Session 24

Server started.

Ghostwish has connected.

Dr. Hatari has connected.

TMG has connected.

Meany has connected.

Miron has received initiative.

Gnogglebolt has received initiative.

Gnogglebolt has received initiative.

Liatai:Whoo, initiative spam, sorry. XD

Meany:Map, GM? :>

Liatai:Bronze Boot. :3

Liatai:Everyone's tokens should be there, ready to bring in whenever people want.

Liatai:Feel free to move them wherever. :3

Faerie has connected.

Faerie:Which map shiuld we be on?

TMG:Bronze Boot

Faerie:Fff

Faerie:I think I'm gonna need to restart my computer.

TMG:No worries. ^^

Faerie:I need to get some canned air and blow the dust out of this thing. >.>

Faerie is disconnected.

VAE has connected.

VAE:heya!

Liatai:Heya! ^^

VAE:as a total aside

VAE:liatai, got any Miron theme music suggestions?

Liatai:Miron theme music. Hmmm.

Faerie has connected.

Liatai:Nothing springs to mind right away… Welcome back, Fae ^^

• Faerie wavies

Liatai:Mainly because all of the songs I can think of involving law are things like "I Fought the Law and the Law Won." :B

VAE:ahahaha

VAE:is that to do with Farin?

Liatai:XDVAE:(or should i say lady Farina?_

Liatai:Quite possibly. :B

Liatai:Speaking of which, there was a Farin cameo in a mini-session you missed, VAE. x3

Liatai:Cameo? Potential NPC contact? Who knows? x3

VAE:what mini-session?

VAE:which day?

Liatai:The Tharky's show one. The day before the one with Trofim, I think.

VAE:are there texts of it?

Liatai:There are, but not processed yet.

VAE:well… whose job is that ? XD

Liatai:He was amused by Gnogglebolt calling his sister Miss Falmuth and being all polite. :B I know I haven't sent them along, I wanted to be sure we weren't going to do any more mini-sessions that week before I sent them along. XD

VAE:ahahahaha

TMG:So! Are we all here?

VAE:reminds me of an anecdote how my actual father was surprised that they called him Mister at the post office

GM:Roll call time!

TMG:Present!

VAE:*rolls and calls*

Meany:Yo.

VAE:Mrow!

Ghostwish:Meow.

GM:Ghost, Faerie, Hatari? :3

Dr. Hatari:Buh

• Dr. Hatari shambles.

Ghostwish:If the sides of a square are all equal, how do you find the distance between two opposite points?

Shambling Mound:Buhh. *shambles*

TMG:Oh yes, Meany

TMG:I almost forgot to say

TMG:the Sturmhalten arc you're reading in Girl Genius?

VAE:it counts as 1

TMG:prepare to see one of the most spectacular Thirty Xanatos Pileups -ever-

Dr. Hatari:Buhh.. BUHH!

• Dr. Hatari hits play on a boombox and pushes shambling mound! It's on!

Liatai:The distance between two opposite points is equal to the square root of two times the sides' length squared. :B

GM:Just waiting on the Fae, then. :3

Ghostwish:X(Faerie:YO!

GM:YO! :D

TMG:Okay!

Faerie:…oh, I thought I made a noise after what you said.

TMG:oh, wait a sec

Faerie:Guess i didn't go through, for some reason.

TMG:before we start the game…should we do scorecards, and the gold count I tallied up?

GM:All right, where we last left off, it was a beautiful day in Castleton, an hour or two after dawn, the last day of the month of Fharlon.

Liatai:Scorecards! Smashing idea. :D Anyone got nominations?

Meany:Hmm.

TMG:from session 23… hrm. >.>

Meany:Tech?

Ghostwish:Erk. I can't remember the last sessions well enough to nominate anyone. X(

TMG:I thought you were just going to give us whatever EXP we earned fro roleplaying that session, but okay. :B

Meany:Could I get that figure of money I'm supposed to add?

Faerie:Can I nominate Barbarus, on grounds of him being fuzzy?

Faerie:>.>

Liatai:What say everyone gets 300 XP from roleplaying and various miscellany. :3

TMG:meany; ah yes, the txt file is on the Swap

Ghostwish:Sounds good to me. :>

TMG:Whee! Adding to token property…

Meany:-.-

Liatai:I'll grab the number for you, Meany. :3

TMG:okay…

Meany:That's not it.

Meany:I'm being asked to clean the kitchen.

TMG:-not-t couting any gold you started with

Ghostwish:My scorecard idea is spreading like an aerial STD. XD

Meany:Easily half-hour's work.

Meany:And I have an hour to do it.

Liatai:Aw, that's rough, Meany. :Liatai:>:TMG:yours is 699 gp and 4 sp

TMG:aw, dang D:Ghostwish:Tathi's scorecard: 2-27-11 +300 - Misc roleplaying and what not.

Liatai:Would you rather we wait for you, or would you like Sszeyl and Barbarus to enter later?

Meany:« 74+69 = 74 + 69 = 143 »

TMG:Oh! And alex!

Faerie:yes!

Meany:Entering later would be best.

TMG:not counting any coin you started with

Meany:Seey'all later then~

TMG:-your- GP, before we sold all that stuff to the Torises

TMG:is 775 gp, and 7 sp

Faerie:« 942+775 = 942 + 775 = 1717 »

• Faerie seriously needs a bank, or something. :B

Ghostwish:Eberron has banks.. »

Liatai:A place to store your coin. x3

VAE:already said it

VAE:church

Thomas Lazarus:It's in safe hands… #v#

Liatai:You can also just find a safe place to store it while you're in town and pick it up before you head out on the road again. :3

Faerie:I wonder if you could get, like, a safe of holding.

Faerie:o.o

Liatai:Also, I swear, that magic crackle in the background in Thomas' profile image looks like a person facing away from the camera. O.o

Liatai:A safe of holding? x3 I'd allow a chest of holding.

• Dr. Hatari wiggles fingers ominously!

Liatai:A bag of holding in the shape of a chest that you can add a lock to. :3

Ghostwish:Arcane Lock. :>

Liatai:That too. :3

TMG:Hokay! So, are we ready to start, now?

TMG:oh yes, Tathi has 125 gp too, Ghost

TMG:but that's all I could track

TMG:dunno whow much she started with

GM:Whenever you're ready! It's a bright, sunny morning.

Dr. Hatari:Ah, yes. Is 'present' immediately after the events from the mini-sessions? Or has time passed?

• Dr. Hatari was too busy shambling. >.>

TMG:hatari; yup, for you and me, just after our mini-session

GM:It's immediately after the mini-sessions, though you can take some time for breakfast and such before heading to the Boot if you want. x3

TMG:for everyone else, it'as the next morning

Caswin has connected.

Liatai:Heyo, Caswin!

Ghostwish:woot, got me spells back then. :>

Caswin:Heeeyo. Oh he-e-eyooo.

Liatai:Daylight come an' me wan' go home~

Liatai:Oh, wait, that's day-o. >.>

Thomas Lazarus:Very well then. After leaving Zairith and Lethiriss' place, Thomas walks off towards the Boot to get some breakfast. The bits he pillaged from the underworlder's hospitality were not enough, it seems!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt, of course, accompanies him.

Caswin:((No, no, that was perfect. I'd forgotten what came next.))

Liatai:Come mister tally-man, tally me banana? Daylight come an' me wan' go home? I think, I don't know. x3

Dr. Hatari:… what. xD

Tathi:Tathi is in the Boot with a book propped open in front of her. Kor is nearby on the table, nibblying in near ectasy upon a slip of cheese.

Caswin:Honestly, I know that parody about Osama bin Laden from 2002 or so better than the original. Which I'll confess up front is kind of sad and should probably be rectified.

Ghostwish:makin' lunch

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, hello Miss Tathi." Gnogglebolt greets her as he walks in.

Elros:Elros figures he ought to go get some breakfast as well, so joins Gnogglebolt.

Liatai:Hatari - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMTNT_BzkdA

Caswin:…though I understand a big tarantula comes up at some point, Stan Freburg did a funny parody about that…

Caswin:Er, I'll just let the game carry on unimpeded now.

Liatai:x3TMG:hmm…

TMG:well, crap

TMG:the only thing we can't just fast-forward for this meeting is something that we need Sszeyln for. :/

Caswin:(Which means, of course, that as of this minute, yes, we have no bananas.)

TMG:Gnogglebolt needs to show everyone the mementos Terri gave them.

Tathi:"Good morning, Gnogglebolt. And please, just Tathi. Miss sounds so old to me."

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"We have no bananas today, but we do have some fresh bread from the bakery down the street!" :3

VAE:hmm, where did Thomas disappear off to?

Liatai:He went into the Boot. :3

Liatai:And is apparently blocking the door. :B

Dr. Hatari:Drama :|

Liatai:Ah, sorry to hear it. >:VAE:ouch

Dr. Hatari:Also, oh my god cold banana bread sounds so good… =3=

Liatai:X3Thomas Lazarus:"Good morning, everyone."

Kor:Squeak squeak.

Liatai:Be back in two shakes, folks, talk amongst yourselves. :3

Miron :Good morning

• Thomas Lazarus settles in with a clank and rubs at his eyes again.

Miron :You seem rather tired… busy day?

Drayco has connected.

Ghostwish:*headshots Drayco as he turns the corner* Pssssst.

• VAE claws Drayco's headshotted corpse

Drayco:Ssssssssssss-*BOOM!*

Drayco:ANyway, where be party?

Ghostwish:At da boot!

Ghostwish:*nom noms on ham and cheese sandvich, with mayo*

Thomas Lazarus:"Well. As long as we're all assembled like this, I was wondering what your next plans of business were turning to?" He massages his neck with closed eyes while responding to Miron, "Ah.. not as much as a long night."

Tathi:"I am rather curious of that myself."

Gnogglebolt:"Well, the rest of you can do what you want, but here is my plan for today, and the next week…

Thomas Lazarus:"I have no complaints. But, spirited or not, the yawns get to me."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt lays out details about how today, he's going to just get deciphering the code on the slip of paper done and over with. After that, he'll visit Shukek about using the worgs to try and track down the druid.

Tathi:"Druid?"

Gnogglebolt:If there is no success, he'll try again tomorrow, but also work on getting a legal councilor and preparing the goblins for their trial.

TMG:Tathi was there, wasn't she? :/

VAE:hmm, i need liatai for something too

Ghostwish:memory refresher please XD

TMG:fighting all those wolves at the goblin's house o.o

VAE:i.e. what the hell was my char. doing during the two minisessions and what does he know about what happened

TMG:after, Ezkeiel and the half-elf Kethanis explained that there was a woman controlling the wolves

Tathi:"Erm.. why is there a hatchling dragon on the table?"

TMG:danman; Miron was asleep. :P

TMG:the Gnogglebolt-Thomas stuff happened at late night, and early morning

Hatchling-Dragon-Blue:I'm supposed to be invisible… Shhhhh…

VAE:hmm, morning? and te stuff before that?

TMG:Oh, heya drayoc. x3

• VAE noms the dragon hatchling

Ghostwish:XD This is why we use audience tokens. :>

VAE:Tastes a bit like frog

TMG:danman; er…before morning, we had taken careof stuff the night before o.o

• Liatai flies in from offscreen! "Noooo! Not the dragons! >:O"

VAE:i mean the session before

TMG:After everyone split on session 23

TMG:er…

VAE:yes

TMG:session 23 was just selling stuff to the Toris family

VAE:i was in session 23

Liatai:Yes, you were. :3

VAE:i mean the one mini-session i wasn't at

Liatai:Oh, that was Tharky's show. Miron wasn't at the show. :3

VAE:right.. where was he?

Elros:Elros thinks that curlin up and closing your eyes does not make one invisible. Looking at you, dragon hatchling.

Liatai:He was probably getting some sleep, like some other people weren't. :B

VAE:right… so he was asleep during both of those

VAE:'kLiatai:Yep.

Miron :*continues to wonder why Thomas seems so sleepy* Sheesh, those Pelorites… one'd expect they'd be fit during daytime

Meany:»Liatai:And yes, Tathi was there, but if someone wants to recap for Tathi, they can. :3

Meany:I return from half an hour of work.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt continues explaing his plan for the rest of the week, which is alternately searching for the rogue druid, prepping the goblins for their trial, and asking around about leads for the necromancers.

Meany:And to this?

TMG:Ah! There you are, meany :D

• Meany cracks the whip on all of you. :|

Meany:No mention of my doors, hmmmmm?

• Meany cracks Gnogglebolt twice.

Gnogglebolt:Oh yes, and working on Sszeyl's doors

TMG:xPTMG:Bring in Sszeyl at any time

Drayco:Why? Some random adventurer will just kick 'em in anyway.

Dr. Hatari:Sorry, been afkish.

Barbarus:The two appear at the door, squabbling over some issue or another.

Gnogglebolt:And maybe, just maybe, Gnogglebolt explains, he'll try to teach the others about how to operate a technological device, for when he builds things for the others to use.

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, welcome Sszeyl! Just who we were waiting for."

• Cheery Halfling Barmaid flits around, taking breakfast orders.

Barbarus:"No no no, one of the rooms needs to be set aside for a proper kitchen and-"

Sszeyl:"A kitchen? With a bear next door? Are you simple!? :|"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt orders cornmeal

Barbarus:"Hssss. Without a kitchen, all attempts at hygenics will be meaningless!"

Tathi:Tathi has a salad dish. For breakfest? No wonder she's under a hundred pounds…

Sszeyl:"Not if everyone keeps their eating over the pond where the water will sweep it away."

Barbarus:"And leave the only other internal source of water a stagnant pool upstairs!"

Sszeyl:"Not an issue if people use buckets. :/"

Barbarus:"How many people do you think will be living in that hole in the ground??"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah…heh. Well, welcome again, Sszeyl."

• Cheery Halfling Barmaid returns with breakfast foods. :3

Sszeyl:"One less than expected if you cannot abide by a few simple rules. :/"

Miron :Miron shouts to the barmaid for some cornmeal as well , only now noticing she's around

• Thomas Lazarus jolts back into awareness! O_O

Sszeyl:"Yes, hello, Gnogglebolt."

Barbarus:*grumps*

Thomas Lazarus:"Ah.. good morning."

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway, Sszeyl, now that you are here…there's something that I need to show you."

Gnogglebolt:"I would have done it sooner, but you left the Toris shop early, though Elros here has already seen it. And you will want to see this."

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"Anybody else for breakfast? We've got some nice fruit pies from the bakery down the street if you're looking for something different than usual!"

Gnogglebolt:He takes out a linen pouch from his pack, and with the reverency of a holy relic starts laying out the items in front of him. They consist of an iridescent shell bead strung on leather cord to make a charm, a small hawk feather tied to leather cord with a few small pearlescent beads to make a bookmark, a deck of cards, a perfectly smooth piece of driftwood naturally shaped by ocean waves, three small discs of gold-colored metal, and three iridescent shell beads.

Gnogglebolt:After a moment, he says softly. "These items were found in the chest we left with the Toris family."

Gnogglebolt:"They're gifts from Terri." He looks up to Sszeyl with a contented happines.

Thomas Lazarus:"Ohh - that sounds wonderful. I'll have one." He listens off-handedly to Gnogglebolt.

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"Coming right up!"

Meany is disconnected.

Dr. Hatari:lulzy

VAE:owl drop

TMG:dangit.

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"Oh, wait. Did you want a whole pie, or just a slice?"

MeanyOwl has connected.

TMG:last line you saw?

MeanyOwl:Gnogglebolt's rambling.

Thomas Lazarus:"A whole one, if you please."

TMG:…

TMG:WHICH line?

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"All right!"

MeanyOwl:Gnogglebolt: "They're gifts from Terri." He looks up to Sszeyl with a contented happines.

TMG:Ah alrighty then.

Gnogglebolt:He also pulls out two gears that are on a string around his neck, and nods to Elros (who presumably shows the crossed-sword charm)

Dr. Hatari::D* Cheery Halfling Barmaid returns with pie, grits, and salad.

Sszeyl:"…So I was right. :/"

Drayco-Spy:Om nom nom nom nom nom.

Sszeyl:"They did mix in some original stock."

Tathi:Tathi slowly eats her meal as she looks at the baubles.

Drayco:Okay, I'm done.

Gnogglebolt:"These gifts are for you, me, and Elros. Unfortunately, they didn't have names attached to them specifically, so we just need to figure out which goes to who on our own."

Elros:Elros motions over to the barmaid, and asks if they have any meat pie.

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"I'll check!"

Gnogglebolt:"Elros and I already figured that the gears are for me, and the crossed-sword charm was for him. Of the things left, which ones do you think are meant for you?"

Sszeyl:"…I haven't a clue."

• Dr. Hatari should probably take LIKE A BAWS off of his mood track.

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"We've got some here… Whole pie, or a slice?"

Liatai:XD!

Miron :Miron shovels in the cornmeal quickly and efficiently.

Gnogglebolt:"Well, which do you choose to mean the most to you?" Gnogglebolt is still speaking softly, treating the matter with respect.

Liatai:Eat a pie, like a boss! Distribute loot, like a boss! Slay monsters, like a boss! Roleplay, like a boss!

• Thomas Lazarus contently carves a large piece out of his pie and goes about disposing of the evidence.

• Ghostwish sics a bunch of anons and trolls on liatai.

Dr. Hatari:x3Caswin:Love that song. (Like a boss!)

Drayco:Fireball, like a boss?

Elros:"Just a slice, if you would please."

Drayco:AFK, dunno when I'll be back.

Liatai:I don't have a sliced pie, so it'll have to be a tart. ^^'

Ghostwish:woot, done REdrawing the map.

Ghostwish:Now for the encounters of pain and demise. :>

• Thomas Lazarus is straight-up demolishing that pie! "Mm — Miron, I had nearly forgotten."

Thomas Lazarus:"Do you think any of your fellows are available today? We ought to consider the services of a witch-hunter. That figure who nearly murdered the goblins is still … well, somewhere."

Sszeyl:"I will solve the riddle, by solving it for others."

Miron :Miron looks up

Gnogglebolt:"Kethanis said he'd be returning today, so I'll figure out how to meet him somehow."

Liatai:He did? When? o.o

Gnogglebolt:"And of course, any help from the rest of you would be greatly appreciated." Gnogglebolt nods/

Thomas Lazarus:"… Oh? Kethanis? Who might that be?"

Gnogglebolt:"That half-elf druid who warned us in the first place. He said he'd take the direwolf back into the forest, then come back to hunt the rogue."

Thomas Lazarus:"I see. Well, I would rather not sit on idle hands waiting for his blessing. Although no doubt he would be the best suited for finding the woman."

Tathi:"It is difficult to find druids. They tend to find you." Tathi comments off-hand as she finishes her salad.

Miron :It seems feasible - i am sure my brothers from the Leaden Mace Society will aid such a just and noble endeavour

Gnogglebolt:"Indeed, which is why I said I'd be visiting Shukek first. Grapmak told me their darkwolves should be able to help with tracking."

Gnogglebolt:"I'm just hoping we'll bump into Kethanis during that time."

• Sszeyl flicks the smooth driftwood. "Barshal."

TMG:(by the way, Meany)

TMG:(really, have Sszeyl pick -something- out of the gifts from Tathi, it's supposed to be quite sentimental >.> )

• Sszeyl flicks the feather. "Barbarus."

Miron :Nevermind making the world safe from yet another murderous nutcase *he ads in a more silent voice*

TMG:oh, got it. x3

Barbarus:"Waitwhat?"

• Sszeyl taps the deck of cards. "Trofim."

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, you're right…terrible shame Barshal is no longer with us, but perhaps we'll see him again…"

Tathi:"How often do you meet a druidic construct?"

Thomas Lazarus:"I don't know anything about druids.. but diabolists and murderers alike are too grave a thing to dismiss and allow to wander." He has a somewhat stern expression on his face before shoving pie into it.

• Sszeyl flicks the gold-coloured disks. "Derish."

Sszeyl:Tathi?

VAE:As ffor trofim, Sszeyl could deliver it if he gives a crap

TMG:Actually, gnogglebolt would do it. ^^

Ghostwish:GRR SRS BUZNESS ooo pie!

Sszeyl:Gift from Tathi?

TMG:TERRI

TMG:sorry. x3

Sszeyl:Tathi only gives gifts of fires and genocide.

TMG:Continue on. x3

• Sszeyl flicks between the charm and shell beads.

Dr. Hatari:Nonsense. She gave us the greatest gift of all.

Sszeyl:"Are we forgetting someone in the group?"?

Dr. Hatari:Togetherness. (Together we pwnched her face in.)

Miron :Inded. *Miron gesticulates with a spoon of cornmeal* I shall go find them once we are done planning and eating

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt chuckles, lightly pushing Sszeyl's arm. "You, of course."

Sszeyl:"No."

Sszeyl:"I believe one of these may have been meant for Elros' brother."

Tathi:She rubs a bruise on her forehead. I wonder which party member gets the guilt trip?

• Sszeyl is Poker Face.

TMG:(…wait a sec.)

TMG:(did any of us ever MEET tadrim?)

Elros:Elros hmms. "Come to think of it, I don't know what my brother has been up to lately."

Liatai:Yes, actually.

VAE:yes

VAE:he was on the first session

Elros:"Hopefully not getting into trouble."

Liatai:And he helped talk Fuzzy into helping. x3

TMG:oh yeah, huh!

TMG:right then…

Sszeyl:"Which would better match for him?"

Sszeyl:"The charm or the beads?"

Sszeyl: (( Btw, GM. Have my guesses been accurate? :D ))

Liatai:Actually, you've gotten Sszeyl's wrong. x3 But it doesn't really matter in the long run.

Sszeyl:D:Ghostwish:*points and laughs*

TMG:wait, I didn't see him guess his own. o.o

Liatai:Think… What was Terri always curious about when Sszeyl was in the caves during the stakeout? What did she pay a lot of attention to? ;3

Sszeyl:The differences between types of slapping.

Liatai:He didn't, but he guessed that the one meant for him was meant for someone else — PFFT XD

Liatai:Not what I meant. XD

Sszeyl:;3Gnogglebolt:"Actually…" Gnogglebolt points to the feather bookmark. "Are you sure that's for Barbarus? Wasn't Terri always looking at your sketchbook?"

Gnogglebolt:"Wouldn't that one be for you?"

Liatai:I'll bet that pie's gone by now, so I'll just delete it. x3

Dr. Hatari:GROM OM NOM NO WAIT -

Dr. Hatari:what :o

Liatai:Mistake. :B Pay no attention to the hawk.

Dr. Hatari:Was that one of them ol' king cole pies?

Liatai:There's your pie again — XD!!

VAE:?Dr. Hatari:I was just goofin', it's fine to remove~

• VAE doesn't get the joke

Sszeyl:"I do not recall her examining my book save for one time during the rain."

Liatai:Nursery rhyme about four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. :B

Sszeyl:"If she did it more than that, perhaps I need to talk to her about sneaking. »"

• VAE isn't knowledgeable of such

• Thomas Lazarus considers the tokens from yesterday, and only just now seems to finally understand their significance.

Liatai:Danman - http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/nursery_rhymes/sing_a_song_of_sixpence.htm

Gnogglebolt:"Oh come now, shes a child, and curious as a child should be. I wouldn't be surprised at all if she did sneak peeks at your sketchbook." Gnogglebotl says, winking.

• Thomas Lazarus wipes off his face with a small cloth and shoves the empty pie tray forward a bit.

• Cheery Halfling Barmaid comes up to take the tray. "That comes to three silver for the pie."

• Thomas Lazarus looks to Miron. "Well, anytime you feel up for it, I'm all for contacting the mace and forwarding the investigation."

Thomas Lazarus:Oh yeah. He pays for his meal this time. ^^;

• Sszeyl gives Gnogglebolt a good, hard, look.

Cheery Halfling Barmaid:"Wow, you really ate the whole thing, didn't you? Ever considered giving the Tall Boot Challenge a try someday?"

Sszeyl:"I keep information about the Monsters in that book, trying to prepare an argument to best suit their beliefs."

Miron :*Miron makes sure that no trace of cornmeal remains in the plate, wipes his mouth and stands up*

Ghostwish:Yes, I would love for our party to have an over-weight cleric. :P

• Thomas Lazarus chuckles to himself. "I've failed once."

Sszeyl:"If she was looking around in there, she could be scarred for life."

Liatai:Spot checks, all.

Miron :Let's go!

Sszeyl:« 1d20+5 = 18 + 5 = 23 » Spot check!

Thomas Lazarus:« 1d20+2 = 14 + 2 = 16 » Spottan!

Miron :« 1d20+2 = 13 + 2 = 15 »

Gnogglebolt:Oh great. Spot: « 1d20 = 14 »

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 17 + 4 = 21 » Spot.

MeanyOwl:Tathi!

Tathi:« 1d20+1+2 = 8 + 1 + 2 = 11 » spot!

Hawk Carrying a Package:You all spot a hawk sitting on the windowsill near the door, rapping at the window with its beak. It seems to be wearing some kind of harness, with a small package wrapped in leaves on its back.

Elros:« 1d20+9 = 8 + 9 = 17 »

Dr. Hatari:Super not suspicious. MOVING ON.

Hawk Carrying a Package:And Elros spots the hawk, too. :3

Tathi:Tathi looks over at the hawk, and stands up. "Is someone expecting a message?" She asks as she walks over to the window, and opens it.

Miron :Not me. Now let's waste no more time.

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm? …I wonder what that's about…"

Elros:"I can't say I was. But there's one simple way to find out."

Hawk Carrying a Package:The hawk flaps through the window and lands in the center of the table, looking expectantly at the group.

• Sszeyl takes the charm and hands the feather to Barbarus.

Kor:SQUEAK! And there goes one rat, vanishing into Tathi's robes.

• Thomas Lazarus blinks a bit wide-eyed at the bird of prey in his grill. "… Well … hello."

Hawk Carrying a Package:There is a letter tied to the package on its back.

Thomas Lazarus:"Don't mind me" He gingerly reaches for the package and note and attempts to liberate the hawk of its goods. :o

Miron :Hmm, so it's for us? …

Miron :… could be a trap!

• Thomas Lazarus gives Miron a frank look. "It isn't always a trap."

Hawk Carrying a Package:The bird relinquishes the package and letter easily, and begins to preen itself, waiting.

Miron :Careful, Thomas! Remember, a druid is one of our enemies!

Miron :I'll look at it first

• Thomas Lazarus seems to think the idea silly, but hands Miron the package and letter.

VAE:moment

VAE:looking up stats

Tathi:"It's a messenger." Tathi says simply.

• Dr. Hatari pops afk.

Miron :« 1d20+7 = 20 + 7 = 27 » Spellcraft as Miron checks the package for curses and malicious spells "It's always a messenger|

VAE:*package and letter

Liatai:There are no malicious spells, although you can identify that the package contains sixteen potions… eight potions of Hide from Animals and eight potions of Pass Without Trace.

Miron :The package and letters seem safe… and i can feel some nice stuff inside

Gnogglebolt:"Oh? what do you mean?" Gnogglebolt asks, looking at the bird.

Miron :Hide from Animals, Pass without Trace …. I wonder who sent it

Hawk:Maybe the letter would tell you? :B

Miron :Magic potions, i mean… it actually might be from your old friend with a *miraculous* dog

• Barbarus affixes the feather to the end of one of his bird skulls.

Gnogglebolt:"What does the message say?"

Miron :*ah, i forgot* *opens the letter and attempts to read it*

Liatai:Prepare for incoming text walls.

• Dr. Hatari returns.

Liatai:The letter is written in a rough, slanting cursive.

Letter:Good day, adventurers; or perhaps good evening, if night has fallen by the time you receive this letter.

Letter:I hope this note finds you in good health and safety. The wolf you rescued has been faring very well, you may be happy to know. She is responding very well to training, and speaking with her has revealed that my thoughts on what had happened in Castleton were correct. She spoke of a fogginess that came over her mind shortly after she saw the Fallen, and when it cleared, she was being attacked by smaller wolves – I can only imagine that she meant the worgs that those goblins were riding. How are they, by the way? It only occurred to me after I had taken the wolf away that the larger of the two worgs had a significant injury on its foreleg. I can only hope that it doesn't cause lasting problems… Was it healed after my departure?

Letter:I am sure that you wish to hear good news about the Fallen, but unfortunately, information about her seems to be as scarce as oak leaves in winter. None of the local druids I conversed with seem to recall a fallen druid matching her physical description, although one that I spoke to did see her leaving Castleton while conversing with a fel-touched raven. Speaking with the wolf was somewhat more productive, as she could remember where she was when she first encountered the Fallen. It seems she had traveled for quite some distance before reaching Castleton; she spoke of a stream near a human village to the southeast, which by her description I can only assume is the town of Redtree half a day's travel away on foot. When I questioned my fellows about the area, some recalled hearing about troubles with streams and ponds drying up near the village; I have no doubt that if you seek the Fallen, you will find her base of operations in the forests near that village and stream.

Letter:I have enclosed a map marked with the probable location of the stream, along with a few small gifts that may aid you should you choose to pursue the Fallen. I believe I counted eight members of your group, not counting the worgs or goblins; these potions should be enough for everyone, though I may have misremembered how many people were present. The vials with oaken stoppers contain a useful, if short-lived, enchantment that should assist you should you encounter any other natural animals that the Fallen has tricked into serving her. After consuming it, you will be invisible and undetectable by any animals nearby for roughly ten minutes; however, it's important that you do not attack any creature while you are under the spell's influence. If you do, the spell will break, so please be careful. The spell contained in the vials tied together with grape vine is longer-lived, but still has limits. We folk of the wild know ways of traveling through natural areas without leaving a trail; if you imbibe those infusions, they will confer a similar ability onto you for an hour. While you are affected by the spell, you will be able to move without leaving either visible tracks or a scent trail, but keep in mind that the spell only lasts for one hour. Hopefully, that will be enough time for you to reach safety, or to find your quarry.

Letter:When you have finished reading this note and have removed the pouch with the vials from Koehel's back (and attached a reply to him if you wish), simply open the door or window and tell him to “go home.” He will be able to find me (and deliver your message, should you have one). Don't worry, he is very gentle as long as you don't try to harm him or me.

VAE:moment … nature calls

VAE:brb

Letter:May the wind always be at your back! Sincerely, Kethanis Whitebranch, Warden of Kimoshalex's Basin

Liatai:Text wall over. x3

Ghostwish:shields holding, captain!

Faerie:Whee, wall o' text. x3

VAE:back

Gnogglebolt:Presumably, either Miron reads it aloud or passes it around.

Drayco:You're tellin' me…

Gnogglebolt:"Hrm…so the rogue druid is no longer in Castleton…"

Sszeyl::/Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt then starts.

Liatai:Long-winded half-elf, ain't he? :B

Gnogglebolt:"Oh! How could I forget!"

Drayco:It's okay Liatai… You can say "Invisbility" potions here.

Liatai:They're not potions of invisibility. It would be lying. XP

Drayco:Oh…

Gnogglebolt:"I was just about to say that after the goblin trial, we'd have to decide whether to pursue the necromancers or the druid first, but of course we must pursue the druid first!"

Gnogglebolt:"I spoke to Grapmak about her."

Gnogglebolt:"He says she was actually one of their clients. Their first client ever."

Tathi:"I wonder if there were any wood elf druids there.."

• Thomas Lazarus listens intently. "..Hmmm.."

Gnogglebolt:"So if we pursue her first, that accomplishes the goal of tracking down more of the necromancers, or at least people associated with them, as well as making sure she cannot threaten the goblins anymore."

• Thomas Lazarus offers Koehel a piece of dried meat. :3

Gnogglebolt:"What say the rest of you? A good plan?"

Miron :A druid *and* a necromancer? The powers of either are fearsome enough alone, but if joined… Let's go Thomas, we can't waste more time!

• Hawk noms the meat. :9

Tathi:But then she nods. "Yes, let's find this rogue druid first. Who knows, the two could be connected."

Liatai:I'll be back in two shakes, sacred canine duty.

Miron :*Miron stands up, and pulls his friend's sleeve, "

Celestial Dog:Bow wow.

VAE:oh, i can go heat up some dinner then

Drayco:I have bunnies to attend, anyway.

Gnogglebolt:"Wait…my friend Miron, you don't intend to track her down now, do you?"

Thomas Lazarus:"I'm really not sure why she was bothering to take such a risky venture as attacking the goblins in Castleton in the first place.."

Ghostwish:Plotting death, destruction, and royalty.

• Sszeyl rubs the bridge of his nose.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks to Thomas. "Ah. Well, she was described as not quite right in the head."

• Thomas Lazarus stands and slides his seat in.

Gnogglebolt:"But her motivation was to remove witnesses. Or so Drit guesses."

Sszeyl:"I do have a funeral to plan. And it has to be done quickly."

Tathi:Tathi quirks a brow. "A funeral? For who?"

Sszeyl:"Drow woman killed and used for necromancy."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt then looks between Thomas and Miron. "Wait…are the two of you going to try and track her now? Are you sure you want to do that on your own?"

Tathi:She winces. "Ick, I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

Gnogglebolt:"If you wait a few days, the rest of us will be able to accompany you…"

• Thomas Lazarus simply looks to Sszeyl and Gnogglebolt with a blank look.

Thomas Lazarus:"..Truly?"

Thomas Lazarus:"You wonder why we wish to act to save lives now?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt sighs.

Thomas Lazarus:"I am sorry that no lawyers or undertakers are in Castleton, but I have a hard time putting such errands before this. Several people nearly lost their lives yesterday."

Tathi:"I have to agree with him, Gnogglebolt. While law and justice have their place, now is a time for action, not judicial proceedings."

TMG:Nice going, Liatai. :[

Thomas Lazarus:"Is there no one you can delegate to?"

TMG:the druid just CAN'T be in Castleton anymore…

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt shakes his head. "I -have- to oversee this trial personally. And if the town is only a day's march away…we might be able to take care of that quickly."

Gnogglebolt:"But then, I'm worried that one thing will lead to another. I -cannot- spend more than two days away."

Sszeyl:"I do not wonder."

Sszeyl:"But this woman was a Drow."

Gnogglebolt:"We don't know what we'll find, we don't know -if- we will find her, and I still have other leads to follow up on…"

Sszeyl:"I have to see to it."

Sszeyl:"Or…Zilvudar will know…and he'll kill me…"

TMG:Why, Liatai? Whyyy? I don't have my other character made yet DX Can't split the party!

Elros:"Gnogglebolt, if it would make you feel more comfortable, I could go with them while you are at trial. If we find nothing in the intervening time, I would joi you once your duites are done."

Thomas Lazarus:"I understand." He speaks softly. "You all have business and lives of your own. It isn't the imperitive of everyone in the city to see to every crisis."

Thomas Lazarus:"… But this is one of mine."

VAE:back

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt shakes his head. "No. If you all insist on leaving now, then I will come with you. I only hope this can be taken care of quickly and neatly, or I will have to leave anyway."

VAE:also, gnogglebolt, miron is gonna ask for help to his group - Leaden Mace Society

Gnogglebolt:"And I had so much ELSE to do this week, too…"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah well;. You are entirely right, though."

Gnogglebolt:"The druid is a threat to other people. I cannot ignore that."

Liatai:Wait a sec, folks, reading up.

TMG:oh, crap o.o forgot you were afk…

VAE:who?

VAE:you even mentioned Liatai being AFK in one line

TMG:I never mentioned that! I just forgot!

VAE:TMG: Nice going, Liatai. :[

VAE:though i might have misunderstood that grossly

TMG:….

TMG:Yes. Yes you have. O.o

Winged Mailman:While the party is discussing their next course of action, a young, quick-looking man enters the Bronze Boot, carrying a sizeable sack with him. He shakes out his feathers — feathers?! The kid's got WINGS! — before approaching the bar. "Mail call!"

TMG:Hawkman! xD

• Thomas Lazarus looks from the hawk to the hawk-man. :O

TMG:Okay, raptoran, right? x3

• Elros quirks an eyebrow, but is starting to just be nonplussed about everything.

Winged Mailman:Yep, raptoran, and quite the energetic-seeming one at that. He jaunts over to the bar and drops off the sack, taking a few moments to chat with the barmaid.

Barbarus:"…I have nothing better to do. :^ And if I recall correctly, Venezuela fared the best out of everyone in our last fight."

Assistant Chef:The half-elf behind the counter looks through the sack, sorting letters into piles… before looking at one curiously. "Palm missive? For who… Ah!"

Assistant Chef:"I think that's them, right at the center table. You can take it right over."

• Winged Mailman looks over at the party.

Dr. Hatari:D'ohoho

Gnogglebolt:"Wait…did he say…"

• Thomas Lazarus casts a glance at the winged messenger at the mention of the Palm.

Winged Mailman:The young raptoran approaches jauntily, holding a letter with a yellow wax seal. "'Scuse me, you wouldn't happen to be the adventurers who brought in all those goblins the other day, would you?"

Tathi:Tathi glances over at the mailboy. "Nice wings." She comments with a smile.

Winged Mailman:"Why thank you!"

Sszeyl:"Yes."

Gnogglebolt:"Ah…yes, that's us."

• Thomas Lazarus nods slightly and gestures towards the eastern half of the table.

Miron :Miron looks curiously at the mailman, but recognises the seal instantly

Winged Mailman:"Letter for you from the Aureate Palm offices." The raptoran slides the paper to the center of the table. :3

Miron :Hmm, Thomas, looks like your folks are ya sending something

VAE:argh

VAE:word swap

VAE:sending ya

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. That was quicker than I expected…" Gnogglebolt takes the letter, opens it, and reads it

• Thomas Lazarus flinches a little and awkwardly laughs. "What, the Palm? No, no, they're not what I would call.. my folks."

Liatai:Incoming text wall, part 2!

Thomas Lazarus:"—Although I'm very eager to hear their news all the same."

Liatai:The handwriting is clear and very easily legible.

Letter:Adventurers;

Letter:Thank you for your brave deed of capturing the necromancer Milia Banshee alive and delivering her to us. The Blackskull cabal of necromancers has been a thorn in the side of the Aureate Palm, the Castleton City Guard, and the good people of the city for far too long. Captain Duncan McKeith of the Castleton City Guard has informed us that you wish to receive a copy of any information we manage to learn from Milia Banshee, and may be interested in assisting in capturing more members of the cabal or purging them from the city. Our interrogation is not yet complete, but this information may prove useful to you.

Letter:While Banshee has been reluctant to reveal a good deal of information to us, we have been able to glean a few details.

Letter:(1) She appears to be a low-ranking member of the cabal.

Letter:(2) Her commanding officer is a tall human male with dark hair who goes by many names, including Morgan, Zach, Adrian, and Francis.

Letter:(3) She was commanded to stay in a goblin den to wait for the inhabitants to die of starvation; it is likely that the necromancers were seeking raw materials with which to practice their craft.

Letter:(4) She has spoken of two other members of her cabal, a Baxter and a Baum, who are supposedly operating within the city of Castleton somewhere and were also involved in the operation involving the Redmaw and Blacksword goblin tribes. She spoke of them receiving bodies from the operation to continue their foul work.

Letter:Hopefully, this information will be of use to you. You are owed a sum of 200 gold pieces for capturing Milia Banshee; simply show this letter at a guard post or one of our offices throughout Akellon to collect your reward. Should you capture or kill any more Blackskull cabal members, please inform a guard or a member of the Aureate Palm.

Letter:May your hand be guided by the light of truth and justice. Oliver Cooperson, Knight of the Aureate Palm

Gnogglebolt:"Well…this changes things.": Gnogglebolt says as he finishes reading, and passes the letter around.

Liatai:Text wall over!

VAE:yes liatai! you have implemented templar banking exactly!

Gnogglebolt:"There ARE still necromancers, right here in Castleton."

Gnogglebolt:"Still involved with the goblins, even. And her 'commander', Morgan/Zach—that's the man who killed Granch redmaw and set the Blacksword gang upon the Redmaws."

Winged Mailman:"Whoa, nice mule… eeeeasy there…" Off goes the messenger!

Miron :It seems so. That much more important it is… Let's go!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt takes a breath. "The problem with saving people is you cannot save the whole world…"Gnogglebolt sigs.

Gnogglebolt:"Now there is a choice to be made."

Tathi:"I would say that settles it then. We need to find these necromancers."

Gnogglebolt:"Do we investiagte the two necromancers right here in castleton, or the druid half a days march away?"

Elros:"Hmm. In a city like this, a 'tall dark-haired human' is not much to go on. Though, I should think finding him would be of high importance."

Gnogglebolt:"Which do we do first?"

• Koehel ruffles his wings. What do I do? :B

Miron :*Miron stands up and walks out towards an old house in the poor quarters which has been bought and refurbished by the Leaden Mace Society"

• Sszeyl opens a window.

TMG:Argh

TMG:Danman, stop that. xP

VAE:nah

VAE:he's gonna get some help

Sszeyl:"If you have a message, hurry and give it to the bird."

• Thomas Lazarus folds his arms into his sleeves. "I understand. Atleast they have given us names with which to investigate."

TMG:What the hell is Miron running off for? He hasn't even heard the decision!"

VAE:and i'm not stopping that

VAE:To. Ask. For. Aid. As. Thomas. Suggested.

• Thomas Lazarus nods at Miron. "A witch-hunter's expertise will be more valuable now than ever. Let us know who you can scare up."

TMG:See? He's talking to you even. Miron -can't- leave yet

TMG:Stop being so impatient. xP

Dr. Hatari:I.. I said he can go, though. :P

VAE:he just said it as he was leaving

• Koehel looks curiously around at the party and pecks at a scrap of pie crust left on the table.

Gnogglebolt:"So, we investigate the necroamncers here in Castleton first? Are we decided on that?"

VAE:i mean, people don't teleport

VAE:and since he is close with thomas he can expect for him to stand for his place while it is being decided

• Thomas Lazarus sighs lightly at Gnogglebolt. "… Of course."

Tathi:"Agreed. Necromancers first. I'll show them the proper use of the arcane."

Tathi:She glances at her nails. "As I melt their faces, reduce them to ashes, etc etc.."

Thomas Lazarus:"My only concern is the immediate greater good of the people. I'm not going to set on some uncompromising course simply because it's set."

VAE:and now gotta wait for liatai XP

• Koehel pecks curiously at Barbarus' bone jewelry.

TMG:sorry for making Gnogglwebolt seem pushy hatari, but when everyone else gets pushy about moving impatiently, it gets me worked up. x3

TMG:Gnogglebolt didn't actually say it in that tone, though

Thomas Lazarus:"Now then. Perhaps we should compose a response for our feathered friend here to deliver?"

Gnogglebolt:"Indeed…"

Gnogglebolt:"What would you suggest? Thanks and appreciation for the potions are in order, of course…"

Thomas Lazarus:…

• Thomas Lazarus offers Koehel another jerky. :3

Thomas Lazarus:"—Erm."

Gnogglebolt:"But what should be actually tell him?"

Sszeyl:"…Why am I working with these people again?"

TMG:…Hoy vey. o.o

TMG:Liatai. xD

Thomas Lazarus:"Well, simply the state of affairs. Business has precluded the chance of us pursuing that witch right away. It may be days before we get the chance. If he knows that, he may be better informed in arranging hunts and defense of the wilderness of his own. It was originally his task, as I understand it."

Sszeyl:"Oh right, vicariously absorbing their cultures."

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm, simple and too the point. I like it." Gnogglebolt takes out a piece of paper and starts writing, win full view of the others.

Gnogglebolt:Kethanis— Thank you for the information, and the potions. They will be quite valuable when we begin our pursuit of the witch. Unfortunately, we cannot do that right away, as we have learned there are members of another necromantic cabal right here in Castleton, and we need to deal with them first, as well as some other business. As soon as we are done with that, however, we will join you in tracking her down, if you haven't already. Great apologies for being unable to assist right now, but we cannot be in two places at once.

Gnogglebolt:He looks up to the others. "anything you'd like to add or change?"

Tathi:Tathi shakes her head.

• Thomas Lazarus muses as Gnogglebolt writes. He looks to Tathi, Barbarus, and Elros. "..Now then. It is my hope that Miron will be able to find an expert to guide us in this venture. Someone who knows the tricks of the trade, sorta-speak. But if that is not the case, do any of you know well-informed people? Agents we may be able to glean information on those names from? I'm afraid if we pursue them carelessly, they'll just squirrel away into deeper hiding."

• Thomas Lazarus gives Gnogglebolt's writing an approving nod.

Elros:"I should say the latter says what needs to be said."

Witch Hunter:A grey-haired human in a hat looks up as Miron enters the hostel. "… S'matter, Miron? You forget something?"

Elros:*letter

Tathi:"I know quite a bit on my own, but I don't have many connections here."

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 14 + 4 = 18 » Knowledge Local.

Tathi:« 1d20+4 = 3 + 4 = 7 » local!

Ghostwish:Doh.

Gnogglebolt:"If they are recorded on any citizen manifests, I can comb through them." Gnogglebolt offers his own expertise.

Elros:« 1d20+2 = 9 + 2 = 11 » local knowlege

Miron :Greetings, brother…

Barbarus:"Underground~"

Miron :*looks concerned*

Barbarus:"Somewhere…..under the pavement….way down low~"

Gnogglebolt:He looks at Barbaus. '…Are you all right?"

Gnogglebolt:"You're starting to sound like Tathi when she has an episode…"

Barbarus:"I…feel…like singing today….possibly from fungussssss….in the bones~"

Elros:Elros thinks. "Hmm…does this city have a large sewer, perhaps? Or catacombs?"

Barbarus:« 1d20+4 = 7 + 4 = 11 » Knowledge Local.

Miron :You know it is not in my habit to go into long speeches. The people that currently aid me have brushed against evils that i believe have to be approached with utmost caution

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt smacks a hand to his face in exasperation. "Tathi? Can you tell what's happening to him?"

Gnogglebolt:"Is he being possessed, too?"

Miron :On one side there is a cabal of necromancers hosted in the city, it has been confirmed by a letter from the Aureate Palm just before i have left.

Dr. Hatari:Now I'm feeling compelled to listen to london underground.

Ghostwish:Tathi squints at Barbarus, and then looks to Gnogglebolt. "I have terrible news."

Ghostwish:erk

Tathi:Tathi squints at Barbarus, and then looks to Gnogglebolt. "I have terrible news."

Miron :However what seems even worse is someone who, if i am to believe to the messenger informing us fully, combines the dark arts with druidic magics.

Barbarus:"There are five water purification sites around the city."

Witch Hunter:"Ho? Heard it straight from the Palm, have you? And a dark druid?"

Barbarus:"These areas are where the underground sewers are centered around.

Barbarus:"Elros:"Perhaps then, it would make sense to begin checking there?"

Gnogglebolt:"I follow you so far…" Gnogglebolt says.

Miron :Indeed.. and, either one we pursue, i believe we will need the help of someone even more practiced in the art of fighting against the dark forces

Miron :Is any of the brothers free to aid us in the pursuit?

Witch Hunter:"You know, if you were lookin' for help, you coulda just come out and say so, Brother Miron," says the human with a grin.

Witch Hunter:"I just so happen to be between missions."

Miron :It was needed to inform you what help do i require

Barbarus:"»"

• Dr. Hatari is totally digging that hat.

Barbarus:"That's all I know."

Miron :If one needs a horseshoe made one doesn't enlist a tailor, and to construct gallows a shoemaker

Barbarus:"Stop giving me those looks or I'll call Venny in here and let her kick ya. :/"

Gnogglebolt:"…So, what do the water-purification sites have to do with our quarry?" Gnogglebolt asks, confused.

VAE:that might have sounded a bit weird, i assure you it was the intended pattern

VAE:i am not *that* bad at english

Barbarus:"The whole sewer system is built around them."

Barbarus:"Any tunnel will eventually lead back to one of those five."

Barbarus:"So, just pick one and scan for necromancy or something."

Gnogglebolt:"Okay…and you think these people are hiding in the tunnels?"

Barbarus:"I said so earlier."

Thomas Lazarus:"No, that may be something. It seems unlikely that the Palm has done nothing about this news. Perhaps these people are hiding away where Knights would never look? Or deign to try without reason."

Barbarus:"When…I….was singing like this~"

Witch Hunter:"Hah! Would be interestin' to see gallows made by a cobbler, though!" The human swings his legs down from where they were crossed on the table, setting his boots on the floor with a clunk. "Hunting users of the dark arts is more interesting than sitting behind a desk, anyhow."

Elros:"It seems to me that necromancers would need to hide their activities somewhere. And where btter to hide in a busy city than beneath it?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods to the others. "Alright…I suppose that's as good a place as any to start."

Thomas Lazarus:"I'll catch up with Miron in a bit. I think I know where he went."

• Koehel stretches his wings. So, are you gonna give me that letter, or not? :B

• Thomas Lazarus gestures to Koehel. "I suppose you can go home, friend." Assuming he has the letter in tow.

Tathi:"Ah, lovely, a trek through the sewers. I guess this is typical of adventuring parties, isn't it?"

Barbarus:"On the plus side."

Miron :Indeed *Miron smirks at the mention as well* If you volunteer, follow me to the *thinks* Iron.. Bronze Boot Inn - the rest of us are discussing tactics of approach

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt folds up the letter he wrote, and attaches it to the bird.

Barbarus:"Miss Tathi won't be able to use her fire down there. :3"

Koehel:The hawk flaps his wings, and swiftly flies out the window and into the sky.

Tathi:She quirks an eyebrow at the catfolk. "And just why not?"

Barbarus:"Three words."

Barbarus:"Highly. Flammable. Gas."

Tathi:"What, the city is sitting on natural gas?"

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway…" Gnogglebolt then collects the items he laid out from the table before. He gives the piece of driftwood and the three gold disks to Elros.

Barbarus:"This city sits on a network of sewers."

Barbarus:"They release flammable gas as they decompose."

Gnogglebolt:"Elros, if we split up during the next few days, you're more likely to encounter Barshal and Derish than I."

Barbarus:"Didn't those elvish teachers teach anything to you? :B"

Tathi:"Erm, barbrus, if what you are suggesting is even remotely true, this entire city is a bomb waiting to go off.. or have you not notice the burning lamps outside?"

Gnogglebolt:"If, by any miracle you do see them, would you give these to them and tell them they are gifts from Tathi?"

Drayco:…Wait…

Thomas Lazarus:"Oh, they have house-sized grates at regular intervals. I'm sure there's plenty of room for dispersion."

Witch Hunter:"I know the place. Central Mess, right?"

Drayco:No lightning magic?

Ghostwish:Yah, meany, you're wrong. XD

Drayco:No fire magic?

Miron :Central Mess indeed.

Barbarus:"Because they're humans."

Barbarus:"No offense, but humans are not very smart in large groups."

Witch Hunter:"Right, gimme a bit to get my things in order. I'll meet you there."

• Thomas Lazarus simply rolls his eyes at the irony.

Tathi:"People don't come in large groups. Politics do. There's a difference. And you're still spouting madness."

TMG:Alex, you around?

Faerie:Hm yes?

Barbarus:"Believe what you want. :3"

Drayco:I suppose that also rules out open flames?

Barbarus:"If you die from your own idiocy, I call dibs on your corpse."

Barbarus:"Ooh, haven't gotten to sell Elf meat in years. :3"

Miron :Thank you for assistance, brother. May the Cudgel smite our enemies and let us deliver them before the eyes of Justice

Ghostwish:If anything barbarus was saying is true, this entire town just exploded.

Elros:"Ah, yes. I will give them to them if I see them."

Miron :The gnome turns around and leaves, walking back towards the inn.

Ghostwish:Or he's forgetting the fact there isn't a flammable gas in existance that doesn't RISE.

Faerie:…there are too many "them's" in that sentence. XB

Barbarus:Medieval society, Ghost.

VAE:WTF…

Ghostwish:That means… nothing.

Barbarus:How would they know colourless gases rise?

Ghostwish:Meany!!!

Ghostwish:Lit lanterns! OUTSIDE.

Drayco:An alchemist would've looked into it.

VAE:IIIRC propane evaporates at room temperature and it is heavier than oxygen mole per mole

Ghostwish:Fire meets flammable gas goes BOOM.

Dr. Hatari:Amazing.

Barbarus:And? :B

Dr. Hatari:You all need rings of lesser troll resistance.

VAE:heck, even BUTANE is a gas and it does

Barbarus:You're arguing for nothing.

Liatai:Folks, fantasy. :B

Barbarus:^VAE:i am just proving Ghost wrong

Drayco:TO THE CHAT!

Liatai:Yes, take your talk of sewer gasses to the chat. x3

TMG:Liatai, I think you need to make a call here. Fire goes boom in the sewers, or not? ^^;

Liatai:I say no.

VAE:oh, sewer gasses

VAE:as well

VAE:fire doesn't boom there

VAE:because no oxygen i think

Dr. Hatari:We obviously wouldn't be on day 10,000+ of the city if it was made of bombs.

Ghostwish:What happened to the city!?!? Somebody farted in a bakery.

VAE:rotting gasses AFAIK are even heavier

Liatai:Folks, less chatter more clatter! XP

TMG:Faere_Alex, you around?

Faerie:Mm?

Tathi:"Right, shall we go on our little sewer jaunt? I'm going to light the cat on fire and see if he explodes."

• Thomas Lazarus pales a little. "W-well.."

TMG:Ah. Did you catch Gnogglebolt's dialogue to you before the big gas talk? x3

Miron :A somewhat sweaty gnome arrives back into the tavern

TMG:…okay, hold it danman

Witch Hunter:"I thought you said they were planning on hunting users of the dark arts, Brother Miron, not setting cats on fire!"

VAE:Er…

TMG:there is -no way- Miron did that in that little time unless the place is literally right across the street. :/

VAE:that was Tathi

VAE:ouch, time considerations

Dr. Hatari:Please don't chastise him for promoting game flow, even if it's unbelievable.

TMG:Yes, time considerations. :P

Liatai:What Hatari said. x3

VAE:but Tech is right this time

Drayco:It's okay with the ASPCA if it's a humanoid cat and not a real cat.

Dr. Hatari:It will be a personal favor from you to me. :B

TMG:crap. Alex, you still around?

TMG:You didn't answer my question…

VAE:(and believe me, i wouldn't said that if he wasn't , you know me well enough)

Drayco:Law enforcement, on the other hand…

VAE:also

Faerie:Gah, I am ADD today. x.x

Witch Hunter:"Darn, then I guess I jumped the gun. Oh well." And lo, the witch hunter turns around and saunters right back out to wait for his cue! :B

TMG:SOrry, things seem rather chaotic right now anyway. ^^;

VAE:Witch Hunter: "I thought you said they were planning on hunting users of the dark arts, Brother Miron, not setting cats on fire!" THE ONE TALKING OF BURNING CATS WAS TATHI XD

• Thomas Lazarus seems surprised.

Drayco:Yes, I know, I saw.

Thomas Lazarus:"That was quick. Did you have luck, friend?"

• VAE is now utterly confused

Faerie:TMG: I…think I answered it with all those "thems"

Faerie:If we're looking at the same thing.

Thomas Lazarus:"We were just … ah … discussing avenues."

Liatai:Right, let's just keep going. :B

Faerie:I think this whole bit got lost in the chaos.

Faerie::xTMG:alex; ah….Gnogglebolt handed Elros the piece of driftwood and the three gold disks, Barshal and Derish's gifts

TMG:yeah, it did

TMG:I'm totally out of character now

TMG:not sure what's where when anymore

Miron :I … *looks to see the newly arrived guest in the tavern* I indeed did.

Liatai:Okay, calm down, let's sort through this.

Liatai:Miron went to go get help while Gnogglebolt was writing the letter. That had to have taken some time.

Liatai:And now, he's back with a human in a spiffy hat in tow.

VAE:who kinda looks like the guy from Baccano!

Liatai:… you know, now that you mention it, he kind of does. :B

TMG:Okay then, reposting Gnogglebolt's lines to Elros…

Gnogglebolt:"Anyway…" Gnogglebolt then collects the items he laid out from the table before. He gives the piece of driftwood and the three gold disks to Elros.

Gnogglebolt:"Elros, if we split up during the next few days, you're more likely to encounter Barshal and Derish than I."

Gnogglebolt:"If, by any miracle you do see them, would you give these to them and tell them they are gifts from Tathi?"

Liatai:Terri. :B

TMG:TERRI! XD

TMG:Damn you, ghost!

Dr. Hatari:Heh.

TMG:Why did you have to pick a name so close?!

TMG:XDElros:"If I seel them, I shall be sure to give the discs to them. And if I don't, I can at least keep the discs safe." He tucks them ito his pack.

Ghostwish:Bwahahaha, my evil plan is going so well!

Miron :Thomas, this is Flint, one of the members of our Society. Flint.. Thomas is a templar of Pelor, one that i must say is rather more sympathetic to our goals and methods than usual.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt gathers up the remaining gifts and puts them back in the linen bag, which then goes back in his pack.

MeanyOwl::/TMG:what?

VAE:what what?

TMG:to meany

Thomas Lazarus:"Ah!" Tom's expression brightens.

Flint Carthan:"S'at so? Well, then, it's an honor to work with the Temple of Pelor again." The human bows, sweeping off his hat briefly. He straightens, replacing the hat before looking around at the rest of the table. "And I see catfolk, another gnome, two elves, and a…"

Thomas Lazarus:"Remarkable job, Miron."

Flint Carthan:"… Miron, are you working with a drow?"

• Thomas Lazarus bows slightly.

MeanyOwl:Spending more time away from the game, and finding nothing for my characters to do. :B

Miron :If i am to believe what my gnomish brother said to me, the drows apparently underwent a revolution

Liatai:Well, you have an opportunity now.

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, hello good sir." Gnogglebolt greets the person Miron brought int.

Miron :The vile cult of lolth has been deposed…

Liatai:Because a witch hunter is eyeing Sszeyl very suspiciously.

Flint Carthan:"I'm sure," the witch hunter says, not sounding the least bit convinced.

Miron :I indeed found it rather unbelievable, same as you… but then… a gnome like him would likely rather die than to work with those who brought the fall of Kemmer

Miron :*he comes closer to the man*

• Flint Carthan is now looking between the gnome and the drow with a hard expression.

TMG:which gnome? :B

Liatai:… BLAH. XD

VAE:Gnogglebolt

Liatai:The Mazian one. :B

• Thomas Lazarus offers a nervous smile. "Sszeyl there is a proven ally. He has put his life on the line to protect innocent souls with us."

VAE:hence what he is saying is likely true

Gnogglebolt:"Indeed." Gnogglebolt says in agreement with Thomas.

Tathi:Tathi looks over at the new human. "Look, if I'm willing to vouch for him, and you still don't believe it, then you're a lost cause."

Miron :Whispers: "Flint… i can't be entirely sure either… but so far he seems intent on helping us… and after all it's better to have him where we see his every move than have him working behind our backs"

Flint Carthan:"If you say so, templar," he says, muttering a few arcane words. He looks around at the table, a faint blue glow around his eyes, before he looks down at the archivist and gives a tense smile. "Well, I can't detect any charm magic, at least. That's a good start."

Sszeyl:"I'm sorry, where you people talking about me?"

Miron :*gives the drow a hard look*

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, just one's usual inital mistrust of you, good friend."

Sszeyl:"Seriously, I blocked out everything you said, replacing it with rythmic blah blahs."

Flint Carthan:"Sorry about that, drow. Can't be too careful. So, that there's Tom the templar… Who are the rest?"

Miron :And he is rather rude at times as well… but you'll get used to it/

Dr. Hatari:D'oh, afk another shake.

VAE:'kDr. Hatari:Troublesome day.

Barbarus:"Barbarus the butcher. Nice to kill things with you." :D

Flint Carthan:"Heh, and also with you, Barbarus the butcher."

Liatai:Oop, doorbell.

VAE:'llright

VAE:brings me ot a question

VAE:how big is Castleton ,anyways?

VAE:i mean, population

Tathi:"Tathi Eyllisaearsithek, Evocationist."

Gnogglebolt:"Gnogglebolt Sparkgear, crafter of any mechanical device you please."

Liatai:It's a large city.

Elros:"Elros Saelian, ranger."

VAE:so.. about 30k people/

VAE:?Flint Carthan:"Elros the elf — half-elf, right? Sorry. Gnogglebolt the gnome, and Tathi the…" He frowns, brows furrowing.

Elros:"Yes. My father was an elf, and my mother was a human."

Tathi:She sighs, a little bit sadly.. "Wood elf."

Liatai:VAE - I don't remember the classifications in the DMG off the top of my head. ^^'

Flint Carthan:"Nah, I got that, but it doesn't start with T."

Tathi:She blinks, looking a little confused. "Pardon?"

Sszeyl:"Pnumonic device, I believe."

Sszeyl::BFlint Carthan:"Dark elf's got it."

VAE:XD!

Flint Carthan:"M'rubbish with names otherwise."

Gnogglebolt:"Right, so…"

Flint Carthan:"Like this one here. Miron the midget," the human says with a smirk and a teasing tone.

Flint Carthan:"Speaking of which, don't think I got your name, dark elf…"

Gnogglebolt:"What is the immediate agenda? Does anyone have anything to take care of, or are we heading below the city straightaway?"

Dr. Hatari:Sorry, back.

Sszeyl:"Sszeyl."

Miron :I'd suggest Sszeyl the snapcase *smiles*

Flint Carthan:"Sszeyl," he repeats… then laughs. "That works better than the one I had in mind!"

Sszeyl:"I have said -many times- I have a funeral to attend to before going off on another week-long adventure."

Miron :And.. below the city?

Flint Carthan:"Don't tell me you all are just planning to hop down a sewer grate without any planning."

Miron :Is that where the necromancers are?

Thomas Lazarus:"Eh.. heheh.." Thomas seems a little put off by the hunter's forwardness, but doesn't let that stop him. "About that."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt chuckles to Flint. "-I- wasn't, but I don't know about the rest of the folks here."

Gnogglebolt:"As someone mentioned, if all we have to go on are names, we have to be careful and discreet."

• Thomas Lazarus looks to Sszeyl. "What I said earlier has not changed. I understand if you have business in need of your attention."

• Thomas Lazarus nods to Gnogglebolt. "Perhaps show him the letter?"

Gnogglebolt:"Or we could send them into further hiding." Gnogglebolt looks to Sszeyl. "Of course, of course. Depending on any number of things, this could be over today or three days from now."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt then blinks at Thomas. "Ah…okay." He passes the letter over the table to Flint.

• Flint Carthan takes the letter and takes some time to read.

Flint Carthan:"… Blackskulls, huh?"

Miron :It seems so.

Gnogglebolt:"Apparently."

Thomas Lazarus:"We weren't certain how to approach this.. the sewers were a musing possibility."

Miron :Ah, that explains it

Flint Carthan:"Can't say I know these Banshees and Baxters and Baums, but I can help you narrow your search a little. There's really only one district of this city the Blackskulls have any major presence in, and that's East Mess. Sometimes they show up in North and Central, but they usually get rubbed out by the Palm if they go there."

TMG:(which district is East again?)

• Thomas Lazarus raises his brows. "It's.. that much of a presence?"

Gnogglebolt:"Oh dear…they are really entrenched here? It'

Miron :Brother Flint has been here for somewhat longer than myself.. one of the reasons i was so eager to get him.

Gnogglebolt:It's not just two operatives running about?"

Flint Carthan:"They used to be part of the Society of Saltmarsh, so yeah."

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. Well, I have top wonder what we can do that the Palm cannot…but the least we can do is try."

Flint Carthan:"— Sorry, Miron, forgot. Most of you probably don't know the mess hall names. East Mess is the district underground that centers under the arcane district."

Flint Carthan:"The Gutterking's a woman named Simmera… Supposed to be fiend-blooded. No surprise they'd set up shop there."

Miron :*thinks*

Gnogglebolt:"The arcane district? Hmm. That makes sence."

Gnogglebolt:"Necromancy is a type of magic, and being in a district of magic would give them easy access to anything they need…"

Miron :Actually there's a better reason

Flint Carthan:"Close enough to the market district — that's Central — that they'd be able to hit up the black market for the onyx they use. Or even the regular market."

Miron :The magic signature of those above them obscures them to magic-tracking spells

Miron :An unlikely big reading, in some of the other districts would make anyone connect two and two.. whereas magic auras being able to be felt in an arcane district is expectd

Gnogglebolt:"A very good point."

• Thomas Lazarus seems impressed, overall. "Well.. that's all rather a lot more piecing together than I expected us to get done so soon."

Gnogglebolt:"They have chosen quite a good hiding place."

Sszeyl:"A good hiding place is one that is surprising. One that no one concieves to be a hiding place."

Miron :Really.. .spells like Detect Magic and various variants are taught to young seminarists… it's one of the standard tools of an inquisitor

Sszeyl:"This is mediocre."

Flint Carthan:"You want to hide a book, hide it in a library." The human nods.

Tathi:Tathi looks quite impressed. "I must say you know how to hunt your necromancers, Mr. Carthan."

• Thomas Lazarus rubs the back of his neck. "Well, we didn't know about it, anyway."

Ghostwish:woot, maptools didn't eat my map this time. :>

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods to Flit. "Precicely. That's how you hiding something, Sszeyl, if you want to hide a needle, you don't bury it in a haystack—you bury it in a needlestack."

Gnogglebolt:*Flint

Sszeyl:Flint?

Sszeyl:HE'S CLINT IN DISGUISE!

Dr. Hatari:MY MIND IS BLOWN.

Flint Carthan:Would explain the jaunty hat. XP

Liatai:I didn't even think of that, honestly. XD

VAE:which Clint?

Caswin is disconnected.

Gnogglebolt:"But anyway…this is actually good news."

Ghostwish:XD!!

• Flint Carthan smiles and bows to Tathi, accepting the compliment.

VAE:what clint?

Gnogglebolt:"If they are hiding in the place of magic, and they use it to fuel their dark work, they -might- be in someone's records."

Liatai:Character from Ghost's campaign. :3

Tathi:Then she smirks.. "But what would you do if you were tracking, say, an evocationist?"

Flint Carthan:"Evocationists are even easier. Just follow the trail of destruction." The human smirks.

Flint Carthan:"A smoldering crater here, a flaming tree there…"

• Dr. Hatari flashbacks.

Miron :Indeed… The difference between one and a necromancer is that the dead an evocationist leaves don't move

Sszeyl:"I imagine enchanters are similarly easy to track?"

Tathi:Tathi snrks, covering her mouth as she giggles.

Flint Carthan:"Ahhh, enchanters. Now those are the tricky ones. Hiding behind innocents to do their dirty work."

Flint Carthan:"Usually, you've got to trace them using the people they've enslaved and charmed… time-consuming, dangerous work. Nowhere near as rewarding."

Thomas Lazarus:"Well, it seems a lot more leads have suddenly surfaced, yet we still lack a plan of action."

Miron :But then… somewhat less risky once you discover them

Flint Carthan:"Until you finally manage to track the bastards down, at least — heh, pardon my language, templar."

• Thomas Lazarus looks to Sszeyl again. "I take it, then, that you'll be occupied for the next few days?"

• Thomas Lazarus waves a pardoning hand at Flint.

Gnogglebolt:"..Flint, I do have a question. You and the Aureate Palm know enough that the Blackskulls are in the arcane district, but apparently not enough to eradicate them for good."

Miron :Gnogglebolt..

Sszeyl:"I don't know what I still need to do for the funeral."

Miron :I assure you if the Leaden Mace society had enough manpower, there wouldnt' be a single necromancer in Akellon in a month

Tathi:"That sounds like an adventuring party's job, Gnogglebolt."

• Thomas Lazarus seems puzzled. "You don't?"

Gnogglebolt:"Would knowing the names of two members, on top of anything you do already know about their activities, be able to advance an invetigation enough to pinpoint them?"

Sszeyl:"I have wood for the pyre, but I still need a certain alchemical chemical and a choir of singers."

Gnogglebolt:*investigation

Flint Carthan:"The Palm's tried, but the Blackskulls aren't fools. They're mages, remember. Scrying spells. Search for paladins, and there you go. They can find any Palm party headed their way."

Sszeyl:"And without a body a bust cannot be made of the deceased's head."

Sszeyl:"»"

Sszeyl:"Nintrok was not surprised to see me. He assumed I was working with them."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt then grins. "But they won't have any idea to look for us"

• Thomas Lazarus seems a bit thrown by the entire affair now.

Sszeyl:"Perhaps they have Drow in their employ."

Sszeyl:"Which would be bad, because I would not be able to harm them."

Gnogglebolt:"So….we still need a starting point."

Sszeyl:"Or allow you to harm them."

Flint Carthan:"Sad to say, Miron's right. We just don't have the manpower to go in there and wipe them out at the Mace."

Flint Carthan:"I can ask around, see if some of my underworld contacts know anything."

Gnogglebolt:"Knowing what we do,k and with two names, where do we start looking?"

Barbarus:»Thomas Lazarus:"Closer to their center of operations, I would suspect. One simply need be wary of trundling into their affairs seeming for all the world like a paladin."

Barbarus:"I can have some of my…less scrupulous clients check things out."

Barbarus:"But they'll want money."

Flint Carthan:"Meantime, if you're looking through records, check out the Society of Saltmarsh's membership books. The Blackskulls split from the Society a while back; if these Baxters and Baums are long-time Blackskulls, they'll be on old rosters of names in the Society."

Miron :And money is what we are entitled to receive from the Aureate Palm

• Flint Carthan puts the note back down on the table when Miron speaks… right, forgot to hand that back. |3

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt takes the letter back. "Indeed."

Gnogglebolt:"So, I'll get this redeemed now, and give you what you need, barbarus."

Miron :I wasn't present at the capture of the necromancer Banshee, but i propose the funds are used as the needed capital/

Gnogglebolt:"I'll then see if I can get access to any of the records of any of the arcane studies in the East district."

• Thomas Lazarus nods at that.

Flint Carthan:"I'd check rosters three to five years back if you're going that route. That's as far back as we can determine the split from the Society was."

Gnogglebolt:"Sszeyl needs to get back to work on his funeral…"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, thank you."

Gnogglebolt:"And you're going to ask some of your own contacts…"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt turns to Miron and Thomas. 'What will you two do?"

• Thomas Lazarus beams. "Stay away and not ruin your works."

• Flint Carthan laughs!

Flint Carthan:"Hey, templar. You see a lot of gutterfolk at your temple, don't you?"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah…truly? You can't think of anything you could do in this endeavor?"

Miron :Unless brother Flint has a better idea, i could go to the library and check out the records.

Thomas Lazarus:"Perhaps I can help our frustrated Drow friend." He looks to Flint and nods.

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, and that makes me think of something else. Tathi?"

Flint Carthan:"Maybe one of them knows something. There's a huge underground information network."

Tathi:"Yes?" She says, looking up.

Miron :After all , my expertise lies in keeping Society's archives

Thomas Lazarus:"Indeed we do, from all corners. We do not charge for basic care."

Gnogglebolt:"You are an arcanist. Some of the records may or may not be off-limits to anyone who walks in, but you might be able to get access to some."

Gnogglebolt:"And you can help look through them."

Tathi:"Makes sense."

Gnogglebolt:"Unless you have a more efficient application of your abilities? I'm just thinking of ideas here."

Tathi:She shakes her head.

Gnogglebolt:"Right then…Elros?"

Sszeyl:"We should probably invest some of this money on our persons."

Sszeyl:"If we die down there, we don't want them better funded."

Gnogglebolt:"The water-purification systems connected to the sewers was mentioned, maybe you can find evidence around there?"

Gnogglebolt:"I can't think of anything else you might be able to do right away, unfortunately…"

Flint Carthan:"Careful. An outsider waltzing into a mess hall's gonna be a target."

Elros:Elros hmms. "I could look around, to see if perhaps they have been sloop, left some track. Perhaps if I checked around the periferary of the system, I might be able to gather some information?"

• Thomas Lazarus rubs his chin. "I.. can try. But despite ourselves, not many of the unfortunate are all that quick to open up to us. Afraid we'll 'rat them out' I imagine. But it is worth a try."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods to Sszeyl. "An excellent idea."

• VAE is a confused lynx again

Gnogglebolt:"And…hmm. Well, you shouldn't go into anything possibly dangerous alone, Elros."

Sszeyl:"Outsider…"

Sszeyl:"Hmm. >:3"

Gnogglebolt:"Perhaps there's something else you could do?"

VAE:Now, about three people were assigned the records by various people in the same time

Flint Carthan:"Kid, I don't doubt you're a good tracker, but hundreds of people walk through the underworld tunnels every day."

VAE:who'll go check them out?

Sszeyl:"Gnogglebolt."

Sszeyl:"I need a phrase, a sentence, anything that I can say that will prove undoubtedly I'm me. :3"

Sszeyl:"I have an evil idea. Disguises are involved."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt glances to Sszeyl. "…what?"

Gnogglebolt:"Ahhh."

Flint Carthan:"Best to leave the underworld snooping to the professionals. If you're planning on delving down there, though, you'll need supplies, and someone level-headed's gotta be in charge of that."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt gets a flat look for a moment.

Gnogglebolt:"Pettition to outlaw Goblin." Gnogglebolt says. :/

Liatai:*SNRK*

VAE:XD!

• Thomas Lazarus can't help but smirk.

• Sszeyl nods nods.

Sszeyl:"I shall return. With news of my evil idea."

Gnogglebolt:"Yes, I thought that would amuse the rest of you. I am a son of Glittergol, after all."

Sszeyl:"Ta~"

Gnogglebolt:*Glittergold

Gnogglebolt:"Farewell, Sszeyl."

• Sszeyl ninjas outta there.

• Thomas Lazarus looks a bit thrown again. "… What a capricious creature."

Elros:"Hmm, I'm afraid O don't know offhand…I do wonder what Sszeyl's idea is though."

Liatai:Through the wall, apparently. :B

VAE:i repeat… who in the end was assigned to the archives?

Flint Carthan:"Seems clear enough to me."

Dr. Hatari:Really, vae? :P

Barbarus:"So, Gnogglebolt."

VAE:really what?

• VAE is even more confused lynx

Dr. Hatari:Our archivist.

Flint Carthan:"Kid heard it's not safe to go travellin' down below alone. You might have a sewer-delving buddy, Elros."

VAE:oh, so he was

Dr. Hatari:Silly

VAE:because i noticed gnogglebolt sending Tathi in there

Barbarus:"Have you any experience riding a mule? :3"

TMG:danman; no

Barbarus:"In combat?"

Liatai:Teamwork. :3

VAE:hence, the confused lynx

Dr. Hatari:AhTMG:the arcane university studen records and whatnot. Gnogglebvolt andTathi are going there.

TMG:You said you were going to the library

VAE:oh, that

• VAE facepaws

Flint Carthan:"Least, if that drow's as good of an ally as you all seem to think he is."

VAE:i thought the records of S. o. Saltmarsh and other stuff was kept in the library

Gnogglebolt:"…No, and I don't think I ever well." Gnogglebolt says to Barbarus.

Thomas Lazarus:"Well.. with all this going on, it seems that they'll be feeling a squeeze sooner or later."

Gnogglebolt:To Elros he says "Well then, I guess you must simply wait for Sszeyl to return and accompany your delve into the lower levels."

Gnogglebolt:"Unless you want to do something else."

Thomas Lazarus:"Hopefully we'll have something. Or they'll make their presence known while moving."

Barbarus:"We might need to change that."

Barbarus:"Because I can't in good concience let someone as teeny tiny as you and Miron go around when Venezuela's got her blood boiling."

Gnogglebolt:"And barbaus, you , me, and Tathi are just going to get this voucher redeemed, you will take the money and speak to your contacts, while Tathi and I go to the arcane universities."

Tathi:Tathi is being quiet, but she's listening. Kor pokes his head up from time to time, glaring at Barbarus.

• Barbarus grins at the rat. Oooh, look at them pearly whites.

Miron :I assure you, Catkin, quite a few foul wizards and their creations were smitten by someone as teeny tiny as myself *laughs*

Gnogglebolt:"I am not getting on an animal if it DOES kill me. Papa was bad enough." Gnogglebolt says. Vehicle-spoiled, stuck-up Mazian. :B

Kor:SQUEAK! And he vanishes.

• Flint Carthan seems to be musing. "Tathi, Tathi, Tathi… Tathi the… bah."

• Thomas Lazarus folds his hands. Oh, my. And here I was just going to go off looking in depressing coffee shops and hot topics. :o

Gnogglebolt:"So, we all know our parts?"

Barbarus:"Yes. :B"

Tathi:She glances over at Flint. "Problem? You seem to have my name down well enough.

Gnogglebolt:"Alright, then farewell everyone! Let us meet back here after sundown to share anything we've learned!" Gnogglebolt says.

Flint Carthan:"It's not gonna stick," he says. "You just watch."

Miron :Farewell indeed!

Gnogglebolt:And fast-forward time!

VAE:yep

Thomas Lazarus:"..Tempest? Typhoon?"

VAE:dt/dt = v_plot XD

Dr. Hatari:Sure~

Flint Carthan:"Tathi the Tempest. Heh, works."

VAE:the Ashen equation

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt goes with Tathi and Barbarus to the courtouse to get the 200 gp, which he gives to Barbarus for his contacts, then splits with him.

Gnogglebolt:After that, he and Tathi start going through the various arcane research and learning centers, seeing if they can look at the records. Hopefully tathi's presence gets them access to more than Gnogglebolt would get alone."

TMG:Everyone else? :o

Barbarus:And Barbie sniffs around for his less scrupulous clients to have them sniff for Necromongers.

Barbarus::BMeanyOwl:Sszeyl is off doing things.

TMG:oh!

Liatai:The door is closed, Sszeyl… Do you knock?

TMG:oh oh oh

TMG:One wuick thing

Tathi:Tathi even tries to use her weight as a former acadamy student, if that helps.

• Sszeyl knockity knock.

Elros:Elros waits for Sszeyl to return, to see if he can offer any aide.

Liatai:Gather Information, researching people, or Knowledge (arcana), or Knowlegde (local).

Liatai:There's no answer. Listen check, Sszeyl?

Gnogglebolt:Before departing, Gnogglebolt says to Elros; "By the way, just look for any evidence that would -indicate- the presence of necromantic activity. If you do find anything like that, don't go in alone, remember what you see and return to us, so we all can go forth together"

VAE:knowledge arcana works for me?

Liatai:Yep.

Sszeyl:« 1d20+5 = 5 + 5 = 10 » Listen check!

Liatai:You hear nothing.

Gnogglebolt:Gather Information: « 1d20+3 = 1 + 3 = 4 »

TMG:FFFFFFFFFFF

Miron :Miron looks through countless books and scrolls at the library « 1d20+9 = 4 + 9 = 13 » Knowledge _arcana

TMG:any retries, or is that the entire day? >.>

Liatai:That's one hour.

Thomas Lazarus:Since the Drow seems to have forgotten his obligations as quickly as he slammed them down, Thomas dismisses helping with houses and funerals for now and makes his way back to the temple for assistance with daily blessings and good-will. Business as usual, although he does drop the question here and there about any foul going-ons in the arcane district. Or, well, any more foul than usual. … Or, well, fuck - he means Necromancers. (Gather Information! « 1d20-1 = 12 - 1 = 11 »)

Elros:"That was my plan. I wouldn't run in on my own, of course."

Tathi:« 1d20+2 = 16 + 2 = 18 » Gather Information, untrained, « 1d20+12 = 14 + 12 = 26 » Knowledge, Arcane, « 1d20+4 = 11 + 4 = 15 » local!!

Ghostwish:allright, gonna be semi-afkish as I start fixing dinner.

VAE:what about meself?

Sszeyl:Is that a Rhylinar I smell?

Gnogglebolt:Another gather information; « 1d20+3 = 7 + 3 = 10 »

Rhylinar:You don't hear the drow sneaking up behind you. :B

VAE:do i get any retries?

Sszeyl:« 1d20+5 = 3 + 5 = 8 » Spot check!

Liatai:You do, but give me a few minutes. XD

Ghostwish:Tech, and any other Eberron DMs, don't let me forget to show you a text file you might be interested in. :>

Gnogglebolt:though gather info is cha-based, and Gnogglebolt's looking though books, which is Int…

• Sszeyl is blind.

VAE:'kTMG:ghost; er…okay

Dr. Hatari:We do seem to be pulling Lia 5 different ways. >:3

• Rhylinar prods Sszeyl's shoulder. >:3

TMG:yeah, stopping now ^^;

Sszeyl:"Oh, hello. :o"

Sszeyl:"Was just looking for you. :3"

Rhylinar:"Hey. Looking for me? What for?"

Sszeyl:"I have apparently a need to go into the underground."

Sszeyl:"And I thought 'hey, who better to as on how not to die horribly than dear Rhylinar who's lived up here for who knows how long?' :3"

Sszeyl:ask*

Rhylinar:"Why do you need to go into the underground?" The drow raises an eyebrow.

Sszeyl:"Apparently the necromancers who took that Drow woman's corpse, at least I think so, have a few agents down there."

Sszeyl:"And unless everyone in your little group wants Zilvudar to know an Orgolloyss in this area broke the law, she needs a proper burial."

Gnogglebolt:After getting confirmation that the Blackskulls are about, Gnogglebolt tries to go through records just as Flint described; several ears ago, society of Saltmarsh. Looking for any mention of the two names from the Palm.

Gnogglebolt:What check would that be?

Rhylinar:"Sheesh… Zai's gonna kill me." The drow scratches his head, then sighs. "All right, let's head inside. No good talking on the doorstep."

Ghostwish:back, miss anything tathi-related?

Sszeyl:"Righto. :3"

• Sszeyl ninjas the door open.

Tathi:"Oh dear. Gnogglebolt?"

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm? yes, Tathi?"

Tathi:"I managed to uncover the rosters of the Society of Saltmarsh going back at least ten years. And there are two siblings, a Baxter and a Baum Spindlethorn, who were enrolled in the Society six years ago and kicked out three years ago. Their noted specialty was necromancy. I sense no coincidence in this."

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, very good!"

Sszeyl:"»"

Miron :Francis Morgan… hmm… but this is rather old… let's see… « 1d20+9 = 14 + 9 = 23 » as he continues to browse through the library

Gnogglebolt:"so we know when they were kicked out…let's follow the records from there, see where they went."

Sszeyl:"It's disturbingly quiet in here."

Tathi:"Interesting.. I also found out that Ezekiel Chirehan was a five year member as well. No speciality. How undecided."

Rhylinar:"Lethiriss took the human to the temple of Pelor, and Zai's at work, so… yeah, kinda quiet."

Gnogglebolt:With a very narrows focus, Gnogglebolt helps Tathi try to piece together a continuity of what happened to the two after they were kicked out, with anything that might be recorded.

Gnogglebolt:"Ezekiel? Hmm, interes—wait."

Gnogglebolt:"…he might know them!"

VAE:Oh, so trofim ended in the pelor's temple in the end?

Tathi:She smirks. "Exactly why I mentioned it."

Gnogglebolt:"Let us finish up here first, then I'll see if he knows anything."

Rhylinar:"So. You want to go trekking into the underground?"

Liatai:It's just a temporary thing to explain the house's silence. x3

Sszeyl:"And preferably not die by some weird species of sewer octopus."

VAE:i see

VAE:is sewer octopus related to land squid?

Rhylinar:"Hah. Well, there are monsters down there, but as long as you stay out of the water, you should be okay… it's not the creatures you need to worry about as much as the people."

Rhylinar:"You've got to correct your speech. You talk like a police officer."

Ghostwish:and brb, checking coals

Sszeyl:"»"

Ghostwish:coals are a burnin'. :>

• Dr. Hatari oms dumplings.

Sszeyl:"Hmm, okay…perhaps I could mix in an Elven accent?"

Liatai:There are very few records of this Spindlethorn duo in any records after that… the main references you find are in criminal records, and they are always listed together.

Sszeyl:"Or I could speak soley in Dwarven?"

VAE:was that to me?

Rhylinar:"Elven sounds too lilting, too 'pretty' for the underground. A dwarven accent would work better. Even better, though, is just… jeez, how do I describe it…"

Gnogglebolt:From the criminal records, is there any consistancy to -where- they've been arrested? Have they been arrested in a place more than once?

Liatai:Nope, to Gnogglebolt and Tathi.

VAE:'lVAE:erVAE:'kGnogglebolt:"Alright…I think that's as good as we're going to get. Time to talk to Ezekiel."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt checks the goblin house, and if he isn't there, he asks the goblins when he last visited.

Rhylinar:"… Try to sound lazy," is the best he comes up with.

Miron :Hmm… no steady occupation… The devil find work for idle hands…

Rhylinar:"The gutterfolk here have a pretty distinctive accent… their words kinda lean inta each other, an' they leave off a lotta sounds on the ends 'a words, kind of like that."

Sszeyl:"…Sounds like how people speak when drunk."

• Rhylinar laughs!

Dr. Hatari:#_# !

Rhylinar:"I guess if you want to think of it that way!"

Sszeyl:"I remember Zairith drunk many times on our travels. It might still seem a bit high-brow, but I can mimic his speech to replicate the effect?"

Miron :That actually might be the man that we are looking for! Francis York… … i wonder if is can find anything about his place of residence

Caswin has connected.

VAE:Shall i roll again?

Ezekiel Chirehan:Ezekiel is at the goblins' house, speaking with Shukek and writing notes. He looks up when the gnome and wood elf enter; "Mr. Sparkgear? I hope nothing's wrong."

Liatai:You can if you want.

Dr. Hatari:Where is Miron, physically? At a library, or a part of the temple?

VAE:Library

Gnogglebolt:"Nothing…ahh…immediately wrong, but I was hoping you could help me."

Rhylinar:"Zai got drunk while you were travelling? Oh jeez, you've gotta share some of those stories with me."

Gnogglebolt:"You were a member of the 'Society of Saltmarsh', yes?"

• Faerie hmms

Faerie:Is there any map for exploring the sewer system, or just pretend?

TMG:yeah, sorry alex, didn't think Sszeyl would get hung up like this >.>

Miron :Miron now focuses on catastral documents of Akellon, seeking anything about property owned by Francis York or those who seem to relate to him « 1d20+9 = 2 + 9 = 11 »

Sszeyl:"Oh I will. :3 If only to see if he blushes with that lighter skin tone."

Rhylinar:"You can try, but dumb down your vocabulary. If you were gonna try to mimic Zai perfectly, you'd be using way more sophisticated words than any gutterfolk would use…"

VAE:ouch

Faerie:Yeah, I was starting to wonder. >.>

TMG:Though, if you can think of anything else for Elros to do, go for it ^^;

Rhylinar:To speed things along. Rhylinar gives a few more small tips; +2 circumstance bonus on Bluff and Disguise checks to act as a gutterfolk for a while!

Faerie:How does one even get into a sewer system? :B

Liatai:And yes, just pretend for now. ^^'

Sszeyl:"I see."

Ezekiel Chirehan:"Ah… yes, I still am, unless something has happened and I haven't been notified."

Faerie:I know. Ground-pound the manhole covers!

Liatai:XDSszeyl:"Now, I best go find some wardrobe choices that are less conducive to diplomacy."

• Faerie wonders how many people get that. >.>

Miron :Hm… no surprise…… Wait! Perhaps i can ask at the city watch - Gnogglebolt seems to have rather a good relationship with those people anyways…

Rhylinar:"Or more conducive, in this case!"

Dr. Hatari:Don't worry. We got you… covered Alex.

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, right. Anyway…by any chance, do the names Baxter and Baum Spindlethorn ring any bells? Siblings kicked out three years ago?"

Tathi:"Pair of young necromancers."

• Dr. Hatari guffaws alone.

Ezekiel Chirehan:"Young necromancers… Perhaps. Are they a pair of twins?"

Miron :*Miron thanks the librarian and heads off to the city watch base and prison*

Sszeyl:"Relativity, such an infuriating word."

Sszeyl:"One last thing, Rhylinar?"

VAE:am unsure of how's the place called, you know, where they had trofim and so

Sszeyl:"What would I need to do for you to trust me enough to introduce me to another of your group?"

Faerie:Dr Hitari: Yeah, i didn't get that one.

Ezekiel Chirehan:"There were two twins who were expelled from the Society of Saltmarsh three years ago who practiced necromancy… I believe the charges were unlawful and dishonorable conduct, though I don't remember precisely. They were not pleasant people."

Liatai:Castleton - Holding Cells map. :3

Ghostwish:brb, putting dah chikin on dah fire

• Rhylinar falters.

Thomas Lazarus:Not feeling very confident in his clandestine reconnaissance skills, Thomas goes through the rest of the afternoon's work mostly out of obligation. He does drop passing mention of curiosity regarding the blackskull activities in the arcane district, although without much urgency. (Another while of Gather Information! « 1d20-1 = 16 - 1 = 15 »)

VAE:there!

Miron :*knock knock*

Dr. Hatari:Eh. I usually don't even briefly consider not telling an abominable joke, so it's cool. :3

Dr. Hatari:I got the ground-pound thing though. x3

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. I was hoping you'd know their wherabouts today…oh well."

Miron :Miron knocks at the gate of the watch-house , shuffling feet impatiently

Rhylinar:"… hmmm. Heavy question."

Rhylinar:"When Zai feels you're stable and mature enough to hear some other things… I trust his judgement. You'll know."

Captain McKeith:"Come in!"

Miron :Greetings, captain!

MeanyOwl is disconnected.

VAE:owl dropped

Meany has connected.

Captain McKeith:"Hello there. Who might you be?"

Miron :I am Miron Steelsprocket

Meany:Rhylinar: "When Zai feels you're stable and mature enough to hear some other things… I trust his judgement. You'll know." Captain McKeith: "Come in!"

Ghostwish:chikins a burnin, cluck cluck cluck!

Miron :I need to speak to you in private for a moment

Ezekiel Chirehan:"Unfortunately, no. I was not very close to them… to be perfectly blunt, something about them made me quite leery."

Captain McKeith:"Talk, then. This place is as good as any."

Gnogglebolt:"Drat….well, that's a dead-end, then. I hope the others had better luck…"

Elros:Elros, seeing as Sszeyl doesn't seem to be planning to show up soon, pays his tab (how much exactly?) and heads outside, figuring he'll see if he can find any eviddence of necromancers in the sewers. But first…how does one get into a sewer?

Gnogglebolt:"…hmm, I do have a question. You've been visiting the swiftaxes, right? How do you think they're doing?"

Ezekiel Chirehan:"Have you spoken to Master Destraliss about the matter?"

Tathi:"Who?"

• Thomas Lazarus finishes up tending to his last petitioner in the church and takes advantage in the lull of need. He raises and walks out of the door in a chipper mood. Again. Probably much to the chagrin of the other actually responsible templars. ":3"

Miron :Allright *speaks silently, careful of the prisoners.. or anything else not overhearing* I seek information on the location of a particular person… a man by the name of Francis York… He lives in Castleton, but seems to lack any employment or immovable property

Ezekiel Chirehan:"The Swiftaxes… are nervous, as to be expected. I should ask you —" The man looks in Tathi's direction. "Master Khazum Destraliss, the founder of the Society of Saltmarsh. Quite the eccentric, but if anyone knows the whereabouts of former members of the Society, it would be him."

Sszeyl:"Heh. No, I don't think I will. For if it's stability Zairith judges by, I will never make the grade."

Gnogglebolt:"Oh? Master Destrallisss?"

Thomas Lazarus:Tom may or may not have missed Elros - he just returned to the Boot.

Sszeyl:"Thank you for your assistence. :3"

Tathi:"Ahh, and where might we find him?

• Sszeyl ninjas off!

Miron :Your men patrol the city in service to our society day by day.. and from what i know about watchmen, they tend to know about the movements of such .. suspicious individuals

TMG:(hmm, can it be said that Sszeyl does come back and meets up with Elros? >.> )

Ghostwish:brb, turnin' da chikin

Faerie:We could do it that way.

Ezekiel Chirehan:"He resides in a tower in the northeastern section of the city… Ah, yes. Bring some cheese with you as a gift, if you can."

Ezekiel Chirehan:"I hope you don't mind bats…"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, thank you for the advice."

Ghostwish:back!

Kor:CHEEEESE!?

Gnogglebolt:"And…what's this about the Swiftaxes? What do you need to ask me?"

Captain McKeith:"Hrmm. Francis York… it isn't ringing a bell."

Sszeyl:Not yet he doesn't.

Dr. Hatari:I have no idea whose token is canonically still at the Boot, and who is a ghost. So.. :P

Sszeyl:Need a change in wardrobe, perhaps a visit to a glamourist.

Miron :Interesting… i have found a mention of him being criminally investigated some time ago… do you know who was assigned to that particular case? Do they still work in the watch?

Sszeyl:Where would he find such things? :3

Ezekiel Chirehan:"If perhaps you could send the drow you travel with… Sszeyl, I believe his name was? If perhaps you could direct him to me at some point in the future. The assassin, Drit, shows promise of being an excellent key informant, but communication via written words is limited."

Liatai:There's a tailor right in the Bronze Boot area. :3

Miron :Miron proceeds to mention the dates he has read about in the library to the captain

VAE:whew.. so we won't lack any horseshoes XD

Elros:Elros stays put for the time being, deciding to wait a little longer for Sszeyl.

Sszeyl:Where is Elros? »

• Thomas Lazarus waves to Elros as he returns.

Sszeyl:And which store to go to? :o

• Thomas Lazarus takes his former seat. "Not much but time on your hands, friend?"

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. Alright, I'll let him know. Thank you.

Sszeyl:Think I found it. :o

Captain McKeith:The guard captain hmms for a moment. "Well, it sure wasn't me who worked on those cases… Sorry, Steelsprocket, unless you check legal archives, I can't help you much."

Sszeyl:This one?

TMG:Meany, just fast-forward it, Alex the player is waiting on you. :/

Sszeyl:Finefine.

Liatai:I can't tell which one you're looking at, click doors! XD

Liatai:I'm hopping between maps like mad. XD

Sszeyl:But I need to know where he is.

Tathi:"Shall we find their head wizard now?"

TMG:Elros the character is waiting for Sszeyl at the Boot

Gnogglebolt:"Indeed. Let us be off…"

Liatai:Sszeyl, either fast forward or click doors, because now I've got to find a token for Master Destraliss. :B

Sszeyl:How much do glamour services cost?

Sszeyl:Fast forward'd.

Liatai:Check the PHB for spell costs.

Sszeyl:But need to know how much to deduct from my token.

Ghostwish:brb, flippin' chikin agin

Dr. Hatari:I am jealous of your every-night barbeque.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt then takes Ezekiel's advice and buys a few pounds of cheese (dang, not in the trade goods), and heads to the tower Ezekiel directed them to.

Miron :Hmm… thank you captain.

Liatai:Check the PHB, I'm token-searching!

VAE:the legal archives are in the library"

VAE:?Liatai:Cheese is in the PHB, too. Hunks of cheese.

Liatai:Yes.

Liatai:Now give me time, I must find tokens!

Ghostwish:back!

TMG:okay, okay xD

Miron :Good luck and stay alert! May the Cudgel aid you smite crime.

TMG:ah, 1 sp for cheee. Gnogglebolt gets three (deduct'd!)

Tathi:Tathi also buys a pound of cheese.

Miron :The small gnome bows and returns to the library.. Ah well, this wasn't the shortcut he has hoped for

Tathi:"Now, you can never claim I don't pamper you enough, Kor."

Kor:SQUEAK!

TMG:okay, sszeyl, what's the level of the spell you're buying?

Liatai:Right, got tokens, now to look for spells. Disguise Self? Alter Self?

Liatai:… Darn, those can't be cast on others… Got it. :o

Sszeyl:[4*40}

Liatai:Rewind time a little.

Sszeyl:« 4*40 = 4 * 40 = 160 »

TMG:wait a sec…um, meany

Rhylinar:"I should ask, Sszeyl. You're not planning to go down there showing off the mark of Orgolloyss, are you?"

Dr. Hatari:Perhaps in drink form?

VAE:Now, what skill should i roll for to seek the names of people involved in the investigation, if any (he already has seen a part of the records)

TMG:you know that caster level and spell level are not the same thing? o.o

Sszeyl:Rhylinar's still there? o-O

Sszeyl:Sszeyl left.

Sszeyl:A while ago.

Rhylinar:"Most people don't know what it means, but you can't be too careful."

Liatai:That's what I meant by rewind time a little! XD

Liatai:This is part of the conversation that they had earlier that was glossed over. :B

Sszeyl:"I intend to wear a proper shirt. »"

Ghostwish:afk, flippin' chikin' agin!

Rhylinar:"Hmm. Won't do a thing for your skin and eyes, though… you're gonna attract more attention than a Daylight spell in Ezzebek…"

Rhylinar:"… Wait here a sec."

Ghostwish:back!

Dr. Hatari:Is Elros not at the boot, then~?

Faerie:No, I thought I said he is waiting.

Dr. Hatari:Alrighty.

Rhylinar:The drow ducks into a side room, and returns twirling a beat-up old hat around one hand. "Normally, I wouldn't do this, but Zai seems to have a soft spot for you. If you don't return it at the end of the day in one piece, though, you're as dead as I'll be when Zairith finds out I let you go to the underground alone."

• Thomas Lazarus waves to Elros as he returns.

• Thomas Lazarus takes his former seat. "Not much but time on your hands, friend?"

Rhylinar:"You got it? These things are expensive." A ratty old hat, expensive? What is he on about? :/

Sszeyl:"»"

Sszeyl:"Is that Zairith's magic hat?"

VAE:a repeat question

Ghostwish:maaaaaagic hat..

Sszeyl:"The one he uses to turn into a half-elf?"

VAE:Now, what skill should i roll for to seek the names of people involved in the investigation, if any (he already has seen a part of the records)

Sszeyl:It's the sorting hat.

Liatai:Gnogglebolt and Tathi - The tower that you approach looks very old. There is a hole in the top floor, and those with sharp eyes might be able to detect bats moving around up there.

• Sszeyl is so totally a Hufflepuff.

Tathi:"How delightfully inviting."

Liatai:Knowledge (local), Miron. :3

Gnogglebolt:"Hello? Is anyone here?" Gnogglebolt calls up.

Rhylinar:"Nah, Zai's is a hair tie. This one's mine."

VAE:hmm… could Gather Information substitute?

Rhylinar:"Which means you'd better take extra care to bring it back in one piece, all right?" Loooom. Well, looming as much as is possible, since it's quite possible Rhylinar is shorter than Sszeyl. :B

Ghostwish:brb, getting chikin, and dinner!

Liatai:It could.

• Sszeyl is five feet, three inches tall.

Master Destraliss:A voice calls out from behind the door; "Did you bring any cheese?"

Gnogglebolt:"As a matter of fact, I did!" Gnogglebolt calls back.

Miron :Miron seeks through the archives: Gather Information « 1d20+4 = 20 + 4 = 24 »

• Dr. Hatari goes to get some cheese. :o

VAE:it's mainly because gather information is trained ^^

Rhylinar:Oh-ho, Rhylinar is taller by two inches. How about that. :o

Sszeyl:"That should not be an issue."

Sszeyl:"I will not be engaging any combat, just souting, and running for my life at times."

Kaerka:The door swings open, and a gnome woman with dyed pink hair holding a broom looks out. "Here to see Master Khazum?" She pauses briefly, blinking at the two people at the door.

Caswin is disconnected.

Ghostwish:back! nom, nom

TMG:this Kaerka at the Destralliss tower? o.o

TMG:with gnogglebolt and Tathi?

Rhylinar:"Well, make sure it doesn't fall off or anything. It's a pain to clean." The drow drops the hat onto Sszeyl's head.

Liatai:Yes, she is.

Sszeyl:"And how does the hat work? :o"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt blinks in surprise and excitement. Another gnome!

Gnogglebolt:He greets her in thier native language, and yes, "Yes, we are here to see the leader of the Society of Saltmarsh."

Kaerka:The gnome smiles timidly, and replies in Gnome - "You've come to the right place." She switches back to Common for the sake of the other visitor - "I'll go get him. Please, come in, sit down." The inside of the tower is much warmer and inviting than the outside, clean and with bookshelves everywhere.

Tathi:"Ah, someone doesn't like the random visitors."

Kaerka:"Mm… I'm afraid that's true. Who should I say is calling? I don't believe either of you are members of the Society of Saltmarsh."

Miron :Ah well… he doesn't seem to have a well-defined location

Tathi:"Tathi." She says, and then names off the arcane acadamy she attended, which, oddly enough, has no name. :O

Miron :Perhaps it's best to ask Thomas… he should be at the temple.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt follows in, and takes a seat. "We just want to ask him a few questions about former members of the society. We're looking for them, you see, and we're told mister Destraliss is the man to ask."

Dr. Hatari:You'll Forget the Name Academy, college of obfuscation.

Miron :The gnome marches off, this time to the temple that houses his friend in arms

Rhylinar:"Just think of how you want to change your appearance, then say (he gives a command word, 'sheetweaver' in Elen)."

Rhylinar:*Elven

Thomas Lazarus:Miron will likely find neither hide nor hair of Thomas at present. A little investigation may yeild clues that he was there earlier, but up and left with a smug look on his face. So much neglect of duty from that one.

Sszeyl:"The limits of this device?"

Sszeyl:"I imagine I have to plan the outfit around the hat."

Master Destraliss:The gnome nods, then heads up the winding stairs of the tower. After a short while, she comes down the staircase, followed by an elderly human in glasses and a somewhat wrinkled old robe.

TMG:man, I'm sorry you've been left out, Alex…

Liatai:I'm trying, dangit! XD

TMG:I feel rather bad about my suggestion being the only one. :(

Dr. Hatari:I've said hello to him twice. I think he's just aloof. :P

Faerie:Yeah, it's cool. I keep looking over…I was just worried that someone had entered and I hand't noticed.

Rhylinar:"Hah, no, the hat takes care of that. You know how Zai's turns into an earring when he's in half-high-elf disguise?"

Gnogglebolt:"Ah, hello mister Destraliss. Thank you ver much for seeing us." He hands over the blocks of cheese.

Tathi:"Master Destrailss, I presume?"

Miron :Gather information check at the temple for Thomas's location?

Miron :« 1d20+4 = 1 + 4 = 5 »

Dr. Hatari:x3VAE:ahaha

Faerie:I was waiting for Sszeyl to return. Simce I'm visually-oriented, I was waiting for his token to show up.

Faerie:>.>

Sszeyl:"I thought at was an actual magic earring, actually."

Rhylinar:"You just can't change your base form too much. Any elf-like form will do… human, half-elf, you could probably even pull off an orc if you were gutsy enough to do it."

Dr. Hatari:Well, he didn't tell any one, at any rate.

Rhylinar:"It changes your attire, too."

Faerie:Meanwhile, I am procrastinating homework and talking about meat on IRC.

Liatai:Since the party talked about meeting at the Bronze Boot, though, it's a logical place to look. x3

Dr. Hatari:The only place we've ever met. But hmmm.. a roll of 1 on gather.

VAE:Faerie: i have a homework to do as well after this ends

Miron :Well, who knows.. he might be at the bar already *walks off to the bronze Boot*

Miron :*looking who's back&

Dr. Hatari:I was so going to drop a token and make up bad directions. x3

Master Destraliss:"That I am." The human takes the cheese with a smile. "Now, my eyes may be decieving me, but unless I am mistaken, neither of you are members of the Society of Saltmarsh… What business do you have with me? Are you perhaps interested in joining?"

Faerie:VAE: Ah, what do you have to do?

Tathi:"I'm never one to turn down an arcane academy.. but as of right now, we're on investigation business. A pair of your pupils were expelled, some time ago, and we now seek to track them down."

Gnogglebolt:"Not exactly. We're actually looking for two ex-members. A Baxter and Baum Spindlethorn."

• Sszeyl attempts to change shape, into a scruffy human boy of similar size and build, but featuring hair, and an Explorer's Outfit.

Liatai:OK, so unless Sszeyl has anything else to say, we can fast-forward a bit and Sszeyl can head out, hat in tow. x3

Sszeyl:Just getting my disguise out there.

Master Destraliss:"Hrmm." The human frowns, taking a seat. "Those two troublemakers…"

Thomas Lazarus:"Oh, welcome back Miron. Did you have any luck?"

Sszeyl:Fast forward!

Master Destraliss:"What have they done now? Are they still robbing graves?"

Tathi:"Worse. Seems they've joined a cabal of necromancers."

• Thomas Lazarus nods at Sszeyl as he enters.

• Sszeyl is in disguise. :[

Gnogglebolt:"Presumably, yes. They appear to have fallen in with a necromantic cabal, the Blackskulls."

Dr. Hatari:Oh. :P

VAE:@Alex : Signal processing examples sheet

Gnogglebolt:"We fell across one of the Blackskulls members, and from information from her, we learned these two people are in it as well. So we're after them, now."

VAE:about 12 questions

Sszeyl:"Petition to outlaw Goblin."

Miron :Thomas! So here you are!

Master Destraliss:"Hmm. So you're pursuing the Blackskulls…" The man's face takes on a dark cast. "That isn't news. They were expelled for following a former pupil of mine when he left the Society to found the Blackskulls."

• Thomas Lazarus looks over. "…" « 1d20-1 = 13 - 1 = 12 »

• Thomas Lazarus perks a bit. "Oh, right."

Thomas Lazarus:"Gnogglebolt hasn't returned yet."

• Thomas Lazarus nods to Miron. "Yes.. with only a modest lead in tow."

Miron :I did indeed… some man called Francis York seems to be just the person we are looking for.. he was investigated for charges of murder and necromancy at various points in Castleton and Lorellon

Faerie:VAE: Ah, I see. Engineering homework problem set, m'self.

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. Who's the leader?"

• Thomas Lazarus rubs his chin and looks over "Sszeyl" again.

VAE:in esssemce, Alex, it's the same with me

Gnogglebolt:erp, "Who is this founder?"

VAE:it's just the particular subject is that

Elros:Elros nods in acknowlegement of Sszeyl. Apparently there were knock-out drops in the meat pie, or something.

Master Destraliss:"A man by the name of Brent Kennebec… unfortunate, that one. He showed so much promise…"

Miron :He seems to have been holding no steady job at any time… a typical idler who makes his living out of crime i'd say

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. Another name is good…"

Sszeyl:A strapping human lad! Scruffy, with a few scars here and there, a plain quaterstaff, in one hand, and a folding fan tucked into his belt. And hair. Nice, blonde hair that's admittedly a bit flat coloured.

Gnogglebolt:"But, what we're really looking for is locations. Do you know the whereabouts of Baxter and Baum?"

Miron :Sadly, i couldn't find any reliable informations about his location…. i was wondering whether your Pelorite brothers haven't heard about such a person

Master Destraliss:"Unfortunately, I can only tell you that where you will find one, you will find the other. The two of them are practically joined at the hip… despite all of their squabbling with each other."

• Thomas Lazarus is still considering the disguise. "That's pretty darn good..!"

• Thomas Lazarus looks to Miron. "Mm.. probably not." He droops a bit.

Thomas Lazarus:"I'm really bad at this kind of thing."

Faerie:Ah, that's what Sszeyl's disguise is? >.>

Sszeyl:Yep.

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks slightly downcast. "So, you don't know any likely spots in the city we can search? We do know they're probably somwehere in the arcane district of the city, but we're looking to narrow that down…"

Thomas Lazarus:"Although.."

Thomas Lazarus:"I did pick up a few rumors from the petitioners."

Master Destraliss:"Perhaps you would do well to search near temples. Baum was fascinated with the divine aspects of magic as related to the undead… or perhaps it was Baxter?"

Miron :Oh? Do say, friend!

Thomas Lazarus:"Apparently, there's a little coin to be had selling cadavers in the eastern side of the East Mess."

Elros:"Hmm. I barely recognize you any more. If I wasn't looking for you, I'd certainly never know."

Tathi:"Pity.. they did sound like promising students."

• Thomas Lazarus wiggles his brows conspiratorially.

Gnogglebolt:"Near the temples? Hmm. That does narrow it a bit."

Miron :Unsurprising… this only reinforces what has been said already

Thomas Lazarus:"..But that's all I could really get from them. No one really trusts us."

Gnogglebolt:"Do you have any other information that might be of help?"

Thomas Lazarus:"Atleast it narrows down their operation area slightly."

Miron :*thinks for a moment* Well… one could consider it unsurprising given what we are doing at the moment… but then , our goal is what matters

Master Destraliss:"Only to be careful if you encounter Brent. The last I had heard, he was seeking a vampire's tutelage."

Gnogglebolt:"..oh, dear. That is worrisome."

Gnogglebolt:"But thank you for the information."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt stands up. "I guess we'll be going now. Have a good day, sir."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt then looks at the gnome girl in the room. "I'd like to talk to you more later." he says, smiling.

Master Destraliss:"Same to you… shame you can't stay for tea."

Gnogglebolt:"So few of my kin in this country…"

• Kaerka nods farewell, still holding onto her broom.

• Thomas Lazarus leans on his elbows.

Elros:"So, I heard you speak of some sort of plan earlier?"

• Barbarus is still off, paying clients.

Thomas Lazarus:"So … uhm, 'friend'. What was it you were hoping to get accomplished?"

Gnogglebolt:"right then…farewell, Master Destrialiss." Gnogglebolt says, heading out with Tathi and going back to the Boot.

TMG:and since wveeyone got on info-sharing already, doot-doo-doot!

Liatai:Gather Information check, Barbarus? And then I think we're done. x3

Liatai:Done with all the hopping around, at least. x3

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt walks in the door. "Ah, hello again everyone." Gnogglebolt says as he enters.

• Thomas Lazarus waves.

Liatai:And two Gather Information checks for Elros and Sszeyl, to represent their jaunt into the sewers. :3

Barbarus:« 1d20+3 = 4 + 3 = 7 »

Barbarus:No luck. :/

Liatai:Oof! Barbarus finds nothing. :/

Miron :I was hoping to arrest the suspect, eradicate necromancy and go on a holiday in mazio *the gnome grins* However what i have actually achieved is getting us what is most likely a true identity of this "Morgan" guy the necromanceress mentioned

Liatai:Elros, Sszeyl?

Sszeyl:« 1d20+1 = 9 + 1 = 10 »

Sszeyl:Nada.

Faerie:…Sszeyl is in the same room as Elros now, right?

Faerie:>.>

Liatai:Roll Gather Information, Elros. x3

Dr. Hatari:Haha, wow man.

Liatai:We'll use that to represent what you learned during your jaunt into the sewers. ^^'

Elros:gather information « 1d20+3 = 13 + 3 = 16 »

Sszeyl:Yep.

VAE:ouch… it seems that the best methods turned out the worst results

Faerie:Liatai: …but I thought we decided I didn't go in, and just waited for Sszely.

Liatai:Oy. XD

Faerie:…or not, since you already whispered. >.>;

Liatai:Okay, Sszeyl came, you guys went into the sewers for a moment, did some poking around, and are coming back to find everyone finally here.

Faerie:I actually wanted to RP it, but then it was suggested I wait for Sszeyl, so I didn't. :x

Liatai:… Mini-session, okay? ^^; If you want to RP it.

• Liatai is bushed from jumping around so much. XD

Faerie:Er…buh…fine, some other time though.

Liatai:Soooo… many… timelines… @.@

Dr. Hatari:Heh.

TMG:I'm really sorry alex, I should have come up with a better suggestion for what Elros could have done x_x

Liatai:Yeah, some other time. ^^' I'm sorry.

TMG:although meany just had to spend so much time chattering…ah well.

• Liatai facedesks.

Liatai:You guys get to sharing info… I'm going to rest my fingers. Whoo.

TMG:Yes, go rest, Liatai ^^

Faerie:TMG: Nah, i's fine, you didn't know, and Meany was doing his thing…

Faerie:Just awkward circumstances.

Gnogglebolt:"So, everyone's back…who's learned what?" Gnogglebolt asks

Sszeyl:"So, corpse trafficking over in the East Gate area."

TMG:(nand I'll pretend someone reiterated the conversation thus far)

Barbarus:"My clients found nothing. These guys hid their tracks well."

• Sszeyl is still in disguise. ;o

Ghostwish:Sorry to sound like a drag, but how far are we from stopping? Real life is knocking at the door again.

• Thomas Lazarus folds his arms and nods. "Yes.. buyers of corpses out there. The best I could get was the eastern portion of that gutterking's territory."

Liatai:Info sharing, scorecards, and then we're done.

Ghostwish:Awesom!

Tathi:"We have another name now. Someone who may have been the founder of the cabal."

Miron :The man she spoke about is most likely a drifter by the name of Francis York

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm…corpse selling over by the gate in the arcane district…"

Gnogglebolt:"Miron, tell me more about this Francis York."

Miron :Sadly , his location is unknown and the men of the city watch themselves could tell me little

Gnogglebolt:"How is Francis connected?"

Miron :He holds no steady job , seems to move between Castleton and Lorellon

• Flint Carthan is still absent from the gathering.

Miron :and he was investigated for necromancy and murder several times over the last few years

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm…."

Miron :under various names indeed, but the descriptions and other details point to this.

Gnogglebolt:"What names?"

Miron :As before..Francis Morgan and the like…

Gnogglebolt:"Ahh…so this is the Morgan/Zach man…"

Gnogglebolt:"That is quite useful."

Miron :Seems to fit what miss Banshee was telling

Gnogglebolt:"Tathi and I didn't find much, except that Baxter and Baum are twins, and they can always be found together."

Gnogglebolt:"We did learn the name of the founder of the Blackskulls, one Brent Kennebec."

Miron :One other possibility would be perhaps asking someone in Lorellon… that is, if our examination of the Eastern mess sewers either fails or proves unfeasible

Gnogglebolt:"It was mentioned he was looking for vampiric assistance, though."

Thomas Lazarus:"Hmmmmm~" He rests his chin on the back of a gauntlet.

Gnogglebolt:"Sszeyl, Elros, did you find anything?"

• Thomas Lazarus looks to the (apparently stinky) pair. :3

Sszeyl:"I gave my information already."

Miron :Correct me if i am wrong but the drow seems to originate from there, as well as his friends he mentioned.. and that insane man you told me abot

• Drayco pokes player avatars…

Miron :*about

Sszeyl:"But do you have the contents of the Redmaw ledger memorized?"

Drayco:No bar-room brawls?

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm…wait a second."

Gnogglebolt:"There was one more thing."

Gnogglebolt:"Baxter or baum are apparently known for being near templs, looking into the 'divine' aspect of necromancy…"

Gnogglebolt:"…I need a map."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt goes to the bartender and borrows his if he has one.

• Thomas Lazarus twiddles his thumbs. "..Mmm.."

Miron :So the worshippers of foul gods?

Thomas Lazarus:"It isn't something we like to speak of, but it's true that most seeking the true route of Necromancy do not do so through arcane routes."

Gnogglebolt:"i'm not sure, but look at this…" Gnogglebolt focuses on the arcane district section of the map.

Gnogglebolt:"You said you heard of corpose trafficking near the Gate…." Gnogglebolt points to that.

Thomas Lazarus:Oh? Do I spy a Hellsing hatted fellow?

• Flint Carthan enters quietly, walking with a bit of a limp. He says nothing yet, but watches.

Miron :Indeed… the arcane's control over the dead is much more fickle than pacts with those responsible for their creation

Liatai:Actually, no, I think he's from a game Drayco pointed me to. :B

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks for a temple in the Arcane District that is closest to the gate.

Ghostwish:What game, dare I ask? :P

Dr. Hatari:I meant Van Helsing and the iconic hats. :P

Miron :Miron walks towards the hatted man

Liatai:I don't remember. ^^;

Liatai:I just know that the original character's name was something like Jack Hamilton.

Miron :Found anything, brother?

Flint Carthan:"A couple of zombies."

Sszeyl:"Oh?"

• Thomas Lazarus frowns deeply. "Are you alright?"

Tathi:Tathi blinks, looking over at Flint. "Really now?"

Miron :Oh?

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks up. "what? You encountered actual undead?"

Flint Carthan:"Eh, nothing I can't handle. They were under an old crumbling building in East… the Palm dug out an underground temple of Nerull there a year or two ago, thought it would be the best place to check first."

Gnogglebolt:"Was there evidence of recent activity?"

Thomas Lazarus:"I see.."

VAE:No shit sherlock!

Flint Carthan:"If by recent activity you mean at least five zombies? Yeah."

VAE:he encountered actual zombies

Sszeyl:"Were any of them Drow corpses, by chance?"

Miron :Miron laughs at his friend's question

Gnogglebolt:"I meant -aside- from the zombies! The could have been left there."

Flint Carthan:"Drow? Nah, but there was a hobgoblin."

Gnogglebolt:"They do have a tendancy to last a long time, so I hear."

Flint Carthan:"You'd be surprised. They're not the most durable of the undead."

Miron :Zombies that last for a long time are called skeletons, i believe *Still chuckling*

Thomas Lazarus:"Easy, friends." He frowns at Flint's leg. "- Are you hurt?"

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. So, was there evidence of anyone living having been there recently?"

Flint Carthan:"Just a scratch, nothing major," he says to the templar - « 1d20+5 = 16 + 5 = 21 » Bluff check. "Saw a few tracks, and the trap door I opened had a new lock on it."

• Thomas Lazarus rolls for twenties! « 1d20+2 = 12 + 2 = 14 »

Liatai:You can roll an opposed Heal check if you think you could do better with that. x3

Thomas Lazarus:A little~ « 1d20+5 = 19 + 5 = 24 »

Sszeyl:« 1d20+3 = 12 + 3 = 15 » Sense motive check!

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. This is actually troubling. We could have all gone there in force."

• Thomas Lazarus gives Flint a flat look.

Gnogglebolt:"It seems as if a recently-uncovered temple to dark gods with active zombies in it is exactly their base of operations."

Gnogglebolt:"I'm now hoping it -wasn't-, because if it was, then they now know we're looking for them, and have probably begun to move."

• Thomas Lazarus raises from his chair and slides it in. He approaches the hunter and gives him a healthy (OH) swat on his leg with the head of the silver curing wand. « 1d8+1 = 6 + 1 = 7 »

Flint Carthan:"Lucky for us, zombies aren't the smartest guards — OW!"

VAE:aahahahah!

Thomas Lazarus:"Humility is a virtue, brother." He smiles.

VAE:he's negative energy fueled, is he

Dr. Hatari:I just liked the dumb pun, really.

Flint Carthan:"I was gonna take care of it myself when I got back to the hostel," the man grumbles.

Miron :There is one more thing

Miron :Have you or any of your informants heard of someone called Francis York?

• Thomas Lazarus simply offers a sympathetic nod before returning to his seat, still beaming.

Flint Carthan:"Anyway. Like I was saying, zombies aren't the smartest guards. They'll jump at a cat moving overhead same as a person doing the same thing. We shouldn't go back there tonight, but I'll bet by tomorrow they'll be back to their old routine." He then looks down at Miron. "Francis York? Lemme think…"

Flint Carthan:"The name's ringing a few bells, but I can't quite place it."

Gnogglebolt:"Apparently, he is the one with many names, including Morgan, Zach, and Adrian."

Miron :A vagabond moving between Akellon and Lorellon it seems

Miron :investigated for murder in *recites dates*

Flint Carthan:"Lorellon's the capital of Akellon, you know that, Miron." The human gives a wry grin. "You sure you didn't hit your head on a shelf while you were researching?"

Miron :*facepalms*

Miron :Castleton i meant!

• Flint Carthan snickers.

Miron :Well, but you must agree that if he moved through Lorellon he must have moved through Castleton as well

VAE:ahah!

Miron :I mean…

Gnogglebolt:"Of course he did, considering he's the one who killed Granch Redmaw and set the Blackswords agains the Redmaws."

Caswin has connected.

Miron :Bloody placenames! They sound all so similar in common!

Thomas Lazarus:"..It sounds like, regardless of whose fiends they are, there is foul trouble festering in the eastern part of the city."

Thomas Lazarus:"I take it, then, that we have a destination tomorrow?"

Gnogglebolt:"Indeed."

Miron :Indeed.

Gnogglebolt:"And yes, we have a destination indeed…"

Flint Carthan:"Sounds like a plan. Where are we meeting, and when?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt pulls out his pocketwatch. What time is it now?

Miron :Now.. shall we go there openly, or, say, pretend to seek selling a cadaver?

Liatai:Just after sundown, roughly 8 PM.

Miron :If they accept such a sale, it alone is enough for an arrest

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm…."

Dr. Hatari:"Well.. if we do go in force, maintaining a ruse will be nigh-impossible. Atleast, if I go with you."

Gnogglebolt:"Should we go early morning, or at noon?"

Thomas Lazarus:"Well.. if we do go in force, maintaining a ruse will be nigh-impossible. Atleast, if I go with you."

Gnogglebolt:"If we go at noon, I'll have time to throw something together first…"

Flint Carthan:"The templar brings up a good point. I'd say we should just go in and tear the place up."

Thomas Lazarus:"I'm not just a priest anymore. Anyone that sees me in this uniform will know something is going down."

Sszeyl:"If we march to war, I cannot go with you."

Barbarus:"I can. :D"

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm? Why is that, Sszeyl?"

Miron :Did your own teach you nothing about taking up arms to protect order, drow?

• Thomas Lazarus has flashbacks of Venezuala's triumphant death-rear. In slow motion.

Thomas Lazarus:"… :| "

Sszeyl:"My overseer has dictated me to avoid rash activity."

Sszeyl:"Engaging an enemy I do not know, on soil I do not know, these both constitute such acts."

Sszeyl:"Especially considering my lack of armor. :/"

Miron :Yet you have leapt upon a dire wolf, endangering yourself AND my friend

Flint Carthan:"Bah, what's life without a few risks?"

Thomas Lazarus:"Well.. it's alright."

Sszeyl:"I have no choice in tha matter. :/"

Gnogglebolt:"Hmm. Well, I was thinking that the idea of sending in a few first to pose as buyers has merit…"

Miron :Your statements hold little water as you continue to deny them by your acts

Miron :But well

Gnogglebolt:"Not to put too fine a point on it, but as a -drow-, you make a convincing buyer, Sszeyl."

Sszeyl:"That I could help that Gnogglebolt, and I am not out to convince you of anything Miron."

Gnogglebolt:"However, you don't have to do anything you don't want to."

Miron :I'd be surprised if you were.

Gnogglebolt:"If you must excuse yourself from this excursion, then we'll manage without you."

Gnogglebolt:"Although, I was thinking that you, me, and Elros would stick together through the thick of it as we have been…"

Gnogglebolt:*rolling Guilt Trip :B *

Miron :Speaks in Gnomish

Dr. Hatari:That's a larf. :P

Sszeyl:"Then, if we are to stick to it, and I pose as a buyer, I will need to ask you and Elros to bend your pride."

Miron says in Gnome: It seems a drow is a drow no matter who herds them, friend..

Gnogglebolt:"…Oh? How so?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt shoots Miron a weird look, but doesn't say anything.

Sszeyl:"It is well known Drow can and still practice slavery."

Sszeyl:"A Drow of any social standing other than Orgolloyss is expected to have at least one with them to vent excess anger upon."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt was quiet with a glare for a moment…

Gnogglebolt:tthen catches on.

Gnogglebolt:"Ahaaa. So someone needs to play a slave for you?"

• Thomas Lazarus doesn't seem to know whether to be amused or worried.

Sszeyl:"If they are to take me seriously, yes."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt steeples his fingers. "Since I am small, and many would see me as meek anyway, and also because I've known you for the lognest of anyone here save Elros, I will do this. I trust you."

Flint Carthan:"While this whole idea of playing games with necromancers is amusing, the fact remains that if we're going to be posing as corpse-sellers, we'll need a corpse. And if we're posing as corpse-buyers, it's gonna be hard with a templar in tow."

Gnogglebolt:"One other thing though, iI was also thinking you wouldn't go in alone anyway, Barbarus here also would be exceedingly convincing, what with all the bones he wears."

• Thomas Lazarus rubs the back of his neck.

Sszeyl:"…:3"

Flint Carthan:"Tom, what does your order say about covering up your uniform?"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt looks at Flint. "That's the point of scouting."

Sszeyl:"We have many corpses."

Sszeyl:"Buried in my back yard."

Gnogglebolt:"Only I, Barbarus, and Sszeyl will approach initially."

Gnogglebolt:"The rest will wait for a signal."

Barbarus:"I ain't gonna pose for a slave. »"

Barbarus:"Not unless I'm being paid."

Miron :Accepted… but be careful.

Flint Carthan:"I follow you now."

Sszeyl:"Shush."

Gnogglebolt:"What? No!" Gnogglebolt says to barbarus. 'I just said, you'd make a convincing buyer!"

Gnogglebolt:"You and Sszeyl together."

Thomas Lazarus:"I.. I suppose I could wear something else, or cover myself - although it would still be loud. Really, a templar has no business being away from his church doing this kind of thing at all."

Sszeyl:"Anyway, I'll go to my caves, and exgavate the fallen Blackswords."

Miron :You have less knowledge of those matters than me, Thomas or Flint

Faerie:…

Thomas Lazarus:"I suppose I could push my luck a little more. ^^;"

Sszeyl:"They will be our product."

Faerie:So many inappropriate things to say about Barbarus.

Faerie:>.>

Miron :Thomas, things like this need to be done if the order is to prevail

Gnogglebolt:"…wait, I thought you were going to be a -buyer-, not a seller?"

TMG:ack, crap

VAE:crap?

TMG:okay, hold everyone, OOC

Sszeyl:"You're being very confusing on that point."

Meany:Yo.

VAE:that's what they were foing on with from the beginning!

VAE:*going

TMG:Here is the plan that Gnogglebolt is suggesting;

TMG:The two most convincing-looking members of the group, Sszeyl and Barbarus, will go in pretending to be -buyers- to get closer to the necromancers. As sszeyl needs a slave, Gnogglebolt offered to play that part.

Dr. Hatari:Er, the Necromancers are the buyers, no? How could we presume to be the buyers? x3

Ghostwish:sorry if I've been quiet. helping a friend with boyfriend problems. :|

Flint Carthan:"Loud doesn't matter, I just meant covering up your shiny armor with a cloak. Even if the others are going in first, there's a chance some of their allies might fall in behind them while we're not looking. If that happens, we need to be prepared to explain away our presence, if this whole crazy plan is going to work."

TMG:Everyone else, templar included, will hang back out of sight.

TMG:And wait for a signal to move in.

VAE:exactly

TMG:That is what Gnogglebolt is suggesting.

VAE:they have, and want to pose as *sellers

VAE:because the necromancers want to *buy* the corpses

TMG:why do we want to pose as sellers?

TMG:and who said that?

VAE:see above

VAE:EVERYONE@

TMG:erm…

VAE:Thomas found that if someone wants to make a buck, the folks in east mess will buy a corpse from them

VAE:hence followed Miron's idea

TMG:Ah. Okay, I missed that.

Dr. Hatari:Unless you mean buying zombies?

VAE:ahahah

Dr. Hatari:Ehn it could happen.

TMG:alright, so everything Gnogglebolt suggested, except posing as sellers, not buyers?

Liatai:"I want to buy a zombie slave. :B"

VAE:exactly!

VAE:i meant to TMG ,not lia

VAE:though that'd work too

TMG:Okay, I got it now.

TMG:Continuing IC ^^

VAE:also, how long ETA?

Liatai:We should be wrapping up soon.

VAE:nice!

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt winces at something. "Well…I'm not happy about digging up corpses for this, but if that's what it takes to sell the story…"

Gnogglebolt:"So long as they are put -back- when this is over."

Miron :Indeed.

Gnogglebolt:"Is that okay?"

Flint Carthan:"Hey, butcher. Just thought of something."

Miron :Besides, if i have heard well, they be corpses of evildoers

Flint Carthan:"You killed any large predatory animals lately?"

Barbarus:"» Why yes."

Gnogglebolt:"…oh course! The demonic wolves!"

Barbarus:"Two Feindish Wolves."

Miron :At least in their death, they shall serve order they have seeked to undermine during their lives

Gnogglebolt:"That's -perfect-!"

Miron :…Oh!

Barbarus:"Denny should still be studying their corpses for me."

Flint Carthan:"Perfect. Necromancers like to animate dead wolves all the time."

Gnogglebolt:"Demonic wolves would be a -jackpot- to practitioners of the dark arts."

Miron :Though… they might be a little high-profile

Gnogglebolt:"Barbarus, can you get them?"

Barbarus:"Yes. :o"

Gnogglebolt:"Excellent."

Gnogglebolt:"now, one last thing."

Barbarus:"Off I go?"

• Thomas Lazarus rubs his chin and looks interested. "My, how things are coming together."

Miron :I guess it should work either way

Gnogglebolt:"Will we be going in early morning, or at noon?"

Gnogglebolt:"Because if we wait until noon, I might be able to have something useful together by then."

Thomas Lazarus:"… Noon."

Miron :I would suggest morning, but if there is a compelling reason for noon, then noon be it

Flint Carthan:"Noon would probably be safer, anyway. Gives the zombies more chance to settle back into their normal routine."

Thomas Lazarus:"If they're creepy nocturnal bats, they'll not be awake so early."

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods to Miron. "The compelling reason is that if I have a few hours to work, then I can create a bomb."

Sszeyl:"And, in the meantime, I can coach dear Gnogglebolt here on how to act as a Drow slave. :3"

Gnogglebolt:"We can use it as part of the surprice once the signal is given."

Flint Carthan:"Oh-HO." The witch hunter grins widely at Gnogglebolt's suggestion.

Gnogglebolt:"Bang, flash, blind them all."

Gnogglebolt:"Or just blast them to smithereens."

Flint Carthan:"Reminds me, should stock up on holy water before going down there again."

Miron :That is a compelling reason indeed, friend!

Gnogglebolt:"Alright, so if that is taken care of…I must get to bed. I must wake up -before- sunrise to begin work."

VAE:oh, a question

VAE:since Miron has some Craft(alchemy) could he aid Gnogglebolt ?

TMG:go to sleep at 8:00, wake up at 4 AM. Gnogglebolt's going to give a big tip to whoever in the inn can do that for him >.>

VAE:i guess every + to checks would be welcome

Flint Carthan:"Right. Where are we meeting? There's a potion shop called the Clear Vial in the arcane district that makes a good meeting place."

Flint Carthan:"Though I'm all ears if someone else has got somewhere else they want to meet."

Sszeyl:"I think I know of it. :o"

Gnogglebolt:Gnogglebolt nods. "Very well. Clear Vial tomorrow at noon, then."

TMG:danman; hmm…

Miron :Seems like a good place

TMG:the relevant check is Tech Device.

VAE:indeed

Barbarus:"Oh, this is going to be a glorious conversation."

TMG:not Alchemy…

VAE:but i am asking Liatai

Barbarus:"Explaining selling wolf corpses to Denny."

Barbarus:"Oi."

VAE:well… it does need some explosives inside

Liatai:Probably not, unless making gunpowder is part of the process.

TMG:but if I build a bomb that includes gunpowder…then the GM -might- rule that alchemy can be used for the aid another

VAE:that's what i am talking about

TMG:…

Liatai:Same wavelength. x3

TMG:except only Tinkers can craft gun[powerd, doof it. -_-

TMG:It's a seeecret.

Liatai:Aw.

TMG:Like only spellcasters can craft alchemists' fire

VAE:now that'sinteresting

Barbarus:Or only Rogues can craft facestabbing.

TMG:So yeah, sorry, Gnogglebolt has to do this on his own. ^^;

VAE:can he actually explain him what to do, given they are both gnomes?

VAE:AAHAHAH XD

VAE:Barbarus's quote should go to the funny file

TMG:Alrighty! So, we leave off here?

VAE:yep

Liatai:No, but he can help gather other supplies.. like, say, the aforementioned holy water, or potions, or alchemist's fire…

Liatai:Yep, good place to leave off. :3

Ghostwish:phew sorry.

Ghostwish:Why do some excuses for men get incredible women, and then treat them like trash? WTF?

VAE:now, i need to research what the skill actually allows me to do

VAE:Because they can

GM:Scorecards! Everyone gets 100 XP for roleplaying and 100 XP for the Wheel of Information. WHEW. You guys found out a lot in a short period of time.

TMG:Hokay! So, EXP?

TMG:Whee!

GM:Nominations for bonuses?

TMG:Almost to level 4! :D

TMG:Hmm…

Ghostwish:nominate me for a deduction for being such a spacy head. X(

Faerie:So, total is…4800?

Faerie:Or 5100?

Faerie:>.>

Meany:I nominate no such thing.

Liatai:5100.

TMG:yup, I'm a 5100

Meany:I nominate Faerie for Locked Outta RP :[

Faerie:Yep, because 300 at the start from last session + 200 now.

Dr. Hatari:Hmmm.

TMG:meany; yeah, I was going to say something similar. ^^;

GM:Indeed, I was just thinking the same thing. 100 XP to Elros for being a good sport about it… I'm sorry, Faerie, we can play out the RP in the sewers later, when I actually have a map. ^^'

Meany:I'm at 4800.

TMG:meany; you're missing the 300 from last session. :B

TMG:it was given this morning

TMG:at the start

Ghostwish:+300 - Misc roleplaying and what not.

Ghostwish::>TMG:scroll up—crap, you disconnected once, didn't you?

TMG:did you lose the log?

Meany:No.

Ghostwish:Anything else I should jot down? I gotta get going. :>

VAE:noMeany:I changed it for I are lazy.

Meany:Seeya Ghost!

Faerie:Liatai/GM: Ah, don't give i to me now, give it to me for doing the actual session. :P

GM:Miron - 100 XP - Unexpected Use of Resources. Good going for using your connections to the tempe!

Meany:I expect epicness tomorrow!

Liatai:OK, your call, Fae. ^^

Ghostwish:You're meeting a king who's been equated to the Chuck Norris of eberron.

Ghostwish:WHAT DO YOU EXPECT!?!?!?

• Faerie doesn't know if that puts him at 5k or 5100 though.

Liatai:See ya, Ghost ^^

Liatai:5100.

Ghostwish:And AWAY!!

VAE:see ya!

Dr. Hatari:I would nominate someone for the neat token and well-played spontaneous witch hunter persona, but… the DM doesn't track XP. :|

Ghostwish is disconnected.

VAE:ooh! i got an award?

TMG:Wiat!—crap

TMG:was going to nominate Tathi for something…

VAE:soo… that makes it 5200 XP., right?

TMG:danman; yes

VAE:bing, done

Liatai:5100 for Miron, since I think he didn't get an award in Session 23. ^^'

VAE:aha!

TMG:oh yeah

Liatai:22. Whatever the last time I awarded XP was. x3

VAE:bing again

Liatai:What was the suggestion for Tathi? I'll note it in the log.

TMG:Record Access - club membership has its perks. x3

VAE:anything else?

TMG:Hmm…

GM:Unless anyone else has nominations, I think we're good to go. :3

TMG:ah, thought everyone would get a nomination…ah well.

VAE:am thinking

TMG:Yup, good to go. Save log?

• Dr. Hatari salutes.

TMG:oh! nevermind…

VAE:Master of the Obvious for Hatari/Thomas

Dr. Hatari:Hm?

VAE:since he asked Miron about trying to get help from the order which in fact deals with just this thing

Liatai:Captain Obvious? :B

TMG:Sszeyl: Wiser than the gnome - you figured out which gifts go to who!

VAE:which ,sadly, hasn't occured to anyone else

Dr. Hatari:I dunno. That doesn't feel very reward-worthy. :P

Liatai:Ah, yes, the reward puzzle. :3

Meany:I only figured out some of them.

VAE:Well, if not that then messing with Gnogglebolt during the mini-session

VAE:your choice, really

Meany:So I vote against the nomination.

TMG:meany; you figured out -most- of them, and a lot more than Gnogglebolt did. x3

Liatai:Though, actually, the only ones Sszeyl got wrong were his and Barbarus'. :B The bookmark was meant for Sszeyl, while the beaded charm was meant for Barbarus.

VAE:except that since you can't nominate yourself, you can't vote against yourself either

TMG:and he swapped them? x3

Liatai:He swapped them. x3

TMG:Teehee. x3

Meany:»Meany:It shouldn't matter.

Meany:Wrong is wrong.

VAE:look

Liatai:Yeah, it doesn't really matter in the long run. Who got which token isn't that important. x3

VAE:in my engineering course, if you get 65% of the exam answers correct, you get a first class / A

Liatai:But I am impressed that you figured out that many! … And what VAE said. XD

VAE:sszeyl beat tat

VAE:*that

TMG:What matters is that they were given, a memento is a memento. :)

TMG:As long as the character looks at it and always remembers Terri. :)

Dr. Hatari:*Tathi

Dr. Hatari:>:3

Liatai:*SNRK*

VAE:you are talking like Terri was dead

Dr. Hatari:Anywho~

Liatai:Ow. XD Tea up the nose. You'd think I'd learn. XD

Dr. Hatari:I'll see ya'll later.

Liatai:See ya!

VAE:see ya!

TMG:Seeya, hatari!

Dr. Hatari is disconnected.

VAE:so…

VAE:5VAE:4VAE:Liatai, the countdown is yer job!

Liatai:3!Liatai:2!Liatai:1!VAE:tat's 6!

Liatai:*EXPLODY*

VAE:3 factorial!

You have disconnected.