also because it doesn't say what's /going/ to happen /for sure/." Varus: "pretty crappy prophecy Igfig: "It's about how small things can make big changes. Igfig: "how having the right person in the right place under the right stars with the right spoon can turn the world upside down" Varus: the right spoon Varus: sure ok Varus: "great cool lets be that person with the spoon and do some stuff then" Igfig: "It doesn't have to be a spoon, that was just an example." Varus: "We can discuss what's going on behind the scenes later right now the lord of blades is coming that is a physical thign that is on it's way to kill us all RIGHT THIS SECOND" Orrin: Let's not antagonize the little girl with the giant monster we need very much to believe we want to help her. Varus: "This city needs to become a fortress" Igfig: "But it's a lot of 'if this, then that' type things." Igfig: "And everybody cares a lot about which way the cards fall Igfig: "So they stack the deck. Igfig: "And if you're part of this, you're one of the cards." Orrin: Orrin pulls a pack of cards from his pocket and absentmindedly shuffles them. Varus: "Orrin are you fucking serious" Orrin: "Well, if it's a card cheat you're looking for..." Varus: "this had better be symbolic and a precursor to a plan orrin" Orrin: "With the Keeper's permission." Igfig: "Of course." Igfig: er Igfig: *"Sure." Orrin: "We have two advantages over the Lord of Blades. We three were not supposed to be sitting in front of you now, and none of us were supposed to know about this mysterious third party. Probably your rakshasa, if my guesses are right." Orrin: "He has more than enough power to destroy this city with his mobile fortress, but against a conventional siege we stand a much better chance." Varus: "Also I know how to make doomsday devices like i feel that is a thing you guys often forget." Orrin: "I say we disable his floating fortress and force him to assault a prepared, well-defended Flamekeep with just his armies. That should draw out the power behind him and give us the chance to end the threat entirely." Igfig: you know what Varus, you should seriously have taken "Builder of Doomsday Devices" as an aspect, that's a fantastic aspect Orrin: Varus is just a young, magical Professor Farnsworth. Varus: man that is Varus: we really dropped the ball on aspects Varus: thats a good comparison orrin Orrin: I like mine just fine. Varus: yours are a little busted Varus: a story worth telling especially Orrin: I've reined it in on that one, I haven't used it in weeks. Orrin: Not in combat, anyway. Orrin: But that's neither her nor there. Orrin: Here, even. Igfig: "I did already ask the Knights to begin preparations for an attack. But I like your idea even better. You three are pirates, right? Do you have a ship?" Varus: "YEAH SEE ABOUT THAT" Blaze: "I'm afraid our ship has disappeared on us." Orrin: "Our ship is... unfortunately indisposed at the moment." Varus: "We should, but god knows where our elemental ran off to" Igfig: insight check to back up that guess she just made, btw: Igfig: 1d20+12 insight Fortuna: Igfig, insight: [20] = 32 Varus: welp Orrin: Oshit. Igfig: hah Blaze: Yeah she knows us. Igfig: yeah, she's good at recognizing pirates Varus: she knows our entire life story Igfig: she thinks pirates are cool Blaze: She might know more about us then we do now. Orrin: "Our arrangement with the elemental that powers our ship is unorthodox, to say the least. He's run off, I believe to help us in some way only he knows of." Varus: i bet she imagines stories of her going off on grand pirate adventures Varus: "I bet he's just betraying us" Blaze: "I hope he's okay." Varus: I pull out a bag of silver Igfig: "That's a problem. Do you want me to find him?" Varus: "Orrin, if he's betraying us, you win the bag of silver we got" Orrin: "But yes, if you have a ship for us to use, you couldn't find a better crew to get on board the fortress." Varus: "If he's helping us I win it" Varus: "Wait no I mean reversed" Orrin: "That makes much more sense. You're on. Keeper, if it's not too much trouble." Igfig: wait, shit, maybe there isn't a long-range divine divination spell that can find creatures Blaze: Um. Varus: making petty bets about a potential end of the world in front of the leader of a religion Orrin: She IS the Keeper of the Silver Flame, you could probably DM fiat it. Orrin: It's what Orrin would do. Orrin: He shuffled a pack of cards to make a pun. Igfig: oh wait Igfig: duh Igfig: I can scry Orrin: I hope we just see a blinding ball of nuclear hellfire. Igfig: that's what she was doing when you had to make that will save earlier, Blaze Blaze: Ta das. Orrin: And then LoB screaming "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off agaaaaain." Igfig: let's see. How long has it been? Igfig: It's not even that late in the evening, is it? Orrin: Maybe a couple hours. Not super long. Varus: oh yeah Varus: we never saw the end of bens thing Varus: he was about to erupt Varus: or something Varus: then ig ened it Varus: finally Varus: ive been wondering what happened with that Blaze: I rested for an hour, it took at least an hour or two for them to check out the investigation thing. Igfig: Oh yeah, Frosty hasn't even reached the fortress yet Blaze: And probaly took an hour to get here maybe. Varus: oh yeah Varus: daANG Varus: so lets say Varus: 4 ish hours? Igfig: he arrives at 4 AM Blaze: 3 or 4. Igfig: so she scries him, but all she sees is the ship travelling SE Igfig: across the mournland Varus: well we know where the ship is Orrin: Yeah I can't imagine it's more than 5 at this point, and even that would be stretching it. Varus: so we know Igfig: Then, just for good measure, she tries to scry on the Lord of Blades too Igfig: but it's blocked Varus: that seems Varus: like a stretch Varus: like what do you need to scry Blaze: (She's a much higher level then we are) Varus: name, a look of the person maybe?? Varus: a general location? Orrin: She's pretty magic. Varus: shrug Igfig: you need 10 minutes, a mirror without flaw, and preferably some kind of conection Igfig: do you have anything that belonged to the LoB? Varus: err Varus: hm Varus: well Varus: she could scry the ship Varus: since we still have the mask that we took for orrins cosplay Varus: costuem Varus: disgusie Varus: UFCK Blaze: The connection just improves the chance of having them fail the will save, yar. Igfig: yeah Orrin: If she can dig some bits of metal out of our wounds, maybe. Igfig: well I'll tell you now that it fails anyway Varus: can she scry the ship Igfig: but is there anyone else you'd want to scry on? Orrin: Chain maybe. Blaze: Yar, it'd be nice to see how Chain is doing. Varus: yar Igfig: all right Blaze: Hopefully there wasn't any come-uppance after our visit. Varus: also arryn just so we can laugh shes probably doing something goofy rn i bet Varus: i bet shes stuffing her face Igfig: the scrying goes through easily, evidently he intentionally failed his Will save Varus: can you sense a scry? Blaze: Potentially. Igfig: oh wait, only if they know you're casting the spell Varus: like a nudge on your mind Blaze: Like I probably had to realize something was happening for my will save to happen. Igfig: so then probably he will have to make a save Blaze: right, so chain has to roll then, yar. Blaze: Do we have any of Chain's stuff? Igfig: yeah, so let's look at the modifiers Igfig: Or if you can draw an accurate picture of him, that also helps Igfig: or if you had part of hi body Blaze: Secondhand gives his roll a +5, and he's a cleric so his wisdom is pretty decent already. Orrin: 1d20+7 Fortuna: Orrin, 1d20+7: [11] = 18 Orrin: I'm calling that Performance. Orrin: I draw a picture of Chain. Igfig: yeah, that's fair Igfig: that's a good picture Varus: and we know the general locatin Igfig: okay, so he has +3 to his save. Orrin: I imagine the mask is in my bag back with the guards. Igfig: well, the mask didn't really belong to him, did it? It was just trash Varus: yar Orrin: True. Igfig: Chain's Wis save is +6, and then there's +3 on top of that from the modifiers Varus: god dammit chain Igfig: 1d20+6+3 Wis save Fortuna: Igfig, Wis save: [16] = 25 Varus: GOD DAMMIT CHAIN Varus: COME ON Igfig: unfortunately she cannot get a lock on him Igfig: which is too bad, I would have liked to be able to show you Orrin: Varus, could you do a Sending to him? Orrin: And tell him it's us? Blaze: Oh right. Varus: hrmm Varus: message Varus: doesnt have that long of range Igfig: do you have Sending? I don't think you do Varus: if i fate point it maybe?? its a cantrip and a pretty simple spell Varus: oh Varus: sending Varus: no i only have message Orrin: Ah. Orrin: Well, there goes that idea. Igfig: nah, fate point doesn't let you jump up three spell levels Varus: didnt realize sending was a spell Varus: oh well Varus: WAIT Igfig: "Oh well, we can try again tomorrow." Varus: THERE IS SOMETHING Igfig: ? Blaze: ? Varus: he has the scroll i left for him that explained what the lord of blades was doing Varus: can it work like that? Varus: if he has something of ours Orrin: I doubt it'd be enough to beat a 26 anyway. Igfig: That is a great idea Orrin: Unless Ig makes him roll again. Igfig: but unfortunately no it doesn't work like that Varus: dangit Varus: can she scry the scroll Igfig: He could use it to scry you though Varus: gar Igfig: but he hasn't so far Varus: curse you chain Blaze: Scry can work for locations you have been at, I don't think it would work for scrying on an item like that though. Varus: how did you telepathy us way back when Varus: nothin doin then Varus: guess we gotta try something else Orrin: Well, he CAN scry if he wants. He just didn't want to be scryed. Varus: "point of all this, is that we dont have our boat" Varus: "also we arent the best infiltration team Orrin: "We got into the guy's throne room, I think we did alright." Varus: "that was with chain Igfig: "Well now that I think about it, flying down on the fortress in an airship would probably be a really bad idea and would just get you killed." Orrin: "We even got out in one piece, unless you count Frosty burning my clock." Varus: "and that was a set meeting" Orrin: cloak* Orrin: "I agree, we should wait below and approach from beneath." Varus: i hope in 12 hours the fortress is close enough that in the vast distance we see an unimaginably huge fire explosion Orrin: "I also have to imagine whatever keeps the fortress afloat is near the bottom." Igfig: "That sounds like a better idea." Varus: "just kinda hang out around the trees and hop on?" Varus: "Sure we can try that Igfig: trees? It's the Mournland Igfig: In any case Igfig: Despite the lack of a cliffhanger Blaze: It is on its way out of the mournland, but yar. Igfig: this might be a good place to stop Varus: wait Varus: we need to end with a cool phrase Blaze: "cool phrase." Varus: "So... we travel out there... intercept it... and destroy the ship. We have our plan, let's go." Orrin: "He's going to have to rename the mobile fortress. Shame." Igfig: the word has gotten through, the defenses are being raised, you're all making plans really hard Igfig: Not bad' Varus: ok so quick question Igfig: sure Varus: you know how in legend of zelda you shoot arrows through fire to light torches as puzzles Igfig: yes Varus: what if you did that with the silver flame Varus: just lit shit up firing arrows through the silver flaem Igfig: the arrow would be disintegrated by the divine energy Varus: oh Orrin: Yeah I think it'd just roast 'em. Varus: well alright then Varus: problem solved Igfig: and Jaela would ask you to please stop. Varus: that too Orrin: And who could say no to that widdle face? Varus: nEXT TIME ON EBERRON Varus: INFILTRATION Varus: WAIT Varus: wait Varus: if we're gunna be on the boat Varus: then we might Varus: accidentally Varus: be on during ben's rampage Orrin: I really hope we're not on the boat when Frosty explodes. Orrin: Even better, he'll cover for us. Orrin: And I'll win the silver Orrin: .Which, by the way, why do YOU have it? Blaze: Could be fun actually, yar, more chaos involved. Varus: because you didnt say you grabbed it Igfig: all right. Basic plans are in place. Pretty much any mundane equipment you could need will be yours, plus potentially some cheap magic stuff like potions Varus: also itd be neat because i love stuff like that Orrin: Ig said he handed it to me! And yeah it would be rad. Varus: he said he handed to to YOU Varus: not ORRIN Varus: you being plural Varus: so varus took it Orrin: As long as we're not incinerated. I have a hard rule on not being incinerated. Orrin: I was the master! Orrin: You were just the jabbering elf-slave. Orrin: Fine, I'll win it back like a gentleman. Varus: thats OFFENSIVE Orrin: I'll have to think of a quip. Varus: good Igfig: yeah, no slaves in eberron dude Orrin: It's not offensive if it's the bit. Blaze: Hold on, I think I have good music to end with. Orrin: Oh really? Igfig: well, maybe in darguun, I'm not sure Orrin: Well, servant then. Blaze: http://labs.echonest.com/Uploader/index.html?trid=TRODHVN14715A68059 Varus: little bit late Blaze: Yar I know. Varus: so think about the kind of equipment we're gunna loot from this city before we head out Blaze: It came up just now in my randomized playlist of most of the music I have, yar. Igfig: anyway, with that I guess goodnight! Figure out a plan of attack! Also if you have any ideas for the defense of the city itself Orrin: This sounds more like music for when we're gearing up. Igfig: Good night Fortuna Fortuna: Good night. Varus quit.