* Vita keeps following Pup, if he keeps following something <Vita> (What with the bark and all) <DM> You had Apol bring some of Foster's stuff to smell <DM> Pup is following the scent outside <DM> Yeah, sec <DM> Lemme get my notes <DM> No... no... uh-huh... right, and then the corpses go... hmmm... *mumble* right, and the TPK is planned for ... riiight. Okay. ready. * Sam coughs. * Fordran shifts uncomfortably. <DM> Oops. Did I type that out loud? <DM> Ahem. * DM gets into character. <DM> The street is dimly lit by moon and starlight. <DM> It slopes gently down towards the coast, and you have a gorgeous view of the moon reflecting off of the ocean. <Vita> (*sings* Blue moooooooon.... ) <Vita> (Sorry, a cappella concert tomorrow) <DM> Pup is snuffling along, then running a bit, then trotting back and forth to keep track of the scent. * Fordran follows Pup. * Vita follows whispering encouragement * Sam takes a deep breath, first looking at the reflection upon the water, then at Pup. * Sam follows. <Vita> "Good Pup, help us find our friend.. yadda yadda" <DM> Pup is leading the group in a winding route heading downhill * Fordran follows on. <DM> He stops and backtracks a couple of times <DM> Apparently, Foster, or whoever is with him, doubled back a lot * Sam looks on, simultaneously encouraged and uncomfortable. * Vita takes a few deep breaths then continues her encouragement <DM> Eventually, Pup slows down near an intersection of an alley with Gravel Road, and his ears perk up. <Fordran> "Maybe Foster was drinking..." * Fordran approaches the intersection carefully. * Vita tries to listen for what Pup is hearing * Fordran tries to listen for anything. <DM> Roll it <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 13 | [d20=10] [+3=3] <Vita> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 30 | [d20=19] [+11=11] <DM> (Jesus.) <Sam> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 13 | [d20=10] [+3=3] <Fordran> (i'll take 10 on that listen check) * Vita pulls the team members quietly back by gently tugging on their clothing * Vita whispers under her breath "Someone is in that alley and they don't want us to know" * Fordran whispers, "how many?" <DM> There is an annoyed "Tsk." from the alley. <DM> "Heard me, didja?" <DM> It sounds gruff, and male (probably). * Fordran sighs. * Vita raises one finger <DM> The voice sighs. * Sam looks. * Vita raises an eyebrow and looks indecisive <DM> A man steps out of the shadows into the intersection. * Fordran shrugs. * Fordran turns to look at the man. <DM> He's about 5'2", with short black stubbly hair, wearing patched-together leather. He's very hairy. <Vita> "Why the need to hide, sir?" <DM> He grunts. <DM> "Need ta keep in practice." <DM> "City makes ya soft." <Fordran> "Um. Excuse us. We were looking for a friend... have you seen anyone go by here recently?" <DM> (are you wearing armor currently?) <Fordran> (yeah) <Vita> (yes) <DM> He looks Fordran up and down. <DM> "Might be, might be..." <DM> "What's it to ya?" <DM> Also, uh, because it's not obvious from my description, he's nearly shaped like a dwarf. <Fordran> "Well, it's kind of important. Another friend of ours is in danger, and..." <DM> Like, very wide for his height. <Fordran> (tall dorf.) <DM> A strange look crosses his face. <DM> "Thought so, thought so... Pity really." <Vita> "Why a pity?" <DM> "Look, nothing against any o' ya in particular, right?" * Vita looks around suddenly, realizes that she's wasting time, and then starts motioning Pup to go on sniffing <DM> "Yer the folks I'm supposed to stop." <Fordran> "Oh." * Sam smirks. * Vita begins the motion to mount Pup <DM> "Right." <Fordran> "Um. Can we pretend that you stopped us, and we can just go our separate ways?" <DM> He shifts his feet into an odd, hunched-over stance. <Fordran> "So that's a no, then." <Vita> (Vita's next action is to mount Pup and draw her bow, but I don't know how much of that I get) * Fordran steps back. <DM> He pauses to consider this. <DM> "Well..." <DM> "I dunno... if you just go about your business elsewhere, then that's all the same to me, right?" <DM> (Okay, you draw your bow on Pup) * Sam 's eyes narrow. <DM> "Ehm. * Vita lowers the bow, confused <DM> "Well, how's this then." <DM> "One of you fights me, one on one, none o' yer magics or nothin'." <DM> "You beat me, I let you go." <DM> "I beat you, you go away." * Sam looks at Fordran, concerned. * Vita blinks and looks at the current odds and appears to be thinking <Fordran> "Wait. I don't get why someone would just leave one guy around to stop, what, all of us." <Fordran> "Isn't that kind of unfair to you?" <DM> He nods sadly. <DM> "I hardly have any fun anymore." <Fordran> "I mean, we could all gang up on you." <Fordran> "But that would be pretty mean." <Fordran> "And, honestly, Pelor probably wouldn't want me beating up on people like that." <Vita> "Look, um, maybe he's just to slow us down? they didn't really care about him?" <Vita> "And isn't he, well, slowing us down?" <Fordran> "That's true." <DM> "Ye could, ye could at that, but then I'd hafta fight dirty, and then it wouldn't be fun." <Fordran> (there are, what, 5 of us? Fordran, Vita, Sam, Apol, Croc?) <Fordran> "Must be pretty dirty to face 5 to 1, huh." <DM> (Yes. But 6 if you count Pup, and 4 if you just count non-pet-looking-things) <DM> He shrugs apologetically. <DM> "Can't fight..." he searches for the word... "hon'rbly" <Fordran> "Oh." <Fordran> "But you'll do... an honorable fight? One on one?" <DM> He nods and grins widely. * Sam looks suspicious. <DM> Feel free to roll sense motive <DM> It's probably appropriate <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 19 | [d20=16] [+3=3] <Vita> |roll d20+2 <tafal> 8 | [d20=6] [+2=2] <Sam> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 19 | [d20=16] [+3=3] <Fordran> (are you using my dice, tony?) <Sam> (obviously. * Fordran looks uncertain. <Fordran> "I dunno. Our real... uh, brawler, he's gone missing. I'm not really much of a fighter." * Sam says to Fordran, "Have we not wasted enough time here? Let us simply leave." <DM> His smile falters a bit. * Fordran looks around. <DM> "Aw, don't be like that... I'll... I'll only use one hand! Okay?" * Fordran looks at Sam. * Vita starts to motion Pup to pick up the scent <DM> Pup walks a bit forward, but is unwilling to approach the scary little man. <Sam> (to short man) "You have succeeded in delaying us. Congratulations." <DM> (Who is blocking the alleymouth) <DM> He seems to deflate (metaphorically) <DM> "If I... if I show ye where ta go, can I fight one o' ya?" <Fordran> "Look... I'm sorry. We're not really, you know, hand-to-hand types..." <Fordran> "Er. Wow." <Fordran> "Will you show us even if you win?" <DM> He sighs. * Vita waits patiently, knowing *she* isn't the right one for this battle <DM> "... <smallfont>okay</smallfont>" <Fordran> "I mean, all I've got is this mace, and I never really learned how to use it... I mean, I'm not even a real priest of Pelor..." * Vita stares at Fordran "Sooner fight, sooner get going!" <Fordran> "Yeah. Okay. I guess. Me, then?" * Fordran looks at Vita. * Fordran looks at Sam. * Fordran looks at Croc. * Vita looks at Croc * Fordran looks at Apol, thinks for a moment, cancels that thought. <DM> Croc: "What?" <Fordran> "Nothing." <Sam> (i'd look askance at fordran, but that would require me not to be a foreigner here) <DM> (Thank you, Ilya, for writing in another NPC for me :P) * Vita looks at Sam <Sam> "I shall volunteer if it expedites this process." * Fordran looks visibly relieved. * Vita nods slowly <Sam> (and *now* i wish i bought stunning fist...) <Fordran> "Okay, so, try not to get too hurt, either of you." <DM> "Okay... and jus' so ye know I'm not gonna just bugger off, there's a cellar in the alley behind me. There's a hidden passage down there." <DM> init Sam * Sam breathes, stretches. <Fordran> "Ah. Good. Thank you." <Sam> |roll d20+4 <tafal> 6 | [d20=2] [+4=4] <DM> |roll d20 <tafal> 17 | [d20=17] <Fordran> (doh) <Fordran> (doh doh) <Sam> (yep, definitely geordan's nice.) <Foster> (ow) <Sam> (er, dice) <DM> He stands and gestures at Sam to come at him with both hands. <Fordran> (cueing FFIV fight 1 music) <DM> Sam's init <Sam> (cursing at iTunes) <Sam> (single move and unarmed strike...having trouble with flavor text) <Sam> |roll d20+8 <tafal> 25 | [d20=17] [+8=8] <Fordran> ("spinning bird kick!") <Sam> (choosing to do subdual) <DM> You dash in at him, and hit him squarely in the chest. <DM> roll damage <Sam> |roll d8+2 <tafal> 10 | [d8=8] [+2=2] <Sam> (mmmm.) * Sam chooses the obvious dodge target. <DM> He grins broadly, stepping back once with the hit. <DM> You felt it connect, but he didn't even flinch. <DM> "My turn" * Sam looks nonplussed. <DM> |roll d20+5 <tafal> 20 | [d20=15] [+5=5] * Vita turns to Fordran and whispers "I hope you have some spells left" <DM> (Is your AC higher than that?) <Sam> (when dodging him, yes.) <DM> |roll d20+5 <tafal> 8 | [d20=3] [+5=5] * Fordran whispers to Vita, "I've got a wand." <DM> He swipes at you with his hands in claws, just barely missing you the first time, and missing you entirely the second time. <DM> "Rrrr." <DM> Sam. <Sam> (flurry of blows) <DM> Roll it * Sam attempts to leg-sweep the guy. (trip attack) <Sam> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 25 | [d20=18] [+7=7] <DM> opposed roll <Sam> |roll d20+2 <tafal> 4 | [d20=2] [+2=2] <DM> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 3 | [d20=2] [+1=1] <Fordran> (high rollers) <Foster> (/cheer) <Sam> (/jawdrop) <DM> He tries to hop over your sweep, but loses his balance and goes down. <Sam> (improved trip!) <DM> Go for it <Sam> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 11 | [d20=4] [+7=7] <Fordran> ("Good use of harai goshi.") <DM> He jerks himself to the side, dodging your stomp. <DM> Second flurry hit? <Sam> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 8 | [d20=1] [+7=7] <DM> You miss * Sam drops his fist. <Sam> (geordan, your dice suck.) <DM> He begins to stand up carelessly leaving his guard down. <DM> (AoO) <Sam> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 17 | [d20=10] [+7=7] <DM> Because he is (currently) prone, it hits. <Sam> |roll d8+2 <tafal> 6 | [d8=4] [+2=2] <Sam> (still subdual) <DM> You crack him solidly on the head, which feels like it's made of brick. He grins and continues getting up. <DM> |roll d20+5 <tafal> 6 | [d20=1] [+5=5] <DM> |roll d20+5 <tafal> 11 | [d20=6] [+5=5] <DM> "Arr, ye'r a slippery one." <Sam> "Heh." <DM> Sam <Sam> (flurry again, no tripping) <Sam> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 25 | [d20=18] [+7=7] <DM> Heh. Hit. <Sam> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 15 | [d20=8] [+7=7] <Sam> |roll d8+2 <tafal> 9 | [d8=7] [+2=2] <DM> Hit, miss. <DM> You hit him in the solar plexus, hoping to wind him. <Sam> (subdual until i say otherwise) <DM> He's really taking this quite well. * Fordran winces, just looking at the hit. * Vita is looking antsy and anxious <DM> "Tha' was a good one, I felt it." <DM> |roll d20+5 <tafal> 17 | [d20=12] [+5=5] <DM> |roll d20+5 <tafal> 6 | [d20=1] [+5=5] * Vita plays the "I'm bored" emote <DM> "Garr, ye're really jumpy, ye know that?" <Sam> "I practice." <DM> He lowers his guard. <DM> "Okay okay. <DM> "I cannae hit you, and ye cannae hurt me." <DM> "Let's just go then." * Sam stands down. <DM> He sighs. <DM> "Right, this way." <DM> He walks into the alley. <DM> It's really dark in here <DM> ^here^there <Fordran> "Thanks, by the way. That was pretty impressive back there, you know. I mean, that looked like it hurt." <DM> The darkness has obscured him entirely. * Vita starts very tentatively following, waiting for people other than her to take point <Fordran> "Um. I can't ... see you." <Fordran> "Guess I'll make some light." * Sam looks at the alley, then at the rest of the party, obviously concerned. <Sam> "Wait, Fordran." <DM> His voice comes from pretty deep in, "Wha? Oh, heh, thanks. Yer boy knows how ta dodge and how ta aim, but he could use some time liftin stones're somethin'" <Vita> "Let's go!" <Fordran> "What is it, Sam?" * Sam retrieves an Everburning Torch. <DM> "Can't see me? I'm right here." <Fordran> "Oh. I guess you can use one of those, too." <DM> "See, I'm wavin'" * Vita moves into the now lit alley <Sam> "Now we can go." <DM> "Yarr. Bright." <DM> He's shielding his eyes. * Sam moves toward (into) the alley. <Fordran> "...it was pitch black." <DM> "Aye." <Fordran> "Guess you've got better eyes that I do." <Fordran> (^that^than) <DM> "Do ya some good ta live in the wilds fer abit, then, lad." <Fordran> "I guess." <DM> The alley deadends at a double-door set diagonally into the ground. <DM> Think root-cellar. <Fordran> "Huh." <DM> "Here ya' go. I think it's locked." <Fordran> "I wonder..." * Sam looks to Fordran, silently asking "What now?" <DM> "A deals a deal, but I dinnae know how far they went." <Fordran> "Well, thanks much, um. Didn't catch your name." <DM> You imagine there's a twinkle in his eye when he says, "No. No ye didn't." <Fordran> "Fair enough." <DM> "Right, I'm off then. Gotta pretend I been hammered." <Fordran> "I'll buy you a drink sometime, if I see you again." <DM> "... mebbe there's a rock I c'n bash into me head..." <DM> He wanders off into the night. <Fordran> "That... was odd." * Fordran shrugs. * Vita looks at the cellar <Sam> "Quite hardy, that one." <Vita> "So, um, about this locked thing" <Vita> "Maybe we should have asked him to hit it or something" * Fordran looks at the lock. <Fordran> (does it have an obvious lock?) <DM> Apol flies down and begins gnawing at the handle. <DM> (no0 <DM> (In fact, you only have his word that it's locked) <Fordran> "Hang on, Apol." <DM> (Not even that, since he said, "probably") <Fordran> "Let me just try to open it." <DM> Apol: "Kay!" <Fordran> ("I mean, what are the odds that it's been trapped or anything?") * Fordran tries to open it. <DM> The left handle is a bit chewed. * Sam pulls out kama. <DM> It's locked. <Fordran> "Ok. It is locked." <DM> The doors are wooden. * Sam probes between the doors with kama to find if it's just a beam locking the door. <Fordran> "We could just smash it in. Or set it on fire. Of course, that would wake everyone in the city." <Vita> "Fire... is probably bad" * Fordran looks around for something to pry it open with. <Sam> "This isn't much of a prying tool." (probe, probe.) <Fordran> (are there obvious hinges?) <DM> Yeah, either side. <Fordran> "Hey, Apol, try munching on these." * Fordran points at the hinges. <Sam> "Metal bar, I would guess." <DM> "okay!" * Sam finishes probing. <DM> Apol gnaws. <DM> "Pteacch" <Vita> "Pup, do you want to gnaw, too?" <DM> "Rusty." * Vita dismounts * Sam sheathes kama. * Vita looks at Pup uncertainly <DM> Apol stops chewing and wipes its tongue. <Fordran> "Rust, huh?" * Vita vaguely motions Pup at the doors, not sure what he'll do <DM> Pup sniffs at the doors. <DM> Pup looks back at Vita and barks. <Vita> "Pup, we need to get in the doors" <DM> I'm... not sure what you expect a dog to do about it. <Fordran> (Lassie would do something!) <DM> (Pup fetches dad.) <Foster> (Lassie would burn through the door with her acid breath) <Fordran> "Something wrong, Apol?" <Foster> (Assuming that Lassie is a black dragon) <DM> "Just icky." <DM> "Don't like rust." <Sam> "I would guess that they frown upon breaking doors in this town." <Fordran> "...Just how rusty is it?" <Vita> (All I know is Pup has higher strength than me) <Vita> *Pup looks confused and just sits down" <DM> "Um... like the bones in a squirrel." <Fordran> "Hm." * Fordran takes out his mace, looks around. * Fordran takes a whack at one of the hinges. Just to see. <DM> roll damage <Fordran> |roll d8+1 <tafal> 5 | [d8=4] [+1=1] * Fordran cringes at the (potential) noise. <DM> *cling* *snap* *ding ding ding* <Fordran> "Heh." <DM> (as a piece of the hinge Apol was gnawing on bounces on the floor) <Fordran> "Can you chew on that other one first?" <DM> The upper left hinge is ruined. <DM> "Bleah. Do I have to?" <Sam> (imagining geordan hesitantly reaching out with mace, mumbling "bludgeon?" meekly) * paolo has quit IRC (Ping timeout: 244 seconds) <Fordran> "Well. Okay. Let me try hitting it first." * Fordran takes another whack. <Fordran> |roll d8+1 <tafal> 2 | [d8=1] [+1=1] <Fordran> *THUNK* <DM> *twooooOOooong* <DM> "Can I just melt it?" * Fordran blinks. <Fordran> "You... uh, yes." <DM> Apol inhales and spews greenish-yellow acid at the door hinge <DM> |roll 2d4 <tafal> 7 | [2d4=7] <DM> a 1' circle of wood around that hinge sizzles and dissolves. <Fordran> "Hm. Shoulda done that in the first place. Quieter." <DM> The hinge probably isn't being held on that well anymore. * Fordran sheathes his mace, then tries to open the door. By the non-acid parts. <DM> You open the door outwards, towards the hinges on the right side <DM> The left bottom hinge drops off as the wood around it snaps. <DM> There is a sturdy metal bar run through hoops on the inside of the door. <Fordran> "Wanna... melt that one too?" <DM> From the light of your torch, you see a short flight of steps leading into the cellar <DM> (Why? the door is open) <DM> (bar is on door, door is no longer an obstacle) <Sam> "Downward?" <DM> (Nothing blocks the passage) <Fordran> (oh, ok.) * Fordran puts the door down. <Fordran> "Downward." <Vita> "let's go" * Sam goes downward. <Vita> "Pup will lead us if there's a split in the path" * Vita follows, leading Pup inside * Fordran follows. * Fordran looks for a grate in the floor. <DM> It's an empty non-descript cellar room. No boxes, not much of anything, not even dust. The most noticeable feature is a 5'x5' grate set into the middle of the floor, which reeks of sewage. <Fordran> "Great." <Vita> (Hahahahahaha) * Sam grumbles audibly. * Fordran checks to see if the grate looks, well, recently damaged. <DM> It looks new, actually. <Fordran> "Hey, Apol? Remember when you flew up through the grate when we were in the sewers? Is this that room you saw?" <DM> "Um. Maybe? It's about as boring." <Fordran> "Downward, then." <DM> Pup sniffs towards a wall. * Fordran tries to pull the grate open. * Fordran stops. <DM> Pup barks at a blank patch of wall. <Vita> "Pup" <Fordran> "...huh?" <Vita> "does the scent go to the grate" <Vita> ... <Vita> yeah <Fordran> (walk over to pup, type 20s) <Sam> (heh) <DM> (The tengu hits! The tengu hits!) <Fordran> (#pray) <Sam> (comment about scent-marking deleted as sam has no wilderness lore) <DM> ("Thou art arrogant, mortal!) <DM> So yeah, feel free to search. <Foster> (Pelor doesn't like you~) * Fordran Searches. <Sam> |roll d20 <tafal> 6 | [d20=6] <Fordran> |roll d20 <tafal> 20 | [d20=20] * Sam finds a grate in the floor. <Vita> |roll d20 <tafal> 9 | [d20=9] <Fordran> (i'll take 20 in one round) <Sam> ("Seekrit Dohwr? What language is that?") <DM> As Fordran begins tapping at the wall with his mace, the mace head goes through a seemingly-solid section. <Fordran> (<zeldanoise>) * Vita puts her hand tentatively to the wall <DM> Where? <Vita> About where the mace went through * Fordran waves the mace around slowly, trying to find the edges. <DM> You feel the edge of a hole concealed by illusion. <DM> It's about 5"x5" * Vita tries to get a feel for... yeah that <Vita> "What do we do with a small hole?" <Fordran> (what a coincidental size.) * Sam looks quite puzzled at the non-wall. <Fordran> (/suppress joke) * Fordran shrugs. pokes his head in. <DM> Does your head fit in 5" x 5"? <DM> Esp with your helmet on? <Fordran> oh <Fordran> not 5'x5' <DM> Nooo. <Fordran> "Hey, um, Apol." <DM> It's set about chest height for you. <DM> "Yeah?" <Fordran> "Can you peek in here? My head's too big." <DM> "Okay!" <DM> Apol swoops near you and hovers at the wall, feeling for the space. <DM> Apol disappears through the "wall" <DM> "There's a stick in here, can I have it?" <DM> "It's metal.." <DM> "I wonder if it's tasty!" <Fordran> "Can you bring it back?" <Fordran> "Don't eat it just yet!" <Fordran> "How big is it?" <DM> "It's attached to the wall" <DM> "Um, head sized." <Fordran> "...Your head or my head?" <DM> "Um, my head!" <Fordran> "Hm. Can it move?" <DM> "grmmr phrry" <DM> *CLICK* <DM> Reflex saves. <Vita> (*shudder*) <Fordran> |roll d20+6 <tafal> 20 | [d20=14] [+6=6] <Fordran> "M'hoiven!" <Vita> |roll d20+10 <tafal> 12 | [d20=2] [+10=10] <DM> You've been using Colin's dice :P <Sam> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 18 | [d20=7] [+11=11] <Vita> Not me! <Sam> (evasion, if it matters) <DM> Vita, Wills ave <Vita> |roll d20+5 <tafal> 20 | [d20=15] [+5=5] <Fordran> ("phantasmal killer trap! CR2") <Foster> (No, no. Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter trap.) * Vita shudders <DM> "Errph mffd" <DM> *CLICK* <DM> *CLICK CLICK CLICK* <Vita> "That was... weird" <DM> "Erph nffft mfffing" <Fordran> "Huh?" <DM> "*grunt*" <Vita> "Apol, come back!" <DM> *CLICK* <DM> Reflex saves :D <Fordran> |roll d20+6 <tafal> 17 | [d20=11] [+6=6] <Vita> |roll d20+10 <tafal> 19 | [d20=9] [+10=10] <Sam> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 22 | [d20=11] [+11=11] <Fordran> "Maybe you should stop trying to move it, Apol." <DM> "I said, it's not moving anymore, but it just moved again!" <Vita> "Stop moving it Apol" <DM> "Oh, okay." <Fordran> "Where was that clicking coming from?" <DM> The wall <Fordran> "What else can you see in there?" <DM> "Umm.... nothing else. It's just a box" * Vita looks confused <Fordran> "What's the stick look like?" <DM> "Um, like a metal shiny stick." <DM> "Like my wands, but stuck in the wall" <Fordran> "And it moved by itself?" <DM> "No, I wiggled it" <Fordran> "Huh." * Fordran looks at the others. * Fordran looks at Pup. <Vita> "Did you wiggle it in a direction"? * Vita looks at Fordran, concerned <DM> "I just tried to pull it out" <Vita> "Hmm..." <Fordran> "Try ... pushing it?" * Fordran auto-cringes. <Vita> "What if we stood wwaaaay away" <Vita> "and... yeah, that" <Fordran> "Yeah." * Fordran backs away, somewhat uselessly. * Vita back away too <DM> "Okay" <Vita> (backs, eve) <Vita> (n) <DM> *VWORN* <Sam> (yeah, the backing away bit) <DM> Silence. <Vita> "Apol? You ok?" <DM> If there were crickets here, they would be chirping. <Fordran> "...Apol?" <Fordran> "Uh oh." <Vita> "pfherm" <Vita> "well, uh" <Vita> "uh" <Sam> "Um." * Fordran thinks. * Vita goes over to the wall * Fordran looks for the invisihole. * Vita feels to see if it feels different * Fordran tries to reach into it with his arm. <DM> Still an invisihole. <Sam> "Is that prudent?" <Fordran> "Got any better ideas?"o <Vita> "So wait, who pushes next?" <DM> Your hand feels around in an emptyish space, with something hard and sticklike in the middle, horizontally <Sam> "Other than leaving, I have no better ideas." <DM> And no Apol. <Fordran> "Ok. I feel the stick thing. No Apol." <Fordran> "Vita, can you reach the stick?" <Fordran> "Don't push it." * Vita feels around for the stick * Vita reaches up a bit to get to the hole <DM> You feel around in it and can reach the stick. <Vita> "Sure" * Vita withdraws her hand <Fordran> "Okay. I'll push the stick, or something. If I, um, go *vworn* and disappear, you guys follow me. Hopefully we'll end up at the same spot." <Vita> "oooo...kkkkk" * Vita looks at Pup uncertainly * Fordran looks at Pup uncertainly. <Sam> "I dislike this plan. But I see no other." <Fordran> "Yeah. I dunno." <Vita> "Pup, if I leave, you wait for me here, ok?" <DM> Pup looks at Vita uncertainly. * Fordran takes a breath. puts away the mace, readies the buckler. <DM> * Croc has temporarily been written out of the script. <Fordran> "Here goes." * Fordran clickities. <DM> *VWORN* <Vita> "I wonder what happens if I'm riding Pup when I push it..." * Vita looks around for Fordran <DM> Fordran disappears * Vita walks up to the wall * Vita hops aboard Pup and crosses her fingers * Vita pushes the stick <DM> *VWORN* <DM> Sam is now alone in the cellar. <DM> The dark cellar. <DM> The eeeery cellar. <DM> With a sewer grate. <Sam> (my torch?) <Fordran> (You might get eaten by a grue.) * Sam sighs. * Sam tries to find the hidden hole. <DM> Still there. * Sam reaches for something to grab in there. <DM> Your hand finds a sticklike object, fixed horizontally in the space * Sam meditates for a brief moment, and against his better judgement, fucks with the magic wom-wom stick. <DM> *VWORN* <DM> Sam is standing, hand out, poking Fordran in the back. <Sam> ** You have VWORNed ** <DM> Vita and Pup are just under his outstretched arm * Fordran turns around. * Vita looks around <DM> Apol: "HI~" <Vita> "Hi Apol!" <Fordran> "Where are we?" <Vita> "Glad to see you!" * Sam recalls his arm, looking around awkwardly. <DM> It's a small room, maybe 15'x20'x15', and lit from everywhere in a soft white glow, no apparent light source. * Sam stashes his torch. <Fordran> > exits <DM> There are no apparent exits, and nothing else in here, except for two piles of clothing/armor <Sam> "Fordran, I apologize for disliking your plan." <Sam> "I should have disliked its results." <DM> Pup barks and approaches one of the piles. * Vita looks at the piles of clothing <Fordran> "Yeah, well." <DM> They look, uh, familiar. <Fordran> "Hey, are these..." * Vita tries to remember what the other big people were wearing <Sam> "Isn't that..." * Fordran looks for symbols of Pelor. <Vita> "Um, does that mean they are now..." <Sam> "Naked?" <DM> There's a tabard on the armor of the pile that Pup isn't at. <DM> it's got the Radiant Sun of Pelor on it * Vita looks down and finds (hopefully) that she is still clothed <Vita> "Whew" <DM> You are all still clothed. <DM> Well. <Sam> (Teleport Without Pants!) <DM> Not Pup and Apol. <Fordran> "Erias' tabard." <Fordran> ("He paid a good 1 gold for this!") <Vita> "This bodes badly, or well..." <Vita> "They are close? They are naked?" * Fordran searches the walls for ... anything. <Fordran> |roll d20 <tafal> 18 | [d20=18] <Vita> "Pup, can you smell anything else?" * Vita waves around the room <Sam> "I was not trained for detective work." * Sam shrugs. * Vita searches the walls for invisible holes at the same height as the other one <Vita> |roll d20 <tafal> 8 | [d20=8] <Fordran> "Yeah, me neither." <DM> Pup sniffs at the clothes and walks over to the North? West? wall and fails to bump his nose into a wall that isn't there <Fordran> "Find me some undead, and I can deal with th-- hey." <DM> He sticks his head through. <DM> It's odd, seeing a dog's body attached to a wall. * Vita runs after Pup and puts her hand on him * Vita sticks herself through the wall, partway <Fordran> (<zeldanoise>) * Vita giggles a little <Sam> "Again?" <Vita> "There's somewhere to go, here" <Vita> "It's bigger this time" * Vita tries to look down the place behind the "wall" <Vita> "You know, I hate illusions." <Sam> "I begin to share that feeling." <DM> * Apol grabs the piles of clothing and armor and stuffs them into her pouch <Fordran> (are armor and weapons here?) <Fordran> (or just clothes?) <Vita> "Well, it LOOKS like a short hallway" <Fordran> "...Is there a real floor, at least?" <DM> Just clothes and armor. <Vita> "Not that we should trust anything in this Ehlonna-forsaken place" <Vita> "I see no exits. *See*." <Fordran> (are the clothes neat at all or just piled?) * Vita mutters darkly <DM> Just kinda piled. <DM> Well, they're neatly stuffed now. <Vita> "Well, who is coming? It's not like there are other ways out" * Sam follows reluctantly. * Vita is still half-through the wall <Fordran> "No where else to go." * Fordran heads for the "wall". * Vita waits for the big people, then steps through when they do <DM> You pass through. <Vita> "I guess we search everything?" <DM> You are standing in a hallway, about 5' wide and 30' long <DM> Pup barks <Vita> "Shhh" <Vita> "What Pup?!" <Vita> "Direction?" <DM> Pup trots uncertainly halfway down the corridor, then turns right * Vita gets her bow out <DM> through that wall * Fordran is all bucklery. * Vita follows Pup warily * Vita lays her hand flat on that wall and gently touches it <DM> Fake. * Vita pulls back * Vita listens * Fordran mutters quietly, "why can't people just put walls where they mean it." <DM> Listen check then <Sam> "Rocks are heavy." <Vita> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 18 | [d20=7] [+11=11] <Vita> "I don't hear any people, just a hum" <Vita> "Do we rush it? Do we poke a head through?" <Sam> (i may have good wisdom, but i don't know why people get annoyed when i answer their rhetorical questions.) * Vita pets Pup thoughtfully <Fordran> "I'll look." * Fordran takes another breath. * Vita keeps bow in hand * Fordran peeks in for a second. * Fordran tries not to smash his face into a real-wall. <DM> Heh <Fordran> (*thunk* "Wall's over here.") <DM> You look in on a largeish room bathed in yellowish light from torchholders <DM> There are large iron cages in here, many cages. <DM> There are dirty piles of something in them, but you can't tell without a closer look. <Vita> (I assume I don't see this) <DM> Just Fordran. <Fordran> "Cages. Lots of iron cages." <Vita> "People in them?" <Fordran> "Couldn't tell." * Vita scratches her head <Vita> "Pup said this way" <Vita> "Let's... go..?" <Fordran> "Well. If we're gonna go, let's go." * Fordran steps through. * Sam follows. * Vita steps through after Fordran <DM> You see the aforementioned room with cages. <DM> The piles in the cages are all just dirty rags <DM> Two of the cages are devoid of rags <Vita> "Pup? Scent?" <DM> A third cage is open, and empty <DM> Pup trots around the room, trying to snuffle <DM> As you enter the room proper, you hear the hum louder now. <DM> It seems to be coming from the far wall. <Sam> "I have bad feelings about these cages, and worse feelings about the open one." <Vita> "don't go too far Pup" <DM> Pup returns to you and looks up at you. <Sam> (sit! roll over!) <DM> From the ripe smell in the room, it's possible that Pup just can't follow the scent here <Vita> "Anyone see anything?" * Vita scratches Pup fondly * Fordran walks over to the opened cage. * Sam briefly scans the room. (spot, take 10 = 13) * Fordran looks for evidence of forced exit. * Vita wrinkles her nose <Vita> "Ick." <Vita> "So, this hum coming from the far wall" <Vita> "It... worries me" <DM> Sam: You see nothing beyond the description <Sam> (yeah, didn't think so.) * Sam studies the humming far wall, from a "safe" arms-length away. <DM> It hums. * Vita looks around, totally confused * Vita motions Pup to stay near and try to pick up the trail in the spots that she walks * Vita moves near the open cage <DM> The sound seems to be coming from a corner of the wall, now that you're closer to it, Sam. <Vita> "Apol, do you see anything useful?" * Sam turns his attention to the corner while he retrieves a sling bullet. <DM> "Um. Not really. Just cages and piles of clothes" * Fordran passes by the two empty cages, looks inside. then moves toward the hummy wall. * Sam points. "Dare I lob this at that corner?" <Vita> "What else is there to do?" * Vita prepares to duck behind a cage * Sam moves to about 10' from the hummy corner. <Sam> "This...this is definitely not prudent." * Sam lobs. * Fordran watches. * Vita ducks <DM> The sling bullet bounces of the wall, and through the adjacent wall <DM> *tink tink tink* * Vita unducks <Vita> "What happened?" <Fordran> "It hit the wall." * Sam points again. "That wall is not solid." <Fordran> "And... missed that wall." * Fordran sighs. * Vita sighs <Vita> "I HATE illusions" <Fordran> "Yeah, I'm getting there." * Vita steams slightly <Vita> "You... have no idea" <Vita> "but anyway" * Sam somewhat carelessly goes to retrieve the sling bullet. <Vita> "Pup, can you sniff that "wall"?" <Vita> "Uh, Sam?" <DM> Sam walks through the wall * Vita turns to Fordran "follow?" * Fordran shrugs. * Fordran follows. * Vita follows <Sam> "Louder here." * Vita nods <Vita> (What does here look like?) <DM> The hum is loud now, in this short corridor. <DM> It's coming from directly in front of you, and to the left <DM> Where a "wall" is. * Fordran is running his fingers along the corridor walls. * Vita lowers her head and rubs the back of her neck <DM> At the end of the corridor, your hand finds free space. <Vita> "Ugh" <Vita> "Find anything?" * Fordran nods. * Fordran listens for a second. <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 23 | [d20=20] [+3=3] * Vita moves towards Fordran * Sam mumbles, "This ruse does not improve with repetition." <Fordran> "More humming. And... crackle?" * Fordran pokes his head in for a second. <DM> It's a brightly lit room, stone walls (unlike the strange, smooth non-descript walls before) <DM> There are two upright, slightly tilted... well, slabs, for lack of a better word. <DM> Foster is on one of them. <Fordran> "Found Foster." * Vita goes next to Fordran, sick of waitng, and pokes her head through next to him <DM> He's attached by the head to some sort of metal helmet <DM> it's cracklign with energy <Vita> (at about stomach height) <Vita> "What....oh" <Fordran> "Doesn't look good. Definitely bad." * Fordran steps in. <Vita> "Bad." <DM> The energy is arcing between his head and a floating tetrahedral crystal, floating in a jar. * Sam follows. * Vita follows, useless bow at the ready <DM> An iron cage in the corner contains the unmoving form of Erias. <DM> Is anyone barefoot? * Fordran is not. <Vita> No. <Sam> sandals. <Foster> (Pup?) <DM> *crunch crunch tinkle* underfoot. * Fordran looks down. <Vita> (Pup) <DM> Looks like shards of glass or something. <DM> Not everywhere * Fordran looks up. <DM> Just kind of randomly. * Vita looks at Pup "You ok"? <Fordran> "Glass. On the ground." <DM> Pup steps gingerly around the pieces he can see. <DM> Ceiling is stone, does not appear to have anything. <DM> Oh. Right. <DM> Ian reminds me <DM> "There is a table wedged into the wall. Wonder how it got there." <DM> The wall opposite Foster and the apparatus. <DM> well, part of a table. <Vita> (How far from them are we?) <DM> Maybe 10-15' <Fordran> "Apol? Any idea what this stuff is?" <DM> Foster is not conscious, but his features contort everytime the hum cycles. <Vita> "Fordran, can you tell if they are hurt?!" * Vita gestures vaguely <Fordran> "Not sure if I should disturb Foster. Let me check on Erias." * Fordran moves toward Erias, carefully. * Sam totally doesn't know what to make of this. * Vita cringes in time as she watches Foster <DM> Apol: "It looks like one of Bob's experiments" <Vita> *buzz* *cringe* *buzz* *cringe* <DM> "But without any candy or goats" * Vita whips her head up at Apol <Vita> "Goats!?" <Fordran> "Candy?" * Fordran checks on Erias, if he gets there without getting killed. <Sam> "...kanndiy?" <DM> The cage isn't locked. <DM> The door swings open easily. <DM> He's wearing a bunch of the dirty rags you found in the last room, tied together into a makeshift loincloth <DM> So's Foster, for that matter. <Fordran> "Erias? Can you hear me?" <Vita> "Apol... um... so what would Bob's experiment do to Foster..?" <DM> No response <DM> You find a pulse though. <DM> "I dunno. This isn't like that. But usually something got melted or exploded." * Vita looks pained <Sam> "I never want to meet Bob." <Vita> "This isn't like the magic I'm used to..." <Fordran> "Erias is alive." <DM> (He pronounced gravely) <Vita> "Ok... do we get any better news than that?" <Fordran> "I dunno. Let me try healing him a little." <DM> (Um.) <DM> (In the interest of Colin-Isn't'-Here-Right-Now-And-I-don't-Wanna-NpC-him, can we leave him unconscious, please?) * Fordran takes 0 on a Heal Check. <Fordran> "Nope! Nothing I can do for him now." <Vita> (But in the interest of what-if-we-run-into-something-bad I don't want to be without big armored guy!) * Fordran takes Erias out of the cage gingerly and lays him down... somewhere. <DM> (Darn colin and his hot dates) * Fordran moves over to Foster. <Fordran> (mmm, hot.) <DM> (Fiona: "Use him as a shield!") <Fordran> "Um. How do you stop this thing?" <Vita> "Apol?" <DM> (Btw, Fiona is working, which is why she can only interject) <DM> Apol: "Um, take off the helmet?" <Vita> "Is that safe for him,... or us?" <DM> "Or maybe just take the straps off?" * Fordran looks at the crackling helmet. Winces. <Fordran> "I like that idea better." <DM> (Foster is strapped to the table, arms, legs) * Fordran tries to unstrap. * Vita stands a little ways back <DM> The leather straps are unbuckled easily <DM> Foster begins to slide down the angled surface <Sam> "I may like to punish Bob." * Fordran catches Foster before he slides down too much. <DM> (Sam, this isn't Bob's lab) <DM> (Apol said it's like Bob's experiments, not that this was one) <Sam> (yeah, i know, but it still gives sam a bad impression of bob) <DM> (Ah) <DM> The helmet is still attached <DM> And still crackling * Sam tries to conceal his fear of all the equipment in the room by standing in one spot. <Vita> (How is the helmet attached?) * Vita moves closer in morbid fascination <Vita> "How..." <DM> Just seems to be stuck on * Foster opens his eyes. <Fordran> "Well. There's only one thing for it." * Fordran reaches for the helmet, then stops. <Fordran> "...Foster?" <Foster> "Goddamnit." <Foster> "Help me get this thing off my head, please." <Foster> "oh. <Fordran> "I'd ask if you could understand me, but that's good enough." <Foster> "Don't touch it. It'll shock you." <Fordran> "Yeah, I was gonna ask about that." * Foster pulls himself down off the table. * Sam looks a little bit relieved, sorta. <DM> The helmet slides off with a grudging *pop* <Foster> "Did you happen to bring my staff with you?" <DM> The crackling stops <DM> Apol: "Here it is!" <Foster> "Thank you." <DM> Apol produces it from her pouch. * Foster takes it, smashes the everliving fuck out of the jar. <DM> Suddenly, the shards on the ground have context. <DM> But um. <DM> Everyone make a reflex save. <DM> (good going, Ian) <Fordran> |roll d20+6 <tafal> 17 | [d20=11] [+6=6] <Sam> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 16 | [d20=5] [+11=11] <Fordran> "Yahoyl!" <Vita> |roll d20+10 <tafal> 30 | [d20=20] [+10=10] <Foster> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 12 | [d20=9] [+3=3] <Foster> (hey, it needed to be done) * Vita executes something cunning, nifty, and creative that involves no chance of whatever it was that would hurt her to touch her <DM> Everyone except Sam take 6 points of damage <Fordran> vita rolled the 30 <Sam> (woot?) <Fordran> on my screen <DM> yes, evasion. <Vita> Ohhh <DM> partial. * Vita takes that last thing back <Fordran> ; ; <Vita> (damn) * Sam hid behind vita. :-) <DM> You are all slightly singed. <Vita> (Uh... *raises finger*) <Fordran> "Gah, what in the nine hells was that?" * Vita leaps around all agile-like, to no avail whatsoever * Foster faints. <DM> *thump* <DM> Apol lands near Foster <DM> "Hello?" <DM> *tinyfaceslap* * Sam grimaces as he notices Foster faint. * Vita winces <Vita> "I'd tell him exactly what I thought of that move, but..." * Vita gestures <Sam> "I only hope he learned something from it..." <Fordran> "Great." * Fordran kneels down. * Fordran uses his Mad Healing Skillz. <DM> Spell? <Fordran> well, heal check, really. <DM> He's alive, not bleeding, it's nonlethal that has him knocked out <Fordran> ah. * Fordran busts out his Mad Wanding Skillz. <Fordran> (Cure Light Wounds) <Fordran> |roll 1d8+3 <tafal> 5 | [1d8=2] [+3=3] <Foster> "I should've expected that." <Fordran> "What was that? What the hell is this place?" <Vita> "Oh really? You know a lot more about this.. room than me" <Fordran> "And, um. You might wanna fix that loincloth." * Vita giggles * Vita smirks <Foster> "I'll explain later. We should be going. And my clothes would be nice." <DM> "Oh. So you want them back?" <Foster> "Yes. Please." <Fordran> "I want him to have them back." <DM> Apol looks crestfallen. <DM> Apol gives you your stuff. <Fordran> "What? They wouldn't even fit you, Apol." <Foster> "Thank you." <DM> "One must work on one's hoard." * Fordran looks away respectfully. Looks around the room. * Foster puts on his robe, some pants, and his boots, leaves the rest for when we're outside. * Vita pretends to look away <DM> Fordran: now that you look around, there are some crystal shards embedded in the walls and ceiling. <Fordran> "...Is Erias gonna be okay? What's the deal with all the crystals?" * Fordran thinks. <Fordran> "And how, exactly, do we leave?" <Sam> "The way we came in?" <Foster> "That would be a good idea." <Vita> "uhhh" <Fordran> "Um." <Foster> "And Erias is probably just unconcious, should be alright." <Vita> "Lever was reversible?" <Fordran> "Was there another stick in the room we came from?" <Vita> "Well, that's a good question, huh?" <Foster> "Let's investigate this. We can talk while we walk." <Sam> "I'm not the magic wom-wom expert here." <DM> Who's carrying Erias? * Fordran will try, with his Mighty Str 12. <DM> You can barely lift a handspan with this load! * Vita will not, because her Str 14 carry is adjusted for size <Vita> "Maybe Pup could?" <Vita> "he's pretty strong" * Sam might be able to drag Erias (Str 14). <DM> I'm not saying Fordran can't <DM> I'm just nethack referencing <Vita> "Pup, carry Erias?" <DM> Erias is kinda big for Pup <DM> Especially unconscious <Sam> "Fordran, would you like to carry his head or his feet?" <Fordran> "Meh. Take one. Head. Let's move." <Vita> (Pup is medium-size with str 16, right?) * Sam takes Erias' foot-end. <DM> (Yes, but what's he gonna do, drag him by his hair?) <DM> (You can't hit a human on a dog) <DM> (Maybe marmaduke, but he can't be ridden) <Vita> (I was thinking tie him on, but this works fine) <DM> ^hit^fit <Vita> (I mean, it's a huge riding dog) <DM> Not huge, Medium <Vita> (=P) <DM> You can only ride creatures one size category larger or larger <Vita> Oh <Vita> So they needed two no matter what <DM> No, a human can carry a human <DM> But it's not 'riding' <Vita> Ahh. <Fordran> (MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN) * DM turns Fordran into a caucasian zombie. * Vita understands now <Sam> (/stab) <Vita> (Ok, can this end soon? It's getting near bedtime) <DM> Er yes. <Sam> (yeah, what she said) <DM> Uh, what are you guys gonna do? <Foster> I would like to escape, and plan on heading to wherever they say they entered from. <Vita> Go back to the second room and see if there's a lever, I guess <Fordran> "So. Back... the way we came." <Vita> "Yes." <Fordran> "Wanna take any souvenirs?" <Sam> "Yes, that is my best guess." <Vita> "Erias is souvenir enough, methinks" <Foster> "Memories of trashing this hellhole are good enough." <DM> Foster: You note the now-empty, open cage * Foster winces, says nothing. <DM> You're in the room where the rescue party appeared. <DM> After backtracking through a bunch of illusionary walls.