Start of #Odal buffer: Wed Feb 25 19:33:37 2009 [17:33:29] * When we last left our heroes, they had just learned that the Vecnite cult leader who took over the Refuge Float may be harboring the eye of Vecna, thusly giving Eve a reason to stay and help out rather than burn this fucker to the waterline. [17:34:58] * So, we rejoin our heroes on a floating city, in the middle of the inland sea, where the humble folk have been oppressed by foul cultists of the god of secrets, on the eve of revolution. [17:35:02] [Session start] [17:37:55] * After a short wait, the dockmaster has sketched out a rough map of the refuge floats. It's enough to navigate by landmarks, though not road by road, given the shifting nature and complexity of the city's layout. [17:38:28] "where would you suggest we begin? [17:38:51] * Plow studies the map intently. [17:40:13] * Eve_Kasnora searches the map for Bishop Eye's temple. [17:40:33] How many controllers are there? And do you have enough boats to evacuate everyone if needed? We do have two ships with us. One we've hired, and the Shesae. [17:40:54] Oh, wait, you might not speak elven. One we've hired, and The Twilight Summer on the Border Between the Fey and the World. [17:40:58] That should be simpler to remember. [17:41:24] * The island is ringed by a series of docks, with fairly standard amenities throughout. A few taverns, including the Crippled Merman, the Salty Dog, and somewhat telling of the local clientel, the Eye and Hand, dot the island --- [17:42:14] * Paera stares at Eilenia for a second, then goes back to looking at the map with Eve and Plow. [17:42:43] Shesae will do, thank you Elena. [17:42:56] Oh, you can speak Elven? [17:43:24] * along with a market in the center. There's a temple near the market, which is marked as the temple to Vecna, taken over from the old temple to Erathis and Melora. There are a few larger ships converted into houses, including the admiral's palace, and living quarters for the higher-up members of the Vecnite cult [17:43:50] "No, but the elven is sounding prettier." [17:44:44] Perhaps we should begin our search near the cult-members home, if not penetrating the Temple itself. Though I would suggest we use all due caution; if this priest is indeed channeling the power of Vecna himself... [17:44:46] * Paera bites her lip as she looks at the temple on the map. [17:45:03] * Eve_Kasnora looks to the dockmaster. "You say the admiral is not being one of the cultists, yes?" [17:45:29] * The dockmaster pauses. "We might be able to cut off enough boats to evacuate everyone, but there's no guarentee we wouldn't be caught. Not to mention getting everyone together and- well... As for your other question, there were four below Brother Eye before you killed Blackwell. Now there's three, until he's replaced." [17:45:37] * Eve_Kasnora looks at the proximity of the admiral's palace and the temple. [17:45:40] * "As best I know, the admiral's still on our side." [17:46:10] "Then our first course of action should be freeing him. He will be better able to organize the evacuation." [17:46:14] * They're fairly close. The admiral's palace was kept near the center of the float, if only because it was one of the first ships. [17:46:19] "We could be using the palace as a strike point, and be hitting the temple from there." [17:49:03] So, we shall investigate the Admiral's palace first then? [17:49:29] "Indeed. First we are needing to confirm his loyalties." [17:49:38] How do we do that? [17:50:08] "Then, we are to be convincing him to help organize evacuation. Then we are to be requesting the use of his palace as a striking-off point." [17:52:11] "We talk..." [17:54:13] * Plow straightens, and shifts his backpack onto one shoulder. "Old man, is there any other threat we should be conscious of? Patrols or such?" [17:55:41] * Eve_Kasnora takes Plow's cue and stands up as well, adjusting her sheaths on her hips. [17:57:39] * Xan is already on his feet by the door. [17:58:45] * "You shouldn't make yourself too obvious. There aren't patrols, but there are watchers, everywhere, waiting to take your secrets. Nothing stays to yourself long nowdays." [18:00:41] * "Oh, and they have the admiral's mansion under watch by converts loyal to the Vecnites. I'd watch yourself getting in there. [18:00:59] * Eve_Kasnora hmms. [18:01:21] * Plow ponders this for a moment. [18:01:32] "Is the Admiral not having servants to do shopping for him?" [18:02:02] * "I imagine he does, but I'd not be sure of their loyalties." [18:02:40] "Out of curiousity, do they have surveillance on the water beneath the boat?" [18:04:32] * The dockmaster shrugs. "It's possible. I wouldn't be too suprised if they drowned a few to make those waterborne zombies they bring out on patrol and kept them down there, maybe some ghouls. Not like they have to breathe." [18:05:45] * Disconnected [18:05:56] * Attempting to rejoin channel #Odal [18:05:56] * Rejoined channel #Odal [18:06:44] "It would be possible for me to get inside the Admiral's mansion without creating a spectacle. I just need to get near it without being seen." [18:07:22] * Eilenia (demota@c-76-126-71-112.hsd1.ca.comcast.net) Quit (Ping timeout: 180 seconds) [18:07:27] * Demota3 is now known as Eilenia [18:07:31] "You are not needing to breathe?" [18:07:49] * Eve_Kasnora looks quizical, as if she's trying to follow Plow's logic. [18:10:58] "Indeed. Unlike your mortal frame, I require neither sustenance nor air. If I am able to get beside, or underneath, the Admiral's ship, I will be able to penetrate through the hull. Though if there are indeed zombies beneath the surface, then that may not be a suitable breaching point." [18:11:43] "Would that not be sinking the ship? Though I am guessing the rest of Refuge Float would be holding it up..." [18:12:57] * Plow tilts his head, then touches two fingers to his brow for a moment. "You misunderstand. I am in possession of certain artifacts that allow me to pass through solid barriers; to [18:13:06] 'teleport,' as it were." [18:13:18] I can do it too. [18:15:07] * Plow nods, "Ah, yes, of course. You are Eladrin." He pauses, "It would be, I suppose, advantageous to enter as a pair. I am not particularly adept at close combat, should any arise, and support would be appreciated. Though this may be a dead-end line of thought anyway. If we cannot get close without being seen, it will not matter." [18:15:10] How're you going to get along there though? [18:15:26] Along the bottom, I mean. [18:17:13] "Can you swim or are you being... more metal than wood?" [18:18:04] "Though I am metal, I am afforded a level of boyancy. I do not have to worry about sinking; I am also capable of walking on water, need be." [18:18:39] "Interesting." [18:19:09] Ooh. That sounds useful for all kinds of things. [18:19:34] "You are being full of suprises." [18:20:03] Yeah... [18:20:06] "Okay. I am having plan. Plow, you are being our best bet of getting inside." [18:20:08] * Paera looks impressed. [18:22:00] "Go, find out as much information as you can without being seen, and return." [18:22:46] Melora be with you. [18:23:11] "We will all try to be getting inside using easiest method you can be finding for the rest of us. Yes?" [18:24:00] "Very well. I will need a few minutes to prepare. Perhaps we can find a house closer to the palace to base ourselves in the meantime. That way I can send you some sort of signal, if I am in need of assistance." [18:28:18] * Plow takes a few minutes to consult his notebook. He draws a circle, surrounded by a set of symbols, using his piece of chalk. As he places the material components on each symbol, the circle begins to glow. [18:29:31] * Eilenia watches with interest. [18:30:32] * Plow steps into the circle. The symbols and the glowing ring vanish, and the arcane letters appear on the metal of his feet, above and beneath. He shuts his notebook, and nods. "I am prepared." [18:31:28] "What did that do?" [18:32:04] It distributes his weight evenly over a wider area when he steps on liquid surfaces. [18:32:42] "How useful." [18:33:05] So, it keeps him from going under. [18:33:44] * Eve_Kasnora looks back to the Dockmaster. "Will we be under scrutiny if we go to the marketplace and shop?" [18:34:53] * "Some, but no more than anyone else, unless they notice you're not a native." [18:35:23] I should probably don some sort of disguise. [18:35:26] * Eilenia frowns. [18:35:27] "Which leaves me out of this shopping experience." [18:35:31] * Paera frowns. "Well, that's probably kind of obvious that we aren't." [18:36:02] What do we need to shop for? [18:40:32] "Can you be give us native dress?" [18:41:08] * Eve_Kasnora turns to Elena. "We are not shoping for anything. We are to be browsing the marketplace to be appearing incospicuous." [18:41:44] Ooh. [18:41:45] * The dockmaster shrugs. "Pretty much just old rags, since the shipments from Harborhead stopped." [18:42:48] * Plow proceeds to disguise himself best he can with old rags. [18:44:21] * It's alright, after a few layers. It's hard enough to see any 'skin', and that's about as good as you can get [18:44:33] * Eilenia works at it too. [18:44:55] * The people who aren't living constructs have a significantly easier time [18:46:39] * Paera makes a face as she gets to disguising herself. [18:47:37] * A short time later, Plow is ready to make his trip to the admiral's palace, while everyone else filters into the marketplace in order to remain nearby in case something goes wrong [18:52:35] * The marketplace is fairly drab, and a lot of the permanent stalls are closed down, outside from a few people who sell sickly-looking fish and other businesses that can be run straight from the sea. The dire atmosphere of the market is complimented by skeletons which are held to the buildings by nails pegged between the bones of their forearms. Fresh eyes are in their skulls, following passersby [18:53:18] * Paera mutters "I don't know about you guys, but I feel pretty exposed here." [18:54:47] * Plow lingers by one of the food booths, as though perusing the wares. He uses that moment to glance around, trying to take note of any guards in the area. [18:55:18] * Eilenia nods to Paera. [19:01:17] * Plow catches his gaze with his party members, and gives a little nod. He carefully makes his way between two the abandoned stalls, and in the secluded spot proceeds to strip off the rags that were hiding him. He slides into the water swiftly, as quietly as possible, and underneath the dock. [19:01:56] "As do I, Paera..I am not..comfortable." [19:02:20] This is degrading. [19:03:10] * Under the docks, there are a few drowned corpses floating passively in the water, tied to the bottoms of the docks. Wether they're truly dead or not is anyone's guess. [19:06:55] * Eve_Kasnora is inspecting fish, smelling them for freshness. Apparently living in a swamp for a few years has tempered her threshold of tolerance for stenches. [19:07:13] * Plow attempts to slide his way up the dock, maneuvering the best he can to avoid the corpses as he tries to get close to the admiral's ship. [19:07:27] * The fish are fresh, but somewhat sickly [19:08:33] * As Plow heads towards the admiral's ship, some of the drowned bodies jerk to like, snapping at him as he passes. However, no alarm seems to have gone off, or if it has, you're not aware of it [19:10:47] * Plow ignores the new dents in his frame. He pauses when he reaches the blindspot, and then rises slowly out of the water. He hesitates again, his eyes just above the surface to make sure it is clear, before coming to stand fully atop the ocean. [19:13:52] * Plow presses himself against the side of the ship. One moment he is there, the next he is gone, appearing to dissolve into the wooden hull. [19:17:15] * Plow emerges in what must have once been the ship's hold, which has been converted into a small ballroom, along with a dining area. Faded grandeur is the order of the day, with everything in the hold being something that must have been given by Harborhead, rather than thrown out. [19:20:06] * Plow - dripping on everything - wastes no time in tracking down the Admiral, with all due caution. [19:22:26] * The inside of the ship is relatively easy to navigate, due to a lack of rooms, and through trial and error, Plow find's the admiral in his chambers, reading through a poorly-bound book. As Plow enters, he stands and puts his hand on the sword at his waist. "Who are you? Why are you in my chamber? [19:27:56] * Plow quickly explain his presence. He outlines his plan to get his allies on board, by acting as the Admiral's proxy in the marketplace, and with the man's consent, does so. Everything appears to go according to plan, and the team finds themselves onboard the palace. [19:32:57] * And session called for tonight on account of nappytime [19:33:32] * Xan is now known as Mechazawa End of #Odal buffer Wed Feb 25 19:33:37 2009