Ch2 1

Peter|GM: THE BASE CAMP, AT THE ARCOLITH "FILIOS" .
Peter|GM: Waves wash over the stony black shore.
Peter|GM: With the departure of the Lucky Molly, the camp is exposed to the southern wind.
Elbereth is gathering together her things. As far as she's concerned they have little time to waste. "If we want to make our provisions last, we're going to need to deal with that beast and forage what we can."
Peter|GM: It ripples over the tents with the salty cold.
Folis: "I can start moving supplies and camping stuff to a sanctuary, if you prefer."
Folis: "Seems like it'd be best to get indoors even if it's inside the Arcolith."
Folis: "There's no rules about overstaying a sanctuary, are there?"
Elbereth smiles. "You may wish to rest, you've had a hard day Miss Folis. There are a few unidentified items left at camp if you wish to contribute, however."
Folis: "That's… slightly outside my study but I can certainly try."
Folis: "Be careful out there, okay?"
Folis tries to manage a smile, and almost gets there. But she's tired and deeply shaken.
Elbereth: "Echo Thirty-Six, can you show us where this beast you encountered was on the second night?"
Lobelia finishes taking inventory of what supplies were left behind and tosses the ship's former ledger on top of a crate. "It wouldn't do to injure yourself. If you start to carry stuff in, take some breaks if you've got any aches."
Alianor: "So… kill that beast, clean out the second site, and then find our way back to civilization… Did I miss anything?"
Echo: "Yes." He heads off towards the beach.
Folis: "Probably find the other Arcolith, or something." \
Elbereth: "That's the immediate plan at least. I am hoping the second site still houses enough treasure to pay for your services rendered."
The murmuring from one of the bags ceases as the dolls start to crawl out. "Uhh, wait, we were on a roof earlier, why're we on the be- where's the shi- WHere's Site A?"
Folis: "Well, the entrance got blown to shit."
Folis: "Long story short, the captain bought our safety, for now."
Folis: "Well."
Folis snorts.
Peter|GM: The explosion shattered the entrance to Site A. Heavy arcostone rubble bars its entrance.
Folis: "Relative safety."
Peter|GM: Fallen slabs offer a little bit of a shortcut to the other site, at least.
Folis: "There's probably some way around back in but things might have gotten shaken up pretty bad."
Elbereth chuckles softly. "I've been rather busy in the last little while, Kit. I apologize."
Kit: "… How'd Miss Captain buy our safety?"
Folis: "She took a lot of the really big treasures to the Imperials' worst ship."
Folis: "And they ran off."
Elbereth: "Lady Elizabeth took all our treasure and sailed away on our ship leaving us stranded on this island."
Elbereth: "She is no longer among our company."
Echo just growls.
Kit blinks while Kat shakes a fist into the air
Folis: "Hey, you know, whatever."
Folis: "Where there's life there's hope."
Folis completely deadpans it, though.
Elbereth bows her head slightly to Echo. "I promise you that I will see you paid for your services rendered. We all have our own battles we must face outside of this expedition and I will not be responsible for any setbacks towards that fight."
Folis: "I ain't got nothing left. My fate is with the crew, to be honest."
Folis: "I don't know where I'm going after this."
Kat turns to look towards Site B, then back to everyone else. "Uh, Kat's wondering if we're still gonna go 'play' with the dragon now" Kit air quotes as she says play
Elbereth: "Worst comes to worse I still have the key to Lady Mcgunneries office, I'm sure an invoice can be written up." She grins slightly.
Alianor blinks, then giggles behind a hand at that. "…And she probably won't be back for a while to contest it."
Echo: "That's later rather than sooner. My people needed that money to help support themselves since we're some of the refugees."
Elbereth: "I am welcome to suggestions to get us off this island with all the treasure we've acquired, of course."
Kit: "Oh, you can have our share then, we didn't really come for the money, and you can use it more… But that doesn't help us now, sooo"
Elbereth: "A make-shift raft would not transport such finds, nor would it get us home in 3 days, let alone a week with no sails or motor power."
Folis: "You think Leviathan has something to do with the Arcolith?"
Folis: "Since it's a big water creature, and this is the water Arcolith… I think…"
Alianor: "This is definitely the Water one."
Kit: "Oh, how'd we confirm that?"
Folis: "You'd have to ask them."
Elbereth: "Each of the 4 arcoliths follow an elemental theme. Water is the only fit if you examine the sites."
Alianor: "Echo freed a spirit that called herself Undine from a jail beneath the section that had lots of waterfalls and such."
Kit: "I know we gues- A spirit?!"
Echo nods to confirm this.
Folis: "Kinda wish I had met her."
Folis: "Woulda been a brighter spot in this day."
Echo: "A great spirit of the oceans and water."
Lobelia tilts her head quizzicially. "Would we be able to solicit this spirit for aid getting back to land?"
Elbereth glances at Alianor for a moment before pursing her lips. She doesn't speak up, instead looking ahead for the beast.
Kit: "A great one? or I wish I were there too!"
[OOC] Kit: oh*
Folis: "Beats me. What do we got for offerings and how hard can you pray?"
Peter|GM: Elbereth: It's a short wade to the closest isle of the Towers. (Be careful when you're carrying the dolls!)
Echo: "..unlikely. They've been trapped since before the Patrons left and are probably out investigating the changes in the world now."
Elbereth has the dolls on her head so they don't get wet.
[OOC] Elbereth: Shoulders rather
Peter|GM: Carcasses are strewn about the dune-grasses that encircle the pillar-islands -
Peter|GM: the monster has been hunting nearby.
Folis finds a bedroll or something and en-naps herself grumpily.
Kat starts looking around before Kit voices his question "Does the dragon hunt out here?"
Alianor: "She did say that two more, Jinn and Salamander, were still trapped in the ones the Empire opened. Though she didn't say anything one way or another about the fourth Arcolith's spirit."
Peter|GM: (No name comes to mind as a possible fourth.)
Elbereth: "Did you intend to investigate the other Arcoliths, Miss Sheridan? That sounds… difficult given they are under the Empires occupation."
Peter|GM: As you go Scorpion-tracking, roll Survival. [1: You aren't ambushed, 2: You corner it.]
Peter|GM: (Or, try a specific approach.)
Kit: "Well, if each has a spirit trapped inside, I think we should, it's not nice to leave 'em trapped"
Echo rolled 5d6 and got 3, 6, 2, 1, 1 ( Total: 13 )
[OOC] Echo: -2 LP for a 2nd success
Elbereth: "My goal from this venture was to secure a way to save Leviathan from Imperial occupation. While it was not the method I would have taken, it would appear Lady Mcgunnery managed to accomplish this."
Alianor: "I'd certainly like to, but I can't exactly do it on my own, even the fourth one that isn't under Imperial control, as far as I know."
Elbereth: "I do not trust the Empire and nothing is presently stopping them from backing out on the deal now that we've given away our leverage."
Peter|GM: As you check one of the towers - and another - Echo notices deep grooves in the beach. The sea-scorpion has been poisoning prey and dragging them away…
Peter|GM: …To, in a little cove between two islands, its nest.
Echo: "…I wish to free the other spirits that may be trapped in them, but I'm also worried about my people…"
Peter|GM: The blue, carapaced thing, swimming softly on six legs, its stinger above water, is bringing a fallen albatross back to its nest built of coral-fragments, where another scorpion is brooding.
Peter|GM: The nest is studded with rotting animal-carcasses, fish and foul alike, studded with scorpion eggs.
Kit: "(Uh, what's that?, Kat's saying those don't look like dragons)"
Echo: "(Scorpions.)"
Elbereth: "A beast that is preventing us from foraging food. Given our stranded on an island predicament, our order of priorities changed slightly. The dragon is after."
Lobelia: "Ah. Best not to let those hatch. Well…" Lobelia unhooks her axe from her belt and looks to the rest of the party. "Shall we get this over with?"
Kat pouts, but gives a thumbs up anyways, then hops down from his perch on Elbereths shoulder
Kit stays put though, she's not getting into the thick of things like her brother
Echo: "Yes." He readies his club and shield.
Peter|GM: It's a fight!
Peter|GM: Humans gain Drive.
Peter|GM: Barbaclau are caught off guard and slowed!
Peter|GM: …And Barbaclau B is still in the nest!
Peter|GM: Round One - Showtime!
Peter|GM: Kit!
Kit opens her grimoire, and start chanting the spell within, opening the eye at the end of her staff, and peers at Barbaclau B [Analyze, 2mp, Short K-Shatter II, Momentum = Target's Weakness]
Kit rolled 1d100 and got 23 ( Total: 23 )
[OOC] Kit: Oh, and +1 on the Momentum, Team Spirit FTW
Peter|GM: Barbaclau, the WEAVING. A sea-dwelling scorpion with a venomous stinger. It never backs down from a fight, and is famous for getting furiously heated from the slightest strike. Resists Earth, fears Fire! HP150/150 MP3/3 LP2/2.
Peter|GM: Locked on target - it's Short K-Shattered II - Oh, did you mean to target B, that's in the back row, or A, that's in the front?
Peter|GM: Alianor!
[OOC] Kit: Oh yeah, Meant A, looking at the init list screwed me up
Peter|GM: A's Shattered!
Alianor [Locks On] to Barbaclau A before firing a burst at it! [Semi-Auto, M-Fire+1]
Alianor rolled 1d100 and got 11 ( Total: 11 ) for 80/40
Peter|GM: It's a critical hit!
Alianor rolled 3d8+12+5+6 and got 3, 2, 4 ( Total: 32.0 ) for K-shatter II included
Peter|GM: The shots splash through the water of the cove as Alianor tracks the target, gunning for 32 damage!
Peter|GM: Echo!
[OOC] Peter|GM: !!!] Barbaclau A turns red, gaining Long Energize! [Big Rage
Echo calls up an earth spirit to protect the doll! [Q: Aegis, Bubble (10) on Kat]
Echo follows up by sending fire spirits to engulf both Barbaclaus! [Suppressing Fire, C Rush] Hits the weakness! 8 fire damage to both, Long Challenge, and Short Burning II!
Echo rolled 1d100 and got 58 ( Total: 58 )
Peter|GM: Blazes through, inflicting 8 8 and challenging and burning both!
Peter|GM: Barbaclau B turns red, too! [Big Rage] Long Energize I!
Peter|GM: Elbereth!
Elbereth begins to chant, a burst of flame shooting forth hitting both Barbaclau A and B. [Inferno - Non-Witch Mode | Hit Two targets] [Sixth Sense - +5 on weakness]
Elbereth rolled 1d100 and got 53 ( Total: 53 ) for Burst check
Elbereth rolled 1d6+22 and got 4 ( Total: 26.0 ) for Weakness included
Elbereth 's Inferno enters [Witch Mode]
[OOC] Peter|GM: 26] [26]!
Peter|GM: Barbaclau B swings its tail down into the water, dragging phantom energy - it casts [Water Bomb], and hurls it at Echo!
Peter|GM rolled 1d100 and got 94 ( Total: 94 ) for 100/25
Peter|GM rolled 1d10+18 and got 8 ( Total: 26.0 )
Peter|GM: Hitting for 26 Water damage and Slow II!
Echo blocks it with his shield, completely. [-1 LP]
Peter|GM: It splashes and disintegrates!
Peter|GM: Lobelia!
Lobelia swings her axe at Barbaclau A, rushing its tail to impede its energy-collecting property! [Demagic]
Lobelia rolled d100 and got 73 ( Total: 73 ) for 90/10
Lobelia rolled d10+10 and got 2 ( Total: 12 )
Peter|GM: Slashes true! 12! It's Long E-Faltered!
[OOC] Lobelia: and inflicts Long E-Falte yeah that
Peter|GM: The Barbaclau wavers this way and that, pushing Lobelia out of the way with a pincer before driving its stinger into Echo! [Venomize]
Peter|GM rolled 1d100 and got 63 ( Total: 63 ) for C90
Peter|GM rolled 1d10+18 and got 7 ( Total: 25.0 )
Peter|GM: Striking for 25 physical damage and Long Toxin II!
Peter|GM: Round Two - Showtime!
Peter|GM: Kit!
Echo blocks most of it! [-20]
Kit closes her eyes. "Ok, we can do this" and when she opens her eyes, there's a fire in them [Q: Magnum Opus on self] then hops down off Elbereth to go "Mend" Echo [Reconstruct]
Kit rolled 1d100 and got 97 ( Total: 97 )
Kit rolled 1d8+10 and got 5 ( Total: 15.0 ) for Kat gets a Fuel!
Peter|GM: Alianor!
Echo: "Thank you."
Alianor fires a burst off at both of them! [OD: Desperado, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwohhs3LvRQ ]
Alianor rolled 2d100 and got 1, 17 ( Total: 18 ) for 80/40
Peter|GM: Rips through - they're critical strikes!
Alianor rolled 2d8+14 and got 8, 6 ( Total: 28.0 ) for extra d8 is for Lock On'd A
Also rolled 1d8 and got 7 [Total: 7 (High), Avg: 7.00]
Total: 35.0, Avg: 7.00
Alianor then hits a few dials [Lightning in a Bottle] before firing again at A, before having to pause to vent steam. [Attack]
Alianor rolled 1d100 and got 33 ( Total: 33 ) for 80/40
Alianor rolled 3d8+14 and got 6, 1, 2 ( Total: 23.0 )
[OOC] Peter|GM: 28] [35]!
[OOC] Peter|GM: 23]!
[OOC] Elbereth: What momentum
Peter|GM: Echo!
[OOC] Alianor: Rush and Pin have been added
Echo follows up with an Iron Driver on Barbaclau A!
Echo rolled 1d100 and got 71 ( Total: 71 )
[OOC] Echo: whoops OD first
Echo calls up protective spirits on the party! [OD: Force Field https://youtu.be/Uw9l_vrglxI Barrier (8) on all allies and Echo]
Echo rolled d6+12 and got 2 ( Total: 14.0 ) for Iron Driver on A, Bubble (10) on self
Peter|GM: Smashes through - it's slain!
Peter|GM: Elbereth!
Elbereth calls down a [Bolt - Witch Mode] on the remaining enemy. [Tiger Bracelet] [Using C-Pin]
Elbereth rolled 1d100 and got 88 ( Total: 88 ) for burst
Elbereth rolled 2d8+14 and got 8, 1 ( Total: 23.0 ) for Air damage, -6 Drive
Peter|GM: 23! Drive is drained!
Peter|GM: Exposed, it rushes madly forward, striking Lobelia with its pincer!
Peter|GM rolled 1d100 and got 93 ( Total: 93 ) for C90
Peter|GM: But can't catch her!
Peter|GM: Lobelia!
Lobelia braces her gun under her arm and holds her boots steady on the ground, pulling the trigger on a blinding burst of gunfire at the last scorpion! [Eliminate, C-Air (Long Shock II), -1 Intuition]
Lobelia rolled d100 and got 65 ( Total: 65 ) for 80/10
Lobelia rolled d8+10 and got 4 ( Total: 14 )
[OOC] Peter|GM: Spending the bonus on +MP or +Damage?
Peter|GM: 14! It's Shocked II!
Lobelia rolled d8 and got 6 ( Total: 6 ) for oh, yeah, pls add this many damages
Peter|GM: Kat!
Peter|GM: 20, that is.
Kat rushes in, slashing at the scorpion's legs when he can from the dry land [Slam Punch, C-Rush]
Kit rolled 1d100 and got 8 ( Total: 8 ) for 80 CoS
Kit rolled 1d6+10 and got 5 ( Total: 15.0 ) for 6 base +4 combo
Peter|GM: 15!
Peter|GM: Round Three - Showtime!
Peter|GM: Kit!
Kit lifts her staff into the air, releasing a small mote of light, which flitters over and above Alianor, before showering her in healing sparkles [OD: Miracle Star https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUwmlXR_Zn0], then turns back around and "Mend" s Echo again [Reconstruct]
Kit rolled 1d8+10 and got 5 ( Total: 15.0 ) for Miracle Star healing
Kit rolled 1d100 and got 27 ( Total: 27 )
[OOC] Kit: -1 LP to burst that
Kit rolled 1d8+13 and got 5 ( Total: 18.0 )
Peter|GM: Healing kicks in! What's the other effect on Miracle Star, by the way?
Peter|GM: Alianor!
[OOC] Elbereth: +14 Drive to Alianor
[OOC] Kit: Alianor gets my OD bar!
Alianor sadly can't use it yet, since she's too busy venting Priscilla's steam and reloading it. [Defend, Quickening 1 most likely pointlessly]
Peter|GM: Gauge is preserved!
Peter|GM: Echo!
Echo swings at the remaining scorpion! [Attack]
Echo rolled 1d100 and got 52 ( Total: 52 )
Echo rolled d6+8 and got 6 ( Total: 14.0 )
Peter|GM: 14!
Peter|GM: Elbereth!
Elbereth fires off another [Inferno - Witch Mode] at the beast using [C-Recovery+1 for the MP rebate]
Elbereth rolled 1d100 and got 86 ( Total: 86 ) for burst
Elbereth rolled 1d6+17 and got 1 ( Total: 18.0 ) for +5 MP
Peter|GM: 18!
Peter|GM: It's burnt to a crisp.
Peter|GM: THE COAST IS CLEAR. All threats have been exterminated. Got +6 EXP.
Elbereth levels up…
Elbereth nods to Echo Thirty-Six. "I believe you can begin to forage safely now? Is anyone able to assist him?"
Both dolls shake their heads, Kit looking a bit sheepish as she does
Echo: "It should be fine for tonight."
Peter|GM: The empty nest sits in the shade between the shoals.
Kit wanders over to Alianor, and gives her a couple of "Mend" s, now that the fight is done (+30 HP)
Lobelia steps past the scorpions and starts collecting the eggs into a sack. "Afraid we lack the particular spices and seasoning to draw the full potential out of these, but… If I consult my books, we might just be able to turn these into a meal."
Peter|GM: Lobelia: Makes sense to me. Roll Lore or Survival?
[OOC] Lobelia: Lore definitely
Lobelia rolled 4d6 and got 3, 2, 4, 4 ( Total: 13 )
[OOC] Lobelia: -2 LP
Peter|GM: Ahh - well, there's no way to get them to keep, but you can certainly cook them. The ones with brown spots are bad, though.
[OOC] Peter|GM: Got 6 Rations, Just For Tonight.
Lobelia destroys the ones with brown spots under her boot. She slings the sack with the rest over her shoulder, then reloads her weapon and rehooks it. "If I recall my survival guide correctly… These will be good for tonight. Should be enough for each of us, with one to share with someone at camp. Might as well save what we brought with for another day."
Elbereth nods. "Knowledgeable as always, Lady Wintervine. We should all rest up and head to Site B in the morning, then. Unless you were eager to head out now?"
Alianor thanks Kit, patting her on the head.
Kit smiles up at Alianor, then looks at Elbereth "Kat say's he's ready to go deal with the dragon, but… uh… I think resting is the better idea. If we are going to go deal with a dragon, I'd like to be at full strength"
Echo: "I think resting would be good after everything that's happened."
Lobelia: "I'd rather continue onwards, myself. Let's take that bastard out so we can get some clean drinking water."
Elbereth smiles. "Lady Wintervine and I are not the best judges of when to stop, of course. I too would like to purify the ponds, though. Our ale reserves were only meant to last three days."
Peter|GM: Though, after trudging back to camp, and taking stock…
Peter|GM: …It seems like Elizabeth did unload two barrels of water.
Elbereth glances over the rest of the group before shaking her head. "Seeing our companions, I think we may want to wait, Lady Wintervine. They will not be able to keep our pace."
Elbereth: "Unless you wanted to try again with us as a matter of revenge?" She chuckles.
Alianor: "I know Priscilla's pretty much running on fumes at this point, but it can still shoot straight if we're pressing on."
Lobelia grins. "It'd be a step up from marching into its chamber by myself, miss Elbereth. Anyone who's willing to raise their weapons with me… Come this way." She gestures, having dumped the eggs at camp, and begins towards site B.
Elbereth: "If you're alright with it, and no one else has objected, then consider it settled."
Elbereth: "In all honesty I think the two of us could down it this time regardless now that we know what to expect. Although it's no longer in its lair last I checked, so who knows what sorts of beasts will be with it."
Elbereth trudges after Lobelia to Site B.
Peter|GM: Site B. An ominous wind is rustling through the coral garden.
Peter|GM: Through which route do you proceed forward?
Kit heads over to the supplies quickly first, dropping off her grimoire to grab one of the Orbs laying around, then hurries to catch up with the others
Elbereth has kit and kat, so trying to get through the waterfall would cripple them.
Elbereth heads towards the sanctuary route instead of the shortcut.
Alianor shrugs and follows, she did just say she wasn't out just yet.
Peter|GM: Past the Sanctuary. A walkway over exposed machinery, with water pipes thrumming with freshwater and murky fluid both, running over an access panel off on the left bank of it.
Peter|GM: Up ahead is that huge, working pump, where the ladder up to the roof was found.
Echo takes a bit to admire the scenery of Site B as they pass through it.
Elbereth looks around for other routes. There was the vents on the roof certainly, but that would involve turning off or destroying the fans.
Lobelia peeks at the access panel blocked off by pipes along the way. Would it be possible to wiggle past it…?
Peter|GM: Hmm - yeah, if you pushed the pipes away, you'd probably be able to get in there. It's big enough to climb in if you duck your head.
Peter|GM: There's also passages running north and east past the giant pump.
Kit: "Um, what's Miss Wintervine doing back there?"
Peter|GM: I think an Agility roll might be appropriate? Or do something else.
Elbereth: "Allow me to assist you, Lady Wintervine. You'll hardly make any progress with that armor."
Lobelia: "I'm checking if this door gets us to the area past that canal!" Lobelia shouts to the rest of the group. She unhooks her weapon, raises it above her head, and…! Stops before swinging down on the pipes once she hears Elbereth. "Oh… Er, what are you thinking, then?"
Elbereth: "I was going to just go see what was down there, unless you were determined to ruin the piping in this place and cause a flood or worse…?"
Kit: "Oh, please don't flood the place!"
Elbereth glances at the pipes. They were built haphazardly, but they still had something flowing through them right?
Peter|GM: Elbereth: That's so.
Elbereth: "The water is currently tainted. I would hate for you to smash it and calcify your axe in the process."
Peter|GM: Transparent glass windows are spotted along flexible, tan rubber piping.
Elbereth attempts to squeeze her way through the pipes to see what was hidden behind the panel. She could just place Kit there and have them check, but it's unfair to always expect them to get into small places… [Agility]
Elbereth rolled 4d6 and got 6, 4, 3, 6 ( Total: 19 )
Peter|GM: Working carefully, Elbereth manages to push past the pipes and slip in through the door - it opens with a creak.
Peter|GM: There's a small, sweltering hot service tunnel behind it, that winds to the northwest after running along that passage for a bit. Inexplicable dials and valves dot it.
Peter|GM: There's a small toolbox laying at the end of it, too. [It's the kind that gives +1 to Mechanisms checks.]
Elbereth nods before taking the toolbox and heading back to the group. "All of the controls for this… circulation system seem to be in here along with a service tunnel, but I do not think either will take us to where we were before."
Elbereth: "Perhaps we should try one of the other paths first?"
Elbereth: "I did find this toolbox, however. Perhaps you can make use of it Miss Sheridan?"
Elbereth investigates the north path.
Alianor smiles as she takes it off her hands. "More than likely, at some point."
Lobelia: "Lead onwards, then." Lobelia rehooks her axe, following to the north.
The dolls follow along, or more accurately, ride along on Elbereths shoulders still!
Peter|GM: A passage to the north opens up on a room with flickering lights - another exit is on the north side. Square, glass planters are filled with various layers of dirt, sediment and mud. It appears as if saplings have been planted in each of them - each one of them are withered and rotted to dismal grey, stunted at various stages of early growth.
Peter|GM: Something in the crowded grid of plants smells deathly bad.
Elbereth doesn't seem too pleased by the stench, but she isn't gagging quite yet. "My. What IS that smell?"
The dolls sniff the air, and immediately pinch their noses "I 'unno, mut ish shells bad"
Elbereth 's curiousity gets the better of her and she moves in to investigate.
Echo silently bemoans his heightened sense of smell.
Peter|GM: Whatever they planted in that planter, it's teeming with maggots. Something cartiliginous is mixed in with the dirt.
Peter|GM: …There's a small satchel on the ground by it, though.
Elbereth does feel pretty bad about the whole stranded situation, so it seems she volunteered herself to go through the maggots without even asking if anyone else wanted to.
[OOC] Elbereth: Oh maggots in the planter.
[OOC] Elbereth: I get the satchel regardless
[OOC] Peter|GM: Yes, ofc. I mean, you can dig through the planter if you want.
Peter|GM: Inside the satchel is a notebook in messy arcoscript - it'll be more difficult to translate than the printed stuff - and 120G. (In ancient coinage, but it'll check out.)
Elbereth heads back before passing Alianor the notebook. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask for your expertise on this one."
Elbereth then reaches into the satchel and distributes the coins. [+24 GP each]
Peter|GM: You'd have to sit down with it, but I could give you the gist with a Lore check, for now.
Alianor will defintely take any distraction from that terrible smell. "Let's see…"
Alianor: "Err… maybe later, this would take comparing to my mother's notes…" (( Unless Lobelia wants to roll Lore. ))
Peter|GM: It seems to mostly be a measurement log, at least. Observations were taken for each of the planters.
Peter|GM: They were testing the growth rate of a certain plant under different conditions.
Alianor: "…Oh, I think it's something to do with measuring how the plants were growing? Which is… quite worthless now."
Elbereth nods. "In the immediate sense at least. There is often information to glean reading between the lines, Miss Sheridan." She continues to the next room, this smell was awful.
Peter|GM: Stairs lead up to an elevated catwalk. This is similar - huge glass vats in which plants are suspended, bathed in amber light, far above a watery floor below. One of the vats contains a reedy plant with a face of hardened bark, eyesockets open. The pathway is T-shaped, though the western passage is blocked by a collapse.
Elbereth: "This is rather frustrating as I'm confident we need to go west. Do you think the beast chasing us out collapsed some of the paths…?"
Kit looks at the collapsed entryway "Well, guess we're not going that way"
Elbereth blinks before coming to a realization. "…"
Elbereth: "Right. The path to the beast went over both Site A and B, so the route is blocked from the explosives."
Elbereth makes her way on to the catwalk before heading north once more.
Lobelia: "I thought only the main entrance to site A was blocked off. Did she really… Destroy the entire site?" Lobelia's face scrunches up a bit.
Elbereth: "I can't say if it was her explosions or the beast thrashing about as it collapsed off a part of the catwalk."
Elbereth: "But I believe there is more rubble here than our previous visit."
Lobelia: "Hm. Then I suppose we just move onward and look for signs of its passage. How irritating. I didn't need more reasons to want to put an end to that thing."
Kit: "Well, umm, if we can't get to it…" She's looking around with just a glimmer of hope in her eyes, while Kat's starting to look dejected at the idea of not being able to fight a dragon.
Peter|GM: North, through a doorway.
Peter|GM: A tremendous room that smells like moss. In an orchestra-pit, there is a rusted green machine sprouting out of a massive keyboard, connected to a million wheels, running through with every pipe and hose in the place.
Peter|GM: The machine is breathing.
Peter|GM: The top of the room is shrouded in darkness, lit from below by a pale light leaking in from through the stone floor.
Lobelia circles around the machine. "Any idea what this thing is for?"
Elbereth makes her way down to the center of the room. "I imagine quite the performance was put on here at one time."
Kit: "Maybe it's the heart of the whole place? All the pipes and stuff are connected to it"
Peter|GM: Its bellows flex and drip.
Elbereth taps one of the keys on the keyboard.
Lobelia: "If it's supposed to be a purifier, it's doing an absolutely rubbish job of it."
Alianor frowns, peering at the machine. "I could maybe figure out how it works or what it does, but I never really found out if I had an ear for music or not."
Peter|GM: The key sinks down.
Peter|GM: There's a sickly, keening noise from within the pipes, and a swampy green light bends out from the back of the machine -
Peter|GM: twisting fanning blitting disappearing.
Peter|GM: Whatever that was, it left a sour taste on the back of your tongue.
Peter|GM: Well,
Peter|GM: Everyone's tongues.
Kit: "Blech, what was that?"
Elbereth pauses for a moment. "Unless you wanted to fiddle with this Miss Sheridan, you may want to step back."
Alianor grimaces, stepping away from the machine. "That was… unpleasant. But I think it was better than that stench…"
Kit and Kat hop down from Elbereths shoulders to move away
Peter|GM: The pressed key slowly squishes back upwards into place.
Elbereth waits until the party is a sizeable distance away from her before she presses down all the keys at once and holds them down as one usually does when they first encounter a keyboard. :)
Peter|GM: THAT NOISE
Peter|GM: THAT LIGHT!
Lobelia definitely lets herself get shooed away before THAT one.
Peter|GM: Elbereth, please roll Determination.
Elbereth rolled 4d6 and got 4, 5, 5, 3 ( Total: 17 )
[OOC] Elbereth: Spending an LP for 3 successes if needed.
[OOC] Elbereth: + Don't Throw Up, Don't Hallucinate, Make Something Cool Happen | -1 LP
Peter|GM: A tremendous terrible light arcs from the machine and warps and rots and reethes and splashes wave after wave of greeny joss upon the floor as it inverts itself into shape and form and being and it
Peter|GM: is
Peter|GM: … hold on, I think…
Peter|GM: I think we should describe this being like this:
Peter|GM: A slashed together figure that stands on deer-like legs with deer-like antlers, a woman's body made of roots grown over ancient shattered stone statue, with a soft face and hands and doey eyes and long fingers and a body otherwise, of branches bent in over a clearing to form a hollow that glows with an inner light.
Peter|GM: "I am," as the light fades into her. "Virindigris, The Hollow-Boar, the Moss-Passaged, the…"
Peter|GM: She squints. She grabs Elbereth by the ear. The hand. Very curious. Peering. Sniffing.
Peter|GM: "There's SIX of you? And all so similar! There's -"
Peter|GM: She smiles. She stands up straight. She puts on a faux pride, chest out.
Peter|GM: "- Something really silly going on, isn't there?"
Kit: "Silly? I don't think so, but something IS going on"
Elbereth: "I believe silly may be underplaying it." She smiles before bowing her head slightly.
Peter|GM: She plods over to Kit - clack, clack - and picks her up, setting her on one of the pipes of the machine, at eye-level. "Up you go-o!" And then she spins back to Elbereth, returning the curtsey.
Lobelia just smiles and tilts her head slightly.
Kit: "Oh.. Oh my, well, uh, thank you, Miss Virindigris"
Peter|GM: "Literally anytime!" she says, with a smile.
Elbereth: "I am afraid we are quite far from home with no means to return at the moment. So I have to ask you to pardon our intrusion."
Peter|GM: "Well, you're pardoning mine! So, so. Far from home with no means to return." She inhales deeply.
Peter|GM: It's like, an "in front of the fire after a wintry day" sort of inhale. It's a "surprised by fresh baked cookies" kind of happy sigh.
Peter|GM: "Well, I think I can help you out with that."
Peter|GM: "Mm, maybe not in the immediate sense…"
Peter|GM: "…But like, philosophically. Generally."
Echo: "Oh?"
Elbereth narrows her brow slightly, but the reaction doesn't stay long before she replies. "I will take anything to return everyone to our abode in Leviathan with the utmost of appreciation."
Peter|GM: "Let me demonstrate!"
Peter|GM: She points to Echo. She points to Lobelia.
Peter|GM: "Can I give each of you a hand for a moment?"
Kit tilts her head, curious
Lobelia slightly increments the tilt her head is at, not dropping her smile. "Literally or figuratively?"
Peter|GM: "Literally!"
Lobelia holds her two hands up. "I currently possess the normal amount of hands for my species. Thank you for the offer, though, I like this number of hands."
Peter|GM: "I've been refused." She nods to Elbereth. "How about you?"
Echo holds up a furry paw/hand…?
Peter|GM: She hands Echo one of her hands. "Just hold onto it for a moment, please."
Echo: "Alright." He does so.
Elbereth takes one as well. She doesn't seem all that disturbed by this all things considered.
Peter|GM: Virindigris hands Elbereth her other hand.
Peter|GM: She points to one of the walls of the room. And then to the other wall.
Peter|GM: "Okay, put a hand on each of those walls, please."
Elbereth puts the hand she was given on the wall opposite of echo.
Echo moves to the other side and puts his other hand against it.
Peter|GM: It sinks in, palm outward, and starts to beckon.
Peter|GM: And the other does the same.
Peter|GM: And then, the hands open up, revealing a mossy, sunlit corridor, a passage through a thicket, passing through Virindigris' heart, connecting the two hands together. (Through her arms, and then through her torso.)
Peter|GM: You'd have to crawl, but it connects the space.
Lobelia: "Oh! That's what you meant. I misunderstood. I thought you were going to spontaneously generate an additional hand. I'm afraid I got a sibling to help me get out of my music lessons, I know little of instruments. Or beings that live in instruments."
Peter|GM: "Oh!" She says, to Lobelia. "Yes, I can see why you might have found that disconcerting. Anyway, everything worked out."
Kit: "I'm not sure she lives in the instrument"
Peter|GM: "I absolutely don't."
Elbereth: "So there is no ambiguity, are you claiming we can use these two hands as a waypoint system of sorts?"
Elbereth: "Or what is the purpose of this?"
Peter|GM: "Well, I'm the Moss-Passaged. Whenever you need to travel between one of my hands to the other, there I am."
Peter|GM: "If you ever need to split up,"
Peter|GM: "Or if you need to return home…"
Peter|GM: "…I guess are the two most obvious uses!"
Kit: "Oh, that's handy… Heh, I made a joke"
Elbereth is about to ask a question about the distance traveled, but decides to just get down and crawl through the light corridor to get a demonstration.
Peter|GM: She applauds it. "I liked it."
It wouldn't be very useful if they had to crawl the distance from here to leviathan after all.
Peter|GM: You have to crawl about ten meters. And then you come out on the opposite side.
Peter|GM: "I'm the same size no matter what, just so you know."
Kit: "Well, if anything, until we get back to Leviathan, it helps us come and go from a Sanctuary"
Elbereth: "If I may be so brazen to ask… just what are you?"
Peter|GM: "Well,"
Peter|GM: "I'm a Fiend, of course."
Kit blinks… blinks again
Kit: "… Oh"
Elbereth can't help but smirk at the response before bowing again. "Regardless of what you are, I accept your assistance and will keep one of your hands on my person. What do you seek in return?"
Elbereth nods to Echo Thirty-Six as if implying he was going to hold on to the other one.
Echo nods back.
Peter|GM: She paces this way and that, stroking her chin. "Letting people pass is sort of what I do, so I don't really need anything in return."
Peter|GM: "Keep my hands safe, I guess!"
Kit: "We could give you a hug, I'd kinda feel bad otherwise, you helping us and not getting anything in return after we asked for the help"
Elbereth: "As you wish, then. I hope your future fares better than this organ related mess you were just in."
Peter|GM: "Seems fine to me!" She picks up Kit and gives her a hug.
Kit hugs back
Peter|GM: And then, puts her back down. "Ah, you're really well made."
Peter|GM: "I'm a little jealous."
Kit: "I have my Mistress to thank for that, me and my brother both!" Kat waves as he's mentioned
Peter|GM: The fiend waves to Kat!
Elbereth: "Until we call upon you again then, Virindigris." She nods before turning to leave.
Echo: "It was a pleasure meeting you."
Lobelia: "My thanks for the help as well." She smiles and bows politely.
Lobelia: "Oh. Right, that dragon's not a friend of yours, is it? The one that's making the water have petrifying properties."
Kit: "Thank you Miss Virindigris"
Peter|GM: "Oh, no. No friends here. Go forth and conquer!"
[OOC] Peter|GM: Got Virindigris' Left Hand.] [Got Virindigris' Right Hand.
Elbereth makes her way out of what is likely an auditorium of sorts. When she's out of the room she speaks up. "To answer lingering thoughts, no I did not know that was going to happen precisely."
[OOC] Peter|GM: Yup, they take up inventory slots.
Elbereth: "But my wish was heard, in its own way."
Peter|GM: A MOMENT'S RESPITE, BEFORE FURTHER TRIALS.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License