[ussura] PerrySimm says, "Log on."
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "are we done XPing?"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "or can i redeem too?"
[ussura] npc2 says (to R), "Sure, go for it."
GM says, "So! When we had last left our intrepid adventurers, they had made it past a door locked with three handprints, and found themselves faced with several dead bodies, and several live whirring creatures with wings and stingers."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i have 24 XP"
GM says, "In general, you are on your way to try to wake a drachen before anyone else does it first. The snow maiden who is supposed to help (she knows the ritual you'll need to do) was captured by the bad guys."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "so upping jack to 2, catch to 3, bring to 3, and throw knife to 4"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "not bad"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "that should add up to 24, if it's 2*new-level"
[ussura] GM says, "Yup."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "if we are fighting lots of people, might as well as improve my combat-related skills"
[ussura] GM says, "Heh."
[ussura] Era says, "sweet"
[ussura] GM asks, "Everyone set?"
[ussura] Era says, "I'm upping brawn to 3, so now all my stats are 3 or 4."
[ussura] GM says, "Woo"
GM exclaims, "So! Roll initiative!"
[7thsea] Vasili rolls 3 dice: 8 3 7
[ussura] Era says, "resolve is 4. Ussurans are *cough* stubborn."
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 3 dice: 7 10 8
[7thsea] Charles rolls 3 dice: 5 6 3
[ussura] Pyotr says, "reroll 10"
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 1 die: 3
[7thsea] Era rolls 3 dice: 4 10 9
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 4 dice: 7 4 2 3
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 3 dice: 5 5 3
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 1 die: 9
[ussura] ruin_wasps says, "Pfft."
Era says, "reroll 10"
[ussura] Charles says (to Era), "No wonder I've been fitting in so well here."
[7thsea] Era rolls 1 die: 9
Era says, "argh"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "combat reflexes should really just make you roll 4k3 instead of 3"
Era says, "but then it adds them up"
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, "except that picks the high dice"
[ussura] Era says, "so maybe just roll 4, and keep the three best"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "well ok, we'd have to tweak it a bit"
[ussura] GM asks, "Raelynn?"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "but that idea, rather than making you reroll and maybe get somethign worse"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, that makes more sense."
[ussura] GM says, "We can do it that way next time."
[ussura] GM says, "If we remember."
Era says, "sure, that would be great."
Raelynn arrives, looking for booty.
[Crows-Nest] Charles asks, "And let the player decide which three are 'best'?"
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 2 dice: 4 1
[ussura] Era says, "yeah, depending on the situation. sounds good."
[ussura] GM says, "OK! Everyone except R goes on 3 this time ;-)"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "*You might prefer 1 5 8 over 1 5 6 if those extra two poitns of init total let you get an action before the bad guy with 1 6 8)"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "But first: Raelynn, on 1!"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "yeah, I guess"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "are the wasps attacking?"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Yup!"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "or just buzzing around?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "there are those dead (I expect stung) bodies on the ground, too"
[ussura] GM says, "There are three swarms of them, one heading at you, one heading at Charles, and one heading at Era."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i guess i will "catch" the ones aiming for me then"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "hunh, interesting"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(also, how big are they?)"
[ussura] GM says, "They are head-sized-ish."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "But not at all like stirges, nope."
[ussura] Raelynn says (to gm), "i realize this is the end, but i still don't know what trait i roll for magic"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "finesse?"
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "the *swarms* are head-sized? or it is a swarm of head-sized wasps?"
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, ">KICK BUG"
[Crows-Nest] Charles srd srd srd
[ussura] Vasili says, "usually Resolve for magic"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, each bug is head-sized; there are a handful in each group."
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "we ran into stirges in dcc"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "I think that was the one where we colorsprayed Q"
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 6k3: 6 10+5 3 5 5 7 | 28
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Yes indeed."
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "so I'm pretty sure they have a quinoa allergy"
[ussura] Sebastien exclaims, "nice!"
Raelynn sees the swarm headed her way and ducks, while pointing above her head to try to open a hole
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "In fact, I was just trying to think of any sorcery we knew that was remotely like a color spray."
[ussura] GM says, "That's a hit! Go ahead and rp getting one."
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
(From Raelynn) As Raelynn ducks, a hole opens up where she'd been standing. The swarm tries to halt its attack, but the lead one is sucked in by the chilly air. It struggles wildly, to break free of the hole, until SLORP! the hole closes again
GM says, "Phase 2! The wasps attack! There are four each attacking Charles and Era, but only three now on Raelynn."
ruin_wasps dart around the hole and close in on Raelynn's head!
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 7k3: 2 4 5 3 1 7 10+9 | 31
[ussura] Vasili asks, "are those eleven the only ones visible?"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah."
[Crows-Nest] Charles asks, "HP, XP, RP, GP... roleplaying involves a lot of two-letter abbreviations ending with P, doesn't it?"
[ussura] GM asks (of R), "What's your TN, again?"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "20 :("
[ussura] GM says, "(from your Footwork)"
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, "NP"
[Crows-Nest] Charles asks (of Vasili), "To be complete?"
ruin_wasps's stingers stab Raelynn's shoulders, doing 11 flesh wounds of damage.
[ussura] GM exclaims (at R), "Brawn check vs. 11!"
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "i was thinking of upping my footwork too"
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 2k2: 3 5 | 8
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "and i was thinking of upping my brawn"
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "oh well"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Footwork does seem like a good thing to raise, if there's enough XP after this story..."
GM says, "As the poison courses through Raelynn's blood, she feels weaker, and feels a weird buzzing sensation in her head."
Raelynn yelps at the stingers find their mark
[ussura] GM says (to R), "(and your Brawn goes down 1! And something else happens that you don't know yet!)"
GM exclaims, "Meanwhile, more wasps attack Charles and Era!"
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 8k3: 6 1 10+7 10+1 1 4 10+5 3 | 43
Charles says, "Whu-oh."
Raelynn struggles to hold herself upright
[ussura] Pyotr says, "ow"
[ussura] ruin_wasps says, "(for charles)"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "for Rae, and for that roll"
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 8k3: 10+9 7 7 7 10+4 1 3 1 | 40
[ussura] ruin_wasps says, "(for Era)"
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, "yeah, these are really nothing like stirges"
[ussura] GM asks, "What's your TNs?"
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "i will never forgive the GM is the "something else" means i lose one of my magic"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Hee hee"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "It was a fun game, guys. Too bad we won't get a season 3."
[ussura] Charles says (to GM), "20"
[ussura] Pyotr says (to gm), "I didn't know you were ending this campaign with a TPK"
[ussura] Charles says, "(I guess raising Footwork to 4 wouldn't be all that helpful if the tough bad guys generally roll over 30.)"
[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "So, that's 13 flesh wounds for Charles, and 20 for Era. Roll brawn!"
[ussura] GM says, "(only here)"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 3k3: 4 5 10+5 | 24
[ussura] Sebastien says, "pshaw, just wait til we get our shot in"
[7thsea] Era rolls 4k3: 6 1 1 5 | 12
GM says, "The poison courses through Era, weakening her, and creating that buzzing sound in her head, too! But Charles manages to shake it off for now."
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 3!"
Era claps her hands over her ears, to no avail.
[ussura] GM says, "Which is everyone including the wasps. Lemme figure out order..."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "except me"
[ussura] Era says, "and me"
Charles bat the stingers away, too late to keep them from piercing the skin, but just before they start pumping poison.
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "who are you going to believe, him or the dice?"
[ussura] GM says, "Looks like Charles, Vasili, Pyotr, Sebastien all before the Wasps."
[ussura] GM says, "Pyotr and Vasili tied for first, FWIW"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "is era human or cat at this point?"
[ussura] Charles says, "Oh yeah."
[ussura] GM says, "Oh! Hmm, I had forgotten."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "hmm, too bad she doesn't have some kind of tough-skin form"
[ussura] Charles asks, "Does that change her TN or wound checks?"
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "also, i am now envisioning myself as "Valkyrie needs food!""
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "that's why i was asking. if the poison affects cats differently"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says (to Sebastien), "'As a child, I was once visited by an armadillo...'"
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "lac,"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "hee hee"
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says (to Raelynn), "I think you're more Wizard than Valkyrie."
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, as a cat she has -2 Brawn ;-)"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "So the shock of getting stung transformed her back into a person!"
[ussura] Era says, "sure"
[ussura] Charles asks, "What does the layout of the room look like? Any furnishings?"
[ussura] Charles says, "(Aside from the corpses.)"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "if you think she's shocked, just think how the wasps feel"
[ussura] Era says, "I was thinking I was a person, because I'd forgotten last session I'd been a kitty."
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, "(too bad our Healer was killed by a wererat back on level 2)"
[ussura] GM says, "No furnishings; corpses of wolves humans and wasps; some sort of half-open small doors in the walls."
[ussura] GM says, "(Any of the four of you feel free to do something)"
[ussura] Era asks, "any junk on the floor?"
[ussura] Charles asks, "ANd another door leading out?"
[ussura] GM says (to Era), "Bodies."
[ussura] GM says, "Yes, closed."
[ussura] Era asks, "what kind of clothes?"
[ussura] GM says, "The walls are metallic."
[ussura] Charles asks, "Can we estimate the TN to hit them from Rae's attack?"
[ussura] Vasili says, "erk, small doors"
Pyotr roars, and charges at the nearest swarm (which happens to be Raelynn's). With a grunt, he swings his axe at the two nearest wasps.
[ussura] Era says, "I want a cloak."
[ussura] Charles asks, "And are these vaguely squad-like swarms?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "I'm using my free raise to hit two"
Sebastien steps in front of Raelynn and takes a stab at the wasps.
[ussura] GM says (to Era), "They're wearing the uniforms of Aleksi's army."
[ussura] Charles says (to Vasili), "I'm guessing that's where they came from."
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 8k4: 2 7 4 1 10+2 2 10+7 5 | 41
[ussura] Charles says (to Pyotr), "Woo."
[ussura] GM says, "That's a hit on two of them! You get 'em both."
Sebastien exclaims, "uh, not getting Pyotr's way, though!"
Pyotr watches as four wasp-halves fall to the floor. The remaining wasp stops still just as Sebastien comes up behind it.
[ussura] GM says (to Era), "(a normal Ussuran military uniform, with a patch with a red wolf on a black background)"
[ussura] Pyotr also takes a raise on his description, cause maybe the GM will buy it
[ussura] Sebastien says, "hee hee"
Charles says, "Good idea."
[ussura] Charles asks (of GM), "So we don't know anything about TN?"
[ussura] Vasili says (to Charles), "and where more would come from if we take care of these too easily. But I think multiple poisonings won't count as too easily."
Sebastien thrusts at that wasp, and, if he can, keeps on thrusting into a second wasp in another swarm.
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 9k4: 6 6 8 10+5 4 6 8 10+6 8 | 47
[ussura] GM says (to Charles), "Hmm, maybe roll attack/wits to figure it out."
[ussura] Vasili says, "not more than 35, at least"
[ussura] Charles asks (of GM), "Will that use an action?"
[ussura] GM says, "Nope."
[ussura] Pyotr says (to seb), "nice"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 6k3: 8 3 3 3 10+3 7 | 28
[ussura] GM says (to Sebastien), "(that also gets two)"
[ussura] GM says (to Charles), "You figure that to hit one would take a 25."
Sebastien says, "hey, this gives me an idea for a meal -- I just need some peppers and onions"
Vasili says, "yech"
Raelynn hears Sebastien despite the buzzing and says, "ew"
Vasili swipes at a bug in Era's swarm.
[7thsea] Vasili rolls 6k3: 1 3 7 6 10+1 1 | 24
Charles spins his knife hilt in his palm, letting the blade whiz around and around it, then thrusts his hand into the center of the closest swarm.
GM says, "Two swarms remain; 3 bugs on Era and 4 on Charles."
[7thsea] Vasili rolls 1k1: 4 | 4
[ussura] Charles says, "Taking a raise and adding a drama die."
[ussura] Vasili says, "(hope Charles was right)"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 8k5: 8 9 2 8 1 9 6 4 | 40
[ussura] GM exclaims (at Charles), "That's two!"
[ussura] GM exclaims (at V), "And you get one, also!"
Vasili's blow glances off the bug, but his blade punches its little head on the backswing.
Charles's fingers blur, wielding a whirling shweel of waspy death. Fwish-fwish-thud-thud.
ruin_wasps turn and attack again!
[ussura] ruin_wasps says, "Attacking Charles:"
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 6k3: 1 7 6 1 7 4 | 20
[7thsea] Charles rolls 3k3: 8 8 5 | 21
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn asks, "shweel?"
Vasili asks, "Little doors? These things are here on purpose? Why?"
[ussura] GM asks (of Charles), "What was that for?"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "We like to pretend that I typed 'wheel'."
[ussura] ruin_wasps says, "And attacking Era:"
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 6k3: 6 3 2 8 9 1 | 23
[ussura] Charles says, "Er, premature wound check."
Sebastien says, "here to keep people from getting to the drachen, surely"
[7thsea] Era rolls 4k3: 1 6 4 7 | 17
Sebastien says, "there must be some passcode to get by them, but I don't know what it would be"
Vasili says, "The door at least had an easy way through, though."
ruin_wasps stings Era, but don't manage to inject any more poison.
Charles asks (of Sebastien), "Placed by whom? If the ice people, shouldn't Daniele have known how to stop them?"
[ussura] GM asks, "Er, ties go to the attacker or defender? Defender, right?"
Pyotr says (to Charles), "Presumably placed by the Knias"
[ussura] Era says, "let's go with that"
[ussura] Charles exclaims, "Um... it depends on which one is the Hero!"
[ussura] GM says, "Ha ha ha"
Vasili says, "Looks like she stopped one, but not too easily."
Sebastien says, "well, that first door was obviously intended to be only passed by the right people"
[ussura] Era says, "I'm thinking a nice shot of whisky would get my head to start buzzing just like my characters. Yum, whisky."
[ussura] GM says, "I guess 'TN to hit' means 'to hit'. Ties are active defenses, etc."
[ussura] GM asks (of Charles), "Want an active defense, or no?"
Sebastien says, "but perhaps the defenses were set up by the leaders of the snow people, and Daniele wasn't one then"
Charles asks (of Pyotr), "Which knias? The one who was reigning when the drachen first went to sleep?"
[ussura] Charles asks, "I'd need to spend two actions, right?"
Pyotr says (to Charles), "Or one since then, sure."
[ussura] Charles asks, "(Or did we change that rule?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I think we changed it"
[ussura] GM says, "I think we decided active defenses only take your next action die."
Sebastien says, "(I would suggest she wasn't born yet, but I seem to recall the snow people said they were very long-lived)"
[ussura] Charles says, "Oh, in that case, that sounds like a good idea."
[7thsea] Charles rolls 6k3: 9 2 2 3 8 2 | 20
[ussura] Charles says, "Um."
[ussura] GM says, "Ha ha"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
Vasili asks, "You wouldn't be implying something about a lady's age, would you?"
[ussura] GM asks, "OK, how about they do no more damage, but you have to do another wound check?"
Sebastien says, "ha ha"
Sebastien says, "(that is why this is all a parenthetical speculation!)"
Charles duck parry sidestep swoop dodge feint backstep duck!
[ussura] Charles asks, "OK. Does my premature one count?"
[ussura] GM says, "Re-roll if you want."
[ussura] Charles says, "Given that my premature one would have been a success, I'm happy enough not to :)"
[ussura] Charles says, "But, if you would prefer I did:"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 3k3: 5 1 7 | 13
[ussura] Charles says, "Also *just barely* a success."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "man"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] GM says, "Looks like you took 23 flesh wounds last time, actually."
Charles wipes his bloody sleeve. "Man. Strenuous dodging certainly does make the blood flow."
[ussura] Charles says, "Oh, ack, I'd written down 13."
[ussura] GM says, "So: using your first wound check at 21, you can add a drama or take a dramatic wound."
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 4! Wasps, then Era, then Raelynn!"
[ussura] Charles says, "Actually, I can't find their damage roll in scrollback, strangely enough."
[ussura] Charles says, "Oh, there we go:"
[ussura] Charles | [Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "So, that's 13 flesh wounds for Charles, and 20 for Era. Roll brawn!"
[ussura] GM says, "No, they rolled a 43 to hit you, which was 23 over your TN)"
[ussura] Charles says, "Oh."
[ussura] GM says, "Wow, look at that. Sorry."
[ussura] Charles says, "Ah well."
[ussura] GM exclaims, "With all the confusion, you *now* have 23 flesh wounds, but no dramatic wounds!"
ruin_wasps attack Era and Charles once more!
[ussura] Charles exclaims, "OK!"
[ussura] GM says, "(Charles first, then Era)"
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 6k3: 9 1 5 4 3 4 | 18
[7thsea] ruin_wasps rolls 6k3: 8 8 8 3 3 3 | 24
ruin_wasps do another 4 flesh wounds to Era, for a total of 7!
[7thsea] Era rolls 4k3: 7 5 5 7 | 19
GM says, "Which Era shrugs off."
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Era!"
[7thsea] Era rolls 6k3: 6 1 10+2 9 7 4 | 28
[ussura] GM exclaims, "You get one!"
Era's sword flashes in the (admittedly limited) light, and severs a wasp-head from a wasp-body.
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Raelynn!"
[ussura] GM says, "(2 now on Charles, 1 on Era)"
Charles says, "Next time, someone remember to bring a giant blazing firebrand."
Vasili says, "I left mine back in Kem."
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "none on me?"
[ussura] GM says, "Nope, the others killed them all off."
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "and who is closer to me, charles or era?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I think Era's been stabbed slightly more, if that helps"
[ussura] Charles says, "Hee."
[ussura] Charles asks, "Stabbed, ice-weaseled, stung, or frostported?"
[ussura] Raelynn says (to sebastien), "yeah, but if i am woozy and weak, i assume i should go for the closer one to avoid friendly fire"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Era is closer!"
Era has disconnected.
Era has connected.
[ussura] Era says, "hello again"
[ussura] GM says, "(next up is Sebastien x2 on phase 5)"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i seem to recall the rules changing from trait+knack keep trait -> trait+knack keep higher number"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "has it?"
[ussura] GM says, "Oh, right."
Sebastien flicks the wasps skewered on his sword away, and goes to skewer two more near Charles.
[ussura] GM says, "Nobody has ever actually done that ;-)"
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 9k4: 8 6 4 2 5 7 10+3 3 5 | 34
[ussura] Raelynn says, "just checking, cause i am going to"
[ussura] GM says, "Sure, why not."
[ussura] Raelynn asks (of seb), "did you skip me?"
[ussura] Vasili says, "huh"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "yeah, she asked me, and my first thought was "man, I screwed up every combat roll this campaign""
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Raelynn), "yeah, sorry, I figured you were still checking numbers"
[ussura] Charles says (to GM), "I assume that would not apply to damage rolls."
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 7k4: 10+5 7 10+10+5 9 8 9 6 | 58
[ussura] Sebastien says, "good lords"
[ussura] GM says, "Wow."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "nice"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "that'll teach me to skip you"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "shoulda took a raise or four"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "but nice"
[ussura] GM exclaims (at Raelynn), "That's a hit!"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "drat. i was aiming for era's wasps, now i wish i'd gone for charles"
[ussura] Charles exclaims, "Hey!"
[ussura] GM says, "That's OK, Seb got those."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Charles exclaims, "You can't get rid of me *that* easily!"
[ussura] GM says (to Charles), "Hee hee"
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Charles), "she figured you needed to shave"
Raelynn steadies herself carefully, mutters angrily at the buzzing noise, and aims her knife carefully before throwing it
(From Raelynn) the knife flies in circles hilt over edge, and skewers the last wasp against the opposite wall
[ussura] Charles exclaims (at Sebastien), "But I work hard every morning to maintain this careful 1/16th of an inch roguish stubble!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yay"
Sebastien says, "wow"
Sebastien says, "you didn't tell us you'd been practicing"
ruin_wasp wriggles for a bit, and then sags.
[ussura] Era exclaims, "nice shootin' tex!"
Raelynn says (to Seb), "yeah. i practiced on Pyotr's fleas"
[ussura] GM says (to Seb), "And you get the last two..."
[ussura] Era says, "hehehe"
Sebastien, while the two remaining wasps are distracted by Raelynn, skewers them neatly.
Sebastien flicks their bodies off his blade and resheathes it.
GM says, "As the last wasp falls to the ground, you all take a deep breath. Charles is still feeling a little bit woozy, and Era and Raelynn both feel weaker and strange."
Sebastien says, "(wiping the bug guts off first)"
Raelynn sits down on the most convenient corpse
Charles ducks under Sebastien's blade, momentarily mistaking it for a wasp.
Sebastien asks, "are you three ok?"
Era sinks weakly to the ground.
Sebastien says, "you seem a little dizzy"
Vasili says, "Let's get out of here."
Raelynn blinks owlishly
Raelynn says, "everything is strange"
Charles asks, "Um. I think so. Only a flesh wound... right?"
Vasili checks out the far door.
Sebastien frowns.
Sebastien says, "perhaps we should bleed the wounds a bit"
Pyotr looks into the little doors.
Charles says, "But maybe we should rest for a minute, nonetheless. For, uh, the sake of the ladies."
Raelynn asks (of Sebastien), "sure. got a leech handy?"
Era snarls, but it lacks much in the way of intimidation, since she's in human form.
Sebastien asks (of Pyotr), "don't you know some kind of survival thing for these situations?"
Charles points Raelynn toward his bound captive.
GM says (to Vasili), "It's a smooth metallic door with a vertical handle."
Raelynn says, "i knew this girl in the conservatory, she used to carry around a leech in this bottle of water"
Pyotr says (to Sebastien), "Hmm, I don't think Paelynn's pelt would be worth much."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
Raelynn says, "it was so disgusting"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I'd already forgotten about our tagalong NPCs again"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "er, raeltnn"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "grr"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, now there are two."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "um, I could, in theory, try Survival"
Sebastien asks (of Ianka,Touissaint), "I don't suppose either of you can do anything for them?"
[ussura] Charles asks, "Didn't our jeweller just display some surprising skill or other last time?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "to cut the wounds open and try sucking out the venom"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I'm just surprised she has a hammer"
Ianka says, "I can do a little, at least."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "somebody with a higher natural philosophy than me, think of a rattlesnake cure or something"
Sebastien says, "I have my shaving kit here, if it would help"
Ianka binds up everyone's wounds, and Charles and Era's flesh wounds go away. Charles's head begins to clear, but Era and Raelynn still feel odd.
Sebastien says, "and I expect Pyotr has some brandy or something"
Charles says (to Touissant), "So, while we're taking a breather anyway, let's chat."
Pyotr says (to Sebastien), "This is my medicinal brandy. Some for the throat, some for the wound."
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, someone can try Natural Philosophy to ID the poison/cure or something."
Touissant asks, "Yes?"
[ussura] Raelynn asks (of gm), "just to be clear, i have no flesh wounds, 1 dramatic wound, right? as well as a lowered brawn, and a surprise?"
[ussura] GM says, "Right."
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 4k3: 4 5 6 7 | 18
[ussura] Raelynn says, "that was my attempt to id the poison/cure"
Charles says (to Touissant), "I still don't get why you're doing all this. Is it really just for the money? Since I don't see how this is really worth a few extra coins, or a seat at the admiral's table."
[ussura] Charles says, "This is to say, I would like another attempt at Sincerity (and/or Cold Read for anyone else observing him)."
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 1 die: 3
[7thsea] Charles rolls ;plus 1 dd. dice:
[ussura] Charles says, "Er. +1 DD, I mean."
[ussura] Raelynn says (to gm), "i threw the other drama in to get that up to 21"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 5k4: 8 2 6 5 6 | 25
[ussura] Raelynn says, "that was the naturalphilosophy check"
[ussura] Vasili says, "Cold Read:"
[7thsea] Vasili rolls 5k4: 3 10+3 7 4 7 | 31
[ussura] Charles exclaims (at Vasili), "Nice!"
GM says (to Raelynn), "You think back to your classes back at the Academy, and recall learning about the Yellow Lotus, a plant originally imported from Cathay, that made sorcerers weaker, but would enhance their magic. The effects (a buzzing sensation, particularly in the head) sound similar."
[ussura] GM says (to R), "Oh, whoops, sorry, You didn't need the drama die for that."
[ussura] GM says, "(busy typing/looking things up)"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "drat."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "oh well, i should have hoarded it"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "hunh, interesting"
Raelynn asks (of sebastien), "hey. do you know anything about Cathay?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I guess that's why it picked those three"
[ussura] GM says (to R), "You can either count it as unspent, or spend it and get a bit more info."
[ussura] Charles says (to Sebastien), "Indeed."
Raelynn says (to Sebastien), "I am thinking, and I think I remember hearing at the conservatory, from the same girl with the leech..."
Sebastien scratches his head. "I've heard some strange things about them -- I understand the men wear dresses and they have no chairs at their tables, and they don't need to fight with swords because their hands are hard as iron."
[ussura] GM asks, "OK, so, right--Cold Read is vs. Resolve or something?"
Raelynn says (to sebastien), "about this Yellow Lotus"
[ussura] GM says, "Hee hee"
[ussura] Raelynn says (to gm), "sure, spend, and more info. thanks"
Sebastien asks, "yellow lotus? some sort of flower, is it?"
[ussura] Charles says (to GM), "You rolled something last time for it..."
Raelynn says (to Sebastien), "it's supposed to do something to sorcerers"
[ussura] Charles says, "Looks like it was 4k4."
[7thsea] Touissant rolls 4k4: 2 6 2 10+2 | 22
Sebastien says, "I understand they are far ahead of our countries in the ways of gardening"
Sebastien says, "I believe they have gardens made entirely out of rocks"
Raelynn says, "the buzzing noise i am hearing sounds like what one of the effects was"
[ussura] Charles says, "Woo, we both succeeded this time."
Sebastien asks, "interesting -- do you remember anything else about its effect?"
Pyotr exclaims (at Sebastien), "Sounds like my grandma's vegetable garden. It's just dirt!"
Sebastien says (to Pyotr), "yes, but they're so advanced, they make it classy"
Touissant says, "I do what I'm told--it's not much more complicated than that."
Raelynn says (to Sebastien), "it's supposed to weaken the person, but but but"
Raelynn strains to concentrate, despite the buzzing
[ussura] GM says, "(he's lying--he also looks like he's scared)"
Raelynn says (to Sebastien), "oh! it's supposed to enhance the magic!"
Raelynn perks up a little
Raelynn says (to Era), "do something you don't think you can do"
Charles asks (of Touissant), "What's he holding over you?"
[ussura] GM says (to R), "The effects are supposed to last for three hours per dose; you're not sure how much a dose of this would compare, but you at least think it's temporary."
Touissant says, "What? Nothing."
Sebastien says, "hunh, interesting"
Sebastien says, "I can't think why the wasps would be primed with that sort of poison -- but perhaps it's a side-effect of their magical nature"
Charles says (to Touissant), "We both know it's 'more complicated than that'. It always is."
Era attempts to change her ears & nose to wolf, and her eyes to goshawk, while keeping the rest human.
Vasili says, "hmm. If that poison could be useful in a way, maybe you magical folks should grab a few stingers just in case."
Touissant sighs. "Well, OK. It's more complicated. He's threatened... someone I care about."
[ussura] Raelynn says (to era), "ha ha ha"
Era says (to Vasili), "If what I'm trying to do works, I'll stuff every single one of those nasty things in my back-pack."
[ussura] GM asks (of Era), "Oh, two bits from different forms? Which doesn't usually work?"
Raelynn says (to Sebastien), "sadly, it's not permanent"
Charles asks (of Touissant), "And you're just *letting him* do that?"
[ussura] Era exclaims, "yep!"
Sebastien says, "that's probably for the best, if it's making you weaker"
Raelynn says, "it's like opium, (also from cathay) we just got a hit"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "It works!"
Raelynn asks, "normal dose is ...three hours. how many doses do you think we got?"
Era starts laughing and laughing and laughing.
Raelynn is watching Era to do something weird
Sebastien looks in alarm at Era.
Era exclaims, "I can hear everything . . . smell everything. . . and see everything!!"
Sebastien asks (of Raelynn), "are you sure she's ok?"
Era exclaims, "This is *amazing*!"
Raelynn says (to Sebastien), "i think this is the effects"
Raelynn asks, "why do *wasps* have this?"
Raelynn asks, "maybe because we will need powerful magic to deal with the drachen, or whatever is ahead?"
Touissant says (to Charles), "It's not just him--he works for an organization that would come after me if I did anything."
Era starts stuffing every wasp stinger she can find into her backpack.
[ussura] GM says, "Hee hee"
Charles says (to Touissant), "So he's got friends. That just means you need friends as well."
Sebastien says, "perhaps we can find an alchemist to extract the venom in some more palatable form later on"
Vasili says (to Raelynn), "Maybe you could take somebody along on one of your trips."
Touissant says, "Mmm."
[ussura] Charles exclaims (at Sebastien), "Like what's her name, from that town, over where we were before!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah her"
[ussura] Vasili asks, "Yin?"
[ussura] Charles says (to Vasili), "Well, if you want to be crude and actually *remember* her name."
[ussura] Vasili says, "Never met 'er."
[ussura] Vasili says, "(actually, I suppose that's not necessarily true)"
Charles says (to Touissant), "If you help us, I think we could probably help you."
Charles says, "From what I hear, any friend of LaVache is probably no friend of ours."
GM says (to Era), "As you take off the stingers, you find that the bodies are... odd. They're vaguely organic, but they look put-together, instead of like they grew."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "I love how we're all now involved in Charles' little vendetta"
Touissant asks, "Hmm, well. Does that mean you're going to untie me?"
[ussura] Charles says, "Naturally."
[ussura] Charles says, "If I get to be a member of Pyotr's mob..."
Charles asks (of Touissant), "That depends. If I do, will you betray me?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "true true"
Touissant shrugs. "Does it matter what I say? You're either going to trust me or not."
[ussura] Charles says, "(Plus more importantly, it seems likely that LaVache's organization is probably tied in with the bugs.)"
Vasili says, "Looks like we're more or less okay, then."
[ussura] Charles asks (of GM), "Should I use another Sincerity/Cold Read check to decide if he's likely to betray us or not?"
Sebastien says, "it doesn't matter to him, but it may matter to you"
Sebastien grins.
Sebastien says, "consider it practice"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, sure."
Vasili heads back to the next door, and listens for any noises beyond.
Raelynn starts checking her magic
Charles says, "I'm more likely to treat an honorable prisoner well than a dishonorable betrayer."
Sebastien says, "yeah, we'd better getting moving soon -- don't want them to get too far ahead"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 5k4: 5 8 3 8 6 | 27
Touissant says, "If our positions were reversed, I would leave me tied up. LaVache is too powerful an opponent to betray easily."
[7thsea] Touissant rolls 4k4: 5 2 4 1 | 12
[ussura] Charles says, "(That's another DD.)"
[ussura] Pyotr asks, "did I find anything interesting behind the little doors?"
Era looks curiously at the seemingly-constructed wasp bodies, and takes a few more parts with the thought of studying them later.
[7thsea] Miseri says, "y'know ... there was someone at a recent dinner party who actually did cold reading, and apparently it's Very Different from what we imagine it to be."
[ussura] GM says (to P), "Oh, I totally missed that."
[ussura] Charles asks (of GM), "So, does it seem like he'd be safe to release?"
Raelynn tries to use jack to change one of the bugs into a ball of twine
[ussura] GM says (to Charles), "He doesn't trust you very much at all, and doesn't think you're actually stronger than LaVache."
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 5k3: 5 1 1 4 6 | 15
[ussura] Charles says, "SO, probably not yet."
Charles says (to Touissant), "Fair enough. We'll see how things go, then. Let me know if you decide it's time to pick new enemies."
GM says (to Raelynn), "Wow, that was easy. And the ball of twine is the same color as the wasps."
[7thsea] Miseri says, "It's more like ... you know that scene in 'Ghost' when Patrick Swayze first runs into Whoopi Goldberg, and she's trying to pull a con on a customer? By guessing the obvious and such? A lot more like that."
Raelynn says, "huh"
Raelynn pockets the twine
[ussura] Charles says, "(And let's see if befriending a drachen and the knias of Somojez is enough to change his mind about how powerful we are.)"
Raelynn says (to era), "you still have my ring, right? i am going to check shadow for a second"
[7thsea] Miseri says, "And a lot less like what Sherlock Holmes does."
[7thsea] Sebastien says, "hmm"
[7thsea] Sebastien says, "these seem like slightly different skills"
[7thsea] Charles says (to Jeff), "Yeah, but if we based stuff on reality, then we'd not be able to do half the things we do."
[7thsea] Sebastien says, "one is reading a person and one is reading visible details"
[7thsea] Charles says, "Nor the other half, for that matter."
[7thsea] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
Raelynn looks, checks the presence of the ring, and SPLORP! goes to the shadow realm
[7thsea] Miseri says, "Less about reading and more about drawing out information without letting your target know what you're doing."
GM_ says (to Raelynn), "You step through to the shadows, and feel none of the traditional cold that you usually feel while there."
Charles asks, "Well. My arm's feeling better. How's everyone else?"
[7thsea] Charles says, "Mmm. That'd be tricky to RP, of course, unless you actually knew how to do it in RL."
[7thsea] Charles says, "In which case, you wouldn't need the knack."
Era says, "The buzzing is still hear, but I think I can manage it better."
[7thsea] Charles says, "(Which is the problem with social skills in general, of course.)"
Raelynn hops back
GM says, "As Vasili asks everyone to be quiet while he listens at the door, Pyotr is opening and closing various side doors. He opens one that has a small grating over what looks like a pipe behind it--a very slight breeze comes from it. He pauses for Vasili, and as everyone gets quiet, nothing is heard from the other side of the door, but it does seem like there's a... voice? A woman's voice, faintly echoing from the pipe."
Era's face looks a bit odd with wolf ears, wolf nose and hawk-eyes. Almost, but not quite, monster-ish.
Pyotr says (to Era), "Hey, come listen to this."
[7thsea] Miseri says, "'I see ... I see a woman ... in a gingham dress ...' '(gasp) That's Auntie Em!' 'Her name ... her name is Emily ...' 'Yes! How'd you know that??'"
Era steps over and puts her furry ear next to the grating.
[7thsea] Vasili says, "he didn't seem particularly good at that skill, of course"
Daniele exclaims, "...don't know how much further!"
GM says, "(more mumbling)"
Daniele exclaims, "Thank you!"
[7thsea] Charles says, "'No, it's Martha! Why did you think I called her M, you daft fool?'"
Era sniffs the breeze while she listens.
GM says (to Era), "Smells like cave."
[7thsea] Miseri says, "Heheheh"
[ussura] Era -P
[ussura] Era:-P
Pyotr asks (of Era), "Who is it?"
Era says (to Pyotr), "It's Danielle . . . Let's see if we can get through here . . . ."
Pyotr says, "hmm.."
[ussura] GM says (to Era), "Sorry, it's like 2 inches in diameter."
Pyotr says (to Vasili), "Anything at the door? I know you want to move."
Era says, "And me without a mouse spirit-skin."
Vasili says, "Nope."
Daniele (semi-whispering) "Pyotr? Is that you?"
Vasili pulls on the handle and peers carefully through
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "she can hear him?"
[ussura] Charles says, "Or she's crazy."
[ussura] GM says, "Hee hee"
[ussura] Charles says, "Lots of crazy people think they hear Pyotre."
[ussura] Era says, "including Pyotr"
[ussura] Charles says, "Parents frighten their children into obedience with stories of Pyotr."
[ussura] Charles says, "Every year at the village faire, they even do a puppet show where 'Pyotr' gets beaten up by an Avalon housewife with a rolling pin."
Era says (to Danielle), "Its Era and Pyotr and the crew."
[ussura] Charles says, "(How they found out about that story, I'll never know.)"
[ussura] Vasili says, "he does get quite enraged when little children don't do their chores."
Vasili shuts the door again and hurries over to the pipe.
Era asks (of Danielle), "Where are you, and how did you get there?"
Daniele asks (of Era), "Oh, thank goodness! You have to hurry! Are you past the handprint door?"
Era says (to Danielle), "Yes, we made it as far as the wasps."
GM says (to Vasili), "If you strain, you can barely hear her voice."
Era asks (of Danielle), "How do we get to you?"
Vasili says, "We're coming!"
Daniele says (to Era), "Good--you should be able to follow our tracks."
Daniele exclaims, "Vasili! You came!"
Era glances around franticly for tracks.
Daniele says, "Listen--we're pausing for a rest--they control me; I might not be able to tell you this later."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "woo woo"
Daniele says, "The ritual has three parts:"
Daniele says, "Cold breath on the drachen's eyes to clear the mist of dreams."
Charles whispers (to Inaka), "That's her -- if you know what I mean.)
Daniele says, "The fireberry juice, to arouse the passions."
Era repeats Danielle's instructions for the rest of the party.
Daniele says, "And the melody of home, to remind him whence he came."
Raelynn writes them down
Charles asks, "Where did he come from?"
Era asks (of Danielle), "What's the melody of home?"
Daniele says, "I'll try to delay them if I can."
Raelynn says, "we need more ice"
Charles asks (of Raelynn), "The wind in the shadows is cold, isn't it?"
Charles says, "If you could bring a breath of that here, it might work."
Daniele says (to Era), "It's the anthem of his homeland. I think it goes like:"
Vasili says, "Sometimes breezes come out of those magic holes."
Daniele (suddenly louder) Yes! I'm coming. Just a minute.
Daniele exclaims, "Just let me--urk!"
GM says, "(more sounds of movement, which then fade)"
Charles asks (of Vasili and Era), "What did she say?"
Vasili says, "urk!"
Era says, "She was hauled off at a critical moment."
Charles asks, "Is that the chorus or the first verse?"
Pyotr looks at the pipe.
Era asks, "Any idea what the melody for a draconian homeland would sound like?"
[ussura] Pyotr asks, "does it to up, or down?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "go up"
GM says (to Pyotr), "You shine your lantern into it, but it only illuminates the first few inches before disappearing into darkness."
Sebastien scratches his head.
[ussura] Charles says, "(Also, I am sad that JNC was not on, Ghogg was idle, and Pyotr was not amused by the puppet show.)"
Era says, "She said we could follow their tracks to find them. Let's look for some tracks."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "I liked the show."
Sebastien says, "let's get a move on, then"
Pyotr asks, "Hmm, rings always go down pipes, right?"
Raelynn asks, "wouldn't nemka know?"
Pyotr asks (of Raelynn), "Where's that blooded ring?"
Raelynn asks, "why don't we split up?"
Raelynn says (to pyotr), "era has it"
Era starts praying to Matushka for guidance on the dragon song.
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "(For those who have no idea what I'm talking about:)"
[Crows-Nest] Charles | Gamemaster says, "You see Annette burst out of the house" [Crows-Nest] Charles | [Crows-Nest] Charles | BastardJack exclaims (at Pyotr), "Run, you fool!" [Crows-Nest] Charles | Gamemaster says, "She has a rolling pin"
Sebastien frowns.
Sebastien says, "the ring won't go through properly if there's a bend in the pipe"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I rememberd that and laughed IRL, but was too busy to laugh on-channel ;-)"
Pyotr says, "Oh"
Raelynn says, "i can go see nemka and see if he knows about the homeland"
Pyotr asks, "I guess having Rae stuck in a tiny pipe would be bad, huh?"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "any rocks around?"
Era says, "Raelynn is tiny, but not that tiny."
Charles thinks about old bardsong, and tries to remember any that touched on Ussura, Eisen, drachens, or the homeworlds of mythical beasts.
[7thsea] Charles rolls 4k3: 7 8 5 10+8 | 33
[ussura] Charles says, "(That was Wits + either History or Singing.)"
GM says (to Charles), "Well, you remember *a* song that might fit the bill."
GM says, "An ol d"
Raelynn picks up another bug, tranform it to a nice rock, about the size of a ring
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 5k3: 7 9 2 2 8 | 24
GM says, "And old Eisen ballad."
Raelynn takes the rock, hands it to Pyotr. Try it with the rock. If we can hear, or rather, Era hears it land on the other side, I can go
Raelynn ties a twine at the end of the rock
Charles whistles a melody as he thinks. He can't remember the words, nor why exactly it came to mind... but maybe if he keeps at it, he'll remember by the time he needs to.
Pyotr takes the rock, and flips it with his thumb a few times to test the weight.
[ussura] Pyotr says, "Finesse+Throwing, 1 drama"
Raelynn says (to charles), "it's the melody of the homeland, not song of the homeland. whistling might be enough"
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 6k5: 8 1 1 1 1 7 | 18
[ussura] Pyotr says, "man"
Era prays for musical inspiration to hit *someone* while she's searching for tracks.
Charles says (to Rae), "Good point."
[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "That's a lot of 1's!"
[ussura] Era says, "wowsa, in a bad way."
Pyotr watches the rock bounce off the wall next to the pipe.
[ussura] Charles says, "Four of a kind has *got* to beat, uh, something."
Sebastien says (to Era), "well, surely they've gone through the door -- I don't think we have to worry about tracks unless there's a junction on the other side"
Pyotr says, "Yeah, let's just go."
Pyotr asks (of Raelynn), "How long will it take you to go and come back?"
Pyotr asks, "Also, will the fact that we're underground now be a problem?"
Pyotr asks, "I mean, do you have to walk out of this cave there, too?"
[ussura] Raelynn says (to gm), "pyotr raises a good point"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "am i underground in shadow too?"
[ussura] (from Pyotr) Raelynn says, "Amazingly!"
Vasili asks, "maybe she could do the Porte way now?"
[ussura] GM_ says, "There seemed to have been a corresponding cave in Shadow."
Charles asks, "Did we try opening the door?"
Vasili says, "it would be pretty dangerous"
GM says, "And with that, you head out the door. Pyotr picks up the trail fairly easily--some of them seem to have been bleeding, and every few paces there's an obvious water footprint."
Vasili says (to Charles), "I think she wanted to find Nemka."
[Crows-Nest] (from Miseri) GM_ says, "Also, a tarot deck with your 13 siblings painted as trumps."
[ussura] GM says (to Pyotr), "Roll me tracking."
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 4k2: 8 2 1 7 | 15
[ussura] Pyotr says, "man, wits"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "You went up in wits!"
[ussura] Pyotr says (to gm), "no I didn't"
[ussura] GM says, "Oh? Oh, OK."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "I considered it and decided against"
[ussura] Pyotr exclaims, "I went up in Finesse!"
[ussura] Vasili says, "useful for throwing things"
GM says, "Pyotr leads you down strange corridors and through weird rooms. Sometimes the trail doubles back, but he never seems to notice until you've already made the redundant circuit. Some rooms have strange pillars with rusted knobs on them, and one has weird metal chairs fixed to the floor in front of a panel and a large glass wall."
Raelynn asks (of era), "use your nose? see if you can smell where daniele and the group rested?"
GM says, "(the chairs look like they'd be awfully uncomfortable to sit in)"
Raelynn says, "although i guess if we are following tracks, we know we are on the right track"
Sebastien frowns.
Sebastien says, "odd they chose to put the drachen away down here"
Raelynn asks, "far and out of the way?"
Sebastien says, "unless this was other stuff equally as dangerous"
Era sniffs the air occasionally, and keeps the rest of her senses alert.
GM says, "Finally, you descend down a long flight of stairs to a half-opened door, beyond which is a genuine cave."
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "no one felt the urge to see if the chairs were really doors to a secret passageway? drat"
GM says, "The door itself seems to have been pried open and is jammed in place."
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn asks, "no one else watched indy?"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Hee"
Sebastien says, "I suppose that's the third door"
Era says, "They definitely came this way . . . I can smell them."
Sebastien asks (of Era), "can you hear anyone?"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "I was looking away at the wrong time."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "http://www.northerncostarica.com/images/venado-caves-7.jpg"
[ussura] GM says, "http://www.northerncostarica.com/images/venado-caves-7.jpg"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "hunh, weird"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Had I been paying close enough attention, my fingers would have been on that glass."
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, "isn't it safe to assume Charles fiddles with all mysterious controls? Maybe not safe for Charles, of course."
[Crows-Nest] Charles says (to Vasili), "Yeah, that seems like a pretty good assumption to me."
GM says (to Era), "You listen carefully, and can just barely make out the sounds of talking from one direction."
Era gestures folks to be quiet a second.
Era strains her ears for details.
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Aside from Dad, that's the #2 reason I *became* an adventurer in the first place."
[ussura] GM says, "And, hey, go ahead and roll perception with your enhanced ear-skill."
[7thsea] Era rolls 7k3: 2 8 10+8 4 9 5 7 | 35
[ussura] Raelynn says, "nice"
GM says (to Era), "You can hear the talking coming from the direction of the tracks, but very faintly, you can hear an echo coming from a different direction, around a pillar of rock."
GM says, "(the same sounds, delayed a second or two, as if echoing to where you are from a different direction)"
Era takes a couple of steps towards the fainter echo.
GM says (to Era), "You head around the rock and see a very thin passage in the rock beyond it."
Era says, "Hey, take a look everyone - this corridor has an echo of their conversation."
Charles leans in to listen.
Vasili asks, "another way around?"
Vasili asks, "or would we fit?"
GM says (to Vasili), "It would be tight, but you could make it."
GM says, "(at least as far as you can see)"
[ussura] Vasili asks, "you plural, or you Small character?"
[ussura] GM says, "Y'all"
Sebastien says, "well, worth a shot"
Vasili says, "especially if they suspect we're near"
Charles says, "And here I am without a bucket of grease."
Vasili dims his lantern a bit lower than what's probably safe.
Vasili explores on into the tight passage.
Raelynn says, "let Era lead since she can see best in the dark"
Vasili says, "er, right"
Era takes a deep breath, and steps into the crevice.
Charles asks, "After that, should we go in order of how well we fit?"
Charles says, "That way, if P-- if anyone gets stuff, no one else will be stuck behind him."
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "s/stuff/stuck/"
GM says, "The passage is quite thin, and you have to duck sometimes and climb other times. At one point, you almost have to exhale to squeeze through one particularly thin bit."
GM says, "B"
[ussura] GM says, "whoops"
GM says, "At the end, Era suddenly motions for the light to be turned off. When you do, a faint flickering can be seen in the passage in front of you."
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, "oh no a nethack raven"
Sebastien blinks silently in the darkness
[Crows-Nest] Charles exclaims, "Nevermore!"
GM says, "Era can smell humans, wolves, and a thick animal smell she's never smelled before."
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "OK, it's someone else's turn to make the Pyotr joke this time."
Era says, "Shhhh, I think I smell dragon."
Vasili mumbles, "no! not yet!"
deep_voice says, "You--go get the others. There was a way outside from that other dead end we saw."
Charles . o O ( *This* way out? )
Sebastien . o O ( what others? )
Era gestures everyone forward.
Vasili . o O ( ah! They're still delaying )
Era . o O ( pansies )
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
Vasili stays close behind Era, moving more quietly now.
Charles follows in line.
Pyotr sneak sneak
[ussura] Charles asks, "Didn't we conclude last time that Pyotr was quieter when he didn't sneak?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "possibly"
GM says, "You inch closer, and see torchlight playing over a really dark black floor. At first you figure it's rock. Then it moves, and you think it's water. Then it breathes and you realize the *entire thing* is just a section of a remarkably huge drachen."
deep_voice says, "So! I think it's time we woke this thing. Now we see if the price we paid to capture this ice princess was worth it."
GM says, "(sounds of chuckling)"
Pyotr whispers, "Let's go, now."
Sebastien . o O ( goodness gracious )
Raelynn whispers, "should we just burst in and scream and stuff?
Pyotr says (to Raelynn), "Sounds good to me."
Pyotr draws his axe, and says, "One."
Raelynn says, "era looks frightening enough they will scream too"
Sebastien . o O ( if they manage to wake it, I suppose there's no guarantee it'll be friendly )
Pyotr says, "Two."
Vasili says, "wait"
Era says, "Blessed Matushka, great Mother of us all, be with us in our hour of need . . . ""
deep_voice asks, "So what do we do first?"
Pyotr says, "Thrrrrrr....""
Vasili tries to spot Daniele as his eyes adjust to the lighting.
Daneile exclaims, "I don't... urk!"
Era says, "This is it, let's go."
[ussura] Pyotr asks (of Vasili), "is that a "don't go" or a "okay, I'm ready"?"
GM says, "The passage you're in emerges into a larger cavern which you can't see the extent of from here. You're just above the body of the drachen."
deep_voice says, "Man, I never get tired of that."
Charles looks for his eyes.
deep_voice says, "Tell me."
Vasili says (to Pyotr), "Okay. Two..."
Pyotr exclaims, "Threeee!"
Era launches herself out of the crevice, sword drawn!
Pyotr runs down, axe waving in the torchlight.
Era exclaims, "AAAAAAAAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Pyotr exclaims, "For Matushka!"
Charles follows, knife blade glinting.
Pyotr exclaims, "For Somojez!"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Yay! So!"
Pyotr exclaims, "For Ussuuuuuuuuuura!"
Sebastien brings up the rear. "For diplomacy and good manners, I believe."
[ussura] Era says, "he he he he he"
[ussura] Pyotr says (to seb), "yay"
Raelynn is running with the group, but not making any noise, just looking around alert
GM says, "You leap down and the most convenient spot is the drachen's back, so you all land on it. It doesn't flinch. From here, you see a large group of people and wolves (and one ice maiden) gathered around the head."
GM says, "One guy who's clearly in charge is holding a red flask in one hand and some sort of device in his other."
[ussura] Charles says, "And in case you were wondering just how large a drachen is, the answer: large enough to be terrain."
[ussura] GM says, "Hee hee"
GM tosses a drama die to everyone, just because.
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah, I was expecting elephant-size, so I am kind of taken aback"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "if I'd known this I'm not sure I would have been so sassy during the negotiations with the skin"
[ussura] Charles says, "Hee."
[ussura] GM says, "And! Let's roll initiative."
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "is it too late to toss a knife at the guy's hand and try to knock the flask out of his hands?"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 3 dice: 1 6 4
[ussura] Raelynn says, "damn too late"
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 3 dice: 8 10 1
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 3 dice: 7 9 8
[ussura] Pyotr says, "reroll 9"
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 1 die: 6
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i knew i shouldn't have stopped to takl to katre"
[ussura] Vasili says, "or better, the device"
[ussura] GM says, "Nah, you can try that."
[7thsea] Vasili rolls 3 dice: 2 4 10
[7thsea] Era rolls 4 dice: 8 10 4 1
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 2 dice: 5 6
[ussura] Raelynn asks (of gm), "i can do it now? or wait till we start and on my turn?"
[ussura] GM says, "Since you weren't in the very very front, yeah, wait your turn."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "drat"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "ok"
[ussura] GM says, "But roll 3 instead of 2, we'll say."
[7thsea] deep_voice rolls 3 dice: 2 7 7
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 1 die: 9
[ussura] Raelynn says, "drat"
[7thsea] wolves_n_humans rolls 3 dice: 3 4 5
[ussura] Sebastien says, "deep_voice, hunh"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I hope it's not the chuckly spirit skin voice"
[ussura] Charles asks, "The who?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "that would suck"
[ussura] Raelynn says (to sebastien), "i don't even play videogames and even i know the big boss guy always has minions first"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "although it was a bit tenuous to be actually attacking"
[ussura] GM says, "Hee hee"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "you know, the drachen skin"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 1! Charles, Sebastien, and Era!"
[ussura] Charles says, "Oh. I was thinking of Wolf."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "maybe all the spirit skins have deep voices"
[ussura] GM says, "The minions are keeping you from reaching the guy himself."
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "can I just spend a drama die as a story die to slide down the dragon's neck and smash into the guys down there?"
[ussura] Era exclaims, "ooh, that would be sweet!"
[ussura] GM says, "Ha ha ha sure."
[ussura] Charles asks, "Uh, which one of us has our dose of fireberry?"
[ussura] Sebastien exclaims, "not me!"
Sebastien runs forward and leaps onto the dragon's neck. "Whooooaaaaaaah!"
[ussura] Vasili says, "if it's not Sebastien then I suppose I would have it"
Sebastien slides down, smashes into one guard standing guard on the neck, flies with him over the drachen's head, and lands on top of his prone form in the huddle of minions down there.
Sebastien says, "you'll have to pardon me for dropping in without an introduction"
[ussura] Era says, "yep, totally sweet."
Sebastien says, "...Sebastien Delecambre, diplomat at large"
[ussura] Vasili says, "yay!"
Sebastien draws his sword and stands ready.
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(ok, done0"
[ussura] GM says, "Hee hee ya"
[ussura] GM says, "y"
GM tosses Sebastien a drama die.
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Charles and Era!"
Era continues her charge, yelling at the top of her lungs.
[ussura] Charles asks, "How many minions are in the way?"
Sebastien . o O ( maybe I should have jumped down *last* instead of first )
[ussura] Era says, "I'm aiming for two minions, with a raise."
[7thsea] Era rolls 6k3: 2 7 2 2 3 4 | 14
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "how many minions? or does it not matter?"
[ussura] Era asks, "drama?"
Vasili says (to Ianka), "Hm. Better stay back and safe, unless you spot an opportunity to help Daniele with that collar."
[7thsea] Era rolls 1 die: 9
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "is somebody with daniele restraining her? or can we tell how the collar works?"
[ussura] Era says, "well that didn't work"
[ussura] Era says, "maybe I distracted somebody"
GM says, "She was just standing there, wearing a stone necklace thing with three gems in it."
Charles asks (of Ianaka), "Do you see a weak point on the collar?"
[ussura] Vasili says, "presumably the mean in-charge guy's handheld device makes her go 'urk'"
Era's sword slices cleanly *between* the two minions, and her foot hits a slick patch of dragon-scale.
GM says (to Charles), "If I could get to it, I could try to smash one of the gems."
GM says, "(says Ianka)"
[ussura] Charles asks, "So, no minion count?"
[ussura] GM says, "Whoops, sorry. Let's see."
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Vasili), "oh, that would make sense"
[ussura] GM says, "In this room, there are five groups of 6; 3 wolves, 3 men. The main guy is at the head and surrounded by two of the groups."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I wonder if any of them have an instrument or if they're planning on singing the anthem"
Charles sizes up that device the leader is holding. Whatever it is, it's probably best if he doesn't have it. And there are too many bodies in the way to just run over there, so...
[ussura] Pyotr says, "the way I see it, we have two choices"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "we can fight all these peoples"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "or, some of us can hold them off while the others start the ritual"
Charles flicks one of his spare knives into the air, catches it, then flings it at the device in the same motion.
[ussura] Pyotr says, "I bet having a drachen on our side would be useful"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah, although it may take a bit before it wakes up"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "well, sure"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "but I agree if we can complete the ritual we basically win"
[ussura] Charles says, "I am assuming that this will require a raise, and that he's going to have a decent TN, so let's throw in two drama dice for it."
[ussura] Charles says, "I am with the some of us hold off/distract while others ritualize."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I'm personally just going to smash up some dudes for the moment, though"
[ussura] Vasili says, "sounds like a fine start"
[7thsea] Charles rolls 8k6: 10+3 8 5 5 9 10+10+2 3 5 | 62
[ussura] Pyotr says, "although we'd need to get to the head first"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "what happens if we start the ritual, say the music and the berry, but the deep_voice intervenes with the potion?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(but if someone else wants to sneak down and around, go for it)"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "who wins?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I'm not sure we know"
[ussura] Pyotr says (to rae), "good question"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "since if we start, it's not like it can be secretive"
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "what's the order again? wind + music + berry potion?"
Charles's knife seems to spin in slow motion across the cavern. Swoosh... swoosh... swoosh... swoosh...
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Charles), "wow, that is quite a roll"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "wind berry music"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "and we don't know the song"
[ussura] Charles says, "We might."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "I guess we hold off til we get Daniele, anyway"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "if you hum a few bars I can fake it"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah, we don't want them holding Daniele as a hostage"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "although I'm not sure if you can actually kill a snow maiden with a sword or whatever"
[ussura] Charles waits to hear the GM's response to his roll.
[ussura] Charles asks (of Sebastien), "How about a torch?"
GM exclaims, "...and the knife stabs through the device, and the point emerges from the back of the guy's hand!"
deep_voice_dude exclaims, "Aaaaaah!"
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Charles), "hmm, point"
deep_voice_dude shakes his hand futilely as the device and knife seem to be stuck firmly to it.
[ussura] Vasili says, "ha ha ha that's a good line"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "that'll teach him to impersonate a drachen skin"
Charles says (to deep_voice), "That's something I practiced on Devoe. It's nice to see I can still remember how to do it."
[ussura] GM says, "Phase 2! Vasili and The Man, who go simultaneously."
[ussura] Era exclaims, "down with The Man!"
[ussura] Charles says, "So if the device *does* control Daniele, then maybe this'll give her some time to act on her own."
[ussura] GM says, "Actually, let's call him Chastovoj."
[ussura] deep_voice_dude says, "be Chastovoj"
[ussura] Charles asks (of GM), "Can't we use something easier to type?"
[ussura] Sebastien exclaims, "that's your job!"
[ussura] Charles asks, "Like 'deep_voice_dude?"
[ussura] Chastovoj says, "(whoops)"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "we can call him Chaste"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "chasty!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "which is what *she* said"
[ussura] Vasili says, "I'm relieved we're not calling him Alexei"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Chastovoj says, "'Chas' works ;-)"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "or Chaz"
[ussura] GM says, "Daniele, responding to the guy's last command, says:"
Daniele (mechanically) "First, breathe into its eyes. Then feed it the juice, then sing it the song of home."
Vasili bounds down the dragon's neck, to the rescue!
[ussura] Sebastien says, "woot"
Chastovoj exclaims, "Aha! The song the skin taught us!"
[ussura] Charles says (to Sebastien), "Next season, we battle his little sister Alistasia."
[ussura] GM says, "Ha."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "man, that skin is such a cheater"
[ussura] Charles says, "Man. We promised him so much, you'd think he would have at least let us know the song."
[ussura] Charles asks, "What's the point of making a deal with us if he didn't want us to win anyway?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I expect they gave him a better deal"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "like maybe the whole province to snack on"
[ussura] Charles asks (of Sebastien), "Before or after he made our deal, though?"
Chastovoj, speaking into his pinned hand, says, "Daniele! Stop them!"
Daniele steps in front of the guy just as Vasili gets there!
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "stop them .. WITH KISSES"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Hee hee"
[ussura] Era exclaims, "<flight of the Valkyrie> Fight the bad guys, Fight the bad guys, Fight the BA*AD guys!"
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Charles), "he might have expected us to win, but there's no harm (for him) in making a deal with both sides if the less-likely side will give you a better offer"
Vasili asks, "Daniele? You okay?"
Daniele says (to Vasili), "(mechanically) Go back, Vasili."
[ussura] Charles says (to Sebastien), "But by not teaching us the song, that makes it pretty unlikely that we'd succeed ourselves."
[Crows-Nest] GM asks (of V), "You attacking? Something else?"
[ussura] Vasili asks, "any action left?"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, go for it."
[Crows-Nest] Charles asks, "Hmm. So the knife that just stabbed through the device isn't really inhibiting his control over Daniele whatsoever?"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Oh well."
Vasili grabs for Chas's injured hand!
Daniele and minions move to block Vasili!
Vasili says, "Okay, this is not good."
[ussura] GM asks (of V), "He's pretty well protected; fight through them anyway, or attack minions/D directly?"
Vasili slices at a wolf sneaking back to flank him.
[7thsea] Vasili rolls 6k3: 6 5 1 6 4 6 | 18
GM exclaims, "You get one!"
[ussura] Vasili says, "Pickpocket would have been cool to try for at some point, but sounds more difficult with the thing attached to him."
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 3! The minions!"
[ussura] Charles says, "Sorry about that."
Vasili takes out the wolf, and backs into a defensive stance near Sebastien.
[ussura] Vasili says, "heh. It was an awesome try."
[ussura] GM says, "And yeah, it wasn't ineffective; it'll have repercussions later, too."
wolves attack Sebastien!
[7thsea] wolves rolls 8k3: 6 3 8 6 5 6 4 9 | 23
[ussura] GM asks, "Hmm, that's not enough, is it?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "oh hey, guess I'm 25"
wolves are staved off by Sebastien's lightning-quick blade!
wolves attack Vasili!
[7thsea] wolves rolls 7k3: 7 3 9 6 9 6 10+3 | 31
[ussura] Charles says, "So, from a strategy point of view: it looks like they all know the song, so if we attempt the ritual, there'll be nothing to prevent them from finishing it."
Sebastien exclaims (at Vasili), "thanks for the cover!"
[7thsea] wolves rolls 4k2: 1 5 9 3 | 14
[ussura] Pyotr says, "right"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Doing 14 flesh wounds!"
Vasili says, "no prob- eep!"
[7thsea] Vasili rolls 3k3: 6 6 6 | 18
[ussura] Charles says, "And with the minions surrounding Chaz, there's no way we can get to him without going through them."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha sorry"
wolves and one group of guys surround the main dude, hackles bristling and blades bared.
[ussura] Charles says, "So it seems like our only options at the moment are either A) wade through lots and lots of brutes, or B) try to position Inaka and Daniele near each other."
other_dudes attack Era back!
[7thsea] other_dudes rolls 8k3: 8 1 2 5 4 1 3 2 | 17
[ussura] Charles asks, "Is there any way we can do B?"
[7thsea] other_dudes rolls 8k3: 6 1 3 8 4 8 2 9 | 25
[ussura] Vasili says, "I'm always for the clever thinking way"
[7thsea] other_dudes rolls 4k2: 4 8 6 10+8 | 26
[ussura] Charles asks, "Or, yeah, is there a C?"
[ussura] Vasili says, "there's also C) unleash some recently-enhanced magic on them"
GM exclaims, "Era neatly avoids the first group, but is backed into the second, who do 26 flesh wounds!"
[ussura] Era exclaims, "nice - go Rae!"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i have a story die. i will use that to try to get inaka :)"
[ussura] Vasili says, "(but a few of them might have figured that out too)"
[7thsea] Era rolls 4k3: 7 3 3 3 | 13
[ussura] Raelynn says (to vasili), "you are brilliant!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "#belated I'm not sure they necessarily all know the song"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 4! Charles, Vasili, Era, minions!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "presumably it was just Chas and a couple lieutenants who met with the skin"
[7thsea] Era rolls 6k3: 10+3 1 3 1 2 9 | 25
[ussura] Charles says (to Sebastien), "Yeah. But Chaz is the one we can't reach, so."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah"
[ussura] Vasili says, "but enough of them that we're risking a bad disadvantage if we do steps 1 and 2."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah, I guess we shouldn't try to start the ritual until we have more of a tactical advantage"
Era swords flickers and goes snicker-snack. Two minion's heads hit the ground, go clickety-clack.
[ussura] Sebastien says, "aw yeah"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "tight rhyme, yo"
[ussura] GM says, "(also, I miscalculated last time and Era actually got one then, too)"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "busts moves, heads"
[ussura] Vasili says, "or maybe if we split the ritual, there's actually no binding deal on any of us, and the drachen does whatever he feels like"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Charles and Vasili!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "if we drive them all off, we can redo the ritual from the start, and I think that would have to count"
[ussura] Vasili says, "yeah, sure"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(alternately, even if we don't drive them all off, we can try that)"
[ussura] Vasili asks, "is Daniele still close?"
[ussura] GM says, "Yes."
Charles jumps down behind the drachen's long, curled tail and scampers across the cavern, using it as cover to sneak up *behind* Chastovoj.
[ussura] GM says (to Charles), "Hmm. He's mostly in the middle of the group."
[ussura] Charles asks (of Didn't), "the minions move forward to place themselves in between himself and Vasili just now?"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "it seems like it doesn't work narratively to be able to take him out on the first round, but putting yourself in back ought to at least force him to split his forces between us"
[ussura] GM says, "Ah, for a battlemat."
Vasili gets a desparate look. He pretends to stab at Daniele's belly with his left hand, and then brings up the right knife, trying to wedge it behind a gem.
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Well, I'm not expecting to be able to take him out single-handedly anyway."
[ussura] Sebastien exclaims, "neat!"
[ussura] Vasili asks, "hm. Story die there?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(I guess you could unchivalrously attempt to wrestle her)"
[ussura] Charles says, "Alright, I guess I'll take that back if I can."
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "I was just hoping to get to the device and let Daniele switch sides."
[ussura] Vasili says, "the minions are probably at least thinner on the other side."
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "But I guess this is Not Supposed To Happen this early in the scene."
Daniele says, "...yellow..."
[ussura] Charles says, "I'll just attack two of them or something instead."
[7thsea] Charles rolls 7k4: 8 6 3 9 10+10+4 3 3 | 47
Vasili flicks away from that big green gem, and sticks the knife right next to a more modest yellow one!
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "maybe you could get Pyotr to throw you at him and grab the device as you fly past"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Ha ha"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Heh."
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "now i want it to be my turn so that i could do my plan"
[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Vasili), "If you're spending a story die, you can just have that happen."
[ussura] GM says, "(ilac, sigh)"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says (to Raelynn), "if you really want to go sooner you can trade 2 actions later for 1 now"
[ussura] Vasili says, "yeah, seems like as good a time as there's gonna be to spend it"
[Crows-Nest] Raelynn says, "well, it looks like vasili is going to make that plan worthless, so"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Aww."
[ussura] Vasili says, "there is always room for each of us to do something awesome, somehow"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "ok, so gem flies out?"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Yes! Vasili, rp!"
[ussura] GM says, "(And charles can rp taking out a couple of them, too)"
Vasili's knife sticks in the gem socket! Daniele pulls away, but a quick twist at the last moment, and a gem plunks out and falls to the ground.
Charles leverages his knifity skills to manoeuvre his way two minions closer to their master.
[ussura] Sebastien says, "knifty move"
Chastovoj screams, and you see electricity course up and down his arm!
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "oh, the device is exploding?"
Daniele shakes her head, confused. "Where... where am I?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "hmm, that might not be good for Daniele"
Vasili says, "Whoa."
[ussura] Charles says, "Or possibly just feeding back."
[ussura] Vasili asks, "what is this 'electricity' thing?"
[ussura] Charles says, "Now that it can no longer discharge itself via the gems."
[ussura] Charles says (to Vasili), "I don't know what *you're* talking about; I just see a small lightning bolt cascading up and down his arm."
[ussura] Vasili says (to Charles), "Such a strange magic."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "it's an adorably tiny lightning boilt"
wolves push forward, trying to give Chas access to the drachen's head!
Vasili says (to Daniele), "We're at the drachen. I'm afraid Wolf captured you."
[ussura] Charles says (to Vasili), "In my experience, the effect -- although in a lesser form -- is typically associated with that most mysterious of beasts, the cat."
[ussura] GM asks, "who all is around the head now? Charles and Sebastien?"
[ussura] Charles says, "Typically on dry, chilly days."
Vasili kisses her. "Now, would you care to dance?"
[ussura] Vasili says (to Charles), "heh"
GM throws Vasili a drama die.
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I thought Charles was coming around the other side, but yeah"
[ussura] GM says, "Oh, and Era."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(Era and Vasili have stepped away, and Raelynn isn't down yet?)"
[ussura] Charles says (to Sebastien), "That was vetoed on the grounds that there were no fewer minions there than anyone else."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ah good"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "oh ok"
[ussura] GM says, "Wait, no, Era's fighting a different group."
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "hmm, so are we keeping them from getting at the head?"
[ussura] Charles says, "(Er, anywhere else.)"
[ussura] GM says, "Sigh, I'm confusing myself."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "that would be a helpful thing for us to do"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(and where's Pyotr?)"
[ussura] Charles asks (of Sebastien), "Can they breathe cold without Daniele?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "Pyotr is frozen, immobile, at the top of the whatever, waiting for a chance to move"
[ussura] GM says, "OK, I will now declare: Sebastien and Charles are around the head at the moment, everyone else having moved off."
[ussura] GM says, "In the course of fighting."
[ussura] Charles says, "(Answer: probably, if they're clever, but presumably only henchmen or villains would be that clever, not brutes.)"
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Charles), "yeah, that sounds right"
wolves fighting Sebastien add a drama die to push him back!
[ussura] Sebastien says, "also, it didn't even occur to me to have a snow maiden do it, I was so fixated on doing it with glamour or something artificial"
[7thsea] wolves rolls 9k4: 1 6 3 5 10+8 1 8 7 2 | 39
Sebastien waits for them to come on, then blocks and lunges.
[7thsea] Sebastien says, "3 riposte for parry, 2 for attack if it works"
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 11k5: 7 1 9 8 6 3 3 10+7 7 2 1 | 48
[ussura] Pyotr says, "nice roll"
[ussura] GM says, "Oy."
[ussura] Pyotr asks, "it's there a rule for more than 10 dice?"
[ussura] Charles says, "Yeah."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "whoops! that should have only been 10k5, yeah"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "not that you need it"
[ussura] Era asks, "allo? lag?"
Era has disconnected.
[ussura] Alex says (to Era), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that Lag is what Iain always has."
Era has connected.
[ussura] Charles exclaims (at Sebastien), "Better roll that again!"
[ussura] Vasili says, "oh no era"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "You hit!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(that was to block, now I attack)"
[ussura] Era says, "last thing I saw was Seb's comment about the adorably tiny lightening boilt."
[ussura] GM says, "Oh, OK."
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 9k4: 9 8 5 3 1 9 7 2 6 | 33
[ussura] GM asks, "This takes an action, or not?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah, this is me using up an action"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(but I figured it was ok, since I was defending)("
[ussura] GM says, "Sure."
Sebastien skewers one wolf who comes into his surprising range, and the others back off again.
GM exclaims, "So, a different group of wolves try to push Sebastien back!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha ha"
[7thsea] wolves rolls 9k4: 8 8 10+1 3 8 4 6 7 8 | 35
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ok, that'll use up my other remaining action"
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 11k5: 7 4 3 4 6 4 1 1 9 2 7 | 33
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(drama die)"
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 1k1: 6 | 6
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 9k4: 3 1 2 2 8 7 3 8 2 | 26
[7thsea] Charles says, "There should have been a Pugilism advanced knack that was designed for use against brutes."
[ussura] GM says, "(don't forget 11k5 -> 10k6)"
[7thsea] Charles says, "Like, 'Roundhouse: when using this knack to attack brutes, every raise takes out two additional brutes instead of one.'"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "er, right, that should be just 10k5. let me reroll"
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 10k5: 9 7 6 8 5 4 5 2 7 7 | 38
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(but the attack roll of 9k4 -> 26 was correct, so I'll just keep that)"
wolves add a drama die!
[7thsea] wolves rolls 1k1: 4 | 4
[ussura] Sebastien says, "man, I am totally confusing myself"
[ussura] GM says, "Wait, they had had a 39."
[ussura] Sebastien says, ";no, they had a 35"
[ussura] GM says, "No, 35."
[ussura] GM says, "sigh."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I had a 38 to block, so they have a 39 now"
[ussura] GM says, "*Now* they have a 39."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "so I will spend a drama die after all"
[7thsea] Sebastien rolls 1k1: 2 | 2
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(so then I can attack them, and I rolled a 26 to attack back)"
[ussura] Vasili says, "although since the GM is flinging many drama dice too, perhaps it's best to back off"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "if they're going to bite me they're going to have to work at it, dammit"
[ussura] GM says, "Hee"
[ussura] GM says, "Sure, go ahead and attack 'em. This is your last action anyway ;_"
[ussura] GM says, ")"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(but I'm all out of actions so can't block any more, anyway)"
Sebastien waits as another group of wolves tries to circle around his side, then repeats the process and skewers another one.
[ussura] GM asks, "You can only block if you have an action?"
Sebastien exclaims, "I'll teach you some manners!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "well, actively defend, yeah"
[ussura] GM nods.
[ussura] GM says, "Gotcha."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(riposte is basically something you do in place of an active defense)"
[ussura] wolves exclaims, "Meanwhile, a different group attacks Era!"
[7thsea] wolves rolls 7k3: 1 1 5 4 7 3 9 | 21
wolves exclaims, "And barely make it through her defenses!"
[7thsea] wolves rolls 4k2: 1 5 7 7 | 14
[7thsea] Era rolls 4k3: 1 9 3 9 | 21
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "just 14 more xp or so til I am a gallegos master and get a +10 passive defense to keep off the riff-raff"
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says, "wow"
[Crows-Nest] Charles says, "Not bad."
[Crows-Nest] Whizzard says, "Yay gallegos."
[ussura] GM asks (of Sebastien), "You were going to attack?"
Era sees the wolf projecting its attack, and manages to roll with the bite so it does minimal damage.
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Sebastien exclaims, "I did!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I rolled a 26, way back there"
[ussura] GM says, "whoops, missed it."
[ussura] GM asks, "Taking out one or two?"
[Crows-Nest] Whizzard says, "All the best swordsman schools were nice and simple."
humans try to push back Charles!
[7thsea] humans rolls 6k3: 6 10+8 6 5 6 8 | 32
[ussura] GM says, "Right, one. *Now* I see it."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I was just going for one on these, I guess"
[ussura] Charles says, "My TN is 20."
[7thsea] humans rolls 4k2: 4 6 7 1 | 13
[ussura] GM says, "No, wait."
[ussura] GM says, "No damage; they were trying to push you back."
[ussura] GM says, "(which they do)"
humans manage to push Charles back from the fray!
Charles asks, "Wha-huh-hey?"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "if I'd known they weren't going to muss my outfit maybe I wouldn't have blocked"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "On phase 5, another group of humans rush through where Sebastien was fighting off wolves and take him by surprise, trying to push him away!"
[7thsea] humans rolls 8k3: 6 6 7 8 8 7 9 6 | 25
Sebastien says, "oof blast get back you"
humans barely make it!
[ussura] GM says, "And the rest hold action."
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Raelynn!"
Sebastien stumbles backwards, next to Charles.
Charles says (to Sebastien), "Fancy meeting you here."
Sebastien says, "I'd rather have met you there, but I'll take what I can get"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "question: if i turn the bug into a knife, does the poison stay on the bug? and what happens if the poison hits a non-magic person?"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "also, turning a bug into a knife takes up actions, right?"
[ussura] Charles says, "I think you can choose to turn it back freely."
[ussura] GM says, "I think the poison would also be transformed, but would be inside the person if it shifted back."
[ussura] Charles says, "So you could will it to become a stinger again at the same moment that it cut them."
[ussura] Charles says, "(Also, I think the GM let me transform-and-throw as a single action before.)"
[ussura] GM says, "Also, your knowledge of the Yellow Lotus was that mostly it affected sorcerers, but that it was somewhat disorienting to non-sorcerers."
[ussura] Raelynn says (to charles), "oh good"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, that'd be fine."
[ussura] Charles asks, "Can we tell whether Daniele is actually free or only 1/3 free at this point?"
[ussura] GM says, "Daniele is still disoriented, but doesn't seem to be under control of Chas."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "okay, i am staying on the drachen then. and i am turning a bug (good thing i stuffed a couple in my pockets when era was hoarding) into a knife and i am aiming at a wolf around Chas"
[ussura] GM says, "Sounds good! Fire away."
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 5k3: 8 5 8 4 8 | 24
[7thsea] Raelynn rolls 7k4: 7 7 7 1 5 3 1 | 26
[ussura] GM asks, "Was that transform then attack?"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "right"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "That works exactly as planned!"
Raelynn takes the bug out of pocket and transforms it to a sharp dagger, which in one motion, as it transforms, she throws, aiming for the large wolf driving Chas towards the head
(From Raelynn) the knife buries into the wolve's back with a solid thwack as it hits bone
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "is any of our people by the head? like actually by the head, as opposed to trying to get to the head?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "not any more"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "drat"
[ussura] GM asks, "And then you transform it back into a stinger, right?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "Charles will probably be there in a bit"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "oh right"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(and me next round)"
[ussura] Vasili says, "all those GM drama dice just cleared the bad guy's path to the head, yeah"
Raelynn flicks her hand carelessly, and the knife transforms back to a stinger
wolf howls, jerks, and transforms into a human! And then with a hiccup, transforms back into a wolf again! He howls, and falls over twitching, shifting back and forth with each twitch.
[ussura] Sebastien says, "awesome"
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 6! Charles, Pyotr, Raelynn!"
[ussura] Pyotr asks, "how many groups left on the body?"
[ussura] Charles asks, "So, how many minions are currently blocking my path?"
[ussura] GM says, "Let's see."
[ussura] GM says, "There are still six groups, with 3-6 members each."
[ussura] Charles says, "(Ignoring ones that are just blocking other people's paths or guarding the rear.)"
[ussura] Charles says, "(Well, OK, so you guys might care about the ones blocking your paths.)"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "charles - try to get to the head"
[ussura] Charles says (to Rae), "As soon as I know what's between me and it."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i am going to use a story die on my turn to get vasili and daniele to the head, so that our three parts of the ritual are in place"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i am going to become a cowboy"
[ussura] Pyotr asks, "do we know the TN for a brute? 20?"
[ussura] GM says, "One group of six humans and a group of 5 wolves surround the guy and the drachen's head. The other groups stand by, actions readied, to keep you away."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "(I think I took out two of the wolves between my two ripostes, unless it was a different group of wolves)"
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, the groups have done some shifting."
[ussura] GM says, "I have 4 wolves out so far, and 5 humans out."
[ussura] Charles asks (of GM), "So, in theory, pretty much all of them are placed to act as roadblocks?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ok, cool"
[Crows-Nest] Vasili says (to Raelynn), "Good thing Era's not a cat any more and you don't need to herd her .. okay that was weak"
[ussura] Charles asks, "If I try to sprint past the minions, dodging between them instead of actually fighting them, that's not going to fly, is it?"
[ussura] GM says (to Charles), "They'd have to sacrifice their actions to do so, but probably, yeah."
[ussura] GM asks, "Just to be there?"
[ussura] Charles says, "To reach Chaz and the head."
[ussura] GM says, "You might get there, but you'd then be out of actions."
[ussura] GM says, "Say, footwork/Finesse, TN 40."
[ussura] Charles asks, "Mmm. Anything anyone would like me to do to assist them in their upcoming actions?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I thought Raelynn said she wanted you to get to the head"
[ussura] Charles says (to Sebastien), "Which is what I'm attempting, unless someone has something else for me to try."
[ussura] GM asks (of Raelynn), "Yeah, what was your plan?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "oh, heh"
[ussura] GM says (to Charles), "Oh, if it's the song you want to do, you figure you could do that from anywhere."
[ussura] Charles says, "(I dunno what else to do besides take out brutes one by one.)"
[ussura] GM says, "As long as he could hear you."
[ussura] GM says, "(where he==drachen)"
[ussura] GM asks, "Hold action to sing?"
[ussura] Charles says (to GM), "Based on our familiarity with fairtytale law..."
[ussura] Charles asks, "...GM If both we *and* Chaz sang at once, waking him, would the drachen be bound by our agreement?"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i still have my ball of twine. I throw it up to a conveniently hanging out ledge, swing out like tarzam. , grab vasili and daniele, but the hair if necessary, and swing back so that they come back and drop them off by the head, conveniently by charles"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "*assuming* all this works in one story die, and charles is by the head"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha ha"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "it works for tarzan and jane"
[ussura] Charles says (to Rae), "Well, if there's no benefit to my being in any particular location, then it might be better to do as the GM suggests and just be ready."
[ussura] GM exclaims (at Charles), "You'd be involved in the awakening, so it might well work!"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "yeah, although I'm not sure if twine can really hold three people"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "but what the hell"
[ussura] GM says, "It's magically-transformed twine, of course."
[ussura] Charles says, "Alright, then I'll hold my action while Raelynn goes Jane."
Ben materializes.
Ben has left.
[ussura] Charles says (to GM), "Super-wasp magically-transformed."
Ben has dropped by for a visit.
Ben has left.
GM exclaims, "As Raelynn throws one end of the twin at an outcropping, she finds that she can twist it in the air, transforming it continually to be the right shape!"
[ussura] GM says, "(and go ahead and rp)"
(From Raelynn) the twine pulls taught, and she is pulled off the drachen by the momentum. She leans down and grabs vasili by the collar of his shirt and danielle by the necklace as she swings by
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Growing a third arm to help."
Vasili says, "aaaaie!"
(From Raelynn) at the top of the arc, the weight of vasili and daniele pull them back, she lets go of vasili over the drachen's head
Raelynn raelynn swings back to the drachen, safe and sound
[ussura] GM says, "Pyotr! You can go twice, one 6 and one 7."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "finally"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "oh yeah, Pyotr"
(From Raelynn) also, those years of playing on the monkey bars at the conservatory came in handy. she held onto the twine just by her legs
Pyotr comes down the drachen's back and wades into a crowd of wolves.
Ben has arrived.
Ben has left.
[ussura] Pyotr asks, "free raise, extra raise for a third wolf, what's my TN?"
[ussura] GM says, "25"
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 8k4: 2 6 8 3 8 3 4 9 | 31
Ben has arrived.
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Got 'em!"
Pyotr knocks three wolves off the drachen, and then turns to their companions.
[ussura] GM exclaims, "rp, and go again!"
[ussura] Pyotr exclaims, "(my phase 7!"
[7thsea] Pyotr rolls 8k4: 7 6 8 8 5 3 5 10+9 | 42
Sebastien exclaims (at Pyotr), "about time you got here!"
Pyotr sends the other wolves in the opposite direction.
Ben has left.
[Crows-Nest] * Ben has joined the channel.
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 7, continued! Chas!"
[ussura] Raelynn says, "and another vote for minis"
Era has disconnected.
Era has connected.
Era asks, "hello?"
[Crows-Nest] Sebastien says, "there you go"
[ussura] Vasili says (to Era), "it's the bad guy's turn. He's apparently typing something big."
[ussura] Era says, "cool, thanks. my text froze for a bit, had to reconnect (again)."
wolf rips off a part of Daniele's dress, and breathes over it onto the drachen's eyes!
[ussura] Charles asks, "Can you look over his shoulder and give us a hint what?"
[ussura] Charles says, "(Kidding.)"
Chastovoj rips off a part of Daniele's dress, and breathes over it onto the drachen's eyes!
[ussura] Chastovoj says, "Sigh."
Chastovoj, wincing with pain from the knife still stuck into his other hand, jams the vial from his other hand into the drachen's mouth, breaking it on his teeth.
Chastovoj exclaims, "Aha! And now, for the song!"
[ussura] GM says, "But he's out of actions."
[ussura] Charles says, "How convenient."
[ussura] GM exclaims, "Phase 8! Pyotr and Era!"
[ussura] Charles asks, "Shall I unhold?"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "how does hold work?"
[ussura] GM says, "Sure, if you want."
[ussura] Pyotr asks, "okay, _my_ story die. Can I use it to get close enough to Chas to hit him?"
[ussura] Sebastien says (to Raelynn), "you can just go on any later phase you want"
[ussura] Era asks, "if I'm in range of Chasty guy, can I skewer him?"
[ussura] Raelynn asks, "is it worth waiting till pyotr and era get their stuff done first before the drachen is awake?"
[ussura] Era exclaims, "no, if you can wake him, do it!"
[ussura] GM says, "If you have a held action, you say whenever, "I'm doing my action now""
[ussura] Charles says, "Sure."
[ussura] Charles says, "I'll go after they finish."
[ussura] Raelynn says, "i am a little concerned that chas might be able to convince the drachen that since he did two fo the three actions, he "won""
[ussura] Pyotr says, "we should stick our berry in anyway"
[ussura] Sebastien asks, "who's got it? Vasili?"
[ussura] Charles says (to Pyotr), "Good thought."
[ussura] GM says, "Yeah, you think you might need to do it yourself to get complete credit. If you *only* sing, you'd all have done the ritual."
[ussura] Pyotr says, "so we still need to do all three parts"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "if we stick in the berry twice we get extra credit"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "just, side by side"
[ussura] Charles asks (of GM), "If we'd all have done the ritual, then wouldn't he be beholden to all of us?"
Chastovoj asks, "Dang it, where's the rest of the group?"
[ussura] Sebastien says, "ha ha"
[ussura] Charles asks, "Can Daniele act?"
[7thsea] Era rolls 6k3: 5 5 1 10+10+7 4 7 | 39
[ussura] Sebastien says, "I'm not sure who gets credit for things if Daniele does it"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "she's clearly with us"
[ussura] Vasili asks, "plug drachen's ears? sing a bawdy bar song over the top of his?"
[ussura] Pyotr says, "anyway, I'm still not sure if I can use the story die to get close enough to attack Chas"
[ussura] Charles says, "Yeah, she was with us from the start."
[ussura] Sebastien says, "the only solution: take this to People's Court"
[ussura] GM says, "Daniele was with you all when you made the arrangement, so she's with you all."
[ussura] Charles asks (of Vasili), "Are you out of actions?"
[ussura] Vasili says, "I have a 10"
[ussura] Charles says (to Vasili), "I thought you had one left."
Era's sword moves a
