Start of #Odal buffer: Wed Feb 18 21:18:27 2009 [17:00:05] * Yon is now known as Paera [17:02:42] * Mechazawa (rustangel@ip-49-116.atvci.net) has joined #Odal [17:02:49] * Mechazawa is now known as Xan [17:20:55] [When last we left our heroes, they had just claimed a ship captained by a priest of Vecna, with logs pointing to port of call called the Refuge Float, along with a coded journal, and a fair bit of treasure. The ship itself is still floating, though it'll take some work to make it presentable, after being inhabited by the walking dead for so long [17:21:49] [After the battle against the pirates, the crew came topside and began preparations to set the ship back on course, leaving our heroes to decide what to do in the wake of the attack] [17:21:54] [Session start] [17:24:43] "Perhaps we could sail to this place." [17:24:46] Let's take the ship to port and find a name for it. I like "The Twilight Summer on the Border Between the Fey and the World" [17:24:49] What do you think? [17:26:14] * Paera eyes Eilenia. "...how about we call it something we can actually remember?" [17:26:48] * Plow has been flipping through the coded journal, and he pauses. "That seems something of a mouthful, indeed." He considers Xan's question. "Do we know anything of the port?" [17:27:13] "I am afraid that I am not from this plane." [17:27:14] I can remember The Twilight Summer on the Border Between the World and the Fey just fine. [17:28:42] Well, then you can call it that. [17:28:48] I'll stick with 'the boat'. [17:28:49] * Plow considers the name of the port, searching his memory. [17:30:00] What'll you call it? [17:31:12] In my time at Harborhead, I do remember overhearing rumors of an island that was created by some Nerathi remnants; they bound their ships together to create a place to live. [17:31:25] That sounds fascinating. [17:31:52] It does not seem improbable that, with a name like "Refuge Float," this could be the very same settlement. [17:31:54] How did they eat? [17:35:29] * Plow considers the question, "I suppose by fishing. Perhaps by stealing supplies from trading fleets. Or cannabalism." He shakes his head, "Highly inefficient means to storing energy all, in my opinion." [17:36:07] * Paera does a double-take and stares at Plow. "I really hope you're not right." [17:37:20] "Or perhaps they're a collective of pirates." [17:39:45] Fish makes sense if they're good with nets. [17:39:56] I suppose we have an opportunity to investigate this matter, though I do not know if it is wise. [17:41:47] Do we have the time for it? [17:41:49] Well, perhaps we can sell this ship there and book passage on another back to land. [17:42:00] Could turn us a tidy profit. [17:42:18] * Plow nods. [17:42:40] That's probably for the best, I'm not sure what we'd do with two ships. [17:43:15] Well, we don't own this other ship. [17:44:18] And there is always the chance that they will cannabalize you. [17:44:46] However, I would be fascinated to see a Nerathi settlement still functioning. [17:46:55] I wonder if they'll recognize the ship. [17:48:13] ...I sure hope not. [17:48:34] "Perhaps we should fly different colors." [17:48:43] * Plow pauses. "Or it could be to our advantage." [17:49:03] I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but don't you guys think you're being maybe a bit pessimistic about this? [17:49:41] Hm? [17:50:56] Cannibalism, recognizing that we took the ship, do we need to make things seem worse than they already are? [17:52:38] Maybe the guys on the ship can tell us about this place. [17:55:53] * One of the deckhands perks up slightly at the mention. "The Refuge Float? Aye, I've dealt with them before." [17:57:52] * Plow turns to the fellow. "What can you tell us about the place?" [17:59:18] * "Before a few years ago, they used to patrol the waters, looking for tolls. Usually, we'd take extra food, clothes, all that, for them, and they'd protect us from anything worse. Then a few years back, the patrols stopped, and there was talk of ghost ships. Until this trip, we've just stayed by the coast so we wouldn't have to risk it." [18:01:21] "So it's very well possible that these invididuals are dead." [18:02:12] * The deckhand nods. "Could be. Can't rightly say." [18:03:01] "I can hardly think up a better cause then investigating this and making it safer." [18:03:11] If they have food.. [18:03:54] * Plow nods, "And I for one would be interested in any Nerathi artifacts that may have been left behind." [18:09:15] Let's go visit [18:10:10] "Is anyone familiar enough to sail this vessel?" [18:10:26] Though I do not want to divert you from your mission, I concur, I would like to explore this opportunity. [18:10:41] * With it settled, the crew shuffles between the ships, and sets them on course for the last known location of the Refuge Float. As you approach within eyeshot, the water becomes choppier, and the weather cools until you breath is visible. As you get closer, the Refuge Float resolves itself into a series of rafts and ships lashed together. It must be hundreds of ships, a former fleet, and never additions at the edges, salvaged wood forming docks and pa [18:11:16] forming docks and pathways between the ships [18:11:58] * Eilenia hums cheerfully. [18:12:53] "This is a rather..unique place." [18:13:14] * The docks seem empty at first, but as you approach, there's movement from a small ship next to the docks, where a cabin has been constructed from driftwood. A man, dressed in heavily patched clothes emerges, and waits at the edge of the dock for the ships [18:13:43] ...wow. It really is a floating city. [18:14:17] It's huge. [18:15:32] * Plow climbs to the edge of the bow, and peers out. "Fascinating, indeed." [18:15:32] * Xan nods. [18:16:20] * Eilenia waits for the boat to get cloesr. [18:17:54] * Eilenia waves friendly-like. [18:18:17] * As the ship gets closer, the man begins waving to indicate a dock to tie the two ships off to. He shouts into the distance, "A new ship for the Float?", indicating the ship provided by Harborhead [18:18:25] * Paera tenses, looking over at the man. [18:22:15] * Plow calls back, "I believe we would prefer to dock; perhaps we could trade for supplies?" [18:23:38] * The man nods, and begins uncoiling rope from around metal posts secured to the dock, in preparation for docking [18:25:08] * Once the ship is fully docked, the man nods to Elena. "How'd the hunt go, master?" From the way he's squinting up at the ship, it seems like he hasn't fully caught on yet, and may be half-blind [18:26:19] * NovaSeaker (Novaseaker@cpe-24-168-45-216.si.res.rr.com) has joined #Odal [18:26:34] * Paera swallows nervously. [18:26:41] * NovaSeaker is now known as Eve_Kasnora [18:27:20] * Xan remains calm, but is ready to spring. [18:27:21] Oh, splendid. [18:27:29] * Eilenia looks over hte guy carefully. [18:28:48] * Plow moves down the boat, and looks over the side, weighing whether or not to get down on the dock. [18:28:50] * Paera mutters "This isn't gonna end well." [18:32:02] * The man frowns. "As you say, master." He finishes tying the ships to the docks. "Shall I send for an escort to the Chamber of Drowned Truths?" [18:32:47] Immediately. [18:33:48] * The man nods and begins shuffling back to his cabin on the small ship. [18:34:22] "Why did you send for an escort?" [18:34:32] I wonder if it wouldn't be wise for us to conceal ourselves until their motives are clear? [18:34:44] Oh, I don't know. [18:35:09] "Well, it's likely the escort will not be blind." [18:36:07] Well, we killed the master, thereby becoming the master. That's how it works in the World, right? [18:38:10] "Not necessarily." [18:38:47] * core (josh@ip24-250-138-53.ga.at.cox.net) has joined #Odal [18:39:08] Who thinks they can do a better impression of him? [18:42:25] * Plow cocks his head at Eilenia, then crouchs near the edge of the ship, trying to hide there best he can. [18:42:36] * Eve_Kasnora crosses her arms. [18:42:53] * Xan (rustangel@ip-49-116.atvci.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds) [18:42:55] "I am not liking this turning of events." [18:43:29] * MZ-Laptop (rustangel@ip-49-116.atvci.net) has joined #Odal [18:43:31] Probably too late to just run. [18:43:32] * MZ-Laptop is now known as Xan [18:44:24] At least they're not cannibals. [18:47:18] * You can see, in the distance, roughly a dozen zombies approaching, backed up by what looks like the skeleton of a small child, which carries a jar nearly as large as it is, full of greenish liquid and a human brain. [18:47:59] "This is certainly not going to end well for either they or we." [18:48:01] "...You are realizing, I will have to destroy all of these foul creatures, yes?" [18:48:12] * Eve_Kasnora speaks to Eilenia. [18:48:38] Oh yes. It's much easier to have them come to us than the other way around, right? [18:49:06] * Eve_Kasnora steps up to the gangplank. [18:49:17] You could call it strategy. Maybe. [18:49:55] * Eilenia flips the hood over her head. [18:51:09] Great. Because being on the ocean isn't bad enough, now we need an army of zombies too. [18:51:16] Why are we doing this again? [18:52:00] "I am not knowing. I was resting below decks when you all were deciding what to be doing with boat." [18:52:35] * Xan starts looking for a safe shooting perch. [18:54:15] * Eve_Kasnora puts a hand on each sword pommel on each side of her hips, ready to draw at a moment's notice. [18:57:27] * Oh, something I forgot to mention, on account of drunk and stupid: As soon as the dockmaster got back to his house, a bell began tolling from his ship, with responses from across the floating city [18:57:47] * The escort begins creeping further down the docks, towards the two ships [18:58:45] * Xan climbs to the crow's nest. [18:59:16] * Plow pulls free a few jars of oil from his backpack, and tosses them with a fair amount of force towards the dock, trying to create a spread of oil along the dock beside the ship. [19:07:57] * The escort continues down the dock, getting ever closer to the ships [19:09:56] * Eve_Kasnora eyes the undead coming closer and gets a good look at that jar. [19:10:04] "Is... Is that being a brain... in a jar?" [19:10:22] ...I...think so. [19:10:53] "I don't think that bodes well." [19:12:21] * The escort continues down the dock, and the strange scratching in the backs of your minds finally resolves itself into a voice. It sounds a bit like your own thoughts, but tinged with a hollow echo. "Brother Blackwell! The hunt went well, I see!" [19:13:28] ...did you all, uh, hear that? [19:13:35] * Eilenia nods. [19:14:39] * Eve_Kasnora presses her lips into a thin line. [19:14:51] * Eve_Kasnora eyes Plow and the oil. [19:15:05] * Plow silently readies his component crossbow. [19:32:38] * Plow pauses long enough to let the majority of the escort group enter the oil-soaked patch of the deck. He lunges upwards at the right moment, and takes only a second to aim his crossbow towards that abominable brain-jar. The silvery bolt that leaves the crossbow explodes into flame as it streaks towards the enemies. There is a small explosion of flame, a tendril of smoke twisting upwards as the oil beneath the zombies' feet ignites. I [19:34:36] ... the oil beneath the zombies' feet ignites. It takes only seconds for the acrid conflagration to consume the majority of the force. [19:35:36] * Eilenia points her orb forward and unleashes a brilliant explosion of light across the entire visible (and invisible) spectrum. One of the undead falls from the display, and starts to overwhelm the skeleton as well. [19:38:00] Maybe I ought to explain. The hunt went well. Their whole ship was taken, and everyone on board defeated and their valuables taken. All this was true, but not for Blackwell. [19:39:20] I'm Eilenia Amastacia, by the way. [19:41:21] * Eve_Kasnora draws her swords to puncuate Eilenia's reveal. [19:42:15] * Xan holds out his palms, actually showing a bit of emotion on his face in a snarl, twin slivers of silver curling about in a helix, firing at the brain. [19:45:54] * The brain's jar cracks as one of the arrows hits it, and fluid begins to drip out. It screams in the same, strange mind-voice it used earlier. [19:48:45] * Paera moves to get a clear shot at the brain, and gulps nervously before starting her prayer. A bolt of light misses it by a mile. [19:49:03] * Charles changes topic to '[Skeleton] 19' [19:49:21] * Charles changes topic to '[Skeleton] 19 [Xan] 17 [Paera] 16' [19:49:43] * Charles changes topic to '[Skeleton] 19 [Xan] 17 [Paera] 16 [Plow] 15 [Brain] 14' [19:50:10] * Charles changes topic to '[Skeleton] 19 [Xan] 17 [Paera] 16 [Plow] 15 [Brain] 14 [Zombie] 12 [Eilenia] 10 [Eve] 8' [19:50:42] * The skeleton falls into a pile of bones that rattle through the fire and roll up onto the gangplank, reforming at Eve's feet [19:50:48] [Xan's turn] [19:51:18] * The jar, dropped by the skeletal baby, begins to hover in the flames, fire licking at the bottom of the jar [19:52:19] * Xan fires at the brain twice again, growling as he fires one, then another shard into the jar. [19:53:13] * The jar shatters, and the liquid pours onto the fire, taking the brain with it. It screams and curses as it's burned, and then goes silent. [19:53:36] I gave you my name, you ought to give me yours. [19:53:52] [Paera's turn] [19:55:16] * Paera blinks in surprise as the brain burns. Shaking her head, she turns her attention to the skeleton on the gangplank and continues praying. [19:56:52] [Plow's turn] [20:01:14] [Eilenia's turn] [20:01:29] * Plow quickly dispenses another bolt into the crossbow, and sends it screaming into the monster's torso. [20:02:25] * Paera fires a bolt of light from her hands, piercing the skeleton and leaving a lingering glow, lighting up the target. [20:04:22] * Eilenia steps back. She's got a VERY clear shot at the skeleton. She holds out her hands and unleashes a booming crack of thunder that sends the skeleton stumbling back into the fire from whence it came. From whence it came to the ship anyway, since there's no route to get to the ship that doesn't involve fire. [20:05:27] * The skeleton crumbles to ash! [20:06:07] * Eilenia gets to work on clearing the fire before it gets worse. [20:06:33] "Can we please be getting out of here?" [20:06:33] * Xan assists. [20:06:38] * core (josh@ip24-250-138-53.ga.at.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds) [20:07:06] * Eve_Kasnora requests for the crew of both ships to pull anchor and start sailing. [20:07:12] I dunno. Is there more evil to blow up? [20:07:17] "We're probably the only group capable of eliminating the problem of undead pirates ruling this part of the sea." [20:07:19] Nerathi artifacts to find? [20:07:26] "I think that we should at least investigate. [20:07:54] Absolutely. [20:08:04] * Eilenia hops onto the dock. [20:08:06] * Plow climbs down onto the fire-damaged dock carefully. "We should be conscious of other potential dangers, if we decide to look around." [20:08:20] Maybe they've got people who need rescuing. [20:08:29] Or lunches that need eating. [20:09:11] "Possibly either. Regardless of whether or not there are any in need of immediate rescue, we'll be rescuing future sailors." [20:09:54] "Let us just be hoping that there is not being 2 or 3 or 4 more vessels being docked here with the number and viciousness of the crew we are having been victorious over. Barely." [20:10:38] Where's that person who came here earlier? I need another escort. [20:10:48] If we run, they'll probably chase us. At least here we can't get sunk from a distance. [20:10:54] * The dockmaster emerges from his hut, and surveys the destruction, walking down the ruined dock, inspecting the corpses of the undead. "Something tells me that you're not the masters after all." [20:11:33] No, I just take their things. [20:11:52] * Eilenia picks up a support ring from the shattered jar and puts it on her wrist. [20:11:53] * Plow inclines his head towards the dockmaster. "Should we consider you a threat?" [20:12:07] Too big... [20:12:31] Eilenia, I'm not sure you should be touching that. [20:12:47] Definitely shoudln't be. It's way too big. [20:12:54] * Eilenia puts it back on the floor. [20:13:32] We need another escort, is there another? [20:13:53] * Eve_Kasnora blinks at Eilenia. [20:14:03] * The dockmaster coughs, moving in close. "I can't say much up here, the masters might be watching. But I'm no threat. And there won't be another escort, if I have anything to say about it." [20:14:25] Oh, okay. [20:14:29] * core (josh@ip24-250-138-53.ga.at.cox.net) has joined #Odal [20:14:48] "How many vessels are manned similarly or better than 'Brother Blackwell's?" [20:15:23] What happened here? We were told that ships from here used to patrol and keep the waters safe. [20:16:40] * core (josh@ip24-250-138-53.ga.at.cox.net) has left #Odal [20:17:57] * "Blackwell was one of their best hunters. There's still a couple others, but they're out on the hunt right now." [20:18:33] * Plow glances around, "Is there a refuge you would prefer we talk?" [20:18:37] "Who leads them?" [20:18:52] Hm... two more? [20:18:55] * "I'd bet they can't see belowdecks on your ship. Yet." [20:21:03] * Plow pauses, then intones gravely, "Sir, are you one of the Nerathi?" [20:21:56] * The man nods. "Fourth generation, from Captain Antias's family. That's why they let me stay as dockmaster." [20:23:30] "Perhaps you could explain to us just what is going on with this place." [20:24:10] * He turns to Xan. "There's a priest of Vecna, calls himself Bishop Eye. A few years back, he and his undead... marched on the place, I guess. Hundreds of zombies and skeletons, old war dead, just rose up from the sea and took the place over." [20:25:57] * "Said there were secrets under the waves he needed, and that the Refuge Float could serve as his cathedral while he dredged them up. The sailors either joined his cult or got pressed into slavery, doing dredgework on his boats or on the Float." [20:26:41] "Come. Let us be talking belowdecks." [20:27:00] * Xan nods. [20:27:01] * Eve_Kasnora gestures for the dockmaster to climb aboard the ship. [20:27:20] * The dockmaster nods, and follows belowdecks [20:27:29] * Plow agrees, and stays close behind the dockmaster. [20:27:57] * Eilenia follows along. [20:28:59] * Paera takes one last nervous look around the docks, and follows the group down. [20:29:31] * Xan covers the rear [20:31:42] * Belowdecks, the man sits on a stool, and breathes easily, much less nervous than he seemed before. "Thank you. Is there anything else you need?" [20:32:17] "Do you believe it is possible to be sneaking into this Bishop Eye's personal quarters?" [20:32:35] * Plow nods, "I concur. Perhaps we could discover something that would be of use to all parties." [20:33:00] "How could we best stop this Bishop Eye's plans?" [20:33:35] * He frowns. "I couldn't sneak in, but I may be able to send a message through the Admiral to get his servants to look for you." [20:33:42] "I am more hoping to be cutting off head of vile vecnite worship." [20:34:03] "Admiral? Is he loyal to Eye?" [20:34:10] * "And truth be told, I don't know what his plans are, aside from using our homes to house his cult." [20:34:50] * "The Admiral's our leader, from before the invasion. The Eye keeps him around, but he's no more loyal than he needs to be to keep from being drowned, same as the rest of us." [20:35:17] * Eilenia nods [20:35:31] * Eve_Kasnora suddenly stares into the distance and *frowns*. [20:36:15] This Brother Blackwell person showed up and demanded we hand over our goods. So we refused, then he attacked us. [20:37:09] "This Bishop. Have you ever been seeing him personally?" [20:37:43] So, at least the entire refuge won't necessarily be out to get us. [20:38:31] * He makes appearances occaisionally. Every so often, he tries to convert us dregs away from Melora and Erathis, but it's rare he lures anyone over to his side." [20:38:48] "You follow Erathis?" [20:39:01] * Eve_Kasnora turns to look at the dockmaster, deadly serious. "You have been seeing his face?" [20:39:50] * "Aye, me and the rest of the navy boys. Erathis for the homes we protect, and Melora for the seas we live on. Figure that's all you need out on the water." [20:40:23] * He nods. "Handsome guy, except for his crazy eye. Figure that's where he got his name? Maybe that or how he sees everything." [20:40:35] * Plow seems distracted at the dockmaster's mention of the deity. He bends down and digs through the backpack, and pulls out the remnants of the device that had been hacked from the kraken. "Do you recognize this, sir?" [20:41:07] * "Well, that's her symbol alright. All weirded up, though." [20:41:19] "Crazy Eye? How is it being crazy? Please describe it." [20:41:54] * Plow nods, hopeful for more information, but deposits the device back into his backpack. [20:43:49] * "Sort of bulges out of the socket, and it's all red. And it looks around, where he's not looking, like it's trying to find something." [20:44:03] "That's strange." [20:44:11] I hope it's not contagious. [20:44:26] * Eve_Kasnora curses. [20:44:53] * Eve_Kasnora makes a religious gesture, warding in nature, and starts mumbling prayers to Bahamut. [20:47:21] * Paera hangs her head. "Oh, dammit." [20:47:42] * Eve_Kasnora stands up. [20:48:03] * Xan looks to Paera. "What'd wrong?" [20:48:12] "This is not being cooincidence." [20:48:31] "We are having very rare and valuable chance to be ridding world of great evil." [20:49:00] Hm? [20:49:05] "We can be making a difference, cosmic in scope, forever more. We must destroy the Eye of Vecna." [20:49:27] "I could care not about the world being rid of a great evil. What matters to me is that the people here are no longer oppressed." [20:49:53] How do you destroy something like that? [20:49:54] Or we can die trying. [20:49:58] More likely that. [20:50:09] "They are being one and the same, Xan." [20:50:15] * Plow shakes his head, "It seems to me that, in your mortal history, the moment you strike down one evil, another arises almost immediately, as terrible as before. But for the sake of the here and now, I will assist you as you see fit." [20:50:41] "Indeed, and it does not surprise me. Our paths are still one, know that this path will likely end in death." [20:51:08] "Death is certain. Only we can be deciding whose." [20:52:21] * Eve_Kasnora looks back to the dockmaster. "I am being greatful for you talking with us. Please, be helping us just a little more." [20:52:50] * The dockmaster nods. "If it helps put the cult under the sea, I'd be glad to." [20:52:57] "If you could map the place out for us, it would help." [20:53:12] "We are needing as much info as possible, as many connections in this home of yours as possible, to be getting us within striking distance if Bishop Eye." [20:53:41] * Plow regards the Dockmaster. "If you have a chance to gather the remaining living, we have two ships. Perhaps you should prepare to evacuate, need be." [20:54:19] "I'm sure we could take more than just two, but these people call this place home, cult or no cult, just as mine build monastaries in the shifting astral seas." [20:55:00] It'll only be a temporary exodus until we strike down Vecna's hold and rededicate it to the proper worship of Corellon. [20:55:09] Or Erathis or Melora if you like. [20:55:10] * The dockmaster nods. "I'll do what I can, and then I'll see how many we can get off this float. Though I don't want to think what might happen if we're found before we can get to land." He pauses. "Does Harborhead still stand?" [20:55:42] "These people don't follow Corellon." Xan smirks. "It is just as wrong for you to force your gods upon them as the vecnites are for doing the same." [20:56:26] "Harborhead is indeed still standing. It is where we are sailing from." [20:57:41] So does Odal's Fen. If you've heard of that. [20:59:33] * He shrugs. "Never came up, to be honest. But if we can make it to Harborhead, we might be able to get help for the Float." He almost smiles for the first time since you've seen him. "Thank you, for giving the Refuge Float a chance of shaking this off." [21:00:24] "Thanks for not calling the guard on us.... intentionally." [21:03:07] How many people here need rescuing? [21:05:34] * Xan is now known as Mechazawa [21:05:44] * Plow is now known as MattyQ [21:10:20] * Paera is now known as Yon [21:10:24] * Eilenia is now known as Demota [21:14:28] * Eve_Kasnora is now known as NovaSeaker [21:17:36] * You earned 145 XP each, today [21:17:39] [Session end] [21:17:45] * MattyQ (mattyqwill@c-75-67-221-215.hsd1.nh.comcast.net) has left #Odal [21:18:08] * Yon (dlarmour@wnpgmb1303w-ad03-46-107.dynamic.mts.net) has left #Odal End of #Odal buffer Wed Feb 18 21:18:27 2009