DM_Hallu: -----[Session Start]------

DM_Hallu: Ok, so, Akavi, you have returned from your sidebar session and the party has convened. What do you tell them?

Glru: a club or a staff is shaped, often sanded and polished with the intent to cause harm. a potato sharpened to a point would go boom. a stick picked p of the ground would not go boom.

Akavi looks more smug than is healthy and tells the group everything he discovered about the source of the magical storms.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((we should take that discussion to #avenOOC))

DM_Hallu: (Zeal hasn't read the sidebar session, so you might want to summarize that.)

Glru: yeah, i think the ooc room is a bad idea, it gives another window to keep track of and encourages us to wander.

Akavi: "The casters doing the experiments occasionally expended their extra energies trying out a few new spells that led to the unusual weather patterns."

DM_Hallu: ((The session has started, Glru, can you at least put your OOC stuff in OOC brackets?))

Akavi: "We probably ought to report that to the Lord, although I promised my source that she would remain anonymous."

Glru: ((oopsie! will do))

Akavi makes sure that he looks human, and not half-elf, again, patting his ears.

Akavi: ((And is done talking for now. So, go.))

Glru: ((sooooo, off to see the wizard then?))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((XD down that yellow brick road?))

Glru: ((or, like, the lord or possibly the elves?))

Akavi: ((Is Glru expressing that IC?))

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler greets you and asks after beverages again before inquiring what brought you back to him so quickly. It is now late afternoon.

Healer_Lina: ((Wait.... Weren't we going to the Wild Elves first?))

Akavi hands over the notes she took in talking to Mischa and outlines what he learned, impressing the fact the he promised anonymity to his source.

Glru follows along, having little to contribute, other than the machine shop and the mechanics are clearly not responsible.

Akavi: ((Ooh, epic pronoun fail))

Tobias: ((but technically it's correct XD))

Akavi: ((Yeah, but a little inconsistent...))

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler looks over the notes, frowns, nods, and looks up at the rest of you. "Well, that is understandable, at least. What do you propose we do now? Clearly this must be explained to the elves."

Glru: ((she was she when she learned it and he when he reported it. it totally works))

Akavi considers. "Is there a particular race they adore or abhor, of the colonials?"

Tobias: ((if you switch the shes and hes))

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler shakes his head. "Not to my knowledge. Nearly all of the colonial residents of Haith are human, but I have noticed no special prejudices. I would imagine that, like most elves, they would not be too kindly disposed towards, say, drow or orcs, but that is only a guess."

Akavi purses his lips, seeing if anyone else has questions.

Tobias: "Maybe a simple 'oops' and 'we promise not to do it again' would help?"

DM_Hallu: "Yes, I would imagine so."

Glru: ((Glru provides an egg pie. people with pursed lips are often looking for a quiche))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((XD ooh, that's bad.))

Akavi: ((Ouch.))

DM_Hallu: ((...wait, what?))

Tobias: ((?))

Akavi: If nobody else has anything to ask, Akavi will take polite leave of Lord Schopler and move somewhere they can talk strategy.

Glru: "Perhaps something over lords seal saying "Very sorry, was not on purpose, reasonable compensation for inconvenience is offered, come play with us at festival"?

Healer_Lina: "What assurances could we provide them that such a situation will not occur again?"

Akavi: ((quiche=kiss))

Tobias: ((ah, puns))

DM_Hallu: "I could certainly provide my seal to something of that nature," says Lord Schopler, before turning to Lina. "It sounds from Akavi's report as though the Wildlings are aware of the gravity of their misdeeds and will not take such frivolous actions again; I can also certainly tighten supervision in that area."

Akavi looks at Lina. "I requested that the casters refrain, so I hope they will heed that advice."

Glru: "bring the elves to festival; entertain an make friends, also, easier to make sure they do not put sharp things in delicate places if they are dancing.

Akavi cocks an eyebrow at the Lord. "Sir, wouldn't the appearance of the wild elves, even in peace, cause a disruption to the celebrations?"

Akavi: "Lina, do you know anything about the wild elves equinox or religious traditions?"

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler frowns. "In peace... it's hard to say. If they were properly introduced, it might overall be a help, although some of those who were attacked might find it somewhat difficult to put the past behind them. But that is a small number of individuals."

Akavi: ((a.k.a, you have ranks in Know(religion) and I don't.))

Glru: ((ooo dice, where did I put my dice?))

Healer_Lina: "Be that as it may, were I the Wild Elves I would tend to be distrustful in such a situation. Perhaps a short letter detailing new security measures would help pacify them."

Akavi nods, corroborating on Lina's question. "Then we have your permission to extend an invitation, should our diplomacy go well?"

DM_Hallu: "You do. And I can write a letter for you in a few moments, if you will wait. Are there any more questions?"

Akavi will reserve specific tactical discussion for later, away from the Lord.

DM_Hallu: He goes off to write his letter.

Akavi looks at the rest of the group. "So? Ideas on the approach? What race shall I be, to inspire the most trust, bearing in mind it may well backfire?"

Glru suggests "group is security, watch elves, watch wildings, watch humans. is some cause trouble," Glru clacks the jaws of his wrench, "I some cause trouble, Glru will tighten their nuts.

Markas_Tarmikos ponders Akavi's question.

Glru: "for elves, be elf, if you know elf customs."

Akavi: ((Hallu, do the glucharch-whatever speak Elvish?))

Healer_Lina: "Honesty is likely the best policy; if we trick them and they find out, there could be much trouble."

Akavi: ((Or something crazy?))

DM_Hallu: (they speak Elvish. they might have a bit of a different accent, but it's still Elvish. and it's spelled "grugach".)

Akavi smiles thinly. "I'm afraid that, oftentimes, the presence of a changeling itself is just as troubling to most races. It's difficult for me to remain undisguised."

Glru suggests "be elf that visited mages."

Akavi becomes a male wood elf, with long auburn hair and a tanned complexion.

Akavi shrugs at Glru. "That was a half-elf. I felt it would be more useful in that case."

Glru: "on unrelated note, has anyone seen papaya vendor?"

Akavi: ((In all fairness, shot of magic or lucky rolls it's hard to recognize a disguise. I have +21 to disguise.))

Healer_Lina: ((Woah.... how? o.0))

Akavi: ((Also, Hallu, are people cognizant that they've been charmed after the fact, or if they succeed on a save?))

Glru: ((gonna go out on a limb and say 'changeling'))

DM_Hallu: ((i'd have to look that up, one moment please...)

Tobias: "...papaya vendor?"

Akavi: ((+4 mod, +5 ranks, +10 for shapechange, +2 for vestiment of many styles))

DM_Hallu: ((it depends on the subtlety of the charm, I would say. if there was a rational reason for them to see you as a friend, and they didn't notice the spell being cast, then they might not notice, but otherwise yes.))

Glru: "Glru has project in mind, requires medium sized engine, steel wire, and perhaps 400 unripe papayas.

Akavi: ((OK.))

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler comes back in at this moment and hands you the letter, with appropriate polite words.

Akavi tugs at his clothing, which has become more natural and woodsy, but retained its easy elegance. "Thank you, Lord. Well, then, shall we get going?"

Healer_Lina accepts it gracefully.

DM_Hallu: The letter is very formal and humble and diplomatic and mentions that the mages have promised to avoid the effects that were responsible for the strange weather events, and that they will be given human supervision and their diets more closely monitored.

Glru checks over the shoulder of whomever is handed the letter (assuming it's not being handed to a *wilding*) to see if it's apology only, apology plus restitution, or apology, and invitation to festival.

DM_Hallu: Lunos seems reasonably eager to get going; Ika has fallen asleep again.

DM_Hallu: It includes an invitation to the festival, yes.

Akavi: ((That letter's so- um- huh.))

Tobias: (( does "diets closely monitored" mean what I think it means?))

Akavi slings his pack over his shoulder, ready to travel.

Glru plays rock scissors paper with tobias to see who'll be bunnyporter today.

DM_Hallu: ((I dunno, Tobias, what do you think it means?))

Akavi: ((I think it does.))

Tobias: (( ration restriction ))

Tobias throws rock.

Akavi: ((Oh... I was thinking more along the lines of Purina One dog chow. As in, the Lord being speciest.))

Glru ducks "if you feel so strongly, you may marry bunny first..."

DM_Hallu: The day is bright (but not for too much longer, since it's late afternoon) and the jungle is suitably lush and steamy.

Tobias: (( XDDD ))

DM_Hallu: ((actually, you're both wrong :D ))

Glru: ((carry, not marry))

Akavi, per usual, will stay near the middle of the group.

DM_Hallu: ((I dunno, "marry" was funny...))

Akavi: ((Well, fine, Hallu. Be that way. :) ))

Tobias: (( it was XD ))

Glru: ((but 'first'?))

Akavi: ((MOVE, PEOPLE!))

DM_Hallu: ((those bunnies do have some odd family structures...))

Healer_Lina drops off her longcoat in her lodgings and travel lightly because of the heat and humidity.

Glru: ((the lord probly figured they got catnip in their soup))

DM_Hallu: At Akavi's OOC shouting, time suddenly fastforwards several hours and you are approaching the grugach settlement in the early evening.

Glru brings his gear with him since he isn't sure how to lock a vine.

Akavi: ((Thats, right, I can shout so loud time becomes nonlinear. What.))

Tobias carries Ika.

Akavi walks along, reviewing his Elvish pluperfect verbs.

DM_Hallu: You can see the outskirts of the village from here, although it is surrounded by a low palisade fence. It is not nearly so impressive as Haith, but shows the usual elvish concern for blending into one's surroundings harmoniously; it's probably just as well integrated, if not more so, but probably has a vastly lower rate of production.

Akavi approaches anything that looks like a main gate.

Akavi: ((Being very nonthreatening))

Healer_Lina keeps walking forward peacefully.

DM_Hallu: Two wild elves, one male and one female, guard a gate just at the edge of your vision. They are darker in color than the usual elves and clothed slightly more jungly, but otherwise look like your pretty much standard normal elves.

Akavi: ((Also, shall we just say that Lina has the letter?))

DM_Hallu: ((sure.))

Glru: spot check for gaurdy types in the nearby trees (19)

DM_Hallu: You do not see anybody lurking in trees.

Akavi gracefully projects ((shout is to violent a word)) the most polite and formalized elven greeting he knows.

Glru: ((which translates to "we're all prettier than humans"))

Akavi: ((Hee.))

DM_Hallu: The male guard remains at the gate. The other one steps forward, kisses Akavi on both cheeks (assuming no resistance to said method of greeting), and says in very formal Elvish, "Well met, and the forest watches over. What is your business here?"

Healer_Lina has Calm Emotions aura fully activated, and the letter in hand.

Akavi: ((Ooh, also, Akavi's Alethia pendent is not visible at the moment.))

DM_Hallu: ((good to know.))

Akavi: ((I thought so. I go with the greeting.))

Akavi: [elvish] "We come bearing a missive from Lord Schopler of Haith, in peaceful contrition for the recent events and in hopes of a future friendship."

Akavi: ((Plz to not archery me, k thx.))

Healer_Lina: ((arrow'd? :P))

Glru mentions softly to tobias "he speaks very pretty in elf."

DM_Hallu: "Contrition?" says the guard in Elvish, with some surprise. "How unexpected. Very well. We shall take this missive to the elders."

Tobias mentions back, "Oh? I've always thought everything sounded nice in that language."

Akavi bows and motions for Lina to hand over the letter. "We come as emissaries as well. May we accompany and elucidate, if your elders desire it?"

Akavi: ((That was in Elvish as well. Although Akavi will eventually suggest switching to common, he doesn't want to offend.))

Healer_Lina holds the letter forward for them to see.

Glru helpfully offers gist translation for tobias so as not to leave him in the dark.

DM_Hallu: The guard thinks a moment, then nods. "You may. Come this way, but leave your weapons at the gate."

Tobias looks appreciative at being up-to-speed with the conversation.

Akavi has a flashback to the marshes, and removes his dagger from his sleeve spring-holster.

Akavi: ((Retaining, of course, his component pouches.))

Healer_Lina has no weapons with her, and steps forward.

Markas_Tarmikos hands over his longbow, having no use for it anyway.

DM_Hallu: The guard raises her eyebrows, obviously wondering what sort of person uses hidden spring-holsters, but lets Akavi and Lina pass. Akavi also gets kissed on both cheeks by the male guard. Nobody else is getting kissed, they seem to be assuming Akavi's the leader on account of being elvish and stuff.

DM_Hallu: Markas is also allowed to pass.

Tobias shifts Ika to one arm and removes his sword with the other. He also leaves his sling.

Akavi: ((Also, Akavi is pretty.))

DM_Hallu: Tobias is also allowed in. That leaves Glru.

Glru pops both pistols, and hands them over and takes a moment to advise basic firearm cautions (assuming no other firearms are in evidence) only then does he hand over Verah.

DM_Hallu: The elves carefully take both the pistols and Verah, then motion for the wrench as well.

Tobias: ((brb))

DM_Hallu: ((k))

Glru: "is not weapon, is tool... also religious symbol.."

Glru: "also walking stick..."

Glru: "wery versitile."

Akavi closes his eyes in frustration.

DM_Hallu: "As you will neither be performing mechanikal repairs nor undergoing any religious ceremonies while within our walls, we request that you leave the wrench at the gate. If you have a physical difficulty with walking, we will find you a more appropriate stick."

Glru flits his ears, looking very reluctant, looking to see if they gaurd is of the "I wanna hold the big gun" sort so he can offer the same deal as the last time this came up.

DM_Hallu: Not really, she just doesn't seem to like the idea of a giant catfolk wielding a 6-foot wrench in her village.

DM_Hallu: She watches your display of reluctance impassively.

Glru looks terribly forlorn at the idea of being parted from his wrench... he digs through his bag and wraps it in oilcloth "You will promise to take very good care?" he asks.

Akavi pulls aside the male guard and apologizes charmingly in hushed Elvish for the recalcitrance of his travel companion.

DM_Hallu: The male guard nods, smiling slightly at Akavi's way with words, but still being serious and guardlike. "Yes," says the female guard to Glru, with only the very slightest display of impatience. "We will not allow it to come to any harm."

Akavi: ((I use 5 gp words in everyday conversation, yes.))

DM_Hallu: During the time spent by Glru being hesitant, a couple more guards have the opportunity to assemble; these are presumably the ones who will be watching over you inside the village.

Glru sighs heavily as he hands it over.

Tobias: ((back))

DM_Hallu: The female guard takes the wrench and places it carefully on the clean ground next to the other weapons. She then kisses Glru demurely on the nose, in what appears to be some sort of cultural marker of conflict resolution, and allows him in.

Tobias: ((It occurred to me... do the guards not notice Ikas weapons, or shall we retcon handing them over? it seems like they'd at least recognize the sword))

DM_Hallu: ((Ika and Lunos hand over their weapons invisibly, yes.))

Akavi chats casually with the escorts.

DM_Hallu: The escorts seem comfortable making casual conversation back.

Glru blinks and perks his ears at the nosekiss.

Healer_Lina watches around them to see how the community functions.

DM_Hallu: The escorts lead you into the village, which hums with quiet activity. The day's hunters seem to have brought back several reasonably promising animals, which are currently being prepared for supper. Elsewhere, a few half-collapsed buildings are being worked on in a curious manner. (cont'd)

DM_Hallu: Grugach of all ages and statures are doing the necessary tasks, replacing structural parts and clearing debris and so on, overseen by a matriarch with more gray than black in her hair (though, like any elf, she shows no other signs of human aging). There seems to be no official organization, however, and elves who are tired or bored with the work freely wander off, to be replaced by newcomers. You also notice that, despite being called a grugach settlement, the village is only about two-thirds wild elves; the others are an assortment of wood elves, the occasional human, and about the same distribution of Wildlings that were found in Haith.

Akavi: ((Where are we being led?))

DM_Hallu: You are being led towards the aforesaid matriarch, who is alerted to your presence by a younger elf and strides towards you. She sends the younger elf scampering off on some sort of task, and soon the party plus the matriarch and three others like her (one of whom is a wood elf) are sitting around a stone circle near the centre of the village, with a few curious onlookers surrounding them.

Akavi bows and repeats the same speech he made to the guards in Elvish and in Common, and motions for whoever has the letter to deliver it.

Healer_Lina hands it over respectfully (unless the guards have it)

Akavi: ((he's performing for the benefit of everyone there, of course, not just the elders. Think ancient oratory.))

DM_Hallu: The matriarch takes the paper and reads it silently for a few moments, the other three clustering behind to look over her shoulder. After a moment, only about halfway through, she looks up at you. "This letter is incorrect," she says.

Akavi bows again. "In what respect, Great Lady?"

Glru perks his ears, blinkblinks, doesn't recall spelling mistakes when proofreading.

Healer_Lina: ((This is what we get for rushing back without visiting Grugach first like planned. =P))

DM_Hallu: "It humbly requests that we cease our attacks on the city of Haith, when we have made no such attacks. We have threatened to disrupt the ceremonies, nothing more. Your Lord Schopler is clever. If we sign the letter, we are admitting to past attacks that were not made, and if we do not sign, we are refusing to cease attacks. Either option casts us as the villains. This is highly problematic."

Akavi: (("The letter is very formal and humble and diplomatic and mentions that the mages have promised to avoid the effects that were responsible for the strange weather events, and that they will be given human supervision and their diets more closely monitored."))

Glru: (have you stopped beating your wife?)

Akavi: ((...))

Glru: ((yeah GM where'd that bot get slipped in there, Akavi at very least would have noticed the legalese shenanegans...."

DM_Hallu: ((sorry *hides* ))

DM_Hallu: The elders confer among themselves for a few minutes.

Glru: ((this is what you get for not writing out the letter to us :D))

Tobias looks confused and leans toward Glru. "If they're not making the attacks, who is?" he asks quietly.

Healer_Lina: "We apologize grievously for this error." *bows low*

Akavi inclines his head respectfully. "It is meant as a missive, not a contract. I regret any misunderstanding in the text. Rest assured, all that is intended is the politest invitation: A tree may branch sideways, but it continues to grow skyward. The Lord's methods may be flawed, but his intent should not be diminished."

Akavi: ((*makes pretty speeches*))

DM_Hallu: After a moment the convocation ceases, and the great lady speaks to you again. "Lord Schopler does not own this forest," she says, "much as he would be inclined to pretend otherwise. However, his intentions may be correct. We will write our own letter in response. Wait here."

Akavi: "With great pleasure."

DM_Hallu: The elders go off to write, which leaves you to the guards and onlookers. Some of the onlookers wander off, while others gawk at the strange breeds of Wildlings you have with you. One of them, a male in early adolescence, seems to be resisting the temptation to play cat-toy with Markas' tail. "Well met," he says eventually in Elvish, "if I may ask, what species are you?"

Akavi suggests to Ika that she might perform to pass the time, and offers to accompany her with Ghost Sounds.

Markas_Tarmikos: "I'm a Squirrelfolk Wildling. It's... nice to meet you." Markas smiles.

DM_Hallu: Ika agrees heartily (after a brief period of waking up and wondering where the hell she is) and sings a jolly little tune about hitting field mice on the head.

DM_Hallu: The elves congregate in slightly larger numbers, eager for novel entertainment.

Glru takes the time to bend a scrap of sheet metal into a hopping frog, sanding it to make sure there are no sharp edges. he demonstrated the frog and gives it to one of the nearby children.

Tobias: ((hehehe ^^ ))

DM_Hallu: "You must not be from around here," says the elf to Markas.

Akavi hopes that's diplomatically appropriate.

DM_Hallu: The children seem delighted to see the metal hopping frog.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((XD sorry for my nonresponsiveness. Spore is pulling me into its addictive graaaaasp. X3))

Markas_Tarmikos: "That's true, I'm not from round these parts."

DM_Hallu: "Where are you from?" asks the elf.

Healer_Lina sits and fans herself in the heat.

Akavi summons a celestial fire beetle to fly around shiningly and amuse the crowd. (Summon Monster I)

Markas_Tarmikos: "I'm from Shuteye," Markas responds, unsure what the elf's response will be.

Glru: ((whoah... that's a remarkably bad idea....they take our weapons away and you call up a flamethrower...))

DM_Hallu: "Shuteye! Wow, that's really far away. I've never been out of the jungle, myself. Is it true they have metal boxes there that propel themselves, that can take you from one city to the other more quickly than a tiger runs?"

DM_Hallu: The crowd is very amused by the fire beetle.

Akavi: ((It's a celestial beetle of unearthy beauty. I'm hoping they'll be appreciative of it's aesthetics. I'm certainly not having it do anything aggressive."

DM_Hallu: You start to notice that only some parts of the crowd are amused by your antics, some of the others are uneasy with the intruders.

Markas_Tarmikos: "Yep, that's right. I haven't been on one yet, and there's been a bit of controversy about it."

Glru catches that last pit "ah, locomotive, steam train. like very large steamjack with wheels instead of feet."

Akavi tries to look trustworthy.

Healer_Lina rolls her eyes to herself but smiles.

Glru: ((would that be a disguise check or a bluff check?))

DM_Hallu: "Wow," says Markas' elf again. "My name's Baelrad, what's yours? You could stay here if the elders were okay with it."

Akavi: ((Perform (absurd lies) ))

DM_Hallu: At about this moment, the elders come back out from wherever they were, bearing elegantly scripted parchment in Elvish.

Markas_Tarmikos: "I'm Markas. Not so sure about staying here though, most of my business is in Shuteye, admittedly."

Akavi looks it over ((*glares at DM*))

Glru: (let's fight something, i just rolled 3 16s, an 18 and 2 20s...)

Akavi: ((Please don't hit anything right now....))

Glru: ((glru considers hitting one of the guards with one of his smaller wrenches.))

DM_Hallu: The letter does not appear to have any problematic content ((*hides more*)) and it basically is an agreement to what Lord Schopler wanted: the elves will not make any attacks or disruptions to the business of Haith provided that Haith makes good on its promise not to make further disruptions for the grugach.

DM_Hallu: Also, the elves will send one or two of themselves as emissaries of peace to Haith's fall festivities.

Akavi folds the letter into his cloak, bowing again and wishing everyone assembled a happy equinox and a prosperous season in Elvish.

DM_Hallu: The letter specifies, however, that no attacks nor disruptions have been made by the wild elves to date.

DM_Hallu: Markas' elf looks a little too disappointed that Markas will not be staying, but he covers it up courteously.

Glru claps his hands "good! now we are friends. Will you be coming to festival? also, would you know who is preending to be Grugach and causing trouble for you with humans?"

Akavi makes a mental note to look into this business of attacks once they return to Haith.

Akavi: ((Shapeshifters can be tricky, can't they, Hallu. Pretending to be other people? And stuff?))

DM_Hallu: The great lady frowns. "Pretending to be grugach? We have heard no reports of anyone pretending to be grugach. What do you mean?"

Glru: ((I was once a vase for 3 days....)

Akavi hopes Glru will get himself out of this one.

Healer_Lina keeps Calm Emotions up strongly but trusts Akavi and Glru to handle this one.

Akavi: ((In the meantime, know(nobility) 16 for information on the Great Houses in relation to Haith or the jungle.))

Glru: "Lord phrases his letter so because there have been attacks, and those attacking were believed to be grugach. You have told us this is not you, so Glru thinks perhaps someone wishes to cause trouble for you.

DM_Hallu: Akavi, Haith applied for membership in House Taumamua but were rejected several times, the House highly approved of their ecological sense but wanted to see more Wildlings in leadership roles.

Akavi: ((Oookay. I'll keep that on file... Or something?))

DM_Hallu: ((I have a feeling I'm doing this all wrong))

Akavi waits to hear the Elder's response.

Glru: ((nothing wrong so far in my opinion except for adding sneaky clauses to the lords letter and turning it from a missive to a contract :) ))

DM_Hallu: ((it wasn't supposed to be a contract, i screwed up by using the word "sign"))

DM_Hallu: The elders confer among themselves quietly for a moment, then turn back to you. "This is a jungle," the great lady says shortly, "there are many things that could attack. It would be easy for paranoid villagers to jump to the conclusion that any creature in the bushes was a grugach. We have no information."

Glru scratches his head "Glru forgets, did reports say elves were seen, or only suspected?"

Akavi decides this has gone on enough. "And our sincerest apologies at any defamation or misunderstanding."

Akavi looks at Glru. "We can ask Lord Schopler."

DM_Hallu: The great lady nods and dismisses you.

Glru pokes

Glru: ((mibbit ate my pose, one sec))

Akavi looks very ready to leave now that he has the letter, although he remains polite to the elves and other citizens.

Akavi: ((I move for a timeskip, unless anyone else has anything. Remember to grab your belongings!))

Glru: "this is another good reason to come to festival, make friends, clear up misunderstandings, find out who is causing trouble for you."

DM_Hallu: Timeskip!

Glru checks his weapons when he gets them back, makes sure charge is in place.

DM_Hallu: The sun sets while you are travelling back to Haith, and in the darkness you find... SPIDERS!

Akavi: ((Great Scott!))

Healer_Lina: ((Let's do the time warp again!)

Akavi: (([/Back to the Future]))

Glru: ((quick, get the curds and whey!))

Tobias: (( let's diplomacize! ))

Akavi: ((Let's... roll initiative! 16!))

Healer_Lina: (( *offers spiders crumpets to go with the tea she's making :P))

Glru: ((sell them a corpse!))

Tobias: ((... or hit things with our weapons.))

DM_Hallu: These are honest to goodness spiders, though. They do not appear to have a language.

Glru: ((seriously though, what kinda spiders?))

Healer_Lina: ((init 20))

Tobias: ((initiative 13))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Wait... what? SPIDERS?! *panics, yelling something like "AAAH SPIDERS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS AWAAAY*))

DM_Hallu: ((do that in character, will you? :D))

Glru: ((initiative 16. seriously, are these giant spiders, fist sized spiders, spiders from Missmab.com that quote shakespeare?")

Tobias: ((all your characters are afraid of spiders XD))

Markas_Tarmikos: "Sp... SPIDERS?!"

Akavi has deja vu.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((What can I say, it's a running joke. ;3))

DM_Hallu: ((they are Large.))

Akavi: ((Number of large spiders?))

Tobias: ((is Ika awake?))

DM_Hallu: Ika wakes up when Markas yells and looks around sleepily.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((13 Init))

DM_Hallu: Lunos, however, freezes completely because I do not have his character sheet.

Healer_Lina: ((Why must we always fight vermin? DD:))

Akavi is disgusted with the Pink Rose Seeker.

DM_Hallu: Lina goes first!

Tobias notifies her of the situation and sets her down once he thinks she's awake enough to manage.

Glru: (soooo, spiders that are larger than Glru. how many?)

DM_Hallu: (two. one on the left and one on the right.)

Healer_Lina casts Create Water, and dumps 8 gallons on the head of the one on the right, hoping to drive it off nonviolently.

DM_Hallu: (erm, how big is 8 gallons?)

Markas_Tarmikos: ((It's about eight tenths of a ten-gallon hat's worth.))

Tobias: ((isn't one of those big Alhambra bottles a gallon?))

Akavi: ((1 US gallon = 0.133680556 cubic feet))

Glru: ((1 gallon is 4 litres, so))

Healer_Lina: ((8 Gallons = somewhat over a cubic foot))

Glru: ((32 litres, or 16 big pop bottles))

DM_Hallu: The spider blinks in the water, but getting water dumped on it is a fairly normal occurrence in the *cough* rainforest, so it doesn't look too frightened.

DM_Hallu: Akavi!

Markas_Tarmikos: ((*headdesks Zeal*))

Akavi looks at the wet spider and sends a cone of clashing color at its multitude of beady eyes. ((Color Spray, DC 15))

Healer_Lina: ((Markas - the only other option was casting "Light" in their eyes... =P))

Akavi: *puff of colored dust*

DM_Hallu: The spider on the right is blinded and stunned!

Akavi: ((Light, of course, being a touch spell))

DM_Hallu: Glru!

Akavi grins, but shouts to his companions, "It's not permanent!"

Glru replies to Akavis comment with "*This* is." draws Verah and attempts to put a round into the spider on the left.(attack 27)

DM_Hallu: Hits!

Glru: (13 damage!)

Glru: (wait!)

Glru: (( that was a 19, so i have to roll again to see if it's a crit, yes?))

DM_Hallu: (yes.)

Glru: ((is 24 still a hit?))

DM_Hallu: (yes.)

Glru: ((woot! 39 damage! or do i roll damage 3 times and add it?))

DM_Hallu: either way, the spider's toast.

DM_Hallu: Markas!

Akavi prepares to dodge spiderbits.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((What? I didn't think spiders were Bread that way.))

DM_Hallu: You just saw Glru blow the head clean off a giant spider bigger than he was, what do you do?

Akavi: ((Oooh.))

Akavi: ((How's Lina feel about that?))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((There seems to be some correlation between how tired I am and how sharp I *think* my punster's wit is. X3))

Healer_Lina: ((Lina has long ago accepted that some people have violent tendencies and there isn't much she can do about it))

Akavi: ((It's your turn, Markus.))

Glru: ((I feel so very Bruce Campbell))

DM_Hallu: Markas has disappeared due to slow posting. Tobias' turn!

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Aww.))

Glru: ((I liked it markas, but for some of the others it goes against their grain))

Tobias:

((is it actually my turn, or does markas get another chance?))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((I was just gonna say I was going to hide behind the nearest hide-behind-able object, if a spider hasn't seen me yet.))

Akavi: ((Yeah, wheat appreciate it if you avoided the puns.))

DM_Hallu: Okay. Markas hides behind Glru. Tobias, it is your turn.

Healer_Lina: ((I'm afraid I don't always get Markas's rye sense of humor....))

Glru: ((though we do appreciate your rye wit))

Healer_Lina: ((Zing!))

Glru: ((ninja'd))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((XD it's a battle of the puns today.))

Akavi: ((Looks like Glru was loafing around.))

Tobias draws his sword and runs at the stunned spider. ((21))

Glru: ((he's a gluten for pun-ishment ))

DM_Hallu: Hits!

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Duel of the Plates, even. Corn oooooon.... the cooooooob!))

Akavi: ((Isn't that spider in bits?))

Tobias: ((8 damage))

DM_Hallu: (no, the spider on the left is in bits.)

Akavi: ((Well, then. Carry on. :) ))

DM_Hallu: The spider does nothing due to being stunned. Ika hits it with a Magic Missile! Lina's turn.

Healer_Lina: ((any idea how much longer on the stun?))

Healer_Lina: ((or blind))

DM_Hallu: (3 more rounds)

Healer_Lina activates Calm Emotions, then casually starts jogging off the way they were going originally.

Tobias: (( XDDD brilliant ))

DM_Hallu: (heh)

Tobias looks between her and the rest of the group in confusion.

Akavi watches in mild confusion as Lina jogs past the point where her aura has any effect.

DM_Hallu: ((....XD))

DM_Hallu: Yeah, so, Akavi's turn.

Healer_Lina waves to them "Come on, we're wasting time."

Akavi waves back amicably, twirling his fingers and sending a little sphere of acid flying at the spider ((Acid Splash, touch attack 14 for 2 damage))

DM_Hallu: (hits)

DM_Hallu: Glru's turn!

Akavi: ((I can't stop imagining Lina wearing a white House Huervatat tracksuit.))

DM_Hallu: (heee.)

Glru saunters over "Glru does not want angry spider following when it wakes up." he gives it a whack with his wrench.

DM_Hallu: (atk and dmg pls.)

Glru: ((20))

DM_Hallu: (hits)

Glru: (10)

Glru: (oh, plus strength, 3 more))

DM_Hallu: Spider falls over unconscious!

Akavi: ((kthxbai))

DM_Hallu: Markas' turn.

Akavi scans the horizon for Lina.

Markas_Tarmikos: Umm... Any more threats to be dealing with?

DM_Hallu: (are you saying that IC, or asking the DM?)

Markas_Tarmikos: (asking the DM)

Glru: "you could hit spider... it will not move..."

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Should've put it in OOC brackets. x3))

DM_Hallu: (just your fellow PCs :D )

Markas_Tarmikos: (hee.)

Markas_Tarmikos: ((I come out of hiding then. Probably for the best. XD))

DM_Hallu: Tobias' turn!

Akavi assumes a mocking tone and a fantastic impression of Markas's voice (disguise 32) "Sp- SPIDER! Waaaaaaah!"

DM_Hallu: That is indeed a fantastic impression.

Tobias: ((I half expect Lina to get attacked since she's on her own and wandered away from the group))

Markas_Tarmikos: "Yep. That's a fantastic impressi-HEY! Why am I saying that?"

Healer_Lina continues jogging, rather peeved with the rest atm.

Glru: ((if she starts to undress she's violated all three horror movie rules))

Tobias: ((what was the second?))

DM_Hallu: ((nuh uh, she hasn't had promiscuous sex with anybody yet...))

Akavi will be childish and repeat everything Markas says for a while.

Tobias: ((nor has she run up any stairs))

Glru: ((female, alone, and in the woods))

Healer_Lina: ((....yet... :P))

Markas_Tarmikos: (XD)

Akavi: ((Please just stab the spider.))

DM_Hallu: ((nor gone down any stairs armed with only a flashlight))

DM_Hallu: A small scavenging animal appears and drags the body of the spider away. Them's good spidery eatings, assuming it doesn't wake up.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Eat it... before it eats YOU!))

Akavi breaks the fourth wall, whining in Markas' voice, "Eat it... Before it eats ME!"

Glru wonders how a small animal hauls away a large animal. (know nature 18, anything valuable in one of these spiders?)

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Oh god, now I can imagine the spider waking up and saying "Ever had a meal take a bite out of YOU?!" before eating the scavenger.))

DM_Hallu: ((erm......................... it's been a long week))

DM_Hallu: Okay, so you all get back to Haith somehow. (nothing valuable on the spiders)

DM_Hallu: ...waitwaitwait, scratch that.

Tobias: (( technically a flashlight is a perfectly acceptable bludgeoning weapon if it's a maglight... ))

Akavi clears his throat and resumes his normal dulcet tones.

Glru brings along one of the legs and periodically taps Markas on the shoulder with the foot.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((As we found out in Doom 3, the flashlight is indeed a good bludgeoning weapon.))

Markas_Tarmikos yelps and jumps back a little.

Akavi wonders where Lina is.

Healer_Lina snubs Akavi and Glru.

Tobias cleans spider blood off his sword and resheaths it.

Akavi: *is snubbed*

Glru: snubbed by the grass eater. sadness.

DM_Hallu: Actually, the spider you shot has 12 sp and a masterwork oboe. Don't ask me how it was carrying them around with it because I do not know.

Tobias: (( Dude. That's awesome. ))

Akavi: ((Spiderbard, spiderbard! Does whatever a spidebard can...))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((And if anyone makes any jokes involving Oboe innuendo, I will kill them. Not really, but still. XD))

Tobias: (( maybe it ate a minstrel XD ))

Glru taps Lina with the spider foot and says in a high voice "Would you like to buy something? Sell something? make friends?"

Akavi: ((Seriously, an OBOE?))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Speaking of Spiderman, though... http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=49&override=1#comic ))

Healer_Lina: ((Oboe, as in Violinist of Hameln?))

Tobias picks up the oboe, with no small amount of bewilderment, and offers it to Ika. "You want it?"

Glru: ((he ordered it off the web))

Akavi: ((Pied piper of Hamelin?))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Beat me to the punch there Glru. XD))

DM_Hallu: The other one has 21 gold pieces and, equally inexplicably, a healer's kit. Glru probably found them when he was taking the leg off.

Healer_Lina ignores Glru, and wanders around the encampment.

DM_Hallu: Night is falling.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Aah! Don't let it hit us!))

Glru declares his dodge on the night.

Tobias: (( wait, we by the spiders or back at Haith?))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Ninja'd. XD))

Healer_Lina: ((if the place has a medical clinic, I'll probably migrate there and expend most of my spellslots on freelance healing to get a good buzz going))

DM_Hallu: You have gone back to Haith.

Akavi goes to the Lord, with whoever wants to advance the plot.

DM_Hallu: It does. However, they will not pay you for your work since you are not under contract there. You can do it for free just to make yourself feel better, though.

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler is waiting calmly, completely oblivious to the existence of spider-oboes.

Markas_Tarmikos: ((When you think about it, Spiders can play the Oboe pretty well. Plenty of legs to cover the holes with. :3))

Glru: ((spider-band, spider-band, got no fingers but lots of hands...))

Healer_Lina: ((Yeah, do it for free))

Tobias: ((I don't think arachnids actually have a way to blow out air... ))

Akavi hands over the letter. "A response, my Lord."

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Yeah, that's their downfall. They need to enlist someone or something to do the blowing while they do the fingerwork. That sounded totally wrong but I'm placing the blame of all innuendo on the fact that it's 2:37am here.))

Akavi: ((http://iowacreativemusic.com/preview.php?item=373))

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler reads the letter, looking quite pleased, until he gets to a part that bothers him. "What do they mean, there were no attacks?" he says.

Glru carries the kit along and is content with Ika's possession of the oboe, he'll divvy up the coin but will request the 10g for the round that made the pidey go k'blewie come out before the cut

Glru clarifies helpfully "this means they did not make fighting with anyone. Glru suspects someone causing trouble, pretending to be grugach.�

Akavi looks at him. "This is what they maintain, and it may bear further investigation. They seemed honest. In any case, you'll no doubt appreciate their willingness to pledge peace for the ceremony, and to send their own emissaries?" DM_Hallu: "Pretending to be grugach..." Lord Schopler repeats, clearly troubled by this. "But yes, I do appreciate this. It is an excellent response."

Markas_Tarmikos: ((I really need to make that Kobold economist soon... XD))

Akavi smiles. "Well, my lord, I'm pleased you read Elvish. I was concerned my translation wouldn't live up to the original wording."

Akavi: ((Yeah, Hallu, it was in Elvish. I was paying attention this time. :p ))

DM_Hallu: Lord Schopler smiles. "It is an important function of any administrator to be competent in the tongues of nearby entities. But I am pleased that you were willing to translate."

Akavi bows. "House Aletheia prefers that we have multiple specialties. Linguistics is one of mine."

DM_Hallu: "That is fortunate. What are your plans from here?"

Akavi: "Personally? It depends on if your contract has been filled to your satisfaction."

DM_Hallu: "I would prefer to keep you on until the festival is over, to ensure that there are no unfortunate occurrences."

DM_Hallu: "You have done well by me so far, though."

Akavi inclines his head. "Then I will remain here and guard against unpleasantness."

DM_Hallu: "Thank you." Lord Schopler bows his head in return, dismissing you for now.

Akavi: "Of course, we will have to see if we get around to looking into these attacks."

DM_Hallu: "Yes, that would be most helpful."

Akavi: "Naturally, it depends on the House's availability of agents, et cetera, but I assume that as long as I am here you can work out an additional contract with my superiors."

DM_Hallu: "Of course."

Glru goes, assuming he is not needed for the nonce, and checks if anyone has added to the note he left in his clearing, and then looks for an inn that will let a room to a wilding.

Akavi smiles tiredly. "In that case, my lord, I will need to rest and replenish my energies."

DM_Hallu: Nobody has added anything to your note. It seems taboo to go into someone else's clearing without an invitation.

DM_Hallu: "Naturally. Go to it. I trust your room is to your satisfaction?"

DM_Hallu: How do you go about looking for inns, Glru?

Akavi nods. "It's excellent, sir. I'll need to go about procuring some food, though."

Glru may have additional trouble getting a inn that will rent to him due to the giant spider leg tucked in beside verah's holster.

DM_Hallu: He points you to several fine restaurants in the area.

DM_Hallu: Yeah, Glru, most of the inns shut their doors in your face.

Akavi thanks him and takes his leave.

DM_Hallu: One of the innkeepers graciously takes the time to ask "Are you crazy??" before shutting the door on you.

Glru looks instead to buying a comphy cushion and rigging a handle to the tendons in the spider leg so he can puppeteer with it

Akavi finds fine restaurant and has an excellent dinner of some manner of meat prepared exquisitely in sauce, along with some wine.

Akavi: ((Cost?))

Glru: ((craft tools, 27))

DM_Hallu: 5 sp if you only have one glass of wine, 10.5 gp if you take the whole bottle... meal prices are weird.

DM_Hallu: You manage to construct a spider-leg-cushion puppet.

Glru: ((the cushion is for sitting on in his clearing, not for attaching to the puppet))

DM_Hallu: Oh.

Glru: ((do you think I'm crazy or something :D ))

DM_Hallu: Okay, that makes more sense now. You manage to construct a spider-leg puppet. Buying a cushion is a little tricky but you eventually manage it for 1 gold.

Akavi leaves 1 gp for two glasses of wine, 2 gp for the meal, and 1 gp for a tip, before asking the waiter what wealthy gentlemen do for entertainment in Haith.

DM_Hallu: The waiter points you to a couple venues for community theatre, music, and sport in the vicinity.

Glru: ((and a restaurnt specializing in thin soup))

Akavi hears a concert for a while, chats with and charms a few people, perhaps dances with one or two, then retires to his room for the evening.

DM_Hallu: Anyone else doing anything?

Tobias makes sure Ika gets to her clearing alright before going back to his room.

Markas_Tarmikos retires to his room to rest for a bit.

Glru leaves his gear and puppet (but not weapons and wrench) in his clearing and looks for a replacement round of ammo, before seeking out a wilding-y tavern

DM_Hallu: Markas, you have a little nook halfway up a tree, not a room.

DM_Hallu: Glru, you easily find a wildling-y tavern (but not the one that just kicked you out this afternoon)

Healer_Lina starts healing people in the local clinic, intending to go through half her spells-per-day... but gets so caught up she goes through all but a few, and starts pontificating manically about the glory of Eir to anyone who will listen.

DM_Hallu: The clinicians tolerate you with amusement for a while and then gently guide you back to your quarters to have a bit of a rest.

Glru: ((anyone willing to sell a wilding some ammunition?)

DM_Hallu: ((no.))

Glru pokes his head into the tavern he was *ahem* politely asked to leave* to see if the ocelot is there, if not he heads back to his clearing along to tinker with some of the pistols he found while scrounging (but apparently doesn't have his heart in it: gunsmithing 21))

DM_Hallu: (you hafta spend a whole day if you're gonna work on those, glru.)

Glru: ((Glru knocks over a liquer store! I takes him most of the might to set up the system of levers and pullys, but it's on it's side by morning!))

DM_Hallu: The ocelot is, in fact, hanging around there. Not in the tavern precisely, but close to it.

Glru: ((I can't work on bits and pieces in my spare time?))

DM_Hallu: ((well i don't know how to do rolls for that and i'm tired.))

Glru invites the ocelot to his lawn to chat.

Glru: ((so say i tinkered but really got nothing done))

DM_Hallu: The ocelot seems willing to do this, although he is still a mix of fascinated and uneasy with the whole technology thing, as though it's black magic.

Akavi is probably still waltzing around with some beautiful woman at the concert. He's going to bed late.

Glru shows the ocelot one of the broken pistols and his working one so he can see the mechanisms. he also cleans and re-loads verah ((natural 20 on craft small arms. waste of a good number))

DM_Hallu: *yawn* okay, anyone have anything else they want to do before end of session? (Glru, if you want to spend a lot of time with the ocelot then we should have a sidebar session so we don't waste everybody's time)

Glru: ((plotwise expressing curiosity on the local way of doing things, otherwise I'm content. I don't think I'll be taking on an apprentice :) ))

Akavi: ((I'm just going to be generally charming and enjoy myself for the eveining. Akavi deserves some time off. :) ))

DM_Hallu: Akavi, make a Charisma check.

Healer_Lina wanders through the streets pontificating for a bit, then comes down from the buzz and slumps her way to her room.

Glru: ((considering sneaking up markas's tree to pet his ear with the spiderfoot while sleeping :) ))

DM_Hallu: ((heh, go ahead and try it if you like))

Akavi: ((18?))

Glru: ((nah, all i need is to get arrested for prowling.))

Markas_Tarmikos: ((Do it and my next character kills Glru in his sleep. XD))

DM_Hallu: ((ok, nothing especially interesting happens.))

Akavi: ((...ok.))

Glru: ((Markas and spiderpuppet are gona be the best of pals, I just know it.))

DM_Hallu: ((you have a good time dancing though, with many friendly people. yay dancing!))

Glru: much funness!

Akavi: ((Hooray! Next assignment that Akavi doesn't consider a backwater hole, he'll have to do some more recreation!))

Healer_Lina: ((Ooo, ooo, does Lina get any converts or is she acting too sketchy? :P))

DM_Hallu: ((.....make a Charisma check. :P ))

DM_Hallu: ((Diplomacy actually, if you like.))

Glru: ((hand out flyers. people love flyers.))

Glru: ((constable visits-the-heathens-with-pamphlets))

Healer_Lina: ((Diplomacy 33))

Glru: ((that's some serious diplomacy! why yes! I *would* like to subscribe to your newsletter!))

Healer_Lina: ((I think that's my... second die roll of this whole plotline?))

DM_Hallu: You do not convert anyone on the spot, but several people become moderately interested and chat with you about it for a while.

DM_Hallu: They may or may not seek out further information about Eir later.

Healer_Lina: ((Yay. ^^))

DM_Hallu: And yeah, that should be the end of the session. :P