Start of #Sharn buffer: Wed Feb 03 18:05:46 2010 03[17:09:10] * Now talking in #Sharn [17:35:19] [48 Days A.T. out of Stormreach] [17:35:19] [More than a month of aparent time has passed since the party's small expedition left the port town of Stormreach. The last several weeks have been nigh torturous.] [17:35:19] [Even with Mari's charms to protect the group from extreme weather, the blistering Menechtarun dessert is punishing. Pardrengo is having trouble sustaining the party with hunting in the desolate environs, so the party has been subsisting on dry rations. Shezna's presence is now keenly felt in everyone's growling stomachs and parched mouths.] [17:35:19] [The sand dunes seem to stretch on forever...] [17:35:19] [Session Start] 06[17:36:00] * Aurora marches on, looking particularly annoyed. 03[17:36:38] * Yon is now known as Marianysa 06[17:39:43] * Mauz hasn't bothered to shave, and has started to develop a fuzzy mass of black on his head and face. It makes him look younger, amusingly enough. "I never imagined myself dying in a desert." [17:40:33] *Par growls. "Ah quit yer bellyachin'. Ain't no sort of man if'n ya can't take some heat." [17:41:31] You all be hungry den? [17:42:03] I can take heat! I've just been imagining all the fun ways I could die. 06[17:42:22] * Mauz smirks wryly. "The desert one seems like it would be one of the worst." [17:42:23] "Giant worms, me been tinkin." 06[17:42:27] * Phanos grins. 06[17:42:35] * Marianysa smiles, though her expression looks a little strained. "C'mon. It's not like after all that, we're just gonna die from some stupid desert." 01[17:42:50] Well, it's certainly making a good effort. [17:43:36] *Par grunts. "`At's deh spirit. No one ain' been through what you folks did and not living to tell tale just cause o' the sun." 06[17:43:57] * Mauz cackles a little at Mari. "You have a point!" [17:44:48] But I'm telling you. The moment we find Aun and go back to civilization? Biggest slab of seared meat I can afford. I will eat it all. [17:47:18] "You wanna pass tru shadows?" [17:47:37] Maybe we should get one from the giants, then. It'd be funny trying to see you finish off portions THEIR size [17:48:40] *Temper looks to Mari, then to Mauz. "I am quite certain Mauz is more than capable of handling their size." [17:48:53] *Temper's lower jaw hinges open again. 06[17:49:12] * Marianysa blinks, then starts to snicker. "Yeah, you're probably right about that." [17:49:13] ... ah-HAH! I got that one! 06[17:49:53] * Mauz smirks a touch. "Well, seriously, I am actually enjoying this. It's hot and my feet are covered in blisters, but nothing's trying to kill me." [17:50:21] [Just then...] 01[17:51:45] Hah... good one... [17:51:59] [The party trudges up to the crest of a sand dune, and before them the blanket of sands parts into a blasted landscape of barren, craggy plateaus and canyons. Nestled into the side of a cliff is a facade of onyx columns and weathered relief carvings.] [17:54:01] Recognize that, Pard? 06[17:55:07] * Marianysa shades her eyes with one hand and looks. "Huh. What's that?" [17:59:54] *Par shields his eyes from the sun and squints. He takes a long moment, mumbling to himself as if running through a catalogue of past discoveries. [18:00:35] *He nods. "Ayip, def'netly Furant-era giant architecture." 06[18:01:12] * Mauz nods. "Safe to enter?" [18:01:24] *Pardrengo begins trudging down the other side of the sand dune, into the canyon the facade is built into the side of. 06[18:01:35] * Aurora follows Pardrengo hopefully [18:01:35] *Pardrengo shrugs, not looking back. [18:01:41] "Dunno, let's see." 06[18:02:59] * Phanos walks along as well. "Sometimes mon, I wondah if we got any direction yanno." [18:03:28] "Den I tink, I am with my friens, we is home." [18:04:45] [As the party nears, the giant construction comes upon them a lot quicker than their last encounters with giant architecture. The construction doesn't seem to be as mind-bogglingly titanic as either Stormreach's original skyline, or the giant spire they happened upon weeks earlier. The broken, huge iron doors only seem to be built for someone twice normal size, more like modern-day giants.] [18:04:47] Heh, I guess. But I like a home with a hot bath and some candied fruits. Sand has its merits, though. [18:05:10] [Interestingly, though, this giant architecture seems infinitely more ancient than the the giant spire, or the ruins around Stormreach.] [18:08:43] Huh. Different giants? [18:09:24] *Par looks back and Mari and grins. "You are th' quick one, ain'tcha?" [18:09:48] She is, at that. Someone's gotta be. [18:11:35] "He looks back at the giant architecture built into the side of the cliff and gestures at it vaguely. "In'tressin thing bout giant civilization yeh only get t'see if'n yer lookin up close. Giant seemed ta start out 'bout the size they ar' t'day. Den they got bigger 'n bigger 'n bigger. Then... boom. Xen'drik be shattered, an their civ'lization decays, and they start degradin themselves." [18:12:20] "Like they lost sum kinda secret ta' their true power, or summin." [18:12:36] Interesting to think about. Maybe the smarter minds will find out someday. 01[18:13:51] Weird [18:14:02] *Pardrengo nods. "Welp, `nuff navel-gazin. Let's go in an see if there's any clues to this Cavat Libel Shazawhats of yers." 06[18:15:17] * Phanos nods. [18:16:18] Okay. And... that steak? I'll buy you one too, Pard. [18:18:16] *Par grins. 06[18:19:19] * Marianysa looks thoughtful for a moment. "Interesting. Connected to how they're hostile to magic somehow?" [18:23:27] "`Ostile to magic?" [18:24:39] *Par readies his bow and knocks an arrow, then stalks through the shattered iron doors inside the giant structure. [18:25:53] *Immediately in front of him the stone slabs tiling the floor ar e shattered, revealing a pit with a bottom to far below to see through the darkness. 06[18:26:46] * Mauz is close to Par, licking his lips slowly. "That's not the way we wanna go." 06[18:28:52] * Marianysa shrugs at Par's response. [18:29:02] [The interior splits three ways, one straight ahead, and a hallway to each side. The hole in the floor at the intersection in front of Pardrengo is joined by a full rift, cutting off the hallway to the right.] [18:29:10] Just speculating. [18:29:28] "We can bring us down on dem lift." [18:29:51] *Pardrengo looks over his shoulder at Phanos. "Eh?" 01[18:29:53] Keep an eye out for anything weird. [18:30:12] "We can summon a lift like from outta Sharn, mon, makes one." 06[18:30:16] * Phanos nods. [18:31:55] *Par frowns. "What's a lift?" [18:32:35] "A platform what float in de air, mon, it take us all down." [18:38:02] *Par blinks. "You wanna go down, we jez climb." [18:41:42] I'd rather not. 06[18:41:48] * Aurora looks down the hole. How far down does it go? [18:42:10] [Aurora can't see the bottom with the light coming in from outside.] 06[18:42:10] * Mauz raises a huge eyebrow. "Me and heights do not get along, and I've fallen enough times for one life." 01[18:42:20] A lift sounds good to me. [18:43:23] *Par looks to the others... and then just grins. "Yer all got some spirit in yeh, I see." [18:44:55] "I'm always up fer anyfin'" 01[18:45:09] Of course [18:45:18] Man, you'd think living in Sharn, you guys'd be used to heights like this. [18:45:50] I was born and lived by swamps. Heights are for birds. 01[18:46:06] I just want a reason to stand and rest for a while 06[18:46:10] * Mauz pauses, frownng. "I... think I was born there, anyway. I don't know what the fuck I know sometimes anymore." 01[18:46:28] Well, what other places might you be born at? 06[18:47:20] * Phanos goes about prepping the ritual, casting Tenser's lift. 06[18:48:28] * Marianysa winces a bit. "Sorry. Sometimes it seems...nevermind, forget I brought it up." [18:56:54] [Phanos conjures up a transluscent platform of magical force small enough to fit into the hole.] [18:57:28] [Not everyone is able to fit. Seems like two people have to say out.] [18:57:41] *Johen clears his throat. "I will remain and guard the prisoner." 06[18:57:59] * Aurora eyes Johen. [18:58:00] "Right den mon." 06[18:58:01] * Marianysa narrows her eyes. "Oh, that's a great idea." [18:58:27] *Johen smiles. "Thank you." 01[18:58:43] I'm... uh... 06[18:58:44] * Aurora frowns. 06[18:58:55] * Aurora looks to Mari. "Think Temper might do a better job?" [18:59:25] How about you get on the disc, and a few of us can just climb? [18:59:35] *Temper looks to Aurora, then Mari, then Johen and nods. "I have been guarding her through most of our journey." [18:59:58] *Johen gestures to Shezna. "She can't be expected to climb bound like that." [19:00:21] I don't care either way, although I imagine he won't do anything untoward to her. She'd kill him if he tried. [19:00:52] *Shezna grunts affirmatively. [19:02:48] "She gonna escape?" [19:03:17] That's why she can use the disc. [19:03:32] *Johen shakes his head. "Unlikely. I don't think she wants to meet my menagerie of summonable companions." 01[19:04:04] What if we just take Shezna with us and let Temper guard Johen? [19:04:27] *Johen adjusts is glasses. "Which is also why I volunteer to guard the flank. Instead of leaving one person behind with a prisoner and looking out for danger, there's one person and all of his subjugated otherworldly entities." [19:04:53] *Temper looks to Aurora. "Is Johen a prisoner?" [19:05:11] *Johen laughs amiably. "Ohoho, I certainly hope not." [19:05:34] *Johen smiles at Aurora specifically. 01[19:05:58] I suppose you aren't. [19:07:28] *Johen holds up his hands. "Please, everyone relax. There will be no harm to the prisoner when you return. At least, not given by me or my conjured companions." [19:07:45] Let's just go. Johen, I'm still watching you after the shit you pulled before. That was clever, but still! [19:08:37] *Johen looks mildly at Mauz. "What shit have I pulled?" 06[19:12:16] * Marianysa mutters "Well at least someone agrees with me." 06[19:13:05] * Phanos steps onto the platform casually. [19:13:26] *Temper follows Phanos 01[19:15:57] Let's just have Temper watch her and move on. I see people in favor of Temper watching her, and no one in favor of Johen. [19:17:16] "We like Mr. Punchy wid us." [19:18:04] *Johen shrugs. "Then I will stay behind as well. I am just thinking tactically. We have not explored this place, and we have no idea what passes for squatters in giant ruins. It is unwise to leave one solitary person behind. Alone, I would be able to disuade any attackers, and keep the prisoner occupied." 06[19:18:18] * Aurora sighs. "I guess you have a point." 01[19:18:50] I guess he's creepy, but not stupid, and he knows we wont' put up with anything like that when we get back. [19:19:08] *Johen laughs. "Creepy? Whyever would you call me that?" [19:19:28] Assuming he's still there. Get on the damn lift, Johen. We've got at least two people willing to climb down. 01[19:19:40] True. 01[19:19:51] Temper, watch her. [19:20:21] *Johen looks at Mari, almost sheepily. "You're not going to punch me again, are you?" 01[19:20:25] ... or I guess two of us could climb down. [19:20:49] Only if you give me a reason to. 06[19:21:06] * Aurora gets on the lift. "Shezna, onto the lift." [19:21:11] *Johen smiles. "Like making a wise decision to guard our return?" [19:22:24] ... all this about taking a trip. AND it was the levitation trick when we were falling back a ways ago, but I'll hand it to you for being prepared. Can we move now? 06[19:22:57] * Phanos nods. [19:23:20] *Johen moves to a wall by the entrance to the place, in full view of the lift, and all three hallways extending into the structure. "I will be here when you return." [19:23:46] Fine. Do what you want. [19:24:19] *Johen smiles pleasantly. "I do not need your permission to do so, but thank you." [19:25:19] *Par mumbles under this breath, then speaks louder. "Aright, everyone onta the lift. I'll climb down after'ya" 06[19:25:39] * Marianysa turns away with a scowl and doesn't respond, heading to the lift. [19:26:43] [The group sans Johen and Pardrengo squeezes onto the lift, and Phanos mentally commands it to descend. Par begins climbing in after you, keeping up with the slow descent of the platform with no trouble.] [19:27:26] [Several times, Phanos is forced to shimmy the platform from side to side to unstick it from hovering 1 foot above a shelf in the rough stony walls of the chute.] 06[19:28:19] * Aurora frowns. "I hope Johen can take care of himself up there." [19:28:26] [The light the group carries with them soon fails to stretch to the top of the rift.] [19:29:00] *Temper looks to Aurora. "I could have stayed behind if you were worried about him... along with Shezna. Why didn't you agree to his suggestion?" [19:30:34] Eh, he'll be fine. 06[19:30:59] * Aurora looks to Temper. "I don't know. I was just getting tired." [19:31:45] *Temper nods at Aurora and returns to looking straight forward at the rock surface slowly rising from the darkness below him and disappearing into the darkness above. [19:32:06] *After a moment, Temper turns to Mari. "His tactical analysis was sound, Mari. " [19:33:07] There's nothing wrong with his analysis. I just don't trust him. [19:33:24] *Temper tilts his head just slightly. "Why?" [19:34:43] He feels a bit off. I should know this, I try to cultivate that sort of response in people. Comes naturally for him. Dunno how or why. [19:35:26] Like Mauz said, there's that gut feeling. He creeps me out. But it's not just that. [19:36:23] "Gonna be a fun way up." [19:36:26] He showed up too conveniently. Just happened to be on the same ship as us, just happened to want to go out to the ruins with us. [19:37:47] *Temper takes in Mari's words. "...I just happened to be working for Dassk that day." [19:38:03] "Temper tilts his head slightly again. "Do you... not trust me?" 06[19:40:25] * Marianysa blinks. "Of course I trust you. That's...it's different. We almost had to drag you along. And you don't go around 'accidentally' covering me in shocking beetles or suggest we kill prisoners in cold blood." [19:40:35] [As the group converses, the lift descends slowly, and it starts to get warmer and warmer.] [19:41:10] *Temper opens his mouth to speak, and then closes it. [19:41:24] *He faces the wall again, silently. [19:43:08] ...T-Temper? [19:43:20] Was...what did I say? 06[19:43:24] * Marianysa 's face falls. [19:44:02] *Temper turns to her and then looks down. "I do not think I deserve your trust." [19:45:43] *Then Temper's head tilts, still looking down, as if he just noticed something. "There is light below us." [19:46:07] You- 06[19:46:13] * Marianysa stops and turns to look. [19:46:20] Warming, too. This... bothers me. [19:46:47] [A dull rudy glow rises from the bottom of the hole. It's... alarmingly familiar to anyone who remembers Loharath.] 06[19:47:09] * Mauz hazards a look. "On top of what Mari's saying, Temper. You're loyal as all hell and you're stone-solid. I'd trust you to the bitter end." 01[19:47:18] ... uh oh. 01[19:47:24] Phanos, stop the disc. [19:47:26] ... that's magma, isn't it. 06[19:47:32] * Phanos halts it. 06[19:47:33] * Marianysa pales. "No. No no no no..." 01[19:47:48] So... we know what's at the bottom of this pit now. 06[19:47:48] * Phanos begins to reel it upwards. 01[19:48:00] Why would it even BE here? [19:48:03] "We got wan minute." [19:48:09] [Phanos nows he won't make it. The lift has been in existance for longer than half it [19:48:19] 's duration, and won't reach the top of the hole.] [19:48:31] "I can get me out. We gotta tink about us." [19:48:34] *Par looks down, almost kicking Mauz in the head. "Ey?" [19:48:47] "Grab de damn walls!" 06[19:48:52] * Aurora looks around for an alcove to hang onto [19:49:21] "Rope! Rope!" he shouts upwards. [19:50:09] Well, shit. I'd never considered this as a way to go. 06[19:50:29] * Mauz is also looking for something to grasp onto. "Magma down below, we need to go back up. Now." [19:50:49] "Long climb up.." 01[19:51:18] What about Shezna? 01[19:51:49] Wait, I think I see something ELSE below 01[19:52:00] Something walkable 06[19:52:05] * Marianysa snaps back to attention, mumbling "Pull yourself together, not the time to panic." to herself 06[19:52:36] * Phanos moves the platform down calmly. 01[19:54:43] Alright, just keep alert. [19:55:16] [The platform moves steadily downward toward the mass of shadows Phanos and Aurora think might be a tunnel. The transluscent platform beneath everyone's feet begins to get even more trannsparent, disappearing slowly.] 06[19:55:57] * Phanos braces himself, reading himself for teleportation. [19:55:59] If we need to bail, cut Shezna free. No sense in her not getting a fair chance to survive. [19:56:06] Fair. 01[19:56:37] Yeah, 'specially since she didn't exactly sign up to go into here [19:56:58] [Phanos suddenly feels a pressure on the back of his mind disappear... and his control of the lift as well. The platform now only visible as a thing distortion in the air begins steadily lowering. Phanos knows it will disappear all together once it rests a foot above something... even if it's just a small outcropping of rock on the side of the wall.] 06[19:57:26] * Phanos looks down for that outcropping. [19:58:49] [The lift lowers halfway over the shadowy tunnel, now illuminated by the party's light. When their knees are still above the tunnel's opening, the lift suddenly stops.] 06[19:59:07] * Marianysa readies herself for an emergency teleport. [19:59:15] Was this your doing, Phanos? [19:59:39] [The lift blinks once.] [19:59:58] "Now!" [20:00:08] [It blinks twice...] 06[20:00:22] * Phanos moves himself safely over the opening. [20:00:30] *Temper slides into the tunnel, grabbing Shezna's legs to pull her with him. 06[20:01:01] * Aurora heads on over 06[20:01:36] * Marianysa vanishes, appearing in the tunnel. 06[20:02:15] * Mauz gets on as quickly as he can manage. [20:02:34] I will never have a dull life, it seems. [20:03:26] [The lift blinks a third time, then flashes briefly and is gone.] [20:03:41] That....was too close. [20:04:26] [There's a sound of crumbling rock and Pardrengo's lower body comes into view, falling fast.] [20:04:45] [Then he swings into the tunnel, hands on the edge of the cieling.] 01[20:05:03] Ugh. [20:05:08] *Pardrengo stands up from his landing crouch and grunts. "Buncha pansies." [20:05:30] *He dusts his hands off and unsheaths his swords. 06[20:05:44] * Phanos smirks, not too dusty at all. [20:06:19] Now I really wish I'd climbed. [20:08:16] I'm Mauz the White... and a pansy. Can we continue? 01[20:08:38] Yeah. Sure. But something that's been bugging me. 01[20:08:41] Why "White"? [20:08:43] *Par nods and grunts in agreement. 06[20:10:16] * Mauz flashes a smile at Aurora. "Every sinister little bastard is black, or purple, or blood. White seems like holiness and light, so it's a nice little shock when you turn out to be both marked and slightly insane." [20:10:29] Good save, Phanos. [20:10:37] "It was luck." [20:12:16] [While the party engages in some light banter, Pardrengo moves to the edge of the tunnel and places his hand against it, then moves his palm slowly across the surface.] [20:13:13] Luck or not, you saved our asses. 01[20:13:34] Absolutely. [20:15:13] Another debt, eh Phanos? [20:15:32] Still, ugh. If I knew there was gonna be magma down here, maybe _I_ would've volunteered to stay behind... 06[20:15:45] * Phanos nods. [20:16:14] *Pardrengo moves to the center of the tunnel and rubs his thumb in the dirt and then brings it to the tip of his tongue, testing it. [20:16:28] Tasty sand? [20:16:55] *Pardrengo shakes his head and says "Testing for dung." 06[20:17:29] * Aurora grimaces [20:17:33] *Par nods and stands up, holding his swords at the ready. "A'right folks, look alive. There be bulettes in these parts." [20:17:40] [Session End.] [20:18:12] [200 XP each] End of #Sharn buffer Wed Feb 03 18:05:46 2010