DM_Hallu: Okay. So, you guys are sitting at the front of the train discussing things quietly so the rest of the passengers don’t hear. Lina and Glru, both temporarily played by me, are with you. Jove is still snoozing quietly.

Ika_Yorri is blissfully unaware of Akavi's true nature.

Akavi glances at his companions and at the lion. "Well, I won't be of much use in a croud situation."

Akavi: "We ought to approach in a nonthreatening way, if we engage at all..."

DM_Hallu: Glru tightens his grip on his wrench. "Glru know how to deal with crowd situation. If crowd interfere, beat them."

Akavi purses his lips. "This is a tempting proposition, particularly when it comes to Lady Solak, but we were hired to PROTECT them."

DM_Hallu: "We were hired to protect /good/ passengers, yes? If wolf steps out in front of train, can do nothing, yes?"

Akavi: ((We need a diplomancer... Oh, the cruel irony of absence...))

Alexis_Hase: ((We might have a diplomancer next campaign. Hint hint. :3))

Ika_Yorri: "There must be a way to convince him to leave the passenger car, but not know the jig is up..."

DM_Hallu: Lina sits up a little straighter. "I assure you there is no need to commit any acts of violence against anyone in this car while I'm around."

Akavi: ((Alexis, Lina is a diplomancer, and Zeal wanted a larger role. Here it is, no where is heeeeee?))

Ika_Yorri: "Wait... Which seat is the lion in? We could hold a fake contest, then the lion wins and comes up front!"

Akavi sighs and looks at Lina. "And what would you have us mere mortals do, then?"

DM_Hallu: A quick inspection reveals that the lion is in Seat 12C.

Akavi: "Good idea, Ika. Any clever details you can think up to embellish the story?"

DM_Hallu: "We could /ask/ him," says Lina, giving you an equally dirty look in return, "in a civilized way."

DM_Hallu: Lina dabs absently at Alexis' forehead with a cool cloth.

Akavi considers. "The way I see it, we need some sort of container to put lots in, and a bunch of blank parchment. We pretend to rummage around, and call out "12C". The winner gets to see the miraculous new steam engine."

Ika_Yorri: "Yes, yes. Take him to the front of the train, then nab 'im!"

DM_Hallu: "Glru has vials, pouches, purses..." Glru gestures to his backpack which holds his obscenely large inventory.

DM_Hallu: "Parchment, too."

Ika_Yorri: "We can get the rat after. This one's best used on the one who doesn't know we know him."

Akavi looks around. "Are we agreed, then?"

DM_Hallu: The rat is in seat 6D, if it matters.

DM_Hallu: "Glru agrees. Glru think it silly, but Glru agrees."

DM_Hallu: Lina nods her head quietly.

Tobias also nods.

DM_Hallu: Alexis is in too much a state of shock to nod.

Ika_Yorri moves Alexis' head in a nodding motion with her hands.

Akavi borrows a bag and some parchment from Glru, and rips the parchment into strips, folding each one and putting in into the bag.

Ika_Yorri: "Perfect, then."

Akavi: "Ika, would you like to run this, or shall I?"

Akavi: ((I assume Tobias doesn't bluff well.))

Akavi: ((I could be wrong.))

Ika_Yorri: "Oh, I think I'll take it. You be the one to usher the lion forward once he wins."

Tobias: ((he probably doesn't))

Akavi nods. "Remember, he gets to spend the rest of the ride with the conductor."

Tobias: "Who's going to go with him to the engine room and who's going to stay here?"

Akavi shrugs. "I can stay here. My ears are still ringing from my time in there earlier."

Akavi: "Lina and I can have a great little chat out here."

Ika_Yorri: "Glru should definitely stay out of the passenger car while we do this. He'll get to use his muscles more as an ambush guy, anyway."

DM_Hallu: "Glru will accompany prisoner," says Glru, keeping a baleful eye on the lion. He knew this lion was trouble from the beginning.

DM_Hallu: "Or ambush, that work too."

Akavi: ((Well, there we go.))

Akavi: "Ika, do you want to go along with the lion? Tobias, we could probably use your muscle in the engine room if anything goes wrong."

DM_Hallu: Glru leaves the room, ostensibly to go check on something. No one pays it much mind, since you guys are entering and leaving mysteriously all the time.

Ika_Yorri: "I'll announce the draw and take the rear in escorting, yeah."

Tobias: "Sounds like a plan."

Ika_Yorri: "Lina in the passenger car, too. Lina's always in the passenger car..."

Akavi smiles. "Oh good." patting Alexis on the top of his head, he looks down. "You can just stay here. With me."

DM_Hallu: Alexis cringes and whimpers, and Lina shoos you away from him.

Akavi: "No fun."

Akavi: "Alright, let's get this going, shall we?"

Ika_Yorri nods.

DM_Hallu retcons things to say Glru handed you an appropriate container and some parchment before he left.

Akavi hands her the bag full of the paper strips.

Akavi: ((I already took it earlier))

DM_Hallu: (in that case, DM_Hallu adjusts her memory unit)

Akavi nods at Ika and Tobias.

Ika_Yorri takes the container from Akavi, and makes her way to the front of the passenger car.

Tobias waits patiently.

DM_Hallu: (just then, THE TRAIN CRASHED! No, wait...)

DM_Hallu: (umm, are you guys waiting for me to do something?)

Tobias: ((shouldn't Ika be doing the drawing right now?))

Ika_Yorri: ((nah, I was checking Prestidigitation))

Ika_Yorri: ((...in case someone wants to see the parchment))

Akavi: ((/me snores gently, drooling on Lina.))

Ika_Yorri stands at the front of the passenger car, and clears her throat as loudly as possible.

DM_Hallu: (Lina makes a disgusted face and wipes the drool off of her with a suitable cloth)

Ika_Yorri: "May I have your attention, please, one and all!"

Akavi: ((That was, of course, OOC))

DM_Hallu: (I know, so was mine)

Akavi: ((Jolly good.))

DM_Hallu: The passengers look up at Ika with interest.

Ika_Yorri holds the pouch above her head with both hands. "It is now time for the train's raffle event!"

DM_Hallu: Some of the passengers groan and look away in disgust. About half of them remain paying attention.

Ika_Yorri: "Don't worry if you haven't got a ticket. Your seat here assures you a chance to win!"

DM_Hallu: "What are we gonna win?" pipes up one of Calthea Solak's children near the front.

Ika_Yorri: "The grand prize of the day is a tour of the train - a look into the engine-room, where the magic happens! The winner will get to ride at the very front," Ika points toward the front of the train, "with the conductor himself!"

DM_Hallu: The children's eyes widen, and so do those of a few of the grownups. Mostly, though, the grownups just want to get off this train altogether.

Ika_Yorri: ((which seats hold little children, by the way?))

Akavi: ((Which category is the lion in?))

DM_Hallu: (let's see, now... halfling children in 7A, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A... oh, I was wrong about the rat, he's actually in 8D, not 6D. more children in a moment -

DM_Hallu: (the lion is a young adult.)

Akavi: ((Excited, or still being emo?))

DM_Hallu: (Still being emo.)

Ika_Yorri brings the pouch to chest-height, and reaches one hand in, shuffling it around. "And the winner is..." she removes a strip of parchment, "Ba-b'-b'-baah! ...Seat 12C!"

DM_Hallu: (Human children in 18B, 18C, 19B, 19C. Elf child in 17C. Gnome child in 4B. No other children.)

Ika_Yorri pretends to be unsure where seat 12C is at first, then points at the lion. "Congratulations!"

DM_Hallu: The lion doesn't appear to notice, but the supermodel sitting next to him nudges him roughly. "Hey, dumbass, you won something," she hisses.

Akavi makes his way to the lions seat, smiling broadly and holding out his hand.

DM_Hallu: (sorry, behind, not next. I keep getting that wrong.)

Akavi: ((I'm Vanna White!))

Tobias: ((XD))

DM_Hallu: The lion growls at the supermodel briefly, but then looks up at Akavi and assumes a perkier demeanor and shakes your hand.

Akavi: "Congratulations! Join the rabbit up front to begin your tour!"

DM_Hallu: (Can I have a Bluff check from one of you, please?)

Akavi: ((hang on...))

Ika_Yorri: ((Bluff: 26))

Akavi: ((30))

DM_Hallu: "Oh, okay," says the Lion. "Cool." He joins you at the front.

Akavi waves in a chipper manner, then settles in the seat next to Lina.

Ika_Yorri clutches the pouch close and smiles at the lion. "Right this way!" she says, leading him through the door.

DM_Hallu: (so, were you guys wanting Glru to beat this guy into submission, or initiate a grapple, or what?)

Tobias follows.

Akavi: ((Let's close the door first. XD))

DM_Hallu: (oh! The wrench does grapples, I forgot about that. one moment.)

DM_Hallu: (hahaha good point)

Ika_Yorri: ((grapple/pin sounds good))

Akavi: ((I leave it to them to decide.))

Akavi: ((Please no visible injury...))

Ika_Yorri: ((the wrench grapples?))

DM_Hallu: (yeah. it's a 6 foot wrench, I guess it's like the pincer staff.)

Ika_Yorri: ((it's six feet long!? I have NOT been picturing that in my head...))

DM_Hallu: (it's a really really really big wrench, i dunno why they make them that way)

Tobias: ((XD me neither. I mean, I pictured a big wrench, but that's BIG))

Ika_Yorri: ((really big luggnuts, I suppose...))

Akavi: ((Dire lugnuts.))

DM_Hallu: As soon as Tobias closes the door, Glru jumps out and swings the wrench at the lion. Unfortunately, he misses horribly. The lion jumps in surprise. Everybody roll Initiative, yay!

Ika_Yorri: ((I pictured the 1.5-ft. ones, like the ones my father has. Those are two-handed for someone of my upper body strength))

Akavi whistles a jaunty tune, eyeing Calthea Solak and her children.

Tobias: ((14))

DM_Hallu: ...eyeing them in what way?

Ika_Yorri: ((Init.: 4))

Akavi: ((Just idly.))

Tobias: ((in a 'you'd taste good with ketchup way'))

Akavi: ((A1, actually.))

Akavi: ((Halfling: it's what's for dinner.))

DM_Hallu: The lion leaps back towards the doors. Unfortunately everybody gets an attack of opportunity as he does. Anyone who wants to take one can now do so, I don't much care about the order.

DM_Hallu: Glru swings and misses again. Poor guy.

Ika_Yorri: ((...no melee weapon for me...))

DM_Hallu: Tobias?

Tobias: ((am I already blocking the door since I was last through?))

DM_Hallu: (Yes. So he runs straight into you and is trying to get past and you get an attack of opportunity.)

Ika_Yorri: ((we did wait to get him into the engine before jumping him, right?))

Tobias: ((I just closed the door, so I imagine we're in that in between section))

Tobias: ((which could get tricky))

DM_Hallu: (I was imagining what Tobias was imagining, but if you guys want to retcon it to the engine room, that's ok too...)

Ika_Yorri: ((I would appreciate that, yes. I thought that's where we were going to nab him, not wanting to be bullrushed off a train...))

DM_Hallu: (ok, you guys are in the engine room)

Tobias: ((I've forgotten how do to everything. what do I roll if I want to just punch him?))

DM_Hallu: (unarmed attack. strength plus base attack bonus.)

Ika_Yorri: ((well, you can use your weapon to do subdual damage))

Ika_Yorri: ((at a -4 penalty))

Tobias: ((I'm not sure what subdual damage is. strength+base attack is 6))

DM_Hallu: (okay, roll 1d20 plus that.)

Ika_Yorri: ((subdual damage is non-lethal damage))

Tobias: ((17))

DM_Hallu: You feel like the punch *should* have hit, but instead of a satisfying thunk into the lion's chest, you hit something that feels like armor... you suddenly realize he's wearing a chain shirt under his clothing.

Akavi: ((/me smiles at Lina. "What a brilliant plan! What could possibly go wrong?"))

DM_Hallu: (hey, at least this isn't happening in front of 80 passengers...)

Akavi: ((Not yet, it isn't.))

DM_Hallu: The lion tries to push past you to get to the door, Tobias... that'll be a Strength check.

Tobias: ((aw hell.... 8))

Tobias: ((does it help that I'm heavy? ^^; ))

DM_Hallu: The lion is a fairly scrawny young lion, but he gets past you this time. He is now at the door, with his hand on the handle, but after all the running and pushing, that is where his turn ends.

DM_Hallu: Your turn now, Tobias.

Akavi: ((Any chance a listen check would alert me to frantic action on the other side of the door?))

DM_Hallu: No, they're all still in the engine.

Akavi: ((Ok, then.))

Akavi: ((Any word on where Zeal is?))

DM_Hallu: (none what so ever.)

DM_Hallu: (he's probably, like... sleeping)

Ika_Yorri: ((that somnolescent bastard!))

DM_Hallu: (heee.)

Ika_Yorri: ((*shakes fist at sleeping Zeal*))

Tobias attempts to knock the lion over the head.

DM_Hallu: With what? Your fist again? (Even if it's not, it's the same roll as before. 1d20+6.)

Akavi: ((Heh. Don't send a combatant to do a sorcerer's job...))

Tobias: ((23 this time))

DM_Hallu: You hit him solidly. Roll damage.

Tobias: ((er.... what do I roll for unarmed strike?))

Ika_Yorri: ((1d3 +Strength bonus))

Tobias: ((5))

DM_Hallu: He passes right out.

DM_Hallu: (catfolk level adjustment ftw!)

Ika_Yorri: (("Aaaaagh!" *whomp* " "))

Ika_Yorri gives Tobias a thumbs-up

Ika_Yorri: "Now, let's get him tied."

DM_Hallu: Rob takes this moment to look over at all of you. "What the hell?" he demands.

Ika_Yorri: "Another saboteur. Nothing to worry about,"

Tobias helps move the lion so he can be more easily tied.

Akavi: ((Heh. *waves* "Hi, Rob. Us again!"))

DM_Hallu: "Do you *have* to fight them in the room where I'm driving the train?" says Rob.

Ika_Yorri: "Yes, we do"

Tobias: "Well if we did it in the passenger car people would probably panic or something," he points out.

Ika_Yorri: * "Yes, we do. It prevents a panic in the back."

DM_Hallu: "Meh... good point," said Rob.

DM_Hallu: "We take off cub's metal shirt before we tie him, otherwise kvestioning not go so well," Glru suggests.

Ika_Yorri: "Good thinking, Glru."

Tobias looks confused. "How does that affect questioning?"

Akavi: ((Because Akavi like the shiny, valuable bits of the prisoners.))

DM_Hallu: "Cub wear metal shirt, cub think cub is strong, no one slicing or burning or hitting cub. Cub lose metal shirt, cub know is just cub."

Tobias: "Oh. So it's a mental thing. Gotcha."

Ika_Yorri helps Glru remove the lion's chain shirt.

DM_Hallu: Glru accepts the help, then proceeds to tie up the unconscious captive. You seem to have hit him a bit harder than you thought; he's wounded in the head as well as unconscious.

Ika_Yorri examines the head wound. "Better get Lina to check that out. That... that isn't pretty."

Tobias grimaces. "I didn't mean to hit him that hard."

DM_Hallu: Glru snorts. "Healer not leave passenger car, remember?"

DM_Hallu: He is still at positive hit points, though.

Ika_Yorri: "Yeah, I know... I'll get her."

Ika_Yorri turns to Tobias before going. "Mind joining me? I have a plan for the rat, and want to speak with you and Akavi."

Tobias: "Oh, uh... sure."

Tobias follows.

DM_Hallu: Glru stays.

DM_Hallu: Lina turns to look at the both of you as you return. Both Jove and Alexis are curled up peacefully sleeping in separate rows.

Ika_Yorri gets Akavi and Lina to speak with her just outside of the passenger car.

DM_Hallu: Lina shakes her head. "I am NOT leaving this car. I already made that mistake."

Akavi follows with apparent casualness.

Ika_Yorri: "Fine, then... We'll be back in a moment."

DM_Hallu: Lina nods politely.

Akavi follows Ika out of the passenger car. "Yes?"

Ika_Yorri reveals her master plan to the others once they're outside. "What you two are gonna do, see, is go up to the rat and tell him, "by order of the guard of this train, I have to demand that you come with us". He's just one, and not as big as you two, so he shouldn't put up a fuss, right?"

DM_Hallu: (heee, that's a nice master plan)

Tobias: "What if that makes the people around him anxious?"

Tobias: "Maybe we should make it a little less.... threatening?"

Ika_Yorri: "He already ATTACKED me! They should understand that."

Akavi looks innocent. "The bunny has a point."

Tobias: "Oh.... right. Good plan then."

Akavi: "Yes, then?"

Ika_Yorri: "Then you bring him to the engine, and we tie him up... Or pummel him too. I call it, Plan Simplicity."

Ika_Yorri: "I even have a contingency plan, in case he tries to leap off the train to escape - let him."

DM_Hallu: XD

Akavi: "Right then. Shall we?"

*** sonofzeal joined #avenDnD

sonofzeal: ((Hola all!))

Ika_Yorri: "I'll go in, but take my seat. I don't want it to look like the raffle-ticketeer is a big, scary guard."

Akavi: ((Hi! We didn't kill anyone while you were gone!))

Akavi: ((Akavi is ready to go, when Tobias is.))

Sonofzeal: ((Always good to know, Akavi!))

Sonofzeal: ((So, what's happening?))

Tobias: ((we knocked out the lion, and now we're goin' for the rat))

Ika_Yorri: ((Plan Simplicity is a go!))

Akavi: ((Peacefully.))

DM_Hallu: (Ok, recap for Lina - the passengers apprehended the suspicious looking lion by pretending he won a raffle and then ambushing him. He got clocked over the head and is now tied and unconscious. Alexis is traumatized from Akavi's dark secret, and is now sleeping, same as Jove.)

DM_Hallu: (Glru is waiting in the engine room with Rob, and the others are out on the walkway scheming about how to catch the rat.)

Akavi: ((Done scheming, actually.))

Sonofzeal: ((The rat got away?))

Tobias: ((no, he's sitting in the passenger car))

Ika_Yorri: ((He's just sitting in his seat, but we'd rather tie him up))

Akavi: ((I need to antagonize Lina a bit. I haven't in a while. But first, the rat?))

Sonofzeal: ((Have you considered, y'know, /asking/ him to go along with being tied up, in the name of security regulations?))

Akavi trots through the door and over to the rat's seat, waiting for Tobias to join him, where he leans down and says sweetly, "It pains me to inform you that, due to your earlier unfortunate assault on my lapin compatriot, we must compel you in the name of the safety of this train to join us with a minimum of fuss."

DM_Hallu: (actually, that's the current plan...)

Akavi: ((Yup.))

Ika_Yorri returns to the passenger car, smiles at the passengers, then takes her seat.

Akavi: ((Except in a really confusing, classy way))

DM_Hallu: The rat hisses at you a little, but he stands up and reluctantly goes along. The froglings sitting next to him cheer quietly.

Tobias: ((XD))

Healer_Lina escorts the rat.

Tobias does so as well.

Akavi follows, readying a color spray to disable him once we get to the engine.

Ika_Yorri guards the passenger car.

DM_Hallu: The rat actually does not make any moves at escaping, for whatever reason.

Healer_Lina: ((Calm Emotions ftw!)

DM_Hallu: (yep!)

Akavi: ((Bah. Can I still knock him unconscious?))

Ika_Yorri: ((this is the first D&D campaign I've been part of that employed repeated, planned, savage gang-beatings))

Tobias: ((XD))

Healer_Lina: ((I'd rather you didn't. =P))

Akavi: ((Well, we've never played together before.))

Ika_Yorri: ((it's a good feeling))

Tobias: ((I think it's more like we plan not to, and then someone does XD))

Healer_Lina: ((Ika - it's not a real D&D campaign UNLESS it's got repeated, planned, savage gang-beatings))

Akavi: ((Really, we are remarkably coordinated and calm about it.))

Healer_Lina: ((The group I currently DM has long intricate discussions about how exactly they're going to go about gang-beating little girls))

Akavi: When we reach the engine, Akavi flexes his finger and opens his mouth to cast, but then purses his lips and looks at Lina. "Unnecessary, I suppose." He says, with a mildly mocking tone.

DM_Hallu: The rat looks over you with a funny dismissive look in his eyes, as if to say "Whatever."

Healer_Lina smiles "Much appreciated, Akavi."

Akavi shoots a tight, unamused smile back.

Healer_Lina: ((Do we have handcuffs?))

DM_Hallu: Lina, on the way to the engine you see a tied up and conscious wolfgirl next to two tied up and UNconscious oxfolk and the unconscious lion.

Akavi looks innocent once more.

Healer_Lina shoots a glance at Akavi, but says nothing.

Ika_Yorri: ((looks like we've subdued all known terrorists. I guess the ball's in the court of the UNknown terrorists, then))

DM_Hallu: The rat looks up at you all. "You guys gonna interrogate me or something?"

Akavi: ((You see, there are the know knowns, and the unknown knowns. We know we know the known knowns...))

Healer_Lina: "Why, is there something you have to tell us?"

Akavi looks on.

DM_Hallu: The rat looks like he has to think about it for a minute, but then he says "No."

Akavi rolls his eyes and looks at Lina.

Healer_Lina: "Do you know all these other fellows, at least?"

DM_Hallu: "Yeah... I know loads of people, so what?"

Akavi taps a booted foot.

DM_Hallu: The rat rolls his eyes a little. "Yeah, we know each other and stuff. Most of them are losers, though."

Akavi: "Hence the 'bound and unconscious' bit."

Healer_Lina eyes their condition. "Evidently. You're not, then?"

DM_Hallu: "Nah. I'm a wrestling champion. Those guys didn't do what they were supposed to, but I did..."

Akavi raises his eyebrows, but lets Lina proceed.

Healer_Lina: "Impossible to get good help these days, I suppose?"

Healer_Lina: ((ooc: I'm trying to get him to reveal his place in the power structure; if he says yes, he's likely near the top))

DM_Hallu: "Guess it must be, 'specially from suspicious-looking wildlings. Those losers the only other ones desperate enough to help out. I mean... yeah, devoted enough to the cause and everything..."

Healer_Lina: "Hmm. So what now for the cause?"

DM_Hallu: "The cause. Y'know. Wildling freedom or whatever. You guys haven't figured it out yet?"

Healer_Lina smiles. "I mean, what does the cause do know, write you guys off as a loss and try again somewhere else?"

Akavi: ((Fallen allies are tax-deductible!))

Ika_Yorri: ((I already wrote off Alexis!))

Akavi: ((Hooray! Rebates all around!))

DM_Hallu: "I don't know! They don't tell me that kind of stuff. We were supposed to kidnap some passengers and kill them and stuff, I don't know if there's enough people left to do it again. I guess there's always someone dumb enough, though."

Akavi: ((case in point, rat-boy.))

DM_Hallu: ((tell me about it :D))

Akavi: ((It suddenly occurs to me that by accepting this job and foiling the wildling plans, our group has taken a pretty unforgiving stance on the oppression of the native peoples of Santhil.))

Ika_Yorri: ((I am the native peoples of Santhil!))

Akavi: ((I AM THE LAW!))

Akavi: ((Also see: "l'etat se moi".))

Healer_Lina: "Indeed. But as you can probably tell, they aren't going to win. And if you help us, things will go much better for you in court."

Healer_Lina: "You don't have to answer now, just.... think about it, okay?" *smiles again*

DM_Hallu: "Well, I could lead you to the lady that ran things," says the rat, "if you hadn't run her over or whatever..."

Akavi: ((I vote- the court of physical combat, judge 'fiendish monstrous centipede' presiding.))

DM_Hallu: "I totally did my end of the deal, though," says the rat, as if this is important to him. "My job was distract you guys while the other guys kidnapped the passengers and took them off to sacrifice them... but what did they do? Stole luggage, got in a slapfight, or just sat there doing nothing! Fuckers."

Akavi smiles and stifles a laugh.

Akavi: "You mean sacrifice like enslave, right?"

DM_Hallu: "What? No, I mean sacrifice like sacrifice. Like, ksheeek." He makes a slitting motion across his throat. "We totally were going to."

Healer_Lina: "Oh? Sacrifice to what?"

DM_Hallu: "Y'know... the forces of nature and things. For a good harvest and prosperous future. It's a Wildling thing, you wouldn't understand."

DM_Hallu: Glru rumbles "Glru has never heard of this Wildling thing..."

Akavi: "Trust me, on some days... I would."

Healer_Lina: "I have. My people used to do it, centuries ago."

DM_Hallu: "Oh. Bully for you, then."

Akavi looks at Lina. "That's charming."

Healer_Lina: "Isn't it though. Now if you'll excuse me, I must see to the passengers."

Akavi: "Right-O. Scare the hell out of Alexis for me."

Healer_Lina rises and makes her way to the back.

DM_Hallu: Rob whistles jauntily to himself. "I knew it. They pretend to be all happy and fuzzy, but inside they're still enslaving and sacrificing. Or... whichever one. Whatever."

Ika_Yorri: (( <-- does not pretend ))

Tobias: ((XD))

Akavi raises his voice helpfully. "Both, apparently. But I think that's pretty much canceled due to captured workforce."

DM_Hallu: "Well, great," says Rob.

Akavi: "Gotta love it." Akavi says, giving Ika a little pat on the head.

Ika_Yorri is still in her seat in the passenger car.

Healer_Lina greets Ika on the way back.

Akavi: ((Well, fine. I'll pat Glru. It's more ironic that way, anyway.))

DM_Hallu: Glru rumbles in confusion at the pat.

Akavi looks at the rat. "So. What now?"

DM_Hallu: "What do you mean?"

Healer_Lina: ((Zeal looks at the DM - so, what now?))

Akavi: "Well, I was kind of left to guard you, or something."

Akavi: "Of course, that's not really my style."

Ika_Yorri: ((Ika looks at her cat - so, what meow?))

DM_Hallu: The rat looks at you suspiciously.

Akavi: "So, did you have any suggestions?"

Akavi: ((Akavi is being totally serious here.))

DM_Hallu: "I dunno, go play a game of solitaire with your cougar friend?"

Tobias: "Why don't we just tie him up with the others?"

Akavi: "Hey, I don't think Lina's that old..."

DM_Hallu: (*completely forgot that solitaire is a two person game :P*)

Akavi: ((Completely just called lina a cougar.))

Tobias: ((XDDD))

Healer_Lina: (( -.-;;; ))

Healer_Lina: (( for a minute I was like "what are they talking about, I'm not a wildling!"))

Akavi: ((Hallu, I think we're pretty much ready for anything left, now...))

DM_Hallu: (okay guys. can you all make, like, an Int check?)

Akavi: (("Like, an int check?" XD))

Akavi: :)

DM_Hallu: (sorry, i overuse valleygirl words sometimes)

Healer_Lina: ((Int 12))

Ika_Yorri: ((Int: 17))

Tobias: ((6 ><))

Akavi: ((19))

Akavi: ((Heh))

DM_Hallu: Okay... does ANYBODY (besides Tobias) remember the piece of paper that Glru found in the farmhouse cellar?

Healer_Lina: ((So, like, apparently there's this study that totally shows that, like, valleygirleese actually correlates well with complex sentence structure and information density))

Akavi: ((It was a legal document of unbearable complexity))

Ika_Yorri: ((I stayed up above, remember?))

Akavi: ((Made by house Timur))

Akavi: ((I even remember the name! Be so proud!))

DM_Hallu: (I am very proud. Has it occurred to you that House Timur does not normally deal in farmhouses?)

Akavi: ((It occurred to me, yes. I was under the impression they did resources.))

Ika_Yorri: ((it has occurred to me as a player, but not as a character))

DM_Hallu: (Oh drat.)

Akavi: ((I made my knowledge (nobility) check IC))

DM_Hallu: (So, Akavi, are you gonna do anything about that in particular?)

Akavi: ((There was the suggestion that the farmhouse was a staging base for the wildling operation, which was primarily concerned with the train as a tool to gather and transport natural resources and therefore gain an edge over the competition. But aside from having shared that though with my compatriots, I assumed that House Alethia would be somewhat interested in seeing the document...))

DM_Hallu: (Ok. That's fair.)

Akavi: ((I have a sneaking suspicion that I was being prodded towards some other conclusion...))

Akavi: ((Do you have a clue bat handy?))

DM_Hallu: (I'm pondering whether to use one now, or let the repercussions of your decision unfold in subsequent adventures. I don't want to, like, railroad you guys or anything.)

Akavi: ((So to speak, given the recent adventure...))

DM_Hallu: (yeah :D)

DM_Hallu: (Anyone have a strong opinion in the matter?)

Ika_Yorri: ((not while I'm within Lina's Calm Emotions aura))

Akavi: (("Does House Alethia give good christmas bonuses for good work?" Nah, just kidding.))

DM_Hallu: Okay, in that case, you find the train rapidly approaches the destination. Rob blows the whistle with relish.

Akavi: ((And mustard.))

Tobias: ((and ketchup))

DM_Hallu: Children and various people come out along the tracks (at a safe distance) to wave at the train and welcome it to the city of Shuteye. Ika_Yorri: ((That whistle-blower...))

DM_Hallu: "I think you should go wake up Jove," says Rob.

Tobias: ((that's an amusing name for a city))

Akavi nods. "Right. Rat-boy, you're with me. Tobias?" He turns and walks to the passenger compartment.

Tobias follows.

Akavi enters the compartment, and, whapping Alexis between the ears to wake him, shakes Jove's shoulder gently.

DM_Hallu Jove wakes up. "Shoes and confetti... mhuh... hang on! We're here!" He sits bolt upright. "I missed the whole thing!"

DM_Hallu: Alexis wakes up and cowers some more.

Akavi: "It went well."

DM_Hallu: "oh, good," says Jove. He hurries to the engine.

DM_Hallu: Glru walks back from the engine and sits in the passenger seats, looking around at the construction of the Shuteye tracks and station. The rat-boy follows Akavi.

Akavi takes particular time to incline his head respectfully to Calthea Solak before she exits the train.

Ika_Yorri quickly informs Jove and Rob of the fake raffle, so they aren't blindsided later.

DM_Hallu: The passengers exit quickly and there is much commotion as they gabble excitedly to their waiting friends and, in some cases, family.

DM_Hallu: Soon the train is empty except for you guys, Jove, Rob, and Rita, and the crowd has dispersed.

DM_Hallu: Rita goes up to the engine room, where Rob presumably fills in her and Jove on the day's events.

Akavi smiles. "You might want to call the authorities, and have them take care of our coal scuttle."

DM_Hallu: "I'll do that," says Rita helpfully, and she leaves the train to find a police station.

Akavi: ((So helpful, that Rita.))

DM_Hallu: Jove looks at you sadly. "I know it's good," he says, "that a terrorist attack was averted and all... but it makes me sad. I wanted the train to be for everyone. All of us moving together into the future. Didn't those Wildlings know they were only making things harder for themselves?"

Akavi coniders. "They will, in short time, realize that colonists and they have irreparably separate views of progress. And in all likelihood, that is when the future of the races will be decided."

Ika_Yorri: "No. They just don't care. They see their world changing, and they oppose the change because it's change, not for any real reason. It takes alot of hate in someone to do that."

Akavi: ((Ika, I think we said each other's lines))

DM_Hallu: Jove nods, looking very sad indeed. "Well... I guess I better give you guys your pay, then. You did good work. Don't let idiots like Rob get you down."

DM_Hallu: "Hey!" says Rob, who is still in the room.

DM_Hallu: Jove smiles at Rob. "Just a friendly jab," he says.

DM_Hallu: "Yeah," says Rob, "same here, witless wonder."

Akavi: ((Oh, good. We're not the only ones to forget about him all the time.))

DM_Hallu: Anyway, yeah. Jove takes you to the Shuteye station, where you awarded with enough gold and XP to (combined with your gems) take you up to the next level.

DM_Hallu: The end! Yay!

Akavi: ((*applause*))

Tobias: ((huzzah!))

Ika_Yorri: ((*another plozz*))