Due to their work in the last adventure, all party members (except Akavi, for whom it would be redundant) were awarded the rank of White Rose Seeker by House Aletheia. This is a very common honor entailing no privileges, obligations, or duties whatsoever; it is given to anybody who graduates from House Aletheia's university or who performs some action that the House finds beneficial. However, White Rose Seekers have an easier time accessing the employment and services of House Aletheia should they wish to, and are often informed of interesting adventuring opportunities.

Akavi, shortly thereafter, received the following letter:

Seeker:
The zeitgeist is shifting. Be on your guard.
You have, perhaps unwittingly, brought to our attention a world of machinations that are beyond the scope of this letter, as well as your own security clearance. You will be rewarded. We have identified several potential flash points, and are assigning you to one. You may bring your White Rose allies from your last mission, if they are willing; all of you from the train are in a unique position to be of help and insight. If they are unwilling, we will of course assign you to an appropriate party.
Please report to House Timur's base of operations in the village of Ixtlanco in the southron marshes. They will explain the situation further. Regardless of what happens, and whatever you see or hear, the situation MUST be brought to a non-violent solution.
If you are successful in this mission, you � in addition to your pay � will be considered eligible to apply for the rank of Red Rose Seeker, if you are interested.
Cordially,
Aia'kermilen Aerith
Seeker Volant

The party decided to go with him and, on the way out of Shuteye, was stopped by a gruff Customs official who arbitrarily added a red foxkin named Anthony to their number. He explained that the government thought they'd done so wonderfully that it felt obliged to contribute with a scout. Glru dubbed him "emergency rations".

A lizardfolk guide was assigned to guide the party the last few miles through the muddy swamp to Ixtlanco. She introduced herself as Sayenya, a young female studying to become the next High Priestess of the Sun; guiding travellers is not normally part of her duties, but she volunteered for this particular job because she was curious. She had many questions for the party about the outside world, especially the Railroad Six. She was excited to hear about the alleged sacrifices that the Railroad Six were planning to make, since she had been certain that the lizardfolk in this region were the only Wildlings in Santhil who still practiced the sacrifice of sentient beings. The party got attacked by a giant crocodile midway. Glru got bitten and almost died. Anthony ran off the path, sank into the swamp, and had to be rescued.

It should also be noted that Alexis chose not to accompany the group for further adventures and that Akavi's current form is a human female.

DM_Hallu: Okay, so Glru is knee deep in crocodile guts, Anthony is soaked and filthy, the rest of you are doing your normal combat recovery with no real ill effects beyond residual frustration from being in a swamp.

Akavi: ((Grr. Swamp.))

Anthony_Steiber: "Ugh, I'm covered in mud. But at least I'm still in one piece."

Akavi looks over. "Need a polish, or are you fine like that?"

DM_Hallu: "Well," says Sayenya, crossing her arms, "I don't have Prestidigitation prepared today, and even if I did, I wouldn't waste it on you. Okay, is everybody ready to go now?"

Anthony_Steiber: "I'll be fine. We should get going."

DM_Hallu: Sayenya leads you off through the mud and reeds and rickety bridges.

Akavi stands up, and nods at the unattractive crocodile girl.

DM_Hallu: (she's a lizard, not a crocodile)

Glru: ((i thought it was evening and we were camping for the night?))

Akavi: ((I was being snarky.))

DM_Hallu: (nope. you were just having a pit stop.)

Akavi: ((But not out loud.))

Healer_Lina gets up to follow, doing the best to keep her greatcoat as close to its normal shade of white as possible.

DM_Hallu: She chatters animatedly as she goes about the weather and seasons in the swamp and nothing of any particular importance.

DM_Hallu: Then, after a few minutes, she pauses and says, out of the blue - "I know why you're here, by the way."

Akavi trots along next to Lina, figuring that if anything jumped out, at least she'd be close to the healer.

Akavi: "Oh?"

Glru: "this would be news also to Glru..."

DM_Hallu: "House Timur's paying you. They want you to lead the attack so they can overthrow us and grab our copper deposits. But I'm leading you the right way anyway. Know why?"

Akavi: "Why?"

DM_Hallu: Sayenya smiles demurely. "Faith," she says. "We're going to beat you."

Akavi nods. "Lina? Your department, since no lies are necessary."

Glru scratches his head "Glru does not remember this in job description..."

Healer_Lina: "Oh? The affairs of House Timur are now my department?"

Akavi: "No. But you so enjoy telling the truth, and since as far as I know we're NOT being paid to kill a bunch of her kinfolk, I though you'd appreciate the opportunity to set her straight."

DM_Hallu: Sayenya quirks what would be an eyebrow if she was mammalian, which she isn't. "Oh, you're not? What did they call it, then? Strategic appropriation?"

Healer_Lina addresses Sayenya - "I am of House Haurvatat, and I assure you that we, at least, have no aspirations on any copper deposits."

Glru nudges Akavi with an elbow "remind Glru what we do after trudging through swamp..."

DM_Hallu: "Of course not," says Sayenya to Lina. "You're just here to heal the people who do. Like I said, it doesn't matter."

Akavi whisperes to Glru "I get promoted."

*** Ika_Yorri joined #AVENdnd

DM_Hallu: (Ika!!!)

Anthony_Steiber continues to struggle with the swamp, given his short stature. No complaints are made, though.

Tobias: ((Hi Ika!))

Akavi looks up. "As far as I know, House Alethia is happy to let your people live in peace."

Akavi: ((Hi, Ika.))

Glru: ((yay! bhunneh!))

DM_Hallu: Sayenya makes a dubious face. "Mercenaries" and "peace" obviously do not go together in her head. But all she says is "Well, okay, then. We'll see."

Healer_Lina: "If Timur fights your people, Hauvratat will heal both."

Glru resists the temptation to periodically loft the foxkin ahead, he tries to remember what exactly he was hired for, he can't recall much about the document in question except that it was terribly vague. he pats his pockets to see if he has a copy.

Akavi smiles brightly. "That's the thing about mercenaries, both Alethian and Huevatatian: we don't really care."

DM_Hallu: "Oh, yeah, I forgot. You're the heal-everybody house."

Healer_Lina: "Indeed. Our presence is strictly neutral."

Glru concludes he was hired to fix things, hit things, and look pretty. the that end he licks his fingertips and grooms his eyebrows and whiskers.

DM_Hallu: (Ika, you are walking along with the party through the swamp still. Nothing much has happened.)

Akavi appreciates Glru's handsome fierceness.

DM_Hallu: (Also, Akavi is a girl now.)

Glru is appreciated *do-de-do-dooooooo*

Akavi: ((Human. Higher above the mud.))

Glru: ((i thought elves are taller than humans, although females are generally less massive for equal height so the gender makes sense))

Akavi: ((Elves are slightly shorter than humans.))

Healer_Lina: ((In Tokien Elves are taller, in D&D they're shorter, but a lot of people ignore that))

Glru: ((try seriously emaciated oxfolk))

DM_Hallu: (whuh?)

Glru: ((spot check, 18))

Akavi looks quizzically at their guide. "Has House Timur tried anything underhanded recently?"

DM_Hallu: (...what are you trying to spot?)

Glru: ((the emaciated oxfolk, for very skinny, very tall))

DM_Hallu: (but elves are pretty and emaciated oxfolk are not.)

Glru: ((trying to spot anything that will try to eat us again. also, though following the lizard girl, still prodding the ground with the pointy bit of my wrench))

Ika_Yorri yawns. "So, if House Haurva-Lina doesn't want these copper deposits, can I have 'em? Or... Scratch that, I hate mining..."

DM_Hallu: "No," says Sayenya, "doing something underhanded would require actual intelligence and subtlety on their part. No, they're just upping their demands for us to cede land, cede rights, cease our cultural practices. Mercs are the logical next step."

Akavi purses her lips. "Cultural practices like... sacrifice?"

Glru patpats Ika "Ika should stay out of ore boats and make like liqueur. Not for sail to miners."

DM_Hallu: "The copper deposits are no one's. They belong to the earth. The earth gives to us bountifully when she chooses, but she prefers that these copper deposits remain underground."

DM_Hallu: "And yes. The sacrifices aren't a threat to House Timur. We're not going to steal them away at night or anything. But they think they can order us around about them anyway. By virtue of, I don't know, having beards and mining equipment."

Akavi: "So you've never sacrificed any of their workers?"

DM_Hallu: "We never have," says Sayenya.

Glru: "Grlu thinks to sacrifice something, the something must first belong to you. Workers do not belong to lizards, so lizards do not sacrifice.

Glru: "however Glru knows nothing about regular killings.."

Akavi nods. "Well, that's very sensible. Lead on, Sayenya."

Ika_Yorri looks to Glru. "Are you on good terms with the earth? I think I am. I mean, we never get separated for long. Always together... I think the earth would give me some copper if I asked nice."

Anthony_Steiber looks at Ika, and says, exasperated, "You weren't as close with the earth as I was a while ago."

DM_Hallu: Sayenya looks over at Glru. "Glru is smart. We only sacrifice the followers of our own religion, those who worship the earth and the sun as we do. They understand how important it is." Sayenya has been walking forward and leading you through the swamp during all of this. She scowls a little at Ika's comment, but says nothing.

Anthony_Steiber: ((XD))

Ika_Yorri: "I guess it comes down to whether or not I want copper, which I don't. I'd much rather ask the earth for strawberries, if I were to call in a favor..."

Glru nods to Ika "Glru is good friends with Earth. She seems fond of Glru. Glru is lucky." he thinks about it a bit "Glru was more lucky before he started traveling with humans. Glru has been killed twice since he started traveling with humans. Perhaps something is there.

Akavi: "The earth might not think you contrast favorably?"

DM_Hallu: (zing :D )

Akavi: ((Nobody was doing anything, so...))

DM_Hallu: At last you get to a large, squat, square stone building rising out of the middle of the swamp. Reasonably sturdy wooden platforms and stairways surround it.

Anthony_Steiber shakes some of the mud off of his sandals, as well as the rest of himself.

Akavi smiles tightly and looks around.

Glru: "Glru thinks perhaps he will rub Ika's feet when we stop.

DM_Hallu: "Well, this is your stop," says Sayenya. "Good luck with the dwarves. That's two gold pieces each for the guide service."

Anthony_Steiber hands over the two gold pieces as requested.

Akavi nods and hands over two gold, plus an additional one for tip.

DM_Hallu: (ooo, +1 to Akavi!)

Ika_Yorri hands over the 2 gold, grumbling about being able to buy a teleportation for just double that.

Akavi: ((You notice on my character sheet that I left some of my gold in cash. "Bribing money", I call it.))

Tobias pays the guide with a friendly smile.

Anthony_Steiber notices Akavi adding a tip, and remembering the fact that Sayenya saved him from the marsh, also hands over an extra gold piece, albeit sheepishly, and with a simple "Thanks."

Healer_Lina: ((Errr... I'm not sure I have any change on me....))

Akavi: ((If you're brave enough to ask me, I'll pay. And give you a vicious mocking.))

DM_Hallu: Sayenya smiles graciously at Akavi and Anthony.

DM_Hallu: She looks expectantly at Lina and Glru.

Tobias: ((Toby would probably pay for you without the mocking :-P)) Akavi: ((Chivalry is overrated.))

Ika_Yorri pays for Lina and Glru, as well.

Akavi waits.

Glru casually rests an elbow on Akavi's shoulder "Glru is not cheap, however Glru realizes shifty's house has not mentioned how and when we will be paid... perhaps house should cover expenses, yes?"

Glru: "also house should tip generously, for high status and very helpful guide..."

DM_Hallu: Sayenya scratches Ika between the ears. "What a considerate rabbitfolk! I hope you don't die in the battle." She then prances off without waiting to see what Glru does.

DM_Hallu: In the distance, where she is going, you can see a wooden palisade and a small wood and stone town peeking out of the marsh.

Akavi raises an eyebrow. "I'm sure the House will manage something. In the meantime, perhaps Glru should work on first-person pronouns?"

Glru: ((by the way, I LOVE what you ants have done with the coldcuts))

DM_Hallu: (huh?)

Healer_Lina thanks Ika and makes a note of the debt.

Akavi: ((Thanks, DAHLING))

Glru: ((reminds hallu in the first session at the oxfolk house Shiro postulated that the rippling flesh was that Akavi was a senient ant colony holding up coldcuts to form the surface area of Akavi.))

DM_Hallu: (oh right!)

DM_Hallu: (i do not remember that at all, but it is very amusing.)

Glru: ((nice bologna!))

Akavi looks at the group. "The Seeker said we would be contanced here."

Healer_Lina: Indeed.

DM_Hallu: There is a door with a knocker around at the front of the building.

Anthony_Steiber: ((Contanced? Contained? Contacted?))

Akavi: ((OK, contacted.))

Anthony_Steiber: ((^^ okay, I was getting confused there XD))

Glru: ((contracted? constipated? coronated?))

Ika_Yorri: (( <- was looking forward to being contanced ))

Akavi heads to the door and uses the knocker.

Akavi: "Fortune favors the brave."

Glru: ((i am you are he is she is... conjugated?))

Anthony_Steiber follows closely.

Healer_Lina: ((Constant pun damger....))

Glru: "the second mouse gets the cheese.

Akavi: ((Oh, look! Pronouns!))

DM_Hallu: It is a moment or two before a dwarvish worker opens the door and peers out. She brightens when she sees you. "Oh! You must be the mercenaries! Come right in, there's no time to waste."

Anthony_Steiber dislikes the sound of being called a mercenary, but follows along nonetheless.

Glru: ((Glru's nouns remain amateur, planning to compete in next olympics))

Akavi doesn't mind being called a mercenary, and enters.

Tobias follows.

Ika_Yorri enters with mild haste.

Glru wipes his feet on the way in.

DM_Hallu: She leads you down tall corridors to the office of an official-looking gnome and introduces you.

Healer_Lina brushes herself off and follows.

DM_Hallu: "Ah!" says the gnome. "At last! We were almost worried you'd be too late. I'm Herlel Kaerebar. I trust House Aletheia gave you a proper briefing on the details of the assignment?"

Glru raises a hand politely.

Akavi: "We'd appreciate your take on the priorities."

DM_Hallu: "Yes?"

Ika_Yorri: "You trust wrong, Herlel."

Glru: "Glru, of course, understands, but would appreciate your rephrasing and specifying."

DM_Hallu: Herlel closes his eyes. He knows embarrassed adventurer bluster when he sees it, but he's in too much of a hurry to call you on it.

Akavi: ((Oh, good.))

Glru isn't blustering, he's bluffing...badly (5)

Akavi: ((Ouch.))

DM_Hallu: "Right," he says. "A week and a half ago, two of our workers, namely Falrim and Reisha Gargancral, were abducted by lizardfolk forces. The lizardfolk here have a nasty habit of sacrificing sentient beings to their obscure gods, and both our intelligence and their open declarations suggest that our workers are their next victims. We must rescue them at all costs, and we called upon House Aletheia for the adventurers to do so. Questions so f

Anthony_Steiber: ((That got cut off slightly))

Akavi: ((Zing! Who asked the right questions before we got here!))

DM_Hallu: (Like where?)

Anthony_Steiber: ((Questions so f))

DM_Hallu: ar?"

Anthony_Steiber: ((Look, Hallu's doing confused pirate impressions! XD))

Akavi: "Race of abductees?"

DM_Hallu: "Both dwarves."

Akavi: "Jobs?"

DM_Hallu: "Prospectors."

Healer_Lina: "Next of kin?"

DM_Hallu: "Each other. Besides that, only some distant cousins back in Waveshield."

Tobias: "Is there any reason you could guess for them to be captured?"

Healer_Lina: "Brothers?"

Glru: ((holds word balloon over ika "approximate value o their portable possessions?")

Anthony_Steiber asks exhaustedly "Will there be more marsh-trudging involved?"

Ika_Yorri: "Hair and eye color?"

Tobias holds back a smile at Anthony's question.

DM_Hallu: "Partners. Reisha is female, not that it matters. As for reasons... well, I could speculate. They are both dark of hair and eye."

Akavi: "Please, speculate."

Glru: "and also, what methods are used by missing prospectors?"

Ika_Yorri looks to Glru. "Missing prospectors rarely continue to prospect, Glru."

DM_Hallu: "The lizards have been getting more militant about their cult ever since we got here... they may think that the sacrifice of a dwarf will give them power over us. Or they may be slavishly imitating the Railroad Six. My guess, though, is they just want to make it hell for us to be here so we'll go away. It won't work. House Timur's miners are made of sterner stuff."

Anthony_Steiber: "If marsh-trudging is involved, will we be supplied with a guide, or will we have to find our own guide?" ((Since I'm a scout, I could volunteer. xD))

DM_Hallu: "Methods... well, the lizards say it's against their religion for us to dig in the earth within a certain radius of their grotty town. So we've mostly been sifting through the mud just outside that radius. Tedious business, but someone's got to."

Akavi nods. "Someone indeed. Well, I'm satisfied."

Anthony_Steiber: ((XD talking to a brick wall I am.))

DM_Hallu: "I'd expect there isn't any more marsh trudging than what would be required to get you to the town."

*** Anthony_Steiber is now known as Anthony_Stieber

Anthony_Stieber: ((Sorry, noticed my surname was misspelt xD))

Akavi looks at the rest of the group. "Shall we, friends?"

Anthony_Stieber: "Very well. Shall I lead to keep an eye out for threats?"

Akavi: "Yes. And a foot out for holes, if you don't mind."

Anthony_Stieber nods. "Very well, then."

Akavi: "Thank you, Herlel. We'll do our best."

DM_Hallu: Herlel nods to you. "Garl's luck to you all."

Anthony_Stieber: ((Should I roll a Survival Check in advance, for signs of quicksand, mud etc?))

Ika_Yorri checks to make sure her wands are stored in their proper places. "Ready!"

DM_Hallu: (Roll it when you cross the mud. Or roll Spot.)

Anthony_Stieber: ((Alright then.))

Akavi: ((Cues adventure music.))

Glru: "nobody tells glru what they do. perhaps methods irritate earth and she swallows them. perhaps they find crocodile, and crocodile swallows them. perhaps lizards do nothing at all.

Akavi: "It's something to consider."

Glru: ((nobody listens to Glru. Glru talks to dirt. dirt is also used to being walked on. (identify who glu is paraphrasing for one silver piece))

DM_Hallu: ((omg, i recognize the quote, i just can't remember who said it))

Glru: ((spotcheck 21))

Anthony_Stieber: ((Wait, have we set off yet? XD))

DM_Hallu: (I have no idea)

Akavi: ((I hope so.))

Anthony_Stieber: ((There hasn't been any description of the area around us so I got confused. xD))

Akavi: ((fast forward to leaving?))

DM_Hallu: (Sure.)

DM_Hallu: You set out into the mud of the marshes. The town is within sight, so it shouldn't be *too* arduous a journey... you hope... DM_Hallu: Anthony, do you lead the way?

Anthony_Stieber: ((Yep.))

DM_Hallu: Then roll Survival now.

Anthony_Stieber: ((Scout's gotta do his job after all. *rolls* Ahh. 13. Not a good sign. xD))

DM_Hallu: You stumble into waist-deep mud. Nothing awful happens, you're just embarrassed.

Healer_Lina eyes Anthony. "Perhaps I should guide?"

Healer_Lina: ((Survival: 27))

Akavi raises an eyebrow unamusedly.

Anthony_Stieber: "Uhh... Sure, you can guide. Hang on a sec, I'll get out of here eventually."

Anthony_Stieber struggles in the mud.

DM_Hallu: Lina, you find a beaten path that isn't entirely out of the water, but solid ground is never more than a few inches below the surface. This is probably the best anyone can do around here without a wooden walkway.

Tobias walks over and attempts to help pull him out.

DM_Hallu: You pull Anthony out of the mud with a stomach-turning sucking sound.

Anthony_Stieber: "Ugh... that stuff takes a little getting used to."

Akavi: As we walk, Akavi reminds the party, "Seeker Aerith stressed that a nonviolent solution is critical. I have no idea what we're going to encounter, but bear that in mind."

Glru: ((i rolled an 18, that's 22 survival, or 27 spot))

DM_Hallu: Glru, you can see the path too.

Akavi just follows the keen-eyed ones.

Glru is on the path, hurrah! no squishytoes!

Anthony_Stieber follows sheepishly, the clay-like mud weighing him down slightly.

Tobias: "Well it's unlikely they'll try to sacrifice the dwarves. After all, Sayenya said they only sacrifice those of their own religion, right?"

Akavi: "According to what she told us, that's correct. I'd like to speak with her further."

Ika_Yorri: "Good thing the people who typically sacrifice others aren't usually the type to lie..."

Akavi: "I did say 'according'..."

Glru: "Glru forgot to check crocodile stomach... it was almost as if 2 weeks passed between the gutting and the leaving, somehow forgot to check belly."

Akavi: ((What craziness, Glru.))

Akavi: ((Hallu, how can we find Sayenya again?))

DM_Hallu: (I dunno. Where would you normally go to find a high priestess in training?)

DM_Hallu: You arrive at the gate to the palisade without further mishap, although most of you do have squishytoes.

Akavi: ((Mehemeh. Fine then.))

Glru: (taps the side o his forehead "a temple?")

Akavi looks around the sodden village. "If I were a god, what part of this muddy hell would I avoid least?"

DM_Hallu: The temple is fairly obvious. It is made of stone and built in a tall pyramid shape in the centre of town.

Healer_Lina looks around for signs of recent life.

DM_Hallu: A heavily-armed lizardfolk guard steps up to the gate and *ahem*s at you.

Anthony_Stieber steps back a little, unsure what to do.

Akavi smiles. "Hello, we're here to see Sayenya."

Akavi: ((Not with the killing!))

DM_Hallu: "Sayenya?" grunts the guard. "What Sayenya want with you?"

Glru: "money?"

Glru coughs.

Akavi: "She was our guide through the swamps. She'll remember us, I'm sure."

DM_Hallu: The guard tilts his head. "You have debt to Sayenya?"

Glru: "amusement actually. she likes us."

Akavi: "Or, at least, she expressed a hope that we didn't die."

DM_Hallu: "You miners or mercenaries. Or both. Zachiixcu find this unlikely."

Glru whispers to Akavi "she only say this about bunny, and perhaps Glru...

Akavi: "It's highly unlikely that we're both, you're right."

Akavi: ((Ok, I didn't really say that.))

Healer_Lina: "Zachiixcu, we really would like to see her. Could you tell us we're here, and let her make the decision to see us or not?"

Akavi: "Please, could you tell her we're here?"

Glru leans over the guard and suggests mildly "Whish is worse, you tell her people are here and she chooses not to see, or you do not tell, and later she learns you have turned away people who could help save her and her villaige and wery much bad badness is your fault?"

DM_Hallu: "Zachiixcu not leave post... but Zachiixcu send messenger." He turns to someone on the other side of the gate that you can't see and makes a violent motion that does not connect with anything. "Lazy frog!" he bellows in Watercommon. "Find Sayenya!"

DM_Hallu: He then stands and glares outwards at you for several minutes, the gate remaining closed.

Akavi steps off with the group a bit and whispers, "I think we ought to just tell them that Timur is concerned about it's people, that that it would go a long way towards bettering relations if the lizardfolk would help find them."

DM_Hallu: You can hear the sounds of ordinary village bustle inside the city. The streets appear to be paved with wood, cobblestones, and other materials, so that the lizardfolk don't get their feet wet.

Healer_Lina nots to Akavi.

Akavi: "If we ever see our charming sunspot again."

DM_Hallu: After a long time, the frogling comes scampering back and relays a message to Zachiixcu.

DM_Hallu: "Sayenya will see you," says the guard. "Leave weapons with Zachiixcu."

Akavi lets Glru react first.

Anthony_Stieber nods, and leaves his shortbow and arrows with Zachiixcu.

Anthony_Stieber: ((Sorry, my longbow and arrows XD))

Glru: ((what size is Zachiixcu?))

DM_Hallu: (Medium.)

DM_Hallu: (Kind of a big Medium, though. Almost as tall as Glru.)

DM_Hallu: (And equally muscled. He's a career guard.)

Akavi: ((How's... uh... How's his will save?))

DM_Hallu: (Probably not that great.)

Ika_Yorri willingly parts with her rapier, but tries to pass off the wands as non-weapons.

Tobias hands over his sword along with his sling and the pouch containing its bullets.

DM_Hallu: (Ika, roll a Bluff check for the wands.)

Akavi spreads her hands, indicating that there's nothing there.

Glru: "Glru walks all day with sunspot girl, and does not eat her or shoot her, and you think he will do this now, when surrounded by her people?"

Healer_Lina hands over a small farming sickle and a small blackjack.

Ika_Yorri: ((Bluff: 27))

Akavi: ((Bluff 28))

Akavi: ((Dagger is in wrist holster.))

DM_Hallu: "These orders of Sayenya. Zachiixcu no question orders of Sayenya. You no question orders of Sayenya either, if you smart."

DM_Hallu: He tilts his head at Tobias's armor. "You leave full plate with Zachiixcu too, please."

Akavi: ((On second thought, just skip the deception. Akavi hands over her silver dagger.))

DM_Hallu: (Ok.)

Anthony_Stieber: ((be right back))

Glru snorts derisively, reaches over his shoulder and draws the enormous rifle, planting it quite firmly in the reptiles "you will be good to Verah. keep out of water, out of mud. Yes?"

Glru: ((in the reptile's hands. planting it in the reptile could cause an incident))

DM_Hallu: "Yes," says the guard, looking a bit awed at the enormous rifle. "Zachiixcu never see real guns before, will be extra careful."

DM_Hallu: "Wrench too, please."

Anthony_Stieber: ((and I'm back.))

Glru points to the safety (if there is one) and the trigger "Do not touch here. she barks and breaks fingers. very bad."

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu nods, listening carefully.

Anthony_Stieber pipes up a little. "What are your rules on nonlethal weaponry, by the way?"

DM_Hallu: "Lethal, nonlethal, give all to Zachiixcu. Foreigners in Ixtlanco, no weapons. Is rule."

Akavi keeps his material components on him.

Anthony_Stieber nods. "Alright then. Just needed to know."

Tobias: "Uh... do you want ALL of my armor? I don't think I'm going to hurt anyone with my chestplate or anything..."

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu tilts his head. "Well... orders say no weapons... orders no say no armor... but orders no say armor okay. Zachiixcu want to be extra thorough."

Glru then leans his wrench against his own chest, spreads his hands and pops both wristloaders, and reverses the guns with a flare (sleight of hand 27). He cocks his head "You want guns tucked in belt, or you have dry place to put them?"

DM_Hallu: "Have many dry places. Am not savage squatting in mud."

Akavi blinks.

Tobias: "Well, alright then...This may take a few minutes." He proceeds to undo his armor and hand it over as he gets each piece off.

Glru nods, cupping both guns together in one hand "Glru knows this, Glru also sees Zachiixcu's hands are somewhat full..."

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu puts Vera down on a shelf and comes back for the guns. After he takes the guns and puts them on a shelf, he comes back for the giant wrench.

Glru: ((or is there, like, a weapons check where he is stowing things? by my count Verah all by herself would present an encumbrance issue.

DM_Hallu: ((There's a weapons check.))

DM_Hallu: ((Sort of. It was constructed hastily when House Timur first arrived a couple years ago.))

Anthony_Stieber: ((Do you take cache, or check? XD))

Akavi: ((If my dagger isn't there when we get back... *shakes fist*))

Anthony_Stieber: ((Was confused with the naming))

DM_Hallu: Glru, are you gonna give him the wrench too?

Tobias finishes with the last piece of armor.

Glru hands over the small wrenches and the knives, but pauses at the last "this may not leave Glru... it is like religious staff. Given by Glru's master..."

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu looks conflicted. "Is not technically weapon... but could hit someone in head with it easy..."

DM_Hallu: (Glru, roll Diplomacy.)

Glru: "Glru could hit someone on head with fist do as much damage. Glru cannot leave hands. what is difference?"

Glru: "Glru is big, like Zachiixcu..."

Glru: "Glru suggest you get replacement gaurd here, you come along, you carry Verah, very big status, you gaurd strangers, priestess, yes?"

Glru: diplomacy 19

Healer_Lina: ((Is Zachiixcu Gila or Monitor?))

Akavi watches with vague interest.

Healer_Lina: ((And what was Sayenya?))

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu thinks about it a moment, then nods, the prospect of carrying Verah obviously enticing him. "That good idea. Zachiixcu guard you, stop you from using wrench." He whistles for a replacement guard, who soon comes marching up.

DM_Hallu: (They're both the default type of lizardfolk. I forget what it's called.)

Healer_Lina: ((Gila then))

Glru shows Zachiixcu how to hold Verah with the barrel pointing up, two handed.

DM_Hallu: He then leads you all down the street towards the temple, keeping a careful eye on all of you, holding Verah as he is shown. Glru also shows him how to grip the butt and brace it "You need to shoot Glru, you point straight, pull there, careful of fingers.

Anthony_Stieber: ((*facepalm*))

DM_Hallu: ((you're showing him how to shoot you? XDD))

Glru: "otherwise, point up, if shoot by accident, shoot trees, sky, not friends.

Glru: ((damned straight, Glru is very proud and has taken a liking to the gaurd.))

DM_Hallu: ((heeeeee. mostly because you talk the same way. kay then.))

Akavi enjoys the heartwarming spectacle of Glru bonding with the guard, then remembers that he doesn't care and wants to be paid. XD

Healer_Lina mutters under her breath at all the talk of weapons.

Glru thumps Zachiixcu on the chest "Very good! When we leave, maybe you will shoot something that is not Glru."

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu leads you to a small, ornately decorated building that is close to the temple pyramid, but isn't actually it.

DM_Hallu: Sayenya is waiting outside, freshly clean, in much nicer clothes than the ones she wore as your guide.

Glru: ((if anyone talks to glru in feline or elvish, they'll find him eloquent and eriudite, it's not his fault human is a silly language.))

Healer_Lina: "Greetings in the name of Pelor."

DM_Hallu: "Something told me I'd see you again," she says casually. "So you're not invading yet?"

Akavi inclines his head politely. "May we speak with you in private, priestess?"

DM_Hallu: "They give all weapons to Zachiixcu," the guard pipes up. "Except wrench. Wrench not really weapon."

Glru bows to the priestess.

DM_Hallu: Sayenya considers this. "How private are we talking?" she asks. "You're charming, but you do outnumber me."

Glru also incorporates the wrench into the bow. all elegant and stuff.

Akavi: "We are unarmed, and have only the best intentions."

Akavi: "Merely to discuss the House Timur."

DM_Hallu: Sayenya thinks about it. "You can come to my visiting room, then," she says. "I hope you don't mind if I keep a couple of guards outside the room, just in case. But they won't hear unless I call them."

Akavi nods. "Your indulgence is our privilege."

Anthony_Stieber: ((*gets ready to make a few Sense Motive rolls just in case* :3))

Glru furrows his brow, not sure akavi is saying what he thinks he's saying.

Glru: ((i do not think it means what you think it means))

DM_Hallu: Sayenya takes you to a well-decorated room. It is clear that this small building is some sort of residence or auxiliary house for clerics.

DM_Hallu: She sits on a raised chair on one side of the room and motions for you to take your seats in other chairs scattered around. Zachiixcu and another guard wait outside the door.

Akavi enters and waits for everyone before she begins. "House Timor has contracted us to find two of their dwarven workers who have disappeared. We were hoping your people would aid us, in the interest of strengthening your relationship with the House."

Anthony_Stieber enters cautiously, trying not to track -too- much mud.

DM_Hallu: Sayenya's smile immediately disappears. "You mean Falrim and Reisha Gargancral?

Ika_Yorri: "Them's the ones, yep."

Glru perks his ears "Those are them."

Akavi nods is assent. "That is correct, madam."

DM_Hallu: "They are converts to the worship of the sun and the earth. They have left behind their old lives voluntarily. House Timur has no claim to them."

Anthony_Stieber: ((Rolling Sense Motive))

DM_Hallu: (Don't. I'll do it in private and inform you if you spot lies.)

Anthony_Stieber: ((Oh. Whoops. ^^;))

Akavi considers. "I see. However, Timur was unaware that they were even still alive."

Anthony_Stieber: ((^^; ))

Glru: "very good for them! could you ask them please to write lettor of resignation for us to take back?"

DM_Hallu: Sayenya snorts. "Unaware? They are *so* not."

Akavi: "Elaborate, please."

Healer_Lina: "Our employer failed to mention it."

Glru considers talking to the floor again.

DM_Hallu: Sayenya tilts her head. "A letter of resignation would be a good idea, now that I think of it. I'll do that."

Ika_Yorri: "In any case, we'd love to talk with them, to tie up all the loose ends."

Akavi smiles. "We probably ought to confirm their presence here ourselves. For integrity's sake."

DM_Hallu: "And by 'talk' you mean 'kidnap and take back to the dwarves'?"

Ika_Yorri: "Without our weapons? You overestimate our abilities..."

Akavi: "You vastly overestimate our skill at unarmed combat, miss."

Akavi smiles.

Akavi: ((Heh. Echoes.))

Ika_Yorri: (( ! ))

Glru: ((these aren't the dwarves you're looking for))

Tobias: "And besides - if they want to stay here, that's their business, right?"

Anthony_Stieber: ((*thinks he should've picked Monk. :3*))

Anthony_Stieber: (("My fists are (non)lethal weapons!"))

Healer_Lina: "Zachiixcu could, perhaps, observe the exchange as a guarentee?"

DM_Hallu: "It is. But House Timur thinks everything is House Timur's business. If words gets out that two of their kind submitted to sacrifice, well, then, I don't know, their stock prices might go down or something. Don't ask me to explain how a dwarf's mind works."

Akavi stops calmly.

Glru nods entusiasticly "without armour, verah could put hole through three of us before fourth stops bullet. very safe."

Glru: "uh..."

DM_Hallu: "All right. I'll send Zachiixcu with you. He knows the way. Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

Akavi: "Are we pre- or post-sacrifice right now?"

Glru: "sacrified?

DM_Hallu: "Pre."

Akavi: "Ah."

Akavi: "That's it, then."

Glru: "pre is good, pre means they can write letter."

DM_Hallu: "The sacred firefly alighted upon them seven days ago. They'll be ready in another three or so."

Glru: ((refrains from making another joss wheeden reference.))

Akavi: "We will have to use all available tools at our disposal to ensure that they're not being coerced or controlled in any way, of course."

Healer_Lina: "Could you explain the term 'Sacred Firefly'? I find it most intriguing..."

DM_Hallu: "Of course," says Sayenya calmly.

Glru: ((post is bad, post is just riffle through pockets for loose change))

Healer_Lina: ((Miracle Max reference?))

DM_Hallu: "The sacred firefly is the child of the sun, sent to the earth to watch over us at night, brother to the moon and the stars. The firefly is the one who informs us who the sun chooses for his sustenance. He alights upon the brow of a potential sacrifice and moves in a particular pattern. That is how we know."

Akavi smiles inwardly at the silliness divine magic entails.

Healer_Lina: "Is there one sacred firefly then, or are all fireflies sacred?"

Glru: ((chocolate coating, helps it slide down easier))

DM_Hallu: "There are many fireflies. A small number of them glow white rather than gold. These are the sacred fireflies."

Akavi: "But the person chosed by the firefly must give consent as well?"

Akavi: ((Wow, pretend that was correct grammar.))

Healer_Lina: ((Glru is infectious! :D))

Akavi: ((Maybe I should eat something.))

DM_Hallu: "Yes. A true believer will understand the honor bestowed upon them. If not, they are exposed as an unbeliever, and the firefly chooses someone else."

Akavi considers. "Perhaps, with your permission, we ought to meet with the dwarves after we return and consult with our employer. They may well have special paperwork, or desire to have a witness of their own present. I understand that I ask a great deal, priestess, but I do so humbly."

Healer_Lina: "You've been helpful. Where could I learn more without having to get past the guards?"

DM_Hallu: "All right," says Sayenya. "It's not a big hardship for me. You can return anytime as long as you give up your weapons at the door. Although if you don't come back by the time of the sacrifice, we'll proceed without you." She turns to Lina. "There will be guards around Ixtlanco for as long as House Timur molests us, but you can speak to any priest in a public area, or visit the library."

Ika_Yorri: "What happens to someone after they're revealed to be a non-believer?"

DM_Hallu: "We don't punish them. They lose some status, that's all."

Ika_Yorri: "Are they still allowed to live in the community?"

Healer_Lina: "Where is the library?"

Healer_Lina: ((let's all bombard Hallu with questions! Yaaaay!))

DM_Hallu: "Yes, they are. Zachiixcu will show you the library if you ask."

Akavi nods and smiles. "One last question: how did the firefly come to land on the two of them in the first place?"

DM_Hallu: Sayenya blinks. "What do you mean?"

Akavi: "Where were they, and how was it witnessed by one of your priests?"

Glru: "were there two firelflies, or did one choose both?"

DM_Hallu: "One chose both," says Sayenya. This, however, appears to be a lie.

DM_Hallu: Or... not a lie, exactly, but a half-truth at best.

Akavi raises her eyebrows politely and waits for the answers to the rest of her questions.

Anthony_Stieber: ((Who detected the half-truth?))

DM_Hallu: "They were in the courtyard of the temple," says Sayenya, oblivious to people's Sense Motive rolls, "receiving instruction, when it happened."

Tobias: "Do sacred fireflies normally choose multiple sacrifices?�

DM_Hallu: (Anthony and Lina did... so did Glru. The rest of you are clueless.)

DM_Hallu: "It isn't common, but it happens."

Akavi: "We had a great deal of trouble entering your city. How did they get into the temple and what were they being instructed upon?"

DM_Hallu: "This was after they defected to our side and professed a desire to learn our religion," says Sayenya. "They were being given basic introductory lessons, as befits that type of convert."

Akavi: "Defected to your side. Of course."

Anthony_Stieber: ((I'd want to object to the "One Chose Both" statement but it's a little vague for me to poke a hole in. I don't really know what about that statement is a half truth, given that it occasionally happens. xD))

Glru politely raises a hand again.

DM_Hallu: Sayenya gestures to Glru. "Polite cat. Yes?"

Glru: "how does one fly chose both? it must land, then do chosen dance, then they are sacrificed, or they refuse honour, yes?

Glru: "fly does not dance twice unless first refuses.

DM_Hallu: "It landed on one, then moved to the other," says Sayenya. "It wanted them both."

Ika_Yorri: "It probably wanted to take in the spirit of the dwarves, not having given any the honor before. Makes sense."

Glru: "perhaps Glru is confused, but understood Sayenya to say sacred firefly choses another only if first refuses.

DM_Hallu: "No," says Sayenya. "If the first refuses, it chooses another, but sometimes there's more than one first, and sometimes it waits before choosing again. We don't always know why. The sun has his moods."

Glru: "how did dwarves get to temple courtyard to be chosen?

DM_Hallu: Sayenya looks confused. "I already told you that... they came into the city and declared their intention to worship the sun and the earth and learn our ways. We took their weapons and brought them into temporary housing, and in the morning we brought them to the temple for instruction."

Anthony_Stieber: ((Actually, I'm going to have to go for the remainder of the session. I'll be remaining online for a little bit, it's just I've been feeling terrible today. XD blocked sinuses kind of break concentration.))

DM_Hallu: (Aww, sorry to hear that, Chaz.)

Akavi: ((Feel better soon!))

Anthony_Stieber: ((Okay, thanks. ^^))

*** Anthony_Stieber quit (Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client)

Akavi looks at Glru, but speaks to Sayenya. "Perhaps we could quickly see them today, the return after consultation with our employers?"

DM_Hallu: Sayenya nods. "You could, with supervision."

Glru furrows his brow.

Glru plants a seed of an idea.

Akavi: ((Which idea, specifically?))

DM_Hallu: (yeah, I was wondering that too.)

Akavi: ((Secret messages are sent using the Bluff skill))

Glru is hoping to figure it out, something is very much not right, but he can't quite grasp it. partly because dwarves rarely see the sun, they're unlikely to worship it.

Glru: (knowledge nature 17 probably won't help, huh?)

DM_Hallu: Not if you're asking about dwarven sun-worship... that's more of a knowledge (religion)...

Healer_Lina: ((Know:religion 20))

DM_Hallu: Lina, there is no particular tradition of dwarven sun-worship, but throughout every society there are instances of people who switch to a radically different religion than the one that would be typical for their race and social surroundings. Perhaps it's a sign of dissatisfaction or rebellion, or perhaps they have had genuine spiritual experiences.

Healer_Lina thanks Sayenya for her time and asks to see the Dwarves now.

Akavi: ((I'm afraid that Akavi is going to move that the group head to see the dwarves, because she's blissfully unaware of any lies.))

Akavi agrees with Lina.

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu leads you off. He has been conversing with his fellow guard while you were in there, obviously showing Vera off.

Glru asks the priestess "could we talk with them now? we will have to hurry to finish resignation papaerwork before sacrifice. army only kills people, destroys homes. bureaucracy does things truely terrible."

Glru: ((I'm just waiting for the *blam* 'oops.'))

DM_Hallu: He leads you into some tunnels below the temple and into a surprisingly nice room with a bright lantern, two soft beds, a desk and so forth. Two dwarves are sitting there, a male and a female.

DM_Hallu: The male, who is rather scraggly for a dwarf, greets Zachiixcu.

DM_Hallu: "These mercenaries," says Zachiixcu. "They have good weapon - here, see, pull trigger and much boom!"

Akavi enters the room. "Hello, Falrim and Reisha. We've been sent by House Timur to check on you."

Healer_Lina: ((Woah, something's DEFINITELLY wrong here. Dwarves in soft beds? Unheard-of!))

DM_Hallu: He gestures a little too wildly in his demonstration, nudges the trigger, and an enormous cloud of bullets and ammunition comes out straight at Lina.

Akavi: ((...))

DM_Hallu: ((but only because she was bugging me to get her shot. :P ))

DM_Hallu: Falrim and Reisha look up at you, but are interrupted by the shot.

Tobias: ((how close am I, and would I roll dex to see if I can push her out of the way?))

Glru: ((was it perchance a 19 or 20?))

DM_Hallu: There is a horrible shattering sound, and when the smoke clears, the bullets are in tiny shards on the floor. Lina is unharmed.

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu looks down at himself, then up.

DM_Hallu: "This not very good gun," he says.

Healer_Lina: "Please don't do that again, it may not work a second time."

DM_Hallu: "Sorry," says Zachiixcu.

Akavi: "Zachiixcu, assuming that your act of war was unintentional..." Akavi gasps, holding her chest.

Akavi: ((Retroactive spellcraft to identify protection from arrows?))

Healer_Lina winks at the others.

Tobias relaxes when he sees no one's hurt.

DM_Hallu: "Act of war?" says Zachiixcu, looking very alarmed. "No! Zachiixcu not mean declare war! Zachiixcu only bump Vera and she go bang. Zachiixcu not want this gun anymore."

Healer_Lina: "Perhaps you should put that gun somewhere safer...."

Ika_Yorri: "You should give it back to Glru. It'll be safest in his skilled hands."

Akavi gestures impatiently, all calm lost. "Just give it to Glru. I have my eye on you." She turns to the two dwarves. "Well?"

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu nodnods and gives the gun to Glru.

Glru takes advantage of the noise and confusion so slip around and say to the dwarves, in dwarvish "be well with you brother and sister. with unpardonable haste, have you chosen to become one with the gods of the swampdwellers?"

DM_Hallu: And now it is ten, so we can stop if you want, and you can talk to the dwarves next week.

Healer_Lina: ((Not "Protection From Arrows"; Lina has special defenses that make it very hard, but not impossible, for weapons to hurt her))

Tobias: ((nice))

Akavi: ((Neat-o))

Akavi: ((I can stop or continue a bit, don't care.))

Tobias: ((doesn't matter to me either))

DM_Hallu: (Only problem with continuing, assuming everyone's okay with it, is that Chaz will miss more stuff than he ought to. Other than that, I'm okay with it too.)

Akavi: ((Then I don't know))

Healer_Lina: ((We haven't exactly been racing through...))

Akavi: ((True))

DM_Hallu: (Is that a vote for stopping, or against?)

Healer_Lina: ((Continue))

DM_Hallu: (Ok, continue it is.)

DM_Hallu: "Yes," says the male dwarf in Dwarvish to Glru. "We have chosen it."

Glru: ((did the dwarves reply at all to Glru's query during the boom-crash chaos?))

Akavi gets in on the Dwarvish fun. "Both of you, under no exterior compulsion?"

Glru: "with condition or duress?"

DM_Hallu: "Both of us," says the male, "under no compulsion."

Ika_Yorri: ((my Detect Magic spell will be the judge of *that*!))

Akavi: "And you?" Akavi asks the female, still in Dwarvish.

DM_Hallu: The female dwarf doesn't answer.

Glru slings Vera on his back and asks the very shamefaced Zachiixcu "Could you bring Grlu a hammer?"

DM_Hallu: The male dwarf, however, is lying his head off.

DM_Hallu: "A hammer?" says Zachiixcu. "Why?"

Akavi: ((Can I tell?))

DM_Hallu: Yeah, everyone can tell. He rolled REALLY badly.

Akavi looks at his companions, lets Glru try and get the guard out of the room, and begins fishing in his pack.

Tobias: ((even those of us who don't understand Dwarvish? wow XD))

DM_Hallu: Oh wait. I forgot about that.

Glru: "it is for Dwarvish swearing of oath, please bring. we will wait."

DM_Hallu: Okay, those of you who don't understand Dwarvish have no idea what's going on.

Glru: ((natural 20 on bluff, thank you very much))

DM_Hallu: Zachiixcu nodnods again, still ashamed of his gaffe with Vera, and exits the room.

Glru: "quickly now, tell us the entire truth before he returns."

Tobias: "What's going on?" asks Tobias. "What'd they say?"

Akavi repeats the exchange in common for everyone's benefit.

DM_Hallu: "We both agreed to it!" says the male dwarf insistently. "There's no entire truth. We both agreed!"

DM_Hallu: The female dwarf, however, looks very dubious about this.

Akavi pulls a vial out of his pack.

Akavi: "Right, then, you won't mind taking this?"

Glru: "it ill behooves you to speak false in the tongue of the People."

DM_Hallu: "What the hell is that?" says the male dwarf. "Some kind of poison?"

Glru: "why did you agree?"

Akavi smiles and winks. "Elixir of Truth, you charmer you."

Glru: ((20 diplomacy))

Glru: ((not natural))

DM_Hallu: "You wouldn't understand," says the male dwarf. "I'd have to write you a book. I'm sick of all the bullshit of being a dwarf. You go out, you work for hours and hours in smelly mines, you go home and get a little bitty paycheck, then you do it again. All for - I don't know - profit margins. Where's the meaning in that? Where's the sense?" A beautiful smile breaks out on his otherwise unattractive face. "But these gilas... their lives, they have purpose. They have sense. I want to be part of that." (This part isn't a lie, at least not that you can see.)

Akavi purses her lips.

Healer_Lina takes the opportunity to talk to the female quietly, ask what her story is. ((Diplo 26))

Glru: "and was a spell wrought on you to grant you this enlightenment?"

Akavi is ready with a truth potion in one hand and a Charm Person in the other, waiting to see how Lina fares.

DM_Hallu: The female looks at Lina warily for a few moments, then grabs on to her arm and clings. "Take me with you, I want out of here, I don't want to die!"

Akavi: ((That worked well enough.))

Akavi raises an eyebrow. "So. Reisha, stay with Lina."

Akavi: "Ika, would you do the honors of detecting magic on the other one?"

Glru reloads vera.

DM_Hallu: "What the hell?" says the male dwarf again in Dwarvish. "You can't leave. We agreed. You had the sacred firefly and everything. You always act like this. You're letting everybody down!"

Ika_Yorri complies.

DM_Hallu: He shuts up when he sees the new bullets in the very large gun.

DM_Hallu: There is no magic on him.

Ika_Yorri: "Standard nut. Let's go."

Healer_Lina puts an arm around Reisha and guides her away from the male.

Healer_Lina tries to coax the whole story out of her about how she ended up here.

Tobias: ((they continue talking in Dwarvish, right? Or have they switched into Common?))

Akavi looks at those assembled. "I have a proposal, and I tire of games. I will ask, one time, in both Dwarvish and in common, whether you want to be sacrificed to the Sun. If you say yes, we will leave, and you will sign a paper confirming that for us to return to your employer. Deal?"

Glru: ((still in dwarvish)) I need to know why you agreed, for real. (craft small arms 15 for a success) he puts his gun away on his back once more.

DM_Hallu: (To which one?)

Glru: the male

DM_Hallu: "Deal," says the male dwarf to Akavi. To Glru, "I told you. I want to be part of this. I believe what the gilas believe. And she would, too, she's just stressed right now. Catfolk make her anxious, she goes crazy."

Healer_Lina: ((Anything coherent out of the female yet?))

Akavi: "Let's just have everyone relax."

DM_Hallu: Reisha sits very small, not saying much. She seems to be very frightened.

Akavi: ((Would Charm Person at least calm her down?))

DM_Hallu: (Reisha's still in the room with the male, right?)

Glru cocks an ear to make sure Zachiixcu hasn't had time to return, then replies "yes, I heard that. I need to know what happened to spawn your enlightenment.�

DM_Hallu: ((Glru using good grammar is weirding me out... :D ))

Akavi: ((Yes, Hallu, that's correct, although Lina may want to remove her to the hall.))

Healer_Lina: ((She's still in the room, but I've been angling her away from the others, and specifically her husband. If there's a suitable hall, that'd work too))

Tobias: ((I thought they were siblings?))

Akavi: ((Partners))

DM_Hallu: "I met a gila in the fields by the city," he says, "prospecting for copper. We got to talking, and what she was saying made more and more sense. And life in House Timur got crappier and crappier..."

Tobias: ((ah))

DM_Hallu: (Glru called them "brother and sister" as a dwarvish honorific, that's why you're confused.))

DM_Hallu: Lina, the hall outside looks unpopulated at the moment.

Healer_Lina moves her out and concentrates on her Calm Emotions, DC 21, to see if that helps.

DM_Hallu: Calm Emotions helps a LOT.

Healer_Lina: ((Totally forgot I hadn't activated it ever. :P))

Glru holds he wrench out to the male ((it's a masterwork made be a dwarvish master smith)) ((also roll me a sense motive))

Healer_Lina asks her for her story now ((Diplo 29!))

DM_Hallu: ((I'm already rolling them. I'll tell you if you catch a lie.))

Akavi lets Glru finish his questioning, happy to take the female away with the priestess' permission and consult with the gnome employer.

DM_Hallu: "I don't know," says Reisha. "I believe what he believes, or I did at first. People seem happier. And the things they said made so much sense at first. So I agreed. But - I don't want to die. And - and - and I don't want to die with /him!/" she bursts out.

Healer_Lina: "Why not with him?"

DM_Hallu: "Because... I don't know," says Reisha. She looks very surprised that she just said it. "But he keeps saying things. He says I'm dishonoring my whole clan if I break my word and live, and if I wasn't so stupid I'd want it as much as he does... I don't know..."

Akavi: ((Cast "Protection from Abusive Relationship"))

DM_Hallu: (if only that was a real spell...)

Ika_Yorri: "If your House is what sets you in a swamp, why don't you... swtich Houses? I hear Haurvatat is lovey-happy."

DM_Hallu: (Ika, which one are you saying that to?)

Ika_Yorri: ((that was to the male, by the way))

DM_Hallu: (Ah.)

Ika_Yorri: ((it was also in Dwarven, just to spite Tobias :D))

Tobias: ((XD))

DM_Hallu: "It isn't just the swamp," says the male. "You wouldn't understand. You're caught up in the standard industrialized consumerist society. You don't know what it's really like to believe."

Glru pushes his wrench into the male's hands while retaining a hold on it "here, here is why dwarves do as dwarves do. to take their part in producing magic such as this. what are words next to metal. what could change being part of this?

DM_Hallu: The male looks at Glru in mostly annoyance.

Akavi: ((/me gives Tobias a voluptuous human hug))

Healer_Lina: "It's okay, we'll get you out of here."

DM_Hallu: "It's a big wrench. Yeah. I'm very impressed. Go away, okay?"

Akavi sighs.

Ika_Yorri: "Wait... What do you get for dying?"

DM_Hallu: "I get to be part of the sun forever," says the male dwarf, smiling.

Ika_Yorri: "Wouldn't that burn?"

DM_Hallu: "That's a stupid question," says the male dwarf, at a loss for other snappy answers.

Ika_Yorri: "Well... Can you see the ocean from there?"

Glru: "It is a Masterwork. Made by a dwarven master smith. There is no one in the world who makes metal and things of metal like a dwarf master, like *my* master."

Akavi: "Falrim, do you, of free of enchantment, coersion, or compulsion, swear that it is your will to leave House Timur and be sacrificed by the lizardfolk of the village of Ixtlanco in the southron marshes of Santhil, with the full knowledge that this will result in the death of your corporal body?"

Akavi walks over to the desk and grabs a quill and parchment, copying that same thing down.

DM_Hallu: "Yeah. Yeah, I do." After affirming Falrim's question, he looks over at Ika. "Yeah, the sun can see everything." And then over at Glru. "Hooray for your master. I don't care."

Ika_Yorri: "Oh, that actually sounds pretty good, then. Can you come back down for a swim?"

Akavi hands the paper to the dwarf, and repeating it in dwarvish, gives him a quill, pointedly ignoring Ika. "Sign."

DM_Hallu: The dwarf signs. He decides to ignore Ika as well.

Ika_Yorri: "Well... Can you!?"

Akavi takes the paper, scribbles his signature on an inked in line, and looks at Glru. "Care to witness?"

DM_Hallu: "I don't know," says the male dwarf. "That wasn't covered in lessons."

Ika_Yorri: "You don't even know? You could be consenting to another glorious *cage*, no different from your great House! Check these things, people!"

DM_Hallu: The dwarf gives Ika a you're-missing-the-point glare, but says nothing.

Ika_Yorri pleads to everyone present. "Does no one understand what freedom is, and how your own actions can limit it?"

Akavi retracts the paper, and leans in to Glru. "If you can convince him, all the more power to you. I'm going to see how Lina is doing."

Glru fehs and carefully wipes his wrench "he is crazy. is no law about crazy." he signs and makes his mechanik's mark beside it.

Akavi looks at Ika. "When you can tell me you've experienced true freedom, bard, you may preach to me about it."

Glru: "is no magic, is no coercion, he has found his god, and it is not metal. he is not a dwarf anymore, he is already dead to his clan."

Akavi knocks on the door to where Lina is and pokes his head into the hallway. "Do we need a death affidavit out here, or shall we head back to the temple?"

Healer_Lina: ((Hey guys, I need to head off; Lina stays with the girl and keeps her calm and will chew out anyone who bothers her. >=D ))

Akavi: ((Like I just did?))

DM_Hallu: (Ok. Maybe we should stop here?)