Start of #Odal buffer: Wed Feb 04 22:01:16 2009 [17:00:29] * Now talking in #Odal [17:05:48] * Plow (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) has joined #Odal [17:08:29] * Since the incident when Paera's house was burned down, our heroes swung into action. Evidence indicated that the parasite queen's host was the duchess of Harborhead, and with the aid of the city guard, the heroes led an attack on the ducal manse that culminated in a duel against the squamous form of the parasite queen. [17:09:04] * Rana, not Paera. Derp. [17:10:39] * With the majority of Harborhead's nobles being under the thrall of the parasites, the town was left largely without leadership. An interim council, consisting of the astrologer Rana, the captain of the guard, and the head of the port authority have begun the work of recovery. [17:12:50] * Meanwhile, our heroes have been handsomely rewarded, with Rana contracting a local water-witch to construct their rewards, as well as being given a sizable portion of the assets of the noble families that were dissolved in the crisis. With Harborhead at peace again, all that remains is to press on to Horbek's Glory before it's too late. [17:14:05] [Session start] [17:17:01] * Xan (rustangel@ip-214-247.atvci.net) Quit (Quit: Muss es sein?) [17:19:04] * Eve_Kasnora leans against the railing of the dock, looking out at the vessel that was constructed for them. [17:19:36] * Eilenia stands around the dock, engaging the local fish in a staring contest. [17:22:47] Ven will we be readying to sail, yes? [17:23:12] * Paera looks out over the water. "Not sure I'll ever be able to look at water the same way after those things." [17:23:44] * It's not an especially large ship, but considering that it was made on such short order, it's not bad at all. Sixty feet long, it features a small ballista with a harpoon at the prow, and a lower deck with hammocks and enough food stores for the journey. A small crew of seamen is preparing it to shove off. [17:23:48] * Plow appears. The mechanical man is in a hurry, approaching the dock quickpace from the town proper. Clutched in a hand is a scroll. He appears to be looking for someone(s?). He is certainly out of place amongst the mortals. [17:24:27] * Eve_Kasnora arches her brow at the mechanical man. "What is that being?" [17:25:55] * Paera looks over to see what Eve is looking at. [17:28:38] * Eilenia waves to the funny construct. [17:28:45] * Mechazawa (rustangel@ip-214-247.atvci.net) has joined #Odal [17:28:47] * Mechazawa is now known as Xan [17:28:48] * Plow returns Eve's look, what look there is on the expressionless metal face. "Excuse me. I am looking for heroes." The voice low, gears grinding in the chestplate, and abrupt. [17:30:55] * Eve_Kasnora blinks. [17:31:04] "Heroes we are being...." [17:31:23] * Eve_Kasnora stands up, noticably less relaxed. [17:32:14] "Well, I consider myself, and humbly so, a traveler." [17:32:17] * Paera raises an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" [17:32:36] "Though I suppose our recent deeds could be seen as amiable." [17:36:01] * Eilenia is a thin Eladrin girl with long blonde hair and solid blue eyes. She dresses neatly, but she always seems to be distracted by something. [17:36:02] * Plow moves his gaze to Xan, then regards Paera. "Nothing is wrong." He unfurls the scroll, regards it for a moment. "I am looking for the heroes that dealt with the parasite. You claim to be heroes. Are you these heroes? I understood they would be leaving from here shortly." [17:36:24] Well, I guess that's us. [17:36:27] "Why are you to be looking for these heroes?" [17:36:52] * Plow is not indistinct from most warforged; a little tall, a little spry, but generally the same hulking metal man as his brethren. He is bedecked in the eclectic dungeoneering gear that he has collected over time. [17:38:19] Oooh, another friend? [17:39:10] "Well, we don't know that yet." [17:39:18] "I am Plow." [17:39:58] Good to meet you. I am Eilenia Amastacia. [17:40:25] "Xanthrati Del'irin. You can call me Xan, since you apparently are not here to kill us." [17:41:08] "My name is being Eve Kasnora. You are still not telling us why you are coming to find us." [17:41:54] My name's Paera Tress. I hope this is good news. [17:42:04] * Xan (rustangel@ip-214-247.atvci.net) Quit (Quit: Muss es sein?) [17:42:28] "Killing you would serve little purpose, 'Xan.'" He pauses. "I have been conducting a survey of the ruins in this area, though I have completed all the sites I know of. I have been trying to plan an expedition away from here, but have lacked the necessary capital. I discovered that a ship was being built on your behalf, and came to inquire if I might seek passage." [17:42:58] "From your exploits, you sounded reputable companions." [17:43:04] * Eve_Kasnora blinks and looks at the others. [17:45:13] * Paera shrugs. "I'm not sure we're really going any place that you're looking to, but I don't see any reason you can't hitch a ride." [17:45:26] We're on our way to Horbek's Glory. [17:45:32] We hear there is food. [17:46:21] * Eve_Kasnora chuckles a bit at Eilenia's blunt lack of context. [17:46:38] "Food? There seems to be ample amount of passable organic materials." [17:47:00] "I am seeing no reason you can not be coming with us. We would not be needing to purchase additional provisions." [17:47:18] * Paera snickers quietly at Eilenia. [17:50:05] * Mechazawa (rustangel@ip-214-247.atvci.net) has joined #Odal [17:50:17] * Mechazawa is now known as Xan [17:50:40] * The captain of the ship, an aged halfling, steps to the edge of the ship, pushing the gangplank out to the dock. "She's ready to go when you are, fellows." [17:50:52] "I take up little space; and yes, I require no provisions or water. I have skills that may prove useful. Horbek's Glory I am aware of. Certainly it would be a good site to collect information. I would appreciate your consent." [17:52:58] "Know that I am not opposed to your presence." [17:55:37] "I am being okay with it." [17:55:55] * Eve_Kasnora shrugs and turns to address the captain, thanking him as she walks onto the ship. [17:58:03] * Plow inclines his head to the party, a gesture of thanks. The automaton hefts the backpack (that he's had all along), and boards the ship himself. [17:58:55] Welcome aboard, I guess. [17:59:14] * Paera follows Eve and Plow onto the ship. [17:59:43] * Eilenia walks onto the ship. :D [17:59:53] Tell me, what is the sea of the World like? [18:03:51] Probably nothing interesting, compared to whatever weird thing you've got back home. [18:06:02] * The ship launches from port, and begins its trek across the inland sea. The captain of the boat has pinned up a map of the province in the cabins near the entrance abovedecks, and each night, he marks off the day's travel. [18:06:56] * Xan spends most of his time on the bow of the ship, looking off into the distance, taking in the sight of open sea. [18:07:10] * Eve_Kasnora spends quite a bit of time above decks, watching the ocean in contemplative silence. [18:08:05] * Eilenia steps her time above the decks, trying to find something interesting to look and gawk at. [18:08:17] * Paera rarely goes above deck, apparently not handling the voyage too well. [18:08:35] * Eve_Kasnora occasionally goes over to talk to Eilenia since there seems to be a fair amount of activity on the deck. [18:08:37] * Three days pass without incident, and the fourth begins with a sunrise over the sea. According to the captain's map, you're near the midway point of your voyage, and the sea is still underneath the boat for the first time since you set out [18:09:23] * Plow studies his maps intently, writing studiously in his dusty notebook. He stays on deck, mostly keeping to himself, and taking time out only to study the stars and the horizon. [18:09:51] * Eve_Kasnora yawns as she exits to the deck, rising with the dawn. [18:10:54] * Eve_Kasnora glances around until she notices decrease in the ship's swaying. She heads up toward the sterndeck to see if the helmsman has any info. [18:12:38] * The helsman looks over his shoulder towards Eve. "The wind's died down all of a sudden, m'lady. It should kick up again in a few minutes. [18:12:47] * Paera walks unsteadily onto the deck. "Ugh...we're not rocking so much now. What's...up?" [18:13:15] "Ah, very good." [18:13:57] * Eve_Kasnora heads back to her cabin and gets her swords, deciding to practice a little with the relative stillness of the ship. [18:14:08] * Plow regards the sky, then stowes his notebook in his bag and rises. "Doldrums?" He inquires of the helmsman. [18:15:11] * The helmsman nods. "It's odd, though. It happened all of a sudden. Full sail to nothing." [18:16:49] * Paera leans against the railing, steadying herself. "It's a welcome break, if you ask me. Is it always this bad?" [18:17:30] * Xan looks off the end of the ship into the water. [18:19:06] "You are being seasick, Paera?" [18:20:01] * Paera nods weakly. "Never...been out on the open sea like this before." [18:20:04] * Plow peers down over the side of the boat. "Is it possible we have become lodged against an outcropping?" [18:20:15] Oh no... will you be alright? [18:21:05] * Eve_Kasnora shakes her head at Plow. "The sails would be being full if we were being stuck." [18:22:03] * Plow and Xan notice motion under the water. There's something large down there, but it's hard to make out [18:23:42] I'll be fine. As soon as we get off this boat. [18:23:42] "Something large beneath the water." [18:24:08] LIke the ocean? [18:24:25] * Eve_Kasnora blinks at Xan. "You are being serious?" [18:24:32] * Plow nods. "I see it too." [18:24:49] After a brief pause, four tentacles, wider around than a tree trunk, erupt from the water and grab hold of the port and starboard sides of the boat. It seems to be attempting to pull the craft apart. [18:24:50] ...you're kidding. As if this couldn't be any worse already. [18:26:16] Oh, hello, what's this? A practice target? [18:26:22] "KRAKEN!" [18:27:56] "Why would I kid about such things?" [18:27:59] ...Erathis preserve us. [18:30:18] "It appears we have a problem that must be dealt with." [18:31:17] * Charles changes topic to '24: Xan 20: Eve. 18: Eilenia/Tentacle 1/Tentacle 2. 12: Paera/Plow. 9: Tentacle 3. 3: Tentacle 2.' [18:31:24] [Xan's turn] [18:31:57] * Charles changes topic to '24: Xan/??? 20: Eve. 18: Eilenia/Tentacle 1/Tentacle 2. 12: Paera/Plow. 9: Tentacle 3. 3: Tentacle 2.' [18:32:30] * Eilenia takes out her new orb. It doesn't menace with spikes of iron, but it does have a slight green tint to it. [18:39:19] [Eve's turn] [18:39:33] * Xan looks to the nearest tentacle, holding his palms over one another, the liquid metal forming an arrow, this one sleeker, longer than what was previously seen. It shoots off, splitting into two mid-flight, one flying wide, the other connecting. [18:41:54] [Eilenia's turn] [18:42:19] "You will not be hurting my squishy friends!" [18:43:02] * Eve_Kasnora dives past Eilenia and Paera, striking out over the railing of the deck to slice deeply into one of the tentacles. [18:44:43] * Eilenia grabs her orb and points at a tentacle. A swarm of fey daggers darts out at it and hovers around. [18:46:53] * The tentacle on the starboard side slides away down the deck towards Plow as the daggers flitter playfully around the fourth tentacle. One of the tentacles on each side lashes out, with the port tentacle slapping the deck at Eve's feet as a starboard tentacle slams into Plow's torso [18:47:53] [Paera's turn] [18:50:34] [Plow's turn] [18:50:45] * Paera shakily turns toward the tentacle that just clobbered Plow, raising her holy symbol. She swallows quickly, then begins to chant a prayer. A bright blast of light burns down from the sky towards it, but misses harmlessly, going into the water. [18:58:53] * Another pair of tentacles swipe blindly at Xan and Plow, but fail to connect [18:59:51] [Xan's turn] [19:02:08] * Plow steps back quickly. He raises his bowarm as he does, a manufactured bolt being fed into it from his wrist. As the bolt collides with the tentacle, a visible wave of force ripples out through the flesh. [19:06:19] * The boat rocks with an impact from below as Xan's attack rips through one of the tentacles. [19:06:58] * Xan forms another arrow between his palms, his eyes glinting as the arrows form, then curl and spiral into one another, firing out in a helix, drilling deep into the tentacle. [19:07:34] [Eve's turn. Movement is now difficult terrain, though athletics or acrobatics can be used to move normally] [19:10:29] "BACK TO THE SEA YOU WILL BE GOING!" [19:11:02] * Eve_Kasnora fends off a swipe of the tentacle with her offhand blade and plunges her main weapon into it's rubbery flesh where it explodes with radiant light. [19:11:07] [Eilenia's turn] [19:17:52] * Eilenia raises her orb, and points her hand outward at the two tentacles on the opposite side of teh ship. A brilliant blast of flashing colors and lights explodes at the two tentacles [19:21:18] * The port tentacles lash out at Xan and Eve, with the northern tentacle lashing out and slamming into Xan's chest, while the southern one grasps Eve and lifts her into the air, constricting her tightly. [19:21:24] [Paera's turn] [19:23:15] Eve! [19:23:53] * Eve_Kasnora shouts as the air is squeezed out of her. "I AM NOT BEING YOUR BREAKFAST TODAY!" [19:26:13] * Paera tries to keep her balance on the unsteady deck. "Urk..." She mutters a prayer for Eve, then points her holy symbol at the tentacle. "You...put her down." [19:28:01] * Paera lets out a sigh of relief as light bursts up from underneath the the tentacle, burning it but leaving Eve untouched. [19:29:44] [Plow's turn] [19:33:40] The tentacle begins to twitch and spasm, clearly unable to hold out much longer [19:33:52] * Plow raises his arm again. As the bolt leaves the handbow component, it bursts into a brilliant stream of flame. As it glances into the tentacle, Eve's weapon begins to burn with a magical flame. [19:36:02] * The tentacles on the right ride bash Blow, and lift Elena into the air, swaying as they constrict her [19:36:59] * Plow, not Blow. [19:37:10] [Xan's turn] [19:37:11] * Eilenia is instanlty knocked out by the attack. [19:40:25] [Eve's Turn] [19:40:44] * Xan somersaults onto the prow of the ship, firing a quick, deeply-penetrating dart upon landing that sinks into the tentacle. [19:45:03] "ELENA, YOU ARE NOT BEING GONE YET!" [19:45:09] * The tentacles goes limp and slides off the side of the ship. [19:45:23] * Tentacle, singular [19:45:57] * Eve_Kasnora surges with energy and kicks out of the tentacle's grasp, flipping through the air and barrel-rolling to run toward Elena's aid, brandishing her sword in a cross at the tentacle holding her. [19:46:45] * Eve_Kasnora cleaves a gouge into the railing of the ship. [19:51:35] * The tentacle that was holding Eve slides uneasily up the side of the ship and lashes with Paera, succeeding only in cracking a few boards of the deck [19:51:45] [Paera's turn[ [19:55:08] Hang on, Elena! [19:57:07] * Paera recites a quick prayer, apparently over her nausea, at least temporarily. She then turns back towards the tentacle that had been grappling Eve. "Burn." [20:01:30] [Plow's turn] [20:09:49] * Plow tosses a healing serum to Eilenia, before hurling off two quick bolts. The first strikes the tentacle gripping Eilenia with that familiar ripple of force. The second he wings at the heavily wounded tentacle, but unfortunately it flies wild into the water, melting away. [20:11:01] * The tentacles lash out, keeping a tight grip on Eilenia as she wakes up. The northern tentacle batters Eve [20:11:39] * But Xan's shot causes it to recoil from its trajectory at the last second [20:11:50] [Xan's turn] [20:15:05] [Eve's turn] [20:15:24] * Xan fires an odd-looking, three pronged arrow at the tentacle as it bears down, not penetrating the surface all that deeply, but knocking it aside and disrupting its attack. He follods that up by holding out both palms, firing two more silvery bolts that embed themselves into the creature. [20:19:25] * Eve_Kasnora lowers her guard momentarily to point at the southern starboard tentacle with her blade. "On Pain of Death, you will be stopping now!" [20:20:08] * Eve_Kasnora uses her offhand sword to shield herself from a back-hand swipe of the tentacle holding Elena. [20:21:05] [Eilenia's turn] [20:28:00] * Eilenia squirms and uses her orb to send another bloom of daggers at another tentacle, slicing it up and sending it to the bottom of the sea. Then squirms off of the tentacle grabbing onto her and onto the deck [20:28:58] * Eilenia doesn't getot o moveaway [20:29:38] * The second port tentacle goes down, and the boat begins to shake violently, as a massive, bulbous form emerges from the sea. It stares at you with goggle-eyes, its enormous beak clacking in fury [20:30:09] "Well, that thing is quite ugly." [20:30:18] "This is becoming bothersome." [20:30:20] * Eve_Kasnora notices the tentacle try to slam Elena around when the eladrin girl looses her cloud of daggers. Eve screams "NEIT!" and a lance of divine light sears it's flesh. [20:31:18] * Charles changes topic to '24: Xan/The Head 20: Eve. 18: Eilenia. 12: Paera/Plow. 9: Tentacle 3. 3: Tentacle 2.' [20:32:13] [Paera's turn] [20:33:53] * The tentacles tighten their grasp on the ship, and begin to pull the starboard side down to the waterline, making it almost a thirty degree climb and covered in seawater to get to the port side [20:34:37] [Moving west is counted as difficult terrain. Additionally, if you fail an Athletics or Acrobatics test at the start of your turn, you'll slide one square to the east] [20:40:19] * Paera stands her ground, and mutters a quick prayer, sending a bolt of light from the sky into one of the tentacles. [20:40:52] [Plow's turn] [20:48:17] * Plow takes a moment to coat his battered metal body with a restorative formula. There is a clear difference only seconds later, and, after stumbling down the sloping boat a step, looses a charged bolt at the healthiest tentacle. [20:49:22] * The tentacles let go briefly, and the boat rocks up as they flail at Eve and Plow. Eve is hit solidly, as the motion of the boat bring Plow away from the tentacle, before they slam back down and restore the boat's tilt [20:49:28] [Xan's turn] [20:52:37] * Xan fires dual, silvery bolts at the tentacle, both of which miss their mark. [20:55:26] * The creature's head rears back revealing a stange vent on its underside. It sprays a viscous, caustic ink across the deck, which Paera manages to duck away from, but which hits Plow straight on [20:57:53] [Eilenia's turn] [21:02:38] [Paera's turn] [21:02:42] * Eilenia hops off the tentacle and onto the ship. She points her orb at the big giant floppy head and whispers into the orb. It glows softly, and the head starts to grow tired... [21:03:48] [Actually Eve's turn] [21:05:54] [Now it's Paera's turn] [21:07:36] "NOW IS THE TIME FOR RALLYING. COMRADS!" [21:08:12] * Eve_Kasnora cleaves into the tentacle that Eilenia just slipped from, driving it back into the sea, then starts nimbling light-stepping toward the last tentacle. [21:09:22] [Plow's turn] [21:10:16] * Paera continues praying, unmoved by the rocking of the boat. Another lance of light pierces the tentacle from above. [21:11:36] * Eve_Kasnora (Novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) Quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer) [21:11:47] * Eve_Kasnora (Novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) has joined #Odal [21:17:23] * The tentacle comes back through the water after being pushed away, and wraps around the starboard side, pulling the boat down as best it can [21:17:31] * Plow bolsters himself after stumbling again. He lifts the rod, gripped in his other hand, and points it towards Eve. Instantly, her armor takes on a crackling static. The electricity leaps from the armor, wrapping around the tentacle. [21:17:37] [Xan's turn [21:18:58] * Xan fires two more widely-missing shots. He mutters to himself. [21:19:24] * Xan fires two more, missing again. [21:21:09] * Xan grins as the bolts ricochet off of the ones he previously fired and dig themselves into krakenflesh [21:21:58] * The head begins to reel back to shoot more corrosive goo, but instead falls unconscious, floating in the water [21:23:37] Now's the time for an all-out attack! [21:26:24] * Our heroes proceed to hack apart the sleeping sea monster in a slurry of maritime carnage. In the process, they notice a brass device implanted into the back of its head, bearing the doubled symbol of Erathis that the kobold priest's holy symbol did back in the waypost outside Odal's Fen [21:27:01] * Eve_Kasnora blinks as the clean the carcass from the ship. [21:27:11] "Paera, is that not being your holy symbol?" [21:27:40] * Below it, carved into the creature's rubbery hide in halting Common, is a message. [21:27:50] No way... [21:27:57] * Plow draws closer, to read the message. [21:27:57] * Paera approaches the corpse. [21:28:09] * Xan approaches to read as well. [21:29:23] * Eilenia reads [21:30:37] * "If reading this, you are living another day. Not living for long. Wyrmgear tribe is gone, for you. Waypost gone, for you. All I lived for gone, for you. I will find you, make you pay for each day since. For Wyrmgear tribe, for Mechanus. Gaznol Wyrmgear." [21:31:25] "A friend of yours?" [21:31:30] So this is how the tentacled creature communicates. Fascinating. [21:31:37] "An angry chieftan." [21:32:06] For Mechanus... [21:32:16] What is this Mechanus being? [21:32:51] * Plow draws his dagger, and attempts to free the device. [21:36:13] * Between all of you, you manage to piece together what you know about Mechanus. It's a realm in the Astral Sea, run by an exarch of Erathis, known only as Primus. A strict heirachy, exhibiting perfect order, it was known as the Clockwork Nirvana during the height of the Nerathi empire. In fact, much of the clockworks used by kobold mechanists employed by the empire were imported from that domain [21:38:33] Hrm. [21:39:37] * Victor (Novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) has joined #Odal [21:39:39] "Fascinating. I had heard little of this place." [21:39:52] I can understand why they're coming after us now, but I don't understand why they started this in the first place. [21:40:08] "Kobolds are being degenerated from past glories." [21:40:21] (whoops) [21:40:37] Very odd. Hm. [21:41:17] "Perhaps it would be wise to know where this threat lies." [21:41:33] * Eve_Kasnora (Novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds) [21:41:43] * Victor is now known as Eve_Kasnora [21:41:45] "Kobolds are being degenerated from past glories." [21:42:17] "They once were cooperating with Nerath, but are now being nothing more than bandits." [21:42:47] * Xan nods, [21:42:52] Bandits in the name of Erathis. It's sick. [21:43:15] "Apparently one has enough clout with this deity to command beasts of the sea such as this." [21:43:39] With that box? [21:43:53] * Xan nods. [21:43:59] Could something have...happened to Mechanus? [21:44:00] * Eilenia looks over the device some. [21:44:04] It appears to be no longer functional, but perhaps if I had some time to examine the device further. [21:44:22] "Astral Domions are being timeless... no?" [21:48:35] I'll be honest. I'm not really sure if it's possible or not. BUt...I just can't imagine that an exarch of Erathis would support preying on civilization. It's...against everything we stand for! [21:49:49] ...I am knowing the feeling. [21:50:04] This merits further study. [21:50:06] * Eve_Kasnora looks off to the north with a distant look in her eye. [21:50:29] * Plow nods. "I concur. There are many questions, and too few answers." [21:50:54] [Session end] [21:55:06] * Paera is now known as Yon [21:55:13] * Eilenia is now known as Demota [21:55:13] * Plow is now known as MattyQ [21:55:19] * Eve_Kasnora is now known as NovaSeaker [21:58:36] * Xan is now known as Mechazawa [22:00:17] * MattyQ (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) Quit (Quit: Client Exited) End of #Odal buffer Wed Feb 04 22:01:16 2009